Large Italian Beef and Giardinara and a Small Sausage housed by my buddy and me before the Sox game on Saturday. Pizza as delicious as always.

Perhaps somewhat interestingly, perhaps not, The Daily Meal ranked Vito & Nick's pizza #5 in the US. As is to be expected with ranked lists, there's a lot of controversial choices and weird rankings there, in my opinion, but it's nice to see V&N's and Chicago thin crust getting some attention.

Binko wrote:Perhaps somewhat interestingly, perhaps not, The Daily Meal ranked Vito & Nick's pizza #5 in the US. As is to be expected with ranked lists, there's a lot of controversial choices and weird rankings there, in my opinion, but it's nice to see V&N's and Chicago thin crust getting some attention.

I was astounded by this ranking. I just don't think that V & N is all that great - as per my post downthread.

Well, rankings are kind of silly and arbitrary, and their only point is to start up discussion where everybody complains about how wrong the list is. Yet here I am, sucker that I am. My favorite pizza in the world is from Pizzeria Bianco, and that ended up #29. My second favorite is Vito and Nick's, and that's #5. I find that surprising, mostly because these types of best pizza lists are invariably stacked with East Coast or Neapolitan style pies. (And how is Gino's East ranked #8? Or Pizano's at #4, but no mention of Burt's?) But I'm happy to see it getting the praise (that I feel, at least) it deserves.

I went south tonight. It took over an hour to get there but I finally made it to Vito & Nick's.

I can't wait to get back. I went with two carnivores and they kindly let me eat an entire pizza to myself. Well done with garlic, hot giardiniera and mushrooms.

I get it. I'm already trying to figure out when I will get back.

I was way too hungry to take pictures. We left nothing behind, nothing I tell you. Well, I think I left a bit of the roof of my mouth behind from shoveling hot pizza down as a fast as possible.

Service was efficient and fast.

I picked up Mr. X at Midway last night and gave him the choice of Vito & Nick's or Al Bawadi. He chose pizza, so off we went. When we turned into the parking lot, I wondered if they were still open. None of the beer signs in the windows were on, but there were people inside. Website said they're open until 11. We went in and asked if we could order a pizza and were accommodated with no problem. We sat at the bar and ordered a large sausage, mushroom, onion with a basket of zucchini sticks to start. The appetizer was fine, but the pizza is definitely the star. I'm looking forward to leftovers for lunch.

I asked the bartender what time they close and he said it depended on how busy they were. We realized the people we saw in the restaurant when we pulled up were all staff. We never felt like we were keeping them and we tipped nicely. I'm glad Mr. X chose pizza. First time for us won't be the last time.

Been a REGULAR at V & N since forever.
The 84th & Pulaski is the ONLY ONE TO GO TO.

Wally Wade

Vito & Nick's was on Check Please, 2-21-14.
3 solid reviews.
Still the best.

Wally Wade

walter wade wrote:Vito & Nick's was on Check Please, 2-21-14.
3 solid reviews.
Still the best.

Wally Wade

LOL, what episode were you watching? That one idiot said it was nothing he'd go out of his way for. He was also the guy who recommended Owen & Engine and never mentioned the burger. The other 2 liked it, though. Watching this show is like herding cats.

=R=

I was somewhat wrong. 2 of the 3 liked V&N. They were real foodies.
The other guy was a total bust out. Come to think of it, I don't know how he even got on the show.
Maybe as they say "he has pictures"
Thanks for reminding me.
Wally
PS: V & N is still the best thin crust.

I need to organize an outing soon. I've never been and I'm dying to try it...

ronnie_suburban wrote:

walter wade wrote:Vito & Nick's was on Check Please, 2-21-14.
3 solid reviews.
Still the best.

Wally Wade

LOL, what episode were you watching? That one idiot said it was nothing he'd go out of his way for. He was also the guy who recommended Owen & Engine and never mentioned the burger. The other 2 liked it, though. Watching this show is like herding cats.

=R=

Yeah this latest episode was very perplexing... you can tell that the people whose choice gets more critically reviewed (aka the aren't drooling over the place) turn very negative when it's time to review the other restaurants. I'd hate to go last if I was ever on that show.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

walter wade wrote:Vito & Nick's was on Check Please, 2-21-14.
3 solid reviews.
Still the best.

