Yes, USA Today is a joke. Sometimes I read what's in the seatback on the plane, even Skymall.

a joke yes, but it was still nice to see Saint Domenico's picture over the article.

JeffB wrote:Yes, USA Today is a joke. Sometimes I read what's in the seatback on the plane, even Skymall.

So freakin' true!

I was reminded of this thread because today I strolled into Santullo's for a slice after having to mostly throw away foul salad Nicoise from Silver Cloud (the green beans and boiled potatoes were still frozen). Don't ask why I was at Silver Cloud.

Santullo's is someone's conception of a NY style slice, but not really a good one. It very much reminded me of the kind of cheap slice (except for the cheap part) that one gets at 2:00 am in ay number of Florida entertainment districts or SEC/Big Ten/PAC Ten college towns from a time-worn spot opened X-years ago by someone claiming to be from Brooklyn. And Santullo's really is that kind of place, isn't it? Almost like a Jimmy John's, except staffed by Beck wannabe's wearing a reggae toasters' Puma sweats.

Too much bad cheese, horrid mealy industrial sausage (I would bet a soy product was involved), and way too much bad sweet sauce. On the NYC side, it was very thin, floppy and charred in what appeared to be a good hot oven. The crust was way too oily, though. Would I eat another slice before settling for Underdog at 2:00 am? Sure, but not if I could get safely to Pasadita.

My problem with Santullo's is its inconsistency.

I've definitely had poor slices there and they can have a heavy hand with the cheese. (Can't say much about toppings -- when I go for slices, I go plain.) For a stretch of time, any slice I'd get there was doughy and/or underdone. Because it was one of the better slices I could get within walking distance, I'd just tell them to "burn it."

That said, when it comes together, they can make a good, not great, slice.

JeffB wrote:Too much bad cheese, horrid mealy industrial sausage (I would bet a soy product was involved), and way too much bad sweet sauce. On the NYC side, it was very thin, floppy and charred in what appeared to be a good hot oven. The crust was way too oily, though.

The sausage is, indeed, utterly miserable. I generally go for pepperoni or plain cheese and it works pretty well.

I think the quality suffers a lot as the day progresses. It's usually a good, but not great choice for lunch for me.

A perhaps better alternative to silver cloud in the area is the goddess and the grocer. Pretty good sandwiches, salads, and a host of prepared foods. They're trying to be trotters to go or fox and obel, they just aren't quite as good. But it's one of the most reliably good places nearby. They close at 10, so it won't work after a late night out.

agreed re: Santullo's consistency. I had a sausage & onion slice there yesterday that was so absolutely soaked in grease the front 3rd practically disintrigrated. Not sure my asking for it well-done had anythuing to do with it, but other times it hasn't been nearly as greasy. They also skimp on the onions.

The pastrami at G&G is pretty good as well tho a bit overpriced. Maybe I'll see if the grocery place around the corner on Wabansia is any cheaper.

tem wrote:The pastrami at G&G is pretty good as well tho a bit overpriced. Maybe I'll see if the grocery place around the corner on Wabansia is any cheaper.

G&G's pastrami is boars head, which is fine, but nothing special to me. It is, however, the best pastrami in walking distance. Olivia's Market around the corner doesn't offer any sandwiches -- the only prepared food they have is soup, I believe.

Anyone know of any good nyc style thin crust pizza in the city? I love the thick chicago style as well but sometimes you just want it thin.

Im not into NYc pizza but I have heard Luigi's has a good slice.

It's a total grease bomb, cheap and wildly inconsistent, but Santullo's has the closest I've personally sampled in the city. But this isn't something I've looked around for.

In my opinion, Cafe Luigi has the most authentic New York style slices. The place generally reminds me of a hole in the wall slice place that you might find in Brooklyn.

Cafe Luigi
2548 N. Clark St., Chicago
(773) 404-0200

I think the thin pizza at whole foods south loop is surprisingly good actually.

CMC wrote:
In a town that is supposedly known for it's pizza, how many places can WE (LTH, the enlightened) agree are outstanding (where you'd drive an out of town guest 20 miles to get to if necessary)?
.

Exactly! NYC for pizza; Chicago for hot dogs is my mantra. Now for street food that I'd drive an out of towner 20 miles for in Chicago? That's easy. Harold's. 1/2 mixed dinner, swimming in hot, wonder bread on the bottom of the box.

And I second the Luigi's rec. I live a block away, and it's a very credible NY style slice. Even better when taken across the street (and down half a block) to watch a game at the very Manhattanesque Field House sports bar.

FoodSnob77 wrote:Anyone know of any good nyc style thin crust pizza in the city? I love the thick chicago style as well but sometimes you just want it thin.

Does it have to be NYC style or can it just be thin? Plenty of great thin pies in Chicago (Vito and Nick's, Marie's, Pat's, etc.) I don't know if I'd call Coalfire NYC style, but it's some sort of East Coast-Neapolitan hybrid, and may be up your alley.

Why do I feel like asking for the best NYC pizza in town is like asking what's the best dealership to get a used Yugo?

