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The Art of Pizza

4 star rating
based on 352 reviews

Categories: Pizza, Italian  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Lakeview
3033 N Ashland Ave
(between Barry Ave & Nelson St)
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-5600
Hours:

Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Attire:
Casual
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Private Lot
Price Range:
$
Good for Groups:
Yes
Good for Kids:
Yes
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
Yes
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
No
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
None

352 reviews for The Art of Pizza

Review Highlights   

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"Hands down the best deep dish and stuffed pizza in the city." (in 176 reviews)
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"Hands down the best deep dish in the world." (in 5 reviews)
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"This was the best non-thin crust pizza i've had in Chicago, by far." (in 77 reviews)
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Sort by: Yelp Sort | Date | Rating | Elites'
Photo of kirk s.

 

8

25

kirk s.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/20/2009

Yes, Ive indeed tried a lot of pizza. Ive had pizza in Chicago, New York, DC, Boston and I have eaten pizza, in Italy, right in front of the flipping coliseum. Does that make me an expert?

YES.

So heres the news and listen up:
Art of Pizza is greater than Pequads
Art of Pizza is greater than Pizanos
Art of Pizza is greater than Uno
Art of Pizza is greater than Giordanos
Art of Pizza is greater than Ginos
Art of Pizza is greater than Leonas

That being said, I am a huge fan of Lou's and thus I wouldnt quite give Art the edge there, but Lou's is one of those things you either worship it or dont. Art does NOT use the "buttercrust" so if youre looking to go that route, try Lou's.

Go here. Order a stuffed for sure. You will see the Gods.

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Photo of Stephanie y.

Elite '09

13

63

Stephanie y.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/26/2009

Art of Pizza is a HUGE favorite for out of towners. When I lived in the suburbs, this was a treat. A super delicious, cheesy, saucy treat.

When my friends come to visit from said suburb, they always wanna come here. It's cool...I'm down with that. It's not really in my regular rotation anymore, but that doesn't mean I enjoy it any less.

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Photo of Dane K.

Elite '09

224

707

Dane K.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/23/2009

First and foremost, a lesson in pizza terminology.  A lot of people here are referring to them as having the best deep dish in the city.  The Art of Pizza doesn't appear to even have deep dish on the menu.  What they have is pan pizza, thin crust, and stuffed pizza.

Pan Pizza - pizza that's made in the same pan a deep dish is made in, but a pan pizza has a thicker crust.   Pan pizzas are easily accessible and made in just about every city in America--I think everyone's had a Pizza hut pan pizza at some point in their life, no?

Whereas a deep dish pizza is actually a thinner crust that's molded to the inside of the entire pan so that it has a large, but thin, lip.  Then fill that with sauce, toppings, and cheese just like you would a pie.  A deep dish will weigh twice as much as a pan pizza because it has so much more cheese and so many more toppings.  At some Chicago pizzerias, they cook it long enough that the cheese gets nice and caramelized.

A stuffed pizza is a twist on deep dish (perhaps I'd buy that you could call it a "subset" --but NOT the same) where the sauce is on the top layer.  There's a thin base layer of crust, with a thick layer of cheese and toppings that melt together, then a VERY thin layer of crust.  (Most people would probably never recognize that there's a thin layer of crust, but if you eat it cold you'd probably notice).  Then a THICK layer of sauce.  It will taste completely different than a deep dish though because the sauce and the seasonings on it are sometimes the most prevalent flavors.   The chunkiness of a sauce is very noticeable in a stuffed pizza, whereas it's not in a deep dish, or there's just not nearly as much sauce in a deep dish pizza.  The cheese will be more chewy and kind of melds with the thin layer of crust.

Stop using deep dish and stuffed pizza interchangeably, they're not.  ...Now that we've got that out of the way.   So which did I choose?  I ordered the Art's special stuffed pizza...  

Taking into consideration that many here think this is "the best" ... As far as deep dish goes you can't really compare it to a real deep dish, it's different, but I think there are clearly better deep dish pizzas.  Now, as far as stuffed pizza... there are a lot fewer players in this arena but I'd still say it's not my favorite (for that, I'd refer you to Rosatti's on Broadway/Lawrence).  Art of Pizza stuffed pizza is clearly better than some others though.

They brought me a free 2 liter of Pepsi... a HFCS abomination that's been sitting in my fridge for 3 weeks now. I can't find anyone willing to take it off my hands!

