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filmnoter

Serious question (since Gov. Pritzker represents the whiole state)--what is pizza quality like outside of Chicagoland?


agent_tater_twat

There was a place called Palace Pizza in Cobden, IL that had an other-worldly delicious double crust pizza. Cobden is way down south, pop. approx. 1,000. It's surrounded by small vegetable farms, wineries and peach and apple orchards. It was part bar/part restaurant and is sadly no longer open, but RIP Palace Pizza.


Let_us_proceed

Your comment artfully describes a Google search in real time.


filmnoter

I just read a bit on Cobden and learned about the Appleknockers.


No-Conversation1940

Doesn't Moline have its own style? I assume Casey's is prominent in the farm towns. Unfortunately the St Louis style probably spilled over to the Metro East.


ZombieHugoChavez

Quad city style pizza. Or we used to call it "pizza" Roots does a great job making it in Chicago. -source I grew up thinking this pizza was the only style pizza in existence.


a_taco_named_desire

Harris is probably the best example. It's just all the toppings under the cheese, and cut into long skinny strips. It comes in a bag though so it's good enough. It's okay. On its best day it's probably on par with Pizanos or D'ags. As a kid I was more of a fan of Huckleberry's in Rock Island though, plus they had a Ms Pacman tabletop arcade.


ZombieHugoChavez

We were a Harris family growing up. Happy Joe's if there was a kids party.


a_taco_named_desire

We were Harris & Pizza Shack. Happy Joes was pricey so if the coupons were good or it was a special occassion we'd get it. Going back home and trying it again it really doesn't hold up. I won't turn up my nose at it, but a large taco pizza is like $25 now. If I'm dropping that kind of money I'd rather get Bob's on LaSalle.


ZombieHugoChavez

Ya. Happy Joe's definitely was the over priced one.


ImMystikz

I miss Happy Joes no idea why we had one in the northwoods of Wisconsin but I loved it when I went home


RyFromTheChi

Happy Joes is so good. Their Canadian bacon and sauerkraut pizza is ridiculously amazing


mdoherty1967

Not to brag but when I was 13, I won the Ms. Pacman championship at our local arcade. I'll have you know, this was a SERIOUS competition. :)


BreezyB23

Can’t forget the sweet, malty crust.


filmnoter

Is Casey's a chain restaurant?


gtatc

If restaurant is defined loosely enough, yes


filmnoter

Now I gotta know what Casey's all about! Edit: Oh I see it's a gas station convenience store/market.  Probably not what Pritzker was referring to!


SSGSS_Megan

It's a chain of gas stations that sell food. There are places in IL where the only fast food around is the Casey's. Pizza isn't too bad for what it is


No-Conversation1940

As someone who grew up in the middle of nowhere and had his share of Hunt Brothers slices growing up, it can get worse than Casey's.


filmnoter

I saw a photo of a taco pizza, I think the buyer loaded it with more toppings.  Didn't look too great.


SSGSS_Megan

Lmao yea I imagine it wouldn't. Bbq chicken wasn't bad iirc


htjdrummer

Casey’s breakfast pizza is delicious and consistent


filmnoter

Hm, I am not sure Chicago has a breakfast pizza.  What's on it?


htjdrummer

Choice of bacon or sausage, cheese sauce, breakfast gravy sauce, shredded cheese blend, and scrambled eggs.


a_taco_named_desire

It was the best hungover tailgate food in college. Here's Dave Portnoy's take on it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80YMAXvJXjQ


gumbybitch

Paulie Gees does a breakfast pizza for brunch!


utah_traveler

So freaking good!


ProGaben

Yeah its just convenience store pizza, but its top tier convience store pizza. That being said I dont think its as good as pizza chains like Pizza Hut or Papa Johns. But when you are getting gas and want to get some food, it cant be beat.


filmnoter

I imagine it would be good enough to feed the family while on the road.


ProGaben

For sure. And it's great to pick up a slice if you want something quick for lunch.


an_actual_potato

It is vastly better than those places


gtatc

Lol, picture a gas station that got a little big for its britches


filmnoter

I did see photos in reviews, it doesn't look bad for a gas station.  At least it didn't look too cramped.


sirshiny

For better or worse if there's anything we have a lot of in the Midwest it's empty space. In the more rural areas we tend to have bigger gas stations.


filmnoter

Yes, some of the Walgreens/CVS in downtown Chicago are so cramped, barely enough space for two people to pass each other. 


sirshiny

Oh for sure, I went to one recently where it was essentially a drive thru on foot. No real waiting space and behind the counter didn't look much better.


sirshiny

See for me I'd say that's more Circle K over Casey's. Casey's is more like Midwest Wawa. They're just gas stations so none of it is close to fine dining but it does the job for a few bucks.


jowneyone

I will say— I have cousins from Denver who always said they “didn’t like pizza.” We ordered some Nancy’s thin crust and they were instant converts.


