The Original John's Pizzeria

I sure was hungry and not too far from me was this joint. It seemed to be the right stop for me. There was a sign that stated The Original John’s PIZZERIA. It had an arrow pointing straight for Dine In. It stated Immediate Seating Available. My significant other and I entered through the door that stated JOHN’S FAMILY DINING Entrance. We were told we could choose a table to sit at. We chose a spot in the corner. I looked at the menu to see what was offered. I ordered a Glass Diet Pepsi. It was $3.25. From the Cocktails section, we got a Margarita. It was $8.50. The server gave us options for the flavor and we chose lime. The server gave us the options of salt or no salt and we chose salt. From the Pizza section, we got a Small 12” Cheese Pizza …… 17.00. The Pasta section stated with Garlic Bread. Choose your Pasta and Sauce. Spaghetti • Angel Hair • Rigatoni Penne • Linguine. For the Pasta, we chose Penne. For the Sauce, we chose Phil’s Special Meat Sauce. It was Mushrooms & Green Peppers….12.95. The Diet Pepsi was smooth and tasty. Both of the free refills I was given were as well. The Margarita was concocted beautifully. It was pleasant to sip on throughout my visit. The Cheese Pizza was simple, yet delicious. I couldn’t stop eating it, but unfortunately I had to after the last slice. The Pasta caught me off guard with the hefty size of it. It looked fantastic and it surely was. The Garlic Bread had a nice crunch with a burst of flavor. I enjoyed it. The service was exceptional. I didn’t have any issues. Overall, I had an excellent experience at this joint. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. Date of visit: 5/20/25

I haven't had John's Pizza in ages, went in today and just had a simple sausage pizza. God I've missed this, it's a unique pie for sure, and it hit the spot.

First time trying. The crust was great. Thick and crispy. The sauce had flavor. The toppings for every bit. I would come back again!

First bad review I've given John's. Pizza shouldn't have left the kitchen. It looked like it was cobbled together from other slices.

So we went to John's Pizza to night to chill and watch the bears. There were 2 couples setting next to us and we started joking with them,it wasn't long till they left and wished us a happy holiday. We ate and went to pay our bill and the waitress said, you know how good things happen to good people,the waitress said the couple next to you guys paid your bill. We said,no way. The waitress said she was happy for us. To the 2 couples at John's Pizza,We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for what you have done. You have truly made our night and I pray you all are blessed the same as we have been. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR. PS it was fun joking with you all.

Ordered a large Sausage Pizza. I had priced everything before I called and ordered since they don't offer online ordering. And when I asked for the total, it was much different than the online prices. So from there, it set a poor tone. Beyond that, I thought the taste of the pizza was similar to some of the other reviewers. It lacked flavor, the sausage had no seasoning, and over-priced. This was a 1 and done for me.

Spring 2018. Friendly services. Crunchy crust and flavorful fillings. Picture of whole pizza was from first visit. Other dinners looked good. Dining area needs updating, new dining chairs and new table clothes would brighten the place up..... Update....February 2019...ordered large sausages and green pepper for pick up. Taste of pizza would have been better if they weren't so skimpy with the sauce. Who ever heard of a dry pizza. They also were skimpy with the green pepper and cheese. Plus free half order of spaghetti that had maybe a fourth cup of sauce. I was looking forward to trying their spaghetti. But this half order was a big disappointment. Being consistent is so important in the restaurant business. $ 27.55 including tax.......Went back 3-19 and pizza was so much better. More sauce, green pepper and cheese. The owners or manager hopefully got employees all on the same page.

Everyone in my family loves they're sausage pizza so I got a small pepporoni so I could try best pizza ever and of course everyone tried it and loved it. We will continue to make the 30 min drive.