Like a previous poster, I too live a block or so from Luigi, and give it a hearty thumbs down. The pizza is inconsistent and the attitude you get there is not.

On the other hand, I second a previous comment on Santullo's. I think thier slices are excellent, and a whole pie hot out of the oven is a slice of Brooklyn in Wicker Park.

mss60614 wrote:On the other hand, I second a previous comment on Santullo's. I think thier slices are excellent, and a whole pie hot out of the oven is a slice of Brooklyn in Wicker Park.

I don't know that I'd go that far, but it scratches the itch when it's on

Anyone tried Apart Pizza, on either Montrose just west of Lincoln or Broadway just north of Bryn Mawr? Outstanding thin crust, good bargain, and free delivery.

trpt2345 wrote:Anyone tried Apart Pizza, on either Montrose just west of Lincoln or Broadway just north of Bryn Mawr? Outstanding thin crust, good bargain, and free delivery.

yes, yes and yes

Search is your friend.

There's a new(ish) place in Lakeview on Ashland at Addison called Pizzaco's Italian Eatery, which has become our Friday night go-to. I'm originally an East Coast girl, and I've always longed for good NY style pizza in Chicago, and this is it. The crust is chewy but not crispy, and the slices can be folded (which is, in my mind, an acid test for NY pizza). They have a great selection of toppings, too, including broccoli, one of my strange favorites, as well as various Italian meats (i.e. capicola, mortadella, etc.) and fresh mozzarella. As a plus, the guy who always answers the phone when we order is both friendly and helpful.

Please order from here so my favorite neighborhood pizza place stays in business!

Pizzaco's
3065 N Ashland
Chicago, IL 60613
773-880-0808

I lived a block from Apart for the better part of a year. Very, very good thin crust and reasonably priced. It's my favorite.

MamaCupcake wrote:There's a new(ish) place in Lakeview on Ashland at Addison called Pizzaco's Italian Eatery, which has become our Friday night go-to. I'm originally an East Coast girl, and I've always longed for good NY style pizza in Chicago, and this is it. The crust is chewy but not crispy, and the slices can be folded (which is, in my mind, an acid test for NY pizza). They have a great selection of toppings, too, including broccoli, one of my strange favorites, as well as various Italian meats (i.e. capicola, mortadella, etc.) and fresh mozzarella. As a plus, the guy who always answers the phone when we order is both friendly and helpful.

Please order from here so my favorite neighborhood pizza place stays in business!

Pizzaco's
3065 N Ashland
Chicago, IL 60613
773-880-0808

I saw this place not that long ago on my way up to Sunshine Cafe from Bucktown and was intrigued. Do you happen to know their delivery radius? I'm headed up that way again sometime in the next few days to run an errand and should stop in for a slice. I'm an East Coast girl myself with a NYC born husband so I am always on the hunt for a good slice.

Unfortunately, their delivery area isn't on the take-out menu that I have, or on GrubHub. Stop by for a slice, though, if they won't come to Bucktown - definitely worth it.

Anyone tried Apart Pizza, on either Montrose just west of Lincoln or Broadway just north of Bryn Mawr? Outstanding thin crust, good bargain, and free delivery.

I have been hunting for NYC style pizza ever since I moved from NYC to Chicago and I think Apart is the closest that I've found. The taste brought on a sense memory of all the pizza that I ate in NY.

I don't live near Apart, but my friends order there all the time. Lucky them!

I had a pretty good NY style-ish slice as well at Pizzaco. I've been meaning to order from them for further analysis. Tonight may be just the night!! Oh, and I agree with the MamaCupCake - the owner couldn't be friendlier.

rilkeanhearts wrote:

Anyone tried Apart Pizza, on either Montrose just west of Lincoln or Broadway just north of Bryn Mawr? Outstanding thin crust, good bargain, and free delivery.

I have been hunting for NYC style pizza ever since I moved from NYC to Chicago and I think Apart is the closest that I've found. The taste brought on a sense memory of all the pizza that I ate in NY.

I don't live near Apart, but my friends order there all the time. Lucky them!

The two folks that recommended it to me are co-workers from NY, and I became addicted. I was fortunately just inside the original location's delivery area-they said if I had been across the street I'd have been out of luck-and now I'm only a couple of blocks from the new location on Broadway and Bryn Mawr. My wife is not a pizza fan but she adores Apart and it has been a life saver this winter.

Add me to the list of long time Chicagoans who prefer the NY style slice. I like Apart a lot, but for me, it's not quite the same thing...the crust isn't chewy enough, but it may be the closest thing you can get.

While slightly off-topic, I found the the various styles well defined by this site:

http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2 ... tyles.html

MamaCupcake wrote:There's a new(ish) place in Lakeview on Ashland at Addison called Pizzaco's Italian Eatery, which has become our Friday night go-to. I'm originally an East Coast girl, and I've always longed for good NY style pizza in Chicago, and this is it. The crust is chewy but not crispy, and the slices can be folded (which is, in my mind, an acid test for NY pizza).

I tried this place and it was decent -- I'd put it on par with Gigio's. Cafe Luigi is still tops.

Cafe Luigi is indeed the gold standard....