Wally Wade

LOL, what episode were you watching? That one idiot said it was nothing he'd go out of his way for. He was also the guy who recommended Owen & Engine and never mentioned the burger. The other 2 liked it, though. Watching this show is like herding cats.

=R=

That doofus didn't even know to order the Italian sausage. He was not a native Chicagoan, so he ordered pepperoni, which I'll never understand. And then when they they talked about Owen & Engine they never said anything about the burger or the Scotch eggs or the fries. The Asian girl said the food was so-so based apparently because the pork rinds were stale. Don't these people ever research what to have? That's what's wrong with this show. They go in completely ignorant of what to order.

imsscott wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

walter wade wrote:Vito & Nick's was on Check Please, 2-21-14.
3 solid reviews.
Still the best.

Wally Wade

LOL, what episode were you watching? That one idiot said it was nothing he'd go out of his way for. He was also the guy who recommended Owen & Engine and never mentioned the burger. The other 2 liked it, though. Watching this show is like herding cats.

=R=

That doofus didn't even know to order the Italian sausage. He was not a native Chicagoan, so he ordered pepperoni, which I'll never understand. And then when they they talked about Owen & Engine they never said anything about the burger or the Scotch eggs or the fries. The Asian girl said the food was so-so based apparently because the pork rinds were stale. Don't these people ever research what to have? That's what's wrong with this show. They go in completely ignorant of what to order.

I wouldn't call the guy an idiot or a doofus just because he wasn't wowed by V&N. As I posted upthread, I'm not especially enamored of the place because I am not a fan of tavern style thin crust. I grew up in the Northeast with big floppy wedge-shaped slices, and I prefer that to crackery squares. That might be the case with the guy on "Check, Please".

ld111134 wrote:I wouldn't call the guy an idiot or a doofus just because he wasn't wowed by V&N. As I posted upthread, I'm not especially enamored of the place because I am not a fan of tavern style thin crust. I grew up in the Northeast with big floppy wedge-shaped slices, and I prefer that to crackery squares. That might be the case with the guy on "Check, Please".

No. He was an idiot because he never mentioned the burger at Owen & Engine, even though he's the person who recommended the place. Well . . . perhaps, he did and it was edited out. In either case, I didn't like the cut of his jib!

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:

ld111134 wrote:I wouldn't call the guy an idiot or a doofus just because he wasn't wowed by V&N. As I posted upthread, I'm not especially enamored of the place because I am not a fan of tavern style thin crust. I grew up in the Northeast with big floppy wedge-shaped slices, and I prefer that to crackery squares. That might be the case with the guy on "Check, Please".

No. He was an idiot because he never mentioned the burger at Owen & Engine, even though he's the person who recommended the place. Well . . . perhaps, he did and it was edited out. In either case, I didn't like the cut of his jib!

=R=

I'd concur and add that he was an idiot because he didn't mention the ribeye (which, I submit, is as good as any steak that you can get in Chicago save David Burke's Primehouse) or the ploughman's lunch.

ld111134 wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:

ld111134 wrote:I wouldn't call the guy an idiot or a doofus just because he wasn't wowed by V&N. As I posted upthread, I'm not especially enamored of the place because I am not a fan of tavern style thin crust. I grew up in the Northeast with big floppy wedge-shaped slices, and I prefer that to crackery squares. That might be the case with the guy on "Check, Please".

No. He was an idiot because he never mentioned the burger at Owen & Engine, even though he's the person who recommended the place. Well . . . perhaps, he did and it was edited out. In either case, I didn't like the cut of his jib!

=R=

I'd concur and add that he was an idiot because he didn't mention the ribeye (which, I submit, is as good as any steak that you can get in Chicago save David Burke's Primehouse) or the ploughman's lunch.

And I think he's a doofus because he didn't get sausage at a Chicago pizza restaurant. Who doesn't know to get sausage? A doofus!

Oh, and the fact that the only thing he mentioned about Owen & Engine was the beer. He didn't even say what he ordered for food.

