Pizza By Sal — Restaurant in New Trier Township

We visited Pizza by Sal for the first time yesterday after hearing great things from our neighbors, and overall, it was a positive experience. The food was good, and we’d definitely order from here again.

We started with the chicken tenders, which were indeed tender—we could have gone for seconds. For the pizza, we opted for cheese, sausage, and mushrooms. It was enjoyable, though we think calling it NY style is a bit of a stretch; most wouldn’t notice unless they’re from NY like us. The pie was tasty, but it felt a bit salty, possibly due to the cheese or sauce. The crust was thin and foldable, striking a balance between crispy and soft.

We’re giving 4 stars for a couple of reasons. While the service was quick at first, it slowed down significantly when we waited about 20-30 minutes for our pizza. Our waiter seemed to forget about us, so we had to remind him.

Additionally, the prices felt high—$29 for a 16" pie with two toppings seemed steep, likely due to the "Wilmette effect." They claim to use high-quality ingredients, but inflation plays a role as well.

Lastly, the noise level increased significantly once families arrived with kids running around and using the arcade machines. We suggest the owners consider adding sound-absorbing materials to improve the dining experience. It doesn’t need to be silent, but a quieter atmosphere would be nice. Overall, it’s a place we’d return to, especially if they address...

Update Feb 16, 2023: the pizza has changed. It's now a thinner almost NY style. It's very good. Crust is great, ingredients tasty, solid solid pizza. Probably the best around Wilmette. Changing my score to 4 stars. Well done Sals!

Interested to know if you changed based on my advice or just a coincidence?

My old review from last year:

The pizza isn't horrible, but it's not good.

Here is how you 10x your pizza sales:

Google 'pizza near me' and see results. Look at the pizza place nearby that has the best reviews. Hint: It's Cantuccio in Evanston. Your score is a 3.9. Their score is a 4.9 which is a world of difference for Google business scores. Go buy their pizza. Eat their pizza and wonder, Hmmm 🤔 why is this better? Hint: It starts with the crust. They make your style but it's way better. Copy their pizza. Pro tip: Maybe even iterate and try and make it better, but you'll need real customer feedback.

Now once you've followed my steps. And it will work by the way. Send me a check for $10,000. The ROI will be amazing. You'll have the best pizza in Wilmette!...

Our first try here was when it was still new and takeout only. I wasn't that impressed. Our second try was recent, after they added a full service restaurant area. And I have to say, it's fun. The food is simple and really good. The pizzas are huge. The service is casual and friendly. It reminds me of old school pizza parlors- very kid friendly, with a couple of video/arcade games and TVs on the wall. I still think it's a bit overpriced and they close way too early (8pm!) but at the end of the night, in an effort not to waste food, they do give away the slices they have leftover. So, kudos for that. I recommend the Caesar salad and any pizza. They are all good. Wine by the glass is fairly inexpensive and decent. Desserts are all tasty and come from Buck Russell's. Be aware that if you are ordering online, there is a 3 percent surcharge. The nickel and diming is kind of offensive. The spaghetti sauce is...