To write this article, I experienced some new Chicago Pizza places like Prince Street Pizza, DeNucci’s, and Pizz’Amici. I want to hear what other students are enjoying right now, and discuss those picks too!
Chicago is full of a diverse range of cuisines, dishes, and restaurants. We are known for the hotdog, Italian beef, and pizza. No, not just deep dish (I’m not even sure how many native Chicagoans actually eat that–I don’t!), but thin crust, tavern-style, neapolitan, and even Detroit. My all-time favorite go-tos are Spacca Napoli, Professor Pizza, D’Agostinos, and ZAZAS, but new pizza spots are popping up across town, and many of them are worth discussing. Let me be David Portnoy and walk you through some of the new pizza restaurants in Chicago!
- Prince St.
The pizza shop at 27 Prince Street in New York City has come to Chicago. Though it is a TikTok restaurant, I can get behind this one. Prince St. has replicated the New York water (responsible for all kinds of NY doughs, especially bagels) in Chicago via a water filtration process. New York water travels through old pipes, causing the water to collect numerous minerals not found in most water. These minerals are responsible for strengthening the gluten in all kinds of dough, overall making it better and more delicious. That said, the delicious Sicilian SoHo Squares, which is the type of pizza they are known for, is some of the best pizza I’ve had. In particular, the Spicy Spring, topped with cupped pepperoni, is a must-try. The dough is soft and warm, the sauce is sweet and spicy, and the pepperoni is crispy, making for the perfect bite every single time. Their pizzas are gigantic and thick, so unless you want leftovers for days, order by the slice.
- Pizz’Amici
In terms of dough, Pizz’Amici is the complete opposite of Prince St. Their crust is the thinnest and crispiest crust I’ve had in Chicago, and it’s really good. The pizzas are very wide and cut into tiny squares. The sauce is lightly applied, and the amount of cheese is just right. I love how light their pizza is. When I visited Pizz’Amici, I tried their cheese pizza as well as a pizza with sausage and giardiniera. The cheese was great, but wow, I never thought I would eat giardiniera beyond a Potbelly’s sandwich! It was truly spectacular, especially combined with the thin crust. Getting a reservation at this casual spot in West Town isn’t easy, but it’s definitely worth it. I have to say, it might just be my favorite new pizza restaurant in Chicago!
- DeNucci’s
Right around the corner from Parker, you’ve probably passed this restaurant with the incredible windows and plant boxes on Lincoln and Dickens. I’ve never actually been inside the restaurant, but rather I’ve ordered it with my family a couple of times. Their pizza is great, but it’s nothing new. There is nothing cool, enchanting, or original about it. But, they make a solid dough with good ingredients. Can I say much more? Not really. But, it’s a wonderful restaurant to have in Chicago. Unfortunately, they’ve been outshined by other pizza stops which offer something new to the Windy City.
Out of these choices, it seems like Parker students are eager to try Prince St., which is no surprise given its virality across socials and new presence in Chicago. I think it’s a hit. It’s a fresh and delicious take on pizza unseen before in Chicago. It will be up to the Parker pizza fanatics whether it’s better than the original Lou Malnati’s, which 41% of Parker students who filled out the survey claimed it was their favorite out of a handful of Chicago’s most well-known pizza restaurants. Who knows? Maybe this number will change after you try Prince St.
