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Vito & Nick's Pizzeria
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
8433 S Pulaski Rd(between 84th St & 85th St)
Chicago, IL 60652
Neighborhood: Ashburn
(773) 735-2050
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 1 am
Sun 12 pm - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
159 reviews for Vito & Nick's Pizzeria
Review Highlights
"BUT, it's got the best damn thin crust I've ever had."
(in 81 reviews)
"If you're a deep-dish lover, this place may not be for you."
(in 13 reviews)
"Cash only, so remember to hit the ATM beforehand."
(in 18 reviews)
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159 reviews in English
-
Review from Pcp P.
La Cañada Flintridge, CA
2/7/2012
We dodged some bullets and stopped by this place b/c my sister called when we were on our way to the airport. Apparently, they saw an episode on Food Network that mentioned about the pizzas here. Thin crust in Chicago..really? My sisters thought I should stop by and try it, and also bring back few boxes for our friends to try. The show, of course, failed to mention the sketchy neighborhood around the restaurant. It's all cool though as we both survived all the drive by's while we were eating there.
I am giving this joint a 4*'s for the fact that it's probably one of the best thin crust pizzas in a city where pizza places are mostly deep dish. If I were to compare their pizzas to those of NYC, I'd give this joint a 3 *'s. We ordered their egg pizza as I was informed that it's their signature pizza. We also tried their sausage pizza and both were pretty good. When we ordered several more boxes to take to LA, they half baked the pizzas for us in order for us finish the baking in LA and enjoy some what freshly baked pizzas from our own home. Awesome idea right? Yeah, it would've worked if I hadn't ordered the egg pizzas. So, how many guys would it take to realize that half baked eggs on a pizza would not be a grand idea after all. The yoke soaked our pizza boxes and drip into the over head cabin. It's not fun to see egg yoke dripping above your head when you're way up in the air. Yeah.... as a guy, I can admit that we can be such idiots sometime. So, the half baked egg pizzas didn't make it to LA...but it was fun pretending to not understand English when people were giving us the evil eyes. -
Review from David N.
1/17/2012
Triple D was here a while back, and I totally understand why.... This place is a dive, dive, and a dive! Honestly, it's the townie bar I was scared to walk into in college, yet for whatever reason, manages to serve up some damn good pizza. What is a townie bar you ask? Vito & Nick's Pizzeria (BAR) is it, and here's why:
1. Old Style and Old Style Light are the ONLY beers on tap;
2. Said draft beer is served in those little pilsner glasses your grandpa drank out of at the bowling alley back in the day;
3. Corona is their "Specialty" beer;
4. The bar/pizzeria accepts CASH ONLY, and they don't have an ATM;
5. There's more carpet on the wall than the floor;
6. The bathroom soap dispenser shoots out dust;
I think you get the point. Service is sub-par for a "restaurant", even for a bar. Cleanliness is concerning, especially the bathroom. The saving grace is the pizza. Much thinner than Beggars, crispier than Aurelio's or Fox's, and somewhere close to a homemade Thin Crispy Crust Jack's Pizza (yeah, the one at the grocery store). Plenty of flavor, fresh ingredients (and lots of fennel seeds, which is disconcerting), and worth what can be a longer wait than most. Their "small" pizza is pretty big, and plenty for 2-3 people. Decent place to stop if you're in the neighborhood, but wouldn't make the trip if I had lived further away.
Bring cash, time, and patience. And maybe leave the kids at home, especially later. Being real, it's a bar with good pizza. -
Review from Lupe d.
11/7/2011
This place is a keeper. Was is the best pizza I have ever had? No, but it's definitely some darn good crispy thin crust pizza. What I loved about Vito & Nicks Pizzeria is the awesome throwback feel to the place and the great service. I will most definitely be back here anytime I am in this neck of the woods as they deserve my service over any chain restaurant any day of the week.
