Dining out: Yelp names Lou Malnati’s top pizza chain
Local pizza makes good
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria took the top spot in Yelp’s first ranking of the country’s 25 most beloved pizza chains.
The ranking, determined by customer ratings and reviews on Yelp, evaluated pizza chains with 60 or more locations nationwide.
Lou’s was followed in the top five by west coast chain Pizza Guys, Blaze Pizza, California Pizza Kitchen and MOD Pizza.
The honor comes at the start of National Pizza Month. To celebrate, Lou’s is offering free delivery on orders of $20 or more through Oct. 13. Redeem the offer online or through their app using code LOU2YOU.
More pizza news
Speaking of National Pizza Month, the aforementioned California Pizza Kitchen has a couple of new pies to try for a limited time.
The cacio e pepe pizza, inspired by the classic Roman pasta, features mozzarella and Romano cheeses baked with plenty of cracked black pepper and topped with creamy Stracciatella shaved Parmesan. The habanero carnitas pizza features seasoned and slow-cooked pulled pork, red onions, cilantro pesto, mozzarella and queso quesadilla cheese served with spicy habanero salsa.
They’re also bringing back the kid-fave jack-o'-lantern pizza for $5.
Fall Flavor Fest
Barbecue and pizza aficionados will want to head to Vernon Hills Saturday for the Fall Flavor Fest at Smokin Deal BBQ, 1000 S. Butterfield Road, Suite 1007, for Fall Flavor Fest.
The event, from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. will feature demos and tastings with barbecue Hall of Famer and bestselling author Meathead as well as Maciek Zurawski, the industry influencer with 3.5 million followers who founded grillinwithdad.com. Certified pizzaiolo and corporate chef Freddy Jennings also will show off his talents.
Meathead will kick off the event with a presentation from 10:30-11:30 a.m. and will be available for questions and book signings after. Zurawski, who is from Libertyville, and Jennings will follow with demos and tastings.
World’s best bar visits Chicago
Handshake Speakeasy, the Mexico City bar that took top honors in the prestigious World’s 50 Best Bars list in 2024, is back for its second residency in Chicago with the reopening of the Mile High Cocktail Club at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.
From Oct. 2 to Dec. 31, guests will be able to enjoy views of the Mag Mile from the hotel’s 46th floor in a space transformed into a secret lounge with just 30 seats. Handshake’s experts will create unique, handcrafted cocktails, including favorites like the olive oil gimlet and the tarragon fizz.
Reservations from OpenTable are required and seatings are limited to 90 minutes.
New menu
Main Street Social in Libertyville is rolling out what they say is their biggest menu release in years, adding four new dishes they’ve been serving as weekend features for the past few months.
The new additions include pesto cavatelli, featuring traditional pine nut pesto, ricotta and blistered tomatoes; swordfish puttanesca with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, anchovies, capers and Tuscan couscous; soppresatta and hot honey flatbread; and shrimp linguini with saffron cream and andouille spices.
The restaurant said this is part one, with more items to be added soon.
Brunch for ballers
The Greggory in South Barrington is bringing its wood-fired fair and flair to brunch. Dishes include shakshuka made with lamb ragù, a marscapone-stuffed French toast layered with pear and maple, and a smoked salmon platter. If you’re leaning toward lunch, try the Berkshire pork schnitzel with a fried egg and mustard seeds or the rotisserie chicken club.
Have a big brunch appetite? Order the Big Baller Brunch, featuring a 32-ounce wagyu tomahawk, pancake tower, crispy hash browns, eight eggs any style and bottomless mimosas. It’s $300, but I guess you could share.
Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.