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Village Pizza
Category: Restaurants Pizza Pizza [Edit]
2356 W Chicago Ave(between Oakley Blvd & Western Ave)
Chicago, IL 60622
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
(773) 235-2900
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Late Night, Lunch
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Eman S. said: "Good, thin crust, greasy, late night pizza and a pop for $5.... It does not get better than this in Wicker Park (technically Ukrainian Village)!" read more »
90 reviews for Village Pizza
Review Highlights
90 reviews in English
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Review from Dan S.
Berkeley, CA
1/14/2012
A-maz-ing
i like that there are 2 jumbo pizza slice shops across the street from each other. I also like that Village Pizza completely dominates.
Having tried both, nothing compares with village. Hotter, fresher, Cheesier, Toppings-ier
If you havent seen one of Johnny's Veggie Slices, you are missing out. I seriously thought the pizza paddle was going to break as he takes this monster 28" Jumbo Pizza Slice out of the oven. It looks like there is more veggies than there is pizza.
Seiously, If you need a boost to your immune system, I am pretty sure you get 3 servings of vegetables on this monster - Broccoli, Spinach and tomatoes.
It's a hook up. It's terrific.
and they deliver. dont foget to tip! -
Review from Rick M.
Chicago, IL
11/12/2011
A company with good food but horrible service truly should not be in business. These two things go hand in hand and if an owner is not willing the accept constructive criticism or handle negative feedback, his business should plummet as low as his attitude.
I am completely appalled by my experience about an hour ago.
First, I walked in very happily, was greeted by the woman at the front who helped me choose which sandwich to order. A guy behind me ordered 5 slices of pizza and 2 sandwiches and the woman became overwhelmed. Consequently, she walked away with my credit card and set it in the back, forgetting to slide it (that's a major no-no in the business world).
I let that go though, because I'm pretty easy to work with. After five or so minutes without my card (and seeing everyone else get theirs back), I grew worried. The owner walked out from the back and I went out of my way to say hello, as I am a regular. He barely acknowledged me. It was like a meager nod. Anyway, shortly after, I mentioned to the owner that I needed my card back. He blatantly lied and told me "Oh. It declined, boss." That's funny, because I never saw her actually slide it.
So the owner walked up to the guy who ordered 5 slices and said "What are you havin'? " He said "Oh, she has already helped me, thank you." The owner rolls his eyes huffs and very sternly says "I said, what are you havin'?" The guy is thrown off, backs up, and replies, even apologizing. The owner has no response.
So he yells at the girl to go get my card and to start doing one thing at a time as he sloppily throws the guy's pizza slices in the oven. She an my card and it was fine (like I thought) and I'm waiting for my food.
I watched his interaction with other customers and was surprised that he didn't smile or give a believable "thank you" once. He was absolutely miserable. I can understand if you're having a bad day - but I work in the food industry too and I have to go out of my way even when I don't feel like it to make a customer happy. A happy customer is a returning customer.
So when the employees go run in the back for something, the guy with the pizzas looks at me and goes "Wow, wasn't that odd." And I responded with "Talk about terrible customer service... He's the owner too, you think he'd want to set an example." The guy agreed.
The girl came out and gave us each our food and on our way out the owner mockingly said "HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!" boisterously. I added "And maybe throw in a smile with that once in a while man."
Half way down the block I realized I could not have just paid six dollars for someone to treat me like that, so I turned my ass right around and went back calmly. I walked inside, turned to the owner and said "Let me speak to you, please." He said "I've got nothing to say to you. You want me to smile, I don't need to smile. I don't owe you anything."
So I'll cut this short and say that he kept arguing with me while I calmly was just trying to talk to him. "Customer service," I said "Is key to getting customers to keep returning to your establishment."
He straight up told me that customer service doesn't matter and that "If I want to be angry and pissed off, I can be. I'm not having a good day so I won't be happy."
Oh yeah, then he told me he would bow down to me because that was apparently what I wanted. He shouted over me when I said no and he proceeded to bow down near the register and curtsey like a fragile ballerina.
I told him he might want to take some negative feedback and make something positive out of it, adding that arguing with a customer doesn't make him look very professional. In response, he told me he didn't care if I took my business elsewhere.