It's very easy to see from after just one meal at this place that this place has been here forever, and they benefit from many, many return customers ranging from families, to couples on dates, to the boys hanging out at the bar. I love places like this! On the Saturday afternoon (about 4pm) which we were there, the place was packed the entire time we dined. Anytime a few tables opened up, they filled up within 5-10 minutes time. Their staff is as friendly and attentive as could be, which I love.
We had a large pizza with italian beef and sweet peppers, some french fries, a couple of beers, some soft drinks and some hot peppers on the side. Even with the Italian beef and peppers, the pizza was really crispy and tasted pretty good! I was a little hesitant - beef on a pizza?? But I really liked it and pigged out!!
The fries were ok, nothing to write home about. I wish I had tried a few more of their sides, and plan to when I return with more people to share.
This place is the type of retro-cool, neighborhood joint that everyone should support instead of the McDonalds of the world. I for one plan on returning and putting my diet aside (small sacrifice, mind you) to support Vito & Nick's cause I already know, next pizza will be 1/2 veggie just for me! -
Review from Michael B.
Chicago, IL
1/19/2012
Absolutely delicious. Best thin crust pizza that I've had in a long time. Crispy on top and on bottom but not crunchy. Fantastic sausage. What the service lacks in hustle, they more than make up for in friendliness.
I blame some of the negative reviews here on the reviewers. You saw it on a tv show about DIVES and then you were disappointed by the cleanliness and service? That's on you buddy. -
Review from F D.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
My friend and I went on a Sunday afternoon. It wasn't crowded and it was about 2pm. Our first sign that this was going to be bad, was a couple at a neighboring table had two large pizzas of which they had only eaten a few slices of each. They got up to leave and left both pizzas on the table and took nothing home - hmmmmm. We then waited well over an hour for our large pizza. When it finally came, we were disappointed by the weak crust that couldn't hold the toppings. All in all, I haven't been back and don't intend to.
-
Review from Jennie T.
10/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Tip #1: Don't order water. Bad idea. Their water tasted like pizza. Yuck.
DO order a beer. The small 12" pizza is enough for a small party of two plus a plate of appetizers.
My friend and I ordered a basket of garlic bread. It was pretty good. For our pizza, we ordered the sausage with mushrooms and basil. Yum!! I loved it! Best thin crust pizza in Chicago? Ok, I'll give you that until I've had better. -
Review from Jamie S.
Hoffman Estates, IL
1/2/2012
WOW, we just checked this place out recently after leaning about it on Dinners, Drive-ins, and Dives on the Food Network. Aside from having to wait a while this was one of the best thin crust pizzas my wife and I have had!
-
Review from Frank C.
Bloomingdale, IL
10/24/2011
If you like flat greasy pizza, this is it. This is the best Ive tasted. They cut them in small sqaures so you can eat about 30 of em. Go there, you wont regret it.
Update: Just went back. The food club polished off 6 large pizza's between 7 of us and one was a women. Damn we can eat.
Frank Campeglia (The Food Club) -
Review from Steve L.
Madison, WI
9/21/2011 2 photos
I was in Chicago doing some shopping when the urge for thin crust pizza struck. And for those who've been bitten by that bug, you know that once it sinks its cracker-thin fangs into your skin, there's no shaking it.
While making the 35+ minute drive from downtown to the southwest side, I passed countless places that offered stuffed, pan style, and traditional pizza... but I had thin crust on the mind, and I was on a mission.
I drove through some seedy neighborhoods, praying that my GPS wasn't directing me to an unfortuante fate. And then I saw it - like a light at the end of a tunnel; Vito & Nick's shined brightly from the corner of Pulaski and 84th. Ahh.
I grabbed a seat at the bar, ordered an Old Style (on tap), a Diet Pepsi, and asked for a menu. The Bears/Saints beating (I mean "game") was playing on the TV, so the bartender handed me a menu without diverting his gaze from the TV.
I browsed the options and decided on a sausage and onion pie. The order went in, and I sipped my Old Style while watching the game. A few locals were sitting around the bar, and most were sharing negative comments about the plight of the Bears season for this year.
