Best Pizza in Chicago (Ashland, Sheffield: vs., store, assessment)

[Scribbler]

I like nontraditional toppings as a novelty now and then (white pizzas in particular, can be tasty), but to me, when I really crave pizza, I'm craving something with tomatoes and marinara and spices and salty sausage and mushroom toppings.

All styles of pizza have their merits, but I do have a special love for deep dish (total crust girl, what can I say, and thumbs up to the crushed tomatoes and upside down topping order). Of the biggie Chicago shops, I give the thumbs down to Giordano's and Gino's and Uno in favor of Lou Malnati's. I did love me some Calo, when I lived in Andersonville, though, and it was closer than Lou Malnati's. We also ate at Gulliver's on Howard a good deal, but I think that was more to gawk at the decor, I don't remember their pizza being outta this world.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by Drover

Blah blah blah. You're the one who just had to take the opportunity to respond to someone's Chicago-specific question to tell them you have to leave Chicago to get what they're looking for. Pot to Kettle: "BLACK!"

But since this thread is already well underway, I guess I'll add my two cents.

Best thin-crust: Piece

Best NY-style: Bacci

Best pan-style: Pequod's

Best Chicago-style stuffed: Calo

Sorry to hear you don't like Gino's East, it's actually one of the only two "chain" places that make really good stuffed pizza IMO, the other being Edwardo's. Never was a big fan of Giordano's and I can't stand Pizzeria Uno. Still, Calo up in Andersonville beats them all for stuffed.

It's a bit different when most of my Chicago posts are very positive, just as they are most places...mixed, but positive.

Can't say the same for you Drover.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by Steve-o

Let me get this straight? IM the mean-spirited and negative one? Hmmm, who has more rep points? And Im not the one who came on here, bashed our pizza. I only get "mean-spirited and negative" when people become hypocritical. Seriously, re-read your post and tell me it isnt negative. This is a best-CHICAGO-pizza, not best NY pizza thread. Just thought Id clue you in on that interesting tidbit.

Lol...I don't even know what rep points are? Am I supposed to be competing for some sort of rep points?

"Our" pizza. No...it is Chicago pizza. You are a person(possibly) not a pizza.

My post was in jest unlike most of yours....my posts on this forum speak for themselves.

I hold the opinion that I do not prefer any Chicago pizza. Any pizza is serviceable enough for me, but not a fan of Chicago pizza.

[Fishtacos]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

isn't it based on preference? this seems like a silly thing to argue.

i wouldn't say chicago's pizza is superior. i'd like to try it - i loathe the idea of deep dish, but i'll try other varieties. i'm a new yorker so of course i'd want to find places that serve "new york style" pizza.

when is the last time you've had ny pizza and where did you have it?? there are some bad pizza joints, even here in nyc (see your colorful description above). ny pizza is totally a meal; i'm never left feeling hungry. but i guess it depends on one's appetite. but there is "east coast" pizza and then there is ny pizza. "east coast" is a tad broad. and brooklyn can kick the other areas' behinds, hands down. come on - it's one of the only things we get right out here. pizza.

Welcome to Steve-O's world. He argues and makes everything Chicago vs this or that in nearly every post.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

It's a bit different when most of my Chicago posts are very positive, just as they are most places...mixed, but positive.

Can't say the same for you Drover.

Here's the deal, sport: when someone asks for an opinion about a place, I give my honest assessment of it. If that means I give a negative assessment, so be it. Some places, IN MY OPINION (and that's what we're sharing here, right?), don't deserve a positive assessment. And I haven't given that many places a flat negative assessment despite your claim.

Now, do you want to talk about pizza or do you want to talk about me? Because if it's the latter, take it to PM. I'm done talking about this here.

[Drover]

Strangely enough, Metromix just posted a video on their website today about this very subject. Their Top Four picks (in no particular order) are Pequod's in Lincoln Park, Lou Malnati's (various locations), Gullivers in West Ridge, and Louisa's in Crestwood.

Oh, I almost overlooked a spot... I mentioned Piece for thin crust... but for more "down-to-earth" thin-crust it's hard to beat Doreen's down in Hegewisch.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Drover

Strangely enough, Metromix just posted a video on their website today about this very subject. Their Top Four picks (in no particular order) are Pequod's in Lincoln Park, Lou Malnati's (various locations), Gullivers in West Ridge, and Louisa's in Crestwood.

Oh, I almost overlooked a spot... I mentioned Piece for thin crust... but for more "down-to-earth" thin-crust it's hard to beat Doreen's down in Hegewisch.

I love Malnati's. Strangely I like their thin crust alot better than their thick crust. I had family out from AZ, that used to live here, and we went to Malnatis in Naperville. It was great watching my FIL take his first bite. I caught his eyes rolling back in his head before they shut. LMBO. Oh, good times. I laugh at his misery in Scottsdale, their pizza is horrid. Not-even-good-as-Pizza-Hut-horrid.

Crap, my stomach is grumblin from all this pizza talk.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by Fishtacos

Welcome to Steve-O's world. He argues and makes everything Chicago vs this or that in nearly every post.

Whats wrong with arguing? I argue FACTS, thats my thing. If people wanna lie about Chicago and Illinois in general (which happens all the time), Im right there to correct em. If they wanna argue, I do.

Whoop-de-frickin-do.

[Scribbler]

My thing with Chicago pizza, and one reason deep dish appeals more, is that to me, thin crust is thin crust pretty much wherever. Sometimes it's floppy and bendy, sometimes it's thin and crispy, depending on where, but thin crust is kinda generic to me. Deep dish, on the other hand, is quintessentially indicative of Chicago, to me.

[SoonToBeChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Drover

Blah blah blah. You're the one who just had to take the opportunity to respond to someone's Chicago-specific question to tell them you have to leave Chicago to get what they're looking for. Pot to Kettle: "BLACK!"

But since this thread is already well underway, I guess I'll add my two cents.

Best thin-crust: Piece

Best NY-style: Bacci

Best pan-style: Pequod's

Best Chicago-style stuffed: Calo

Sorry to hear you don't like Gino's East, it's actually one of the only two "chain" places that make really good stuffed pizza IMO, the other being Edwardo's. Never was a big fan of Giordano's and I can't stand Pizzeria Uno. Still, Calo up in Andersonville beats them all for stuffed.

What's the difference between pan pizza and Chicago-style pizza?