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Coalfire Pizza

4 star rating
based on 166 reviews

Category: Pizza  [Edit]

Neighborhoods: West Loop, Near West Side
1321 W Grand Ave
(at Ogden Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 226-2625
Hours:

Tue-Thu. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sat. 12:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.

Sun. 12:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Parking:
Street
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Price Range:
$$
Attire:
Casual
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only

166 reviews for Coalfire Pizza

Review Highlights   

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"hands down the best thin crust pizza in chicago." (in 41 reviews)
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"Highly recommend Coal Fire- Excellent addition to the neighborhood." (in 21 reviews)
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"Don't forget it is BYOB, as that is one of the best things." (in 58 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of Janis W.

Elite '09

6

81

Janis W.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/22/2009

We will definitely go back.  The service was friendly and fast.  We had a bit of a wait at 7:30 on a Friday night, but it wasn't unbearable.  The weather was warm, so people could sit  outside  on the benches instead of in the crowded doorway.

The pizza was really good.  We got the sausage and cheese. We didn't get salad or appetizers, just beer, prosecco and pizza.  The pizza was only $15 and serves 2.  But we somehow got our bill up to $55 including tip and tax due to our drinking  alot and being good tippers.  But you could get by cheaper is you wanted to.

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Photo of heather d.

Elite '09

5

83

heather d.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/9/2009

Yummy! i love coalfire and their delicious thin crust pizza...one of the best pizzas i have had in Chicago, perhaps the best.  went with a couple of friends on a saturday night and had no wait, we had 2 pizzas and 2 salads and there were leftovers.  i only wish they were open for lunch during the week!  

one star off for service, our server was a little flighty, forgetting about us etc....but the food made up for it.

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Photo of Lindsee R.

 

12

27

Lindsee R.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/6/2009

Love it! The 5-stars are definitely for the pizza and the waitstaff . Ok, ok I have a little crush on a certain waitress... ::sigh::  But, nonetheless, this is one of the best pizzas I've had in this city. My friend and I got the sausage pizza and let me tell you, that is some seriously delicious sausage, salty,smokey, fennel-y..., and just a hint of heat to give your mouth a little start. I will be back for more and more and more...

* this place is very small and even if you're the only people waiting, be prepared to wait for up 20 minutes if it's a full house.

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Photo of Tiff H.

 

6

64

Tiff H.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/15/2009

This is going to be my 5th pizza review or something.

No, unlike my friend here, I do not have a crush on any waitresses here but I will say, if it wasn't for the service, I'd have only given this place 3 stars. The pizza is ok...sorry, but it may be my elitist Bucktown self, I am a die hard Piece fan I guess. Not enough cheese on the pizza for me...and the sausage is good, I just wish there was more! There are no other appetizers....and I was starving...but the have $3 PBR's...which my cheap self enjoyed. The service is attentive and friendly, so kudos to them. :) I don't know if I'll be back since I don't make it out to the West-ish Loop area much....but it's worth a trip if a friend wants to go.

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Photo of Andrew V.

 

13

84

Andrew V.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/30/2009

Great pizza. Excellent crust - thin, soft and slightly chewy with a perfect char. The margherita is my always litmus test for a pizza joint and Coalfire did not fail to deliver. That said, their sauce is a bit sweeter than I prefer. Its not my favorite in town but definitely in the top four or five.

Pleasant atmosphere and friendly service. Nearby table ordered a calzone, looked quite appetizing. I'll be back to try some more.

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Photo of Abigail T.

Elite '09

55

217

Abigail T.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
10/27/2009

Not a fan.  Not a huge variety of appetizers or pizzas.  

Everything just seemed at the bare minimum....including seating.

Only plus is, Coalfire offers Goose Island's Matilda beer.  ONLY plus.

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Photo of Claudia D.