So for now on, that's what I'll do.
And I'll retype here one of the last things I told this very angry man:
"If you want your business to thrive, word of mouth is the best way that's going to happen. And this mouth isn't going to say anything good about your business anymore."
Also, towards his claims that his food is "the best and cheapest." I disagree. The type of establishment he runs is a dime a dozen, in fact, all others are run at least 10 times better. Go take your business to Bacci's, Plazzio's, or dare I say even Pizza Hut. You'll be way happier with your experience, I guarantee it. -
Review from nohemy m.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
Seriously this pizza is fucking good. You just gotta go for the freshest slice, or order a whole pizza.
Once my boyfriend told me he walked into village and John Bacci was singing as he was cutting up some slices "Nooooobooodddy does it like Johnnnnnny". Seriously though Johnny is right.
*Dont tell Johnny that you can't finish a slice he might make fun of you. -
Review from Ice P.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012
Don't park in Burger kings lot or they will boot you. The sauce is not that good in my opinion. Watch out for crazy geroldeen.
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Review from Chris D.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
I couldn't tell you what the pizza here tastes like as I've never eaten here sober. You come for the Johnny show and well, its the only thing within walking distance from whatever bar you stumbled out of. I have several stories from here however one that sticks out takes place like so:
A friend was dj'ing at darkroom just east on chicago ave. Shortly after collecting his cash and closing out for the night, we stroll down to village pizza for a drunk slice. I was shocked that it was 3am and the place was empty. It was at this time that Johnny's wife decides it was time to celebrate Johnny's birthday.... At 3am on a sunday morning. While still the only 2 people in the restaurant, a cake is brought out and his wife urges us to start singing happy birthday to him. We oblige. Johnny was not at all impressed with the situation and starts yelling for it to stop. We persist. Shortly thereafter we enjoy our slice of pizza, free small soda and cake. By ourselves. With Johnny's family.
This would be too much for me to handle while sober. But after 6 solid hours of drinking it was pretty much unreal. -
Review from Ojo E.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
crap ass pizza.
but, after having a few drinks at 3am what else it there. -
Review from andy m.
Elmhurst, IL
1/9/2012
Went to this place a couple of days after seeing a horrible robbery on Internet. The place is small and the pizza by the slices are large. Always support a business after a robbery and show the muggers customers will not remain reclusive. This place makes good pizza and is a unique gem in the city.
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Review from Sergio R.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
I am a Pizza Connoisseur... Now this is a GREAT slice of pizza- NY STYLE (also love Chicago style). Great crust, cheese, ingredients, and it's HUGE (off of a 30+ inch pie). Also open late late night :-)
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Review from Tim S.
3/2/2011
Big slice and soda for a cheap price.
Sauce is a little sweet for my tastes but it is still pretty tasty.Listed in: Pizza Places
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Review from Michael M.
Glen Ellyn, IL
9/29/2011
Great and crazy place to go for late night pizza. Good pizza. The day employees are rather dull and the Scarface pictures lame, but the night crew is out there. Last time I was here the, apparently, homeless guy who hangs out was acting up. He snuck in while the old man was in the back, grabbed a cup, filled it with pop and ran out. The aforementioned old man let it go as he indicated the guy was always broke due to buying rocks.
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Review from Amanda Z.
7/9/2010
After being left to fend for myself with the remaining pitcher of a sweet tea vodka lemonade mix, encountering a guy nearly getting smashed by a cab in the middle of Division and Western (and ensuring the police were tending to him), a slice was definitely in order to cap the night off. I mean, come on, it's not every night your friend pulls a bloody guy out of the middle of the street to call 911 for him.
So, I insisted to the boyfriend that pizza was required for the walk home. We split a slice, cut it in half at home, and enjoyed the faux Diet Coke (come on, that's Diet RIte in their machine, right?) and saved myself from a potentially horrendous headache in the morning. The pizza is fine and a great value to boot, so if you need a little post-bar action, this is the place to be. Just don't expect to be coddled by the guy behind the order. Put your sober face on, keep talking to a minimum, and get out of there. Trust me.
