Vito & Nick’s: The Best Pizza in Chicago
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New York vs. Chicago pizza – thin vs. deep dish – triangle vs square – foldable vs. requiring a fork. The debate remains as to which city serves the best pie. Personally, I will never pass up on any type of pizza! While New York seems to receive more press surrounding their delicious thin crust pies, many local joints around Chicago’s South Side serve up some amazing thin style pizza too, with a handful of longtime family-run favorites rivaling the best of NYC. The Windy City is well known for tavern style pizza which is thin and crispy pizza cut into squares.
On your next (or first) visit, I recommend skipping the popular tourist chains like Giordana’s and Lou Malnati’s in favor of a local gem. One of my favorite long-running family establishments is Vito & Nick’s. I’ve honestly never tasted better pizza and I do a lot of traveling.
No matter how many times I come back home to visit family members, Vito & Nick’s (or Nick and Vito’s as many locals still call it) will be my choice as long as they are in business (which I hope is for many years to come!).
100+ years and still going strong!
This family-run business opened their doors back in 1923 which makes it one of the oldest pizza places in the city. The Barraco family from Sicily continue to please loyal Chicagoans and Southsiders, as well as new tourists with their delicious family style recipes.
When their son Nick joined the business in 1946, they began serving their delicious pizzas that they are known for today. In 1965, they moved to their current 84th and Pulaski location and shut down the former 79th and Carpenter establishment.
Nick Barraco once stated “We will never deliver, if they want a truly great pizza, they will come in for it.” Don’t worry the delicious pizza is well worth an in person visit with the quality being 100x better than any chain pizza you can get conveniently delivered.
This place truly is an old-fashioned gem that you don’t come across much anymore. I love coming back home and seeing that not much has changed. I come back time and time again, not only for the top notch food, but also for the charming old-school ambiance which is becoming more of a rarity as the years go on.
Read more about their beginnings in the Windy City
What to order
While a plain cheese pizza is my prefered choice, my dad says they serve the best sausage, green pepper, and onion pizza anywhere. There are so many great apps to choose from as well including portabella mushroom ravioli, cheesy garlic bread, onion rings, breaded mushrooms, and zucchini sticks.
If pasta is more your style, the mostaccioli and cheese ravioli are great picks. The Friday Special includes all you can eat Smelts, served with french fries, bread and butter, and a salad for just $12. Add in a pitcher of beer and soft drinks and you are ready to go! In true South side fashion, Old Style is the only beer on tap!
Note that this restaurant only accepts cash and there is no ATM on site.
An old-school gem that never changes
The old-school ambiance is what really draws me in. I love that the place still looks the same as it did 30 years ago. I can walk in expecting the same fun ambiance, from the local sports memorabilia, to the jukebox, to the festive lights around the ceiling. In the spring/summer months you can catch a White Sox game and during the winter season, locals cheer on the Bears.
For a true southside dining experience, there is no better choice. I think this is the perfect lunch before/after a sporting event or any city festival. It’s also a great place to cozy up with some comfort food during the long bleak winter season when you can’t do much outside. This is the perfect time to check out the local restaurant cene. Recently, CBS viewers voted it the #1 pizza in the city – a hard feat in a city with so many delicious choices! I go out of my way to visit no matter where I’ll be in the city for the day – it’s that good!
Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives
For fans of the eclectic Food Network favorite, this local gem was featured on the 2009 episode Something from Everywhere. Guy ordered their signature cheese and egg pizza. Even more, the food is so good that Vito’s was featured on a special episode entitled “Best pizza” as well as the “Best of the Road” episode. I totally agree with the many awards this place has won. Definitely get in here and treat yourself to a slice or whole pie while you are in the city!
Additional details
- Location: 8433 S. Pulaski Road
- Hours: 11am-8:30pm (Monday-Thursday), 11am-9:30pm (Friday & Saturday), Noon-8pm (Sunday)
- More info: Check out the entire menu and learn more.
What else to do on the South Side
The Museum of Science and Industry – It’s the largest science center in the Western hemisphere. If your visit falls around the holidays, definitely check out the Christmas Around the World exhibit.
Guaranteed Rate Field (formerly Comiskey Park) – Home to the White Sox (“North Siders” often root for the Cubs, while SouthSiders typically root for the Sox).
Angie’s Sports Bar – Another great local Italian gem serving great pizza bread.
Treat yourself to an Original Rainbow Cone – The iconic summer treat consists of 5 stacked flavors of ice cream: orange sherbert, pistachio, Palmer House vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate. 2026 will mark the 100th anniversary. Seriously, this is the best ice cream cone around – I recommend a stop.
