Richard Herell mentioned Damenzo's, just down the street from Bacci's on Taylor, as having even better pizza (thanks, Richard!). I think I might agree, though it's probably even less NY-style. I like this place a lot. The crust is roughly similar to Bacci's, being medium thin but not crisp, slightly pliable with a bit of chew to it. It's clearly not hand- tossed, but is rolled out and cut to size. The pies always appear a bit pale, something that worried me at first. The taste is anything but pale however, this is a very flavorful pizza. The homemade sauce is excellent and quite spicy as is the sausage (also homemade, with lots of fennel). Again, like Bacci's, they put the toppings under the cheese. Cheese is very generously applied. It's about as different from most Chicago thin crust pizzas (such as Pat's on the north side or Chesdan's on the south) as it is from a pan pizza (as exemplified by Uno's or Lou Malnatti's). I think slices are $2.30 (either cheese or sausage) and they're huge. The whole jumbo pizza is a sight to behold. There are a couple dining rooms but they're not all that appealing (think of a 1960s basement rec room). They do a large takeout and delivery business. Finally, don't forget that Ferarra's, an old Italian bakery, is just a couple blocks east of Damenzo's. Closes a lot earlier though. Check out the 1940s Tribune article about the walk-through wedding cake. Damenzo's Pizza & Restaurant 2324 W Taylor St Chicago 312-421-1142 Mon-Thu 10am-11pm; Fri-Sat 10am-1am; Sun 12pm-12am
Chicago, IL