Clearly, the only way to end an evening of debauchery is with a fat slice of pizza, right?Listed in: Chinanigans on Chicago Avenue, Places for 'Za
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Review from Eitan B.
Chicago, IL
7/13/2011
i was ordering and the lady behind the counter complains that she's sick. being that she's handling my food i ask "sick with what?" she answers me "sick in the head"...meanwhile the homeless guy cookin pizzas by the brick oven gives me a look suggesting we're both well aware that this lady's bat shit crazy.
another time i had a homeless guy try to sell me heroin in the parking lot. after i declined the offer he then proceeded to sit shotgun in my parked car while i stood outside. how i got him out will need to be explained verbally.
i'd still give it a good rating...ultimately i see it as a character building atmosphere with good pizza that's better than bacci, cheaper, and open later. memorable/offputting incidents are likely to ensue. -
Review from O K.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2011
It's a pizza shop with five square feet of space, cheap slices bigger than your face, and free "soda." I bet if you put a roll of paper towels on one of their slices, it would be just enough to absorb the grease on the slice. The local homeless love this place above all others. I love the attitude of the owner who decided to move into Bacci's old space when they moved across the street and run an identical business. How can so many homeless people be wrong?
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Review from Jim M.
Chicago, IL
9/9/2011
The first and last time I ordered a pizza from Village Pizza, I was waiting for it and the owner was yelling at his employees in front of the customers! Harsh verbal abuse which included racial slurs! The moment I heard that I canceled my order and walked out. That is completely unacceptable. I've never seen anything like it.
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Review from Vaughn C.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2009
Who cares about the pizza, it's all about Johnny Bacci!
Oh, the stories garnered from each visit--let me tell some tales:
1. A friend of mine went up to the counter to ask Johnny for a fork and knife to cut her pizza. Johnny lit up livid, grabbed a disposable utensil pack and bellowed, "You want a FUCKIN KNIFE?" I'll give you a FUCKIN' KNIFE!" He throws it at her with a "There's your FUCKIN' KNIFE." My friend sheepishly returns to the table and said, "Man, all I asked for was a fork and knife."
Johnny looks up and struts on over to the table. We braced ourselves for another outburst, but Johnny was apologetic. "Oh, I'm sorry baby. I think I misheard you. Here, let me cut this up for you." Johnny grabs her utensils and cuts her pizza into bite size pieces.
2. Two cops are sitting by the window, one older one and a younger one. A girl comes in, gets a slice to go and then leaves. Before getting on the Chicago bus, she just throws her garbage on the sidewalk outside of the window.
Johnny explodes. "What the fuck! How come someone can just throw their damn garbage right outside while two cops just sit and watch?!" The young cop makes a move to protest, but the older one calmly places his hand on him, smirking, as if to say, "Just sit back and watch the show. It's the reason I brought you here."
"You fucking lazy-ass, good-for-nothing cops! There's people in this neighborhood getting shot, tons of break ins, people throwing GARBAGE outside my store and you just sit there on your fat asses, eating pizza."
Johnny goes on and on, ripping new assholes into these guys. The grin never escapes the veteran, while the newbie's shock just turns into discomfort.
3. A friend and I went down on a Saturday afternoon. Instead of the $2.50 slice and pop, Johnny offered us two slices for $3 from a stack of boxed pizzas behind him. My dubious friend was wary.
"But Johnny, what's up with those slices. Are they no good?"
"Ah, nah. They were for a festival down the street, but we can't deliver them, so they're just sitting here."
"How come you can't deliver them?"
"The driver got incarcerated last night."
4. A man and a small boy come in, the former obviously old pals with Johnny. They exchange a hearty greeting and Johnny looks at the kid.
"PETER! How's my boy? My, you've grown quite a bit!"
The kids eyes turn into dinner plates. He's a shy one.
Out of nowhere, Johnny puts out his fist and bellows "COME KISS MY HAND LIKE GODFATHER."
My friend and I bust out laughing, as the kid dashes behind my chair.
5. It was my birthday, and for my birthday I was going to eat two slices of Bacci's and then go to Tuman's to have fifty cent beers. Obviously, this was before my metabolism decided to say "Fuck you, I hate your livelihood."
