Well, our Hungry Hound Steve Dolinsky is aiming to put that debate to rest with a methodical survey of local pizzerias - in his epic PIZZA QUEST.
Our Hungry Hound visited 50 - that's right 50 - pizzerias that specialize in thin-crust pies. Read the full list here and breakdown of thin-crust categories.
SEE THE HOUND'S FULL THIN-CRUST BREAKDOWN BLOG HERE
The Categories:
Based on the pizzas our Hungry Hound tried, the thin categories - as he's defined them for the Pizza Quest - are as follows:
- Tavern-style: thin, crispy, almost cracker-like crust; square-cut
- Artisan Thin: unique, artisan-made toppings, long ferment time for dough that contains higher percentage of water; usually a puffy, blistered edge, or cornicione
- Thin: You know what this is already
- Neapolitan: 00 flour, San Marzano tomatoes, wood-burning brick oven, fior di latte (domestic mozzarella) or buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy
The Full A-Z List of Thin-Crust Pizzerias (for a review of each restaurant with links to each website, visit the Hound's blog)
800 Degrees
812 Church St., Evanston; 224-307-2803
Style: Neapolitan/Thin
AneMone Caffe & Neapolitan Pizzeria
6431 W. 127th St., Palos Heights; 708-897-0003
Style: Thin
Antica Pizzeria
5663 N. Clark St.; 773-944-1492
Style: Neapolitan
Ordered margherita, approx. 12" ($12.95)
Apart Pizza
2205 W. Montrose Ave.; 773-588-1550
5624 N. Broadway; 773-784-1550
Style: Thin
Armand's Pizza & Pasta
105 W. 1st St., Elmhurst; 630-782-5800
Style: Tavern
Aurelio's
18162 Harwood Ave., Homewood; 708-798-8050 - several other locations
Style: Thin
Baldinelli's Pizza Place
114 S. Washington St., Hinsdale; 630-654-4600
Style: Thin
Barnaby's of Northbrook
960 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook; 847-498-3900
Style: Tavern
Bar Toma
110 E. Pearson St.; 312-266-3110
Style: Artisan Thin
Bricks Wood Fired Pizza & Caf
1763 Freedom Dr., Naperville; 630-799-6860
also locations in Lombard and Wheaton, and soon in Lincoln Park
Style: Thin
Caf Luigi
2548 N. Clark St.; 773-404-0200
Style: Thin/NYC Style
Candlelite
7452 N. Western Ave.; 773-465-0087
Style: Tavern
Caponie's Trattoria
7419 W. Irving Park Rd.; 773-804-9024
Style: Thin
Capri's Pizza
8820 S. Commercial Ave.; 773-768-7242
Style: Thin
Coalfire
[Ads /]
1321 W. Grand Ave.; 312-226-2625
3705 N. Southport
Style: Artisan/thin
Craft Pizza
1252 N. Damen Ave.; 773-442-7238
Style: Neapolitan American East Coast/thin
Cuzin's
17704 Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park; 708-633-1144
Style: Tavern-style
DiLeo's Pizzeria
193 E. Butterfield Rd., Elmhurst; 630-782-5700
Style: Thin
Dinotto Pizza e Vino
1551 N. Wells St., (312) 202-0302
Style: Neapolitan
Eataly
43 E. Ohio St.; 312-521-8700
Style: Neapolitan
Elio Pizza on Fire (closed?)
2360 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-649-1000
Style: Neapolitan-ish
Elio Pizza on Fire
445 W. Lake St., Addison; 630-628-0088
Style: Neapolitan
Forno Rosso
3719 N. Harlem Ave.; 773-295-5697
Style: Neapolitan
Freddy's Pizza
1600 S. 61st Ave., Cicero
Style: Thin
Gianni's Ristorante and Pizzeria
9655 Grand Ave., Franklin Park; 847-451-0100
Style: Tavern
Grand Stand Pizza
9718 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park; 847-451-1155
Style: Tavern
Italian Pizza Kitchen
1433 N. Dayton St.; 312-642-6700
Style: Thin
Jimmy's Place
7411 W. Madison St., Forest Park; 708-771-7476
Style: Tavern
Marie's Pizza & Liquors
4127-4129 W. Lawrence Ave.; 773-725-1812
Style: Tavern
Obbie's
6654 W. Archer Ave.; 773-586-2828
Style: Thin/Tavern
Palermo's 95th
4849 W. 95th St., Oak Lawn; 708-425-6262
Style: Thin/Tavern
Panino's Pizzaiolo
3702 N. Broadway (entrance on Waveland); 773-472-620o; also locations in Park Ridge and Evanston
Style: Neapolitan
Parkers' Restaurant & Bar
1000 31st St., Downers Grove; 630-960-5700
Style: Neapolitan
Pat's
2679 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-248-0168
Style: Tavern
Piece Brewery & Pizzeria
1927 W. North Ave.; 773-772-4422
Style: New Haven Thin
Pizano's
Six locations; I went to 2056 W. Division St.; 773-252-1777
Style: Deep and Thin
Pizza Barra
3011 Butterfield Rd, Oak Brook; 630-861-6177
Style: Artisan thin
Pizza Castle
3256 W. 55th St.; 773-776-1075
Style: Thin
Pizza East
Soho House
113 - 125 N. Green St.; 312-521-8000
Style: Artisan Thin
Pizza Metro
1707 W. Division St.; 773-993-1351
Style: Thin
Pizza Rustica
3908 N. Sheridan Rd.; 773-404-8955
Style: Thin
Pizza Serio
1708 W. Belmont Ave.; 773-525-0600
Style: Neapolitan-ish/Thin
Pizzeria da Nella
1443 W. Fullerton Ave.; 773-281-6600
Style: Neapolitan
Pizzeria DeVille
404 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville; 847-367-4992
Style: Artisan Thin
Pranzi
434 W. Ontario St.; 312-944-4340
Style: thin/tavern
Roots Handmade Pizza
1924 W. Chicago Ave.; 773-645-4949
Style: Thin (via the Quad Cities)
Salerno's Pizza
1201 W. Grand Ave.; 312-666-3444
Style: Thin
Side Street Saloon
1456 W. George St.; 773-327-1127
Style: Tavern
Sono Wood Fired
1582 N. Clybourn; 773-255-1122
Style: Artisan Thin/Sicilian
Spacca Napoli
1769 W. Sunnyside; 773-878-2420
Style: Neapolitan
Stella Barra
1954 N. Halsted St.; 773-634-4101
Style: Artisan Thin
The Boiler Room
2210 N. California Ave.; 773-276-5625
Style: Thin
Trattoria Porretta Ristorante & Pizzeria
3656 N. Central Ave., 773-736-1429
Style: Tavern
Union Pizza
1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 847-475-2400
Style: Artisan Thin
Villa Napoli
8546 W. Lawrence; 708-456-5022
Style: Tavern
Villa Nova
6821 W. Pershing Rd., Stickney; 708-788-2944
Also locations in Lockport, New Buffalo, MI and Chesterton, IN
Style: Tavern
Vito & Nick's
8433 S. Pulaski Rd.; 773-735-2050
Style: Tavern
Map of Thin Crust Pizzerias
Read the Hound's methodology
The Hound discusses some highlights from his Quest on Windy City LIVE!