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The Pizza Issue
Best of ’za bunch
Easy as pie: How do you make the perfect Margherita pizza at home? Four local chefs share their secrets.
Bar pizza
As far as pizza styles go, Chicago-style tavern pie is undoubtedly the most blue-collar of the bunch. Devoured everywhere from dive bars to family restaurants, the main signs of tavern ’za are square slices and a crispy, cracker-thin crust. Sausage is the most common topping for this style, which should come as no surprise. After all, what could be more Chicago?
Pat’s PizzaPhoto: Brendan Lekan1Pat’s PizzaPat’s warm dining room is full of dark wood, spacious booths and smiling customers. And there’s a reason everyone’s happy: The thin-crust pizza here is undeniably delicious. At once crispy, delicate and flaky, the paper-thin crust holds fragrant, bright-red sauce; smoky, housemade sausage; and gooey, grease-free mozzarella that’s baked to that perfect shade between white and gold. 2679 N Lincoln Ave, 773-248-0168. Average pizza: $15.
2Vito & Nick’sDespite teetering on the southern edge of town, Vito & Nick’s has been luring generations of devotees down to the Ashburn neighborhood since 1945 with its cornmeal-dusted, slightly-thicker-than-cracker-thin-crust pizzas. We’re told the well-spiced sausage—which is so delicious it could be eaten as an appetizer by itself—is handmade by a family friend of the owner, Rose George. With pizza this good, we can even overlook the shag carpeting that covers the walls. 8433 S Pulaski Rd, 773-735-2050. Average pizza: $13.
3CandleliteThe crackery crust at this 60-year-old Far North Side neighborhood bar can be likened most accurately to matzo: The dough is rolled out superthin and baked until it’s slightly brittle. We weren’t crazy about the overly salty mozz, but the delightfully sweet and spicy tomato sauce—and a couple of beers—balanced it out nicely. 7452 N Western Ave, 773-465-0087. Average pizza: $10.
Marie’s Liquors & PizzaPhoto: Jessica Dixon4Marie’s Pizza & LiquorsTo enter this Mayfair neighborhood pizzeria, which is decked out ’70s-style in red vinyl and frosted-glass chandeliers, you must first cross the threshold of the attached liquor store. It seems odd, but then the gloriously greasy pie you order arrives and you realize this stuff’s the perfect liquor picker-upper. But even when you’re not soused, the oregano-flecked sauce, crisp crust and oil-oozing, golden-brown provolone cheese make this an unrefined, but great, pizza. 4129 W Lawrence Ave, 773-725-1853. Average pizza: $10.
5John’sJust as the walls at this aging pizzeria are plastered with classic-rock albums and other relics of yesteryear, the crispy, thin-crust pies here are covered with melty mozz; studded with hearty hunks of sausage; and framed by a smoky, slightly burned rim. The only thing holding back the ’za is the thin, underspiced sauce. 2104 N Western Ave, 773-384-1755. Average pizza: $16.
—Jake Malooley
Time Out Chicago / Issue 141 : Nov 8–14, 2007
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I worked at Folia and yes their pizza is good so that I know for sure. Need to check out #1. There are so many pizza places out there that it is hard to pick just one. And I don't know what you are talking about,Giordano's definitely has flavor,when we entertain out of town guests they love it and brag about it when they go back home,if it was so awful you wouldn't have a two hour wait to be seated there.
Nonna's Pizza - best thin crust in the city, hands down!
Of course the article mentions primarily North side pizza spots. The South Siders considers Domino's & Pizza Hut to be top notch pizza establishments. Plus the south side is not exactly safe at night...or during the day.
Please check out Barry's Spot pizza. Its on broadway and ardmore in rogers park. I was turned onto this place about 5 years ago and it is by far one of the best place for a deep dish pizza. I would drive 15 miles just for their pizza.
Surprisingly I don't have a drinking problem but I have been to all of the bars on this list and in my opionion Time Out got it wrong. By far, not even a contest, Marie's Pizza in Mayfair is the best, not to mention one of the coolest, weirdest, unique places in the city. That being said, this pizza is a good as it gets....The marie's special is loaded with toppings and is very good, but I would stick with the cheese and sausage...it's the best in the city and a large is like $13.00.... The colorful crowd and decore of this truly old school chicago joint make it a hidden gem and true classic.
First I would say we should have been consulted first. Decent list, however I need to say this. Burt's beats both pequod's and Giordano's. He made pequods what it is known for and than did it even better in the burbs. I wish he was in the city but I will make the trek regardless. His dough is by far the best in the city and all the other components match. Also How much did Giordano's pay you to put them on the list? They are so mediocre I don't even send tourists there.
What's wrong with you people? This page is for the Neopolitan style pizza and you are bringing up Giordano's or The Silo?! The Silo is WAY overrated. I couldn't believe how bland and doughy it was.
But the crust, Ashley. The crust!
Omg, Giordano's Pizza is horrible! There is NO FLAVOR
I couldn't have said it any better Mike There is a north side brotherhood when it comes to Chicago cuisine. As for me Palermo's 95th in Oak Lawn. Forty six years in business, their doing something right.
Hey Mike. Thanks for reading. But if you check out #2 on the best bar pizza list, you'll see we definitely don't fear the South Side—Vito & Nick's is one of our favorites, too. And actually, we also hit Roseangela's in Evergreen Park, Palermo in West Lawn and Beverly's Fox's Pub. Unfortunately, when stacked up against the others on the list, these guys just didn't make the cut. Of course, everyone's opinion on what makes a great pizza differs, and we surely welcome yours.
Was everyone to full on city pizza to travel up north to the absolute best...since like 1968...THE SILO in Lake Bluff???
I think your article should have been named "The best pizza on the NORTH side of Chicago" Tell your staff to venture out a little bit. There's a whole big half of a City south of Madison!!!! Contrary to what you all may think, we southsiders don't all bite!!! Tell your staff to get their asses down to 95th & Pulaski. It's Ground Zero for the best pizza in ALL of Chicago! Go East 1 mile, you have Rosangela's, go West 1 Mile you have Palermo's, go North 1 mile you have Nick & Vito's and finish it off with Foxes Pub on 100th & Western. If ya'll fear for your lives, I will personnaly escort you.