Ask anyone who grew up around Chicago how pizza should be sliced, and there is a good chance they will say squares, not triangles. Tavern-style pizza, with its cracker-thin crust and party-cut pieces, has been a neighborhood staple across Illinois for generations, and a handful of family-run spots have been serving it to the same loyal crowds for decades.
The seven places below range from a South Side institution with roots in the 1930s to a small-town Champaign County original that grew into a regional favorite. If you want the real story of Illinois pizza, beyond the deep-dish headlines, these are the tables to pull up a chair at.
1. Pat’s Pizza & Ristorante, Chicago, IL
Lincoln Avenue has changed a lot since the Pianetto family opened Pat’s in 1950. The pizza, thankfully, has stayed right where regulars want it.
That means a crispy, cracker-style thin crust cut into those signature party squares.
The sausage is the topping to know here. It pairs with a sauce that bakes down and caramelizes slightly at the edges, giving each square a savory finish.
Pat’s also makes pan pizza, but the thin crust is the reason this place has a following in Lincoln Park.
The menu goes well beyond pizza, too. The Pat’s Special Pizza is a popular order, and the kitchen turns out grilled calamari, Caesar salad, mozzarella sticks, generous plates of pasta, and tiramisu for dessert.
There is a full vegetarian menu and a kids’ menu, which helps when the group is mixed.
I like this one for a low-key dinner date, since the booths are comfortable and the service moves quickly. Dinner starts at 4:30 PM on weekdays, with earlier 1 PM openings on Saturday and Sunday.
Friday and Saturday evenings get busy, so reservations are a smart move. Pickup, delivery, and outdoor seating are all options if you would rather take your squares to go.
2. Candlelite Chicago, Chicago, IL
Some pizza places lean on the toppings. At Candlelite, the oven gets a lot of the credit, turning out a classic Chicago thin crust that stays crisp all the way to the center square.
The spot has been a fixture on North Western Avenue in Rogers Park since 1950. Today it is a casual, roomy place with game-day screens, which makes it an easy pick when your group wants pizza and a ballgame in the same evening.
Build your own pie or go with the Meat Lovers. Before the pizza lands, the starters are hard to skip, especially the cheese curds, southern fried pickles, onion rings, and fried calamari.
Salads are a quiet strength here, with the wedge and the house Candlelite salad both on the list. The Candlelite Pub Burger and a chicken quesadilla cover anyone at the table who is not in a pizza mood.
Vegan and vegetarian menus are available as well.
Hours run later than many family spots, until midnight on Friday and Saturday, and weekend doors open at 11 AM. There is a free parking lot, a real perk in this part of the city.
3. Bill’s Pizza & Pub, Mundelein, IL
Double-decker pizza is the curveball at Bill’s. Picture two layers stacked into one crispy, cheesy pie, and you have the house signature that has kept Lake County coming back since Bill DesLauriers opened the doors in 1957.
Prefer the classic? The regular thin crust is tavern-style through and through, loaded with plenty of cheese and cut into squares.
The setting is a big part of the appeal. Bill’s has a lodge-like interior with a fireplace, plus a patio with lake views when the weather cooperates.
It has a nostalgic, historic character that suits a long table of friends catching up.
Beyond pizza, look for toasted ravioli, fried mozzarella sticks, Caesar salad, and an Italian beef and sausage combo. Vegetarians get options too, including the Not-A-Burger and fries.
Prices here fall in the $10 to $20 per person range, which makes Bill’s an easy weeknight call. It is open daily starting at 11 AM, with a free lot and plenty of parking, and dogs are welcome on the outdoor seating.
4. Aurelio’s Pizza of Homewood, Homewood, IL
Plenty of people know the Aurelio’s name from locations around the region. Fewer realize the whole thing started right here, in Homewood, in 1959.
Visiting the original feels like a small pilgrimage for south suburban pizza fans. The thin crust has a crisp edge with a softer middle, and the cheese and sauce carry plenty of flavor.
Meat toppings get extra attention, while veggies come out fresh and well cooked.
The building itself stands out. It is a large, multi-level restaurant with a vintage look and a private dining room, so it handles big birthday crowds and team dinners better than most pizza joints.
Other menu picks include an Italian beef sandwich, a large antipasto salad, and a buffalo chicken salad. A side of peppers is a simple add-on that fits right in.
Hours run 11:30 AM to 9 PM most days, with an extra hour on Friday and Saturday. Parking is easy, with an on-site lot and free street spots, and the restaurant takes reservations.
5. Monical’s Pizza, Tolono, IL
Road trip time. Head south of Champaign to the small village of Tolono, and you will find the spot where the Monical’s story began in 1959.
Downstate Illinois knows this name well, and the cracker-crispy thin crust is a big reason why. It is cut into squares, keeping things familiar for anyone raised on tavern-style pizza.
Here is the quirky part. Monical’s is known for its salad dressing, and plenty of fans dip their pizza right into it.
Try it once before deciding it is not for you.
Deep-dish is on the menu as well, though thin crust remains the move at the original location. The restaurant is clean, casual, and comfortable, with a kids’ menu and high chairs that make it an easy family dinner stop.
Hours run 11 AM to 9 PM most days, with a slightly later close on Friday and Saturday. Parking is free, and it is a quick detour off a drive through east-central Illinois.
6. Villa Nova Stickney, Stickney, IL
Small room, big reputation. Villa Nova has been turning out ultrathin-crust pies on Pershing Road since 1955, and the setup has stayed proudly no-frills.
The pizza is what matters here. Expect a crispy, pub-style crust, a slightly sweet sauce, and a sausage with its own distinct flavor.
The balance of cheese and sauce is what keeps families ordering from this kitchen.
Menu highlights include the Villa Nova Supreme and a BBQ chicken pizza, and extra sauce is a request the kitchen is happy to handle. Slices are available for a quicker bite.
Plan around the schedule. Villa Nova is closed Monday, opens at 4 PM Tuesday through Thursday, and starts earlier on weekends.
Reservations are not accepted, so Friday and Saturday evenings call for a little patience or a carryout order.
I would save this one for a night when the pizza is the entire plan. Delivery is available too.
7. Vito & Nick’s Pizzeria, Chicago, IL
Family roots stretching back to 1932 make Vito & Nick’s the elder of this list. Many Chicagoans would also call it the benchmark for tavern-style pizza.
The crust is cracker-thin, the tomato sauce is fresh, and the cheese bakes until it browns. A sausage, mushroom, onion, and green pepper pie is the classic order, with the toppings spread evenly to the edges.
Branch out with the Italian beef pizza or a pepperoni and sausage combo. Wing Zings round out the table.
The South Side dining room has a vintage look that has not been dressed up for trends, which is exactly the point. It is a fun, busy place, especially Friday evening and Saturday afternoon into the evening.
No reservations are taken, and the menu is built for dining in or takeout, without delivery. Hours run 11 AM to 8:30 PM Monday through Thursday, later on weekends.
The free parking lot makes the trip out to Pulaski Road simple.
Squares, triangles, thin or stacked, these seven spots show how deep Illinois pizza history really goes. Pick one close by, then save the rest for your next weekend drive.
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