The supreme salad was good, but there was not nearly enough lettuce. it was a salad you ate and had a bowl full of toppings left over.  Kind of a waste.  The creamy garlic dressing was good tasting.

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Photo of Claire P.

 

1

17

Claire P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/22/2009

Born and raised in Chicago, and god only knows how much pizza I have consumed...but Art of Pizza is right up there at the top. Pan pizza is the best, the seasonings were perfect and lots of cheese! And I like the fact that its a little more unknown and not a chain. Makes it that much better :)

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Photo of Rhoda G.

Elite '09

131

189

Rhoda G.

San Mateo, CA

3 star rating
10/18/2009

My friend took me here for some deep dish pizza for lunch. I was really interested in checking this place out since it's not one of the famous deep dish joints (Uno's, Geno's East, Giordano's) in Chicago. I forgot which one I got but it was one of the vegetarian ones. It was pretty good especially the sauce. I thought the crust was a little soggy. Probably because it was sitting out in the warmer for awhile.

I wouldn't mind coming back here again.

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Photo of Nektaria R.

Elite '09

22

98

Nektaria R.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
11/1/2009

Love to be able to get a slice of stuffed pizza rather than an entire pizza. Being able to get what I want rather than what the hubby wants is a plus.

It was $3.25 for a slice of pizza so I was geeked! Hubby though is crazy.  Our bill ended up being $16 since he always orders way too much food.  Drives me nuts since I'm trying to be good and he's always influencing to be bad with that garlic cheese bread (wow, was it yummy!)

The only problem was that there wasn't enough "Stuff" in my stuffed slice.  I asked for the spinach, mushroom, onion slice and it hardly had anything other than cheese and bread in it so I was a bit disappointed.  Otherwise it was pretty darn tasty.

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Photo of molly w.

 

2

14

molly w.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/6/2009

Slices!  I have been on a pseudo-hunt for the best pizza slice in Chicago, while not an official hunt I have tried many places.  Currently this ranks at the top of my list.  When you can get fresh slices, it is SO good, so cheesy and the crust is crunchy yet mushy inside.  Even the not-so fresh slices are good, but this is definitely not the place where the pizza has been sitting out for hours or days under a heat lamp.  They are usually pretty busy at lunch time so the chances are good you'll get a fresh slice.  

I go for the thin crust, so I can't speak for their stuffed.  I am impressed by their slice selection, last time I was there I counted 12 different kinds, including both thin and stuffed crust.  

There is parking out front which is nice as well.  Usually if I'm mildly hungry and in the neighborhood, I make this my go-to spot.  Delicious!

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Photo of Megan E.

 

0

16

Megan E.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
11/14/2009

Yum, I am always in a food coma after eating here.

The pizza is always piping hot when it is delivered and you get a bottle of pop included.

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Photo of Natalie S.

Elite '09

15

114

Natalie S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/6/2009

I was out in the 'burbs at a housewarming party, making the rounds with my trusty friend, chardonay. I walked into a discussion of where the best pizza in Chicago is. I thought "these jags from the 'burbs don't know anything about pizza" and scoffed at the suggestion that this Art of Pizza that I had never heard of was the best pizza in the land.  

After I got home and googles this place, I learned I was in the delivery area. HA! I thought. I'll prove these suburbanites wrong... this life long Chicago girl KNOWS her pizza.

This pizza was a stab in my heart. Next time, I'll be slow to scoff, I swear.

I didn't have a problem with the delivery time but then again, I haven't had it delivered in ages because I think i'm out of the area now.

STUFFED. Gotta get the deep dish, none of that thin crust crap. My favorite is sausage and spinach. Nice and dense without being a brick 'o pizza.

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Photo of Mel M.

 

0

5

Mel M.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/2/2009

We got here at what I thought was a decent time for dinner but they were about 30 minutes shy of closing.  
The only pizza available was the individual slice of what was in the rotating heater.
We agreed it would have been better to have gone to Giordanos on Belmont and bought a slice.

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Photo of Richard M.

Elite '09

507

139

Richard M.

San Diego, CA

5 star rating
9/11/2009

Best pizza in Chicago for me .
I had Chicken wings BBQ flavor only.
Side Salad could of been better.
I had a mix of the meat and the special recipe deep dish.
The best pizza in Chicago.
If you dont want to wait 30 minutes for a personal pie then you can order from what they have in their warmer that are ready.

