If I judge on JUST the pizza, it is the best pizza period. I grew up on it and compare it to every pizza I eat. I miss it because I don't live in Chicago anymore. If I was judging on decor and service then it would be a three-star, maybe. But the pizza is damn good to me and I would eat it everyday (in my fat kid voice).
Review Source:More like a strong 31/2 but not enough over the half to go fours stars. Some of the reviews here are on target, a good solid thin crust pizza, with just enough of a grease factor and a nice crisp crust, no layer of dough under the sauce. Mushrooms were fresh and the sausage had good texture and the required amount of fennel.
We wanted to try something new, didn't want to go to Lina's, or Lou's both I still like, but enough already. Not in the mood to drive to my two favorites Marie's or Golden Crust.
Parking is easy they're in the lot on the south side of 47th. and Lake Park, just off the drive. Which leads me to my first thought when I pulled up, I thought, "oh no strip mall pizza, I could have just gone to Little Cesar's and it would have been closer." I pulled up in a front parking spot and was able to read all their signage, cash only, no credit or debit cards, some other mumbo jumbo about being patient because your order may take awhile, and another sign about having to return uneaten portions to get credit for a replacement order. Lots of negativity.
Yes, you do put your cash in a little metal tray installed in the bullet proof glass, reminds me of Harold's Chicken or Lem's. I know it's the south side, but really now do we have to get all our take out from behind bullet proof glass?
I know they say this is where Obama gets his pizza from, my guess is it's because there are not that many places to choose from around here, I will concede that the north side has an abundance of pizza choices. Who knows, maybe we'll open up a place, they say find a need, well there is room for a few pizza joints anywhere from 26th. to 47th. east of Michigan Ave.
We're swearing off pizza for a while, to get back on our healthy eating track, so as far as going back, no need to decide on that now.
The interior is pretty sparse, just some folding chairs where you can wait for your take-out (only) pizza while it's being prepped behind the bulletproof glass through which you place your order. When I visited, the glass was spidered from a small-caliber bullet. Interestingly, the shot seems to have been fired from inside the kitchen. Anyhow, some of the best pizza I have ever had in Chicago, or anywhere else. Not Chicago style, or New York style, but Midwestern style: Thin, lightly-dusted, crisp flaky crust, cut in squares, with slightly sweet sauce. Â This is said to be Obama's favorite pizza, and they don't let you forget it, either.
Review Source:Like most people said already - the pizza is very good. Â I especially like when you get a bite without cheese or toppings around the edge so that you can taste how good the sauce is. Â My only gripe is the cost. Â A large 2 topping will run you about $20 which seems ridiculous considering it is a thin crust.
Since not too many people mention anything other than the pizza, I thought I'd I say something about the spicy wings, which are also pretty good. Â They are fried and are the smaller drummy size. Â They've got good flavor and a nice subtle heat. Â Get them with the blue cheese - it's the best!
Overall, I like Italian Fiesta. Â The food is good, price a little high, and service is average to poor... but I'll go back.
Lastly I wanted to mention the stupid frequent customer promotion they have: Â Buy 16 pizzas (yes, I said 16), clip off the little promo circles on the box, and redeem for $5 off. Â That's a lot of pizzas for just $5 off.
I would've given 5 stars, but the atmosphere completely throws you off, so it would totally not be accurate. Â Its soooooo many things wrong with the atmosphere, but the pizza is freaking amazing. Â the crispy, buttery, cracker-like crust. Â OMG! Â i can't get enough of it. Â I've been enjoying Italian fiesta since I was a kid. Â
if i was ONLY rating the pizza quality, i'd give 5 stars. Â if were were rating service and atmosphere, i'd give -1. Â
i wish they franchised these locations, because i'd totally be interested ... BUT, with the service done the right way.
IFP, I love you, you are the crack of pizza. Â I drive from the south loop to pick you up and start eating right out of the box on the way home. Â
This pizza is amazingly delicious, a thin, non cracker like crust, spicy sauce and loads of cheese. Â The pizza is so delicious that I am willing to put up with mumble mouth order takers when I call, cash only, rude cashiers and a pizza that was possibly cut by a blind man with scissors.