 

3

62

Claudia D.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
10/27/2009

Pizza is not heart healthy fare.  That said, it is good at Coalfire.
Thin crust with a real crisp!  Lovely, fresh ingredients.  
Pricey but worth it for a special treat.
We've been there about 3 times (when it was still BYOB).  We've tried the salad---good, definitely rounds out the meal, and various pizzas from their selections.
It was good.
Because it is no longer BYOB, and because my health is iffier now, we've not been back.
However, I recommend it as a special treat.
The service is terrific.

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Photo of Jason K.

 

0

7

Jason K.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/3/2009

Visited Coalfire Pizza tonight for dinner with a friend. As some have mentioned, not a huge selection but I feel like its all thats necessary... not every single pizzeria needs pineapple on the pizza right??

Anyway, they seemed to have a decent selection of wine but since I'm not a fan, I didn't really pay any attention to the list. As for their beers, again, not a huge selection but definitely some higher quality options for domestics and imports (bottle only).

The atmosphere was nice... very casual. Not too loud which was great because I could carry on a conversation with my friend without needing to shout.

We ordered the Margherita and Meat pizzas... would've been fine with just one but we opted for some variety. Anyway, both arrived at the same time and looked delicious! I'm a big fan of thin crust pizza with quality toppings and this place definitely seemed to follow that idealogy.

The Meat pizza was definitely a meat overload. I'd never complain about it but to some, it might be just a little too much meat. It included hot calabrese salami, Italian sausage and pepperoni. Honestly, I think ALL the cheese was covered. Delicious!

The Magherita pizza was your classic cheese pizza with basil leaves on (almost) each slice. Very plain, yet refreshing... especially if a break was needed from the meatfest pizza.

Overall, was very happy with the place. If we were sharing just one pizza, it would've been a great, cheap meal but now I have leftovers! Who doesn't love cold pizza!? Would definitely go back and/or recommend it.

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Photo of Joshua M.

Elite '09

83

617

Joshua M.

Portland, OR

5 star rating
Updated - 11/10/2009

I've decided I pretty much love this pizza.  Too bad I found it so close to our move out of Chicago, but I may have to make a few return trips when we are back in 2010.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    11/4/2009

    Pretty damn good.  I can't say I have any major complaints.  The help was a little skittish and off… Read more »

Photo of Matt B.

Elite '09

45

191

Matt B.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/4/2009

Lots of little kids (and some full-grown adults) love to eat pizza but leave their crusts untouched.  If you think a pizza's crust is just as good as its toppings, check out the individual 'pies' at Coalfire.

The pizzas are made exactly as you would think: in a real coal-burning oven reaching temperatures of over 800 degrees Fahrenheit.  The high heat chars the crust and traps the moisture inside, making it moist and bendable (a la New York).  Quality toppings--goat cheese, gorgonzola, fresh basil, prosciutto, calabrese salami, and tons more--are available, though the restaurant suggests a "less is more" approach.  Too many toppings could result in soggy dough.

The restaurant has a limited number of tables, so be sure to arrive early for dinner as they do not accept reservations.  The deep red walls are just as warm as the namesake flames, though admittedly, the decor is kept to a minimum.  If you can help it, try to find a seat farthest from the oven; that hot, hot fire can make the room a little toasty.

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Photo of Joel S.

Elite '09

9

120

Joel S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/29/2009

Customer service as good as the pizza... they told us we'd have to wait, we waited and said no problem, and then they kept apologizing for the wait, with a smile we said no problem again, and they gave us a small free dessert!  Cool, thanks!

As far as the pizza goes, it ranks up there with the best Chicago has to offer at its other thin-crust joints.  I won't attempt to rank it among all the great options we have here, but if I'm in the mood for pizza and hitting up something in this area, you can bet I'll be back to Coalfire.

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Photo of Rob L.

Elite '09

592

513

Rob L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/12/2009

Ugh. So. Full. So. Happy. So very very happy.

Pizza is a rarity in my life. I eat it maybe once every few months, but when I do, I try and make sure I do it right. I try a new place. Savor every bite. Indulge myself a little. Perhaps make sure I get a second so I have left overs. When I realized I was going to be home tonight, I thought about getting pizza. Then when I got four hours of sleep last night and I was massively exhausted, I decided there was no way I was going to cook and I needed an escape plan, I called, I walked over and got some Coalfire.