My pizza arrived after about 20-25 minutes of waiting, and I was eager to sink my teeth into the steaming-hot pizza. But the roof of my mouth begged for a moment of pause. I carefully separated a few of the piping hot, square-cut, cheese-drenched pieces to allow for some cooling. I sat and stared at them; hints of saliva lustily pooled on the corners of my lips.
After what seemed like an eternity (in reality I waited through a GEICO commercial), I dug-in.
Wow. This was worth the 175-mile drive alone. The crust was thin, slightly chewy, perfectly charred on the edges, and featured that almost sandy-like cornmeal dusting on the bottom.
The sauce was slightly sweet with a good flavor of tomatoes; a hint of oregano was also detected.
The cheese was so hot that it was almost molten - it literally soaked the pizza crust, yet was thin and definitely not overwhelming. Cheese-lovers take note - you may want to double-up on the cheese.
The sausage and onions complimented the entire package. The sausage had just the right amount of fennel flavor; the onions were prefeclty translucent. WOW. WOW. WOW.
I think I made a scene while scarfing down the entire small pizza by myself; the bartender did a double-take as I was mauling the last piece. He walked over and said, "So, you didn't like it, eh?"
Drunk from pizza grease and cornmeal dust, I paid my $14.50 tab, rolled away from my barstool, and drove home in a post-coital state of euphoria.
Chicago, you are one lucky group of people.
Vito & Nicks = WIN
Service = 3 stars
Food = 4.75 stars (phenomenal pizza)
Value = 5 stars ($15 for pizza, tap, and soda)
MISC = 4.5 stars (loved the old school vibe/feel, crowd was nice)
Citizens of Chicago be warned - if you happen to see a cheesehead racing his way to South Pulaski and he appears to be rabid and full of pizza-lust, stay clear. I mean you no harm; I'm simply on my way for my pizza-fix. -
Review from john r.
Waukegan, IL
10/2/2011
Well this review is not about actually ordering/eating at Vito & Nick's - but is about their pizza. I was up at Woodman's grocery (Kenosha, WI) and happened across frozen Vito & Nick pizzas.
I picked up a frozen sausage/pepperoni - which cost $8 (also a sixer of New Glarus beer). When I arrived home, I immediately preheated the oven to 425, tossed the pizza directly onto the rack...and in 15 min started to chow down.
The ultra thin crust crisped up nicely, the toppings were very flavorful....pure deliciousness. I am currently thinking of driving up to Woodman's in order to stock up my freezer. This is one of the best frozen pizza that I have ever eaten - I can only imagine how wonderful it would taste directly from the oven while visiting Vito &Nick's. -
Review from Edward W.
10/4/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ate here again the other night while we were working. Four of us ate pizza and got a pitcher of pop. I think it's the best thin crust around. I always get onions and it's always great.
Come on Monday night for $1 drafts during the game.
I need to point out that when you eat here you take a step back in time. This place reminds me of my uncles bar in the middle of the block in South Chicago when I was a kid. It's not fancy but it is clean and just a great down to earth place. Although the bar is the predominate feature in the restaurant it's ok to bring the kids here and sit at a table.
Note to young urban professionals coming here for the first time. Wear a Bears or Sox shirt and have a beer. Watch the game and cheer for our teams. No matter how fancy you are, do this and you'll fit right in and have a great time. -
Review from Michael S.
Carol Stream, IL
12/18/2011
This is some of the best thin crust pizza I've ever had. It's extremely thin but doesn't lack in the taste department. I recommend the sausage over any other topping, even though Italian beef and giardiniera was excellent. The bar offers $1 Old Style drafts but they're only about 8oz. It's definitely worth trying especially if you're a fan of very thin pizza.
-
Review from Dave S.
La Grange, IL
6/20/2011
My wife and I are fans of thin crust pizza and after we heard about Vito and Nick's on the food network we knew we would have to make the thirty minute drive to give it a try. V & N's did not disappoint, we loved the their thin crust pizza. The crust was very thin and cracker-like on the bottom and just slightly burned around the edges the way we like it.
