Restaurant Restructure in Chicago's Hyde Park

A neighborhood favorite for over 20 years, Giordano's is probably the most frequented, landmark restaurant in Hyde Park. Boasting the title for "Chicago's World Famous Stuffed Pizza", Giordano's owns up to every word. Most famous for it's deep-dish, junk-and-gooey-cheese-on-the-inside, sauce-on-top-style pies (literal pies - "toppings" and cheese are stuffed between two layers of crust), Giordano's thin crust pizza doesn't half-step either. Other noteworthy menu items include Lasagna Florentine, Italian Beef, and the Grilled Chicken Sandwich (add avocado, if you dare).

Ask any one of its patrons and they will declare that Giordano's is Chicago, sauced up, cheesed, and hand-delivered in a box. Earlier this year, Giordano's of Hyde Park temporarily closed it doors for remodeling. South Side pizza lovers have been waiting with baited breath for the owners to fling the doors to pizza heaven back open. Tentatively scheduled for August 1, 2009, the opening has been delayed until...it reopens. No further information has been provided on re-opening date at this time.

Although Hyde Park is the home to many other popular pizza establishments such as Pizza Capri, Medici on 57th, and Edwardo's Natural Pizza, if you're craving Giordano's, nothing else will suffice. Needless to say, the reemergence of Giordano's in Hyde Park is highly anticipated. Until then, there's always the Greek Town or downtown Chicago locations.

Another infamous Hyde Park restaurant, Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop, has also closed its doors - but unlike Giordano's, there is no slated date for re-opening. Even after a stellar review from thee President Obama himself, Dixie has left the building.

Dixie Kitchen, located on the top level of Hyde Park's Harper's Court, has been a Hyde Park must-see, must-taste venue for 15 years. When Dixie first opened, Hyde Parkers didn't quite know what to expect from this place, but each and every person could smell the N'awlins spices blocks away. Specializing in Traditional Southern, Creole, and Cajun dishes, some of personal favorites were the Catfish Po'Boy, Trout Pecan, and the Peach Glazed Dixie Wings...on the side, of course, Dixie's Johnnycakes slathered in butter. God, those Johnnycakes.

Calypso Cafe', sister venue of Dixie Kitchen, will be serving the most popular items from Dixie's menu from here on out. And since Calypso is located only inches from the old Dixie, this transition will be seamless. This is not the end of Dixie Kitchen - there are locations in both Evanston and Lansing, and on the rumor mill, it has been mentioned that Dixie may resurrect in Hyde Park at some point in the near future. .

For locations, menu, and other information, please visit:
Giordano's
Dixie Kitchen & Bait Shop
Calypso Cafe'