Falco's Pizzeria - 7/17/07

PCOC got back on its Tuesday night schedule this week by visiting Falco's Pizzeria in Brighton Park. Prospective member Colleen McNellis made the pick promising PCOC some great pizza at this spot largely unknown to PCOC's north side members. This was a very risky move by Colleen becuase, whether she knew it or not, the possibility of her gaining the exclusive benefits that full PCOC membership allows depended upon what the PCOC faithful thought of Falco's pies. Basically, if she blew this pick, her task of gaining the graces of the fickle PCOC membership committee would be daunting to say the least.

Before getting to the report on Falco's, I'd like to cover some recent PCOC news. As some of you have seen, there are some new polls on this site. (If you have not noticed them, as you look at this page, see the righthand column.) As of this writing, there are some very tight races in a couple of these polls that deserve to be highlighted. In the poll most watched across the country, Mr. Kevin Close, a fringe-friend of many of the PCOC members, has a slight edge in votes over Mike Ditka and Jesus when PCOC members were asked who they would most like to see become a fellow member. This comes as a bit of a surprise to some as Mr. Close has been running a quiet and largely grass-roots campaign while Jesus' supporters have taken to vigorously campaigning every Sunday. According to reliable sources in Mr. Close's inner circle, if he is the winner of this poll, he plans to apply for full PCOC membership. Keep an eye on this race in the coming days, because, as the race tightens, many expect these candidates to start slinging some serious mud.

In another close poll, babies, hot dogs and none of the above are neck and neck and neck in the race to determine what PCOC thinks may be better than pizza. Sources close the President claim that the fact that hot dogs has received even one vote may result in the President appointing an Independent Counsel to investigate which blasphemous PCOC member may have placed this ludicrous vote.

Moving on to our meeting, a small group of 4 met at Falco's, 2840 W. 40th St., at around 6:30. The joint is located at the busy intersection of Archer, California and 40th and is serviced by the #62 Archer bus among others. Street parking is also readily available in the area.

Falco's exterior looks like a standard family-type Chicago restaurant. The front entrance leads to the dining area and bar, while around the side of the building on 40th, there is a separate entrance for people picking up take-out pies. The main restaurant area layout includes a dining area with windows that look out onto California to your right as you enter and a bar area with several tables to the left. Sox, Bears and Cubs banners spread around the place makes it look like Falco's is going for a sports-bar type of look, possibly seeking pre- and post-Sox game fans. But with their cheap beer prices ($4.25 domestic pitchers on Fri.-Sun. and $1.00 draft mugs all the time) and $3.75 jumbo slices, Falco's also likely attracts a wide range of local piehounds/beer junkies.

While Falco's seems to go for the sports bar/pizza joint atmosphere, with only one TV, it can't be considered a great place to watch games. And if you head to Falco's looking to catch a game beware becuase during our visit, a very regular patron, or possibly a loafing Falco's employee was sitting at the bar near the TV switching channels between ball games and a European blooper show. Considering Falco's proximity to Sox Park we were shocked to find the Cubs game in the remote-guy's channel switching rotation. This is either a testament to the egalitarian baseball ethos at Falco's, or a sign that Sox fans have truly given up on their club's season already. Either way, PCOC's Cubs fans felt very lucky to have been able to follow the Cubs game that deep in Sox country.

As for the pies, for our group of 4 (with the possibly of a couple late arrivals) we ordered 3 pies, all thin crust and all crispy/well-done as follows:

• medium 1/2 sausage and 1/2 sausage & giardinera


• medium 1/2 pepperoni 1/2 pepperoni, green peppers, and onion with Falco's special garlic italiano crust,


• small 1/2 italian beef & garlic and 1/2 pineapple & canadian bacon
  

This was a big order for our small group (and we took plenty home) but in order to get a good feel of what Falco's was up to, we felt we had to go all out. The overall verdict was unanimous: Falco's makes some damn good pizza. There were a few minor criticisms though. We all agreed that the garlic italiano crust, which was a bit thicker than the regular thin, was not that great and we'd stick to the normal thin crust in the future. Also, we all agreed that while the italian beef & garlic pizza was good, it was a bit dry and might have been improved with some giardinera. Looking back on Falco's, I think I would say that its thin crust pies feature real good italian sausage, a tasty sauce and nice crispy crust and are most similar to Home Run Inn thin crust pies.

Before signing off, a couple quick notes from the meeting:

• Colleen advised the group that she has discovered a new disease. It is named IBS (Irritable Bruz Syndrome). Symptoms include dry mouth, rumbling stomach, and dizziness. Treatments includes beer, pizza;
• TOB suggested that some family pie joints have Quaalude pizzas for kids with the hope that the exotic topping would shut them up and keep them in their seats;
• A Corona with a lemon, although it smells like Pine-Sol, is "fresh & zesty" according to the Bruz.

All in all, Falco's is a great little spot with good pies and cheap beer. In life, what more can one really ask for?