The place is larger than I thought but certainly hopping with families in the early hours of the evening. It took about 30 minutes from call to having the actual product in my hands, just what I was quoted on the phone. The gentleman behind the counter was friendly and helpful when I asked for a slight modification on one of my pizza. I briskly walked home, slightly dazed, woozy, not all with it, partly due to lack of slumber, but I think the smells that were emanating from these two boxes were not helping revive me. Then I opened them up and got a full whiff.

Sniff. Twinges of glee poured across my face. Pavlov would have been proud of all the saliva that was pouring from my mouth at the sight of what was laid out before me. Oh my. Maybe Homer Simpson would be beaming with more pride. In one box, their pesto pizza, with ricotta and black olives. Over on the other side, my modified four cheese pizza with some very lean, very tasty prosciutto. Oh me oh my back the hell away or so help me you may get your fingers bitten, I've got some eating to do!

Yes. It is a slightly burned crust. I don't care, it was tasty. It was damn tasty. Slightly chewy, slightly crunchy, but oh so good. The consistency of the crust is what got me, it was just so good. Just chewy enough. The red sauce? Slightly sweet, slightly tart, just balanced, just right. The pesto pizza, slightly salty, had a kick to it and made me rest assure that no vampires were going to visiting me this night. I wish the prosciutto was just a little more crunchy but really minor mood point. Its not like it stopped me from eating a good chunk of each pizza.

The pizza has a fair price, the pizza is great, the place is conveniently located to me. Oh crap. I might have to rethink this once every few months rule....

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Photo of Esther Y.

Elite '09

24

298

Esther Y.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 9/27/2009

Is it possible to give this place a 5 plus?! Ordered for pick-up again, and they were SO ridiculously nice.  We ordered the margherita, and then I asked the owner to weigh in on my sausage pizza or meat calzone debate.  When I told him I only had the sausage pizza before, he said, "I'll tell you what. Because I'm in such a great mood today, I'll make your sausage pizza and pay for the calzone."

I mean, really. REALLY?! People still do stuff like that?! AWESOME!!!!!!!!

Went to go pick it up, and it's the same thing....the niceness continues.  I had exact change and was fumbling through my wallet, he says, "It's ok, I'll eat the extra change."  O.k.! Then, they are running behind you to help you out of the restaurant without opening any doors, and make sure you get the pizzas to the car o.k. It's great.

I can't really praise this place enough.  Service is amazing, staff is nice, and the pizza is delish.  YUM.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    9/1/2009

    The hubs and I had Coalfire this past weekend...I know, I know we are behind the times, but we were… Read more »

Photo of Samantha B.

 

84

32

Samantha B.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
8/31/2009

Delicious, delicate, tasty, fresh, Orgasmic even? These are all words I would use to describe Coalfire Pizza, yes Orgasmic, it is that fantastic. I stepped in with low expectations and left a huge fan. Actually I have been craving Coalfire's deliciousness since the first time I was lucky enough to experience Chicago's best thin crust pizza.

I wouldn't label myself a Pizza aficionado; I would however give myself the title of Pizza Lover. If I didn't gain tons of weight from eating cheese and my body digested it correctly I would be happy eating good Pizza everyday of the week! Yes, Coalfire Pizza is that good.

I ordered the Four Cheese Pizza and the Caesar salad. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the Caesar dressing was. And the pizza was to die for. I think I might break my diet and eat there this weekend.

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Photo of Brad C.

Elite '09

13

69

Brad C.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/25/2009

I'll pass on wading into the pizza wars, thank you very much--I mean, did you see that ridiculous article in the AP about Chicago's growing thin crust trend? I mean, really?

I'll pass on identity politics, too: it ain't quite Neapolitan, but that's okay (neither is Great Lake, really). Them's good people here. The pizza is true. It's not a revelation; I wouldn't wait for it. But the ingredients are choice; the pizzialos know what they're doing; you can order takeout, and they'll nail the timing for your arrival. And the crust is fabulous.