The "grease-eria" on 80th and Halsted is disgusting. And I am questioning their health inspection rating and overall ability to make delicious pizza. For a company that boasts such great history and patrons, I can not believe what is being served at this location. Is this a franchise, with independent franchise owners? If so, I can tell because it is not operated at all like the other locations. Someone has dropped the ball, severely. The food is extremely greasy, and sure, I like a good slice but the amount of grease in one square, thin crust slice should be illegal. What is happening here? Will I choose this location, or recommend it to friends..which is the best marketing (word of mouth)? As my rating says, "Eek! Methinks not."
Review Source:Things I love about Italian Fiesta:
They are near my home. They deliver to my home. Their thin pizza is pretty tasty.
Things I hate about Italian Fiesta:
It's cash only. The people who answer the phone are a little cranky. It's kind of greasy.
I am torn between 3-1/2 stars and 4 but there's no half star and they deserve higher than 3 stars.
Oh Italian Fiesta, I just love your kooky charms. Â The whole angry order taking thing, the cash-only situation. Â The ghetto ambiance of putting your money in bullet-proof plexiglass in exchange for food. Â The shady characters lurking outside the neighboring GameStop and Spin Cycle.
All is forgiven once I get you in my mouth. Â You are salty, you are greasy and you are oh-so-delicious. Â Damn if this isn't the second best pizza I have ever eaten in my 44 years on this planet (the best was out of a mobile pizza oven truck in southern France, but I digress)... Â
Don't go changing, Italian Fiesta. Â I love you just the way you are.
The pizza, as others have said, is either great or iffy. It's truly a matter of probability, but more often than not it leans towards being pretty darn good.
It's thin crust and the ingredients are flavorful. No, it won't ever trounce NYC pizza... even if you were completely drunk, but it's the best pizza you can get south of the loop that delivers to Hyde Park. I've never been to the actual location so I don't know how sketch it is, but it's worked for me.
The people answering the phone are direct. By NY standards this is normal. People in the midwest expect more courtesy over the phone... this is more than understandable. It also takes a long time to arrive. But hey, just order 90 minutes in advance of when you usually would order.
This place was horrible!!! My friend and I ordered one pizza for the Bears/Packers game, after being on hold for 11 mins we got through to order the pizza, they said it was going to be an hour and a half wait. The game finished in 2 hours and still no pizza, so we called and they said the pizza had just left the shop. We called back after 15 mins, and a different employee said our pizza never left the shop! Obviously we told them to forget, the game was over by now and then at 7 oclock at night (5 hours later!!) The pizza guy calls and says to come outside and get my pizza... yeah right. I don't care what the pizza tastes like the service is a joke!!!
Review Source:Liza B. hit it on the head...
1) the service is terrible
2) the pizza taste is hit or miss - depends when, where, who & what time its made
3) the waiting time is the WORST! - tonight I waited for 2hrs & 15min for delivery. Â I called repeatedly and was told everytime (for the past hour & a half, that it was on the way. Â When it finally arrived, it was cold & gooey!)
How does this place not have more reviews with a backing statement like this? "Italian Fiesta goes to Washington, DC to bake President-Elect Obama's favorite pizza!"
Sunday night, True Blood Party, someone suggested we order Italian Fiesta Pizza. I've never tried it before, but I love pizza, so why not. And, it's B O'B's favorite? Yeah, I need to try it.
It's SUPER thin pizza (I imagine NY style) greasy pizza. The pepperoni is pretty amazing and has an extra kick that most doesn't have. I like spicy so this makes my stomach smile! The cheese has something more then just mozzarella but I can't quite put my finger on it... It's really good though.
I liked Italian Fiesta and if I was in the neighborhood, I'd go for it again.
It used to be good...until:
a) the service got bad
b) the pizza got bad
c) the waiting time got bad
Answer? ALL OF THE ABOVE.
Who wants to order a pizza from a woman (whether in-store or over the phone) with a stank attitude. Sorry honey, but you're not taking my order with that tone.
Who wants to wait an hour and a half for a pizza to be delivered (that sometimes arrives cold btw)? The pizza doesn't even taste as good as it used to.
New places, like Gianna's Pizza and Beggars Pizza are on the south side. They are better and taking the spotlight. People are starting to notice. They just aren't good.