If you were a fan of the Original John's Pizza over in Calumet City on State Street which started in 1943, you are going to love this throw-back to those times. The State Street facility served people for decades and closed some time ago. Since then John's tried to establish a few outlets here and there (such as in Crown Point) and finally settled in to a single restaurant on Ridge Road in Munster, Indiana. This place is a gem. While we have tried a number of things at this outlet ... and they offer appetizers, fish, pizza, and many sandwiches ... the absolute best meal is the Family Dinner (2 person minimum). Their Family Dinner (5 stars all around for the food and the price point) includes a house salad, fresh toasted garlic bread, mostaccioli with marinara sauce, broasted chicken, and a one-topping pizza ... all for the decent price of $16.95 per ... you can't beat it. Their pizza is their own original take on a pie and is served with sausage, but it is finely crumbled all through the pizza ... something we never found anywhere else. They also have a full service bar with a number of nice Italian wines that are reasonably priced. The entrance is on the back side of the building where the parking lot is, and the ambiance is welcoming. It's a big noisy room with high ceilings, a nice long bar along one side on your left as you walk in, and a number of tables around the room. This is a great place for parties also. If you are looking for a fun, noisy place for your group ... large or small ... give John's a try.

The older fella who works there is awesome, he was the kindest & most informative man I ever met who worked in a pizzeria! The food, you genuinely can't go wrong. Their sausage is my absolutely favorite all around. The ambiance of the place too is awesome. And they sell pizza dough! So I got to go home and make my own awesome creation with their delicious dough!

I don't live too far from here, so it was time to try it out. I was craving pizza, so I was hoping for the best! My significant other and I were seated fast. This place definitely looked as if it were stuck in the past. That gave it a unique flare in my opinion. I ordered a Diet Pepsi to start with. It was $3.25 and it came with free refills. Each one I had was delicious. We got a Classic Martini and a Margarita. The Martini was strong and it was definitely interesting to try. I wasn't a fan of it. The Margarita was rather sweet, but it was tasty! We ordered the House Salad (small, serves 1-2) for 5.50, which was a reasonable price. We chose the Vinegar & Oil from the Dressings. Besides that, we got a Small 12" Cheese Pizza. It was 17.00, which was pretty steep. Last, but not least, we ordered the Pasta with Garlic Bread. We got the Rigatoni for our Pasta. For the Sauce, we went with Marinara, The House Specialty. It was 11.50. The House Salad was okay at best. The dressing kind of ruined it. The Pizza was great! It was greasy, but still revealed great flavors! The Pasta was fantastic as a whole. The Rigatoni paired flawlessly with the Marinara! The size for the price was very plentiful. The Garlic Bread that it came with was also fantastic. The service was solid here. Our server brought us everything we needed and had a positive attitude. Overall, this spot was a great choice. I feel that I got a lot of bang for the amount I paid. I will not hesitate to come back! Date of visit: 4/18/24

if the owner is awesome they have great sauce and it's not a franchise. It's a My and Pie so you know it homemade

First time here. Excellent pizza and fried zucchini. We'll definitely be back. Friendly staff and fast service.

Yuck !!! Ordered a small salad that said $5.50 On the menu, it came out in a large bowl with just lettuce and 6 cherry tomatoes , no cucumbers no onions no cheese no croutons , a I asked the bartender and she said that's how we serve them! Got charged $7.00 I ordered a small pizza crumbles sausage and onion horrible a small greasy mess ! I ordered a Sangria poured out of bottle that said Sangria, not home made $9.00 Do not waste your $$$ here !! Just awful all the way around!!!

This is my wife's favorite pizza place n we have six others within four blocks of our home. I love their chicken Vesuvius n lake perch. They also have delicious spaghetti and meatballs. Uncle Mike is fantastic lovable n amazing service. They also have a beautifully decorated restaurant if u want to dine in.

I have to say, John's takes the award for the worst pizza I've ever eaten. The sausage was absolutely terrible and everyone who took a bite hated it. Repulsive flavor. Grotesque excuse for pizza. You wanna ruin someone's day, order them a pizza from John's.

