Pizzeria Uno.. (Chicago, Gurnee, Virginia: lease, neighborhoods, live)

[MassVt]

After reading numerous conversations about Chicago deep dish pizza, I thought I'd look at Pizzeria Uno's website, and check the various locations.

A bit surprising. Uno's is a chain, but not really a national chain, at all. It's heavily tilted towards the eastern seaboard, with 27 locations within Mass alone , and 23 more in New York. Chicago, and Illinois, have only 4, total. There are no Uno's franchises on the Great Plains, a couple in the Rockies, and only a few south of Virginia. The enormous states of Texas and California have 3, combined, and there are none in LA, SF, SD, Portland or Seattle. Nothing in St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis or Cleveland.

I know that Chicago has other deep dish options, but still surprised that this chain has only 2 in Chicago ( on the same block), one out in Schaumberg, and one up in Gurnee, near the WI border..

And here I though that Uno's was everywhere, as it is in Boston..

[4122]

Originally Posted by MassVt

After reading numerous conversations about Chicago deep dish pizza, I thought I'd look at Pizzeria Uno's website, and check the various locations.

A bit surprising. Uno's is a chain, but not really a national chain, at all. It's heavily tilted towards the eastern seaboard, with 27 locations within Mass alone , and 23 more in New York. Chicago, and Illinois, have only 4, total. There are no Uno's franchises on the Great Plains, a couple in the Rockies, and only a few south of Virginia. The enormous states of Texas and California have 3, combined, and there are none in LA, SF, SD, Portland or Seattle. Nothing in St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis or Cleveland.

I know that Chicago has other deep dish options, but still surprised that this chain has only 2 in Chicago ( on the same block), one out in Schaumberg, and one up in Gurnee, near the WI border..

And here I though that Uno's was everywhere, as it is in Boston..

I'm surprised too. I didn't know that they had some in Massachussets and New York.

[eureka1]

The first deep -dish pizza I ever tasted was in Waikiki and I believe it was an Uno. Anyone remember that place?

[chet everett]

The folks that own the franchise also own the original location (plus Due's).

There have been a few interviews over the years in both restaurant industry oriented magazines and local magazines. The group claims to have no interest in doing anything to the original & Due's so as to have a "brand heritage" and that does make sense.

When it comes to the locations elsewhere the group is not exactly a stickler for adherence to standards and reviews are at best spotty -- some locations barely bother being more than an something along the lines of Olive Garden / Bennigans...

[4122]

Originally Posted by eureka1

The first deep -dish pizza I ever tasted was in Waikiki and I believe it was an Uno. Anyone remember that place?

I don't think that's the same Uno.

[4122]

Originally Posted by chet everett

The folks that own the franchise also own the original location (plus Due's).

There have been a few interviews over the years in both restaurant industry oriented magazines and local magazines. The group claims to have no interest in doing anything to the original & Due's so as to have a "brand heritage" and that does make sense.

When it comes to the locations elsewhere the group is not exactly a stickler for adherence to standards and reviews are at best spotty -- some locations barely bother being more than an something along the lines of Olive Garden / Bennigans...

I've only been to the original Uno and Due. I would think that the original and Due would be better than any other locations.

[steeps]

Contrary to popular belief.... Chicago Deep Dish Pizza is really not common in the cities neighborhoods. A Thin but CHRISPY crust pizza that is cut into small squares is. Some might call a party-cut style? Though there are some neighborhood Pizzerias that advertise Chicago-Style.

[baileyvpotter]

Originally Posted by 4122

I've only been to the original Uno and Due. I would think that the original and Due would be better than any other locations.

They are. Went to one in DC and it was pretty bad.

[UC18]

Originally Posted by MassVt

After reading numerous conversations about Chicago deep dish pizza, I thought I'd look at Pizzeria Uno's website, and check the various locations.

A bit surprising. Uno's is a chain, but not really a national chain, at all. It's heavily tilted towards the eastern seaboard, with 27 locations within Mass alone , and 23 more in New York. Chicago, and Illinois, have only 4, total. There are no Uno's franchises on the Great Plains, a couple in the Rockies, and only a few south of Virginia. The enormous states of Texas and California have 3, combined, and there are none in LA, SF, SD, Portland or Seattle. Nothing in St. Louis, Kansas City, Minneapolis or Cleveland.

I know that Chicago has other deep dish options, but still surprised that this chain has only 2 in Chicago ( on the same block), one out in Schaumberg, and one up in Gurnee, near the WI border..

And here I though that Uno's was everywhere, as it is in Boston..

I've seen them in Wichita and the Oklahoma City area, so I'm surprised there aren't any in Kansas City or more of them in Texas.

Edit: Never mind, I was thinking of Old Chicago. I got my lame Chicago-themed chains mixed up. You're right that Uno appears to be very heavily centered in the Northeastern quadrant of the U.S.

[UC18]

Originally Posted by 4122

I've only been to the original Uno and Due. I would think that the original and Due would be better than any other locations.

Originally Posted by baileyvpotter

They are. Went to one in DC and it was pretty bad.

My understanding is that Uno and Due are essentially a completely different operation than the other locations. The original Uno probably just leased the rights to their name to the franchising company.