And if the crust is not your principal reason for eating pizza, you have no idea of what you speak.

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Photo of Amanda C.

Elite '09

179

493

Amanda C.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/10/2009

I'm a big fan of the "fired crust" pizza thanks to a lovely month spent in Roma...it's pretty much all I ate, and once I found the best place in my 'hood, I had thighs of steel due to the walking up and down the hill to get there and back (however, the cheesy belly epidemic from the amounts of cheese and gelato I consumed made for an interesting physique post-Europe study abroad summer.)

Clearly, my favorite (and cheapest) place was Pizza Art Cafe...it truly was like the Monte Mario place, minus the boisterous Italian atmosphere.  However, new neighborhood means new 'za joints, and Coalfire came highly recommended.

So we started with the caprese, a safe bet, and a good judge for anything claiming to be Italian.  Here, it was fabu...perfect chunks of mozzarella drizzled flavorful olive oil atop tomatoes (which were OK, but I've just come off a stock pile of home-grown tomatoes and those are hard to top.)  All tomato snobbery aside, the caprese was a great start, and plentiful for two hungry peeps.

We tried the sausage pizza, which was very lovely.  I loved the sauce, it was zesty and not-too-sweet, which I feel can be the trouble with a lot of pizzas.  Good crust, perfectly not-perfect shaped, and heavenly aromas.

Friendly service, which is hilarious because we got seated shortly after a party of 30 and only saw our server once...thankfully, there was some SERIOUS team work going on and we were very well attended to.  Bravo.

One caprese, one pizza, two Peronis = about $35 (before tip).  Not bad at all.  I noticed that Tuesdays are half-priced wine nights.  Gotta love a recession-friendly special.

I'll be back when I'm craving my pizza di Roma, sans hills of course.
My thighs are no longer steel and my gut is shrinking, but I still love my fired pizza.

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Photo of Erika G.

Elite '09

329

954

Erika G.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/28/2009

Aw, man. Apart Pizza is right in my 'hood, nice and close. I loved it, it was comfortable. But I was growing a little weary of their combinations, as I seem to have sampled all their offerings.

Enter Coalfire. Two friends and I went here tonight and mannnnn . . . now I'm going to have to go all the way down Grand for the most delicious pizza in Chicago. 1/2 price bottles of wine on Tuesdays made our poor hearts happy.

The pizza was so good, I felt like I was cheating on Apart. We got one prosciutto pizza and one pesto and goat cheese for the veggie chick in our midst. The two carnivores loved the pesto as well. Super crispy crust, but chewy in the middle, mmmmm, the way that Neapolitan pizza oughta be. The pizzas came out of the oven PIPING HOT and took a bit to prepare 'cos they are cooked to order.

Apart, you're still my local nookie. But Coalfire is my new long distance relationship.

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Photo of Eric B.

 

2

1

Eric B.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
7/31/2009

My first experience at Coalfire left me disappointed. As such I will probably not return. This is a different type of pizza joint for Chicago. The pizza is thin crust...very thin! This is fine if you want to try something new but at $14-$15 dollars a pizza you aren't getting much for your money. The pizza is just not that good and not even close to worth what they charge. The pizzas are not big enough to fulfill an adult male appetite both in thickness and circumference (they only have one size). Therefore you have to order your own and maybe a salad if you are really hungry. If you have a beverage its easily a $20 dinner. For a sub par pizza? No thanks.

On the up side the service was great and we were even thanked by the manager for coming in. The pizzas cook fast so they come out very quick. Over all if you want to make an impression with pizza in Chicago you have to try a lot harder than this.

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Photo of Nick S.

Elite '09

93

117

Nick S.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/11/2009

I rarely go out of my way to eat pizza. Don't get me wrong, I like pizza as much as the next person, I think of it more as a lunch thing.

Coalfire Pizza is an exception to this.

