Mmm, doesn’t that pizza look so fresh and tasty? Want to guess where it’s from? No. No. And no--I’ll pretend you didn’t read the headline. As much I love Leona’s, I never really associated its yum factor with their pizza. I finally tried it, and I was absolutely delighted.

Leona’s is always great to visit. The atmosphere is comfortable; the servers are attentive; and the food is always plentiful, delicious, and affordable. The wine list, although not extensive, is well-priced and perfectly savory. The pizza, as you can see, is packed with fresh toppings. The pizza seems to be cooked nearly until completion and then the vegetables are placed atop and cooked briefly last. It made for a very pleasant, satisfying surprise of crispy green peppers and mouth-watering mushrooms. In fact, I really enjoyed the overall “crunch” of the pizza; the crust was fantastically crispy. The layers of cheese, sauce, and toppings were well-balanced, and everything did taste incredibly fresh.

I was really happy I decided to try Leona’s pizza. Their 1950 Traditional pizza seen here cost around $13, and there was plenty for 2 people. Visit any of the 12 Leona’s locations in Chicagoland. Check out www.leonas.com to visit the one closest to you.

Leona's Pizza gets 7 out of 8 slices