Spuntino Pizza — Restaurant in Norwood Park Township

To clarify, I am not a local but am an avid pizza enthusiast. While I would typically dismiss Chicago-style deep-dish pizza as a casserole, I must set aside my personal biases for this occasion. This establishment surpasses traditional deep-dish pizza in its innovation.

I had the opportunity to try two distinct dishes. Firstly, I sampled their pizza puff, a culinary innovation that has gained popularity in Chicago. This deep-dish pizza pocket, characterized by its size and filling, is a Chicago specialty that has been adapted into a restaurant dish. The texture of the pizza puff is a delightful combination of baked and fried elements, encased in a flavorful meaty pizza filling. This particular establishment’s pizza puff surpasses my previous experience, potentially surpassing even the first place I visited.

Secondly, I indulged in two slices of a customized deep-dish pizza designed to resemble a Margherita pizza. This dish was meticulously crafted to showcase the freshest ingredients, including sauce, cheese, and vegetables. The crust was exceptionally crunchy and buttery, and the dish was not excessively oily, unlike some other establishments. This deep-dish pizza struck a perfect balance, providing an authentic deep-dish experience.

We ordered the pizza for pickup before embarking on our long drive east to New York. While this establishment served as a parting gift for me and my friends, they were so impressed that they encouraged me to return. I eagerly anticipate...

As a first time diner, I discovered at least five reasons to love Spuntino Pizza: It is a one-of-a-kind intro to "deep dish" for any out-of-town visitor. Literally count-your-steps distance from the Marriot across the street, and minutes from O'Hare, the location is surprisingly spot-on. Every staff member, including Nick, the establishment's proprietor, is out on the floor helping to make everyone's experience top-notch, from great phone service when checking if they had a table available, to friendly smiles upon entry, to filling soft drinks to our hearts' contentment. The Pizza (duh!) is simply outstanding. We got the meat lovers thin and a sausage stuffed, along with a wedge salad. The sauce is flavorful without being sweetened, the sausage is plump and savory, the crust is substantial but not trying to be the main feature, and finally, the cheese is gooey, stretchy, fluffy and lip-smacking. Above-mentioned soft drinks are bottomless in-shop, and a great beer selection (I recommend the $8 Crispy Boy tallboy by Alarmist) I won't hesitate to pick-up or have these pies delivered, but the dining room is like an insiders' delight from the first visit. The small, family-styled atmosphere makes you feel like you walked into a private clubhouse and you're a VIP...

You know how you imagine going to Chicago and getting pizza, and it FEELING like you're in Chicago getting pizza?? This place. Out of all the pizza joints in Chicago I've been to (I.e. popular downtown places), this one is hands down my all-around fav. From attentive customer service to fantastic deep dish pizza...this place is a must if you're looking for an authentic Chicago experience.

When my boyfriend and I ordered a medium, the owner Nick came out and advised us to get a small because he knew it would be way too much food for us...we appreciated the advice! And we still had leftovers with the small!

Nick is an awesome guy who runs a great ship. Don't miss out on experiencing this little pizza joint for yourself, especially if you're traveling out of O'Hare, which is super close.

Thanks for the great Chicago experience and delicious pizza...