A familiar face from the neighborhood strolls in with a "What's up, Johnny!" Cheerfully, the two chat it up, just making small talk. Johnny offers him a slice, but he declines. He just stopped in to say hello. The man leaves. After a beat, Johnny runs out the door and yells down the street. "REMEMBER. STAY AWAY FROM THOSE GODDAMN SHIT DRUGS! Ya hear me? No goddam shit drugs!"
He turns around and we're all looking at him. He points a stern finger and says, "That goes to you all, too. None of them goddamn shit drugs." He pauses in contemplation and smiles, "Well, okay. Maybe like twice a year. When you're makin' love and stuff."
My friend pipes up, "Johnny, you only make love twice a year?" Johnny's face clouds once again and that stern finger became an accusatory one."You. You shut the FUCK UP."
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I've been to the new Bacci's. And I haven't come out with any memories outside of getting my hands greasy and wiping them on my pants. Once you get a slice and a free pop with Johnny, you really can't go elsewhere. -
Review from Jelena Z.
2/23/2009
Quentin Tarantino eats here!
Well, not really. But I'd like to think that he would. And as QT says, "any time of day is a good time for pie".
Pizza pie at 4 am? You got it.
I've never seen such an enormous, messy display of crust, sauce and oozing cheese thrown my way. Like a little girl, I begged Johnny Bacci for mercy. And so he cut my pizza FOR me into an army of tiny pieces. The mockery!
It gets better. My macho Croatian friend Phil can't help but admire my now near manageable mess of pizza roadkill and promptly asks Johnny to do the same for him. That's roughly the equivalent of requesting castration. Wimp. -
Review from Elizabeth B.
Chicago, IL
3/5/2009
This place is a total dump. They need an aesthetics manager stat. Why are the soda fridges set cock-eyed near the wall? It's all haphazard and drives my OCD mind crazy.
Poverty has forced me --ahem-- 'allowed me' to discover eateries that I might not otherwise find. Last week, I tried Bacci's across the street. You can read my review. Bacci's is simply a gut-filler, nothing special. I expected the same from Village Pizza but was pleasantly surprised to find a lighter crust and better sauce. Plus, it's a bit cheaper for the same size slice as Bacci's.
The kitchen is prettier at Bacci's but the help is more entertaining at Village. I'll take a toothless husky-voiced 50-something over a feisty Latino 20-something any day. Plus, I got to witness Johnny Bacci in action!
At first, I just heard Johnny yelling at someone in the kitchen to "wake the fuck up, been sleeping all day!". Then, he came out of the back and (literally) sniffed around, made a few faces like he was smelling manure, checked around the counter top for the source of the smell, made himself some sort of baked spaghetti dish, then ducked back to the back of the restaurant and yelled some more. I'm not sure if he ever found the source of the smell but he seemed to lose interest in it.
This place is close to my house and cheap. I suspect that I will be back at some point. I will go to Village Pizza before I go to Bacci's when I need a gut-fill. You should too. -
Review from Grace L.
New York, NY
8/9/2008
Mmmm I love Village Pizza. My boyfriend prefers Bacci, so the other night, we diverged paths on Chicago Avenue as he headed to Bacci and I headed to Village. We reconvened after we had our slices and free pop to compare:
Bacci slices are actually larger than Village slices, but also a buck more at $5. However, this doesn't mean that Village slices aren't HUGE. The problem that I have with Bacci is that they severely try to compromise quality with quantity. The thick crust is bland, and they layer the cheese on like nobody's business. My boyfriend likes his pizza excessively cheesey, so Bacci works out for him. I, however, prefer pizza with flavor and a nice balance. And that pizza must come from Village. Delicious sauce, just the right amount of cheese, and not unreasonably thick. Although I agree that the crust at Village does need some work...it reminds me of a smushed hot dog bun in both appearance and consistency. I rarely eat the crust (or make it even close to the crust with such gigantic slices) so I can't say this bothers me. Long live Village! -
Review from Angie M.
7/27/2008
My God, this place is nuts. John, the guy working the counter, is probably high at any given moment. He's throwing out f-bombs, yelling at customers, hollering at his cooks, and generally putting on a crazy show right on the corner of Western and Chicago.
