CHICAGO may be well-known for its deep-dish pizzas, but many locals argue that they prefer the lesser-known tavern-style pies. For pizza-lovers they may have only heard of the tavern-style pies when Pizza Hut released its "Chicago Tavern-Style" last month, but true Chicagoans have long been fans. There is not one set recipe for a tavern-style pizza and the taste will vary from place to place.
But one universally agreed-upon factor is that the pizza must have a thin crust. A cracker-crust, as some people call it. One local, Mike, wrote on Yelp that Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern was the perfect spot for a pie that passed the flop-test and is cracker-like.
"Awesome spot for traditional Chicago-style tavern pizza. Cracker thin crust, nicely sweet sauce, and all the usual toppings available. My standard test is picking up a piece by the edge and if it doesn't flop, it's good.
And this pizza is GOOD - passed the flop test with flying colors." Another local, Mark G praised Vito & Nick's in the WIndy City, especially for visitors on a quick stopover near the airport, "Highly recommended for thin crust Chicago Tavern style pizza in the south Chicago area, especially if you have a layover or a late flight at Midway airport. Some argue Vito & Nick's was the first place in the city to offer the dish.
It's certainly the longest-standing, according to Bon Appetit. The restaurant has been open since 1923. Diner Cassie, who is also a Chicago local, wrote on Yelp that she loved Pat's Pizzeria & Ristorante and said: "I've been struggling to find my favorite thin crust pizza in Chicago, but I think I finally found it! Read more on Chicago "I don't like when pizzas are overwhelmed with spices or are ridiculously greasy.
This place was perfect and it actually was thin crust." Pizza Hut's Tavern Pie The tavern style pizza was thrown into the spotlight when Pizza Hut launched its own version in July. The Pizza Hut website says the dish is "inspired by the bar pies of Chicago" with "a touch of Pizza Hut magic.
" Steve Dolinsky, known as Chicago's Food Guy, has reviewed the raved-about dish and has given readers his honest verdict. Dolinsky purchased a medium 12-inch pizza with sausages and peppers for $22.89 to see if it matched up to the city's originals.
He praised the cheese on the pizza but was less enthusiastic about the other elements of the dish. Most read in Travel From the way the pizza was cut to the taste of the sausages, Dolinsky thought that the Pizza Hut version was not up to scratch of the classic Chicago tavern-style pizza. The tavern-style pizza is loved by locals and they rate it more highly than the better known deep-dish pizza.
So here are three of the best spots in the city: Vito & Nick's One of the longest-standing locations to offer tavern-style pizza in the city. Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern A sports bar in Uptown that offers the much-loved tavern-style pizza. Pat's Pizzeria & Ristorante It has an incredibly thin cracker-like crust on its pizzas and the sausages they use are home-made.
"The bottom is okay, not great," he said. "They're not really that crisp. I'd like a little bit more crispness," he explained.
Donlinsky thought the pizza had been cut into squares that were too large and he was not a fan. "I don't love the fact that the sausage has pretty much no flavor whatsoever - it's extremely bland," he added. The Food Guy also criticized the thickness of the pizza base as well.
"It should be cracker thin, it should be crispier." He ultimately decided that the Pizza Hut dish was no match for Chicago's well-loved tavern-style pizza. "Is it Chicago-Tavern style? No.
" According to Pizza Hut, the dish is only available at certain locations in the U.S. and it is available for a limited time only.
Besides the paper-thin base, there is one other thing that defines the tavern-style pizza. Read More on The US Sun Most are cut into small, square slices instead of the more traditional triangular pizza slices. Many Chicagoans believe these pizzas are less greasy and altogether just a nicer alternative to deep-dish pizza.
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