I recently stumbled upon Chicago Pizza Tours, a Chicago-based tour I could really sink my teeth into. The tour promises to show you Chicago, one slice at a time.  I couldn’t get on this tour fast enough.

Founded in January 2010 by Jon Porter, Chicago Pizza Tours consists of a bus tour focused on pizza. They are partnered with ten pizza places. Pizano’s in the Loop is always the starting point, and the tour includes three other spots selected from the other nine pizza partners.

The pizza places selected include some of Chicago’s most famous, along with some hidden gems.  The pizza styles range from thin slice to thick to deep-dish. The tour takes you inside the kitchens, where their expert guides talk about the ingredients, cooking techniques and other interesting pizza topics. Of course, freshly cooked pizza is served at each stop.  That’s really the point.

Chicago Pizza Tours runs five days a week, but Porter told me they would like to get up to six or even seven days a week. They are also in the process of expanding their pizza place rotation to twelve, with a future goal of fifteen or more (although quality will always come before quantity).

The tours last three to three and a half hours (depending on Chicago traffic). You spend approximately 30 minutes at each restaurant.  Along with talking all things pizza, the tour also hits upon the art and architecture of Chicago as the tour bus passes things of interest during the hour or so of actual driving between stops.

This would be great for tourists. You can test several of Chicago’s best pizzas along with seeing some great Chicago areas. Of course, Chicagoans can also enjoy this tour. I have only been to three places on their list, and I am looking forward to experiencing more on the tour.

Several slices of great Chicago pizza along with several slices of interesting Chicago neighborhoods sounds like a great way to spend part of an afternoon!

— John Wroblewski, online contributor