Michele’s Chicago Pizza

«As of 15 June 2013, all phone numbers not in service. Website says closed and will open in new location.»

Good Chicago-​style thin crust pizza is almost impossible to find in Florida. Michele’s does a pretty good job, though I found it to be a tiny bit on the greasy side (I don’t know if she uses butter in her crust or what). But, the sausage (which she says she gets FROM Chicago) hits the nail right on the head. I’ll probably try a sausage sandwich or Italian beef next time I go there. As others said, it’s definitely a take-​out place (although Michele «insisted» that we eat there so it wouldn’t get cold — if we wanted to — when we mentioned that we were going to be taking our pizza back across the bridge to Tampa). There is just a small counter area there with some stools and at least a couple of those stools are taken up by people who are obviously family of hers. However, all were friendly, especially Michele, and so we ate some of our pizza there before heading back home, since it was our first time having it and we wanted to see what it was like hot, rather than just taking it home and turning it, essentially, into leftovers. Will probably have our pizza par-​cooked and just finish it off at home, which Michele suggested they could do for us next time we get food from here.

There is no better Chicago pizza place than here. Picture perfect stuffed, pan and thin crust pizzas. Large stuffed is about $ 20 and makes AT LEAST 4 meals. It’s tough to eat 2 whole slices and not be overfull.
Important to know this is a take-​out location only.

Had a very pleasant experience here. The pizza was great, Michele was fun to talk to. I didn’t get the entire pizza so all I can say is that the 2slices I got were good. Keep up the goos work.

Absolutely the best Chicago style pizza in Tampa Bay. I’ve eaten at several places in Chicago including Lou Malnati’s, and this pizza is just as good if not better. Giardano’s in Tampa is good too, but Michele’s is definitely better. I absolutely love Chicago style pizza so I think I am a pretty good judge. I always get the «pan» style but they also make a thin crust, thick crust, and stuffed pizza. I’ve never tried anything but the pan style.
If I could give more than 5 stars for the food, I would. It’s a tiny little place, pretty much just take-​out or delivery only. You can eat at the small counter if you want to, but honestly, it’s kind of messy in there and there are usually family members hanging out. Everyone is friendly, but like I said, it’s take-​out or delivery only.
Kudos to the cooks at Michele’s. They make the best Chicago pizza around.

Was hoping for UNO or better than UNO za’ but it’s very close
As other reviewers have mentioned. there is not place to sit down and eat. only an ordering bar with 4 stools mainly meant for waiting for your za’ order not for eating at.
We go the pizza to go anyhow. Took it back to the hotel.
Was very tasty !
The one big bonus I have to give them is a large pizza that would easily feed 6 was only $ 18. This size deep dish would have cost $ 35 at UNO’s.
Very nice owner, family pictures plastered all over the inside.
Nice little hole in the wall Chicago deep dish pizza joint.

Chicago deep dish at the beach? As hard as it is to believe, we found it! After stopping by the Florida Botanical Garden, my husband’s eagle eye (trained for pizza sightings) noticed a sign for Chicago-​style pizza. It is so out of place we almost assumed it would have to be good, and after seeing a solid review of this place and «another» Chicago-​style pizza place, we wondered if they were one and the same.
We decided to go for it.
It is a complete hole in the wall. You should plan to take out or have it delivered because there is only a counter with four stools for eating in. We placed our order and went to explore while they cooked up the pizza fresh (good sign that it was going to take 20 – 30 minutes!).
We returned and decided to eat at the bar. The pizza was all of the oozie, artery-​clogging goodness you would expect with a nice tomato sauce. Michelle has Chicago roots, so she knows the pizza!

Michele’s serves up a great deep dish Chicago style pizza, and I am happy to have found it here in Largo considering that there is only one other place in Pinellas/​Clearwater doing deep dish pizzas. Otherwise it is over to Tampa and Giordano’s which is a chain based out of Chicago.
Having had Chicago deep dish at places like Gino’s East the pie at Michele’s is pretty traditional and features that great oiled cornmeal, yellow crust. The tomato sauce is excellent, not overwhelming tarty or slathered on with a nice hint of herbs and flavor. The best part is the wonderful gooey mozzarella cheese.
Because of the sheer quantities of the ingredients used expect the Pizza prices to be a little more expensive than you might expect but it’s not too much $$. The side benefit is that the slices are so filling you can expect to be eating leftovers for a while from one medium pie. Also the sheer thickness of a deep dish means it takes 30 minutes to cook, so most take out orders take 40 – 45 minutes. The wait is well worth it.
While the pizza’s are great the restaurant is pretty much takeout/​delivery only as the storefront is small and there is only a few stools at the counter if you did decide to dine in. Also the parking lot and convenience store next door is kind of sketchy in general, but don’t let that deter you from enjoying this authentic windy city pizza pie.