We found this place on Yelp and decided to give it a try. We were blown away! They are definitely what I would consider a "hole-in-the-wall" and serve their pizzas on retired tomato sauce cans. BUT! That is part of their charm. Their pizzas are as great as you'll find in the area if you're looking for wood-fired options. Their pizza options range from mild to wild, as well. We've been here now 5 times and each time we purchase the Honey and Salami. We've tried many others, of course, but always go back to the hot-sweet combination on the H&S pizza. If you come on a day that is not busy, you'll find that parking is easy to find. Each time we've visited, parking was available right outside the storefront. read more

Best NYC Style Pizza in Chicago. Period. I by no means claim to be an "expert" in pizza, however when I lived in NYC for a summer I made it a goal to go to all the pizza landmarks in the city. Girmaldi's under the brooklyn bridge, lombardi's, john's on bleeker, arturo's, etc. There is one thing that all these places have in common with Coalfire, and that is (obviously enough) the use of a coal fire oven. It is the most traditional way to cook a pie and produces a crisp smokey crust with just a bit of chew. I had the margarita pizza, but tossed on some spicy salami too. It was great!!!! The Mozzeralla was fresh, there was just enough sauce, and the crust was just what I was looking for. We also had the caprese salad which was fantastic. A nice thick cut beefsteak tomato with fresh mozzeralla, basil, and some white balsamic that had great flavor. If you are craving NYC style pizza, or what to try something different, GO HERE!!!!!!!! read more

Finally, a pizza place that understands that a crust should have browned crusty bubbles around the edges and a little chew to it. As an East Coast transplant, I have been sooooooooo disappointed by pizza in Chicago. Chicago crusts are usually crumbly and almost pastry like, yuck, with sauce that's way too sweet. This place does pizza right. I was really impressed with the meats in general - bacon (chewy and good, plenty of red bits and not just fat), 'nduja (texture once cooked on the pizza is somewhere between a meatball and pate, with just enough spiciness, and you kinda spread it out over the slice and get rendered peppery pork goodness all over, mmmmmm), all of it was delicious. One pie and a salad is perfect for two people. Staff was really cool, too. read more

The chef at the restaurant I work at, Quartino, suggested that I try this place. Wait wait wait... suggested is a light word for it. He told me this. "This is the best pizza I have had in America." ..... Wow. This means a lot coming from this man. I mean, his own restaurant serves pizzas. Neapolitan style, also, just like the ones at Coal Fired. Consider my interest piqued. So my girlfriend and I decided to go to it the next day. Let me just tell you that I was not disappointed. In a city where almost every pizza is packed full of cheese, meat, vegetables, and other things that make me afraid of the 5 hours after a meal, it is extremely refreshing to find thin crust pizza, ESPECIALLY as delicious as this pizza is. If there were any complaints, ANY, I would have this (and it's extremely minor): the pizzas are too small. They only offer you one size, and both times that I've gone my girlfriend and I split a pizza only to find that I'm wanting more (but apparently not enough to order a whole another pizza.) So basically, the complaint is just me being a glutton. Not even anything wrong with the restaurant. Ever since I've been here I actually even refer people at my restaurant to go check out Coal Fire Pizza. So go. You'll be surprised. read more

Keep an eye on the receipt. Was dining in. I ordered two pizzas got charged for three? That was odd. read more

I've been wanting to try Coalfire for a while now as it's been on my bookmarked list since I've seen some of my food bloggers instagram the holey moley of this pizza place so I knew I had to try it. We got here around 7:30pm on a Saturday night and there was a huge line out the door, so I'm thinking okay, this is expected since it's so popular so they took our name and number and sent us to the bar next door and quoted us about 30-40 minute wait. The bar was fun, drinks were super tasty and it wasn't as hectic or loud so I got some convos in with our friends. They called us about a half an hour later and we walked back to the place. We got sat in the middle of the restaurant and it was so freaking loud. I mean, I eat out a lot and have tried many places that are on the loud side in Chicago, but I literally had to scream over the table to get a word in and could barely hear my friends. So at this point, the atmosphere just doesn't do it for me. Now onto the pizzas, they look phenomenal. We ordered the pepperoni with the ricotta as well as the white pizza without all the sauce which also came with the ricotta. I took a bite and the ricotta was super cold. I was like oh no they didn't. If I'm going to bite into a hot crispy pizza, why does the ricotta have to be cold. That just ruined it for me as I was hoping it would be warm but if people like that, who is to argue with taste, well okay, I'll argue with taste. Ricotta cheese should be hot and gooey on top of hot pizza, not cold. The pepperoni however, was super spicy and had a lot of flavor and the pizza itself was yummy. I would only order take out if I'm in the area because I didn't like the service as they basically rush you out the door to get more people in. I guess that's how their business works but I'm not a fan of that. We ate our food, they cleared our plates while there was still pizza on the table. Maybe, just maybe we weren't finished yet. So overall, the pizza minus the cold ricotta was good, but the super loud atmosphere and the rushed service didn't do it for me. I was expecting more from Coalfire. read more

