Panino's Pizzeria - Park Ridge

A fantastic Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Park Ridge! Fred was a friendly and knowledgeable waiter and everything we ate we had here was excellent. We appreciate the extensive gluten-free menu as our daughter has celiac. We had the Gluten-free cheesy garlic bread sticks, Rigatoni Napolitana, Gnocchi crema ala porcini,  gluten-free mostaccioli ala vodka sauce with chicken. Really big portions so we had plenty of food for leftovers.. They also had a wonderful selection of summer drink specials. I had the peach aperol spritz and it was so refreshing!

Everything was great from the staff to the excellent food. Freddie was amazing and broke down the menu for what can and cannot be gluten free. Very knowledgeable staff and they know what celiac is. They take extra precautions to make the gf food safe. Highly recommend the cheesy bread sticks and Detroit style pizza. Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten free!!!!

Tried Paninos on a whim because I discovered they had a gluten free menu and I have been craving a good pizza for years. Ordered a regular pan pepperoni pizza for my family as well and they loved it. Even my picky, never likes anything teen, inhaled his slices of pizza and actually said it was good! He won’t even compliment my cooking so that took us all by surprise! Now the gluten free… I tried the breadsticks and a Sicilian style mushroom and Canadian bacon pizza. The breadsticks were fantastic! I couldn’t even tell they were GF. Their dough is soft a fluffy. Sauce is perfectly sweet, and cheese is (well it’s cheese…no matter what cheese is heaven). The only con in my review is my GF Pizza was a little over baked, borderline burnt. But it’s GF and I know sometimes it burns because it cooks faster, but I’m not complaining. It was still fantastic, dough was delicious and it definitely hit the spot! I’ll have to remember next time I order to just ask if they can cook it less. Now dessert… haven’t had it yet but I am anticipating eating my flourless chocolate cake! Best part of this experience was the price. After giving up on other places because of their over priced cardboard tasting pizzas this was a nice surprise to find a reasonably priced place where I don’t feel punished for being Gluten free… Highly recommend this place. Bad reviews on here are ridiculous and lies. Definitely support this small gem!!! They are worth it!