Saturday early evening, service was slow as there were a few larger groups in the restaurant and only two servers. The fried calamari was excellent. The pizza had a decent flavor, but crumbled sausage is something to be adjusted to if you're used to true Chicago style thin crust pizza. The crumbled sausage seemed on the bland side. I prefer sausage with fennel. Crust was not crisp, soggy to say the least. Would I go back? Maybe, but not for pizza. Pasta will probably be the go to choice. Please keep supporting independent businesses!

Do not like how they cut the pizza, just cut it into regular pizza slices!! Also, toppings are better on top of cheese. They put my toppings under the cheese, making the cheese fall off of the top. Taste wasn't too bad but I could barley handle the slices the way they cut them, and with the cheese sliding off the top it could have been way better. Probably wont go back.

We have been waiting for AN HOUR for a 16" pizza. JACKIE just now apologized. 4 will get you she forgot to place the order or the kitchen staff screwed up. NEVER AGAIN. Plus the kitchen staff are not all wearing hats nor hair nets. YUCK! The couple at the next table arrived 40 minutes after we ordered our pizza. Within a few min. their 16" pizza was on their table. Both Jackie and the lady, unsolicited, told us they called their order in. HOWEVER the lady came to our table and admitted they are regulars and JACKIE GAVE THEM OUR PIZZA. Jackie didn't charge us for our beverages to make up for it. Hence JOHN'S TOOK THE HIT. No more of our money goes to to John's.

The original John's pizzeria in Calumet City Illinois and now in their new location in Munster Indiana has always been my go-to and favorite place for pizza. I've lived and traveled all over the country but never have had pizza I felt outshined John's my absolute favorite part is the crumbled sausage I just find that so Superior to what everyone else does. They also serve fantastic fried chicken. If you've never been here, you need to give them a try. Their pizzas may be a few hours more than most local competitors, but it's worth every penny.

Fantastic service, best pizza and great entrees. Nothing like it in the area. Location is going to be great when new rail station is completed

Hello, We've been going to John's all the way back to the Calumet City days when we were dating !! Have always enjoyed going to John's, Munster is a great little spot. Relaxed and casual atmosphere, good service, and nice portions for your money. Some of our all time favorites, their shrimp sauté, highly recommend it, as well as the chicken vesuvio ! My opinion for the pizza is it's just ok, depends on how you like your pizza ? For me its just to thick and to dry, but, try it for yourself, people seem to like it.

I've never had pizza in IN but John's seemed to be a popular choice by locals in the Munster and Hammond areas based on reviews. We wanted pizza and pictures looked just as good as the pizza we received. Based on reviews, you either love the crumbled sausage or you hate it. John's grinds their own sausage and likes it this way. While I'm used to pulled sausage and have had my share of crumbled..I happen to think it works perfectly on this pie. I don't blame him for not changing a thing. It's an old Sicilian family recipe since its first location in 1943 and that speaks volumes. Really unique dough. Based on pics I was expecting a thicker crust. What I wasn't expecting was a crisp tender bite. I'm not talking crispy as in crunch from a sturdy or cracker type crust. I'm talkin pillowy, soft, airy dough with a delicate crisp bottom. This is not pan pizza. It's much softer, lighter and weightless. No heavy brick in your tummy feel, just the opposite. We thought it was delicious. The sauce complimented the fresh slices of mushrooms, sausage crumbles and pepperoni topped with a nice layer of cheese. Well balanced and so tasty. Really flavorful fennel sausage perfectly cooked. Not dry at all, even a little greasy. In fact, I'd recommend ordering 'xtra' sausage. I also recommend eating this pizza while it's hot. Go for it while it's fresh out of the oven, it makes a big difference in getting that crisp bite after bite. Interior has tables to dine in but it's more of a carry out and delivery spot. They were busy on a Sat. night and gave us a 40 min. wait. We arrived in about 25 min and our pizza was hot, fresh and ready.. Friendly service. This is not pie cut, fyi. This is just some excellent one of kind pizza that you don't want to miss if you happen to be in the area. I heard they make some great Italian dishes too. Give them a try.