Coalfire Pizza - Seriously get the pepperoni! - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I liked coal fire. Seems like they've worked out the kinks in the service for the most part: you come in, they seat you, you look at the menu, you go to the counter to order, they bring your pizza out (quickly) and then you settle up at the counter when you're done. My pizza (sausage) was delicious. I love the chewy and tiny-bit-charred crust and the sauce, cheese and sausage were all flavorful and delicious. My boyfriend and I went for a nice weeknight dinner, and we didn't mind that it was a little noisy. We could definitely hear each other fine. I'm looking forward to going with friends and taking advantage of the BYOB. UPDATE 8/27/07: I've noticed the last few times I've been there that they go a little too light on the cheese. From now on I'm ordering extra cheese! UPDATE 11/28/07: So they're going light on the cheese, and the owner is getting more surly by the day. We've stopped going here. And I used to love it so much! UPDATE 10/24/08: They're going WAY light on the cheese, the owner is surly and unfriendly, and now the prices have gone WAY up. This place has really gone downhill. NOT RECOMMENDED. read more

I really like Coalfire. The pizza is very good. It's not the best I've had in the city, but very close in my opinion. I haven't tried all of the pizzas they have here, but the margherita is definitely great, although it could be improved even more if they added a little bit more basil. Add to that the fact that this place is a simple, cozy little place without pretense, and the fact that it's BYOB, and you've got a great little pizzeria. Highly recommended for thin crust pizza! (Just skip the salads here though, they suck) read more

Love this place! They have a wide selection of pizzas and they are so delicious, you really cannot go wrong. One of my favs is pepperoni with ricotta cheese. They also have a decent wine and beer selection, not huge, but nice options. The service is friendly and it's easy to get to. They don't take reservations, but I recently hosted a small birthday party for my daughter and they were more than accommodating to our needs. There is not a ton of seating here, probably enough for 40 or 50 people. I tend to come on the early side and have never had to wait. Also I think they started delivering too, so will be counting on them to make frequent trips to my house!! Definitely one of the best places for wood fired pizza. read more

This is quite possibly the best pizza I've had in Chicago. The bf and I went last night (a Saturday) at about 8pm and ordered the Margherita. Not only did it arrive super speedy, but it was incredible as well. The best crust in Chicago - yeasty, chewy and crispy on the outside, with just a few blackened bubbles that added to the taste. Fresh cheese was great, and not too much sauce. The one pizza was the perfect size for us to split. Our bill, with two cokes, totaled less than $20. I'm telling all my friends and coming back as often as I can, or until I get sick of pizza. read more

After tonight, I'm goin' 5 stars. I still wish they had decent salads, and the fact that as of August 1 they will no longer be byob makes me a little sad, but this pizza is so f'ing good I don't really care that much. The pizza is so good that if it weren't for the risk of severe burns, I would make love to it. If the state would recognize a marriage between woman and pizza, I would marry it. I already want more. Mmmmmmmm, pizza. read more

The dude who stated it costs $60 for two pizzas and 2 glasses of house Chianti was right. But all the other 100+ people who said this pizza is some of the best in the city and this place is worth it all are MORE right. When I think of the term "worth it", it feels like there's a downfall to endure to get to the good stuff. But from my experience tonight, there was no wait on a Friday night, the wine and salad came within 2 minutes of us ordering, and the pizza came within 5. No joke. I was impressed. The only reason why I give it 4 out of 5 is because the Chianti is very flat and sub par and the atmosphere wasn't at all what I felt look it should have been when I walked in - full of expectations from hype my boyfriend and I read in TimeOut. But if you're going for the pizza, and not a stylized ambiance, this place is snacktacular. read more

