Chicago's older everyday pizza: cracker-thin crust, edge-to-edge sausage and tomato, sliced into squares (party-cut) for sharing across a tavern table.

Chicago's tavern-style thin predates deep-dish by a generation. The cracker-crust, square-cut pizza emerged in the 1930s in neighbourhood taverns on the South and West sides, designed to be eaten standing up with one hand and a beer in the other. The hallmarks are uniform: a docked, rolled-out crust no thicker than three millimetres; a thin layer of tangy tomato sauce; a low-moisture cheese blend; and edge-to-edge fennel-sausage crumble. Vito & Nick's, in Ashburn since 1949, is the canonical reference, with Pat's Pizza in Lincoln Park and Marie's in Garfield Ridge as the contemporary picks. Locals order it party-cut.

3 editor picks for Tavern-cut thin pizza in Chicago, ranked by editorial score. All Chicago signature dishes · Tavern-cut thin pizza across every city.

Vito & Nick's Pizzeria ★ 4.4

$Tavern-cut Thin PizzaAshburn

Vito & Nick's in Chicago is the Ashburn tavern serving the canonical tavern-cut thin pizza on South Pulaski since 1949, family-owned across four generations.

OrderLarge sausage tavern thin, party-cut, with a side of giardiniera.

TipCash and the bar are the rhythm; first come first served. The kitchen closes at 22:00 sharp; arrive by 21:00.

DirectionsView

Bonci Chicago ★ 4.3

$$PizzeriaWest Loop

Bonci Chicago is Gabriele Bonci's West Loop pizza al taglio counter on Sangamon, the first US outpost of the Rome bakery, with rectangular pies cut by weight.

OrderMortadella and pistachio cream; potato and rosemary; whatever seasonal vegetable is current.

TipWalk up at 11:30 for the widest selection. By 14:00 the popular cuts are gone for the day.

DirectionsView

Pat's Pizza & Ristorante ★ 4.2

$$Tavern-cut Thin PizzaLincoln Park

Pat's Pizza in Chicago is the Lincoln Park tavern-cut thin room on Lincoln Avenue since 1950, with the cracker-crust pies locals send out-of-town visitors.

OrderMedium Pat's Special, party-cut; the meatball sandwich as a backup.

TipDelivery is the locals' move. The dining room is small, the carryout window quick.

DirectionsView

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