I waited 90 minutes for my pizza,had I read Yelp first I would have known that this was the norm.I ordered a medium,half cheese half ground beef since my neighbor always raves about the cheeseburger pizza(as he calls it).It did not taste like a cheeseburger but the pizza was pretty good.I dont usually like thin crust pizza,matter of fact NEVER met a thin crust that I liked because I dont understand crunchy pizza,but this crust was soft and delish.I LOVED the pizza sauce-nice with a sweet spicy thing going on.The ground beef on top was not that good and I enjoyed the plain cheese side better...I was Mad that there was some ground beef on the cheese side because that was more for my Vegetarian son and he wont touch anything that was remotely close to any meat....So Pizza=GREAT..NOW,customer service...BLAH,No NAPKINS..boo!!!..nO cREDIT CARDS..u suck!...oVERPRICED..
wE ALSO ORDERED THE baked Mostaccioli..YUCK!!!!..Double yuck.This is why I gave one less star.The only thing good about it was the layer of cheese on top.It was not flavorfull and I felt like adding some Italian seasoning to it.It came with BURNT garlic bread and NO fork..yea,I'm gonna have to take away another star.So,stick to the pizza and you will be fine but dont expect to get a huge serving because the pizzas seem kinda small to me.
Well, Mr. Barack Obama. Â You seem to really inspire people with your grass roots stories of being a community leader on the South Side of Chicago. Â In fact, your 'Change We Can Believe In' Campaign and 'Yes We Can' speeches had more people crying than you see at the average funeral or Hugh Grant Flick. Â You're a good basketball player, but you'd be even better if you didn't smoke so many GD cigarettes. Â You seem to be a fairly common man, so in the spirit of that, I had to try your favorite pizza joint before I left Chicago. Â Barack, between us, I'm glad I did. Â You know a damn good pizza. Â Italian Fiesta Pizzeria is not far from Mr. Obama's Hyde Park Home, it's stuck in a strip mall over on 47th. Â You cannot eat there, it's strictly to go (or maybe they deliver). Â And the place is a dump, I was wondering what I was getting myself into when I ordered and waited 35 minutes for my pizza. Â It's dirty, there are questionable people coming in and out, but it's worth the wait for the pizza. Â The pizza is excellent, really excellent in my opinion. Â I got a 10 inch (or close to) sausage pizza, and the sausage was spicy, the sauce was tangy, and it was very tasty. Â It was a truly wonderful pizza, and being Barack's local pizza joint, I could see how he could build an addiction to these pizzas (and then I imagine he puked them back up since he's all of 6-3, 114 pounds or something it seems?). Â Anyways, I kept mine down and I'm happy I did. Â The one drawback is it's not too cheap. Â I think my personal pizza cost me about 9 bucks. Â If I'm ever in the area again, which is a bit of a longshot (unless Barack and Michelle invite me over for cocktails after they leave Washington), I'd visit Italian Fiesta Pizzeria. Â If you choose your next cabinet like you choose your pizza, Mr. Obama, I see 4 more years in your future.
Review Source:So, I was reluctant to go to this place because it looks a tad bit sketch. However, after family said it was good, i was like, sure, what the heck. I ordered a large half cheese, half sausage pizza. We INHALED it. It was really really good pizza. It's actually, a bit pricey for what it is. $20 for a thin crust but didn't really feel like a Large since we ate the majority of it. However, I will definitely order from them again. The word is, they deliver too.
Review Source:Ok so with the whole hoopla over Obama wanting Italian Fiesta delivered to the White House, I was in the mood to be dazzled. I wasn't. It wasn't terrible, but I didn't like the tang or sweetness or whatever it is that is unique to the sauce that was on the pizza I had. It was neat that it came covered in foil, wrapped in a bag, and then put in the box... a unique twist that would be cool to show off to a visiter to the city. But a medium pizza for 18$ is pretty expensive for 1 topping.
When I tried to get it delivered it literally took me 10-15 minutes just to order. Between the ringing forever, then being on hold, and then the order-taker not being able to hear me. They also dont take cards, which was a bit annoying to hear after I finished that long order process.
All in all, it wasn't horrible, but if I moved to DC, I wouldn't have it follow me there, because I'm sure I'd find something better there.
A fiesta? Not hardly. Good pizza? Absolutely. With the constant shoving down your throat (pun intended) of Chicago stuffed pizza, it's nice to take a step back and go to the basics of pizza standards.