I feel like you all might have a slightly unhealthy relationship with Check Please...

It's like the episode from a while back on Marie's Pizza. One of the guests didn't like the decor. He's the kind of guy who loves a brand new restaurant that has a retro feel, but when faced with the real thing, he can't deal with it.

I was at Vito and Nick's on Sunday afternoon. I had been there in the late 90's once (liked the pizza a lot, but didn't love it), then I made it back last year. My brother and a fried shared a large sausage, beef and hot giardiniera and a large cheese pizza. I didn't care for the "beef and sausage combo" pizza much, though I liked the cheese, once again I wasn't blown away where I had to drive there for it.

So that brings us to Sunday. This time we got a large sausage all over with half hot giardiniera and a large cheese. First I tried a piece of sausage pizza (I don't need giardiniera on it). Phenomenal. Fennel sausage pizza perfection. Cooked well done and crispy without having to ask for it that way, and probably the best Chicago style sausage pizza I ever had. Might even prefer it to my beloved Barnaby's of Northbrook and Marie's. One thing to point out to the crispy/soggy snobs. Most of the middle pieces end up soft after 5 minutes. Not really soggy, but soft. Still, they're loaded with flavor in every bite, so who cares? The cheese pizza was wonderful as well.. I loved the oily cheese running down my hand (like Marie's) - a nice whole milk mozzarella. So now my problem is distance. It's far! About 45 minutes which is the same as Wells Brothers in the other direction. But I know I'll be back soon. It was too good. I may order a large sausage just for me. Third time was the charm!

Ram4 wrote:Third time was the charm!

So, the takeaway here is don't be hasty. Wait at least 15 years before reviewing. You never know. It could have been an off year.

Ram4 wrote:It's like the episode from a while back on Marie's Pizza. One of the guests didn't like the decor. He's the kind of guy who loves a brand new restaurant that has a retro feel, but when faced with the real thing, he can't deal with it.

I can't decide which makes the better argument for the defunding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Check Please, or last night's "documentary" on the Dave Clark Five.

Once again.
Where is Marie's Pizza???
Thanks,

Wally Wade

walter wade wrote:Once again.
Where is Marie's Pizza???
Thanks,

Wally Wade

Marie's Pizza & Liquors
4127-4129 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL
(773) 725-1812

=R=

Well it took a little over 2 months, but I made it back to Vito and Nick's yesterday to confirm my findings of my April 8th post. Specifically this quote:

Ram4 wrote:...probably the best Chicago style sausage pizza I ever had. Might even prefer it to my beloved Barnaby's of Northbrook and Marie's.

I ordered a large sausage, and it was confirmed - I would have to say that this is probably the best thin crust sausage pizza I've ever had. Right behind it for me are Barnaby's of Northbrook, Wells Brothers, and Marie's. It is absolutely worth the drive.

Glad you came around. better late than never. been going to V & N, since forever.
I put Wells Bros. behind V & N. Had Barnaby's once. Not that impressed. I'm close, so another try.
Never had Maries. Where are they located.?
Thanks
Wally Wade

walter wade wrote:Glad you came around. better late than never. been going to V & N, since forever.
I put Wells Bros. behind V & N. Had Barnaby's once. Not that impressed. I'm close, so another try.
Never had Maries. Where are they located.?
Thanks
Wally Wade

Of course our V&N fanatic Wally Wade comes right out to comment on this thread! Marie's is on Lawrence just east of Pulaski. That being said, I like cheese pizza as well, and V&N is not one of my favorites for that style.

A good buddy, also a V&N disciple, loves their cheese pizza. He has the crust a "little crispy" Not bad.
If you are near a Marino's that has a Brick Oven, try one of their Neapolitan offerings.
Pretty Good!! $ 6.99.
Just make sure the person knows his "stuff"
Good pie makers in Vernon Hills.

Wally Wade

What style are we talking about here?

walter wade wrote:Never had Maries. Where are they located.?

4127-4129 W Lawrence Ave.
Chicago, IL
(773) 725-1812
http://www.mariespizzachicago.com/Marie ... lcome.html