Great Lake, the legendary pizza joint that fixated (and sometimes frustrated) Andersonville for five years, has returned, a dozen years later.â
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Last week, in true Great Lake fashion, it opened very quietly on Berwyn Avenue, two blocks from its original home on Balmoral Avenue.â
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Thatâs a big difference from those days of long queues down Balmoral, the national spotlight (GQ, Food & Wine, New York Times, etc.) that said Great Lake made the best pizza in America, the block-long lines during a one-day pop-up at Cellar Door Provisions in 2019, that crush of fans suggesting Great Lake had not faded from memories. â
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Tap on our bio link to read more.â
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Photo 1: Two whole pizzas on a shelf at Great Lake on June 24, 2025.â
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Photo 2: Owner Nick Lessins takes a pizza out of the oven.â
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Photo 3: Owner Lydia Esparza prepares ingredients to make a pizza.â
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? Christopher Borrelli / Chicago Tribuneâ
?ď¸ Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / @apereztribune
Great Lake, the legendary pizza joint that fixated (and sometimes frustrated) Andersonville for five years, has returned, a dozen years later.â
â
Last week, in true Great Lake fashion, it opened very quietly on Berwyn Avenue, two blocks from its original home on Balmoral Avenue.â
â
Thatâs a big difference from those days of long queues down Balmoral, the national spotlight (GQ, Food & Wine, New York Times, etc.) that said Great Lake made the best pizza in America, the block-long lines during a one-day pop-up at Cellar Door Provisions in 2019, that crush of fans suggesting Great Lake had not faded from memories. â
â
Tap on our bio link to read more.â
â
-----â
â
Photo 1: Two whole pizzas on a shelf at Great Lake on June 24, 2025.â
â
Photo 2: Owner Nick Lessins takes a pizza out of the oven.â
â
Photo 3: Owner Lydia Esparza prepares ingredients to make a pizza.â
â
? Christopher Borrelli / Chicago Tribuneâ
?ď¸ Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune / @apereztribune