We came in around 11a on a Saturday and there was no one else in the shop. I ordered the ube spiced latte and tavern style pizza, half longanisa giard and half margherita. The crust was super thin and crispy and the sauce was flavorful. Like others have mentioned, the longanisa giard was very heavy on giardiniera and light on the longanisa. I really had to search for the flavor of the sweet longanisa and I thought there was too much giardiniera. I liked the margherita side better. It's still a legit good pizza, but I'd pass on longanisa giardiniera next time. The upe latte foam art was on point. I thought the ube flavor was very light and subtle and it was very creamy and sweet, if that's your thing. Couldn't taste the espresso. read more

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Awesome pizza and drinks. Longaniza + giad and Hot Pep pizzas came out quick and were delish. Hot honey on top of any pizza is the chefs kiss. The tamarind and calamansi speciality drink was refreshing. read more

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Was driving in to the city with a friend who had never had Kasama, but when we saw the pick-up time jump from one hour to three, I knew we had to pivot. I had been wanting to try Novel when they were a pop-up, but never found the chance before we moved to the burbs. We decided this was a worthy detour, even though we were surprised to find they don't take any kind of order ahead of time. No phone calls, no DMs, in store only. So yeah, we are Filipino, so there were two items we had to try. First, the ube horchata with espresso we got while waiting the 20-ish minutes for our pizza - we got like half hour after opening on a Friday but there were already a good amount of people there. I'm not a big coffee person, and it may sounds sacrilege but I find ube good only in some situations. Luckily for me though, coffee is one of them (like an ube latte) - this one's horchata twist brought out a cinnamon sugary-ness to it that I really enjoyed. So of course we had to order the longganisa giardiniera pizza, which you have to get whole since it's not offered as a a slice. Might be the most Filipino Chicagoan creation I've ever eaten (yes even more than Kasama's longganisa "Italian beef"), and I highly recommend it. The crust is perfectly crisp, and I loved how the sweetness of the longganisa brightened up the fattiness of the cheese and the oil from the giard. It definitely brought heat from the peppers but nothing too crazy. I love that they do pop-ups with other small businesses just as how they started as a pop-up. I think it's definitely worth a visit and can't wait to bring my Mexican-Filipino family there soon too. read more

Crust is really good. Better than Vito and Nicks but their sauce is better than Novel. The longanisa was good but overpowered by too much giardiniera. I wish they would mince the giardiniera smaller and sprinkle less on. No phone to call it in. Had to wait 45 min for the pizza. On the expensive side too for $35. Would come back to try their thicker crust pizza. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Longanisa and giardiniera thin crust. Crust is great but giardiniera was too overpowering. - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Really liked the bleachers indoors tos it while waiting for an order especially when there is no calling ahead. Got the longanisa and giard and it was incredible. Definitely worth the wait! Pizza box was steaming as i walked it back to my car taking it to go, but there is also decent seating indoors too if you want to eat in read more

Wow I can't believe loganisa pizza was actually a good topping for pizza. I love that their pizza is tavern style and really good quality pizza. It took 45min to make but man was worth it. You can dine in but the space is small. They are near a park so that's an option. I will definitely be back to try the lattes and ube donuts and more Zzzzza!! Great addition to of Filipino inspired restaurant/places in Chicago. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Longanisa and Giardiniera pizza 10/10 - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Decent place. I had the opportunity to try their pizza and it was well balanced between the all the ingredients and tastes fresh. I can't say much for their in person experience at the shop since I didn't order or pick up the pizza. If I get a chance to visit it in person I will certainly update my review but based on the the taste of the pizza, I will definitely recommend. read more

Great food, music, and service. Cannot recommend enough. A great joint, will be returning next time I'm in town.

Really solid and unique pizza spot. Had the Sausage slice with ricotta and it was hot tasty and a great value. Service counter employee was smiling engaging and offered suggestions. Oddly they have a great cup of coffee as well. Quirky 90's themed interior was clean and fun to experience. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Sausage Slice - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I walked in with my family and immediately was stared down from a white lady and her family unbelievable gentrification at it best!! We walked up to the counter and we were not even greeted we left the vibe was not welcoming at all. I'm Mexican so sad that this is happening in a Mexican community!! read more

Pizza was pretty good. Twas slightly sweet but I'm not sure if it was solely the sauce or because of the longanisa. The perfection was definitely the cracker thin as well as the crispy crunch aspect. Very customizable as well. Other highlight includes the Ube horchata which can be made with oat milk for all my lactose intolerant people. The price is steep imho however it wasn't that bad. The bad does however lie in the french fries. They were mushy & tasteless. Definitely avoid the french fries at all costs. There's something interesting artwork outside. For those with small children there's a nice park across the street to occupy them while you wait for you food which can take about 15-20 min. read more

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Some of the best pizza I've ever had. Absolutely delicious! If you haven't tried it, run! It won't disappoint!

