The suburbs don't usually inspire much confidence when someone tells you they're taking you out for…read morepizza. More often than not, you're looking at another tavern-cut pie, a dozen televisions screaming sports highlights, and a menu designed by committee. Safe. Predictable. Forgettable. Then there's Woodfire. I ended up here with my family celebrating my son's second birthday and was immediately reminded that every now and then, hidden among the endless strip malls and chain restaurants of the Chicago suburbs, you'll stumble across a place that actually gives a damn. The Vodka Pizza arrived looking almost too good to touch. Almost. Hot Calabrian vodka sauce. Fresh mozzarella. Shallot. Pepperoni. Ricotta. Basil. A combination that sounds familiar enough until that first bite lands and the heat punches through. Not the fake, watered-down, suburban version of spicy that restaurants use to avoid frightening anyone. This pizza has conviction. It has backbone. The Calabrian peppers make their presence known immediately and refuse to apologize for it. Good. Food should have an opinion. The crust, charred, blistered, beautifully imperfect, comes from house-made dough cooked in a wood-fired oven that sits like the beating heart of the restaurant. Every pie carries those little marks of fire that remind you an actual human being made it. Not a conveyor belt. Not a timer. Fire. Flour. Skill. And speaking of things that deserve respect, let's talk about the bar. Kevin has become something of a local legend in Dundee. The kind of bartender whose name gets mentioned before the cocktail list. The kind of guy who understands that making drinks isn't about pouring alcohol into a glass. It's hospitality, theater, craftsmanship, and just enough mischief to keep things interesting. Still chasing the heat from the pizza, I ordered the Spicy Flamingo. A dangerous drink. Sweet enough to invite you in. Spicy enough to keep you paying attention. The kind of cocktail that disappears faster than you intended and leaves you contemplating a second before the first one is gone. Around us, bussers moved through the dining room like a pit crew at Daytona. Tables were cleaned before they looked dirty. Empty glasses vanished. New guests were seated. The machine never stopped moving. Then there's Chef Mason. It's obvious someone in that kitchen understands the difference between cooking food and feeding people. There's technique here. Knowledge. Discipline. But thankfully none of the self-important nonsense that infects so many restaurants once they start believing their own press. Woodfire isn't trying to change your life. It's not trying to educate you. It's not trying to be the coolest restaurant in the room. Like Ferris Bueller, it understands that life moves pretty fast. So instead of chasing trends, it focuses on making exceptional handmade pizza, memorable pasta, serious cocktails, and creating a place where people actually want to spend an evening. In a world full of restaurants desperately trying to be something, Woodfire succeeds by simply being exactly what it is. And that's a hell of a lot rarer than it should be.

Woodfire fits naturally into the heart of Dundee -- relaxed, welcoming, and easy to enjoy. The…read morepizza is the highlight, bringing a fun, flavorful approach that works well for both casual nights out and group dinners. The pasta and appetizers are solid across the board, and the drinks round out the experience nicely. It's the kind of neighborhood spot that may not try to overreach, but consistently delivers a good time and a satisfying meal.

Great pizza Service very friendly…read more Will be back to try all their other items Authentic Italian

I placed my order over the phone. The 12" deep-dish pizza took about an hour to bake, so be…read moreprepared for the wait, but it was absolutely worth it. The crust was perfectly crispy, the cheese was rich and satisfying, and the sauce was flavorful without being overly salty. Highly recommended. I would gladly order from and support them again .

Pizza Pushers delivers a strong take on Detroit-style pizza, with thick, airy crusts and crispy…read moreedges that anchor each pie. The toppings are fun and creative, adding a playful edge to a style that already leans indulgent. While the pricing may seem a bit high at first glance, the portions are more filling than they appear. For fans of Detroit-style pizza, it's an easy fun destination that delivers both flavor and satisfaction.

We got take out, the pizza is too good! Really well done, perfect in the middle. Really nice…read morecustomer service. Love the horror decor! Must dine in next time but the pizza was perfect anyway! Next day too! Highly recommend trying this yummy pizza joint!

Uncle Jerry's is by far the best pizza I've had. It's not…read morethin, it's not thick, it's kinda both. The ingredients are FRESH and of the best quality, you can SEE the freshness even before you taste it. Barbra, our server was very friendly, and a pleasure. Uncle Jerry came by our table and we had a very nice conversation. He's friendly, humble and such a likable guy. Uncle Jerry's deserves all of the accolades they're getting and I look forward to eating their pizza again, soon.

What's better than good pizza? Pizza made with fresh in-house ingredients and top tier service!…read moreFrom the dough to the meats, Uncle Jerry's ingredients are all fresh and made in house, they even have a butcher shop in the restaurant. As a first time diner, I wasn't sure what to expect but I was delighted to be introduced to a new, local, and fresher version of Lou Manati's. While not a local to Cary, IL it was definitely worth the almost 1 hour drive. To top it off, their staff was friendly, attentive, and created an authentic family vibe for you to dine with kids, friends, or family!

Chef Patrick slayed our brunch dishes on this beautiful Sunday morning. This was our first time…read morestopping for brunch. We started with mimosas (only way to start a Sunday morning breakfast). What we ordered: * Steak Hash- my husband said this is his new favorite breakfast meal. This is a man who loves breakfast over any other meal. Order the steak hash, you will not be disappointed. * Piquant sausage crostata- I absolutely loved this dish. It was bursting with flavor in each bite. Definitely had a kick of spice, which I love. I think we have found our new Sunday brunch spot! Thank you Chef Patrick and Kathleen for giving us wonderful food and a beautiful atmosphere to enjoy our early Sundays.