After a long night on the town, nothing beats rolling into Village Pizza and getting a HUGE slice and a little Styrofoam cup of pop for $4. The sauce is slightly generic, but when it's 4:00am, you're drunk and you need grease, Bacci's isn't open. Village Pizza is. And I can guarantee I didn't puke after a particularly rough night on the town yesterday because I ate a Village Pizza slice. That, my friends, is 4 bucks very well spent.Listed in: Pizza, I 'Heart' Chicago Ave
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Review from Jessica C.
Chicago, IL
1/5/2009
I'm going to try not to get all weird and make this obnoxiously long. I LOVE Village Pizza.
The fun begins when you approach the counter to tell Joe what kinda peetz you want. You get a free fountain drink with a slice. That is amazing. If you order a pizza for delivery at 230 a.m. and fall asleep when they try to deliver it, they'll be cool and not charge you.
The pizza is the size of my torso and good to the last drop of grease. Don't start thinking Santullo's style, Village Pizza slices are so much more put together than Santullo's or Bacci's and they are less sloppy.
The staff is warm and welcoming and you kinda want to hug them when you leave. Imran and I always say "see you next time" when we bolt.
Joe likes to get all riled up in the wee hours as the drunkards come in and out. He's very Politically Incorrect and kinda abusive. Yet, it's hot.
For the record, Village Pizza is all I could talk about after a night of heavy drinking on NYE. I wanted to spend my first moments of 2009 with Joe and Hun, gorging on slices and free pop. Listening to incoherent screaming and folding pizza so i could squeeze it through my trap. -
Review from Luca C.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2008
The legendary "Johnny Bacci" once told me that if he were to be elected president, everyone in the country would get free pizza for his entire term.
Jesus Christ, can we please get this man into the Oval Office? Please?
The best, freshest pizza you will ever have. The best tasting sausage pizza on the face of the planet. And Johnny will always serve it to you with a slight grimace and a hearty, "You got it, maaaaayyyyne!" -
Review from Sharlene K.
Chicago, IL
5/17/2007
Okay. It seems that newbies to John Bacci need the back story.
John Bacci is the end all racist, sexist, homophobic, asshole who you have to love like the surly uncle you've had. Normally, I'd be pissed because that stuff is fucked up, BUT when it's all-around equal-opportunity hate that no one is exempt from, I actually kind of tolerate it, and in John Bacci, it is genuinely that asshole uncle you love, especially when they cook.
Best story ever about John. Once this guy comes in and orders a pizza slice and runs out of the store with it. John runs out from behind the counter, fills a cup with soda, runs out, and hurls the soda across Chicago Ave. and pelts the guy! He screams, "EY you fucking moron, You ferget yur fucking soda!" The story wouldn't be so amusing if Chicago Ave. wasn't so wide and John wasn't clearly from the East Coast (soda!).
Personally, I think John's pizza is way better than Bacci's because it reminds me specifically of Jersey shore pizza. The pizza itself is thinner, but retains a nice chewiness reminiscent of East Coast pizza in general with a slight burn on the bottom unique to NYC/NJ. The sauce on the other hand is a bit sweeter than most and that's like NJ. The dough at Bacci's on Chicago is way too thick. \
Why did John lose out on Bacci's? I think it's pretty clear; it's because he's a freaking dinosaur that doesn't want to quit insulting everyone or polish up the "decor". He's probably every ambitious business owner's nightmare, but I still love the guy and his pizza.Listed in: I Was Once a Broke-Ass Art…
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Review from Isla E.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2009
This is good pizza because the crust isn't too thick. When I eat dairy, I see carbs as detracting from the joy of melted cheese; so the thinner the crust the better. If you have similar tendencies, I recommend Village Pizza pizza over Bacci's (which is across the street). Bacci's is a thicker crust, and they also serve their slices in these large triangular cardboard boxes that are the epitome of wastefulness. You don't want to hear trees screaming when you eat your pizza, right?
I'm giving it 4 stars, not 5, because really its just pizza, and its kind of dirty in there. -
Review from Ryan W.