I just love everything about this place; from it's brick, coal powered ovens firing up 800 degrees Fahrenheit of doughy, saucy, cheesy, delectable goodness to it's well lit, wooden floored,  partially exposed brick interior.

I normally don't eat the crust, but then again I normally don't have coal-fired pizza. The thin crust is crispy on the outside, peppered with scorch marks, and is soft and chewy inside. Mmmmm.  

New Yorkers will feel right at home here. Angelo's anyone?

It's not open on Mondays, and they are no longer BYOB (beer and wine is served). So do yourself a favor and grab that special someone or some old friends you have not seen in a while,  order a round of Stella's and give the Fiorentino a try.

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Photo of Ashley A.

Elite '09

10

57

Ashley A.

IL

5 star rating
6/23/2009

2 words. Hot Salami. Enough said.

This place easily lives up to all the hype. The service was super speedy, the wine is reasonably priced -- I was a little tipsy but I believe we got a bottle of the house Chianti that was in the $20s. We had the pesto pizza and the hot salami pizza. The pesto was pretty good but we were nearly fighting over the remaining scraps of the hot salami slices. Not very ladylike of us...

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Photo of Tom M.

 

0

12

Tom M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/14/2009

I think I like Coalfire a bit more than Spacca Napoli.  They keep it a little less wet in the center and I think the sausage from Bari down the street is tastier.  The crust is also a bit better -- more char and chewier.

I'm docking a star solely because of the no-bones atmosphere and the slightly-high prices.  You put this pizza at Spacca Napoli and both would get 5 stars.

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Photo of Emily D.

Elite '09

197

141

Emily D.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
5/12/2009

Coalfire ain't no stagecoachin', caravan'ing rootin' tootin' goldrush type place, even though all those things were uber trendy when coal was chic.

But listen here. Coalfire is the bomb diggity, from start to finish. Despite the cavernous, stereophonic crazy ass loud acoustics, everything abut Coaly is crazy cool. We'd just finished a lengthy walk with Leo and Kindle at the Mutt Hutt. Bitches wore us out (tru, tru), and so we needed some food. Butterfly Sushi? Sure, but we hadn't planned ahead and a bottle of white would have been mighty fine there.

Zutalo, Coalfire! I let the hubs work his magic on the toppings while I handled the vino. And developed a small girl crush on Tonya (pron. Tone-yah, like Tone Loc. Get it done, girl!). Her bleach blond bobbed self thought we might be virgins and escorted us as such, with TLC. We ordered a prosciutto pie and went ahead and ordered a bottle of the suggested white. I know, right? A white? With pizza? At first we tried for the red, but it got all coy on us and disappeared. Tonya instead suggested we try their replacement for that fine bottle by pouring us a rather hefty complimentary glass. All from Perman's down the way on Washington. Big ups for supporting the locals, Coalfire.

Good woman. Damn fine woman.

And so it went. Sure, our pie went to another table, but then Tone-Loc brought us a complimentary caeser salad. Fit for two, it wasn't shrouded in mayo, rather a light, lemony dressing that made the homemade croutons simply glide as opposed to float. It was bright and perfect.

Pizza came without too much delay and, ravenous or not, we were moaning with delight. It's such a treat to find a place (even after 140 odd reviews) that gets your neck hair standing on end. The sauce is killer. Absolutely tomatoey, parmesany, righteous killer. And the big black bubbles on the crust, yes please!

Even the cheese had flavor. Each little bite was topographical and detailed and ripe and gooey. All of this for $35. Buzzed and blissed out, we stumbled onto Grand with smiles and giddiness. I told Dave, the manager, I was Yelping it 5 stars. And he gave me a five-finger, full hand high one!

We're totally part of the family. Coalfires?! IGNITE!

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Photo of Marina J.

