Spacca Napoli

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ordj

Joined 7 years ago

If you like great pizza, but don't mind your service slow and your restaurants over-crowded.... Went here on an early Saturday evening. Of course no reservations accepted. Big lines and a 45 minute wait, but finally got to sit down at a table thankfully in the corner. Place was packed with people and crying babies. Unfortunately, more sitting was encountered after we finally got a table. In fact, the waiter didn't get to us for 8 minutes. I wish we had gotten a different server though, might have actually changed my experience. The guy was quite pretentious, not even personable. Didn't follow up on us, acted very rudely when a member of our party had made a wrong choice for their meal.

The place doesn't have that great of a decor... It's not really cozy or anything, definitely not romantic. Naples pizza makes me think intimate, brick-walled decor... this place just sort of presents itself as a barely snazzed-up fast food joint. And speaking of the food, it's 50/50... We ordered 2 pizzas. They came out very quickly, which was very nice... but one of them was definitely burnt. The other was quite amazing though. Striking combination of flavors, perfect thickness, very tasty. If you're tired of eating the same old pizza crud every Friday, head out here. It's not really a "cheap eat," you'll fork over $12-14 for a pizza that would probably be considered a small at your average pizza spot. But it's for sure a great eat. I wish the setting was much nicer and romantic, but you can't have all your eggs in one basket.

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electricluddite

Joined 7 years ago

Excellent Neopolitan-style Pizza. Neopolitan-style isn't my typical choice for pizza, though more because of availability than preference. However, when I heard about this place from a friend, I knew I had to go. I called ahead and asked about reservations but was told I couldn't make a reservation for one (the joy of eating alone). When I got there, I ended up having to wait about 20 minutes. The place was packed, even on a Thursday night. They were letting you order drinks while you waited and even brought by a cheese plate at one point. I ordered the bufalina (tomatoes, basil, mozzarella di bufala and olive oil). It was delicious. Everything was extremely fresh. Although you could tell that the wait staff was straining to handle the volume, the service was fast, especially the turnaround time on my pizza. Parking was street parking but not too bad in that neighborhood.

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selvaggia82

Joined 7 years ago

Fantastic authentic Italian pizza. The pizza here is the closest you will get to real Italian pizza in Chicago. Don't go here expecting American-style pizza and then complain about it. They're not trying to compete with the standard processed cheese, sausage, pepperoni, Crisco, etc. junk you get at Lou Malnati's and the rest of the Chicago establishments. My husband is from Italy and we lived there for several years, and believe me, even in Italy it is hard to find Naples style pizza this good. To appreciate this place you've got to understand that Italian food is about flavor and freshness, NOT about service like in American restaurants, so if you feel you are entitled to special treatment, go somewhere else. Also, I don't know why this has been called thin crust pizza; in Italy, Roman pizza is cracker thin and Naples style is thicker and chewier. If you truly want to enjoy a terrific Naples style pizza, Spacca Napoli is the only place in Chicago to do it.

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restaurantgal

Joined 7 years ago

Italia in Chicago. It is unfortunate that pikkewyn reviewed a restaurant without tasting the food. SN has been open less than 4 wks and the owner did not expect the large crowds. They are refining their reservation procedure and polishing their service. The food is excellent and many of the top Chicago chefs have dined there and given rave reviews. (They did not get preferred seating.) SN uses only the highest quality ingredients including mozzerella flown in from Italy, Italian flour and superior olive oil you will not find anywhere else. The pizza crust is so fabulous, I could eat it plain. There is nothing like it. The hostess problem should have been discussed with the owner who is highly visible and available. I'm sure he would have made every effort to accommodate you as his goal is not only to serve exquisite food but to provide impeccable service as well.

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ohlhoffa

Joined 7 years ago

Love this place. I was inspired to write this review after reading the previous one; interestingly enough, I was there the same night and found the hostess and owner to be nothing but accomodating. The place was packed, yes, but they were making the best of it -- I don't know how you can complain about free prosecco and appetizers! And the owner is a really sweet man.

Anyway, all that aside, this place is awesome! Real, Italian-style pizza -- the words "deep dish" are probably forbidden in this kitchen. The food was so pure, simple and delicious; great ingredients put together in great ways. We live in the neighborhood and I can already tell this will become one of our regular spots.

Doesn't Recommend

pikkewyn

Joined 7 years ago

Horrible Hostess. I would rate the pizza but I never got the chance to eat it. Went on Saturday evening at 5:30 called ahead of time and was told they did not accept reservations then we got there (party of five) and were asked if we had a reservation and that if we didn't it would be a 20-25 minute wait. An hour later, there we still were, now being told that we had to wait at least 20 to 25 more minutes... the hostess was obviously incompetent and inexperienced. The atmosphere is not welcoming or friendly even with the added touch of serving prossecco or soft drinks to people that are waiting for their tables. It seemed to me more of a desperate attempt to salvage an extremely unorganized operation. I think it would have been faster for me to fly to naples and have the pizza.