Not your typical pizza spot
I had friends coming into town and we wanted to try something local in the Logan Square/Humboldt park area. They had heard good things about Bungalow by Middle Brow (2840 W. Armitage Ave.), and after seeing their thin crust pizza online, I was definitely interested.
First, I love pizza, but I'm a bit particular about cheese. Strong, heavy cheeses aren't really my thing, though I do love a good thin crust. We went on a Wednesday evening, and after not eating all day, I was ready for a great meal.
The space is beautiful. Bungalow has both indoor and outdoor seating, and on a warm Chicago evening (high 60s), the vibe was perfect. We arrived around 8 PM and hoped to sit out front, but they had stopped seating there. Still, we were seated in the bungalow area, which was just as nice.
Service was a highlight. Our waitress was warm, accommodating, and training someone new, who was also very kind and transparent about being in training, which I appreciated. I also loved that they said "cheers" every time they checked in or dropped something off. Small touch, but it added to the experience.
One important note: they only serve their thin crust pizza on Tuesdays. That was honestly the main reason I wanted to come, so it was a bit of a letdown. Also, this isn't a build-your-own pizza place, you're choosing from their curated wood-fired options via QR code.
We ordered a few pizzas: a meatball pizza, a mushroom-based pie, and I initially went with a simple cheese pizza with caramelized onions and mushrooms. When it arrived, it was topped heavily with Parmesan, which was a bit too much for my taste. The staff quickly accommodated me and switched it out for a simpler version (similar to a kids' cheese pizza) with the same toppings, which worked much better for me.
My friends enjoyed their pizzas. I don't eat pork, so I skipped the meatball pie, but they seemed happy with it. The mushroom pizza was interesting, almost had an Indian-inspired flavor profile, likely from the sauce and spices.
We also shared the jalapeño bread to start, which was warm and paired really well with the jalapeño sauce, definitely a standout. I had an old fashioned that was well-made, and my friend enjoyed their beer as well.
Overall, it was a solid experience. The staff handled our requests with patience and care, even when we had a lot of questions. Chicago has no shortage of pizza options, so it's worth noting that this is more of a niche, curated experience rather than a fully customizable one.
If you're looking for a traditional "build-your-own" pizza spot, this may not be it. But if you're open to trying something a little different in a great atmosphere, Bungalow by Middle Brow is worth checking out.
3.5 out of 5 stars. read more