Chicago-style deep dish pizza isn't confined to the Windy City limits. Suburbanites and Woodfield Mall visitors can get their cheesy, saucy deep dish fix, too, at the aptly named Chicago Pizza Company in Rolling Meadows. Actually, Giordano's and Uno's have nothing on the pizza bowls here. A ceramic bowl is stuffed with cheese, sauce, mushrooms and your choice of topping and finished off with white or wheat dough. When it comes out of the oven, your server flips the steaming bowl over and you’ve got a personal deep dish pizza, perfect for those who feel like indulging a little bit, but not too much. If you prefer to share your meal, the restaurant offers larger pies. The vegetarian-friendly menu also features personal thin-crust pizzas, signature portofino bread, big salads, pastas and sandwiches. Never again will you settle for the Swedish meatballs at the nearby Ikea.

You can catch the game here, too. Chicago Pizza Company's decor splits between sports bar and sit-down family (or date) spot, with a long wooden bar and TVs throughout, plus tall wooden booths and tables and a fireplace. Whatever you're in the mood for, definitely inquire about the seasonal daily specials. Every day of the week (generally after 5 p.m.) there's an unbelievable deal like half off the entire bill on Monday and $3 martinis on Saturday. While the martinis may not be as fancy as something you can get at certain places in the city, they certainly won't disappoint.

Why eat another weird Swedish meatball or lingonberry dish at the nearby Ikea when you can stop here instead?

Centerstage Reviewer: Maya Henderson