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Photo of Shradha A.

Elite '09

79

458

Shradha A.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/21/2009

What can I say - it was our 3rd anniv and I turned to Yelp to help find a pizza place that will make the boy happy (who, if he could, would eat pizza for every meal every day). From reading a lot of Yelp threads and reviews, Art of Pizza and Bacino's of LP emerged as the two top contenders for Chicago's best STUFFED pizza (yes, his favorite kind).

I was on Cloud 9 because the stuffed spinach pizza made the boy float on Cloud 10! It was soo soooo soooooo good!!! I don't know what it is about their tomato sauce but it was very flavorful and I kept wanting one more bite of it all evening even when we were in the theater.

We did say very light on cheese and the crust, stuffing and sauce all came out perfectly cooked and very-well balanced in taste!

I was also a little uncertain about the dine-in area before I saw it, but they've done a good job of making enough clean spacious seating area!

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Photo of An P.

Elite '09

264

331

An P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/2/2009

I will go against the grain and say that Art of Pizza is NOT that best deep dish pizza in all the land.

No disparaging remarks I will make on this pie because it is one of the only places in Chicago that's willing to not fuss around and hand over some deep dish pizza by the slice! You got that right, they sell deep dish pizza by the slice!

You know what, there are other spots that sell deep dish pizza by the slice, and they always end up sogged up like at the baseball stadium and nearly inedible. I would qualify The Art of Pizza as best deep dish pizza in Chicago sold by the slice! That's it!

The restaurant itself has experienced remodeling over the years and is a bit bigger than it was before but still bears dirty tables from the high volume of people eating in there. I guess there are lulls where things are less sloppy but most times I am there somebody's leftovers are lying around.

All in all a solid slice of pie, and there is nothing better than a solid slice of deep dish pizza, particularly when sold by the slizzice!!!

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Photo of Jack P.

Elite '09

56

211

Jack P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/4/2009

OK. Here goes another cheap lunch review. And I was thinking, any orientation for newcomers to Chicago should include a clear descripton of the difference among Art of Pizza, Pizza Art and Pizza Apart. Or perhaps we should write a song about them!

I dropped in here for lunch and stayed to dine, instead of taking away as they are fond to say out New York way. I ordered the Chicken Parmesan dinner, which for $7.50 includes a HUGE house salad, bread, and two breaded chicken breast halves over spaghetti, with marinara sauce and cheese. And I have to say, for a quick takeout kind of joint it was very good. I know it was made fresh because it took  a little while, but they brought out the salad first so I worked on that while I waited. I brought half of the entree home, since the serving was so generous.

What surprised me the most was the very attentive service. I was served after self-ordering at the counter by no less than three young chaps who were extremely friendly and helpful, and who to my knowledge did not even expect a tip (unlike some of these completely self-service joints with the big tip jars and nothing you would even call service)  Just a pleasant surprise in what it otherwise a fast-food kind of joint with little "ambiance."  Great food, great value and great prices on different daily Eye-talian specials, including sandwiches and full dinner plates which could really feed two.

And I guess I should call this cheap dinner rather than cheap lunch, 'cause their lunch/sandwich specials are even less, like $2.50. But both lunch and dinner specials are available anytime.

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Photo of Laila C.

Elite '09

13

102

Laila C.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
10/1/2009

I've been there twice and both were pretty times the food was less than stellar.
1. after moving, came in around 10pm saturday night.  My bf and I were suuuuper tired so we opted for the fastest food options.  We each got a piece of the ready made deep dish pizza and split a large garden salad.  The pizza had a LOT of crust and not enough cheese or pepperoni (in my opinion, although I do like a heaping ton of cheese & meat on my pizzas).  My bf's sausage pizza was a bit heartier.  The garden salad was HUUUUUGE, a lot of veggies, but the butter dressing was weird...a bit too solid to be dressing.
2nd time: super hungover after my birthday party and stumbled across the street for some greasy food.  I craved a juicy italian sausage sandwich after the one I had at Al's.  But this one was tiny, dry and overall NOT HUNGOVER approved at all-only good part, the service was really quick.
However, despite my 2 less than mediocre visits: I will still go back...because I'm persistent and lazy!

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Photo of Vanessa F.

