October: Aurelio's is Pizza

 

October is National Pizza Month, and Aurelio's is Pizza! Seriously, that's what it says on all their signage. We would like to ask, “Compared to what?” Does this mean that Aurelio's is ontologically, at its very essence, pizza? Or is it that it represents the definitive word on what a pizza place ought to be? Inquiring minds and hungry tummies wanted to know, so we found out!

It was raining outside, so we didn't waste any time enjoying the exterior and landscaping. We will say, though, that Aurelio's is something of a landmark in Bourbonnais, is easy to locate, and offers ample parking. Once indoors, we were delighted to find that we had stepped out of Illinois and into Tuscany, Italy. The restaurant is very well themed, featuring floor to ceiling décor, including brickwork, an arched entryway, pleasant greenery, and other little Italian touches. We were particularly impressed with the creative, open floor plan. Aurelio's has spaces for dinner for two or for large parties. If crowded, it could become a loud room quickly, but we sat next to a girl's junior high soccer team and didn't feel overwhelmed. One additional note: we have discovered that every, and by every we mean all, Bourbonnais pizza joints play contemporary Christian music! “Why is this?” you may ask. We did. But only in our heads, because we didn't think our server would know the answer. More on that later...

Atmosphere aside, the restaurant was very clean and accommodating. Bathrooms were fantastic: spacious, decorated, and well-lit. There were arcade machines near the restroom for youngsters (although not so close or so loud to the dining area that they were off-putting). There was also a very nice take-out area with its own separate entrance, seating, and cashier.

The service at Aurelio's was a little—how shall we put it, hmm—absent. There was no hostess when we arrived, and her podium remained empty during the course of our meal. Honestly, we could have walked away with a dozen menus under our arm and no one would have been the wiser. We thought about it... Our server, who's name will be kept confidential, was patient with us while we looked over the menu but was caught off guard when we asked for a recommendation. Our food came quickly, but our bill did not. In fact, we were finished for a good ten minutes before somebody stopped by to ask us about a refill or dessert. When someone did come, she wasn't even our server, who, in her defense, was probably busy being abducted by the soccer hooligans.

Speaking of dessert, on with the menu! This blog is about pizza, but we have found cute dessert items at some locations. Last month it was Pizza Pan's gelato. This month, Aurelio's impressed us with a DEEP DISH COOKIE! How good is that?! We didn't have one, but we want you to. The menu offered good variety with the exception that there were no real signature pizzas, which we were expecting. We had a little crust confusion, so let us help you out... Aurelio's pizzas are all what they call “thin crust.” “Thick crust” and “stuffed” exist, but they are a different category and a different price range. We really liked that we could order five different sizes of pizzas, ranging from “Lil” (a.k.a. 6”) to “Fiesta” (a.k.a. Spanish...er, 18”). Additional toppings match the size of your pizza; you pay more for extra anchovies and meatballs on your large than you do on your small (and don't lie, you know you want more of those toppings).

Our food arrived on this fun little black tray thingy with bumps. It was a pleasant medium ground between our raised silver platter at Mancino's (of Bradley) and our cardboard box at Pizza (of Pan). We ordered a 10” pizza with Canadian bacon (it's not just ham!) and green peppers for $11.95 and two waters for cheap as free (just a reminder: at Aurelio's you have a server, so be prepared to tip). This is a pretty good value considering Aurelio's reputation as a top-notch eatery. We want to say to college students, “Don't be afraid to try it. You might like it! Then you can go back to your Little Caesar's that has been sitting in a box under your couch for a week.” The food looked very appetizing, was not greasy at all, and had plenty of toppings. That having been said, it was only average in taste and we thought the crust was stale. Also, DO NOT EAT THE PARMESAN CHEESE! It is not extra good. It may not even be cheese. We're guessing...ground nothing with a sprig of mint. Yum!

So how did Aurelio's (Is Pizza) measure up to our incredibly accurate and well-thought-out rating system? Take a gander:

Atmosphere (location, theme, vibe): 5/5

Cleanliness (bathrooms, table settings, furnishings): 5/5

Menu (variety, dining options, cost): 4/5

Food (taste, quality, value): 3/5

Service (friendliness, efficiency, helpfulness): 3/5

Total: 20/25 – Recommended!

Aurelio's offers an enjoyable dining experience with great atmosphere and good pizza. Its reputation precedes it, but it is neither as costly nor delicious as you may have heard. Maybe we just caught them on an off day, but with a little more effort put forward by the wait staff and a little more care on preparation of quality ingredients, we think Aurelio's could go from good to great! If you want to find out more about Aurelio's or check it out for yourself, check out the information below. Thanks for reading our blog! Feel free to post comments and check in again in November. Until then – YOEPOAM!

Aurelio's is Pizza
1600 North Convent Street
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
815-935-1212

Website: Aurelio's is Pizza

The Extra Cheese: Aurelio's is a small chain with restaurants in five different states. See if you can guess the five out of the following options and post your answer on the blog: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon.