Reader’s Choice
Coalfire
This category is so unfair. How can you compare thin crust and deep dish, Neapolitan and New Haven, the simple minimalism of a Marie’s pepperoni pie to the complex magic that is one of Burt’s? Backed against the wall, though, I’ll stick with Coalfire. The swarms have dwindled since Bill Carroll and longtime Matchbox bartender J. Spillane opened their BYO pizzeria at Grand and Ogden last year, but the pizza’s as great as ever. It all comes down to the crust—thin and chewy at the center, blackened and blistered at the perimeter, with a sooty, toasty edge thanks to the blast power of an 800-degree coal-fired oven. Overdo the toppings and the pies can get soggy. But with mozzarella, mildly salty tomato sauce, and some spicy Italian sausage from nearby Bari Foods? Perfection.  1321 W. Grand, 312-226-2625, coalfirechicago.com. —Martha Bayne
Readers’ Choice
Lou Malnati’s
Multiple locations, loumalnatis.com. Send a letter to the editor.
From the Reader blogs The Food Chain Julia Thiel: A hot-dog eating contest, Veggie Bingo, an all-you-can-eat clam bake, and more.
Wednesday at 4:30 pm
|
![[ Chicago Reader FREE TIX: Pitchfork Music Festival - Union Park - July 17 - 19 ]](http://www.chicagoreader.com/homepage-buttons/200906-Pitchfork_button.jpg)
![[ Food & Drink - Openings and closings, deals and special events, and more - Sign up now ]](http://www.chicagoreader.com/homepage-buttons/email_foodanddrink_button.jpg)
![[ Chicago Reader FREE STUFF: ALEFEST Soldier Field July 11 ]](http://www.chicagoreader.com/homepage-buttons/200907_ALEFEST_button.gif)
![[ Chicago Reader FREE TIX: Kathy Griffin - The Chicago Theatre - October 8 & 9 ]](http://www.chicagoreader.com/homepage-buttons/200906-Griffin-button1.jpg)
Digg this
del.icio.us
E-mail this
Facebook
Flag as inappropriate
sbh at 11:53 AM on 7/7/2008
not that coalfire isn't a good little bite for the money and who doesn't love byo. but to call it the 'best pizza' is a gross misunderstanding of food and a lack of knowledge by the reader staff.
the sauce is at best adequate , blending mid quality canned roma with paste, over herbed to where the the taste is reminiscent of the era of prego consumerism. as for the cheese , it is hard to call those terse wads of lackluster milk fat mozzerella, the olive oil, whose colour is that of soured chicago rain water, has no depth , no intrigue or length. though you are right , the bread is quite tasty with bite, proper tear from good yeast cultivation, and a nose redolent of char. it is by no means nepoletana. i quite like the establishment and the people who work there, but i humbly suggest that the reader be more aware of your culinary vocation, many read its uneducated voice like the bible
Flag as inappropriate
NP at 1:01 PM on 7/25/2008
Seriously? I livea block from there and will never go back. Chicago has sooo many great pizza spots and this place does NOT deserve the best pizza honor. I was able to count the spots of cheese, the sauce was definitely some sort of canned concoction and the crust was burned. I won't even go on about the salad, but just to say "skip it". Stick with the oldies, but goodies..
Flag as inappropriate
mjc at 9:15 PM on 8/26/2008
You can't beat Cafe Luigi on Clark for solid NY style pizza. Sausage is especially tasty. They also have excellent calzones an cannolis as well. Can't believe this place has not been review by Chicago reader yet!
2548 N Clark St
Flag as inappropriate
ags at 3:42 PM on 9/8/2008
I agree that Cafe Luigi is the best place for classic NY style pizza. Always great slices!
Flag as inappropriate
yoyoeleano at 10:03 AM on 9/18/2008
Uh...Try Spacca Napoli in ravenswood..beats Coalfire hands down
Flag as inappropriate
Jake at 2:42 PM on 9/28/2008
You folks at the Reader should venture past the nearby venues of the loop and head southwest. Home Run Inn still holds the crown as best pizza in Chicago, even though it's not in a trendy hood, there are few beamers or landrovers in the parking lot and most of the clientele are people of color. HRI has been "trendy" for over 50 years, namely because it's just plain great pizza.
Flag as inappropriate
TB at 4:28 PM on 10/17/2008
Simply Insane. You people must have grown up in California or something. Coalfire is not Chicago pizza, which is to say, it is barely pizza.
Flag as inappropriate
greyhound girl at 11:05 PM on 12/20/2008
Edwardo's has the best deep dish pizza, hands down, and I would say we should nominate a deep dish as we are Chicagoans talking about Chicago food here. Lou Malnati's, ehhh, not so good. In fact, it's really mediocre. Hey, just a comment about the Reader's insane bias towards all things north---I lived in Chicago almost my entire life, grew up on SW Side-- not that I enjoyed this one bit during 18 years--but hey: as I peruse this best of 08, I see that there are NO winners anywhere, in any category, south of the loop. Come on. Best sandwich, Potbelly's? Has anyone tried Palermo's pizza on 63rd and Hamlin? Great, truly great flat pizza (I'm not calling it NY style). Yes, I know, the south side has for decades been a no-go for foodies but there are some gems down there too.
Flag as inappropriate
pizza king at 1:58 AM on 12/25/2008
Burt's Place, Morton Grove, unquestionably the best, end of discussion.
Flag as inappropriate
pizza snob at 12:51 AM on 12/26/2008
Lou's (lincolnwood location) or Connie's on archer. NOW end of discussion :o)
Flag as inappropriate
Sandra Negron at 3:26 PM on 12/28/2008
how bout Mama Lunas on Fullerton or Father & Son on Milwaukee and last but not least Gullivers. All great pizza various styles.
Flag as inappropriate
Timmy at 11:39 AM on 1/1/2009
Art of Pizza for stuffed!
Flag as inappropriate
Svitlana at 9:04 PM on 1/11/2009
Coluta's on Harlem Ave. has great pizza! It's on the NW side of Chicago.
Flag as inappropriate
Mizz_Hamlet at 4:43 PM on 4/30/2009
I just want to be part of this thread because I am bored at work, but I yet to taste any pizza that is the best in chicago!
Flag as inappropriate
PHILLIP Elliott at 10:59 AM on 5/14/2009
pizza UNO is the best i dont know why no one said pizza uno
Add a comment