If you take just one step into Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, the aroma of hot cheese, sauce and crust fresh out of the oven becomes overwhelming. Welcome to Lou’s — arguably the best deep dish in the Chicago area.

The first Lou Malnati’s location opened on March 17, 1971 in Lincolnwood. With a total of 58 locations in the Chicago area alone, Lou’s is the place to enjoy the ultimate Chicago delicacy: deep dish pizza. Its Sherman Avenue location is a smaller version of the eatery, with the same welcoming atmosphere as the original location.

The pizzeria offers build-your-own pizzas, either deep dish or thin crust, and provides gluten free options. In addition to their famous pies, they also make pasta dishes, Italian beef sandwiches and delicious appetizers.

To top off your dining experience, you can try their cannoli dip served with housemade cinnamon sugar tortilla chips or their rich tiramisu for dessert.

All cheesiness aside, for me, Lou Malnati’s was a staple growing up in Chicago.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @selenakuznikov