This place also has an interesting air to it. Shag carpet on the walls and our waitress looked like she may have been waiting tables during the Capone era. Overall if you are into thin crust pizza this is a great place to go. -
Review from Jaison C.
Chicago, IL
6/1/2011 6 Check-ins Here
Having grown up a mere walking distance from this iconic pie manufacturing joint, I felt you may feel as though my review may be a bit biased. I promise you it is not and here is why: I eat deep dish, stuffed, pan, and thin crust pizza. I've eaten at pizza joints all over Chicago and in 7 different states. I have also eaten pizza in Germany, India, and numerous cities in Canada as well. Now onto the review.
First and foremost, this is a pizza joint established in the '50s, and according to the many elders that dine there, nothing has changed. The decor is the same, the pizza is the same, and there is a server who's been there for 50+ years. Service can be slow at times, but you come here to experience the notoriety of their thin crust pies. Not just just thin though, this is paper thin. Light and crispy and full of goodness. They don't skimp the toppings and the sauce is sweet and zesty.
I know service and decor can hamper a person's experience, but this pizza is really that damn good. This is a Southside staple I urge you to try, bring some friends too. Large pizza + a pitcher of beer + large waffle fries feeds 3 people for about $30. For this pizza, I'd happily pay $30 alone. Enjoy. -
Review from Alba R.
11/3/2011 1 Check-in Here
Delicious local joint! I agree, the thin crust pizza is highly recommended!
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Review from Cara T.
Chicago, IL
5/1/2011
I like the feel better than I like the food. I love the lights on the bar. Our waitress was very friendly. I love that you order a "pitcher of pop." Vito and Nick's is charming. We had the cheese sticks to start. They took quite a while to come out, and they weren't anything special. For pizza, we had a large pepperoni. It was pretty good thin crust pizza. Greasy, but the crust was good. I thought it would be more flavorful, but it was just standard. I guess I should have tried something a little more adventurous, but I thought an old standard sounded good.
Service was friendly, but on the slow side, food was just A-OK, but its a cool little place...glad I didn't miss it.
Cash only, so remember to hit the ATM beforehand... -
Review from Jason A.
Chicago, IL
3/23/2011
One of the best thin crust pizzas I've ever had. Hot, crispy, plenty of cheese, great sauce. This might be the absolute best thin crust there is! Definitely the cheapest when compared to pizzas of comparable quality.
So why the 4 stars?
It's not because it's cash only, it's not because there's no free refills on pop, it's not because it's always loud, it's not even because the walls are carpeted in brown: it's because the service SUCKS. My wife can't have pop or alcohol, so she ordered a water. Apparently this upset the waitress to the point that she gave her the water in what was probably the smallest cup available, it was gone in before we ordered our pizza. After our appetizer was brought, she waited until our pizza came to refill the water.
After we ate our pizza, we spent twenty (I checked my watch) 20 minutes, waiting for the bill. We saw her take other orders, we saw her deliver food, we saw her sit and chat with the bartender. We finally went up and asked the person who seemed to be in charge for the bill, only to be told that we have to wait for the waitress to bring it! So we stood at the bar and waited for the waitress to walk out. She said she'd total it and bring it right over. We waited another 15 minutes! Yes, literally 15 more minutes for our bill!
The pizza here is so damn good it's ridiculous, but the service sucks so bad, that we only go here a few times a year. I almost took 2 stars off for the service, but the pizza was too good to give it a bad rating.
If you don't mind waiting almost an hour after you're done eating to leave, this is a 5-star place for you! But, if you're a grad student with a full-time job and you spend most of your time working and doing homework, drive to simply slices in Crestwood, the pizzas not quite as good, but they're fast, friendly, and they have a drive-thru window! -
Review from Stephanie B.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
4/21/2011
Well, it was time to go home from vacation, but not without one more dining adventure. I called in the order to Vito & Nick's from I-55. Fair warning, if you are from out of town, this is close to Midway Airport, but it is a long way from I-55. We arrived about 20 minutes later than I had intended, but our piping hot small Italian Beef Pizza and Salad with Garlic Sauce were ready to go.
