Gratto Pizzeria and Deli

The man that runs this is an asshole. My advice you want great food and great service not the place for you. Also I wouldn’t work here if I was you. To my knowledge this place is no longer in business.

Good pizza, but not consistent. They actually came to my house 3 x with the wrong pizza… must be drunk or stoned. Also, not happy when they feel like closing a hour early so, the hours are totally random.

Great pizza. Honestly, some of the best I’ve ever had, especially the crust. I would give them 5 stars except we got subs from them one time, and they were just so-​so (plus, they were out of a few ingredients at the time so my wife couldn’t get the type of sub she really wanted).

To be honest, I’m surprised that this place has as many 5 star reviews as it does. Before I even got to WIcker Park, someone told me not to eat here because they weren’t that good. I was hungry though and if I ordered from Piece for delivery, it would have been around $ 40 (1 small and 1 med). Figured this was walking distance so I could save some money by ordering for take out.
First, whoever answered the phone was very rude. Couldn’t hear my name, telling me the menu was wrong even though I got it from their website. I wanted a 2 10 inch pizzas and he said the smallest was 12 inches. Yet on the menu the only size listed was 10. So I was just like whatever, give me two 12 inches then. He said ok, told me it was 30 min to pick it up, then hung up. Didn’t tell me the price.
I get there and the price is about $ 39. I look at the receipt and there’s a random 1 $.99 and $ 2.99 added. He told me there was an upcharge for specialty pizzas. Like that would be something you would mention on the phone you would think. Or changed the menu since other people here are complaining the menu is wrong too. Anyway, pretty ridiculous hidden charge, but I was already there so whatever.
The actual pizza wasn’t all that better. I got the Tre Carne which had a lot of meat, which is why this review has 2 stars instead of 1. Was crazy oily though. Also got the Margarita which barely had any toppings. Overall wasn’t fond of this place and their «prices subject to change» motto. Probably will never come back. If I had another chance I probably would have ordered the Piece since it was the same price and I would have had a way better experience. Live and learn.

This place is alright if you’re in the area and looking for something quick. They have a small outdoor area with a few tables in case you want to dine in. Their menu consists of subs and pizza. The subs are pretty good and they have a couple different sizes to choose from, depending how hungry you’re feeling. The pizza here is okay. If pizza is what you’re looking for I recommend ordering a whole one instead of buying by the slice. I don’t know how long those slices have been sitting there and you only have two options — cheese or sausage (at least those were the choices I had). They throw them in the oven for a couple minutes so they’re hot, but you’re pretty much just buying leftovers.
Good place for a sub, if you’re craving pizza though I’d go somewhere else.

I have walked past this place multiple times and finally decided to check it out. Off the bat, it gets one star just for being BYOB. However, they do charge $ 2.49 per person as a corkage fee. Still a deal either way. We brought a 6 pack of beer and they kindly provided us two glasses and a bucket of ice. Grazie mille!
We ordered a large, traditional pizza with sausage, green bell pepper and onion. It was very good! However, I will say that our eyes were bigger than our stomachs when we ordered. The medium would have been just fine for 2 people. With a good portion of left overs to bring home, my husband asked for a to-​go box. To our surprise they charge you 50 cents for a take home box! Seemed a little cheap if you ask me.
As far as tables, there is limited seating space inside, but they do offer patio seating outside, which was quite enjoyable. One thing to note is that it is seat yourself. There is no wait staff. You grab your plates, napkins, silverware, etc.
Lastly, one downside for me was that there was no visible public restroom. This definitely sped our dinner up!
Overall, this place was good and I am sure we will be back with another 6 pack of brews in the future.

The star is for the poor telephone service. I wish I could have reviewed the food, but I never got any. I called on a Friday night for take out, having looked at the menu on THEIR website. First I get put on hold. Then the guy has no idea about take out.
Then somebody else gets on, I say Im looking at the menu on their website, and it says «Oct/​Nov Menu» So I ask if that is still current. He gets angry at me, says Im looking at the wrong menu, as that location doesnt have monthly specials. I then say the menu has the Damen Ave address. He then complains that it must be the webmaster’s problem. I ask if the pizzas on the menu are still current. He puts me on hold for several minutes, and I hung up.
Perhaps they need (a) a current website and (b) some friendlier people answering the phone. Ive wanted to try this place, but not with service like that. Thumbs down.