Good coffee and good pizza! I love the Derrick Rose jersey they have in display really cool place with good food highly recommend

This is what real Chicago pizza looks like. Thin crust, tavern style, and in the middle of the neighborhood. Although they sell entire pies, if you have no friends like me they have options for you to just order by the slice which is super generous portion in my opinion. Once I get friends I'll be back to try their famous giardineria and longaniza pizza. Love seeing Filipino and Mexican flavors represented. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pizza was really tasty Fries Mediocre af Over priced The vibe inside Service was 5/10 Cook ate while preparing my food Won't be going back I don't see this place lasting long read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Cheese slice n order of fries $14-$15 - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing staff. Amazing pizza. Amazing space. #1 pizza in Chicago Love the basketball nostalgia and the hospitality. read more

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We had a free weekend the other week and wanted to finally give Novel Pizza a try. I'm always down for supporting a black/brown owned spot. The only way to order is by walking in. You either do take out or dine in. When I walked in the place was pretty packed. Even though it was pretty crowded, the noise level was comfortable. You could easily carry on a conversation with the people next to you. There seemed to be a community event happening in Pilsen that day so I'm not sure if that's a true indication of how busy they usually are. The lady at the register was very kind and informed me that it would be a little bit of a wait since I ordered a pan style pizza (an hour or longer). Luckily I had read the reviews and already planned a Target run to eat up some time. It did end up taking just under an hour for my order to be picked up and I put in the order around 4:30. I ordered the Hot pepperoni pan style and a make your own tavern style with Longinisa, green peppers, sausage and mushrooms. This spot is super solid. It is a tad bit pricey for a pizza spot and I'm sure they're working on ways to cut those wait times, but overall good experience. read more

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Love the concept! Coffee in the morning & pizza for dinner. Truly can't get better than this. The dough is possibly the best out there. If you are ever craving something hardy, go for the alico crust. If you want a true thin crust, go for the tavern (perfect crisp)! This team whips up specials outside of the staples on their menu. You will never get bored because they keep you on your toes with this their own iterations on pizza. Even though the spot is fairly new in Pilsen, Novel is quickly becoming a weekend staple for many. The service is always nice and you can tell everything is fresh. If you get the chance to dine in, DO IT! The space has its unique ambiance and it's fun to take it all in. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Cheese Alico with ricotta - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Got the hot pepperoni and it came burnt and ridonculoulsly overly salty - I ate two pieces before being overwhelmed to the point I didn't want anymore. This place burned a negative impression in my memory and I won't be returning. It's expensive too. Number one rule for any restaurant - never serve burned food! And that's why you got two stars instead of three. read more

Such a cute place. Love that it was small and homemade. The staff were really nice and pizza was 10/10. We got tavern style (my favorite) and it was everything the hype lived up to. Definitely will be a frequent customer now! read more

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I recently tried Novel's tavern-style pizza, and as a thin crust pizza lover, I was really impressed! The Longanisa & Giardiniera pizza was fantastic--thin, crunchy, and had just the right amount of spiciness. Just a heads up, they do walk-in orders only. The day that we went, it was about 45 to 50 minutes wait for the whole pizza. The staff did mentioned they're working on that the online ordering, which is good to hear. The place is small with limited seating, making it a cozy spot for medium-sized groups if you want to dine in. We opted for takeout and also tried a personal slide sausage pizza while waiting, which was delicious too. Overall, a great experience and good food. We will be back to try the other toppings and also their coffee. read more

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Fantastic spot for A++ pizza. Tavern style is spectacular. Super tasty and crunchy w/ hearty toppings. Not greasy. The calzone is a total deviation and worth trying. In other words -- not just a "folded" pizza... The crust is like a puff pastry. Tons of cheese inside. Ordered w/ pepperoni. Friendly staff and owners. Also, have to admit they went all out decorating for Halloween :) read more

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LET'S GO!!! I started coming to Novel Pizza for their tavern-style pizza, which I consider some of the best in Chicago (Top 5). They also serve coffee, and while I'm not much of a coffee drinker, I discovered that they offer some of the BEST matcha I've ever had. The barista and chef were not only hospitable but also took the time to break down the science of matcha, explained how to make it, and even offered to teach me. Pilsen needed a warm and welcoming restaurant, but even more so, a pizza café that serves quality food. This isn't a fly-by-night typical pizza spot. Novel Pizza is quickly becoming a staple of what great customer service and quality food should look and taste like. With fresh ingredients, an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, and an overall dope vibe, Novel Pizza is a must-visit. This team clearly cares about what they're serving. read more

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I just tried Novel Pizza as part of a Chicago pizza taste-off, and was really impressed by the tasty thin crust and creative toppings. We tried the longaniza and giardiniera, the hot honey pepperoni, and the margarita with ricotta on top. All were delicious, and led to Novel Pizza winning first place in our taste-off (with about 50 people voting), beating out big Chicago classics like Lou Malnati's and Gino's East. I can't speak to the service because I wasn't the one to order, but I'd definitely check out Novel Pizza next time I'm in the area. read more