Tucked in a small strip mall, it's a small place and easy to overlook due to half of the lights on the sign outside being out. Pick up only inside, however they do deliver. You walk in, stand in a small room, wait in line, pay and they slide your pizza out through the security window. I wasn't sure if we were picking up pizza or ordering Money Orders from a check cashing place. I guess security is the deal with this set up? Make sure to order in advance and have patience when ordering on the phone as it could take a few minutes until you are connected through.
The pizza. Nothing fancy, nothing fluff about it. We had the thin crust, cheese. The crust is nothing out of the ordinary, good amount of sauce and cheese. Well worth it and good. It's a good break from the fluff pizza joints on the north side.
Not a bad choice, Mr. President. Its no Imo's, but this isn't St. Louis. As far as thin crust in Chicago, this is very good. I know I'm going to want this pizza again, and yes, it is most likely because it is *your* Â chosen pizza, Mr. President, and eating it makes me feel closer to you.
A friend and I decided to go here for Valentines Day, because who doesn't *heart* Obama? Its an easy trip from Northside, the place is just off LSD. But kind of tucked away in a little strip mall and most of the letters are no longer lit up, so you have to pay attention.
It takes awhile to order on the phone because all the locations are routed through one phone number. So allow for your hold time on the phone.
Its a tightly run ship, pretty efficient. Staff polite. And yes, hot pizza is so worth the hold time. Its pizza made especially for you. And let's not forget...its the same pizza that our president eats. I'll have what he's having, ya know? There are rules, btw. No returning your pizza except for credit and you have to return the uneaten portion of pizza. No bills accepted over $20. Have fun.
This review will be bitter sweet.
THE FOOD: I order Italian Fiests every couple months, and we always get the thin crust sausage mushroom pizza. It's quite yummy, and the sauce is kind of sweet, the italian sausage on top perfectly spicy and salty. Â Delicious.
THE SERVICE: Â You call to place your order, and you get what sounds like a very angry order taker barking things at you like "Hold", "Whatchu want?" "2 hours for delivery" Â Blah blah blah. Â I always feel like I've been verbally slapped when I hang up. Â They seem to be #1- surprised that people call to place pizza orders for their pizza, #2 angry that you want to go through with the call. Â I don't get it. Â
Never expect your pizza to arrive in under 2 hours, and the last few months, their lines are all busy- plan to call about a dozen times before getting through. Â I think this all has something to do with the fact that this is Obama's favorite pizza. Â I wonder if they speak to him the way they speak to me when I call. Â Probably. Â It all seems quite equal opportunity. Â I've been ordering her for over 5 years, before they even got the "Obama-Rush", and it's always been sub-par customer service quality. Â I just wonder why I still give them my money... Â It's cash only as well. (Pretty much the rule for most delivery service in Hyde Park.)
This is the pizza, people. My favorite pizza. The only pizza (besides Home Run Inn) that I have been eating, and will continue to eat, for the rest of my life.
I grew up eating from the original Italian Fiesta on 71st street, but started ordering from here after I moved. Thin, crispy crust that is NEVER soggy, tasty cheese that isn't terribly greasy, good topping coverage, and cheap prices. It's South Siiiiiiideeee at its finest and I love it. I still make the trek to Hyde Park for my favorite pie even now. They even used to deliver to us in the South Loop even though we were about 7 blocks outside of their delivery area.
I heart you, Italian Fiesta. Don't ever change.
oh he-ellll no. i roll up, post-partying, hungry as hell. can i please have a slice of pizza? they don't sell them by the slice, no biggie. i ask for a small, but they tell me it'll take an HOUR to bake my 8 inch thin-crust personal pizza. jigga wha?!! it is 2 am, EMPTY up in here, and there are SIX people back there!! you could all collectively BLOW on my pizza and your stank breath could bake an 8 inch pizza in less than an hour, do NOT play me like that!! my friends worked at little caesar's back in the day, i know what's up!! and yes, i asked if there was some crazy back-log of phone orders, but she said "nah. it'll just take a while to get everyone together." - (?!?!) everyone included two dudes dancing w/ a mop. Â now i'm at home, eating stale baked tortilla chips and canned salsa. boo to italian fiesta pizza. this is not the place to seek food on the late-night tip. also, note to self, its important to keep the cupboards well-stocked w/ food that doesnt SUCK.
Review Source:
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