Free Pizza in Chicago With March Madness Giveaway at Tortorice’s | Pizza Boy Billy Goes Big in West Town

There’s a certain kind of confidence you need to remix a Chicago staple. Not arrogance—something closer to instinct. The kind that tells you a pastrami-topped pizza might actually work, especially if you grew up eating both sides of that equation.

Billy Litsogiannis—better known around West Town as Pizza Boy Billy—has spent more than a decade dialing in that instinct at Tortorice’s Pizza. His menu leans familiar at first glance—thin crust, hearty sandwiches, classic sides—but look closer and you’ll find the edges pushed just enough to keep things interesting. A drizzle of hot honey over pepperoni and sausage. A crust that carries more than it should. A willingness to experiment without losing the neighborhood.

His latest swing? A collaboration inspired by Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen—yes, that Manny’s. The result is a pastrami-topped pizza that somehow feels less like a stunt and more like a natural extension of Chicago’s anything-goes food DNA. It’s salty, smoky, indulgent, and just a little bit chaotic—in other words, it works.

And now, Billy’s leaning all the way into the moment.

On March 26, in honor of March Madness, Pizza Boy Billy is giving away free slices all day long at Tortorice’s Pizza (West Town.) No gimmicks, no hoops—just walk in and grab a slice. It’s the kind of old-school neighborhood gesture that feels increasingly rare, and exactly on brand for a guy who’s built his reputation as much on generosity as on flavor.

That generosity isn’t new. During the height of COVID-19, Billy quietly funneled pizzas to hospitals and first responders, keeping kitchens running when the city felt like it might stall out. These days, he’s still showing up—donating meals to local schools, community groups, and Chicagoans who need them most.

For Billy, the pizza is the hook. The community is the point.

There’s a reason regulars keep coming back to Grand Avenue. It’s not just the crust, or the toppings, or even the novelty of a deli-meets-pizzeria mashup. It’s the feeling that this place—like the best Chicago spots—belongs to the people who walk through its doors.

And on March 26, it belongs to anyone who’s hungry.

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