Very good pizza that comes out quick and fresh. Solid calzones as well. The major holdback from being a 5 star spot is the pricing - a bit expensive for pies that are relatively small and very thin crust, so you'll need to open up the wallet a bit more than you would at other joints if you're trying to fill up. read more

Came here on a night out before a Bulls game (located about a mile from the United Center). Looking for something substantial but not too filling; this place exceeded expectations. The pepperoni and ricotta thin crust pizza was well-balanced and a welcome alternative to the typical deep dish variety. Employees were kind and attentive; they had us out the door in 45 minutes without rushing us. Reasonably priced. read more

Two pizzas....three salads.....a half bottle of wine....75 bucks! I wouldn't mind paying that if the food was truly top notch. It's not. The pesto pizza came with canned olives.....that's not a high quality ingredient. There are much better wood oven pizza joints around like Pizza DOC and Spacca Napoli. read more

This Jersey boy was craving some hand tossed pizza and hit up Coalfire for carryout. While it would never be confused with Lombardi's (NYC's best) or Pizza Regina (Boston), we had a couple of solid pies. Charred is how you'll get them here and it makes the pizza tasty, albeit overcooked for me. Simple combos and lack of toppings saddened me. Really, no garlic?!? read more

Holy crap this place makes amazing pizza! Forget deep dish Chicago, Coalfire's house made whipped ricotta generously dolloped on each individually cut slice and their truly delicious Salami and Honey pizza is where it's at. The salami and honey is an explosion of flavor with salty, sweet, and spicy (chiles) all in one and I'm seriously contemplating returning again tonight (2 days in a row) because it is just that good. The crust is thin, chewy and perfectly baked. Although on the pricey end for wood fired pizza, I would happily pay whatever price they set to get my hands on more slices. My new favorite pizza restaurant in Chicago! read more

Ate at Coalfire pizza for the first time about 3 weeks ago and I want to go back again! These thin-crust, Neopolitan-style pizzas are the pizzas I love, the pizzas I crave, the pizzas that take me out of the dark hole and into the light. Forget deep dish, that stuff is too heavy. The blistered, thin crust is perfectly crisp and the ingredients fresh. A limit of 2 toppings and no more than one vegetable topping is what Coalfire recommends for the best quality pizza. What we had was their famous pepperoni and whipped ricotta pizza....creamy mounds of ricotta atop mozzerella cheese, pepperoni, tomato sauce and garlic. Loved it, it was so very delicious! The pizza came out in no time and our waitress was great. Hopefully coming back within the next week or so! read more

No words !!!!!! The best pizza in Chicago !!!!!! Everybody are so professional there , the owner of this place is so nice!!! I 100000% can recommend this place to everybody who loves pizza !!! read more

I've been here three times now. Simply delicious. They are SO FAST to make a pie... it seems like 10 minutes after you order. The ONLY downside is this: I asked for Tobasco. Simple request - and the waitress was gonna get it for me and her boss (owner i think) told her no, or everyone else would want it? I ask every time I go. Always a no. One time he heard me ask his staff and said no. Hey sissy, you're three feet away, YOU tell me. I'm going to bring it. If he doesn't like it - look for me in the papers. I will Yelp about jail :) read more

Not a fan. Not a huge variety of appetizers or pizzas. Everything just seemed at the bare minimum....including seating. Only plus is, Coalfire offers Goose Island's Matilda beer. ONLY plus. read more

4.5 (when is Yelp going to allow half stars?) It's nice to have thin crust in Chicago. The pizza is really good, with a nice crisp crust. We went on a rainy night and surprisingly didn't have to wait for a table. The waitress was incredibly sweet and I could not believe how fast the pizza came out. Those must be some piping hot coals! Great flavor, great toppings, plenty of beer and wine to choose from. I like to dip my crust in ranch dressing, but the only dressing they have is Caesar. Minor setback. Will return, and probably very soon! read more

