Big G's Pizza Review

Big G's Pizza
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Last night was bittersweet in the land of Wrigley, as the Chicago Cubs wrapped up their final home stand of the 2014 season. I was fortunate enough to have been in attendance for the 3-1 win, and what a night it was. Being in Wrigleyville is an experience in itself, as a bevy of bars and restaurants line the streets, making it a great atmosphere for someone who loves food as much as I do. I am slowly making my way through the restaurant scene, adding another quality place to my list last night in the form of Big G's Pizza.

Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Pork Slice
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Big G's is a stone's throw from Wrigley Field, located at 3716 N. Clark Street, and is a popular spot for fans, workers, players, and other members of the organization. Owners Jeronimo Gaytan and Jamie Gamez, both Chicagoland natives and Wisconsin-Madison grads, opened the doors of this location in 2012, serving up a variety of menu items, but centered around pizza. Their traditional and unique pizza creations have the place hopping on the regular, so I figured I had to stop in and give it a try.

In a space with nearly more kitchen than seating, Big G's makes sure their product is something that customers can walk around with. Whether you are ordering by the slice or full pie, it is all very easy to eat. Stepping up to the counter, my brother and I got a preview of the different pizza types. Being someone who normally just orders traditional pepperoni, I decided to be different, ordering two uniquely-topped, specialty slices. The first was a Jack Daniels BBQ Pulled Pork, which had healthy amounts of sauced pulled pork with some cheddar cheese and french-fried onion straws. The second was a BBQ Steak and Fries, which had slices of thin, seasoned steak, bbq sauce, and crinkle-cut fries. The flavors were unique on both slices, but all ingredients flowed together well. On the first slice, the pork was tender, flavorful, and had just the right amount of sauce. The cheddar cheese and onions added more flavor, as it felt like I was literally eating a pulled pork sandwich, but in pizza form. On the second slice, the steak had a nice seasoning, which was complimented by the sweetness of the bbq sauce. The fries added another element of flavor and had a nice crunch. Again, it felt like I was eating a sandwich on a pizza. The crust resembled more of a New York style, as it was fresh and had a good crunch to it, but was sturdy enough to hold all of the contents of the pizza.

BBQ Steak and Fries Slice
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

Between my brother and I, we spent $18.50 on four specialty slices, which are $4 a piece, and two cans of Cherry Coke, which is fairly priced considering the size of the slice and ingredients used. In reality, spending a little north of $9 on dinner is a great deal, especially in the city. Great food and a great game is an ideal night in my world. If you are the same way, or if you just enjoy good food, head on over to Big G's and order a couple of slices. It never hurt anyone to try something different.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food/Nature Writer from the Chicagoland Area

Lucky's Sandwich Co. Review

Lucky's Sandwich Co. in Wrigleyville
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

The Wrigleyville neighborhood on the Chicago’s north side is one of the most exciting places to be during a hot summer day. In addition to having the Chicago Cubs nestled in the cityscape, visitors can wet their whistle or satisfy their food cravings at a number of local bars and restaurants which line the streets. I have been to several restaurants in the area, but my go-to spot before a Cubs game is Lucky’s Sandwich Co., which is about a 3 block walk from Wrigley Field down Clark Street.

Open since 2004, Lucky’s has been serving Chicagoan’s and visitors with great food for a decade. They have been featured on both Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Food Network’s The Sandwich King for their specialty, the stuffed sandwich. For those who are unfamiliar, a stuffed sandwich is a full meal in sandwich form. It starts with a meat, or several meats, and cheese, and is then topped with a generous portion of hand-cut fries, coleslaw, tomatoes, and whatever other toppings and sauces you would like to add. The contents of the sandwich are held together with two slices of fresh, thickly-cut French bread. The 18 sandwiches on the menu range in price from $8.50 to $11.25, which is a steal considering the quality of the food and how full you are upon leaving. Other menu items include wings, with 12 different sauces to choose from, hand-cut fries, which can be topped with cheese, bacon, gravy, etc., salads, nachos, chicken tenders, cheese sticks, and chili. If you need something to wash this sandwich creation down with, and trust me, you will, Lucky’s has an extensive beer menu, which features a number of on tap, bottled, and canned options.

Turkey and Cheese with Bacon Stuffed Sandwich
Photo Credit: Ryan Magnuson/Mealtime With Mags

The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, with about 10 raised tables and the bar area as the only available seating options, but to me this is a great thing. Outstanding service allows them to maximize the use of a smaller space, a quick turnover rate as a result. Older wooden floors and a number of pictures lining the walls give the restaurant/bar a rustic, old time feel, which makes it a great spot for people to grab a quick bite and catch up.

In my opinion, Lucky’s is a great spot to grab good food and drinks any time, but it is my ideal pre or post Cubs game meal. All of the sandwiches are incredibly good, but my favorite, which is featured in the pictures above, is a Turkey and Cheese with bacon. The turkey is sliced just right and flows together quite well with the rest of the sandwich contents. In case you were wondering, having fries on a sandwich is amazing. You get a little bit of everything in each bite, and believe me; you will have plenty of bites when it comes to this sandwich and any other sandwich you order. If you are in the Wrigleyville neighborhood and are not looking to break the bank on ballpark food, take a walk down to Lucky’s at 3472 N. Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60657. You will not be disappointed.

Ryan Magnuson is a Baseball/Food Writer from the Chicagoland Area.