Gia's Pizzeria Promises to Treat You Like Family

Looking for a restaurant where you’ll be treated like family?

Check out Gia’s Pizzeria, Woodridge’s newest restaurant. Gia’s offers homemade pizza, sandwiches and dinners in a casual, warm atmosphere. You can dine in, carry out or have pizza delivered.

The restaurant is a “labor of love” for its owners, Nick Pontarelli and Sam Baldassano, and their families. Their children and wives work in the restaurant and their childhood friend, Joe Loiacomo, is the chef.

Each of the owners have been involved in other industries – Pontarelli in automobiles and Baldassano in advertising. This is their first venture into the restaurant business. Baldassano lives in Woodridge. Pontarelli lives near .

The restaurant’s location at 83rd Street and Janes Avenue is a “bulls-eye,” Pontarelli said. 

“It’s right in the center of it all,” he said. “It’s close to and the baseball fields, and it’s near where all of our friends and neighbors could come.”

The restaurant aims to serve every aspect of a family-style restaurant. Gia’s is a place you could be comfortable coming in wearing a baseball uniform or for date night to have a meal with a couple cocktails, Pontarelli said.

Why pizza?

“Because who doesn’t love pizza?” Pontarelli said. 

Gia’s opened May 15 and business has been strong since. “We’ve been very received from the people of Woodridge,” Pontarelli said. 

You can see the full menu for the restaurant here.

Pontarelli recommends the following:

• Chef Joe's Homemade Focaccia Sandwich (Italian Meats, imported Swiss cheese, special sauce and balsamic vinaigrette piled high on homemade herbed focaccia bread)
• Ciao Bella! Pizza (Ricotta, spinach, mozzarella, fresh sliced tomato, olive oil, sprinkled with Parmesan)
• Dat’s Dat Pizza (Think an Italian beef sandwich on a pizza)

You can also get a super slice of pizza and a pop from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $5. 

Fun fact: The restaurant is named for Baldassano's youngest daughter, Gia.