Coalfire is a great spot to catch a quick dinner. I really am loving this whole wood/coal-burning oven pizza thing. I've had the Margherita and prosciutto and both were really good. They do kind of heap the prosciutto on, which really was too much. I would rather see a better grade of ham and less of it....more of a *flavor* than such a big part of the pie. I actually picked a lot of it off because the saltiness was too much. Other than that, I loved the pizza, and this place....and I really don't hold the fact they give "too much" of something against them, it's just something BF and I both commented on. We also split a Caesar salad which was really great. It was a big portion and perfectly coated with the homemade dressing. The menu is simple and there aren't a whole lot of choices, which is respectable...they do a few things really well. There was cheesecake available for dessert, but no other choices. It would be kinda nice to see some gelato on the menu, too...they could have sold us some last night! The people here are SO nice and the service is great. I highly recommend checking this place out for a quick bite of quality pizza and a nice experience! Good job, Coalfire! read more

Love it! The 5-stars are definitely for the pizza and the waitstaff . Ok, ok I have a little crush on a certain waitress... ::sigh:: But, nonetheless, this is one of the best pizzas I've had in this city. My friend and I got the sausage pizza and let me tell you, that is some seriously delicious sausage, salty,smokey, fennel-y..., and just a hint of heat to give your mouth a little start. I will be back for more and more and more... * this place is very small and even if you're the only people waiting, be prepared to wait for up 20 minutes if it's a full house. read more

Ok, I dont eat pizza that much. I think, in general chicago pizza sucks. Why the hell do we need that much cheese and bread. a little goes a long way in my pizza book.. and thus, my love of the thin crust. hello coalfire. it is a dream to meet. I havent gone out for pizza in a really long time and when it was suggested as a dinner option I said sure why not, whatever.. no, not whatever.. yea.! I remet pizza! the environment is open and light and intimate without being lame. Its casual, its cool. The waitress was really friendly and smirked at our little jokes (i appreciate a smirking..) we got the pesto pizza and added to it and I am supremely bummed that I left the leftover box in my companions car. he remembered though. and ate it when he got home. i bet it was just as delicious cold. thin crust, GREAT pesto, and lots of 'stuff'.. totally decent wine list/beer list. no hard booze, but its pizza for chrissakes.. sheesh. i'll be back. maybe i'll see you. read more

Yummy! i love coalfire and their delicious thin crust pizza...one of the best pizzas i have had in Chicago, perhaps the best. went with a couple of friends on a saturday night and had no wait, we had 2 pizzas and 2 salads and there were leftovers. i only wish they were open for lunch during the week! one star off for service, our server was a little flighty, forgetting about us etc....but the food made up for it. read more

Definitely the best pizza I have ever had in Chicago. These people know how to make a bloody damn good pizza!!! They are definitely going to be my main pizza restaurant from now on! I highly recommend read more

Wowsers! This pizza is great. True thin crust with minimalist toppings. We had the Napoli where the crust and cheese shine under the delicious anchovy filet adorning each slice. And because the oven is coal-fired, they were still cooking even when the power went out! I only wish that we had gone with more people because one pizza is definitely filling enough for two-- but I wanted to taste more flavors. read more

We like Spacca Napoli, but Coal Fire is much closer, so we decided to give it a try. We were there around 10:30 on a Saturday night, after seeing a play, and it was quiet, just a few other tables. We kept it simple, getting the margherita with 1/2 pepperoni (for the b'friend, who must have meat on his pies). It's my experience with this type of pizza that the simpler, the better. when you start loading things onto it, the delicate crust just can't take it. Our pizza came out quick, it was hot and perfectly cooked. With my Limonata it was a really nice light late dinner. I'd like to go back but based on reviews we'll probably get take out or stick to later-night visits. read more

My brother-in-law told me that this place would have "the best thin crust pizza you've ever had." Unfortunately, it did not live up to his lofty promise. We went there on Saturday night, and the joint was crowded, actually there was a wait to get in. The menu is fairly small: about a dozen pizzas, a couple calzones, and three salads. We ordered two pizzas: the Lasagna, and a build you own with red onions & garlic, and an Apple & Endive salad. Now the good thing about the pizzas, they cook them in super hot ovens, so once you place your order, it doesn't take long to arrive. The salad was pretty big, and my sister said that it was good. The pizzas came out a short time later, and they did look pretty good. My bro-in-law and my nephew had the Lasagna, they said it was alright. I had the red onion & garlic, once again, just alright. Nothing to rave about. I really love a good thin crust pizza, however, this experience fell short of what I was expecting, and hoping for. read more