Now, I am giving this place five stars, because it is a screaming deal, the folks are friendly, and the pizza is awesome even after I was 20 minutes late picking it up, returned the rental car, went to the restroom and got through security. Because the pizza had been through so much before I finally opened the box, I unfortunately did not experience that crisp crust (I should have opened the box immediately for this - c'est la vie). However, it is awesome. Great thin crust, topped with amazing tomato sauced, thinly sliced and well seasoned beef and a perfect amount of cheese. If I am back in Chicago, this will be my first stop. I want it hot next! Even the salad was good. I mean, it is standard restaurant chopped iceberg, but the garlic dressing was amazing. If you can get this whenever you want, and for $14, lucky you! I am certainly jealous. -
Review from Connie L.
Round Lake, IL
4/13/2011
Love anything with an egg in it.
Breakfast pizza was so good with the fried pepporini!
Great the next day warmed up too!!
yum!! -
Review from Matthew M.
Champaign, IL
10/5/2011
Every time I'm in Chicago, I always order a thin crust pizza to go. They do a great job! I've never had a bad pizza from this place. A great down to earth family owned business. So many pizza places in Chicago, this one is definitely one of the best for thin crust pizzas!
-
Review from Julia M.
Hingham, MA
5/7/2011
My friend and I were there today (Saturday) at 4pm. The bar had only two patrons, and half the tables were full. We noticed a lot of people with no food on the table, so we knew there was a problem with getting orders out to the customers. They open at 11am, so it's not like they just started seating people for the day.
We ordered the Round The World special, and it took an hour to get our pizza. Thin crust? Really? An hour? There were not that many people there. Good thing we ordered the wing zings so we had something to eat. The wings were small and unremarkable. This might not be a fair assessment coming from me after I experienced real Buffalo Wings in Buffalo last week. But they were pretty dinky.
I saw on tv how they made their dough, and I wondered how it would taste since the woman poured milk in the mixer. I don't know many Italians that put milk in their pizza dough. It was shocking that thin crust can be so chewy and tough when it was thoroughly cooked. The sauce has the taste of an ingredient that I cannot identify. Whatever it is, it doesn't strike me as being right. The sausage has no fennel, and over all, the pizza lacked taste. I never salt my pizza. This one needed salt and Parmesan cheese. Lots of it.
A tasteless, hard to chew pizza, for $20. Not my idea of good pizza. There are many other places around the south side and wait would be 20-30 minutes. -
Review from Jennifer A.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2011
So after watching Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives, I had to check this place out.
Details, details:
Parking lot and plenty of street parking
Cash only
Small and Large only
This is thin crust at its best! Who puts beef on a pizza, they do and it is so yummy. The pizza is not too saucy, not too dry.
Since it is thin crust beware of all the extra pieces you will be eating...go with a large! -
Review from Tommy H.
Chicago, IL
4/16/2011
I've been to this one 3 or 4 times not but choice. But all in all the service was typical southside kindness. Nothing to complain about there, same goes with price, you pay for what you get. I can see why som people complain because the service is slow, but you can only crank out so many pies at a time.
The reason I give it such a low rating, is the consistency of the pizza is below average. Two times I get greasy pies that I could ring out more than a Fox's pizza. Another time it was cooked so long the edges were not edible the last time we ate there the pie was good. The flavor is okay, I would not put there thin crust pizza on the same level is Roseangela's but everyone has a different taste.
But all in all this place is a pass. You pay for what you get cheap pizza, for a cheap price. -
Review from Jay N.
Lombard, IL
11/30/2010
When it gets busy, parking is pretty limited. It's easy to find on Pulaski. The inside decor is an old school lounge with a big bar. Cash only.
Nothing is pre-made when you put in your order but they are pretty fast at what they do. They're also really good about doing half orders as they don't charge extra or make it a hassle. This is the classic cracker crust that I never really want to have, but I always seem to enjoy immensely. Looking at the overly melted cheese, I also expect to dislike the cheese, but there is something about chewing the cheese instead of having long strands that makes me want to have another "burnt" cheese piece.
