At Angie’s, regulars enter through the side door next to the parking lot—before the restaurant expanded their outdoor patio, only locals knew that it was an entrance. As soon as you step in, you can hear the bustling sounds of families chattering, laughing, and calling out food orders. The pizza ovens emit a nostalgic smell. Angie’s isn’t just a pizza shop; it’s a South Side hub where neighbors meet to watch a game, share a meal, and catch up over a drink at the bar.
Angelo Corso, the original owner, moved his family to Ashburn from Taylor Street during the 1960s, because he wanted to bring his family up on the South Side. Angie’s—which was Angelo’s nickname—first opened in 1967, at the location next door to its current location, where it moved in 1973. Fifty-two years later, it’s still family owned and operated by Angelo’s son, Robbie.
Their signature is pizza. The cheesy pizza topped with pepperoni and green peppers smells delicious. The thin crust has the perfect crunch when you bite into it, and it just melts in your mouth. Beyond pizza, the menu includes curly fries and fresh salads, making it a go-to for families who want more than just a slice.
Robbie Corso said families travel to visit the restaurant when they are in town, especially from Indiana, Michigan, and Florida. Families move away and when they visit, they add Angie’s Restaurant to their itinerary. There are generations that have been going to Angie’s that keep the South Side tradition alive.
“I’ve seen fathers bring their sons. Their sons bring their sons. Now, their sons are bringing their sons,” said Robbie.
Angie’s Pizza is also woven into the fabric of the South Side as a place that gives back. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant donated one hundred pizzas to first responders, nurses, firefighters, and police officers, as a way of saying thank you to those on the front lines. In quieter times, the dining room has hosted nurses who set up flu and COVID vaccine clinics, turning the pizzeria patio into a community health hub. One of the most memorable initiatives for Robbie was inviting students with special needs into the kitchen, teaching them how to make pizzas and even run the cash register, an experience he describes as one of the most rewarding of his career.
Angie’s once sponsored Little League baseball teams, and the carryout room still displays photos and memorabilia from those days, a reminder of how deeply the restaurant has been tied to neighborhood traditions. For Robbie, this bond comes down to the character of the South Side itself.
“The people here are the true people,” he said. There is pride that sets South Siders apart, staying true to themselves and standing strong through tough times. This is especially true with small businesses trying to survive after the pandemic.
Robbie hopes that the business stays within the family, and he hopes for his nephew or niece to run it in the future. For a time the business expanded to other locations in Burbank and downtown, but while those outposts have since shuttered, the original location in Ashburn endures. To this day, it continues to serve the South Side community. For generations of Ashburn families, the side door will always open to more than just pizza, it opens to tradition, connection, and a taste of the South Side that endures. Angie’s Restaurant and Pizzeria, 8352 S. Pulaski, Chicago. 773-735-8527, angiespizza.com.