Chicago Pizza Kitchen — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Be warned. If you leave a negative review the owner will find you on FB and harass you. See photos attached.

For business owners there is always the constant stress of inflation but it is possible to deliver quality food at a low cost provided the management takes responsibility, instilling markedly wholesome teamwork within the staff.

--READ ON FOR THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY--

💥First! THE GOOD:💥

It takes a lot of guts to open up any business, let alone a restaurant. Most restaurants close within their first year of business. I applaud their courage.

There aren't many places that taut Chicagoan food anywhere in Albuquerque. The owners are smart to introduce something new and exciting to the food landscape here.

Though it wasn't my cup of tea, the decor is filled with things that catch the eye. Stands of full medieval armor stare at you from every corner. Nicknacks and pictures of old timey Chicago hang from the ceiling while various YouTube videos play from the TV.

💥THE BAD:💥

The food.

I ordered a Chicago-style deep dish Deluxe pizza. It felt to me like they used frozen pies and heated them up in an oven and threw the toppings on beforehand. Having been to Chicago many times, deep dish pizzas will take upwards of 30 minutes to make. Mine took 15 minutes. It's underwhelming, tastes cheap, and was disappointing. Perhaps their other menu items taste better. I'd be curious to try if it weren't for the aforementioned 'hate mail' I received from the owner. There is so much potential here. I can easily see these guys partnering with "The General's Hot Sauce" who give a percentage of their profits to veteran's programs. I could see these guys making their own brand of sauce; call it, "At Ease!" or "ChicaGO!"

The service.

I've worked in the service industry and have a deep respect and understanding for what they do. In my experience, 99% of the time, if there is a problem with the service, it lies not on the shoulders of the staff but with the management. I thought that the staff were as helpful as they could have been given the confusing environment they worked in. They helped us find the things we needed when we needed them. Great job!

The environment.

It was befuddling to walk into a pizzeria and find medieval knights glaring at you. Again, it wasn't my cup of tea but others might appreciate it. The pictures of Chicago were a nice addition and brought you into the space.

The price. 💸

Admittedly, you could easily pay $40 ordering in from Domino's these days with tax and delivery fees. For 3 of us, it cost $50. I'm sorry, we're talking pizza here. There are places in NY that charge you $1 for a slice...even during Covid. They charge you $2 for every topping you have on your pizza. Two dollars. For every topping. There are better ways to solve this problem.

💥 THE FIX?💥

This place HAS to move away from FROZEN pies to FRESH, homemade, wholesome ingredients. Improve the quality of the food and people will pour in through the doors. Brick walls, dimly lit pub lighting, a full bar while you watch a Cubs game? This place could knock the socks off the competition!

Management MUST be careful with the way it treats its customers. Belligerently berating and belittling your customers who leave a review that you don't like is a dangerous game. I understand that this is your livelihood but my opinion is not an attack on you, it's only an opinion.....nothing more.

Chicago? - It isn't just yet, but it could be something great. Check these guys out! It wasn't my cup of tea but you might like it. My rating...

"user error" I ordered delivery online through Uber eats. I received NO notification that the order had gone through. I also investigated the Website for Chicago Pizza and it now said delivery was not possible from this store, so I called the restaurant directly. The manager said no order had come through so that I should either call their other storefront in town or order again online for pickup. I called the other store and they found no evidence of an order either. So I ordered online for pickup at the original store. The order wasn't exactly the same but darn close. When I drove across town to pick up the food, the manager told me there was a problem. The Uber driver had just picked up the original order which supposedly hadn't gone through. Actually it had gone through- for a scheduled time a few hours later- but that it hadn't shown up earlier because I scheduled pick up for later in the dse She insisted on giving me my food, the second order, and she said I'd need to get ahold of Karra to get the Uber order cancelled. My son and I immediately called the Karra the Uber driver. She said she was on the way to my house and that she couldn't cancel the order. She said I'd have to call "Customer Service" for that. So we called them immediately. Customer Service equated to a series of chat boxes which were of no help, who them sent me to supposed humans for online chat. In each case, after going through the lengthy written explanation as a I've, the chat attendant concluded that since my order had been delivered they had no reason to refund me and the case was closed. I tried to explain again, succinctly, that the problem was the opposite - that I received Too Much food but that I'd also been charged for it Twice. I sent them copies of the receipts proving I'd been charged twice. Finally they notified me that they are now "escalating" my case to a manager and I should hear from them in 12 hours or so. I'm still waiting now over 12 hrs later. I don't know who holds the ultimate blame for this but I do know that while the mistake was not mine, I'm the one who is paying the ultimate price. This is not right from a business or moral compass. One of them, either the restaurant or Uber Eats, owes me about $50,00. It's also obvious that thir goal is to run the customer around in a circle until he or she runs out of time or gets fed up. IOW, they care more about their profit than they do about customers. Their greed is disgusting.

No more Uber Eats for me or my family. Sorry...

Chicago Pizza Kitchen is a true delight for pizza lovers! From the moment I walked into the restaurant, I was struck by the warm, inviting atmosphere, and the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked pizza. The decor was rustic and charming, with red and white checkered tablecloths and vintage photographs adorning the walls. But, the real star of the show was the pizza!

The crust was perfectly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, with just the right amount of chewiness. The sauce was rich and flavorful, with just the right balance of acidity and sweetness. And the toppings were fresh, plentiful, and generously layered on top of the pizza.

One of my favorite pizzas was the classic deep-dish pizza, which was absolutely delicious. The crust was so buttery and flaky that it almost melted in my mouth. The tomato sauce was thick and sweet, with just a hint of tanginess, and the toppings were savory and satisfying.

But, the menu had so much more to offer, including thin-crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches, and more. I also loved the variety of toppings available, from classic pepperoni and sausage to more exotic options like pesto, goat cheese, and roasted red peppers.

The service at Chicago Pizza Kitchen was also exceptional. The staff was friendly and attentive, and they made sure that every aspect of our dining experience was top-notch. They were happy to answer any questions we had and provided excellent recommendations for our meal.

Overall, I highly recommend Chicago Pizza Kitchen for anyone looking for a delicious and satisfying pizza experience. The combination of exceptional service, warm atmosphere, and mouth-watering pizza makes it a must-visit destination for...