I was there today as a matter of fact I usually get the medium of sausage and pop & water always had a good meal from there every time I've been there the sausage pizza is good cheeses good crust is good the pizza is sometimes a little on the greasy side but man it's a filling Pizza never let me down

There are so many great pizza places in NW IN and this is one I feel we don't get to enough. It's right up there with the best. I really loved the cheese pizza... great crust, taste, almost perfect. For me, the sausage tasted too 'porky' so I will probably pass next time. A lot of my family LOVES the onion pizza but it was a little too strong for me. Obviously, this is a preference but it sounds like this is one you should check out if you're into onions.

Amazing as always. Try a par baked and finish it in your oven at home. The entire menu rocks!

I'm born and raised in Chicago, I know a good pie when I see and taste one.... The Original John's for me is an acquired taste. My pizza was delivered in a timely manner just as stated. However I expected more for my $30 medium pizza with onions not diced onions under the cheese mixed into the sauce, mushrooms also strategical placed on top of the pie... I requested extra sausage, not realizing that The Original John's version of sausage was more like chopped ground beef or chopped streak. Not very appealing... Tasted like ground beef or chopped steak, it had no remanence or reference to Italian sausage... Crust time... anyway the center of the pie was really thin not thick enough to support the ground beef or chopped steak...The outer crust was lite airy and chewy very good actually.. I'm giving two stars because of the ground beef chop steak situation. All in all nothing to right home about....

My first time here. Just ordered carry out on Saturday August 20th. 2 pizzas- 1 with sausage/pepperoni the other with spinach garlic onion mushroom. The spinach one was super soggy, the crust is so thin it doesn't hold up under the ingredients, the flavor was just okay a bit lacking for sure needed some spices/salt. Some of outer of the pizza didn't have ingredients on it. The other pizza was okay not nearly as soggy but again the crust is so thin and not crispy. Had two salads, way overpriced with basic iceberg lettuce as the base nothing exciting with Italian dressing that needed some vinegar it was mostly oil. I won't be going back here, there has to be better in the area somewhere

Great place to go. Nice family restaurant with lots of local history. They have multiple TVs for watching the games on the weekend. The food is always good with large portions. The prices are very reasonable. The chicken Vesuvio and Chicken Parm are fantastic. The chicken parmigiana portion borders on a meal for two...if I get it...I know I have lunch covered for the next day. The staff is very personable and will make sure you are taken care of.

One of the best thin crust pizzas in the Chicagoland area! Yes, it is Indiana, but they rock that shit hard with the pizza science. This pizza spot has Italian sausage that is heavy on the fennel and is made in house, plus it is crumbled so every piece is popping with these tasty morsels. They slice the pizza Quad Cities style and the the crust holds itself up to the cheese and sausage. Try the garlicy spinach for something that is just as special. It is a unique find in the Munster area and they deliver to the local breweries and watering holes.

While this location and interior is nothing like the old John's Pizzeria in Calumet City across the street from the old Bank Vault Show Lounge, this pizza served today is the same pizza I would have eaten in 1977. The recipe didn't get lost or change with the relocation to sedate and sterile Munster, Indiana. Therefore, John's Pizzeria earns 5 stars for not changing the original pizza recipe. I love this pizza and it reminds me of my time and life living in Sin City, Calumet City of days long gone by. The Original John's Pizzeria is just as I remember.... The very best pizza around! Thank you for withstanding the test of time and continuing to be around for all to enjoy! Long live the many memories of John's Pizzeria on The Strip in Calumet City!

Good sandwich ask for peppers and cheese. They forgot the marinara though. They were having technical issues. So next time I'll make sure to ask for what comes with by default. Don't know if they charged me for the pepper and cheese...

