The Best Pizza in Chicago

I love deep dish pizza, as all good Chicagoans do.  However, if you were to ask a few where to find the best you would likely receive a multitude of answers.  My favorite can be found in Hyde Park at Caffe Florian. 

This small business nestled in between used bookstores looks quite unremarkable at first pass.  However the oddly colored walls and bored staff will quickly melt into a blissful glow around you when you try their deep-dish pizza.

The crust is unbelievably delicious. Golden, buttery and flaky.  Order the white rather than the wheat, there is no need to pretend this is healthy.  I have sampled a handful of ingredient combinations and I keep coming back to the 'Florian Spinach'. 

While in Poland a few months ago John's mother smuggled us an entire pizza.  Needless to say we were beside ourselves with joy.

If you are from Chicago I would love to encourage you to venture south of the Loop one day to try this pizza.  If you are not from Chicago I would love to encourage you to avoid the tourist trap of Pizzeria Uno's when you visit.  Let me know what you think.  I'd also love to hear what you find to be the best Chicago-style in the city.

Comments

[Ivonne]

That is a beautiful thing!

[tanvi]

At my interview day at University of Chicago, they fed us Eduardo's, I think it was. I thought it was pretty good, so now I'm excited to try Caffe Florian and do a comparison :-)

[mindy]

Mmmm... Florian Spinach.

You're right Gemma. There's nothing quite like it. Yum.

[Dianka]

Definitely on my list of restaurants to visit when I am in Chicago next! Thanks!

~Dianka
http://na-zdravi.blogspot.com/

[john]

Florian spinach is certainly the classic. Some recent favorites of mine are:

Vegetarian (choose 4 vegetables) with spinach, onion, basil, and garlic.

Vegetarian with spinach, onion, and garlic.

Vegetarian with spinach, onion, artichoke hearts, and basil.

Pepperoni, onions, and green peppers.

[AuntJone]

I like Gino's East of Chicago. The pepperoni is to die for, tho my friends prefer what I call the "slab o' sausage"- a pizza with a huge sausage patty on top. I can't bring myself to eat it....

[debbie carlos]

i will pay a visit to caffe florian for sure! those pictures look delicious and i have been meaning to take a little trip to hyde park for the past weeks and i think this pizza might very well seal the deal. i also really like art of pizza up north here in lakeview. perhaps we should do a pizza exchange program?? i have never once even gotten into pizzeria uno or due, they are always packed.

[Stephen V. Funk]

Greetings fellow Berghoff lover...

There is a link to this post at The Berghoff Memorial Blog. If you would like it removed, please let me know.

The Berghoff Memorial Blog is a place to share stories and memories of this beloved eatery. The Berghoff may be gone, but it will never be forgotten.

Cheers and auf wiedersehen.

http://berghoffmemorial.blogspot.com/

[Stephen V. Funk]

I'm sorry, that comment was for your next post! I was so interested in reading about pizza I forgot where I was... cheers!

[matthew]

Carmen's Pizza on Church Street in Evanston is my favorite Chicago pizza, though if ever back there, I'll have have to try Florian's.

[Kirsten]

I grew up in Highland Park and this post made me homesick (not much can still do that, so GREAT job on the photos and copy). I live in AZ now and really miss Malnati's, Eduardo's and other delicious stuffed pizza restaurants that I grew up eating, and spinach is absolutely the best. I must try Caffe Florian next time I visit friends in the city. Your blog is lovely and inspiring. Thank you for sharing...now I am hungry!