With only three booths to its name, Cholie's Pizza isn't the place to settle in for a long meal with a crowd of friends. So it really speaks to the quality of the sandwiches and slices here that on warm nights, the sidewalk in front of this Hyde Park institution is crowded with university students and neighborhood locals chowing down on monster-sized slices of pizza sold for less than $2 each.

The super-thin crust, ladled with sauce and cheese, can be topped with everything from sliced beef and shrimp to onions and olives, though the baskets of sauces and spices that line the counters make plain cheese a tempting dress-it-yourself option (yep, diehard fans will customize their 'za with everything from barbecue sauce to dried oregano flakes). While pizza is the undisputed favorite to fill beer-sloshed bellies (and its location next to the Falcon Inn makes for plenty of those), the menu at this hole-in-the-wall restaurant is surprisingly lengthy. Feast on fried chicken, gyros, burgers, salads, sandwiches, ribs and pasta, all whipped up fast and cheap. A general tip here: The less healthy it sounds, the more delicious it is, with the marinated pork chop sandwich being a particularly popular—and indulgent—dinner.

For those in the 'hood, delivery is fast and friendly. And if you are looking to feed a crowd, rotating deals tend to be steals (ask when placing your order).

Centerstage Reviewer: Kate Rockwood