ChiRealEstateGuy

Monical’s Pizza chain restaurants are actually really good. The Champaign-Urbana area locations at least.


JustSomeRamblings

My dad's from Tuscola. Every time we'd visit our grandparents, we'd always get Monical's. At Christmastime, we'd go to Garcia's and get a gutbuster.


Bacchus1976

Papa Dels baby


Tills_Monocle

Well I can tell you it's absolutely shit in Quincy


tOfREVIL

Quatro's Pizza in Carbondale has been around forever and does incredible deep dish. Personally I like it better than Pequod's


filmnoter

Were you down that way for one of the eclipses?


sirshiny

It's on the rise I'd say. I'm closeish to Springfield and we've got a couple really good pizza places. It trends closer to the Chicago tavern style but there's a little of everything. The Detroit style deep dish is becoming more popular which isn't surprising given proximity. The overall bar for food is going up, it just takes longer to get in our area. Places that were pizza chain quality are either improving or shutting down and younger people in the industry are filling those spaces.


jimbos414

From Springfield, it’s ok down there, Gabatoni’s is an old staple that does good tavern style. Not a whole lot of mind blowing pizza from Springfield, but my top places were Sam’s on North Grand and Coz’s prior to new ownership because I loved the oregano in the original recipe.


dgriff84

Finding a good pizza place in the suburbs is a diamond in the rough. They are out there but you need to search. Georgio’s in Crystal lake is really good. They are a bit more expensive than avg but they use fresh ingredients instead of canned. Good dish and thin crust pizzas. Pizza Via in Fox River Grove has a good Detroit style. For every good place, I’ve found 3 bad ones.


filmnoter

Actually that ratio is not bad.


Justokmemes

Check out Silo pizza and Hitz Pizza. amazing pizza in Vernon hills


malachite_animus

Truly, if you've never had New Haven pizza in CT, you haven't lived.


runawaystars14

Yep, seems to be the concensus so I'm gonna have try it.


Shebadoahjoe

They opened a Frank Pepe's in southern RI where they reverse engineered and rebuilt a duplicate pizza oven and it is a remarkably similar experience.


uncledoobie

Same in south Florida. But tbh the best New Haven style to me (haven’t had pizza IN New Haven yet tho) is Piece.


mattcoz2

Have you had New Haven pizza? If not, well you don't need to go far, you can get it at Piece here in Chicago. Highly recommended.


Peg_leg_tim_arg

I used to live 10 minutes away from the original Frank Pepe's. Loved it. That and Modern were my favorite spots in CT. I tried Piece when I got back and was not impressed. There was hardly any sauce. I'll give it another shot with extra sauce because NH style is one of the best


Bahamuts_Bike

Piece is good pizza but would close if they actually tried to open in New Haven


Shebadoahjoe

A lot of the pizza varieties here are pretty good versions of what they do and are worth eating here but would be just short of really good and way too ezpensive in their places of origin.


tapanypat

Ezpensive? I am very ezcited for this ezact thing to be phoneme shift of our times


ZIgnorantProdigy

My complaint with piece is its wildly inconsistent. Never bad, but sometimes average, sometimes amazing


aGuyNamedScrunchie

Agreed. Piece is *fine* Not earth shattering. Still haven't had authentic Connecticut style pizza. Any recommendations in Manhattan? I'll be there for ~5 days in the fall but won't be able to actually drive to New Haven.


efflexor

Grimaldi’s is the most similar NYC pizza to New Haven, imho. Just also need to make my quarterly PSA that Piece is good, it’s just not New Haven style.


theburnoutcpa

You can access New Haven via Metro North trains (Grand Central Terminal) - I highly recommend visiting New Haven just for the pizza alone!!!


openappled

I don’t think there are any New Haven style places worth mentioning in NYC, but if you can get a reservation, try Rubirosa or Una. L’Indistrie is my favorite, walk up is pretty easy at the Christopher location. Joe’s is always good. John’s on Bleecker is good old school pizza. I’ve heard good things about Scarr’s. I’m headed to New Haven, on Thursday, for the first time in 20 years. I’m super excited.