Chicago, IL
12/9/2007
This block on Chicago Ave one day will have Johnny's name honored on the street signs. It should and it will happen. The man keeps his cahones, stays put, and makes a better slice to directly compete with his nemesis across the street. "Taste The Village Difference" slogan is posted in the same spot where it once said "Taste The Bacci Difference". Walk in to family business friendly, Bacci's, across the street and you will see "Taste The Bacci Difference" on the wall in the same colors and type as Village keeps it. Head to head.
Now, who cooks up a better pizza?
VILLAGE BABY !! Evevrything is better.. the sauce, the cheese, massive hunks of italian sausage, spices sprinkled on top, thicker crust. It's a bit saucy, but it's great tasting sauce at least. And, most important, it costs less than Bacci's !!
Everyone's got their traditional "dive" food establishment that has been around forever that they honor with loyalty and claim that nothing is better than this pizza-beef-bbq-fried chicken-burger-hot dog-gyros whatever their specialty is. Well, that's how a lot of people and myself feel about this joint. Yes, it IS A JOINT. DO NOT CALL IT ANYTHING BUT. The term, corner joint, sums it all up for you.
It's been almost nine years since i remember my first encounter here, and almost nothing has changed about it. Same four tables and 16 chairs, same almost everything except soda vendors, name and slightly tweaked identity. Most of all, same Johnny. At my last sit down in there, i heard John singing a tune while slicing up jumbo pizzas. In his nasally, whiny, comic voice he does sometimes, he was singing, "NOBODY DOES IT LIKE JOHHHNNYYYYYYYYY". You just had to be there. There are a million little tales about that man, seldom tall ones. Everyone has one, the better ones are told by people who really "get" Village John (i swear i will never call him John Bacci ever again).
So there, come in for your first time and it will be a memory you will crave to experience more often. -
Review from Dane K.
11/11/2007
This place delivers in the wee hours of the night when other places have long been closed... 3am delivery?? Sure no problemo... (Though if you're like us, be sure to actually stay awake when they actually get there!! We once ordered, fell asleep, and John Bacci stood outside ringing our buzzer for 20 minutes. When we finally went to get it he was nice as could be. Oddly.)
One time Brian decided they wanted pizza and had been up all night, it was about 6am. They weren't really opened yet but said they'd do it anyway..
Their pizza is decent. Not the best, and far far from the worst. The sauce is good and garlicy. Their wings kind of suck--they're breaded. They don't put them in hot sauce they serve it on the side, which is kinda good for delivery I guess but it is hard to then replicate real hot wings with it...
The pizza slice deal (same as Baci's) is a great deal.
Yes don't park in the burger king parking lot... there are big signs saying this though..Listed in: Stuff around my 'hood' (West…
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Review from Rene N.
Chicago, IL
12/6/2008
From the first time I walked in here when I was living in Logan Scare, the place had me for life when the pizza maker man greeted us with "CAN I HELP YA'S" Yes, yes you can.
Your slices are gigantic, sloppy and taste awesome and that's the way it should be. One time I came in and ordered sausage with only one old slice left. The pizza guy tossed it and made a new pizza right then and there!
Your pizza may not be expensive but it is good. It's better than Crust, Pizza Hut, Domino's, Poppa John's and Piece. That's right, better than Piece!
Would I take a bullet for this pizza? No.
Would I drunk dial some one I know that will be sober at two am to drive me here even if I'm across town? Yes, yes I would. -
Review from Marc R.
7/8/2010
Ok, I have been walking past this place for over a year and never went in, but I had a GF visiting from out of town and she wanted pizza at 1 am so I knew we could walk over and grab a slice.
First thing: The slices are freaking gigantic and are only $5 (with a free soda). The sausage is great, combos are good, and the veggie spinach pizza was good also. I was really blown away and the $5 was well spent.
The workers are grumpy and yet were friendly in a way. There was a cute drunk woman standing by the soda fountain with her friends and she said "WHY IS IT SO HOT IN HERE" which made me and my GF laugh, then the pizza guy said "WELL, THE ROOM IS FULL OF PIZZA FREAKING OVENS!" That alone was worth five bucks! -
Review from Chaviva G.