I was really impressed with Coalfire. I've been to Spacca Napoli too and while it was good, the middle was soggy and Coalfire's pizza is really better. I ordered take-out, which was torture in the car, smelling it the whole way home. The manager was there and was extremely helpful and right on time, very attentive. Basically, folks, this is DAMN good pizza. Four stars, not five, because I think it could be cheaper, considering that it's just a neighborhood joint. read more

Allow me to update an earlier version of this review following a lovely message from the owner. While it wasn't our best experience, I want to start with what was good: HUGE fresh salads! Yum. We split the garden with the house dressing and it was great. The pie we ended up with was tasty, crunchy and I really enjoyed the style of it - much better than American junk food versions - I would call it authentic. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was informal but stylish and very clean. We had some high expectations based on a lot of great recommendations and we were pretty hungry! Being vegan we went without any cheese but I've had plenty of vegan pizza with which I was more impressed. Though service was friendly, it was on the slow side and the server got our order wrong. Toppings were wrong or missing and it really wasn't the pie we ordered. When we mentioned this to staff, the offered to bring the missing toppings to the table (basil and roasted garlic) so we patiently waited - 10 minutes. Finally, this happened while only about 8-10 total tables were seated so I'm not really sure where the disconnect was. Maybe it was just an off night, everyone has them. Other reviews merit giving it a go so I hope you'll judge for yourself. read more

Pizza is not heart healthy fare. That said, it is good at Coalfire. Thin crust with a real crisp! Lovely, fresh ingredients. Pricey but worth it for a special treat. We've been there about 3 times (when it was still BYOB). We've tried the salad---good, definitely rounds out the meal, and various pizzas from their selections. It was good. Because it is no longer BYOB, and because my health is iffier now, we've not been back. However, I recommend it as a special treat. The service is terrific. read more

Yes, tasty pizza! Eat it up fast kiddos, it's gets cold quickly. Whenever I order carryout I get there early and race home with my treasure like a banshee to ensure that it's still nice and hot. However, it is best enjoyed right then and there, with a nice cold glass of beer and salad. Ingredients are fresh, pizza is not greasy. You're not going to find exotic toppings and over the top pairings. Just the good ol' classics. And that is just A-ok with me. Closed Mondays and now open for lunch! read more

It took Coalfire and the Chicago Pizza Tour to really solidify charcoal baked pizza as my favorite pizza style. The rust is delightfully thin and the sauce has just enough sweetness to make me happy. In a land populated by pizzas absolutely smothered in cheese, Coalfire provides a great alternative. The cheese is a complementary force and not a smothering, overbearing factor that takes control of every little thing you do and you can't escape it no matter where you are and it shows up in the middle of the night crying, saying it loves you, asking if for one more night of- ... Their Margherita pizza is pretty bangin'. read more

Wow that is good pizza! Just got back from dinner here tonight and want to go back tomorrow already. The prices are very reasonable, the atmosphere is cool and laid back, the service was outstanding, and the food was unbelievable. We started our meal with some wine and a Caprese Salad. The salad was very good and a large portion for the price compared to some of the others we have had in Chicago. For our meal, we had the white pizza with the fresh mozzarella. It was probably the best pizza I have had since coming to Chicago 3.5 years ago. The crust was crispy yet light. The pizza was not greasy at all. And to top it all off, our awesome waiter (don't remember his name) left us the rest of the bottle of wine for free after I ordered my second glass of wine. This was one of those rare meals where I kept saying "Wow" after each bite. I'll be back soon. read more

For all of the ranting and raving this place received, I have to admit I was taken back because I expected more. My lovely better half took me there for my birthday. We were quickly seated and our server was rather friendly. It's a decent thin crust that was a little chewy, with decent amount of sauce on top. We both found it odd that you could order your pizza with "Fresh Mozzarella." Oh yeah?! As opposed to "Not Fresh Mozzarella?" Save the dollar and go with regular, you won't know the difference after it's cooked. Or stop in your local Jewell and pick up some cheese to add to it because there wasn't much on ours. Comparing pizza and prices against other places, I don't think we got our bang for the buck. A good bang for the buck is CiCi's or Little Caesars, which I gave higher ratings yet they are not as good as Coalfire. They are both cheap and you know you are getting a $5 pizza or buffet. The point is, it's not bad, but surely didn't knock my socks off. I'd go back if others requested, but wouldn't rush right back. The girlfriend wasn't impressed at all. read more

