Redbird Country Lunch Spots, Part 1
My Pizza Suggestions for you in Bloomington-Normal, IL
Bloomington-Normal’s Slices of Heaven
Everybody’s got their favorite places to get their fill of pizza here in Redbird Country. Whether it’s by the slice at Sam’s Club in Normal or for an enjoyable meal at Giordano’s in Bloomington - there’s always room for calzones and other variations of Italian food, so buckle up, let’s get to this first in a series of Restaurant suggestions in town for lunch or fast dinner. Everyone’s going to have different opinions about where to go, but here are some places where I’ve either had their food or have heard they are really great.
Domino’s
I’m starting this off with a classic place we Gen X’ers know very well from the ol’ salad days of school and first jobs, where you know the pizza will be consistent. A few years ago, my wife and I started regularly buying pizza for delivery from Domino’s because it was within our budget and the no-nonsense ordering. We loved having the ability to see how long it would take for them to make it, put it in the oven, then send it on the way from the store. The ability to order exactly what we wanted on the app on our phones is a key feature that makes Dominos stand out from the crowd. The delivery time is decent and the drivers are extremely cordial. It’s not what I would call super cheap as the individual items you want like the pop and their dessert items, but it fills the stomach in a satisfying way, and that’s really what matters. The crust on their pizza matches your needs, so if you want it thicker or thinner, it’s available.
Sam’s Club
I’m going to keep this one brief because it’s such a well-known fact that Sam’s Club has this great combo of a drink with a slice that is so good, there are huge lines at almost all hours of the day to get them. When you’re on a stringent budget, and you have a membership (sometimes you can just walk through and go directly to the food service area, but that’s not always the case). The Sam’s Club Pizza is cool in my opinion because it’s like you are getting two slices instead of just one thin one. They have cheese, pepperoni, and if you’re lucky, there’s a combo available. These slices get nabbed pretty fast, so be prepared to wait for a newer pizza to come out of the oven.
Monical’s & Tobin’s
It’s safe to say if you’ve never had Monical’s or Tobin’s. then you’re probably not a Townie because both of these pizza places are popular with people who have lived here all their life, or either is so good, you’ll go out of your way to grab some pizza on the way through town. I combined these two because they seem to be sort of the same kind of pizza joint as their pizzas are generally thin crust and simply made. I think also with these popular places, it’s the service and overall friendliness that counts. We’ve dined in both, and they were totally great all the way around. They are family-oriented, so it’s safe to say you will have a pleasant dining experience.
Papa John’s
My initial thought from my memories of eating Papa John’s pizza is I enjoy them because my Father-In-Law had a job with them as a delivery driver and he supported the business by ordering from them exclusively for family get-togethers. I like their pizza because of the dough and the fresh ingredients they have. There are so many different types of pizza you can order, I just think you cannot go wrong with them. They are a little more expensive than some of the others mentioned but remember when you really think of it, aren’t you worth the extra money spent on a meal that’s going to satisfy your craving for a night off from the grind of making your own dinner?
Rosati’s
One of the most interesting pizza places on this list, Rosati's Pizza provides customers with signature Chicago-style pizzas, pasta, and sandwiches of high quality, value, and flavor. You’ll know right away that they are true to their roots, continue to use fresh ingredients, and have authentic Italian family recipes. Chicago-style is deep dish that is definitely a meal in one large slice but another if you have room in your stomach. This is also a popular place for delivery and rest assured, expect the wait to be worth it. It’s also a fun alternative to the different pizza places mentioned above.
Conclusion
I’m not going to pretend that this list is complete, and I will continue to cover some other places I have enjoyed dining at. In my next article, I’ll cover some fine-dining Italian restaurants in the Bloomington-Normal area you’ll most likely love as I do.
Bloomington-Normal has so much to offer when it comes to Italian food, so I’ll also list some other places where pizza takes a back seat and their focus is on some other scrumptious alternatives like Calzones from D.P. Dough and even The Original Pinseria, who blew me away with their unique meals that did not disappoint.
STUDENTS! Just want to welcome you back and hope you are excited to be back for this semester! Can’t wait to see your smiling faces, Redbirds!