Have you ever been to a little hole in the wall pub in Chicago that has the BEST pizza you have ever had in your life, but the place only seats 20 people, so you have to get in there early or make a reservation? That's THIS place! Get there! NOW!
We ran into a guy in the grocery store who had just moved back to the Chicago area before we left and he recommended a few places for us to go to... This was one of them and we want to go back every week, like forever!
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We got seated faster than we originally expected because a few people were leaving the bar (yay)! They had 3 different kinds of cider, so I was pretty excited! We sat next to the perfect people because we ordered everything they had... Not because we're stalkers, I swear!
The boy doesn't eat salad unless it's a really good ceasar. This couple just finished a good looking one, so we looked it up. It was the Twisted Ceasar Salad with Balsamic and Flat Bread with Roasted Garlic and Crispy Panchetta... Yea, you try NOT to order THAT! It was amazing! When it came out, I swear, the two of us fought to inhale it! The balsamic added the perfect touch to their homemade dressing. The panchetta added just the right amount of saltiness. And the flat bread that was baked in their brick over was to die for! We saved half of it for leftovers! The roasted garlic was sweet and nutty.
So then that couple's pizza came out... It smelled all meaty and smokey. When we asked what it was they said it was the special and the couple next to them had ordered it (lol)! We ask our bartender and she said it was the Desperado (and has had various other names) with homemade thinly cut crispy pork belly (brined for 3 weeks), sweet Italian sausage, Spanish chorizo and San Marzano tomato sauce. Yes, we ordered it... It was sweet from the tomatoes & sausage and salty & smokey from the chorizo & pork belly. It was heaven in our mouths! We had 3 pieces left over to take back with the flat bread! Lunch the next day was fabulous!
While we were waiting for our salad we saw a guy in the back making handmade pasta... He was wearing (kid you not!) black & white striped pants, hoop earrings, and had a long grey bear... He was a pirate, no joke! We asked our bartender and she said oh that's the owner, Crazy Earl. HA! He came out to talk to us as the boy is a former chef and was interested in the homemade pork belly. Crazy Earl is awesome! The atmosphere in this place is great! The service was awesome!
I would recommend that you come visit the island just to eat here! No, seriously! read more