 

3

26

Vanessa F.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
9/13/2009

I kind of like deep dish pizza. Kind of. And The Art of Pizza is just as comparable to Lou's, Pequads, Uno, Giordano's or Gino's, if you can ignore those little differences that seem to be a big deal to everyone except me. They get 4 stars because they consistently deliver a hot, cheesy pizza with loads of toppings. The crust is good and the appetizers and salads are always delicious.

Definitely worth trying.

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Photo of Anemone T.

 

8

12

Anemone T.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
8/21/2009

This pizza is delicious.  You know where a pizza is so good, you  burn your mouth convincing yourself it's cool enough to eat?

This was avoided during my visit to The Art of Pizza, thankfully.  But, while the skin on the roof of my mouth was spared, my enjoyment suffered for it.  Not much, mind you.  If the pizza could have been served warmer, I would have been happier.

Even more heretical in Chicago:  I liked the thin crust better than the thick, stuffed slices.

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Photo of Leah S.

Elite '09

21

49

Leah S.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/31/2009

I'm a big fan of places that allow me to over-indulge my inner fat kid from time to time.  Top that with daily deals and you've got one happy couch potato.

Art is my go to place for a 30 lb. meal that probably should be shared between at least 4 people.  Get the cheapo daily special and not only will you get an entree (usually of the pasta sort), but you'll get a not so small side salad, enough bread to feed an army, and a bowl of tasty soup.  They also throw in free liters of pop to add more calories to your already satisfied belly.

Definitely hit up the rib special - they're surprisingly good for a pizza joint.

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Photo of Kevin S.

 

4

96

Kevin S.

Chicago, IL

2 star rating
7/20/2009

After hearing great things about The Art of Pizza, I was really excited to have some. Maybe that set me up for failure?

We ordered some of the deep dish and it was not very good. The crust was hard and the sauce tasted really cheap and reminded me of canned generic marinara sauce.

Sorry, but I'd pick Lou Malnati's or Giordano's deep dish over The Art of Pizza anytime.

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Photo of Jonathan H.

Elite '09

77

108

Jonathan H.

Chicago, IL

3 star rating
9/23/2009

My company always seems to be wanted to get this pizza. I've had it on a bunch of different occasions. I enjoyed it but the 1 star I took off was for how long it takes to get it delivered. We're ordering it during the day, so I cut them some slack because they probably only have one driver...but it's still always a while.

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Photo of Ashley K.

Elite '09

43

73

Ashley K.

San Jose, CA

2 star rating
7/29/2009

I am sorry Chicago.... I hate your deep dish.

I walked from Wrigley field to eat what the locals call "the best pizza in the city" at the Art of Pizza.  I wanted to like it, I really did.  It was awful.  I also tried a slice of the "thin crust" and it was equally as bad.  The cheese is like melted plastic and I am positive that on the deep dish the dough is not all the way cooked through.

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Photo of Benjamin H.

Elite '09

13

98

Benjamin H.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
8/3/2009

I'll leave the pizza debate up to all the haters out there. The fact of the matter is, I wouldn't dare make the generalization that "This place has the BEST pizza". That's none-sense. Despite it's namesake, I give The Art of Pizza four stars for everything BUT the pies.

Don't get me wrong. These guys have a great pizza. Both thin and deep dish. The sauce, buttery crust, gooey cheese. It's totally solid.  But have you ventured into the other 85% of the menu? First off, the submarines are total shitkickers. About a foot and a half long, and crammed with all the goodies, these are the real deal. For $4.99, they are a downright steal. Their dinner/lunch specials are shockingly good deals. Monday night's lasagna is fantastically huge piece with bread, soup and salad for a mere $5.99!!! Given, it ain't gonna blow your mind, but frankly, it's a solid homemade lasagna, the soup was obviously homemade and delicious and all that for well under $10?!  Beef and sausage combos for $1.99 on Wednesdays?! Come on, the prices here are verging on scandalous!!!  Check it out!

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Photo of Ji P.

Elite '09

18

141

Ji P.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/7/2009

I love love LOVE by-the-slice deep dish. That pretty much means I could have one slice of nine different pizzas without having to buy nine different pizza pies. Uhh, absolute genius. Anyway, my friend and I stopped by here for lunch because my brother (who is as much a Chicago-style pizza enthusiast as I am) urged me to try it. Right off, I wasn't sure what to think because the slices looked a tad bit deformed . . . but upon trying a forkful each of the mushroom/spinach and the sausage/pepperoni, I realized that Art of Pizza is up there with the best of them. The crust has that deliciously light fresh-baked taste and is similar to another Chicago deep dish crust that I can't quite pinpoint; the sauce has a nice flavor; and the cheese is herby and generous without being overpoweringly thick and fatty. Mmmm. Good stuff.