It's not the best pizza I've ever had nor do I put it on some ranking, but I would never refuse a piece of their pizza! -
Review from Fredo B.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
2/18/2011
Madon' I've had pizza all over da city of Chicago thin crust and deep dish and this by far is the best pizza hands down. Thin crust, tasty sausage and great prices. Plus the bonus is you gotta have a few pitchers of Old Style.
If you disagree with me I'll snap your neck like a celery stick. -
Review from Mike S.
Wheaton, IL
3/31/2011
I first heard of V&N's after watching Triple D. Some friends and I were in the area and decided to stop by for dinner. We got there around 5:30 in the evening and the place was packed. Since we were an hour from home the 30 minute wait to be seated did not bother us. There was a group of 12 people ahead of us that once seated, sped things up.
As expected we were seated around 6 and placed our order. The 4 of us ordered a large pizza, wings, fries, and garlic bread. It took us about 10 minutes to get our drinks. Our drink order wasn't too complex, a pitcher of soda, a coke and a water.
Compared to other pizzerias the drinks were tiny and the lack of free refills wouldn't have been a big deal if it didn't take an hour and a half to get our pizza.
Yes, we waited an hour and a half for one pizza. There were two larger parties sitting around us that received, and ate, 10 pizzas in the time it took us to get one.
So how was the pizza? Average at best. There wasn't much flavor and the dough was boring. I was raised on thin crust pizza and this just doesn't compare. If the pizza was better than it was I wouldn't have been so disappointed after waiting an hour and a half while rationing my drink. We didn't even get our pitcher of water refilled.
I can't see myself making another drive to Vito & Nick's when I can get better pizza, and faster service with free refills closer to home. -
Review from Greg D.
Fort Wayne, IN
4/8/2011
Much like others, we found this place on D/D/D, and we really enjoyed it. We had pizza, garlic bread, and some moz sticks - really enjoyed them all! My family really enjoys thin and crispy pizza crust, so this was right up our alley. If you are a fan of UNO's or Gino's, this is not your kind of place.
Only went with four stars due to service - we dined there twice, and it was really two different experiences. Our first visit was nice, but the service was very slow, and our server was in way over her head. Our second visit was amazing - our server was very attentive, we never went without drinks, and when we did need to flag her down for something, she was at our table right away.
Also - CASH ONLY, but not a big problem, as the prices are very reasonable.
I don't live in the area, but will try to find a way to get to this place whenever I'm in town. -
Review from Nisey M.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2010
There is a reason why there is only one location...this place is one of a kind. Thin crispy deliciousness in every bite of the yummy pizza that was ordered. If you live in the city of Chicago...taking a trip to this place is a good idea.
The burgers and sandwiches are huge and delicious also...the italian beef combo is friggin huge...now that's amore!! -
Review from Brian C.
11/28/2010
Delicious thin crust (N&V special,) $1.00 Old Style draft every day, $2.00 Schlitz bottles every day. You can't beat that. Enough TVs that you can watch the offerings no matter where you sit.
CASH ONLY -
Review from Max C.
Naperville, IL
9/7/2011
My brother and I have been coming here since seeing it on Triple D. We found the place charming, the pizza delicious and the beer cheap. The carpeting on the men's bathroom ceiling added a nice touch. We also loved it when the bartender told us she was either roofied or drank too much the night before. We asked where she was the night before, her answer: 'here". Also, you can't beat a place with it's own parking lot in Chicago
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Review from Daphne L.
8/11/2010
I couldn't decide between 3-4 stars for this review, but I'm in a good mood so I decided to be generous. We finally made it to Vito & Nick's. It's good pizza, really good pizza. It's exactly like the pizza I grew up eating: Italian Fiesta. Exact same type of crust, exact same type of sauce, exact same type of pizza. That's partly why I thought about giving this joint 3 stars, but, the pizza really is good.