One word would be...Outstanding. Had the pepperoni with hot honey and Ricotta. Also had the sausage and peppers. Both were good but pepperoni ricotta would be my go to if I only could choose one. Thin and crispy that crust was spot on. A must try read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Pepperoni ricotta - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is legit! Great pizza. Went there with my son as I was on my way to Midway for a flight. Ordered the Hot Honey pepperoni pie with the ricotta and it was amazing! Loved the "tavern style" thin crust. We finished maybe half of it and my son had the rest for leftovers. Will absolutely hit this place whenever I am in town. Great local spot. read more

This is good pizza! I first stopped in because I was told the ube iced latte was fire and it was solid but the pizza is wonderful. True Chicago style (tavern) done immensely well. It is a bit more on the pricey side but you get what you pay for which is a solid pie with some off beat toppings that vibe. The space is small and very much geared towards basketball fans but I love the bleachers on the inside and the signed D-Rose jersey on the wall. The people are very friendly, and they make some excellent coffee drinks. I really wish they were open on my off days but I'll definitely be coming back for lunch. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Pepperoni with basil and hot honey - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time here and it will not be the last. It's newly opened and very neat inside. Street parking is available and it's by a park where you can take a stroll before or after some za. We had the longanisa (sweet Filipino pork sausage) and giardiniera tavern style, crust is so crispy AND buttery. The sweetness from the sausage and the spicy tangy crunch giardiniera go so well together IMO. The red sauce is on the sweet side which is very south side. It didn't give me heartburn at all which is such a relief but I'd gladly go through for 'za. The service is walk up order/pay. I appreciate that they split the dining area in two. One side there are bleachers where the to go orders can wait for their order. The other side has tables for dining. They have available gendered restrooms for customers and coffee available all day. I've been following Novel Pizza since they started with their pop-ups, so I was thrilled to hear about their brick and mortar opening up. I'm sure we will be coming back soon for Pizza Fridays, it's well worth the drive for us from the suburbs. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Longanisa and giardiniera - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm pretty impressed with this pizzeria. We visited late Saturday evening, as was fortunate to snag a table in the small space. We ordered a custom pizza consisting of sausage and peppers on one half, giardinera on the other half, and a side of fries as an appetizer (it's a 45ish minute wait for the pizza to cook). The fries unfortunately came with the pizza, but everything tastes very good. The pizza tasted like your started tavern-style pizza, but the toppings were plentiful without dominating the cheese, so it was a nice ratio. The fries were also good - no salt was added onto our steak fries, but they were very fresh and they have condiments that you can use for dipping. The vibe is a friendly, local, hole-in-the-wall pizzeria. The employees and owner were very friendly and welcoming, and respectful when it came to turning other guests away if they didn't have the space or time to make their order (we came about 1.5 hours before closing). I'll definitely visit again, but would plan on takeout because they likely won't have seating to dine in. read more

First off an honor to be the first 5 star of many 5 stars to come. Novel Pizza is plane and simple a special spot. Their well done razor thin tavern pizza is exactly what you want. Came with some friends on opening and it did not disappoint. The service was so warm and welcoming. Made me want to take 3 hrs to eat my pizza just the hangout with this crew. Ambiance is super rad and so fitting for the booming pilsen area. Made me feel cooler just being here haha I'm confident Novel will quickly become very well known in Chicago. Buckle up this place is amazing. read more

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Very yummy! We had the Cheese and Sausage tavern style pizza and were very happy with the crust and toppings. We'll be trying the pan style next! read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Novel Menu - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This spot is a gem and eating this pizza is a special event. Both styles are great. Longanisa & Giardiniera or the Hot Pep are the favorites. read more

At my age, it's hard to believe that I could find a new favorite pizza place (for thin crust). This is actually happening. This is damn good pizza! I love it! read more

Food, tried the Hot Pep pizza... was amazing. Staff was great!! Great environment. Can't wait to go back! read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Got an espresso. Tasted great and it even came with a free sparkling water. Pizza looks good but is expensive so I didn't get any. I'm sure it's fine. read more

Novel Pizza Cafe - Espresso and my free sparkling water - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We've been meaning to try Novel Pizza since they opened, and finally got the chance! We ordered online and walked there to pick up. The staff were incredibly friendly and the pizza was fantastic! We'll be back, probably once a week! read more

Great pizza, great coffee... together-- the perfect combo! Awesome and cool environment with a fun family atmosphere. Best pizza and coffee in the Southside! read more

THEY TAKE REVIEWS DOWN IN ORDER TO HIDE THE TRUTH! Cheap tavern pizza, in the sense that they spared every expense in the making of it. There is no quality here just novelty and gimmicks. Here for a quick buck much like every other cash grab social media promoted restaurant. Venture as far as you can from this place into a real quality establishment. Overly priced, doesn't reflect any aspect of community especially the Pilsen one. There is no aspect of tavern pizza here, leave tavern as niche and stop exploiting it. There is no ambiance here just social media drones following the hype. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL CHEAP PIZZA SHOP. THEY ARE PROBABLY BOTH MADE WITH THE SAME INGREDIENTS. read more

Nice people, crispy and delicious pizza, worth the wait! Go get it and tell me if I'm wrong.

This was our first time visiting and not enough seating. The pizza crust, sausage and cheese was not as tasty as I would have liked especially for the price. Order taker was awesome. read more