Pi-Hi Cafe — Restaurant in Lake View Township

My friend says I give way too many five stars (what can I say -- I have good taste and know where to go...) However, when I brought him to try the Mediterranean Pizza and the Spicy Chicken Shwarma plate, he was amazed. He would give this place a five star too. I think I saw his eyes roll to the back of his head because the food is so good.

The Mediterranean Pizza probably ranks as one of the best five pizzas I've ever had in my life. The wood fire makes all the difference. The dough is delicious, the meat is fresh and succulent, the sauce is slightly sweet, and the basil adds another level of freshness. I also enjoyed the chicken plate but not as much as the pizza because it was THAT good. I also enjoyed the falafal as well.

The owner is also super humble, very wise, and very passionate about his business. He gave us dolmas and baklava and the baklava BLEW me away. There's something so different about his baklava compared to the usually very, very sweet baklava that I usually have eaten.

Anyways, come and support this business! It's a fairly new one but definitely worth the trek from wherever you are. ORDER THE...

Overall: If you are looking for a fast and super casual lunch or dinner option, definitely grab some falafel at Pi-Hi.

The good: I'd guess to say this is probably the best falafel in the area. Not the best in the city by any means, but it's pretty freakin' good and comes out hot. The pitas that we got were stuffed to the brim (one broke) with hummus and veggies, and the sauces provided were creamy and spicy respectively. The portion sizes were filling and not too overwhelming, the menu is well-varied, and the prices are fitting for the quality and size you get.

The not-so-good: While the food was hot and fresh, it did take quite a bit to come out. For a "fast casual" experience, we were there for probably 40 minutes total. The atmosphere is lacking, with an absence of decoration, theme, and overall cleanliness. Not enough to sway you away per say, but it's not necessarily welcoming either. The cashier wasn't very conversational.

Atmosphere: 7.5/10 Service:...

The falafel was killer. The wood fired roasted garlic pizza with a crispy on the bottom, bubbly and soft on the top crust was delicious and loaded with garlic. The "godfather" panini did not skimp on the toppings. The beef kafta plate, was freshly cooked and the meat was hot off the grill.

Everything in this tiny little restaurant seems terrific, and the owner could not have been more friendly. Normally for an establishment like this, 4 stars might seem excessive but the customer service was legitimately so welcoming and warm, an additional star is required.

Oh, did I mention it's dirt cheap? Because yeah... it's dirt cheap. Not necessarily a destination restaurant, but if you are in Roscoe Village, and you're hungry, give...