Indianapolis Spotlight: Giordano’s

🍕 Giordano’s in Indianapolis, Indiana

Giordano’s is a renowned American pizzeria chain that specializes in Chicago-style stuffed deep-dish pizza.¹ The brand’s presence in Indianapolis brings this famous Chicago food to the Midwest city.²

Unique Features

The main element that makes Giordano’s unique is its Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza.³

• Stuffed Pizza: Giordano’s pizza is often described as a stuffed pizza, which is distinct from a traditional deep dish.⁴ It features a top and bottom crust with a generous layer of cheese and other toppings stuffed in between.⁵ A layer of tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese is then added on top of the crust.⁶

   

• The Recipe’s Origin: The inspiration for the stuffed pizza comes from a 200-year-old family recipe for an “Italian Easter Pie” (Scarciedda) created by Mama Giordano in a small northern Italian town near Torino.⁷

   

• Ingredients: The pizza uses high-quality ingredients, including dough high in gluten that takes several days to prepare, vine-ripened tomatoes from Northern California for the sauce, and a significant amount of mozzarella cheese (nearly a pound in every pie).⁸

   

History

• Founding: The first Giordano’s was opened in 1974 on Chicago’s historic south side by Italian immigrant brothers Efren and Joseph Boglio (Giordano).⁹ They introduced their mother’s famous stuffed pizza recipe.¹⁰

   

• Indianapolis Opening: The first Giordano’s location in Indiana (and first outside of the Chicagoland area since 1995) opened in Indianapolis on February 3, 2015, at the Rivers Edge shopping center.¹¹

   

• Fan Demand: The opening was partly driven by a “Bring Giordano’s to Indianapolis” Facebook campaign that garnered 1,200 followers, demonstrating significant local demand.¹²

   

Highlight Menu Items

While best known for its Stuffed Deep Dish Pizza, the Indianapolis locations also offer a variety of Italian-American cuisine:¹³

• Deep Dish Pizza: Their signature double-crusted, cheese-stuffed masterpiece.¹⁴

   

• Tavern-Style Pizza Pie: Thin or extra-thin crust varieties for a snappier texture.¹⁵

   

• Starters: Options like mozzarella triangles, wings, and a Sampler platter.¹⁶

   

• Sandwiches: Including Italian-inspired handhelds like chicken parmesan and meatball subs.¹⁷

   

• Italian: Various pasta dishes made with their handmade sauces.¹⁸

   

• Salads and Desserts (such as chocolate chip cookies) are also available.¹⁹

   

Customer Feedback

Customer feedback often centers on the stuffed pizza experience:

• Acclaim: Giordano’s stuffed pizza has received wide acclaim, being named “Best Pizza in the City” by Chicago Magazine and “Best Pizza in America” by NBC’s The Today Show.²⁰ Many customers describe it as the “best pizza ever” and a true Chicago deep dish experience.²¹

   

• Cheese Focus: The abundance of cheese is a frequent highlight, with some describing a massive, thick, and creamy cheese filling.²²

   

• Criticism: Some critics have noted that the crust can be bland, lacking the buttery flavor of some competitors, or occasionally having issues with raw dough inside due to the thickness and long cooking time (often 45+ minutes).²³ The overall price is also sometimes cited as a concern.

   

Significant Events

The most significant event related to the Indianapolis location was its grand opening itself:

• Opening Day Buzz: The opening on February 3, 2015, was highly publicized and successful.²⁴ Media coverage generated over 64.9 million media impressions, and lines of customers formed around 8 AM and continued for weeks. This location became one of Giordano’s top performers in volume.

   

• Expansion in Indiana: This Indianapolis opening was the first of what was planned to be several new Midwest locations, marking a significant step in the company’s expansion outside of the Chicago and Florida markets.

Indianapolis Location Information

Giordano’s has at least two locations in Indianapolis:

📍 Downtown Indianapolis

📍 North Side Indianapolis (Rivers Edge)

🌐 General Contact Information