Cute restaurant in East Dundee with a very open space. Its bar takes up most of the indoor space,…read moreand covered seating outside in downtown East Dundee. The menu isn't overwhelming which is nice. They have a variety of plates but not enough of a choice to make you look for days. We ordered cocktails, which were nice and strong, but also refreshing. The open air made it feel like we were in a vacation resort. Our server was polite and would go and check about anything we had questions about. Real top notch fella. We started with raw oysters which were good. I ordered the gnudi (gnocchi) with red sauce and beef short rib (server's recommendations). My spouse had the lab chops. We both loved our meals. The presentation and flavors were all there. I think it's a nice place to go to on occasions because it's a bit more expensive than I expected, but the flavors and meals made it worth the cost. Staff was great, space was clean and airy, food was great.

This place is absolutely fire!!!!! I am a thin crust girl and this place just does it right. This…read moreis the second time I've picked up a pizza or slice (yes, they do slices thank god!) and the pizza literally never makes it home or is half gone by the time I'm home. This place is how old school pizza places are done! RC liters waiting and ready to go, thin crispy crust, nostalgia inside and great signage and to top it all off friendly "shoot the sh*t" service that makes you feel like you're a neighbor next store. My favorite is the chicken Alfredo pizza! Tonight, I had the primo by the slice and I am not a fan of mushrooms or sausage but I decided to give it a whirl.... Wow - sausage is bussin' and the shrooms were nice and thin with no overpowering bites! This blows any of the places around, palatine, Hoffman, Inverness, out of the water! Run, do not walk.... You will not be sorry!

If you're always on the hunt for the best pizza around--like me--don't miss this place. Great…read moreingredients, preparation and service. Also, a decent value versus a lot of other places in the NW Burbs. And speaking of the NW Burb$, PAL, RM, and AH folks need to spend a few extra minutes to make it out there.

New little pizza joint located in Carpentersville…read more We had a party of 7. We were seated immediately. Our server had our beverages delivered quickly, while we all decided which pizzas to order. What we ordered: * mozzarella sticks w/ marinara * Mexican Pizza * pepperoni and bacon Pizza * Sausage, mushroom and bacon pizza * Half cheese, half pepperoni pizza The crust was flaky and crispy. The sauce was delicious. This is a perfect stop for a few beers and pizza with the family and/or friends. We will definitely get pizza from here again!

Service was excellent. Pizza is great and we order it well done so the cheese is browned. Have had…read morethe shrimp dinner and that is great with fantail shrimp and fries. Very nice local place to eat

I am a huge fan of Georgio's! I have a favorite salad, favorite pasta, favorite appetizer (dough…read morenuggets, of course!), favorite sandwich, and favorite pizza. My go-to order is the baked mostaccioli, the cheese on top is golden with just the right amount of gooey goodness. The French Onion soup is another fave of mine. In addition, Danny is a great cross-marketing promoter and provides pizza for many of our events here at Mathnasium of South Barrington! The kids love it and I am always happy to direct new families to try Georgio's after their math sessions. We couldn't have a successful Pi Day Party without Georgio's!!

Georgio's makes a strong case for some of the best deep-dish pizza around -- and in the Chicago…read morearea, that's saying something. The pies are rich, satisfying, and built with the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly what you do well. It's also the kind of place that works best shared, whether over a long dinner with friends or a table full of slices. Unpretentious, welcoming, and seriously good pizza.

Amazing pizza & meatballs! Called in an order for pick up and it was ready when promised. Small…read morelittle pick-up only place was busy on a Saturday night but the crew worked like a well-oiled machine. I don't live in the Chicago-land area anymore and crave this kind of thin crust pizza with Italian sausage and Sal's killed it! Also tried some spaghetti & meatballs and a cheesy meatball sub, meatballs were flavorful & moist, definitely recommend! This place is my dad's go-to and I'll definitely be getting it again next time I'm in town.

Came in for a pizza, and the service was spot on. Nice and crispy was the crust, good and thin and…read morestill piping hot when we grabbed it to go. We were out in the area and I wanted to stop by since Portnoy gave them a good score. We were about 25 minutes out and the food was basically ready when we got there to pick up. Came home and had the pizza and I will tell you if we're ever in that area again, Sal you have our business! Nice job on the pie. Thanks again!

Updating my original review... We are there multiple time a…read moreweek, I'm glad they are back open. The good...the bruschetta, it's amazing and fairly priced. The bad...the chopped salad, don't get it. It's bad, the bacon is chewy, super soft. Also the dressing is not creamy, as advertised, it's runny. Also, the pretzel bites are not the same as other locations. The had no salt and the sauce is not the same, it's like nacho cheese. Not all of the workers follow protocols either. I'll try a pizza, but I'm disappointed with other items.

Our family got Billy Bricks for a Sunday lunch and had a great experience - the pizzas and salads…read morewere tasty, but it was really the customer service that earns this restaurant five stars. When we picked up our order, one pizza was missing - accidents happen. When we called back to ask about the missing pie not only did they apologize and replace it, not only did they upgrade the size and deliver it to us for free, but they were gracious and included some cakes and treats as well. We will definitely order from them again - thanks Billy Bricks!