My family is from Italy and owns an Italian bakery on the south side. I was very impressed with the dough and how everything was prepared. Everything we tried was great… two pizzas, shrimp, salad, and dessert. It is also very affordable. I will definitely return.

Fast delivery of fresh pizza.
I was pleasantly surprised by how fresh and authentic this place is! I ordered on a whim because they put a menu on my door and now I have ordered from here several times. The pizza is thin crust with fresh light doug, the toppings are just as fresh and authentic. Its very close to «real» Italian pizza. I highly sugest it!

OK, I’ve really tried hard to give this place a chance, but the variability of the service and food has just strained my patience…
We went here on a few occasions during summer, because it was close by and we could sit outside on the patio with our dog. Although I understand the problems that one goes through getting a restaurant going, by now they should really have it together. However, the service is marginal at best (not helped by a revolving door of waitstaff), and we could never be sure exactly what we’d end up with.
Having said, that, I think their pizza a pretty good most of the time, nice crust, and generally fresh ingredients. It’s just too bad they can’t get the service part worked out.
(Oh, and you better like Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra!)

I grew up on Italian food. After ordering the pizza, I regretted not ordering from Domino’s!
Guy that answered the phone was rude. And it sounded like he was the owner. He cut me off 4 times because he couldn’t get my last name down. FYI, it’s only 4 letters. When he asked what size pizza and I said that the menu only had one size, he lost it. He kept yelling at me that the menu I was using is not his. I told him I got the website from Unilocal,where I pulled the menu, and then called the number from the menu. He was so frustrated and said that it wasn’t his website and someone else created it and people need to stop calling and ordering from it. Ok, as the business owner, wouldn’t you figure out how to rectify a problem that could negatively impact your business? How about a simple call to Unilocal for starters?
Let’s get to the pizza. First, it’s more expensive than the menu. Not overly priced but something you should know. Beyond that, it just did not taste good. There are SO many better options! I got thin crust — half cheese and half with bacon. Parts were burnt. It was super greasy (remember Sabbaro?). Crust was so soft/​limp it was like eating wet, NY-​style pizza… literally the grease just soaked thru the bottom of the crust. And the bacon just wasn’t good, and not at all crispy.
It was hot when delivered, despite being 15 minutes later than quoted.
I would not recommend this place for good Chicago pizza.

I just don’t get the bad reviews! The pizza is very, very good! The owners are so sweet and kind, very personable.
My husband and I wanted some pizza, and we were trying to think of a fast, good pizza place so we can take home. We weren’t in the mood for any of the other places nearby, we wanted something new.
I would walk by this place and there was always an amazing smell coming out of this place.
My husband was worried because of all the bad reviews, but I said all the reviews are not really based on the food.
I am glad we didn’t listen to the reviews because we were in and out in 15 minutes, and it was a nice experience while we were there. The pizza was delicious, we ordered a Traditional pizza, and I loved the crust and it was so flavorful.
I plan to go back to try the subs!

The former cast of Tony and Tina’s Wedding plays at «Restaurant.»
Wander in and enjoy the instant claustrophobia, er, «authentic atmosphere» of this former dry cleaners storefront. My order was taken by a paisan in a tracksuit, to the strains of Dean Martin. (alas, that is not a metaphor.)
Tasty, but your patience (and credulity) will be tested. At it’s best, only on par with the delis in Little Italy.

When is this place open? Who knows! It seems like their hours are based on whether or not the owner wants to come in that paticular day.
I ate there several months back, the food was good. I haven’t been able to go back since because every time I try they are either not open, or about to close.
Seems like an awful way to run a new business.

Docta docta, need you back home baby
Docta Docta, where you at?
Give me somethin’
I need your love
I need your love
I need your lovin’
You got that kind of medicine that keeps me comin’
My body needs a hero
Come and save me
Something tells me you know how to save me
I’ve been feeling weird
Oh, I need you to come and rescue me
Oooooooooh!
Make me come alive
Come on and turn me on
Touch me, save my life
Come on and turn me on
I’m too young to die
Come on and turn me on
Turn me on
Turn me on
Turn me on
Turn me on
Yeah, this pizza’ll have you singing this all night long. Hidden gem in the Piece-​fanatic Wicker Park neighborhood. Will definitely be dancing my ass back over here AGAIN.
They’re not shy with the fresh ingredients, and the crust was oh so crispy.

