In 1959, Joe Aurelio Jr. opened a small, four-table restaurant in Homewood, IL. However, despite several expansions, growing into a business seating over 150 people, loyal customers would still form lines around the block, all waiting for some of that delicious Aurelio⿿s Pizza. In an effort to accommodate more of his patrons, Joe purchased a nearby 12,000-square-foot (1115-square-meter) warehouse to relocate his business in 1977. But even with the world⿿s largest pizzeria of the time, people still lined up and waited as long as necessary just for a taste of Aurelio⿿s cuisine. Now, there are 43 locations in six states throughout the country.
To this day, southsiders will tell you that Aurelio⿿s has the best pizza. Period. And the fact that the flagship restaurant in Homewood, IL is always packed with happy customers is evidence supporting this ongoing debate. From 2 to 92, people of all ages sit at the red-and-white-checkered tables and order up thin-crust pizzas of all sizes and ingredients, which range from your basic sausage and pepperoni to the untraditional hot peppers or chicken with Alfredo sauce. Many regulars swear by the ⿿Super Six⿿⿿sausage, cheese, green peppers, ham, pepperoni, and mushrooms. And while it is often overlooked, Mama Aurelio⿿s stuffed pizza is just as scrumptious as its thin-crust counterpart.
Oh sure, they have Italian beefs, meatball sandwiches, subs, salads, and pasta, but seriously who goes to a pizzeria for anything but the ⿿pie⿿?
Photo credit: Navin75
Aurelio⿿s Pizza ($): 18162 Harwood Ave (Homewood); 708-798-8050
Sun: 2:00 p.m. ⿿ 9:00 p.m.
Mon ⿿ Thurs: 11:30 a.m. ⿿ 9:30 p.m.
Fri: 11:30 a.m. ⿿ 10:30 p.m.
Sat: 4:00 p.m. ⿿ 10:30 p.m.
Free parking lot
http://www.aureliospizza.com/