We went Sunday afternoon an had to wait just a few minutes for a table, as there was a baby shower going on. Our waitress was very sweet, and somehow picked up on the fact that we were first timers, and I thought it was nice of her to make suggestions, etc. We ordered 2 pizzas- sausage and Italian beef, and a pitcher of Old Style. I was really excited to try the pizza with egg and crispy peperoni, but you can only get the egg on Fridays.
The pizza is great and just the way I like it: thin, crisp, not too heavy on the sauce. I guess I expected to be blown away by something new, but again, I grew up eating this type of pizza. It was so delicious that we ate almost all of both. I highly recommend the Italian beef!
So, will we go back? Yes, no question. The pizza is great, the Old Style is cold, and the prices are low. It's a long way for us to go, but the shag carpet on the walls make it worth it! -
Review from Jean C.
11/3/2010
I have to say I really enjoyed Vito and Nick's. It's just the sort of 1950s/60s era pizzeria that makes me all nostalgic. Yes, there is carpeting on the walls, paneling, too. The pizza is classic thin crust, cut into teensy squares, and it tastes just like I remember pizza tasting when I was a kid. It smells like pizzerias used to smell! And it was jammed. We ended up sitting way in back where there was one concession to the fact that we're now living in the 21st century; a big-screen TV was tuned to the Blackhawks opener. (I have to admit that I got fairly verklempt seeing Stan Mikita skate out in his old jersey.)
Vito and Nick's doesn't just serve up good, reasonably priced thin crust pizza, it serves up an experience. Go, enjoy yourself. Remember the good old days. -
Review from John M.
Chicago, IL
10/18/2010
Went there the other night expecting their usual solid pizza eating axperience.
Insted, I was treated to an extended wait for a waitress as five of them walked by repeatedly. Finally had to stand up and stand in frony of the hostess and ask for a waitress.
This may have led to the next part of this diasterous eating experience, but both of the pizzas ordered arrived COMPLETELY overcooked, and the pizza cutter must have been blind becaue many of the slices of pizza were no bigger than postage stamps.
Sorry to say, but I think that Vito and Nicks has finally jumped the shark, and is now officially in decline.
I gave them two stars instead of the one they deserved for old times sake. too bad, they were one of the greats -
Review from Andy P.
Andover, MN
3/20/2011
We ate here on our way through Chicago based on some good Yelp reviews. I'm a big fan of thin crust pizza, so it seemed like a good fit.
For just dropping in on the place out of the blue, it wasn't a bad experience. It was relatively clean and hardly anyone else there (it was Sunday afternoon). You can't beat $1 draft beers either!
I was a little underwhelmed by the pizza though. We probably should have tried the sausage, but didn't. Instead we ordred a pepperoni and a ground beef with onions. The pizza was okay, but fairly bland. We have several places in suburban Minneapolis that make a tastier pizza. -
Review from Tory w.
9/19/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I grew up on the South Side of Chicago and to this day one of my favorite all time memories is of Monday night family pizza night at my grandpa's house. While our pizza establishment of choice is no longer in existence, I have discovered its equal in Vito and Nick's. I have had many an argument with my fellow Chicagoans of what, exactly, constitutes a true Chicago pizza. We are known for our deep dish, but any Southsider will tell you that thin crust pie is where it's at. Don't do fancy toppings here. You'll ruin it. Sausage and cheese is the only way to go. If you're a vegetarian, go for plain cheese, maybe with mushrooms. Save your garlic/tomato/olive cravings for California Pizza Kitchen, and get out of the South Side.
The only thing not perfect about my Vito and Nick experience is that my own stomach was too small to continue eating and eating and eating and inhaling.......
Tell me what is not perfect about:
the staff, while not waiting tables, had their own table and were mingling with the clientele and enjoying their very own 'za...
the carpeted walls, hideous tri-colored ceiling lights, blue twinkle lights above the bar, and gold flecked table tops with turquoise blue booths...
the delicious herb-y aroma that greets you as soon as you step out of your car...
the Saltine-thin, perfectly crispy crust, and sweet, basil/oregano infused tomato sauce, counteracted by the slightly spicy sausage and greazy cheese, and cut into squares, as all pizza should be...
