Ask most people about Aurelio's Pizza and you'll hear about the Calabrese pizza or a build-your-own pie loaded with toppings. Fair enough—that's the reputation the Homewood, Illinois original built since 1959. But walk past the pizza case and you'll find a menu full of Italian dishes that longtime regulars swear by and newcomers rarely expect.
Aurelio's has always been about more than pizza. It's an Italian kitchen that happens to make some of the best pizza around.
The Italian Beef Sandwich Worth the Trip
Chicago-area Italian beef has its own set of rules, and Aurelio's follows them the traditional way—thin-sliced beef, slow-simmered, piled onto a roll that can actually hold up to the juice. Order it dipped if you want the full experience, or add sweet peppers and giardiniera for a kick.
It's a sandwich built for people who grew up on this stuff, and it's just as satisfying for anyone trying it for the first time. Pair it with a side salad or garlic bread, and you've got a meal that doesn't need a pizza box to feel complete.
Homemade Pasta That Holds Its Own
Pasta dishes at Aurelio's aren't an afterthought tacked onto a pizza menu. Baked ziti, lasagna, and other classics get the same attention to sauce and seasoning that goes into the restaurant's pizzas. These are the dishes families order when someone in the group doesn't want pizza but still wants something hearty, familiar, and made with real ingredients.
For casual diners looking for comfort food without fuss, this is where Aurelio's quietly shines. The pasta menu rewards people who take the time to look past the pizza section of the menu.
A Menu Built for Every Kind of Craving
What makes Aurelio's work as a neighborhood restaurant is the range. One night it's a create-your-own pizza loaded exactly the way your kids like it. The next, it's Italian beef for the game or a pasta dish when you want something different but still recognizably Italian. That flexibility is part of why Aurelio's has stayed relevant as a pizza franchise for decades—it never boxed itself into just one thing.
Whether you're ordering for a family dinner, setting up pizza catering for an office event, or grabbing pizza delivery on a weeknight, the same care shows up across the whole menu. And if you're a regular, the pizza rewards app makes it easy to earn something back no matter what you order—pizza or otherwise.
Time to Order Something New
If your Aurelio's routine has been the same pizza order for years, it might be time to branch out. Try the Italian beef. Order the baked ziti. Explore what else this Homewood, Illinois staple has been quietly perfecting since 1959.
Visit Aurelio's Pizza to check out the full menu, place an order, or find a location near you. Your next favorite dish might not be a pizza at all.
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