Italian-style pizza suggestions, please

I know I could do a search, but I though I would try to get an updated suggestion on the Napoli-style pizza places in the city - preferably of the BYO or low corkage variety. Anyone been to any lately and caer to comment? Thanks.

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Spacca Napoli, while not BYO, is the first place that comes to mind. It's been very consistent in my experience, though it's probably been about 6 months since I was last there.

Another place that might be worth trying (I haven't been there) is Nella Pizzeria Napoletana, which is helmed by Nella Grassano, who was the pizzaiolo at Spacca Napoli when it first opened.

Hope that helps,

=R=

I'll second Nella, although that is not BYOB either and the wines can get a little pricey..

Pizzeria Serio
New place opened in West Lakeview area. I haven't tried it but it is billed as pizza that "falls somewhere between classic New York and Neapolitan" and it is BYOB for now...

http://www.pizzeriaserio.com

Antica Pizzeria in Andersonville is BYO. Lately, when the craving for this type of pizza hits, this is where we go. They make a very good pizza, it's super close for us, they're kid-friendly and BYO.

Antica Pizzeria
5663 N Clark Ave
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 944-1492

Not a BYO, but La Madia in River North has a good luncheon special: salad, pizza, glass-of-wine-of-day--$25/2. Probably the best Neapolitan style pizza downtown.

ronnie_suburban wrote:...Another place that might be worth trying (I haven't been there) is Nella Pizzeria Napoletana, which is helmed by Nella Grassano, who was the pizzaiolo at Spacca Napoli when it first opened.

It's probably worth mentioning that -- according to Mike Sula at The Reader -- Nella Grassano is no longer cooking pizza (or anything else) here.

Sula @ The Reader wrote:Wow. That didn't take long. Sources at both Nella Pizzeria Napoletana and Francesca's HQ have confirmed that Scott Harris and pizzaiola Nella Grassano have fallen out "as of last Friday." Or something.

"She's moved on to bigger and better things," they told me at the restaurant.

=R=

HI,

The parting statement Sula captured from her husband, they plan to see a lawyer tomorrow.

I am waiting for the snarky posts from her camp complaining they were cheated. It will be deja vu all over again.

Regards,

jbw wrote:Not a BYO, but La Madia in River North has a good luncheon special: salad, pizza, glass-of-wine-of-day--$25/2. Probably the best Neapolitan style pizza downtown.

great special, went there for the first time today for my birthday. Had the Pancetta, Leek, garlic, and goat cheese pizza. Also had pizza fondue and two glasses of wine (not the wine of the day) for $31 plus tip. Pizza:

Chitown B wrote:Also had pizza fondue

What, pray tell, is that?

it's puffed pizza crust (like a huge pita, but pizza crust) with a side of tomato/cheese sauce and parmesan. Good stuff - forgot to take a pic of it.

So...was the pizza good?
It looks fantastic.

A few days ago I had (one more time) a marvelous experience with the "Italian style" pizzas at Union on Chicago Avenue (at Dempster) in Evanston. The toppings, tomato sauce and cheese are perfectly balanced and cooked the right way in a wood-burning oven. My four favorites are: lamb sausage, fresh mushrooms, pork sausage and mild red peppers, and last but not least the perfect simple classic margherita. That last one is one of the best I ever had in Chicago. The center is soft but not soggy. And there are just enough marks of char on the crust to make you believe that you are in Italy.
But... that very pleasant restaurant is not BYOB and is very often crowded. Better go on a week night and early in the evening.
Nice affordable wine list though.

SCUBAchef wrote:So...was the pizza good?
It looks fantastic.

it was very tasty and fresh. I would go back again in a heartbeat. They have a lot of great combinations of ingredients to choose from, too.

Chitown B wrote:it was very tasty and fresh. I would go back again in a heartbeat.

Talking about La Madia, right?

G Wiv wrote:

Chitown B wrote:it was very tasty and fresh. I would go back again in a heartbeat.

Talking about La Madia, right?

yup, La Madia

I live in Logan Square and enjoyed Ciao Napoli Pizzeria.

It has a full bar, but might be open to BYOB (at least, TimeOut lists it that way, but TimeOut also has been reviewing El Pollo Loco recently which doesn't even exist anymore, it's a new grilled chicken place in the same storefront, so I'd call first).

Ciao Napoli Pizzeria
2607 N Milwaukee Ave
http://www.ciaonapolipizzeria.com/

The truffle salad is incredible and the pizza we sampled (prosciutto and arugula) was nice, finally got to experience that style. The room is done nicely, they worked on it for quite awhile and did a good job for the neighborhood.

miss ellen