Denver, CO
Updated - 2/13/2009
I miss Village Pizza like a bulimic girl misses the toilet.
Okay, that was insensitive, but seriously. I have hardcore cravings for their cheese fries, I desire their pizza, and the meatballs? I wake up in sweats hoping for some meatball goodness.
I'm coming to town soon, and I might just forsake one of those local BIG WIGS for some Village. I'm coming for you baby, I'm coming!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/19/2007
I had a hunger. A CRAVING! A fever? And the only cure was ... Village Pizza. Luckily it was… Read more »
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Review from Doug S.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 5/16/2011
Surprisingly, it turns out Village Pizza has quite tasty fries as well as the distinctly average pizza.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/28/2011
Two stars for being better than Bacci across the street. That's about all I can come up with that's… Read more »
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Review from Mark A.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2008
Hopefully all Village fans go through this thought process at least once -
1. The signs and paint on the window are old and half-wiped off.
2. There's always a homeless dude in there, sleeping or allowed to hang out.
3. That guy John who owns the place - kind of mean and scary; probably touches crack every time he reaches to pull his pants up, then heats your 'za.
4. It's kind of dirty in there so what's that say about the food?
5. Why do I go here?
My answer:
In a sea of Chicago thin crust - this New York slice tastes darn good...and at any hour, I think. You get a good serving, enough dough, tasty sauce...and hopefully a little of ass-cleave for flavor. It's like you're in the Big App anyways!
Do it. -
Review from Robert S.
Tampa, FL
4/15/2008
John Bacci is a great man.
The pizza itself gets about 3.8 stars. It's pretty good, but not amazing. The real bonus comes with the ridiculous size of a slice, the fact that the place is open ridiculously late, and the "free pop". (I know the South has many downfalls, but 'pop' is seriously stupid).
But the remaining 1.2 stars is reserved for Mr. Bacci himself, who I'm fairly certain is clinically retarded. I love his mumbling, Downs-esque banter as he greets you and then yells at his 15 year old African American employee, calling him stupid. This is a sort of irony that is certainly not wasted on me. John Bacci is very, very racist. -
Review from Ryan C.
11/29/2009
It's pretty simple...it's an in and out pizza joint where you get what you pay for. For $4 for a big slice of pizza and a "pop." Don't go in expecting the best pizza. What you can expect is getting your order handed to you and out the door in less than 3 minutes. If I want damn good pizza, I'm going to go elsewhere and spend $20. Weigh the options, $4 vs $20...
Sometimes they are nice, sometimes they are neutral...I'm just there for the pizza on the fly. So what if John Bacci has a history of entertaining stories.
Simple scoop:
Park on Western, not in Burger King parking lot. Remember you are only spending $4 + tax for a slice. No complaining. -
Review from Eric Q.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2007
what was once the old location of Bacci's on the corner of Chicago and Western ave...is now VILLAGE PIZZA! you can't deny the TRUE home of the Jumbo Slice and Free Pop. Where else are you going to find a giant slice of greasey pie w/ the option of GRAPE SODA, the crazy antics of Johnny (the owner..previously fired from Bacci's..who moved across the street..so he opened his own place in the old Bacci's restaurant..selling practically the same pizza [a little better in my opinion] for a couple dollars cheaper), and a late night eat in chicago?? no where...this is the best. haha been going there for over a decade and will continue to do so..just DONT PARK IN BURGER KING'S PARKING LOT..unless you want to get toed...ooh and with the installment of their outdoor speaker system...you will be reminded of that a MILLION TIMES hahah...this place should have a reality show..for real!
*direct quote from one of the staff members when an acquaintance ordered and disputed a vegetarian potato sandwich receiving a vienna roll w/ french fries in it and covered in italian beef juice.."the beef juice is what makes it a sandwich" HAHAListed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Kacie M.
2/21/2007
This place is good for cheap pizza and a drink on those night when I can't be bothered to cook. I disagree with the reviewer who insinuated that there was no difference between Bacci and Village. I've had both several times, and Village is a WORLD better then Bacci.
However, don't ever EVER park next to burger king, even if their lot is completely empty. I was booted in four minutes, and paid $125. -
Review from Ricky B.