The cheese sticks are to die for ..... the pizza is mehhhh but the cheese sticks are why I'm leaving 4 stars the pizza isn't nasty don't get me wrong but it's also not 5 star worthy to be completely honest

Home sweet home place. Back from Calumet Cityness to that same vibe. Great service from the staff who even accommodated a no-cheese pizza with veggies that was awesome. This is a family place that "delivers" too. Would be great if they had wine that was not just varietal but vineyard from which to choose.

I love this homey little neghiborhood joint. The small bar seats 8 and has a decent selection of alcohol, beer and wine. John's is an old Cal City family owned place that relocated to Munster. Their pastas are good. Be sure to ask for al dente. My favorite pizza is the garden that oddly comes with mushroom, green pepper and crumbled signature sausage. Garden? The staff is friendly and there is always Frank or Dino or Tony singing in the background

Nice place...reminds you of an old school pizzeria. Quality is very good...great pizzas, salads and the sauce is phenomenal!

I was up north recently and ordered four family size (18") to bring home. We wrapped them up tight and put them in the deep freeze to enjoy throughout the year. They half-baked them so we could just finish the job when we want them. What I didn't know until I told them what I was doing, is that if I call ahead a day or two, they will half-bake and then freeze them ahead of time. This is great for me since I travel about 7 hours to bring them home. I'll be sure to do that next time.

It is definitely the best pizza around. We order the thick crust pizza, sausage and green pepper . the ambience of the dining room is cozy. John's pizza is worth the drive for us, we love it.

Hard to beat the real thing! Great salad, pizza and jug wine! Service was friendly and efficient!

My favorite pizza spot around! My family and I love their authentic sausage for pizza. Don't even get me started on their home made ranch! I wish they bottled it and sold it. If you haven't tried it do yourself a favor and get 5. Not even kidding it's amazing. They also have great chicken vesuvio. Love this place and have been going since the original spot in cal city!

First time yelp has completely failed me. First time ever eating their pizza and last. It's bad when the kids won't eat it and they love all kinds of pizza. It might just be sausage pizza but I'm not gonna risk paying for another bad pizza. the pizza is an acquired taste 1 star. Sorry I'm sure people love their other foods but you cant have pizzeria in your name and have bad pizza.

Pizza was just OK. Didn't care for the crumbled sausage or crust. Staff was friendly and efficient. Plan on trying it again to see if my opinion changes.

Ordered carry-out tonight. I didn't realize that sausage was crumbled and sprinkled over the whole pizza. The sausage was rather dry. The mushrooms were from a can, not fresh. The person who cut our pizza did not bring their "A" game. When I pulled a piece of pizza out, the cheese and toppings would separate from the piece. Disappointed! Not sure we'll return.

We had the grande beef sandwich and spaghetti with meatballs... both were delicious and plentiful.. the service was awesome and the owners are top notch, we will definitely be making a return trip

I love this place! Food is always on point, and if on the odd chance something is wrong, they go above and beyond to make it right. Frank at the counter is always nice and polite. I used to order twice a week, and still would except for schedule change. Pizza is easily top 3 in Lake county, shrimp is very good , and bread stick pieces are so good, loaded with parmesan, but not too much and of course the marinara is tasty. Would recommend to all

Everyone usually gets the crumbled sausage topping here. Like most meat toppings, that can be hit or miss, but here it's a bit of a miss. The crumbled sausage at Langel's and Barton's is simply more flavorful. They DO load the pizza up here, but instead of getting a complex italian sausage flavor, more of a roasted pork flavor comes through. Definitely an acquired taste. Best thing they do here is biiig pizza slices for three bucks each. Usually just sausage or plain cheese, but the cheese is delightful.

This is by far the very best pizza I think I have ever had. The crumbled sausage is amazing. The crust is absolutely perfect--chewy, so flavorful!

First time having pizza from John's. A good friend of mine grew up on this place & raves about it whenever in Munster. Now it is just a few blocks away, so I figured I would give it a shot. Ordered the family size pepperoni & a 2 liter of sierra mist. Delivery was said to be around an hour & half (Friday night). The pizza arrived early & hot :) Pizza is tasty, a little greasy but so worth it. It is cut into long strips as slices. Might have to ask for it cut into squares for the kids. Friendly delivery driver as well. I would definitely recommend this place. Can't wait to try their extra thick next!