 

1

26

Marina J.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 10/30/2009

As previously posted, we're a fan of Coalfire's neapolitan style pizza.  But lately they have also been ramping up the service BIG time.  Not that there was a problem before - it was always consistently friendly and efficient.  But they seem to be making a huge effort to make everyone feel at home and welcome.  It shows in their clientele - everyone from families to small groups to dates seem to be attracted to the place.  Our toddler in particular has a big crush on one of the waitresses so the entertainment factor is built in.  They also have a few more salad options than when they started (and they are HUGE!).  One of our favorite places in the city.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    5/19/2009

    For yummy, wood fired Neapolitan pizza, try Coalfire.  (For true New York style pizza, the closest… Read more »

Photo of Andrew P.

 

15

43

Andrew P.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/6/2009

Coalfire Pizza came very highly regarded... and I must say it has lived up to all of the ballyhoo!  It's hard to explain Coalfire pizza to people... It's not quite Neapolitan, it's not NY style, it's not California.. and it's definitely not Chicago style... It's just really, really good.

After dining in multiple times, I can't think of a single thing that I have disliked.  As a BYOB this place was a hidden gem - now with a liquor license, they're just as great.  From their amazing oven fire pizzas to calzones to salads - everything at Coalfire is great!!

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Photo of Nick K.

 

20

95

Nick K.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
5/24/2009

Wow that is good pizza!

Just got back from dinner here tonight and want to go back tomorrow already. The prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is cool and laid back, the service was outstanding, and the food was unbelievable.

We started our meal with some wine and a Caprese Salad. The salad was very good and a large portion for the price compared to some of the others we have had in Chicago. For our meal, we had the white pizza with the fresh mozzarella. It was probably the best pizza I have had since coming to Chicago 3.5 years ago. The crust was crispy yet light. The pizza was not greasy at all. And to top it all off, our awesome waiter (don't remember his name) left us the rest of the bottle of wine for free after I ordered my second glass of wine.

This was one of those rare meals where I kept saying "Wow" after each bite. I'll be back soon.

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Photo of Jennifer S.

 

7

17

Jennifer S.

IL

4 star rating
6/25/2009

Mmmmm I love pizza and recently I have been getting in to liking thin crust pizza the most.  The pizzas are cooked in a coal fire - as you might have guessed by the name.  They come out a little crispy with a straight from the fire taste.  My favorite is the Margherita and I think at this place less is more.  The flavors were all well layered and I couldn't stop eating it!  I also tried the Caprese salad which was very fresh.  
The same guy is always working the room and registered - I think he might be the owner.  One time I had to wait for a few minutes and he was very apologetic and walked me (and my pie) to the car!
I will definitely be going back soon.  I want to try the white and pesto pizzas.

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Photo of vanessa c.

 

4

2

vanessa c.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
2/4/2009

I love coalfire. It's definitey a go-to spot and meets the needs of many occasions. friends, family, dates, awkward larger birthday parties where you don't know many people. the common thread in all of these situations? : the pizza! it's excellent. if you love meat, go for the meat pizza, but if you're looking for something a little lighter, i strongly recommend getting the margherita and adding a few veggies of your choice. it used to be byob, which was the big draw in the beginning, but now you have you buy it from them. it's not to expensive of a list, don't worry.

very friendly staff. everytime i'm there it's crowded, but you don't have to wait too long for a table. . it's just pizza after all.

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Photo of tu'ens n.

 

1

64

tu'ens n.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
5/23/2009

I've been doing carry out here lately.  It usually takes them 20 minutes, and the pizza arrived home warm enough (some people have been saying it cools off too quick to take away).  

The pizzas are bigger than normal Italian pizza-per-person pizzas; I split one and had a bit of salad and was well fed.  The coal-burning oven definitely leaves its mark on the taste which makes it unique - slightly different from a wood burning oven.  Its def a good pizza and since I hear Spacca's gone downhill since I last hit it up, this might have a case for the city's best.  Also its a pretty good deal considering that I only had a half of a $14 pizza for dinner.

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Photo of Steven L.

 

4

23

Steven L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
5/28/2009

"Coal and pizza? Hot damn! Tasty, tasty."

