Bartoli's Pizzeria & Catering - West Town — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

My review of Bartoli's focuses solely on their pizza, as my experience with the front house staff unfortunately left much to be desired. Despite the less-than-welcoming attitude of the staff, my encounter took a complete turnaround once I tasted their pizza.

Upon entering Bartoli's, I wasn't greeted, and the disinterested glances I received made me feel as though I had wandered into a foreign place. However, I was there with one goal in mind: to savor their much-talked-about pizza. After a less-than-pleasant interaction with the front house staff, I placed an order over the phone for a large sausage and jalapeno pizza.

The moment I took my first bite, any frustration from the earlier encounter melted away. I can unequivocally state that the pizza I had at Bartoli's stands as one of the best I've tasted in Chicago. From the savory sausage to the perfectly balanced heat of the jalapenos, each element was a harmonious symphony of flavors that left me speechless.

In a city known for its diverse pizza offerings, Bartoli's truly excels. The pizza I enjoyed lacked nothing. It was a complete and gratifying experience that highlighted the artistry and passion that goes into creating a remarkable pie.

While the front house staff's attitude left much to be desired, the shining star of my visit was undoubtedly the pizza. If you're willing to overlook the initial lackluster reception, the culinary journey that Bartoli's pizza offers is well worth the visit. If you find yourself craving a pizza that not only meets but exceeds your expectations, Bartoli's should be at the top...

Bartoli's deep dish may well be the best in Chicago. The sauce is perfection; with an amazing tang and only a hint of sweetness. It's like a rich, bold, 'Sunday Gravy' that the best Italian grandmas make, LOL. We got a simple sausage and pepperoni, and it had a perfect amount of meat. Sausage also had a nice spice blend going. The crust? Killer. Baked to perfection; with a buttery texture and slight flakiness. Crust on the bottom? Thick enough to withstand the onslaught of sauce, cheese, and toppings without getting too soggy.

Finally, and this is important, let's talk about juice. The biggest challenge with deep dish is getting as little juice as possible at the end of the bake. This is where Bartoli's knocks it out the park. Juice is minimal; which, if I had to guess, is mostly the result of that sauce. Instead of the watery, diced tomato sweet mess you find at other places, the sauce is thick. As everything bakes away in the oven, there's not much initial liquid going on... GENIUS!

We also got the thin crust alfredo with chicken, roasted peppers, and artichoke hearts. Incredible. The toppings, sauce, and cheese is not something they skimp on...this is very nearly a pan style pizza. Delicious.

This is a place that deserves some serious patronage. ...

My sister and I ordered a pizza to pick up a couple of nights ago. I waited at the counter for a few minutes and it started to feel long when Boss daddy came around the corner and told me the pizza had got stuck in the pan. Whatever, human error. It happens. He remedied the situation right away by swearing he would hand deliver the pie as soon as it was ready and throw in desserts or whatever I liked. I agreed and gave him the address and I told him we were located in Little Village and it would be a drive but he was insistent on making it right, which I love. Although he had offered dessert, I had my eye on a hot n ready slice and I thought, just ask him. So I did. He ordered his young cashier guy to throw the rest of that pie into the oven and give me the whole thing! I was tickled. While I waited for the pizza to warm up, a man from the back of house called to the front to say he had salvaged the original pizza. Now, I figured this pizza was probably a little mangled but I hate wasting food and imperfection is perfection. I figured I would not get the desserts any longer and thought I might not get the other slices warming but low and behold this sweet sweet man gave me my pizza, all the other pizza, and half off my next order. Such a doll. It was also all delicious....