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Photo of Frankie J.

Elite '09

12

68

Frankie J.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
Updated - 7/13/2009

PARADISE BY THE DASHBOARD...
Went there last night, got an Art's Special thin crust, and it didn't disappoint.  The rich and naturally sweet sauce, the perfect thin and unsoggy crust, the browned not burnt cheese, and the sausage-onion-mushroom-green-pepper melange that acts like a 3 by 3 inch square happy meal on its own edible plate.  Oh so good, oh so satisfying - car don't fail me now so we can get home and eat this pie-o-paradise.

And thats just the thin crust...

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1 Previous Review: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    10/8/2007

    Art is Mastery in Pizza

    Contrary to popular belief, pizza is an art as well as a science.  Too much… Read more »

Photo of Kathy L.

 

19

29

Kathy L.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
7/31/2009

I must say, I am pleasantly surprised.

I am not a big fan of deep dish pizza. In fact, I do anything I can to get out of eating it when I'm out with friends...but last night my sister was in town and wanted to try some deep dish. I thought...hmmm this place is close to my house and I hear good things about it...its got to be at least decent. It was beyond decent. It was so good that this morning for breakfast I heated up a slice. (Don't judge me...you know you do it too!)

All in all, the pizza was fantastic definitely my new favorite place for pizza...next time I will try their subs!

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Photo of Patrick L.

 

4

3

Patrick L.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
10/14/2009

I don't need to say much about Art of Pizza. Hands down the best deep dish in the world. The recipe has unfortunately changed for the worse in the last few years (the crust has taken a direct hit) but even though it's not as good as it was, it is still better than anything else. If you don't like deep dish, go to one of the other thousands of pizza places, it's all the same. But if you are a connoisseur, this is a must-go place, don't miss out on the most delicious event of your entire life!

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Photo of Rachel J.

 

4

19

Rachel J.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
9/28/2009

To die for! Pizza was one of the best i have ever had and the service was nice and friendly. I will be returning.

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Photo of Maria A.

Elite '09

1272

464

Maria A.

Miami, FL

4 star rating
6/1/2009

I knew I couldn't let my first day in Chicago end without having some of that famous deep dish pizza. As soon as Kevin N aka Mr. Austin himself checked in we decided to check out what kind of cheesy good trouble we could get into.

After a long and winding taxi ride we ended up at The Art of Pizza. It wasn't what I expected. It was rough around the edges and reminiscent of a fast food joint. The menu was difficult to read as it was obstructed and so I just pointed to a pizza and they handed me a slice. This slice was looking good and tasted better. It was a filling slice of pizza heaven. I washed it down with soda and headed out.

I now understand the love of deep dish pizza. What's more it was great to find a humble, simple spot that serves a mean pizza.

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Photo of Taylor C.

 

0

2

Taylor C.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
11/9/2009

Art of Pizza gets my vote for Best Chicago Pizza.  Not only is their pizza top-notch; you can even buy it by the slice which is a major perk!  I don't think they have delivery which is sort of a con, but the pizza is well worth the effort to go pick it up.  It is a melt in our mouth type of pizza!

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Photo of Michael U.

 

141

578

Michael U.

Dublin, OH

4 star rating
8/5/2009 4 photos

Following our gluttony at Doug's, I had Pizza on my mind - alas my dining companions were stuffed and holding out for dessert.  Never one to let the appetites of other stop me from my culinary adventures my plans went on undeterred - a stop at The Art of Pizza was programmed into the GPS and off we went.  Arriving toward the middle of lunch hour I was surprised at the lack of cars surrounding the small strip mall, but glad that our wait would be short.

Walking into Art's I was instantly struck by the heavy scents of tomato, pepper, and butter in the air - exactly like a pizza joint should smell.  Approaching the counter I was...I guess the word is "greeted" but a sullen looking young man who acted as though it was a great inconvenience to tell me which pizzas were available by the slice.  Listening to the options I decided on a slice of deep dish Art's Special which was plated and handed to me without further warming and without as much as a smile - $3.25 please.

