Almost hidden in plain sight along Lopez Jaena Street in Jaro is an unassuming pizza joint. At first, it seems to proudly announce its specialty – Chicago Style Pizza. But a closer look reveals it’s actually the name of the restaurant which aside from pizza, also serves pasta and hotdogs.
But I never really got interested despite the claim but my curiosity was heightened when a fellow blogger - Inday Hami, revealed some very interesting info aside from her good reviews of the pizza. Yet I still wasn't able to drop since it operated only by delivery then and it's only within the city. 
But a few months back I was surprised to see that they've opened small space for the dine-in crowd and finally I was able to squeeze some time to visit the place one cloudy afternoon. I was the only customer that time - minutes past their opening, and the place was purposedly opened for me. 
They have a limited menu from five pizza variants to three pastas and a hotdog sandwich, all paying homage to the Windy City. It was pizza that I came for and there was only one order in my case - a 9-inch personal pan pizza. I can't order a 14-inch pizza and hand carry it back to the city while I do my other errands. Nor ordering pasta or hotdogs would "invalidate" my purpose of visiting this place. 
When my order came, I was greatly disappointed. It didn't live up to it's claim (based on the menu) "Other personal pizzas don't measure up to this Chicago Style Pizza Personal Pan Pizza loaded with Italian Sausage, Mozarella and Cheddar at a very affordable price." I was expecting a really deep dish pizza that would literally look like a pie.
Priced at PhP135 and it was good for two but I ended up eating 6 out of 8 slices. It was thin pizza with the crust not that crisp but the flavour was very Italian. It wasn't "loaded" with pepperoni either -I counted only 8 pieces. The cheeses were very good though and the dough I later found out were high fiber whole wheat dough. It was just I had more expectations than what I was served but it tasted good and the service was good. I even interviewed the server and pried some basic information about this pizza place. 
Chicago Style Pizza is owned by Fr. Espiridion "Boy" Celis of the Parish of the Mandurriao, Iloilo City. It was around February 2009 that this restaurant was put up and most of the workers in this pizza parlor also serves the church as "sacristans" or choir members. The operating hours of the restaurant (3pm-10pm Tuesdays to Sundays) is based on the schedules of these church assistants for most of them have classes in the morning and Mondays are the churches "day off". 
Despite the setbacks - I asked the server which are the best sellers, my order wasn't on the list - lol, it was curiosity satisfied and hopefully will find time to order their best sellers. Aside from pizza maybe the hotdogs and pasta too. But more than the gastronomic side of this, it was more on the sidelights I was very curious then - when Inday Hami, informed me about it being run and managed by a church and it workers having this on top their church duties. This one made made feel obliged to feature it more than those really commercialized establishments.
And as I finally have done so, I wish in my own little way have helped them in their endeavour by spreading "the word" about this heavenly slice of Chicago in Iloilo.
But a few months back I was surprised to see that they've opened small space for the dine-in crowd and finally I was able to squeeze some time to visit the place one cloudy afternoon. I was the only customer that time - minutes past their opening, and the place was purposedly opened for me. 
They have a limited menu from five pizza variants to three pastas and a hotdog sandwich, all paying homage to the Windy City. It was pizza that I came for and there was only one order in my case - a 9-inch personal pan pizza. I can't order a 14-inch pizza and hand carry it back to the city while I do my other errands. Nor ordering pasta or hotdogs would "invalidate" my purpose of visiting this place. 
When my order came, I was greatly disappointed. It didn't live up to it's claim (based on the menu) "Other personal pizzas don't measure up to this Chicago Style Pizza Personal Pan Pizza loaded with Italian Sausage, Mozarella and Cheddar at a very affordable price." I was expecting a really deep dish pizza that would literally look like a pie.
Priced at PhP135 and it was good for two but I ended up eating 6 out of 8 slices. It was thin pizza with the crust not that crisp but the flavour was very Italian. It wasn't "loaded" with pepperoni either -I counted only 8 pieces. The cheeses were very good though and the dough I later found out were high fiber whole wheat dough. It was just I had more expectations than what I was served but it tasted good and the service was good. I even interviewed the server and pried some basic information about this pizza place. 
Chicago Style Pizza is owned by Fr. Espiridion "Boy" Celis of the Parish of the Mandurriao, Iloilo City. It was around February 2009 that this restaurant was put up and most of the workers in this pizza parlor also serves the church as "sacristans" or choir members. The operating hours of the restaurant (3pm-10pm Tuesdays to Sundays) is based on the schedules of these church assistants for most of them have classes in the morning and Mondays are the churches "day off". 
Despite the setbacks - I asked the server which are the best sellers, my order wasn't on the list - lol, it was curiosity satisfied and hopefully will find time to order their best sellers. Aside from pizza maybe the hotdogs and pasta too. But more than the gastronomic side of this, it was more on the sidelights I was very curious then - when Inday Hami, informed me about it being run and managed by a church and it workers having this on top their church duties. This one made made feel obliged to feature it more than those really commercialized establishments.And as I finally have done so, I wish in my own little way have helped them in their endeavour by spreading "the word" about this heavenly slice of Chicago in Iloilo.