Guide to Pizza During Lake County Flavor Festival 2024
By: Jonathan Jones 01/26/2024
Why aren’t you eating pizza now? Lake County Flavor Festival is the time to visit participating pizza pie parlors in the land of lakes. There’s no escaping it. Pizza is now in our DNA. If we have pizza withdrawal for too long, we could possibly die! No – we are not overreacting. (Yes we are). But we’re not…
The Chicagoland area is known for its pizza and that’s no different in Lake County. Pizza’s long history begins in ancient Greece, where these people covered the bread with oils, herbs and cheese. The modern-day version of pizza originated in Naples, Italy, around the 18th or 19th century. Apparently, the first pizza was made for the Royal Palace of Capodimonte in 1889 (which used to be where the kings and queens of Naples and Sicily resided and is now a museum/national gallery). And the rest, my friends, is history. Well – since we’re on the subject of pizza in lake county, Flavor Festival is right around the corner running February 1-29.
These are the top pizza places in Lake County to devour a slice of pie and to scream ‘totally tubular’ for Flavor Festival. Shout out to Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo for the shameless pizza promotion.
Bill’s Pizza & Pub is a family-friendly restaurant, since 1957, with a unique, comfortable, rustic, Northwoods-inspired dining room with incredible wildlife mounts. The world’s renowned first double-decker and famous thin-crust pizzas are outstanding! Their menu also has delicious sandwiches and desserts. Since its inception in the late 1950s, the Mundelein restaurant has achieved numerous accolades for its eats. Kick back, munch on some peanuts and toss your shells wherever you want. The Mundelein eatery also has a second location in Third Lake called Bill’s Pub North.
Bill’s Pizza & Pub, 624 S. Lake St., Mundelein. VIEW MENU»
Bill’s Pub North, 18945 W. Washington St., Third Lake. VIEW MENU»
Disotto's got pizza on the menu, but really you're being transported to another place time in Highwood. This restaurant, reminiscent of vintage Italy, has a menu that includes pizza fruit dishes, salads, pasta, Piatti, contorni and a slew of other delectable items. The scent of these delicious dishes permeates through the walls of this rustic and vintage Italian establishment. The carbonara is just an eye-opening dish. In this instance of the fuel noodles, it’s spaghetti with pecorino, bacon, egg yolk and black pepper. You must visit Disotto for their divine brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.
The eatery named after a portly gentlemen is a prime spot to get a slice of pie in the northbound land of lakes. The newly-renovated and iconic Fatmans in Gurnee is the perfect mix of casual dining, innovation and excitement. With two dining rooms, three bars, three patios, an outdoor live music stage and four outdoor volleyball courts, it's the place to be!
A Chicago staple, the stuffed deep-dish pizza makers, are offering no contact delivery and curbside pickup. Giordano’s has received acclaim as “Chicago’s Best Pizza” by NBC, CBS Chicago, the New York Times, Chicago Magazine, the Chicago Tribune and more. The delectable Windy City restaurant has been a staple in the Land of Lincoln for nearly a half-century.
The Long Grove community hub and pizzeria dabble in Detroit-style pie and other types of our favorite bread, sauce and cheese cuisine. Joanie's also serves roasted chicken, St. Louis-style ribs, seafood, salads and more.
Home of the area's finest thin crust and double decker pizzas, JJ Twigs has been a Wauconda staple for more than 30 years. The pizza spot also offers wings, salads, pastas, soups, burgers, sandwiches, wraps and a ton more. When Lake County Flavor Festival ends, you can still visit this three-decade old venue, and sign up for its summer beach volleyball league, as "The Park" outside of the location houses the courts. Leagues start Monday, May 15.
Whether you crave a juicy burger, a zesty pasta dish or their famous flavor-packed rotisserie chicken, LakeHouse offers a delicious menu the whole family will love. Dine inside surrounded by cozy, warm wood and stone accents, or seasonally, al fresco on the patio. There’s also an extensive craft beer selection along with wine and specialty cocktails.
Iconic pizza made in thin crust and deep dish. Indulge in a molten river of gooey goodness, an avalanche of cheesy bliss providing restaurant-goers with a delectable experience. Sausage, pepperoni, veggies, pineapple just scratch the surface of what toppings they provide. This blogger suggests requesting the butter crust too. The Chicago-style party in your mouth pizza place also features other things on their menu like salads, wings, pasta, seafood and more.
Oliverii North is a 37-year family tradition and the fourth installment of founder Guido Oliverii's restaurant. The Antioch, Italian-inspired eatery features pasta, pizza, soups, salads, seafood and more
Salutos, a favorite Italian restaurant in Gurnee, draws residents from various local communities. The restaurant features a two-story bar, a large dining room with booths and a private banquet meeting room. Famous for their homemade pasta and the “secret recipe” salad dressing, Salutos has been a hit in northern Lake County since 1990. This full-service restaurant’s claim to fame is the pizza, pasta and courteous service. From their delectable appetizers like Artichoke Heart Fondue, Toasted Ravioli and so much more; to their homemade sauces and pastas; to their pizza, either thin, pan or stuffed, everyone will find something to devour on their menu.
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza is located in Wauconda, Vernon Hills and Highwood, IL. The menu is steeped in age-old traditions, cooking methods, as well as the best quality ingredients possible. Their passion for food, coupled with recipes made from scratch daily, offers their guests a truly unique dining experience each and every time. Slyce invites you to sit back, relax and experience the true authentic taste of coal-fired za.
Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Company, 127 N. Main St., Wauconda. INFO» Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Company, 254 Green Bay Rd., Highwood. INFO» Slyce Coal FIred Pizza Company, 913 Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. INFO»
For more information about pizza during Lake County Flavor Festival, continue here. To view the participating restaurants and their menus, click here.