Not long ago we had bought a pizza and a 4 pc chicken meal from their Munster location. I ate the chicken. The next day I got a violent case of food poisoning. Johns was the only place we had eaten since we came into town (from So. California). No doubt the problem was Johns. So you know their chicken is bad. Dangerous even. I heard the pizza was not as good tasting as my wife remembered as well. She couldn't wait to eat at Johns pizza when we came to Munster. She was disappointed and I got sick. The food poisoning from Johns came at a bad time. It was my wifes grandmothers 100th birthday and I was sick all the way through the party. I spent most of the party in the bathroom with a bad case of everything you can imagine and that all at the same time. I wrote them the next day with similar text as this and never heard a word from them. I was looking for an opportunity to share my John's experience with someone besides John's deaf ear... So be warned! dont eat at John's, you could very well get food poisening... I did.

Pizza is ok but always soggy in the middle. Went for dinner here a few times. Fried chicken is good. Generous portions.

Close your eyes and take a bite of pizza and you're back in Calumet City at The original John's. Many a happy occasion was spent at that restaurant and it is great that the traditional menu lives on in Munster Indiana! Makes a destination when in the "region" now.

Not easy to find and not much to see once inside, John's is worth the effort. Not very large, a bit noisy and lots of people enjoying themselves, it's like being at an Italian's family basement party. The servers are friendly and efficient. Drinks are fairly priced and are a good sized pour. The zucchini appetizer is thinly sliced and nicely breaded. Entree portions are large and will satisfy the biggest eaters. pizza is always a hit even though I'm not a fan of the ground sausage. Pasta sauce is good and always fresh tasting. Tried the Chicken Vesuvio and loved it. Plenty of garlic and enough zest to lightly influence the flavor without being overpowering. Was really surprised at the sautéed lake perch. Rich and buttery, it was a huge hit. I suggest you make the trip. You will be happy you did.

In my opinion, Johns pizza is gross. Super greasy. I can usually only tolerate one piece (and that's after I sop up the standing grease on top with a napkin). The sauce is ok. Not great, not terrible. The sausage is good if you like sausage I'm told. The crust is what gets me. It should at least hold the weight of the toppings. This crust is like nothing I've ever seen. Its soft and chewy and uncomfortably floppy. You can't even pull a piece out of the box without everything falling off of it and falling apart. You definitely can't hold a piece in your hand and eat it. It's a fork and knife deal, which is ok if we're talking about stuffed pizza, but thin crust? If I'd only had it once, I'd think it was a mistake and maybe they didn't cook it long enough but I've had it enough to know that's how they choose to serve it. Their lake perch, however, is just about the best I've had. I would absolutely recommend that.

Felt like I was at home ! What an excellent authentic pizzeria ! Our server Kaylee was amazing and I will always request her when I come there from now on. Very nice staff and great cheesy garlic bread ! Love u guys for the first time lol I will be back

This was absolutely amazing pizza!!! Had seen and heard about this place for years, but finally found the time to stop. So glad that I did. The bread sticks were piece of Parmesan heaven and the pizza was perfectly cooked. The cut of the pie is a bit odd, but I didn't mind one bit as the crust was nice and crispy so it could easily be cut at home. Will most certainly be back.

I used to go to one Calumet City years ago. Still got the best pizza. Wait staffs are great. I will be coming back there every couple weeks. This place beats Aurelio's Pizza, Langel's Pizza, Barton's, Edward's, State Line, Arnellos's, and Pizza Hut.

Sure this will never get posted. Back in 1963. I lived on meadow lane. And John candiono (spl) . Allowed us to sit for hours drinking. Cokes and hanging out I grew up there. I remember the 1963 1/2 ford galaxy. Wow great pizza then. Probably better today