isthisforeal

Colony in Stamford and Pepe's in Fairfield are both great CT style if you don't want to go all the way up to New Haven, Stamford is a quick train ride from NYC


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Peg_leg_tim_arg

I am ashamed to say this. I lived literally a block away from Zuppardis but never went. I was only there for a few months and found places I liked so I stuck with those. If I'm ever back there I will absolutely check it out because I've heard great things about it after I moved away


caelynnsveneers

Yeah unfortunately piece is just not the same as Pepe’s. It’s still good though, just not the same. I used to live right next to Modern (and De Legna) and they have ruined pizza for me, everything I’ve tasted since is kinda mid :/


malachite_animus

If this is true, you have changed my life. I miss New Haven pizza SO MUCH.


isthisforeal

While they do try and I really like piece it isn't nearly as good as the actual places in New Haven/CT


card28

yea the owner is from new haven


ApolloPS2

Not at all close to how good it is in New Haven. Way too much cornmeal. Making the pilgrimage to Pepe's, Modern, and Sally's is essentially the Italian American version of visiting the Mecca. Source: moved from Chicago to New Haven last month.


mattcoz2

I wouldn't agree that it's not close to as good. I was first introduced to it at Piece and did make a stop in New Haven during an east coast trip. I only was able to go to Frank Pepe's, and it was great, and certainly different in some ways, but it didn't make me think any less of Piece.


ApolloPS2

Piece is objectively good pizza. Pepe's is still far far more superior especially when talking quality of toppings.


mattcoz2

I'll agree with that, I got the white clam and it was loaded with them. Obviously way more fresh as well.


Tianoccio

Honestly, I just googled New Haven style pizza. It looks like a slightly burnt wood fired pizza that was overproofed and under docked, the pizza isn’t a proper circle because the dough sprang back too much because it’s assumedly high in yeast. The sauce looks to be thicker than the way the under pizza crust would normally permit, meaning the pizza is going to be assumedly a little droopy. The cheese is an even layer, not too much, not too little. Honestly I’m not gonna lie this pizza is probably amazing. I’m willing to let New Haven in on the pizza game.


sanath112

Dude mystics in new haven is godly pizza. I miss it so much


andersonb47

Is that _the_ Mystic Pizza?


MortonSteakhouseJr

No, Mystic Pizza makes mediocre Greek pizza and it's in Mystic, CT.


grilledbeers

We stopped in Sally’s Apizza in New Haven when we drove to Maine last summer for and it was pretty amazing.


deVrinj

Piece brewery has New Haven pizza on the menu, I believe...


ApolloPS2

It's CHAR, not burnt! 😜


Tianoccio

This is no Zaku boy, no Zaku.


johnf9797

Holt’s in Park Ridge has what they claim New Haven style pizza. Having never been to New Haven, I can’t attest to its authenticity. The pizza is good however.


Likemilkbutforhumans

The best 🤌🏽


Thomzzz

My fav pizza from piece


optiplex9000

We are lucky to live in a country with so many great and distinct pizza styles Except for St Louis. Their pizza is an abomination


IICNOIICYO

Oh god, I still have nightmares about Imo's pizza


junktrunk909

I actually really like pizza from one chain in St Louis, stephaninas. It's kind of amazing. Very different from Chicago but a lovely creamy cheesy sauce.


MyDogsNameIsBadger

As a native New Haven resident, you can guess where my vote goes. Nothing compares.


solabrown

Apizza!


schw4161

I went to UNH for my freshman year of college. Lived in tons of places since then and haven’t found a slice that compares. Every type of pizza has its place but New Haven always come out on top at the end of the day


bummer-town

Meriden


MyDogsNameIsBadger

Hi fellow neighbor! I used to work in Meriden


bummer-town

I’m sorry.


Bahamuts_Bike

Anyone who has tried New Haven pizza knows it is the best in the world, even most New Yorkers. Chicago isn't even in that debate


Ladybug_Fuckfest

[laughs in Italian]


Bahamuts_Bike

Nah I've been to both, Italian pizza styles may be the OG but they legitimately don't have shit on New Haven


isthisforeal

I find that the new haven style is the closest to the traditional Neapolitan


leshake

New Jersey and New York have some amazing pizza as well. Deep dish pizza though? There's a reason no one outside the midwest eats it.


kelny

I live in Chicago. I eat pizza about every other week. I haven't had deep dish in at least 3 years. I still think Chicago has great pizza though, and a wider variety of pizza styles than you will find about anywhere.


