Comments on: Wholly Joe’s – a True Taste of Chicago http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/ Culinary Discovery & Misadventures in the Ice Cream Capital of the World (Columbus) Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:47:43 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Jill http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-9598 Jill Sun, 04 Oct 2009 01:33:37 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-9598 It should have been a bad sign when there were only a handful of people in there on a Saturday night. Unbelievably bad service, and pretty bad pizza, too. I had been craving deep dish all week, so searched on line and found this place. We ordered onion rings to eat while we waited for our pizza. When they called our number, I was handed a greasy little paper bag. I looked inside to see the rings, looked OK. When I asked for plates so we could have some ketchup with our rings, I was told that I would be brought plates when the pizza comes out. OK...??? I went back to the ordering counter and asked again for plates, and was given some tiny little barbie-doll sizzed plates. Then, the pizza came out (and finally, the plates). The only thing deep about it was the greasy, salty, rubbery cheese. Oh, and the ring of flavorless, pale crust around the edge. Nothing like the deep dish I remember. So, then I went back to the rude little man at the counter and asked for a box to take the leftover pizza home (why? I'm not sure...) He gave me a box that was clearly too small for our pizza. I asked if he had a bigger box, and he said, "well, how big of a box do you need? " I replied that I needed one big enough for the 14 " pizza. He said that was what he had given me. I'm not an idiot. I could see that it clearly wasn't. So, I had to go back to my table, put the pizza on the box and take it BACK to the counter and show him that it wasn't. He rolled his eyes and handed me a bigger box. I have never written a review in my life, but I sure wish someone had writtten a review like this so I would have saved my time, money, and a rare night out. It should have been a bad sign when there were only a handful of people in there on a Saturday night. Unbelievably bad service, and pretty bad pizza, too.
I had been craving deep dish all week, so searched on line and found this place. We ordered onion rings to eat while we waited for our pizza. When they called our number, I was handed a greasy little paper bag. I looked inside to see the rings, looked OK. When I asked for plates so we could have some ketchup with our rings, I was told that I would be brought plates when the pizza comes out. OK…??? I went back to the ordering counter and asked again for plates, and was given some tiny little barbie-doll sizzed plates.
Then, the pizza came out (and finally, the plates). The only thing deep about it was the greasy, salty, rubbery cheese. Oh, and the ring of flavorless, pale crust around the edge. Nothing like the deep dish I remember.
So, then I went back to the rude little man at the counter and asked for a box to take the leftover pizza home (why? I’m not sure…) He gave me a box that was clearly too small for our pizza. I asked if he had a bigger box, and he said, “well, how big of a box do you need? ” I replied that I needed one big enough for the 14 ” pizza. He said that was what he had given me. I’m not an idiot. I could see that it clearly wasn’t. So, I had to go back to my table, put the pizza on the box and take it BACK to the counter and show him that it wasn’t. He rolled his eyes and handed me a bigger box.
I have never written a review in my life, but I sure wish someone had writtten a review like this so I would have saved my time, money, and a rare night out.

]]> By: Lorence http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-545 Lorence Wed, 07 Mar 2007 04:59:18 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-545 Oh, it's been so long, too long since our last trip ti Chicago, so on your recommendation, we traveled north to Polaris (almost the other side of the world for us...) this past weekend in search of our beloved Chicago-style pizza. We were NOT disappointed! Thanks for posting about Wholly Joe's. While it's no Giordano's, it's pretty dang good, better than the original (not as greasy as Uno's). We had a deep dish with pep, mushrooms and spinach,and I'll be finishing the last piece tomorrow for lunch. We're all looking forward to going back in a few weeks for an Italian beef and some dogs - and I won't forget the onion rings! photos and posting will follow that one (I forgot the camera last time) Thanks again! Oh, it’s been so long, too long since our last trip ti Chicago, so on your recommendation, we traveled north to Polaris (almost the other side of the world for us…) this past weekend in search of our beloved Chicago-style pizza. We were NOT disappointed! Thanks for posting about Wholly Joe’s. While it’s no Giordano’s, it’s pretty dang good, better than the original (not as greasy as Uno’s). We had a deep dish with pep, mushrooms and spinach,and I’ll be finishing the last piece tomorrow for lunch. We’re all looking forward to going back in a few weeks for an Italian beef and some dogs – and I won’t forget the onion rings! photos and posting will follow that one (I forgot the camera last time)

Thanks again!

]]> By: The Gourmand http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-369 The Gourmand Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:12:21 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-369 MAC - I'm not knocking this town - I am talking culinary history here - Columbus does not have a food unique to itself - Chicago and NYC do. So does the South - not a diss - just a fact. And as the guy that I had 10 Beefs in one day with you in Chicago - the Wholly Joe is about a 6.2 on our beef 10 point scale. It is no (Italian Village) Al's #1 or Carms but it gets the job done. MAC –

I’m not knocking this town – I am talking culinary history here – Columbus does not have a food unique to itself – Chicago and NYC do. So does the South – not a diss – just a fact.

And as the guy that I had 10 Beefs in one day with you in Chicago – the Wholly Joe is about a 6.2 on our beef 10 point scale. It is no (Italian Village) Al’s #1 or Carms but it gets the job done.

]]> By: mac http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-368 mac Thu, 11 Jan 2007 21:32:06 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-368 There you go again, Gourmie, knockin CMH, I mean it's true, even Cincy and C-land got more street cred than the Capital, but so what? Columbus has got a lot of character hidden beneath its vanilla-packaged-by-Borden-go-bucks exterior. I'm glad you're out there reporting on these places. But tell me is the beef good? I know that you know. Is it Scala's, or do they do it in house? I do beleive that every town should have a beef joint, and I'll go for a good sandwich, but I'll pass on the pictures of the Al Capone and and murals of the silouetted skyline(if they have those things). Cheers. mac There you go again, Gourmie, knockin CMH, I mean it’s true, even Cincy and C-land got more street cred than the Capital, but so what? Columbus has got a lot of character hidden beneath its vanilla-packaged-by-Borden-go-bucks exterior. I’m glad you’re out there reporting on these places. But tell me is the beef good? I know that you know. Is it Scala’s, or do they do it in house? I do beleive that every town should have a beef joint, and I’ll go for a good sandwich, but I’ll pass on the pictures of the Al Capone and and murals of the silouetted skyline(if they have those things).
Cheers.
mac

]]> By: Anna http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-356 Anna Wed, 10 Jan 2007 18:37:22 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-356 Wholy hot dog, Batman. Yeeeeow-za. Wholy hot dog, Batman. Yeeeeow-za.

]]> By: Pete http://cmhgourmand.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-354 Pete Wed, 10 Jan 2007 08:02:03 +0000 http://cmhgourmand.wordpress.com/2007/01/07/wholly-joes-a-true-taste-of-chicago/#comment-354 One of the best kept secret's in the Columbus area. I love this place and get a dog or two to go every week. Don't forget to order the onion rings, done with a tempura like batter, light and crispy. The italian beef will make you think a second time about ever driving up to an Arby's again. Deep Dish pizza here (served in the evening, takes a while to order (made fresh), but it worth it! One of the best kept secret’s in the Columbus area. I love this place and get a dog or two to go every week. Don’t forget to order the onion rings, done with a tempura like batter, light and crispy. The italian beef will make you think a second time about ever driving up to an Arby’s again. Deep Dish pizza here (served in the evening, takes a while to order (made fresh), but it worth it!

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