@JeffB: "Coalfire would be destination pizza in NY." I absolutely 100% agree.

With the caveat that I think JeffB is being a bit too harsh, as a New Yorker (I live there during the week; in Chicago weekends), I absolutely agree that in NYC Coalfire would be a destination place. I think its on par with John's of Bleeker Street.

JeffB wrote:I have never had a single good walking slice here,

JeffB, it's not NY-style but I really enjoyed the takeout slice I got from Armand's on Division. Very rich, full-fat flavor to the cheese, sauce that wasn't too sweet, crisp crust and juicy sausage. For NY style, the best I've had here was at Boiler Room.

I take it JeffB doesn't like Jimmy's pizza? That's a solid walking slice of NY style pizza in my book.

turkob wrote:I take it JeffB doesn't like Jimmy's pizza? That's a solid walking slice of NY style pizza in my book.

Regardless of style, terrific pizza!

The best NY pizza in the city is Tony and Bruno's in the Merchandise Mart. Superb dough and excellent ingredients. Don't hate on it because it's located in the Mart and give it a shot.

My wife and I just came back from Pizzeria Serio on Belmont. The margherita with added pepperoni and sausage was marvelous, floppy and foldable. Some of the best pizza that I have had in Chicago.

I love Serio. Great tip.

Wouldn't you consider Serio to be more Neopolitan than traditional NY pizza?

gullit wrote:Wouldn't you consider Serio to be more Neopolitan than traditional NY pizza?

No, IMHO, Serio is more like New York-style thin crust with big, floppy, foldable slices with bright tomato sauce rather than Nella/Spacca Napoli-like Neopolitan pizza with a watery center (inimical to that style).

ld111134 wrote:

gullit wrote:Wouldn't you consider Serio to be more Neopolitan than traditional NY pizza?

No, IMHO, Serio is more like New York-style thin crust with big, floppy, foldable slices with bright tomato sauce rather than Nella/Spacca Napoli-like Neopolitan pizza with a watery center (inimical to that style).

Serio is great, but it's neither Neapolitan nor New York.

deepdish wrote:In my humble opinion, the best NYC pizza in Chicago is:

1) Coalfire;

No doubt about that one - Coalfire is better than a number of the coal-fired pizzas I've had in NYC (certainly better than Totonno's and Grimaldi's). Haven't been to all of them, but I doubt too many would stand much higher than Coalfire.

The Chicagoan in me is partial to the "Meat" pizza there - how can you go wrong with sausage topped with more spicy pork products?

@Fredipusrex: My man- it's great to see you over here at LTHforum! From my own personal experience, Coalfire's sausage recipe is far superior to the "sweet sausage" used at Totonno's. I thought the crusts were similar at both places, but Coalfire's sausage is definitely better. I've never had sausage that good out East. Only here in Chicago (and Milwaukee, too). So with sausage that good, does that make Coalfire's sausage pizza a NYC pizza with a Chicago twist (i.e. great sausage)?

Good Eating As Always,

cpd007

The closest I've come to NY Neapolitan style pizza is Grimaldi's which I had yesterday in Denver, and twice in Vegas. I though it was a great pizza, but the sausage can't beat what they have at Coalfire (Bari Sausage right?). Not only that, but in addition to the fennel sausage, Coalfire uses whole milk mozzarella on their sausage pizza, not fresh mozzarella that Grimaldi's uses. I still get the original sausage pizza Coalfire had, not the current one that has more toppings on it. And always extra sauce on the side to dip my crusts in. One of the best.