Lee the waitress (if you've been there, you'll know)...
if you have leftovers, (shame on you), the waitress will give you very specific instructions on how to re-heat so as to not lose the flavor and crispiness...
ridiculously low prices...
in the background, the twangy accent that only people from the Southside of Chicago can claim, music to my ears and a reminder of my youth...
like I said, the only non -perfect thing about Vito and Nick's is the fact that I have a pitifully human-sized stomach, and had to stop eating after a mere half a pie.... -
Review from Aaron L.
Chicago, IL
2/8/2011
3* Italian Beef & Giardiniera Pizza
2* Cheese Pizza -
Review from FakeName G.
Evanston, IL
11/8/2010
Excellent thin-crust...the best I ever had! EVERYONE...You must try this pizza. Worth the drive from whatever side of town you live on.
I always ordered deep dish pizza, but now prefer Vito & Nicks (The Original). Give it a try and you will be hooked too. -
Review from R O.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2011
This place used to be great. It used to have the best sausage pizza in Chicago. Now... now it's pretty run of the mill. So sad.
However, the prices are great, and even if it isn't the best deal in Chicago, it's still a great deal. -
Review from Mary B.
Chicago, IL
7/25/2011
Definitely enjoyed our experience, particularly friendly waitstaff and vintage interior, however not quite worth a major detour as there are plenty of great pizza spots throughout city. Liked it, but to me, not worth a major drive to south side.
-
Review from Joi B.
4/13/2010 1 Check-in Here
It's probably no secret I come from 2 generations of born/bred New Yorkers (Brooklyn/Queens). I cut my teeth on pizza. My earliest memories are of wiping off all the cheese and sauce off a slice, so I was possibly born a crust connoisseur. Look, New Yorkers know their pizza. It's like Kansas City people knowing their BBQ. It's like New Orleans folks knowing their gumbo.
Perhaps that explains my utter disdain for what passes for pizza 'round most of the country (the popular chains, that is. Papa WTF, Pizza Slut and the like). Being that my family is descended from Sicily, they like their pies with a thick crust. Now, that's not the same as Chicago deep dish, rather, it's a square pie with a crust about an inch thick, but not tons of cheese and toppings carved into the center. Whaddya want? It's Sicilian?!
That said, I've since become obsessed with getting pizza that is the thinnest crust possible, like my favorite Brooklyn Brick/Coal oven joints, Kenny's, Fornino, Grimaldi's and the like. It all started with a few trips to Naples (my Sicilian Grandma would be rolling in her grave right about now). I never would be the same again. Sorry Aldo's in Queens, New York, with your perfect Sicilian pies.
*That* said, I decided upon my first trip to Chicago, I'd go for the damn deep dish I had been hearing about forever. Truth be told, I tried Uno's a number of years ago and liked it fine. Nothing to write home about, but nothing to hate, either (and now, surely my Sicilian grandma is kicking the top of her coffin open and clawing her way up to the surface).
But, I didn't. And, I'm glad. Thank you, Johnny T for bringing me to Vito & Nick's.
V&N serves up a paper thin crust pie. It is...phenomenal. As is the atmosphere, which reminds me of a long-gone mom & pop operation in Williamsburg, Bklyn known as Milo's, which was owned and operated for 80 years by the same family. The waitress was married to the cook and they were both close to 100 years old, I think. And the place looked like it hadn't been remodeled since it was "modernized" in 1975. The waitress would serve your pie and then the cook would come out and ask if it was OK and thereby piss his wife, the waitress, off because, "He should stay where he belongs...in the kitchen."
Vito and Nick's is so authentic, it brings a tear to my eye. This isn't about Chicago, this isn't about NY. Hell, this isn't about Naples nor Sicily. This is about the collective pizza unconscious, authentic pizza with soul. Fuck the so-called rivalry. It's just what it is.
I think I ate about a yard of that pie. And I am still savoring it.Listed in: Pizza, Pizza, I adore ya, 3 days/3 nights in Chicago
