Pizzeria Uno

You’ve probably been to an Uno franchise, as they’re scattered across the U.S. I’ll admit, I wasn’t too thrilled about eating at a chain restaurant. But I gave it a go, since this is where deep dish supposedly began.

Pizzeria Uno | 29 E. Ohio St.

The sauce: Tart and salty. The chunky texture of real tomatoes is commendable, but the ketchupy flavor made me question their quality. Something about the taste brought to mind Chef Boyardee.

The cheese: Proportionate to the amount of sauce. Didn’t ooze everywhere and didn’t dominate the overall flavor.

The sausage: Surprising. I was wary of the disk after the experience at Gino’s East, but Uno’s disk was much more appealing, with a firm texture and a slightly spicy bite.

The crust: Bland. Had the taste of a flour-based quick bread. Didn’t have that buttery flavor and melt-in-your-mouth texture I love. It was, however, softer and easier to cut with a knife and fork.

The atmosphere: Touristy and cramped. The decor is 50s-style diner meets your neighborhood Applebee’s — black and white tile on the floor and walls, forest green wainscoting, blue Christmas lights and framed photos of days gone by. If you’re unlucky enough to have a party of two, you’ll get jammed into a small table placed in extremely close proximity to two booths. To distract yourself from the back of your chair getting pushed every time the server squeezes by, listen in on the booth-dwellers’ intimate dinner conversation and watch as they order two large deep-dish pizzas for a family of four (read: WAY TOO MUCH PIZZA).