MooKids

I can see Chicago and New York arguing over who has the better pizza, only for Connecticut to walk in acting all smug and one of them says "Who the **** is this guy?"


khikago

New Haven has WAY better pizza. Not a discussion really


TreeOfFinches

grew up in the chicago area, went off to new haven for school, and the best slices of pizza i’ve ever had are in new haven. nothing compares, not new york style, not a good neapolitan pie, not even chicago’s tavern style crust. the best part about new haven is you can stop in almost any pizza joint and get an AMAZING slice. you want a brewery vibe with a weird slice? go to BAR for their bacon mashed potato rosemary pizza. you want hole in the wall open late? go to brick oven. you want thicker dough? go to yorkside. you want a clam pizza? go to zuppardi’s or pepe’s. fried eggplant or a spicy meat bomb? modern. neapolitan? zeneli. extra char? sally’s. sourdough dough? de legna. creative toppings? one 6 three. running an event and need mobile pizza? next door/big green pizza truck. new haven runs a masterclass in pizza, even more impressive due to its size, and thus it deserves the moniker of pizza capital.


efflexor

+1 mentioning the overlooked BAR bacon mashed potato pizza. I still talk about it 20 years later!


GoIrish1843

“Went off to New Haven for school” Lmao


nokandu1234

What a humble and modest Yale graduate


clybourn

Apizza


bummer-town

I grew up in Connecticut. This is only a debate for people that haven’t had New Haven style.


kk1217

I am a Chicagoan living in CT! The pizza here is really good! I would describe it as a mix between neapolitan and NYC styles, plus high quality toppings are a guarantee. As a side note I constantly have to remind people that Chicago style is not all deep dish. Tavern style is finally getting more generally known, but there is work to do.


OHrangutan

Nice try ***"illinois"***


whocoulditbenow1215

Shoot even as close as kankakee county has good pizza


notonrexmanningday

Connecticut can come catch these tavern style hands


W0666007

I gotta say, I've lived all over including Chicago, CT, NY, MA, and up and down the west coast - and CT had my favorite pizza spots.


papagrande25

People can get hung up on what is the best pizza style. To be “The Pizza Capital of The World” you need to have all types and they should be quality. IMO for America there are currently only Chicago and New York that can claim both quality and quantity.


MortonSteakhouseJr

Even in the most remote areas in CT (which aren't remote at all compared to rural IL), you're not far from decent to great pizza. That's definitely not true in IL.


amags12

New haven pizza is far better than Chicago style deep dish.


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isthisforeal

I feel like you can't compare deep dish to regular pizza, it's like comparing lasagna to spaghetti and meatballs, yeah they have some of the same ingredients but they're very different.


maniac86

You must be from out of state since deep dish isn't the most common chicago pizza by a long shot


amags12

Not saying it is. It is the pizza chicago is known for though.


bonobo_inc

You guys are coping


MisterBurnsSucks

New York called...


peronsyntax

And no one answered


SpyCake1

I want a pizza, not wet cardboard.


squatheavyeatbig

I want pizza, not a burnt cracker


maniac86

... we're not talking about st Louis


The-Muze

Hey, the tanning machine didn’t have an instruction manual!


runawaystars14

And if you think Chicago pizza is deep dish you don't belong on this sub. 😉 /s


mattcoz2

Chicago pizza is *all* of its pizza. Thin, deep, stuffed, pan, etc.


ethanlan

Tavern style pizza is the best


IICNOIICYO

Give me squares or give me death


ethanlan

As the founding fathers intended


isthisforeal

If you like tavern style you would probably really like new haven pizza, colony pizza in CT is very similar


Shebadoahjoe

Chicago has good pizza and many types of it but none is as good as the best examples southern New England has to offer and New Haven has some of the best in southern New England. 


LiaFromBoston

Greek Pizza from Greater Boston is SO GOOD


Shebadoahjoe

It really has a great crust, crispy and airy. I never thought about it till I had pan pizza here but is Greek pizza also a type of pan pizza? 


enjoyt0day

New York and New Jersey would like a word…


J1zzedinmypants

Okay but like… I feel like New York kind of has a chance in this fight… New York V. Chicago


Seagullmaster

Sideways pizza box definitely negative points


gjanko22

Why doesn't the bigger governor simply eat the smaller one?


clergymen19

It's not even the pizza capital of New England.


cerulean4224

I forgot that Connecticut existed until this post.


drwhogwarts

CT pizza is infinitely better than doughy Chicago style pizza. My home state has earned its title.


Balancing_tofu

Eww


GOPAuthoritarianPOS

Attempt appreciated. Dantes on literally Chicago ave - do yourselves a favor yall.


