vito & nick's pizzeria

they say vito and nick's is the king ofthincrust pizza done chicago-style. that certainly sounds intriguing. so, when i found myself on the south side with some friends this week, we decided to hit it up. the bar has been around for years, and that they

with roots in sicily, the story of vito & nick’s pizzeria starts around 1923, first a tavern and then another from vito barraco before the addition of pizza when son nick joined the business after being discharged from the us air force.

starting as thick squares, but eventually developing thethindough that typifies chicago’s signature “tavern style,” it is currently at 84th and pulaski that guests can experience what many consider to be one of chi-town’s best pies – a rumor undoubtedly benefited from guy fieri’s diners, drive-ins, & dives.

at this point a south side institution, and still operating at limited capacity amidst covid-19, guests visiting vito & nick’s can expect brusque greetings and cash-only sales, nick barraco’s 1965 quote that "we will never deliver, if they want a truly great pizza, they will come in for it" still standing today.

known for using housemade italian sausage and giardiniera, the latter with italian beef something of a signature, it was instead from a middle-age waitress who smelled of cigarettes that an $18.25 “half sausage/half cheese” was served, a slightly charred edge and plenty of herbs enjoyable though the crust was neither asthinor crackling as that of pat’s on north lincoln.

tastefully thin. if your athincrust fan, this is your place. it was not a cracker crisp crust like i was hoping for but tasty. the sliced beef they do is out of this world.
i tasted a typical pep pizza. their homemade sausage pizza. yes their sausage is amazing.
then of course their sliced beef with the gardineieres! all washed down with some tasty pbr!

our service was awesome. i suspected it not to be, happy to be wrong. our waitress provideded us with some laughs and kept our beverages full. as busy as this place was, i was impressed.

my only annoyance was a guy whom kept bumping into my chair while i was eating. its tight quarters! atmosphere was positive. seemed to be a good mom and pop place.

greatthincrust. i have gone to vito and nicks all my life being a life time member of the south side irish in chicago and always enjoy the pizza. i do not even bother with appetizers, or their other dinners and for heaven's sake forget the salad at this joint. save precious room in your stomach just for the pizza and beer. don't get me wrong i love my salads, but don't get them here...pizza is the name of the game here...and although i love stuffed pizza, and thicker crust pizza, this is my ultimate favoritethincrust pizza. you also can't beat the indoor 50's style decorations. from the tan carpeted walls, to the huge bars where hard working men and women sit, to the waitresses who probably came with the building....its all worth it. the waitresses are older and efficient...and very busy. forget about the chit chat and get your order in and start enjoying!! yummy....ill see you there!

thin crust that's worth the drive. i'm not the biggest fan ofthincrust but they do it right here. way, way, way off the beaten path but come on for an unforgettable pizza, friendly service, an unpretentious environment, and great prices.

all native chicagoans remember that cracker orthincrust pizza from the old neighborhood. for most of us they're gone. the west lawn neighborhood still has theirs and it's excellent. my coworkers and i try to make our way to vito and nicks at least once every two weeks. there's four in our group and we order our usual (3) large pizzas well done and don't trim the edges. bestthincrust on the southside!!!