Welcome to Chicago's only coal fire oven pizzeria. (As far as I know, it might be the only coal oven restaurant in Chicago!) Coal fire ovens reach temperatures that far exceed typical pizza ovens. The results: a crust that is crisp and charred on the outside, and warm and soft on the inside. Add the sauce and toppings, and you have a very yummy yummy pizza pizza. It is such an oral delight. Your mouth and belly will be thanking you for a very long time. One note, I highly recommend you eat this on site in order to capture the full crust taste explosion.

One of the owners came to greet our table and he was very friendly. He answered any questions I had in regards to the oven and the cooking process of the za! This may not seem like such a big deal, but they do have sort of a proprietary product in Chicago, and I'm sure they would like to keep it that way.

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Photo of Matt C.

Elite '09

36

113

Matt C.

Saint Paul, MN

4 star rating
4/15/2009

A solid pie. I'm a bit upset with myself for going here. Since I moved from Chicago I haven't been able to find a good deep dish. Therefore on my limited time back in the city, if I'm eating pizza, it should come in a deep pan. I'll make an exception for this. The pizza here is excellent. We split a Fiorentino and a White pizza, both excellent and more than enough food for 3 people.

Also, this place now has beer and wine. Tuesdays are half price wine bottles.

All in all a great place. Not a defining Chicago locale like Unos/Dues/Ginos, but certainly acceptable to this deep dish lover.

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2

4

Daniel C.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
2/13/2009

Two pizzas....three salads.....a half bottle of wine....75 bucks!

I wouldn't mind paying that if the food was truly top notch. It's not.

The pesto pizza came with canned olives.....that's not a high quality ingredient.

There are much better wood oven pizza joints around like Pizza DOC and Spacca Napoli.

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0

1

Sandra F.

Elmhurst, IL

5 star rating
10/16/2009

delish delish delish!!!!!

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23

101

Paul W.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/31/2008

When a friend suggested grabbing dinner at Coalfire, I was pretty chuffed because of all the good buzz about the place. Things were looking up when I arrived. For starters, Grand Avenue didn't seem quite the sleepy little misnomer it'd been a decade ago, and the Coalfire space was warm and inviting. The service was efficient and amicable, and the smells of cooking were most appetising. Then came the pizza.

OK, to be fair, the chewy blistered crust was very nice, as were the tasty toppings. But the sauce was a real downer. There was a dark, tinny undertone to it that just sapped the life out of the pie. Mind you, it wasn't bad in the way that much of Chicago pizza is bad, but it was a definite letdown. We also got a white pie, which was significantly better.

So...if I were in the neighbourhood again and were feeling super-famished, and everything else were closed, and there were no taxis or buses, and if it were pelting rain, and one of my knees were busted, well, I might step in and order a white pie.

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4

Rich M.

Highland Park, IL

5 star rating
10/14/2009

I've wanted to try Coalfire for a long time since I heard nothing but rave reviews for it, along with Time Out Chicago naming it the top pizza in Chicago.  I've now been to Coalfire numerous times and all I can say is - it's pizza perfection.  True, it's not a cracker thin tavern-style pizza that Chicago is truly known for, nor is it our famous Deep Dish or Stuffed Pizza either.  It's a Neapolitan pizza and it's amazing.  Paper thin, with a light, airy, chewy crust, complete with char blisters from the 800 degree oven, it's amazing.  The ingredients are so fresh and delicious.  I love the Margherita (huge fresh basil leaves) and the star of the show - the Sausage pizza which is got a bit of a spicy kick to it from some red pepper, and amazing sausage with plenty of fennel seeds.  One thing some will say is that it might be little pricey (average pizza is around $15) because they are so light (weight wise) that you could eat a pizza by yourself.  Ok, plenty of people are not pizza freaks like me, but seriously, this is not super filling.  They don't seem to put too many toppings on due to the moisture content of the toppings overwhelming the delicate crust.

The staff are great people too, very nice, always making sure everything is ok, and always apologizing if it's crowded.  I just wish they'd open one in the Northern Suburbs for me!

One note - It's no longer BYOB!