**Updated 1/29/08, reduced stars from 3 to 1** I am appalled by this place. Officially. We attempted to visit Coalfire again two weeks ago. Like the first time, we were treated horribly by the staff, and ended up leaving in a rage... my boyfriend actually yelled a graphic, yet hysterical, obscenity at who appeared to be a manager or owner. (If you have been there you can imagine how that well that went in the tiny, yet packed, restuarnt. Hee!) I am completely disappointed by my experiences with this restaurant and hope, for their sake, that they invest in some serious customer service training. Obviously, I intend to never return and would never, ever, recommend Coalfire to anyone. **Updated 1/29/08, reduced stars from 3 to 1** I wanted to like Coal Fire so bad. Upon hearing of it's opening, I emailed my boyfriend pictures of the pizza I found online and reviews. I was marketing it hard. I was all, "This place is going to be awesome." For the first time, the boy and I visited Coalfire this evening. (I know, 4 months later. We are very, very busy and important, you know.) We found the environment to be modern, comfortable, and very clean. We found the hostess to be very nice and genuine while some of the other staff to be harsh, unhelpful, and unfriendly. There was a mistake with our pizza, which was corrected, and we were very grateful to get what we actually wanted. We ordered a salad that was nothing short of awful. Wet Romaine lettuce, 4 tomato slices, and mushroom slices drenched in a vinegar-laden dressing of the houses choice. Perhaps the bad salad was our own fault, we realize after-all, we were at a pizza place not a salad-shop. When we received our correct pizza, I have to say it was pretty damn good. We mowed through it rather quickly but still experienced pangs of hunger as we looked longingly at the empty pan... so, of course, we ordered another one.... Because, well, we were still freaking hungry. In the end I am not sure if I will return to Coalfire. While not bad, it was definitely not awesome, either. I felt the pizza was pretty pricey (2 pizzas and a salad $39... BYOB!) and a couple people on staff could use some etiquette training. The decoration and design was great, but the "place your own order, we bring your water" arrangement made me anxious... just give me a server, man. Overall, meh. If you are up for a drive to a very different neighborhood - make the trek to Spacca Napoli for a more quality pizza that will fill you up. It hurts less paying big money for dough and cheese when you feel like the ingredients are of higher quality and you leave without having to order more food. read more

Went here for dinner Friday night around 8:30 and only had to wait 15 minutes for a table even though it was pretty packed. This is a no-frills spot with simple old photographs on the wall and designed in a simple pizzeria style. It is BYOB. You can't beat that! The pizza was good. The crust was delicious and it was a good balance of toppings and sauce. We had a house salad to start that was really only okay. The only complaints we had about the pizza was that 1) there were not enough toppings to choose from; the pizzas on the menu were basic, and 2) there was not enough sausage on my boyfriend's pizza. He said it well: If you are going to call your pizza "meat" it should have a lot of meat on it! There was a good amount of pepperoni, but only a sprinkling of sausage. The service was good. There wasn't anything particularly memorable about our server, but he was nice enough. Even though it was packed it wasn't too loud to have a conversation at your table. Everything came out really quick too. One definite problem was that my pizza came out five minutes before my boyfriends. I would have preferred for them to come together as I was starving and I felt bad having to eat before him. He forgave me! :-) The bathrooms didn't have any hooks for my purse...I had to hang it on the door knob. It is not hard to spruce up the bathroom at your restaurant...put a cute garbage can and something on the wall. And, please, put something up that I can hang my purse on! They also have quite a bit of space that seems underutilized. This is not my favorite place for Neapolitan pizza, but it will be a good fall back for last minute dinners. read more

Got the margherita pizza to go. Nice touch: the greens on the side! No soggy basil for this chick! Interesting crust. Very light. However, there were parts on it that were burned black. I know they're all about the HOT HOT HOT here....but charred crust? The parts that weren't burnt were delicious though. I also really liked the sauce! I'd try it again. read more