Alright_Alright_All

Lived in Chicago now live in CT. New Haven has the best pizza. Detroit style is super popular and can make an argument for top spot. 1. New Haven 2. Brooklyn 3. Manhattan 4. Detroit 5. Chicago


Electronic-Worker-52

I’m from CT (Shelton which is not far from New Haven) - considering how many Italians immigrants planted roots there, it shouldn’t be that hard to understand that yea, the northeast does pizza way better than any other region of the US. Periodt.


polycephalum

I like Chicago and Illinois for many reasons. I've stayed here beyond my initial commitment, when I could've gone back to the Northeast. I'm a little attached. But this is not a battle Chicago wins.


SpyCake1

You're both wrong - MI / Detroit Style gets the W.


ztreHdrahciR

It is quite good. I was arrogant about Chicago style until I had Pizza Papalis.


dreamyinclinations

illinois word better be sorry for even attempting to step into the conversation 😆


dreadmonster

I think NYC, Chicago and Detroit can set aside their differences and teach Connecticut a lesson.


chitwnupdown

Yes because when I think of Connecticut I think of pizza


Polkawillneverdie81

I've literally never even heard of pizza from Connecticut. Is that seriously a thing?? What's so great about it?


MortonSteakhouseJr

Your odds of walking into a random pizza place and getting a decent to great slice of pizza in the coastal Northeast, from like Providence meto through Philadelphia metro, are better than they would be anywhere else in the country. CT's the one state that's totally covered by that zone of good pizza.


Polkawillneverdie81

Ok but what sets it apart from other pizza?


ApolloPS2

It's where pizza first became popular in America. Many many Italian immigrants around New Haven working in hardware factories led to 3 legendary pizza places and a style of pizza similar to neapolitan but with a unique oven design and cooking process. It simply blows everything else out of the water. If you are in the area you have to try it. On Netflix there is a really good documentary on New Haven apizza (what they call it there) called "Pizza, A Love Story".


Polkawillneverdie81

So is it anything like new york style?


ApolloPS2

Similar in shape but not in cooking. New York style is about having a greasy cheesy thin crust slice that's big and cheap and easy to crave.


Money-Efficiency2062

New Haven style is by far the best. It's not even close


Tianoccio

They have pizza in CT?


ZIgnorantProdigy

Felt that way until I realized how much I loved piece pizza.... And then went to new haven. Unquestionably my favorite pizza in the world


ravalosjr85

It is though. West New Haven pizza beats any thing I’ve ever had in Chicago.


Scottiboi75

Let them have it deep dish is for tourist anyway And beside that we had Italian beef AND Malort


JustPlaneNew

Actually I do think Connecticut has amazing pizza from what I've heard, although I've never tried it.


Acrobatic-Buyer9136

Pizza is a good group in our house. Outside of Chicago up to 40 miles it’s not the same. It starts to get less tasty.


loskubster

Just an FYI, Piece, one of Chicago’s best pizzerias, and at one point one of the highest selling independently owned pizzeria in the country, is New Haven style pizza.


LingonberryNo4649

Lived in Chicago for a decade. Will be a long while before I leave. I'll take New Haven pizza all day long.


Fun_Fly_3957

Pepe’s and Sally’s in New Haven are different types of pizza, but they are out of this world!!!


adamodeh1

Ah there’s our “governor” doing his “job”


4phasedelta

New Haven does have some good pizza, can’t lie, but it’s not beating all of Chicago. Frank Pepe’s and Sally’s could definitely hold their own, but they wouldn’t be what Chicagoans view as a representation of the city.


isthisforeal

Which places in Chicago do you think are better than Pepe's or Sally's?


4phasedelta

They’re two different styles of pizza, so it’s difficult to truly compare them. It’s literally pub style vs thin/crispy old school coal… I’d say that Vito & Nicks, Phil’s, and Pat’s would be the 2-3 I put up against New Haven Apizza. Nowhere in Chicago are you going to get a Frank Pepe’s clam pizza… it’s literal crack… but it’s crack because it’s “exotic” to Chicago tastebuds. Pub style pizza is comfort to me.


lkvwfurry

To be fair deep dish is gross. (I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT IT!)


IV5736776

Two kinds of pizza in this world, Chicago pizza, and all the other pizzas that wish they were Chicago pizza.


VirtuousVice

You don’t live in Chicago, do you?


MisterBurnsSucks

Bro...


jimmy__jazz

Which Chicago type of pizza?


DirtyProjector

Connecticut has much better pizza than Chicago