Papa G's

4.8 ( 117 reviews )
Checking... 4:00 AM - 9:00 PM See Hours
$10–20
204 S Seminary St, Downs, IL 61736, United States
+1 309-378-1333

Welcome to the world of Papa G's, a standout pizza restaurant nestled in the quaint town of Downs, Illinois. This gem is exclusively takeout, but don’t let that deter you; the quality of their pizzas makes it well worth the trip. Customers rave about the thin, crispy crust that characterizes the Chicago tavern-style pizza, perfect for those who prefer their slices cut into convenient squares.

Reviews highlight the excellent sauce and generous cheese layers, which bring the pizza to life. Customer Steve Petrilli describes it as "the absolutely best pizza you will ever eat"—a sentiment echoed by others who appreciate the quality ingredients, including savory sausage and a variety of topping options from ham to olives.

The convenience of online ordering adds to the experience, allowing customers like Molly Johnson to seamlessly place orders before opening hours, enhancing accessibility. For those with dietary preferences, a gluten-free crust option has received high praise, making it inclusive for everyone.

In short, Papa G's is not just pizza; it’s an experience that leaves you craving more. With quick service and consistent quality, it certainly raises the bar in the local dining scene.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible car park
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
  • Popular for
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves comfort food
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves dinner
    • Has seating
    • Has table service
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Casual
  • Planning
    • Doesn't accept reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Accepts NFC mobile payments
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • Good for kids
    • Has kids' menu
  • Parking
    • Free of charge street parking
    • Free parking lot
  • Pets
    • Dogs allowed outside

Reviews For Papa G's

Steve Petrilli
Jul 9,2025
Take out only, no dine in , but well worth it. For the absolutely best pizza you will ever eat, try Papa G's in Downs. If you are anywhere near Downs in your travels, you will not regret ordering from Papa G's. For everyone who lives or works within 30 to 45 minutes of Downs, you are the envy of all of us who do not! We had the pizza and dough bites from Papa G's and no question it is the best I have tasted in Illinois. Excellent thin crust pizza, great tasting sauce and plenty of cheese. We had ham, bacon, green olives, onions and yellow peppers on our pizza. Whatever your preference of toppings are, it will be the best pizza ever. For a comparison, the difference between Papa G’s and others is the same between honey from a local beekeeper and store bought honey. Once you taste local honey you never go back to store bought. You can now order online and be notified when your order will be ready for pick up
CJ Franks
Jul 8,2025
Awesome place always quick and give warning call when order is ready for pick up!! Pappa G’s Gluten free crust option highly recommend it is Extremely good gluten crust pizza!
Mike
Jun 7,2025
The pizza was great! It’s a Chicago tavern-style pizza, which means thin crispy crust cut into squares. Ingredients were quality, especially the sausage pieces. Service was fast and friendly. I’ll be going back
w h
Apr 29,2025
They definitely know how to make an Italian beef pizza and when you tell them extra meat they cover that thing and meat for no extra price it is an amazing pizza, quality guys working here. It's always been amazing here.
Molly Johnson
Apr 28,2025
Papa G’s is amazing for being in such a small town. They recently added online ordering and we ordered online today before they opened. Ordering online was easy and we received a text when the pizza went in the oven. The pizza was delicious as always too!
K. S.
Apr 23,2025
Excellent healthy options with gluten free crusts as well as cauliflower crusts. The atmosphere is casual where everyone feels like family. The owners meet you with a smile and outstanding service. Cannot speak highly enough of Papa G's!
Tony
Apr 16,2025
The people working are always friendly and seem to enjoy their jobs. Pizza is always great (though sometimes I wish they had a non thin crust option) and their menu has a surprising amount of other items on it including salads, fried ravioli, dough bites, wings, Italian fries, and the list goes on. They also have a good selection of sodas and alcohol in their drink fridge. They don't deliver which isn't a problem for us because I live close enough to walk, but I could see it as a bit of an inconvenience for others. Overall a great local place that I'm glad to have part of our community!
Greg Coombs
Mar 28,2025
We were traveling across I74 and wanted a quick stop for pizza and decided to give Papa G's a try. Are we sure happy that we did... the pizza was delicious with a nice thin crust, ample cheese and plenty of toppings plus the staff was very friendly. Would definitely stop here again!

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