Spacca Napoli
(773) 878-2420
1769 W Sunnyside Ave
Chicago,
IL
60640
41.9633
-87.6733
Neighborhoods: Ravenswood, Far North Side
What People Are Saying About Spacca Napoli
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
The Scene
Birra Moretti umbrellas dot the wide outdoor seating area, where Ravenswood neighbors greet each other--often in Italian. Inside, tangerine walls envelope the din of enthusiastic diners. The left side of the divided indoor space offers views of an open kitchen and wood-burning oven. Servers are quick to offer suggestions and to bring orders.
The Food
Slightly steep prices buy the freshest ingredients: bright, juicy tomatoes; smoky prosciutto; creamy mozzarella and enormous basil leaves make up many of the offerings at this Neapolitan-style pizzeria. A starter of sauteed zucchini alla scapace delightfully combines mint, zucchini and a generous drizzle of olive oil. Individually sized pizzas are made with thin, crispy crusts and fior di latte mozzarella or mozzarella di bufala. Topping choices include ground Italian sausage and broccoli di rape, arugula with prosciutto, or mushroom. Traditional Italian desserts such as gelato, spumoni or tiramisu are available in the unlikely event diners are still hungry.
User Reviews
bergenrodin
June 16, 2008
I too went to spaccanapoli after hearing positive statements like, "people come from Italy for their pizza" and "the pizza is incredible, delicious crust" so, the first minor bummer was that that's it - they have pizza, no other entrees. Not bad for me, but one of our guests is not crazy about pizza. but hey they have lots of appetizer choices if you like antipasti, each with an italian name, so the server has to tell you what each one is. You lika the cold antipast? we got you covered. we ordered two apps and 4 pizza to share. these were the apps marinated octopus: first octopus I've had that smelled and tasted like fish. I guess we got the bottom of the barrel because it was taken off the specials board after we got it. salad: big plate of high quality green with good olives and average tomatoes. basically good lettuce with too much balsamic vinegar. the pizzas looked and smelled really good. the marinara: this is a sauce only pizza, no cheese. the sauce was um...nothing special, not sure why it is featured element of any pizza, taste wrecked by over spicing with dry oregano. the quattro formaggio: first 4 cheese I've had that featured a blue cheese. I like blue cheese, I thought the flavor too strong, it overpowered all other cheeses. the sausage, mushroom: my favorite, excellent sausage, mushrooms appeared to be from a jar, though taste was fine. the margherite (sp): standard margherite, mozz, tom, basil sauce. tasted great. the crust of all the pizza was the best thing about the whole experience. it is unique, unfortunately the rest of each pizza seemed overly soggy, everything drooped and went down as a mushy bite, except the crust. the wine (got the shiraz type) was a syrupy wine flavored beverage with alcohol. service was fair, personally though for me, I go out for the food. $90 for (4) people + $20 tip. No plans on returning for the crust.
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DavidDeCampo
May 20, 2008
I must say that I had heard a lot of good comments about this restaurant. Most of them lived up to my expectations, mainly the pizza. If you like traditional Neapolitan style pizza, then this is the place to eat. The prices are fair for the quality of the meal. You can't compare the pizza to a franchise store, because this is far from a national chain, or a low end local pizza place. The food is very good and the pizza is authentic Neapolitan, thin crust, wood burning oven cooked. The service is not that great and we have tried the place twice now. The service is notably non-genuine, the hostess on both occasions was less than personable. The feel for the service is similar to a Pompei, where food is just brought to your table, not a true full service restaurant. I felt like the waiters, both times, couldn't wait to flip the table, get my 15 to 20 percent tip, and move on to the next guest. Luckily, the food really is good, and mostly makes up for the undesirable service. The decor is nice as well, nothing to fancy, or too simple..just about right for the neighborhood and guests they are attracting. We will certainly return, and will cross our fingers for improvement in the staff's customer service attitudes.
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Anonymous
April 14, 2008
This is the only place in Chicago to get authentic Neapolitan-style pizza. The toppings are always incredibly high-quality and delicious, and the specials are thoughtful and imaginative without being pretentious. They have a pretty good dessert selection too. The focus is on authenticity, but I never found the service to be snobby in any way. It can be a little pricey, but it's not completely unreasonable considering the quality of the food. Also, they are very good about actually listening to you if you want something extra, on the side, etc, which is always appreciated.
read full reviewThe Details on Spacca Napoli
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant does take out but not delivery: They believe the pizza is best eaten straight out of the oven.
Save Time:
Reservations are not taken for parties fewer than six people. If you don't want to wait, Wednesday and Thursday nights are generally the least busy.
Parking:
Free lots are available both north and south on Ravenswood.
What to Drink:
Don't go expecting fancy aperitivo; the eatery offers only beer and wine. The wine list is heavy on southern Italian choices, perfect for washing down the signature pizzas.
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Hidden Find, Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Group Dining
