Huge huge malnati's fans, to the point my husband and I had it catered at our wedding. We adore the chicago classic, which as you know, has the large sausage patty nearly covering the entire pizza.
The last two times we've gotten it -both at different locations- there was zero patty-ness of the sausage. If it was 80% surface sausage, it's now 20%.
Has anyone else noticed this? Did we just happened to have two crappy pizza makers at different places that failed on the patty? Or Is it just another notch in the bedpost of "shit companies do now to save money"
by thecoolestbeanaround
44 Comments
I got a Lou’s with the sausage patty last week. There was a solid 1.5” gap between the edge of the patty and the edge of the crust. Super sad to see. That’s like getting a large pizza with a small sausage topping.
Private Equity
Private equity purchased Lou’s leading to enshittification.
I will say the one on Damen in Wicker Park usually still produces a really solid deep dish, almost like the original one on Lincoln in Lincolnwood.
But the most recent one we got had a pretty short and thin crust, it was disappointing knowing I’ve had several deep dish pies with properly sized crusts from them since I moved nearby earlier this summer.
Also, I always get mine well done with buttercrust, which gives the crust a nice crunch without being dry.
Without buttercrust I think it’s too dry, but maybe it was always like that.
It’s gone I’m gonna have to try it again, but the last two times I’ve had it. I was shocked how bad it was.
They’ve changed the bean counters are in control. However,…… they have a phenomenal customer satisfaction policy if it’s not right they will re do it or refund no fuss no muss.
I agree that the quality from restaurant to restaurant has become completely hit or miss. But people act like it’s complete garbage now which is weird.
I got it from the Lincoln Park location last week and it was phenomenal.
Last week we got pizza from there for an office party and it was down right disrespectful. The dough on the bottom was thicker than the cheese
I’ve never noticed a difference–numerous times to the one on State before late-start Bears games, River North, Wrigley Building, Gold Coast and burbs.
Pro tip: when you get a deep dish, order it with crumbled sausage instead of the patty (it’s same sausage they put on thin crust). More of a personal preference for me as I don’t really need sausage in every single bite (but to OPs point, the patty has gotten smaller and lower quality over the years).
Every time this comes up, I feel morally obligated to say the same thing. I switched to Tortorices many years ago and never looked back.
Pequod’s
I’ve also noticed, by way of being at the houses of friends and/or family, that the delivery only Lou’s are absolute garbage. If it’s a full restaurant Lou’s the pizza is better. Go figure — if people are actually showing up to eat inside the pizza is better.
I had an uwful and undercooked deep dish from lou’s location in the wrigley building a few weeks ago.
Never taking tourists there again
I don’t frequent different locations but I can definitely say mine has gone downhill. This photo is what it should look like but hasn’t for quite some time
I always get the cheese. Quality of cheese seems to stay constant.
In Aug had friends in town and ordered from the Lincoln square location. Ordered it well done and it came undercooked, more dough than toppings, and sausage only covered about 50% of it. I was so disappointed called and got a refund. Haven’t been back and not sure I will. It really turned me off
Corporate greed/malfeasance.
I think this gets brought up like every 6 months
The last few deep dish pizzas I bought from them lookEd super thin.
Private Equity
https://preview.redd.it/fycodw69vmyf1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cdcf6702ccebe4c77be7270f8793d8053c4fcc8
This is one I got a couple weeks ago and it was pretty great
This and portillos are the biggest restaurant changes I’ve experienced in my life time so far, of locations I previously enjoyed and so plenty of locations.
I had one on Thursday and thought it was a solid Lou’s Chicago Classic. It’s not my #1 deep dish, and I generally prefer tavern cut, but I thought it was solid.
It got bought by a private equity company. Just like a Portillos.
people will still lie and say its better than giordanos
The State street location has been as good as ever when I order.
I’ve noticed this also the entire pie is compromised depending on the location
This ex Chicagoan is bummed to hear about Lou’s selling out. Where do you all recommend going instead? Pequod?
We quit ordering it. It’s been not good the last two times.
the question is would the consumer pay for the 80% surface sausage with the cost of meat gone up?
they seem to think not.
“80% Surface Sausage”…. New band name.
Lincolnwood dine in it the best , the small pick up locations just not the same
I have a friend who worked there in management. They retired shortly after the company went private as the new management was infuriating them with their short term, get rich, screw the customer tactics. I haven’t ordered from them since.
https://preview.redd.it/kxfnvcfyvqyf1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=aa38b933aa7a66c2f156325b1f64facf06529d3e
This was my recent Lou, cheese wasn’t even fully melted 🤢
They went downhill in my opinion
The chain locations have always been pretty bad. Curious about the original/older ones…also not good these days?
Never a classic.
The door dash delivery driver nonsense has me never ordering delivery from there again anyway!
Private Equity! Went to Oakbrook location and hardly any cheese on the deep dish
Especially this past year, it’s been really rough. The highlight on their menu are the wings lol
They started serving Pepsi and I stopped going. Coke or bust
My first job was Lou’s in the burbs (BG). Moved away for school many years ago but have ordered the shipped stuff on the reg. Quality went down so bad over the past couple years and I no longer order. Similar situation with portillos. Shame and there’s just nothing like either near me.
Wow I just had one a couple of days ago in man, no sauce, barely any sausage, I grew up eating this pizza. I’m 52 years old. This is a shame
I just ordered Lou’s and man it’s so dry and BLAND. had it last month at a different location and pretty much the same story.