Pizza By Alex

I have driven by "Pizza By Alex" no less than two dozen times always telling myself "I've gotta check that place out", but in less than a mile it seemed to slip away from my memory. On a recent drive past, I noticed the sign saying "New Brick Oven" which made the place finally stick in my mind.

So, last night, with high hopes I finally made it.

"Pizza By Alex" seems to be originally a take out counter (with a few plastic tables) that took over an adjoining storefront and created a nice sit-down Italian restaurant featuring a big brick oven and pizza station in the center of the room:


My hopes rose higher as I watched two guys roll out dough, stoke flames, and add wood to the fire.



"Pizza By Alex's" menu (which has a full number of plated Italian standards) has an interesting pizza selection. They seem to be going for the mexican pallete with specialty pizzas topped by chorizo, chipotle sauce, and other chiles, all named in Spanish (such as the pizza "al pastor" with "pastor beef", onion, pineapple, and salsa).

We ordered two pizzas the margherita-like "Pizza Bruschetta" and a pizza with my favorite toppings: sausage, onion, mushroom, jalapeno.




Sadly, neither really lived up to the expectations that the oven gave me. The crust had surprisingly little character and the sauce was astoundingly sweet (on the margherita only), for my taste. Overall, not bad pizzas but not great, in fact the sausage pizza reminded me of the same style pie I used to get at Candlelite.

I'm anxious to try their more "Mexican" pies like the "al pastor" or "la ranchera" (beans, chorizo, and chipotle). I'll be back to test out the menu a little more.

Best,
Michael

Pizza By Alex
5040 W Montrose Ave (at Milwaukee Ave)
Chicago
773-427-8900
BYOB, Parking in Rear

I want to like Pizza by Alex more than I do. Its close to the house, brick oven, pretty cheap, but its just alright. I have learned to request light on the cheese after the first couple pizzas. So far it keeps itself in the rotation, but not usually first choice.

I think that side of Montrose is technically Jefferson Park. Unfortunately, there are three pizza joints within a block or so that are all mediocre -- Alex, Bacci (across the street) and Vince's (a block south). And they are opening another one at Six Corners (where Mr. Steer used to be). The neighborhood could use more variety -- Thai, b-b-q, etc.

PortPkPaul wrote:I think that side of Montrose is technically Jefferson Park.

Portage Park goes up to Lawrence:

Chicago Community Area Map, Portage Park pdf

Best,
Michael

Appears to be some disagreement

http://www.portagepark.org/about.html#boundaries

PortPkPaul wrote:Appears to be some disagreement

http://www.portagepark.org/about.html#boundaries

That's the area represented by that particular neighborhood association, not the official community area boundary. They seem to represent a very small portion of Portage Park, by any standard. There may well be a North Portage Park Neighborhood Association, a West blah blah, etc.

Community areas, such as Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Mayfair, etc. are real designations, actually delineated by the city (Portage Park linked to above).

Full city map

All community areas

Back to pizza.

Best,
Michael

Sorry to take the hijack a little farther, but:

And this City of Chicago map (from the official cityofchicago.org website) doesn't have Portage Park going all the way up to Lawrence.

At any rate, Pizza by Alex is in Portage Park if you're going by Community Areas. However, those community areas were defined by a University of Chicago study in the 1920s. The Community Areas don't always align that much with Chicago neighborhoods anymore. Some places (like my neighborhood, Archer Heights) is unchanged from the Community Area map. Other neighborhoods (like Back of the Yards, Canaryville, Wrigleyville, etc.) simply don't exist on the community area map.

So, it all depends on whose nomenclature you're using, but I suspect neighborhood names are in more widespread use than community area names (for example, who refers to Back of The Yards as "New City"?)

Allright already, jeez, I took "Portage Park" out of the title. Is everyone happy?

Pizza anyone?

This thread reminded me of the episode from the office about Pizza by Alfredo vs. Alfredo's Pizza cafe? (?). That's from season 4 episode 3 (don't ask me how I know that off hand, I just do)

Thanks for taking one for the team, Michael. Too bad that what began so promisingly turned out as it did.

I, too, find the prospect of the pizzas apparently designed for the Mexican palate intriguing. There's no question that the flavors seem appealing. I just have to admit that I'm not entirely certain I can wrap my head around the concept. Might be worth a trip to find out, though. Something has to keep them in business, right?

Gypsy Boy wrote:Thanks for taking one for the team, Michael. Too bad that what began so promisingly turned out as it did.

I, too, find the prospect of the pizzas apparently designed for the Mexican palate intriguing. There's no question that the flavors seem appealing. I just have to admit that I'm not entirely certain I can wrap my head around the concept. Might be worth a trip to find out, though. Something has to keep them in business, right?

It really was not as bad as my initial post may read. Like I said, the sausage and jalapeno pizza reminded me of Candlelite, with it's neutral, crisp crust. I'd avoid anything with a lot of tomato sauce, which makes the Mexican-flavored pies (salsa, chipotle sauce) intriguing.

Best,
Michael

I may have to give it a second look with the new brick oven, but the one time I ate there I found the pizza to be so mediocre that I actually found myself preferring the offerings from the Bacci across the street. And I'm not a huge fan of theirs either.