Does Beggar's Pizza in Oak Forest live up to the Hype?

If you live in Oak Forest, you probably have been to Beggars Pizza. Beggars Pizza has been a mainstay in Oak Forest since 1998. It is the go to place for pizza and casual atmosphere. We wanted to know though, does it live up to the hype.

Beggars Pizza first opened their doors in 1976 at its first pizzeria in Blue Island at 127th and Western. Angelo Garetto was the founder and first pizzaiolo, which is the official name for someone who make pizza in a pizzeria. Pete Garetto, a chip off the old block, decided to throw his towel in the ring with the Beggars in Oak Forest. The Oak Forest Beggars is still owned and operated by the Garetto family. Now that you have a little history, let's get to the pizza.

"Everyone loves our Pizza," says Renee Grohnke a manger of Beggars for the past 12 years. "We have people that move away from the area and when they return, they will stop at Beggars for a pizza, before actually seeing their family." It seems that Renee is right. Oak Foresters loves their Beggar's Pizza. Their tag line is "We Lay It On Thick." And they are right. The ewwy gooey cheese is really what pizza dreams are made of.

It is nicely affordable. A family can expect to pay about $30 for a family sized pizza and a pitcher of pop which we all know is about equal to a trip through the drive through at your local fast food joint. A sandwich will run you about $5.50 and you can get a plate of mostaccioli for about $8 bucks. That is not too bad for a dinner out of the house and moms would agree.

Beggars has a relaxed atmosphere where a family can go and enjoy a nice casual meal . It is clean and cozy, not too fancy where you feel funny about wearing gym shoes and jeans. It has a big beer garden, a nice and comfortable seating area, a good sized bar and 2 medium sized party rooms which can be rented for private parties. Also stuck in a little corner by the pick up area of Beggars is a hand full of video games which is just enough to entertain the little ones for a while. When mom needs another 20 minutes to relax and finish her meal, a hand full of quarters can do the trick.

The employees will tell you that Beggar's is a wonderful place. Claire Waller who comes from a long line of Beggars employees told us that it is great to work at Beggar's. "It is like another family," Claire told us and for her it is a bit literal since her mother, Nancy and all 3 of her siblings have worked there before her. This great working environment is credited for the friendly staff which makes your outing that much more pleasant.

All in all, Beggar's definitely lived up to the hype. So when mom is tired and the kids are hungry, head on over to Beggar's for some great pizza and an enjoyable time.

Beggars is located at 15600 S. Cicero Avenue and their phone number is 708-535-9500. Reservations are not required but at busy times, there might be a short wait. Their party rooms can be rented by calling 708-535-9500.