Making my way to the table I must admit the décor left a lot to be desired - but thankfully the pizza did not.  Thick, hefty, and absolutely loaded with fresh toppings the sausage, onion, mushroom and green pepper special had just the right amount of toppings versus cheese, a wonderful buttery and crisp crust, and the best pizza sauce I've tasted in many moons.  Starting with a fork and knife then later proceeding to pick the slice up and eat it by hand I was amazed how the crust was able to support the heft yet how delicate it was in the mouth.  While the pizza could've stood to be a little warmer, the flavor certainly topped Giordano's or Pizzapapolis (Chicago and Detroit, respectively, and my only previous Chicago-style experiences) and rivaled the famous Lou Malnati's with Butter Crust that I had two days later.

Poor service and ambiance would normally knock off two stars but the pizza was so damned good and the single slice option so convenient that I can't complain too much.  I'd love to order a full one next time, the sauce was sublime.

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Photo of Kevin N.

Elite '09

945

732

Kevin N.

Austin, TX

4 star rating
6/1/2009

When in Rome, right? I'd been in town all of about an hour when one of my favorite folks from Miami suggested that we try out some genuine Chicago deep dish. As fate (and a meandering cab ride) would have it and based on some yelpy Chicago love, we decided to hit The Art of Pizza. First of all, I love the idea of pizza as art (and more than that...inspiration), and given the slice -- if you can call it that, it was about the size of my first car -- there's no question that these guys were shooting for the moon.

Says here that they hit the target: slices are arguably almost as deep as they are wide, slathered in various sauces and toppings, and soda choices ensure that you'll won't be parched even if you're full. I will say that the interior here is a little borderline sketchy, but in fairness, I don't think pristine was really what they were going for. Besides: sometimes when creating art, you have to tear down all around you to make something beautiful.

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Photo of cinder h.

 

2

19

cinder h.

Los Angeles, CA

5 star rating
7/21/2009

I visited friends in Chicago back in 2005 and they ordered a pizza from this place. Sooooo good that I ordered a small deep dish cheese pizza to take with me on the plane to Oregon just so that the boyfriend (at the time) could have some. It was great even 6 hours later and out of an Oregon oven.

It's been 4 years now and I'm still thinking about that damn pizza. I'm definitely adding The Art of Pizza as a pit stop to my US road trip that I'm planning next year. It'll be a 5 year reunion :)

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Photo of Kevin J.

 

22

2

Kevin J.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/7/2009

Great pizza. I ordered a small size thin crust pizza and either their small pizza is bigger than most places or they sent me the wrong size. how come they don't have a website?

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Photo of Jen M.

Elite '09

42

422

Jen M.

Canton, OH

3 star rating
6/6/2009

I consider myself a pizza connoisseur, so if you are looking for a comparison among Art of Pizza and other deep-dish pizza joints in Chicago, you stumbled upon the correct review.  

I've heard so much hubbub about Art of Pizza--people saying it's the best deep dish pizza in Chicago.  I already have a favorite in that category so I decided to give it a try.  To me, there are two determining factors for evaluating a good 'ol slice of deep dish pie:  #1:   the "sauce is boss." If a sauce isn't good there's no saving it.  #2:  The ratio of crust to sauce and cheese .  Here we go:  Art's sauce is good and well seasoned so no complaints there.  But here's the kicker...Art's pizza has A LOT of bottom crust, probably 1/2 inch thick.  There is way more crust than sauce and cheese combined.  So, if you like a mouthful of crust then this is your pizza.  It's just not my preference.  

I have always ranked Gino's East #1 and Pequod's #2 for deep-dish pizza.  I love the chunky tomatoes on Gino's East and the fact the bottom layer of (cornmeal) crust is thinner so it lets the sauce and cheese be the stars of the show.  Pequod's is similar to Gino's but the caramelized (some people call it burnt) crust is what makes it distinctive.  Their sauce is great, too.  

As we say in the wine and spirits business, there's no such thing as good or bad tasting--just different.  So there you have it.  My slightly unscientific review of 3 deep dish pizza joints.

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2

21

Ed C.

Mountain View, CA

2 star rating
9/12/2009

For the love of all things pizza, do not under any circumstances order something from their warmer (the glass display cases).  I got 2 slices that way: a stuffed combo (onion, pepper, sausage, mushroom), and a thin-crust pepperoni.  They came out lukewarm, and the stuffed pizza slice was soft and undercooked.  I've had better from Domino's delivery.  After a few bites of each, I left and googled for the nearest Gino's East.