What’s really sad about the negative reviews of this place is that nobody seems to understand what it’s actually like to OPEN A NEW BUSINESS (especially in Chicago, where you must bribe inspectors, police, aldermen, etc to get your doors open). Try it sometime and you’ll have a better appreciation/​tolerance/​attitude.
I too was eagerly awaiting for this place to open for quite some time, as I live 2 blocks away. I called up and was ordering off of a menu that was apparently for their other location that is a full-​service restaurant. The gentleman on the phone was kind enough to explain some of his specials and the meats that he’d cured, marinated, slow roasted, etc. His enthusiasm and knowledge of food tells me that he must be the owner and more importantly, a true foody that is passionate about his craft. I ended up getting a pizza and a roasted pork sandwich. Both were outstanding. The sauce for the pizza was slightly sweet and very tangy. I can tell you that everything about this place screams authentic and fresh.
People– Stop b*tching about the growing pains that any new restaurant goes through and give this place a chance. Patronize your local establishments or go back to Lincoln Park or better yet, to DePaul to get your MBA in Culture.

Two days ago, my roommate walked to Gratto’s (on a Friday afternoon) and was informed they were not going to be open that day.
Yesterday, we walked to Gratto’s and it was 1pm on a Saturday. There hours say that they are open at 11am, but there was nobody in the restaurant and the doors were locked.
Today, Gratto’s was open, but it took 28 minutes to make me my Italian sandwich. The food was good, but they need to fix a lot of things behind the counter.

First, when you order a prosciutto and mozzarella sandwich, hold the tomato, and get home and there is no prosciutto on the sandwich, but plenty of tomato, you are bound to be upset. When its 19 degrees out and you walked 5 blocks to get that sandwich, you are even more upset. But when they use CHEAP ASS PROSCIUTTO on the sandwich after you go back to have them fix it, FORGET ABOUT IT! Not only was it bad prosciutto, but there was barely on the sandwich. I felt like i was eating a loaf of average french bread. Thanks but no thanks. I’ll drive to JP Grazianos next time.

Review Update. Gratto dropped from 4 to 2 stars.
OMG. This place has the laziest work ethic of anyplace I have ever experienced. Of the five times I have visited since writing my review, they have been closed four — all at peak times. The one time I was able to purchase anything it was as good as ever, but the hours are just not reliable enough to waste my time returning.
Original Review (4 stars)
This is one of those places that barely exists. I’ve described it to a half dozen people who live in the neighborhood and not one of them can picture it. The problem is that it lives on a residential corner in a store front that used to be a dry cleaner. And who notices dry cleaner?
This review is written after only one visit — I know, bad form. Still…
My buddy and I stopped into this place in the name of adventure. We were coming home from the gym and neither of us expected much. He ordered the Italian sandwich and I the Italian Tuna. Both agreed these were the best Italian styled deli sandwiches we have had in Chicago (and he’s from that place in New Jersey where they filmed the Sopranos).
The bread was soft and fresh with a flakey, manageable exterior. Even the ends put up just the right amount of fight. The tuna salad was simply made with oil, vinegar, celery, and just the right amount of salt and pepper. There was a little herbed mayonnaise and lettuce, tomato, and a sliver of red onion finishing it off. Just excellent. As for my buddies’ Italian, he can write his own stinkin review.
Service wasn’t speedy, but neither was it negligent. The guy took our order and money and then set about making us some sandwiches. He did a good job and it took him some time. I am not going to fault him for that.
The décor was surprisingly well done, but I still wouldn’t eat there. Its super small and the two or three tables are more «rest your feet while you wait» than «bring in your own bottle and make a night of it.»
go there.

I wish I could give it 4.5 stars.
The food (4 stars): It was pretty good. The right amount of ingredients were on the pizza, and the mint and basil was fresh (I had the margarita). I like my thin crust pizza and it fit the bill. It was close to being overdone, and the curst was a little burnt on a couple of pieces, but overall, it was worth it. Especially because they are still in the first couple of days and I can only see it getting better (hopefully).
Other than that, I got the mozz salad, that was AWESOME. great size for the price. I’ll be getting that again.
The service (5 stars): Nice folks. Seemed to be about service. It’s a small place and I could tell the owner (I think it was him) really cared about his food and customers.
The ambiance (4 stars): I really want to like it but for some reason I just don’t like the digital screens. They have 4 small tables, great looking food in the cooler, pics on the walls, classic tomato sauce on shelves. The screens seemed to cheapen the environment of the really great pizza. I may be a classic, but I didn’t like the digital in something that I want to be more traditional.