Thin Crust Pizza?

Hi, I just discovered this site, so just wanted to say hello to everyone. I will be in Chicago with my girl in a couple of weeks, and was looking for some cracker like thin crust pizza. I'm actually wanting something comparable to Vito and Nick's but closer to downtown. I wanted my girl to taste Vito and Nick's, but didn't want to take her there on the redline on a Friday night. I heard of a place called Marie's, which I believe is little north. Do they offer the cracker style thin crust like Vito and Nick's? If anyone can offer any suggestions or input, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks.

Michael

Marie's is just what you're looking for. Total old school experience, liquor store ,bar and restaurant all under one roof. Excellent thin crust pizza and reasonably priced cocktails as well.

4127 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
773 685 5030

There is a Marie's that makes good thin pizza, but I'm not sure it's close to the loop...

Marie's
4127 West Lawrence Avenue
Chicago, IL 60630
773 685 5030

Closest I can think of is D'Agostino's River North location:

752 N. Ogden
Chicago, IL, 60622
Phone: (312) 850-3247

Just off the blue line, I think.

I'd say head to My Pie, northwest of the loop. You could take the blue line. Great thin crust pie in the cracker crust style.

2010 N. Damen
http://www.lilguysandwich.com/mypie/index.html


edit-

You know what, Pizano's also has a good thin crust. On Madison, in between Michigan and Wabash.

61 E. Madison
http://www.pizanoschicago.com/loop.html

ab wrote:You know what, Pizano's also has a good thin crust. On Madison, in between Michigan and Wabash.

61 E. Madison
http://www.pizanoschicago.com/loop.html

Pizano's has one of my favorite thin crust pizzas in the area -- a great cornmeal crust. I wouldn't call it a cracker crust and it isn't super-thin. But it is a GREAT pizza worth seeking out.

In my opinion, Pizano's thin crust pizza is better than Marie's. I've been to Marie's only once, but Pizano's many times. When I didn't live in Chicago and was only visiting, I sought out Pizano's. Pizano's might not have the atmosphere that Marie's does - - but I think the pizza is far superior.

You may be opening a can of worms here, soonermike. Where to find the best Pizza in Chicago is not something that folks tend to agree on.

I'm a very long-time proponent of Pizano's. But it's clearly not what the poster is looking for. Completely different thin crust styles. Agree with Mike that either of the D'Agostinos is a good compromise. One is near the Matchbox, the other on Southport, so both offer good options for before/after dinner. There's the Aurelios in the South Loop. I've never tried it, and it looks kind of bleak for dine-in. But Aurelios in general are among my favorite cracker thin-crust purveyors.

I've only been there once since they've moved to their new(er) location, but I've always enjoyed Pat's Pizza. I also second the recommendation of Marie's, not only for its pizza, but for its genuinely retro atmosphere.

Pat's Pizza
2679 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL 60614

In the South Loop, there's an (unrelated) Pat's Pizza in Printer's Row, which I think serves up some very serviceable thin crust, especially for the South Loop. That was my go-to place for pizza in the loop. It doesn't really have much of a dine-in space, but it's nearby.

Pat's Pizza
628 S Clark St
Chicago, IL 60605

Personally, I think if you're here visiting with your gal, Marie's is your best bet.

(Also, you wouldn't really be taking the red line to get to Vito & Nick's. Orange Line to Pulaski, transfer over to the 53A Pulaski bus south.)

What about Piece in Wicker Park (near the intersection of Damen, North and Milwaukee, take the Blue Line)? I had their pizza recently and it's amazing! Thin crust "New York style".

chewonthat wrote:What about Piece in Wicker Park (near the intersection of Damen, North and Milwaukee, take the Blue Line)? I had their pizza recently and it's amazing! Thin crust "New York style".

Piece is definitely New Haven style, not New York style.

ab wrote:I'd say head to My Pie, northwest of the loop. You could take the blue line. Great thin crust pie in the cracker crust style.

