blackthorn pub and pizza

we triedblackthorn because of a recommendation and we like trying new places, especially within the city.  all four of us were very disappointed in the "chicago style" pizza.  i love pizza - any pizza, thin crust, new york style, cicago style, even frozen pizza.  this was the worst pizza i've ever had.  it was not even close to a chicago pizza and the spices in the (brown) sauce overpowered the taste of everything.  the pub, itself, was fun and i loved the neighborhood feel of it but will not be back to eat.

notice a disturbing trend on my blog lately?  where are all the dive bars ?  i had noticed that too and choseblackthorn pub to help balance things out. great dive bar style curb appeal.blackthorn pub is a true dive bar.  it’s slightly dirty and run down, but all in an inviting way.  there is nothing pretentious about this place at all!  black thorn specializes in pizzas; they offer thin and pan crusts as well as a chicago style pie.  as ablackthorn virgin, i decided to try the style i have heard the most about: chicago!  i chose three of my standard toppings: pepperoni, mushrooms, and onion. once i had ordered with the bartender, i took a spot at the corner of the bar with an adult beverage to pass the time.  trust me, you may need a few to pass the time; it took well over an hour to get our pizza.  not a big deal for me since i was in no hurry and had good company.  even if i had gone alone, the people watching at theblackthorn is top-notch and the other patrons were friendly.

call in before you arrive. you know those nights you don't want to get "dressed" for dinner,blackthorn is the place to go. i would rate the look and feel "lower" than a dive bar. come as you are, and you will fit in just fine. if you have a drive and know the menu- they will start your pizza before you arrive to reduce that hour long cook time. ripped bench seats, styrofoam plates, plastic forks = all part of the fun that you will not get anywhere else in stl. take a risk- the pizza is amazing!

not #1 but it's up there.. we liked the pizza, music and atmosphere. we were there on a week night and it wasn't busy. the sauce has quite a lot ofblackpepper and herbs in it, which was surprising but pretty good. they use styrofoam plates and plastic utensils and cups. you seat yourself, then go up to the bar and order. strictly comparing pizza, we still prefer dewey's, though i like the dive bar feel ofblackthorn better, so it'll be hard to decide where to take our out-of-town friends next time we have a group to entertain.

one of the first pizza joints i tried when i first moved to st. louis wasblackthorn pub.  i was told they had great deep dish.  not having spent any time in chicago at that point, i didn't quite understand that whileblackthorn does have deep dish, it's definitely not chicago style.  however, if you like cheese...and i mean really like cheese, thenblackthorn's deep dish will have you begging for more....though probably not more than a couple pieces.

pizza pizza!. the best place to get deep dish pizza in stl.blackthorn definitely has a certain ambiance and culture of it's own -- the culture of the local pub. i'd go back again, and again, and again. also, the night i was there the chef offered me a pizza at half price that had been made, but not picked up. great customer service -- made this chicago girl fee right at home :)

chicago style "stuffed" pizza doesn't necessarily have a double crust, butblackthorn bakes a good pie! great crust and a zesty sauce

worth the wait. we couldn't not try a place that seems so proud of a long wait time. when does that happen? but the deep dish atblackthorn is definitely worth the wait. call ahead, then show up ten minutes early to get a drink at the bar and check out the delicious dive-bar decor.
best part: the pizza
worst part: the wait, so plan ahead

gamer. i like going toblackthorn pub to hang out & eat great pizza! i go there with my boyfriend & we order a couple beers and play games while we wait for our pizza. we play air hockey & shuffle board while we wait...it makes for a great evening.

the post dispatch has their heads up their butts. they love writing about the trendy spots and rarely tell you how it really is.blackthorn is okay. it's a nice change. by no means does it taste like a chicago pie. it's a good crust. the sauce is over seasoned but it has a nice spicy flavor. the toppings is where they fall short. they tasted frozen. i would rate it a 6 out of 10. the atmosphere is fun so that helps. it's a bar so don't start whining because you have to serve yourself. balducci's in maryland heights still has the best chicago pie around.

4.5 stars - dive bar serving awesome pizza!blackthorn pub is a great dive bar that doubles as a fantastic pizza joint or maybe it’s a pizza joint that doubles as a dive bar...you make the call. if you are looking for a nice pizza restaurant with sup