IL
2/7/2007
Im going to agree with the other people..the guy that is always here at night is a act to see. I couldnt tell if he was crazy or drunk, but he seemed nice enough to me.
On the negative side, there food really isnt that good. On the positive side , they are open late and you cant beat their prices. -
Review from Nikki F.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2007
Ok Yeah their pizza is cheap and fast but it doesn't taste good and it's crazy. I've been in there late with friends and there were drunk customers, loud employees, and even though it used be Bacci's its still the same. No remodeling or anything, and of course its still alwasy looks drity day or night.
Come to Bacci's if it's late, you're starving, and you're broke otherwise go to Pizza Hut or somewhere else. -
Review from Marissa C.
Chicago, IL
7/23/2007
The best way to describe the ...outdoor dining of Village Pizza...
"DO NOT PARK IN THE BURGER KING PARKING LOT! THEY WILL PUT A BOOT ON YOUR TIRE, AND IT IS 165 DOLLARS TO REMOVE",
And the loud speaker repeats this over....and over....and over....and over.... -
Review from Claudia S.
Chicago, IL
6/5/2009
I love Village Pizza. Do I think it's the best in Chicago? No. However, it's always satisfied my drunken belly and Johnny is hilarious. When I started coming here it was with a friend who apparently knew him, so he was always really nice to us. Charging us $4 for 3 slices of pizza and pop? HELL YES!
One time we walked in and couldn't decide what we wanted. We were starving and there were lots of pizzas behind him. His wife, or, some woman is in the back telling him they're $3.50 each and he just tells her to shut up and charges us $3 total.
I think my favorite time was when a young guy comes in and wants a slice of pizza and he says "Ok, 6 bucks" and the guy says "but it says $3.50" and he tells him "for you, it's 6 bucks". The guy paid the $6 and we had a good laugh.
The pizza is greasy. GREASY greasy greasy. Normally I don't like my pizza super greasy, but I tolerate Village's. Once, my friend and I were so drunk and she ate her slice in record time (I think I had almost half of mine eaten) and she looks down and goes "who took my pizza?!???".........Johnny sees this and cracks up. We somehow managed to eat 2 slices and regretted it later.
The pizza's cheap. They're open late. There's always something amusing happening. Don't park in the Burger King parking lot, unless of course the guy patrolling it is sitting in the car next to you and says "it's ok, go get your pizza." I like Bacci's, but I've never had the one from across the street, and I refuse to go there because Village is just so much more entertaining, and, I LOVE their crust! I'm a crust person, and it's doughy and somewhat chewy somewhat hard and all around delicious.
Also, I eat here sober.........but it's when I'm drunk and nowhere near the area that I decide I NEED a slice from Village. -
Review from Jen L.
Chicago, IL
3/19/2009
I'm a bit late on the praise of the Village Pizza and its owner, Johnny, but heck, here's another glowing review.
I've been here only two times, but the ambiance (storefront, 10 seats, faded Al Pacino collages) and the owner, Johnny, charmed me instantly. I usually don't let strangers refer to me as "babe" without a scowl to follow but the owner can get away with it. The slices are tastier than Bacci's too and so far he's always given me and my lady friends a free *large* drink with our slices. (Note: I do not drink soda fountain beverages, but I do at this place. They're free.)
Yeah, manyn. -
Review from Ben O.
Chicago, IL
3/17/2010
When I first moved to the neighborhood a Village Slice was only $2.25. Unbeatable. It wasn't even two years later before the price doubled. Nonetheless, it beats Bacci -- which is right across the street -- for all of my post-empty-bottle-stumble-a-thon-hunger-pangs.
The fact that the kitchen staff clearly doesn't want to be there and are usually fighting amongst each other, plus the high likelihood that you'll run into someone batshit crazy -- or drunk enough to offer to eat your crust for you -- make Village Pizza that much more utterly adorable. Never change guys, though I could do without the nazi-era bullhorn next to the picnic tables dutifully instructing me NOT to park in the burger king parking lot -- ad infinitum -- lest I'd regret it.
Truly though, sometimes they hook-it up, especially in my college days when I lived and often frequented 'the pizza place'.
