The past two decades have been a party for Ed Roman, latest owner of Kaiser’s Pizza & Pub in Gurnee. This is how he describes his time as a manager and, since last August, as owner.
“It’s a cool restaurant. Every day is like having a house party. It’s fun and there are good people,” said the Waukegan resident.
He bought the pizza joint last year when Lenny Morgan, who still owns the Kaiser’s in Kenosha, Wis., decided to semi-retire and sell the place.
Roman has made no changes since taking over. “I just try to keep the wheel rolling, and not reinvent the wheel.”
And when that wheel is a pizza pan that delivers a perennial favorite, why mess with success?
Kaiser’s is known for its thin crust, Roman noted, but said the pan and double decker pizza, “stacked on top with toppings and more crust, like a lasagna pizza,” also are popular.
In fact, concession sales at Warren Township High School net 60 to 100 pan pizzas every Friday night.
Other big sellers include the beer nuggets appetizer — pizza dough seasoned with garlic, Romano cheese and oregano. “They actually don’t contain beer,” Roman said. “You just roll it out and let it sit in olive oil for a handful of hours.”
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New to the menu are the homemade eggrolls made with Italian beef, onion and green pepper in a wonton wrap. Also popular are the burgers, made with a blend of ground chuck, brisket and short ribs; and a cheesy Italian beef sandwich served with au jus.
“We buy the best ingredients and produce. We don’t try and go cheap on it,” Roman said. “Everything else just falls into place.”
Expanding the small dining room might be in the future. Kaiser’s offers a picnic area outside for local sports teams to accommodate large groups of walk-ins. “We’ll bring the pizza out for them,” Roman said.
That extra touch brands Kaiser’s as a neighborhood place. “We’re not cliquey. If someone new walks in, it’s not like the record stops with a scratch. The regulars will introduce me to someone new if it’s their first time in. We’re like the ultimate ‘Cheers’ without the TV show,” Roman said.
“We try to be warm and friendly. I learned from Lenny that every day is a party.”
Pricing: Appetizers from $3.25 for homemade chips and salsa to $9.99 for Kaiser’s Nachos. Stuffed Potatoes from $3.99 to $5.99. Soups are $2.99 for a cup, $4.75 for a mug. Salads are from $3.99 for dinner salad to $10.99 for Steak Salad. House Specialties from $9.99 for Shrimp Dinner to $19.99 for full rack of Baby Back Ribs. Sandwiches from $4.25 for Plain Grilled Cheese to $9.99 for Kaiser BBQ Burger. Deli wraps for $8.99. Sides are $2.99 for fries or vegetables. Kids’ meals for $3.99. Gluten-free 10-inch thin crust pizza for $10.50 and penne pasta for $6.99. Pizzas include Thin Crust for $15.75 for a 16-inch large; $17.25 for Pan or Double Decker. Specialty pizzas include $20.35 for 16-inch large White Pizza with olive oil, fresh garlic and tomato to $24.95 for 16-inch large Kaiser’s Special with sausage, mushroom, onion and green pepper.
Hours: Open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Kaiser’s Pizza is at 1801 N. Illinois Route 21, Gurnee. Call 847-336-6500 or go to kaiserspub.com
Shonda Talerico Dudlicek is a freelance writer.