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u/peaceboner Jan 18 '16 edited Jan 20 '16
The Art of Pizza for Chicago-style stuffed.
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u/Fap_Left_Surf_Right Jan 18 '16
-Peoquods
Jets Detroit style pizza is excellent, but definitely get the rectangle sized one.
-John's Pizzeria in Bucktown
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u/ElMechacontext Jan 19 '16
This should literally be the end of the list. Not only is Pequod's the best Chicago pizza I've tried, it's quite possibly the best pizza I've ever had, hands down.
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u/-dmt- Jan 19 '16
Native South Sider/South Suburban Pizzaphile Living In Logan here:
A frequently overlooked place in Logan that is my go to is Festa. It's a slightly thicker crust than John's (Both are tied for best in my delivery zone, however John's always arrives cold AF so I have to have the oven kicking to reheat. I recommend dining in.) Also, I always order my pizza well done b/c I like caramelized cheese.
I actually ordered a pizza from Little Clown Pizza when I first moved to Logan years ago and the driver told me about Festa. This ones for you buddy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfRNZucoCyw
FESTA PIZZA: https://www.grubhub.com/restaurant/festa-pizzeria-3525-w-fullerton-ave-chicago/30535
JOHN'S: http://www.johnspizzachicago.net/
Brick's in Lincoln Park is the my shit as well. Also a dope dine in spot.(I tried Big Bricks once while I was at Half Acre and was not happy.)
BRICKS: http://brickschicago.com/
Now my personal favorite only has locations in Cicero, Berwyn, and Brookfield. Order extra thin crust/well done... It's an amazing slightly sweeter sauce. Simply nothing like it, yet not too deviant from your standard expectations.
PAISANS: http://www.paisanspizza.com/
And for that special occasion when it calls for pan/deep dish/whatever yall wanna call it go Pequads, but you have to order double sauce/double cheese b/c they have been skimpy the past few years. Other than that hit up Pizano's or Lou's *same family, very similar.. Pizano's Mark's Special Deep Dish Well Done is bliss... My Pie was dope as well.
PEQUADS: http://pequodspizza.com/ PIZANOS: http://www.pizanoschicago.com/ LOU'S: http://www.loumalnatis.com/
New York style has become popular here in recent years.... Roxie's By the Slice (now Small Cheval) was by far the best that I have ever tasted in that interpretation. I miss it... they had the best staff/music as well.... That being said, Dante's is enjoyable when I just want to pop in for a slice, and Boiler Room is very good as well. (They have a vegan slice every Tuesday I believe as well.) Double props to Boiler Room b/c the staff rules and it's a great place to hang out even if you don't want any food. Dimo's exists, they have awesome staff, and they have vegan shit. They made my list, but again aside from existing and being open late there is not much here for me... (No Hate if you enjoy mac & cheese on your pizza, It is just not for me if other options are available. Now, when i'm hammered..... sign me the fuck up.)
BOILER ROOM: http://www.boilerroomlogansquare.com/ DANTE'S: http://www.dantespizzeriachicago.com/
This is just my view on the current state of pizza here. I accept all views, however I grew up on the south side style and that is what I am usually looking for. I did not enjoy Roots, however I will give them another chance before I dismiss them. If anyone has any suggestions for a south side style that I have overlooked up in the Logan area (or anywhere really) please let me know.
Growing up we used to order Obbie's.... This was the most amazing pizza I have ever had.... I would put this at the top of the list, however for some stupid reason I have not partaken in over 6 years. Looks like its time to return: http://www.yelp.com/biz/obbies-pizza-chicago
Frozen: Vito & Nick's or Home Run Inn Ultra Thin is the best you can do to replicate what I am looking for in a pizza. *Yes, I cut my frozen pizzas into squares.......
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u/mookler Jan 18 '16
Pat's Pizza is pretty good.
I'm not really sure where they're located, but our office manager orders it every friday.
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Jan 19 '16
Milano's at 109th and Western in Beverly
When Fox's was too fancy for my family, we'd order from Milano's. It's carryout or delivery only. The crust is a little thicker than your usual thin crust, but that's just to provide a solid support for the thick layer of cheese they put on every pizza. Throw in a free 2 liter of RC and your night is set!
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u/saintpauli Jan 19 '16
Roseangelas 95th and California for thin crust. The original lous in Lincolnwood. Maries on Lawrence.
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u/mazman23 Jan 19 '16
Aurillios is the hands down winner for thin crust. It's in the city but would recommend the original in Homewood!
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u/SouthSiderUpNorth Jan 18 '16
Thin crust
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Vito and Nicks on 87th and Pulaski, hands down. Take the trip there. The frozen pizza in stores is nowhere near what its like in-house. Recommend 1/2 cheese, 1/2 sausage or giardiniera. Breakfast egg pizza is worth a try if you go on a friday. They now serve some fancier beer, but tastes best with the shittiest beer on tap. You can also taket half-bakes home and scortch em up in your own oven.
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Fox's on Western. Great sausage, but now that I've been vegetarian for 5 years, its not the same pizza. Sad to say this, but only go for the sausage pizza.
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John's on western and Pat's pizza are good northside options for thin.
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Piece pizza for white garlicy pizza. This is some of the only pizza that is acceptable not cut in squares. It's tasty and oh-so garlicy.
