Pequods Pizza (Chicago, IL - Lincoln Park)

As a Chicago pizza freak, born and bred, it’s very rare when I find a pizza that is like nothing I’ve had in the great city before. I mean seriously, I’ve made it my young adult life’s goal to eat as much pizza as humanly possible, especially when I get a chance to head home to the Windy City. That being said, I find it very alarming when multiple people tell me about a place I “have to try” that I haven’t even heard of.

This was the case with Lincoln Park’s own Pequods pizza. This summer I had a few friends tell me on multiple occasions that I needed to try this place out. So naturally the first chance I got I hopped on a train, called a posse of pizza lovers, and headed to the restaurant. Let me tell you, I was NOT disappointed.

First and foremost, Pequods embodies the environment you want when looking for a think Chicago slice. Dark, but not too dark, there’s neon Old Style beer signs, somewhat off the beaten path but not impossible to find – you get the idea. The bar had a great selection, plenty of seating during a busy lunch rush, and welcoming staff. That’s all great, right? But, what about the ‘ZA?!?!

Well, the pizza was stellar. The sauce, sweet and tangy but not overbearing. It’s obviously made in house, likely using fresh vegetables. There’s a great combination of flavors mixed with the tomato that do a great job of complimenting the product as a whole. Cheese is make or break with me, and they didn’t disappoint. Great and stringy mozzarella, not from a bag or over produced. Literally my only critique of this place is that I wish there was a better cheese/sauce ratio. I could have used a bit more sauce, and a few more scoops of cheese.

Here’s the kicker though, the crust! Pequods preaches a caramelized crust which absolutely sparked my interest. The crust was tasteful, flavorful, and not overly bready. It had a body of it’s own and provided the perfect canvas for the pizza to be built on top of. A hint of cornbread to make the crust worthwhile of being eaten on it’s own. The edges covered in a caramelized cheese that creates an entirely different adventure that you get to embark on at the end of every slice. Let me tell you, this crust was something else.

Pequods isn’t what I would call the most traditional of Chicago Style Pizza joints as far as their recipe goes. However, they have an original and unique take on a classic that is absolutely worth checking out. A fantastic environment in a cool neighborhood – Pequods is a place for pizza lovers to find a new flavor and a comfortable place to enjoy a slice with friends. 

*Check the dope lunch special - $4.95 for a 7" one topping pizza and a soda. 11am - 3pm Monday thru Friday.