Taste of the Town: Ambrogi’s Pizza flying toward anniversary in Elburn

ELBURN – Pizza lovers have a fellow devotee in Denny Pitts, who this spring will celebrate the first anniversary of Ambrogi’s Pizza in Elburn, a restaurant that also features sandwiches, salads, wings, pasta, appetizers, calzones and fried chicken and shrimp entrees.

Pitts brings 30 years of experience to the art of the pizza pie, beginning with his first job at age 14 at Orlando’s Pizza in Geneva.

“By the time I was 17, I was the night manager,” said Pitts, who continued to work in the pizza industry and moved to Elburn about 17 years ago.

The menu at Ambrogi’s offers thin, pan, Chicago style, stuffed and double dough pizza, with gluten-free crust available.

“My personal favorite is Chicago style, and that’s why I put it on the menu,” Pitts said. “It’s deep-dish pizza, and it gets nice chunky tomato on top. Everyone loves it.”

The form of tomato he uses is the difference between his pan pizza and deep-dish pies. The former has his signature pizza sauce under the toppings and cheese, but for his Chicago style, the cheese and other ingredients instead are crowned with chunky tomato sauce on top.

He said he’s been experimenting to perfect dishes for years and likes to try new things and get feedback from people.

“Finally, one day I came up with my pizza sauce recipe, [which is] really good,” he said. “That’s what I went with. Absolutely nobody knows that recipe but me. And my dough is the same way. I built it [like] all of my recipes.”

The pasta dishes are prepared fresh daily, and everything is made from scratch, he said.

“I use the freshest ingredients and the finest Italian cheese I can find,” Pitts said. “I use the top of the line … of everything. It does make a difference. My Italian beef is famous here in Elburn, especially at lunch.”

Pitts said he has daily specials, such as lunch sandwiches with fries and soft drink. He also offers pizza slices each day.

Among the most popular sandwiches are the Italian beef, the meatball sub and his chicken parmigiana, which is available either as a sandwich or served over pasta. Pitts said his homemade garlic bread is a specialty, and works well as a sandwich option in place of the regular rolls and bread for an added twist.

Also on the menu are a pure-beef, half-pound burger, Vienna hot dogs, and tiramisu as one of the desserts.

“I’ve got a little bit of everything in here,” he said, adding he already has started planning specials for his one-year anniversary celebration in May.

The fast-casual restaurant seats 20 and occupies the corner of a building with large windows. The casual space is family friendly and offers a children’s menu for ages 11 and younger. The father of two young children, Pitts knows what kids like to eat and gives them a variety of items including an 8-inch pizza.

How has he enjoyed his entrepreneurship this past year?

“It’s wonderful,” he said. “I’ve worked for different places, and now I can do it myself. I always wanted my own place and in the town where I live. I get to [serve] the community – being involved in fundraisers and [such]. I do as much as I can for the community.”

He said he’s working seven days a week to make sure everything is done right, and compares running the business to raising a child.

“You’ve got to take care of it until you know it’s grown up enough to take care of itself,” he said. “I treat it like my children.”

The restaurant offers catering and delivery to Maple Park, Campton Hills, La Fox, Kaneville, Lily Lake, Wasco, Mill Creek, Virgil, Elburn, St. Charles and Geneva. It is just south of Route 38 off Route 47 at 107 Valley Drive and is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit ambrogispizza.com or call 630-365-2777.