2010 N. Damen
http://www.lilguysandwich.com/mypie/index.html

I love this place, but they have one table and 3 counter seats. It's mostly for take out, I think.

Having moved to Chicago from downstate, I also seek a decent (truly) thin crust pizza...like Pizza Hut offers, but, uh, better. It certainly seems that most of what fits the local definition of thin crust is actually of the "hand-tossed" variety (and featuring the dread tavern cut). I'm talking "ketchup on a cracker" thin crust. Perhaps I'll make a trek to Marie's one of these days.

For nice Chicago thin crust in an old-school italian neighborhood, try Salerno's on Grand. Not too thin, not too thick, good sauce, good ratios. To me, the archetypal Chicago square cut thin crust. Close to downtown, it is my "go to" thin crust, when not having Pizano's (which is more of a crunchy corn meal deep dish crust pressed thin).

Salerno's
1201 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60093
Ph (312) 666-3444

By happenstance, I went to Salerno's the other day for their pizza. Good--neither great nor bad--but good and I certainly enjoyed it. The crust was a bit....ordinary as in a lot of water and flour but not much salt and no real taste. The toppings were better than the taste of the crust. Still, no complaints really.

I wonder why no one has mentioned Coal Fire Pizza? I'd list it as thin crust pizza, and is much better than Salerno's for instance.

Keep in mind that the original poster asked for places with "cracker like" thin crust. Coalfire, Piece, and others have thin crust in the sense that the pizza is not deep dish/stuffed, but they do not offer cracker crust. Coalfire is great pizza, though. And the pizza at Piece is not too shabby either, especially when enjoyed with some of the house-brewed beer selections on offer there.

Because the OP used Vito & Nick's as the guide. New York, New Haven, Naples, and Naperville styles are not the same cracker-thin, tavern style pizzas. But, yeah, Coalfire is good.

Here's what the OP asked: "Do they offer the cracker style thin crust like Vito and Nick's?"

The answer to that question for many of the responses in this string is "No."

If it were me, I'd go to Coalfire, but not if I were looking for a completely different style.

Pete's Pizza on Western Avenue offers a very traditional cracker crust.

Hey, thanks alot everyone for the replies. And I am indeed looking for a cracker style thin crust pizza. I think we got enough responses to help us choose a spot. Leaning toward Marie's right now; I've been hearing some pretty good things about it. And we may still go to Vito and Nick's during the day or something. We're going to play it by ear. Thanks again.

Interesting! Obviously I've never had cracker thin crust pizza; I'll have to give one of these places a try to experience it.

Here's what the OP asked: "Do they offer the cracker style thin crust like Vito and Nick's?"

The answer to that question for many of the responses in this string is "No."

Just to clarify, I'd say that of the places mentioned, Marie's, D'Agostino's, and Pat's are in that style, more or less, it sounds like Salerno's is too, I can't speak for Pizano's or My Pie having only had thick from them. Coal Fire and Piece definitely are not.

My Pie is indeed cracker thin crust.

I wouldn't group Salerno's into the cracker thin crust school. They have 2 styles of pie. Their thick crust is pretty heavy with a doughy crust. Salerno's thin crust is still on the heavy side. For comparison sake I would say it's much closer to John's on Western than D'Agostinos in terms of the crust.

Request your Salerno's pizza extra thin. It's not the same texture as the cracker crusts, but it's nearly as thin.

I'd still take Marie's, though.

Up on the North Side, I have been partial to Villa Palermo on Devon, and Godfather's on WIlson. Those places are not really dine-in though. And getting kinda pricey lately--- Godfather's has raised prices and sent new menu's at least 3 times this year. My threshold on a 14'' inch delivered thin-crust, tax and tip. is under $18. I used to get it for $12. Last year. We are talking 2-3 servings here; no way is thin crust pizza worth $9 a serving.

As for the original query, for a basic introduction to Chicago thin-crust pizza, and a decent sit-down setting one can find in multiple neighborhood's, isn't Leona's good enough? I remember when, late night, the one near Belmont and Sheffield was actually cool.