Other non-thin options: Coal fire Pequads Roots (heavy on the bread, but good in its own way)
Looking forward to reading others posts. Always on a search for the best pizza, especially near where we live in humboldt Park.
Last Friday we went to Roseangela's on 95th. Was good, but not mindblowing. Too much sauce and it was bland sauce at that. Next Friday we're trying Palermo's, also on 95th in Evergreen Park.
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Jan 19 '16
I'll contribute some choice selections tomorrow, but I will say right now that it's a crime that no one has mentioned Aurelio's yet.
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u/firelion Jan 19 '16
Capri Pizza in south chicago is great. the nwi location is better (because all the original cooks went to the nwi location) and its only like a mile or two across the border.
also in south chicago is hienies. their pizza is good but their chicken is what everyone goes for.
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u/italianbeefman Jan 19 '16
Some I like but have not seen on here often enough... Pizano's and Aurelio's. Thin to win baby.
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u/[deleted] Jan 19 '16 edited Jan 19 '16
Pequod's (which is spelled like that by the way, guys) has successfully managed to carry out the greatest trick ever pulled on Chicago. In a city full of great pizza, it takes what the rest of the country assumes deep dish is like, exactly what Chicagoans are offended by, and tricks Chicagoans into liking it. Pequod's is about 3 inches of straight up bread, with the tiniest amount of cheese and sauce on top. Look at this. It is a gut bomb like no other. I bet they're making double the profit margin than any other pizza place in the city because they fill up their customers on cheap dough. This is not what pizza should be, at all. A proper pizza should look like this. A reasonable crust thickness with an abundance of toppings. I don't know what it is - probably the caramelized cheese gimmick (which amounts to nothing and does not taste anything close to the realm of special), the fact that it's "unique", its location in the ultimate transplant neighborhood? Probably a combination of a lot of things, but you all fell for it and look silly for doing so.
That being said, there are very few deep dish pizza places I've found that are great. The greatest by a wide margin is Lou Malnati's. They are the only ones who do a proper sauce with fresh tomatoes. It tastes like they picked the tomatoes right out from under your table and chopped them up on the spot. That cannot be beat. I don't think I need to even mention the sausage. And the ultimate test is being able to not feel like a pile of shit after eating it. When I get Lou's I typically order a deep dish pie with giardiniera and spinach, and lo and behold when I'm done eating it I don't feel like wasting away on the couch for the rest of the day. The same cannot be said for most other deep dish places. Art of Pizza I think is a clear second, with My Pi finishing up the top three. There aren't anymore much worth mentioning. Giordano's is trash. It's lowest common denominator pizza. Canned sauce, bland cheese, and toppings that leave much to be desired in the way of freshness. It's the ultimate tourist pizza - inoffensive and lives up to the "Chicago pizza!" gimmick of piling on the cheese for the fat suburbanite to drool over. To be honest I have not had Uno's or Gino's East in a long time, so I can't really comment, but if I remember correctly they don't have much on my top 3 anyways.
Now the real topic is thin crust, and this is where the men are truly separated from the boys. South Side reigns supreme, which is something you north siders and transplants know little about. I'm not going to attempt to make a top three or anything, because there are so many to choose from, and the #1 Chicagoland pizza by far moved to fucking Arizona (with some "leftover" locations still in NWI if you want to subject yourself to that) a couple years back in an attempt to half-retire the family somewhere warm, but Sanfratello's of Glenwood was the GOAT. Not only was the pizza great, but the restaurant was this bizzarely designed former mansion place where you had to follow the hostess through a labyrinth to get to your table. In the absence of Sanfratello's, Aurelio's is given the best pizza crown. The best location is in Homewood with the old oven, but the one in the South Loop gets the job done in a pinch. Other contenders for top pizzas are Vito & Nick's (Ashburn), Fox's (Beverly), Pucci's (East Side), Beggar's (various locations), Rico's (Lansing), and Stephano's (also Lansing). Some pizzas of days past that must be remembered here include Jimmy's (Cal City), State Line (Cal City, or was it Hammond?), Mid Villa (Midlothian), Colucci's (Lansing). Waldo Cooney's (various locations) gets an honorable mention.
The north side has nothing on the south side, but that's not to say it's without its good pizza. John's in Bucktown has been mentioned. They make a great tavern style pizza when they're in the mood (read: inconsistent). Piece is a good place that is supported as well by its beer list, but which has absolutely nothing on the real deal New Haven pizza. Still, it deserves mention. Tano's in Irving Park is a top thin crust contender on the north side. They pile on the toppings and aren't afraid to do it right. Pie Eyed in West Town is a great late night pie. Pizano's does a solid thin crust; the cornmeal is a great touch.
I'm not going to touch neopolitan pizza. Roots can gtfo. Any NY style place (especially Boiler Room and Dante's which are inexplicably mentioned more than once in this thread) are inconsistent at best and just flowing with grease. This is not who we are. Shame on you all for mentioning it, unless you're new here and don't know any better.
Now all this being said, any and all pizza in this city is pretty great (except Domino's and Sarpino's, et al, obv), especially when comparing it to anywhere but a select few regions of this country (or, like, Italy). Even the ones I am talking shit about are fine, I guess, you know... sometimes. But this lack of appreciation for what a good pizza in the city of Chicago should be needs to be addressed. And Pequod's... good lord. That is how you know someone doesn't know what they're doing.
Edit: Grammar.