Chicago-Based Food Truck Brings its Pizza to Lake in the Hills

Two Italians Deli & Pizzeria owner Joseph Giannini has brought his popular Chicago-based food truck business to the northwest suburbs. 

Giannini started his Two Italians food truck business two years ago in Chicago. While the food truck is successful — it recently was named a runner-up as the best food truck by the Chicago Reader — Giannini looked to expand by opening a storefront location.

That dream became a reality recently when he opened Two Italians Deli & Pizzeria, 9471 Ackman Road, Lake in the Hills. 

“I wanted to start a food truck first to make sure I had a solid idea,” Giannini said. “The idea behind a restaurant is that you have a menu, and you can decide what works and what doesn’t work. You can have people who come back time and time again, and that is a good feeling. It just opens us up to a whole other world.”

The storefront location opened in April in Lake in the Hills, while the food truck remains active downtown Chicago.

“There is more of a repeat customer base here at the restaurant location,” Giannini said. “I am able to adapt the recipes and give people the product they really want. If they don’t like it, then I can change it for them.”

When choosing a location to open up the storefront, Giannini said he knew the type of place he wanted.

“I knew it wasn’t supposed to be fancy,” Giannini said. “I just wanted to be known for thin crust pizza.”

One thing that makes Two Italians Deli & Pizzeria stand out is its daily use of fresh ingredients.

“I’m not trying to cut corners,” Giannini said. “I shop at local places for ingredients and go where everyone gets their food from fresh on a daily basis.”

While the storefront has been successful so far, Giannini said he would consider bringing a food truck out to this area.

“We thought about the food truck, but we would have to try to figure out how it would work because Lake in the Hills is so residential,” Giannini said. “The food truck could work because it would be a novelty out here, but in the city it is a necessity.”

Giannini said he is optimistic about the new storefront location.

“I feel like a newborn child,” he said. “This is all such a new experience.”

Hours of operation: Two Italians Deli & Pizzeria in Lake in the Hills is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.