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Elite '09

20

189

leah c.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
5/11/2009

poor chicago deep dish is being forgotten amongst all these italian/thin crust pizza joints...
luckily, i love them both :)  coalfire is one of those places that makes this chicago pizza eater a believer that thick crust and oozing cheese are not all that make pizza good.  it is a must to opt for the FRESH mozzarella.  simple mozz/basil/tomato combo is sometimes all you need and coalfire does it right-- although i  wish that they would add more vegi's to their toppings list ;)  a shared salad and pizza is filling for 2 of you - don't let the thin crust fool you into thinking you need more!

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10

20

Cassie P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
2/20/2009

Before I came to Chicago my friends gave me several reasons why I shouldn't move here:
1) It's really really cold (yea, thanks guys, ya think?)
2) the bars close at 2am (I must say, Chicagoans REALLY know how to drink with what little time they have)
3) The pizza ISN'T thin-crust but that nasty deep-dish kind....What?!?! I could deal with the frost-bitten toes and cutting myself off at 2am but no thin-crust pizza? That was far too depressing for me. So I asked people where I could get the best non-deep-dish pizza in Chicago and the majority of the answers were Coalfire.

We went fairly late on a weeknight and unfortunately did not have time to grab a bottle of wine. We were hoping that there would be a liquor store or something nearby but we couldn't find any booze (so FYI, def remember to bring some before you dine). The place was pretty much full but luckily there was a table available for two so we were able to sit right away. Minus one star only because it was REALLY noisy. I can't recall exactly what pizza we ordered but all I remember is that the crust was delightfully thin and crunchy and chewy at the same time (I know, they contradict but I swear to you, this crust defies reason). If you're an anti-deepdisher likes myself then Coalfire will most definitely be the most satisfying pizza you'll find in Chicago.

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3

30

Bryan B.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
2/16/2009

Nice atmosphere and an accommodating staff. The pizza's pretty good, but not amazing or anything. Prices are reasonable enough, and not as high as other Yelpers led us to believe, but with a few drinks, it added up. As friendly as the staff was, the service was a little off, our pizzas came out at random intervals, and they forgot about one and we didn't get it until most of us were finished eating.

There were lots of people on dates there, it's probably a great first-date restaurant. If you're in the neighborhood, it's worth checking out, but there seem to be a lot of brick-oven thin-crust-and-wine places popping up around town, and I doubt this is the best one out there. The burnt edges of the crust were great, but we were really hungry and a pizza and salad split between two of us wasn't really enough to fill us up.

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50

166

lauren p.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 7/26/2008

After tonight, I'm goin' 5 stars.

I still wish they had decent salads, and the fact that as of August 1 they will no longer be byob makes me a little sad, but this pizza is so f'ing good I don't really care that much.  The pizza is so good that if it weren't for the risk of severe burns, I would make love to it.  If the state would recognize a marriage between woman and pizza, I would marry it.

I already want more. Mmmmmmmm, pizza.

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 4 star rating
    3/5/2008

    So, I have a small problem when it comes to pizza.

    I love it.  Like, more than most other things in… Read more »

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3

13

Charles M.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
6/7/2009

The pizza is unique and amazing, the atmosphere fun and light, and the prices very reasonable (especially on Tuesday - half price wine night!). Why only four stars? Because it's 2009 and it's perfectly reasonable to expect that a three friends can enjoy dinner and throw down three credit cards. Divide by three. Is that so hard? Too much to expect?  I don't think so... they need to get with the program.  Will I be back?  Absolutely!  I just need to remember to stop at the ATM first. Ugh.

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Elite '09

68

208

Dan G.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
6/9/2009

This Jersey boy was craving some hand tossed pizza and hit up Coalfire for carryout. While it would never be confused with Lombardi's (NYC's best) or Pizza Regina (Boston), we had a couple of solid pies. Charred is how you'll get them here and it makes the pizza tasty, albeit overcooked for me. Simple combos and lack of toppings saddened me. Really, no garlic?!?

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