A Slice of Illinois Pride

April 5th marks National Deep-Dish Pizza Day, and while pizzerias across the country are serving up their take on the hearty, sauce-on-top classic, Illinoisans can take extra pride knowing that this legendary style of pizza was born right here in our home state.

The story of deep-dish pizza begins in Chicago in the 1940s, when two men — Ike Sewell and Richard Riccardo — teamed up to create something truly different. Instead of chasing trends, they aimed to make a meal that was bold, filling, and unmistakably Chicago. In 1943, their restaurant, originally called The Pizzeria, opened its doors and changed the way Americans thought about pizza. The deep, golden crust, chunky tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and layer-upon-layer of ingredients quickly became a sensation.

Though Riccardo passed away in 1954, Sewell carried the vision forward. He renamed the restaurant Pizzeria Uno — a name that still draws fans to its original location on Ohio Street in Chicago. The success of Uno eventually led to a second location and, years later, a national franchise.

While cities like New York may argue over thin crust supremacy, deep-dish pizza carved out its own loyal following — one that prefers a slice you eat with a fork and knife, and a pizza so rich and filling it often feels more like a casserole than a flatbread.

Even here in Springfield, far from the original ovens of Chicago, you don’t have to look too far to find a deep-dish pie bubbling with cheese and bursting with flavor. And today, as people across the nation celebrate with a slice in hand, we’re reminded that one of America’s most iconic foods has roots right here in Illinois.

So whether you head to a local pizza joint or plan a road trip to the Windy City, take a moment today to enjoy the dish that put Illinois on the pizza map — and don’t forget the fork.