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1

10

Matt G.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/6/2009

Let me preface this by saying I've been going here for about 5 years, so take it as you may. I feel that  the Art is probably one of the best Stuffed Pizza joints in Chicago. However, I feel that success has hurt the quality of food in recent years. You pretty much have to order carry out to get the best tasting pizza, because delivery times murder the crust. (Don't order delivery unless you have a spare 2 hours)
Another personal gripe of mine is their sausage: The grey, yes grey, spherical kind that I could probably get at Little Ceasar's. Why? Why is every other topping off the chain, and you blow the simple topping of sausage? I won't take stars away about it, because overall, the place is above average. Just don't expect REAL sausage. However, if you are a carnivore like me, go for the meaty delight stuffed pizza: It's like eating meat pudding! If you haven't been here, you need to go to see that it destroys Gino's, Uno, and Malnati's in the stuffed category. However, don't even touch their thin crust!

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0

14

Stephanie F.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
10/3/2009

Goooood thin crust pizza. A little pricey in mind, wish they had some deals on pizza or ran coupons.

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Elite '09

27

175

Jim W.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/20/2009

I may have found my favorite pizza place in Chicago.  At least, right now, it's my favorite deep dish place.

I admit, I'm biased based on the TimeOut article rating "the best" pizza in Chicago.  My opinion is also swayed by the fact that AoP sits in a shitty strip mall.  For some places this is discouraging, particularly if the restaurant is meant to classy, but for AoP, a simple pizzeria, it works and makes me feel like I "made a discovery".

This place is CHEAP and mad props for selling by the slice! $2.95/slice, any slice, deep dish, thin crust, toppings, cheese, whatever.  Never will I settle for a substandard slice of pizza for more than 3 bucks within a 2 mile radius ever again.  The menu is fairly extensive, with pastas, italian sandwiches, etc and there are daily specials, which I will return to try.

AoP is a point and order at the counter type place, and you can mix/match to your heart's content and have them throw it in a big pizza box to go if you so choose.  The dining area is simple, 2 rooms of tables and counter space.  You bus your own plates.  'Tis homely.

Everyone has their own definition of what makes a good slice, but for me, AoP pizza has a nice buttery crust, a rich, but not overly heavy dose of cheese, and tasty sauce that isn't overwhelming.  The multitude of combinations of toppings to choose from w/o having to pay a premium certainly adds bonus points.

The only drawback I can think of for AoP is that it's not close to any public transportation...maybe you can take the bus up Lincoln to Ashland...maybe you can walk from Belmont or Southport stations...the good thing about this though, is that you're forced to walk off some of the pizza you ate since you ate so much since it was so good!

Looking forward to the update after I've tried some of the other items..

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19

71

Dan m.

Chicago, IL

4 star rating
7/23/2009

Variety of thick and pan slices to go.  

They taste good and have a (small) parking lot.

Do you really need any more information?

Get off Yelp now and go get some!

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10

17

Eric H.

Chicago, IL

5 star rating
7/31/2009

This is my favorite pizza.  Why?  Ok, lets get into why AOP is so phenomenal...

-They have cheap slices ($3.00)
-Their pizza sauce is homemade (like many places, I know) and has more flavor than any sauce I have encountered.  Yet, the pizza is not overburdened by the sauce
-The ingredients on each slice are plentiful
-The crust, omfg, the crust is buttery and garlicy, yet light enough to allow you to eat two slices before you go into a food coma
-They typically always have 6-10 different kinds of pizza available for slices.  I personally like the Art Special and the spin, mush, onion, and sausage.
-AOP offers thin, pan, and stuffed most of the time

Seriously, this is the best pizza in the city!  I feel that such a subjective statement has never been so factual as this.

Alas, to be fair, the thin/New-York pizza here is not the best.  But, you go for the deep dish.  The Pan. The Stuffed.  The whole cohesive deal!

My blood is flowing from writing this review because I believe in it more than any other review I have written (on any page since I am new to Yelp).

The subs at AOP are very delicious as well.  And, they are $5 footlongs.  With more meat that is FRESHLY cut and great giardiniera.

BOOO-YAH.

oh yea, limited parking.  Soda is $ .25 for a refill.

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