By far one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. Love the atmosphere and the staff is friendly and make you feel welcome. It's very cozy in the winter and I also really enjoy the outdoor seating in the summer! read more

Best deep dish in Chicago if its hot. Pick a slice from the freshest pizza to be assured the best. Art of "Art" of the Pizza is often working the register. Great local joint. read more

I wasn't in love with the pizza. I wish I would have known it was BYOB, and I wish there was a liquor store close by. I got the fungi pizza it needed more seasoning. I wouldn't recommend going here. read more

We've been going to Pizza Art Cafe now for over a year now. My husband happened to find it after searching for brick oven pizza. Ever since the first visit we've been hooked. Its a total bang for your buck. I believe we paid about less than $25 total w/tip for both of us. We each had a pizza to ourselves. After many visits to Pizza Art and introducing tons of our friends and family to it, I have tried almost all of their pizzas BUT my favorite is the Fungii. The icing on the cake of course is that its BYOB. I cannot tell you how many fun drinking filled evening I have had here. read more

I would venture to say that this pizza is currently my favorite at the moment. Tons of flavor, just the right amount of cheese and a hint of garlic - I had the Fungi (sp?) pizza, and I almost ordered another after we finished the first, literally. Location is very cute, and very romantic. Note: MAKE A RESERVATION. The staff was also VERY accommodating. A girlfriend and I went on a very busy Saturday night, and they were packed. We didn't have a reservation, but they told us if we could eat in an hour and fifteen minutes, we could have a table, which was fine by us. The prices are awesome. We split minestrone soup, a pizza (which was HUGE, a large medium or a small large) and the Nutella Crepes for UNDER $20. The place is BYOB which is pretty amazing. I really wanted to give this place five stars, but our server ruined the perfect rating. As a former server myself, I know it is completely inappropriate to just drop off food, run away and not ask how we're doing, if we need anything, etc. Subsequently, we were flagging her down for routine things like SILVERWARE and WATER. They also wouldn't split our check, which was annoying. Also, no bread on the table? At an authentic Italian restaurant, this is a bit strange. Other than our server, everything was perfect and I'm going back this weekend! read more

We had the bruschetta, thanks to these yelps. Was unlike any bruschetta I've ever, and clearly the best I've ever had. The soups and pastas were great too. We didn't try the pizza but certainly will next time. It's a small BYOB and you may have to wait for a table, but it's well worth the wait. read more

The pizza is brick oven and very good, lots of toppings. I had the hot octopus and it was AMAZING!

Really quite good. My table ordered a salad, bruschetta, and two pizzas. It was plenty of food for the three of us. The pizza was good, but not the best brick oven pizza I have had. I thought it would have been nice to have fresh mozzarella on the margherita pizza, but it was shredded. Still good. The salad was solid, a typical salad, very fresh. The bruschetta is really outstanding, that is what makes this place a 4 star vs. a 3 star. It was on focaccia bread with goat cheese and tomatoes, let me just say, double yum. It's a must!! I'll be back just for that. It's also BYOB, which is great. read more

Great place. BYOB with tasty bruscheta app. The mussels and shrimp was great. The pizza are personal. Lasagna pizza was def good.

Really a nice place. Great service; the waiter checked-in various times to make sure everything was groovy; and the bruschetta was really really good. Pizza lasagna was so tasty and the Greek salad was terrific. Everything was as wonderful as my semicolon use in the first sentence. read more

Came here a few times already, and so far so good! I ordered their margarita pizza and it was so good! We ordered their bruschetta for appetizers and it was delicious. We also tried dessert. I had the Nutella crepes and my hubby had the cannoli. Both amazingly delicious! Service and food was phenomenal!!! We will definitely be back when in the Lincoln Square area!!! :) read more

Yum. I love this place just off the Rockwell stop (just 8 quick stops north of Belmont on the brown line), and don't you dare confuse it with that awful "Art of Pizza" place on Ashland that unfortunately shares practically the same name. That place is a pizza imposter. This place... Quiet, cozy, cool and funky. Corkscrews on every table (BYOB), so not only do you avoid a corkage fee, you also avoid feeling awkward for asking for the damned ability to enjoy your own wine! But really, let's not talk about that. PIZZA is why you're here, and it is the best. I am a NYC pizza snob. I think everything here in Chicago stinks. I'm sorry. I do. This is delicious, wood-burning-oven, fresh-toppings-seemingly-from-the-outside-garden pizza. You can watch them bake your dinner in the open oven from your table, and it smells like no crappy Midwest thin-crust I've ever had. It is the real deal. It is NOT a copycat business. This is an ART and they've got it down. Oh I get the name now! They get the art of this dish down to the spices and crust you've never paid attention to before because you thought it was just superficial food flourish. My gosh. Am I about to say it melts in your mouth? It's the bomb. It's like $10 a pizza. It can feed three people. If you want, spend $4.95 on the freshest (there's that word again) and BIGGEST house salad ever. It will also feed three people. Skip dessert. Just about anywhere does it better, and this place does it "just OK". It suffices to say that you can only be an expert at one thing at a time. It's never crowded here. Sometimes a weekend night at 7 will have you waiting a little bit. So what? You're probably in a neighborhood you never frequent. Check out the pet store, the dive bar, the coffee shop, the RIVER for pete's sake. Check it out and slow down for the evening. This place encourages you to, and I think that's why I don't mind the inattention of the waiters as much as some. I never plan to rush off to Crobar afterwards. read more

A wonderful little spot off the rockwell brownline stop. If you'd like to have a lovely date or girl's night out on a budget, Pizza Art Cafe will treat you right. Charming ambiance, friendly service, un-snotty byob (no corkage fee) and freshly baked thin crust pizza...it's a winner. Always a treat remembering that this place is in the neighborhood. (even if you're not around the corner it's definitely worth the trip.) read more

4.5 stars for Pizza Art Cafe. It is in the neighborhood and probably the best food within walking distance. The price point is really great, and it is BYOB so a party of 2 can have 3 courses (soup, pizza, shared dessert) for around 40 bucks (tax/tip included). I recommend the minestrone soup, to start (a cup is plenty, the bowl could be an entree) it is pretty astonishing how well it is seasoned, I almost always expect minestrone soups to be watery and blah, but this one does not disappoint. The pizzas are awesome, thin bubbly crust with an appropriate amount of cheese, and fresh and interesting toppings. Service is always friendly, sometimes they miss the boat on being totally attentive, but it is forgiveable. In our experience Sonny has been the most consistent server. My understanding is this place used to be an eastern european deli (notice the cevapcici on the menu), but changed formats a few years ago...I think that was a smart move, it is busy all the time, and is helping to make Rockwell/Ravenswood Gardens a viable sub-sub-neighborhood commerce area. read more

GREAT pizza! Best Neapolitan pizza I've tried in Chicago yet. If only they delivered I'd have this place more. Their salads are delicious and large enough to share. Very affordable and it's BYOB! When it's warm enough they open the front plus they have a few tables out front. The spinaci pizza is my favorite. It's plenty large to share or get your own because you'll want it again for lunch or dinner the next day! read more

Great food at a great price, BYOB is definitely a plus, but consistently slow service. Enjoy the super atmosphere while you predictably wait. read more

This place could easily be in the 4-5 star range if the Blitzen Trapper listening hipsters could understand one incredibly simple concept: a pleasant dining experience is more than just good food...it is also GOOD SERVICE! And how would I know what good service is, you may ask? Well, I was a career waiter for a few years before my current occupation, so I consider myself an expert at knowing the difference between bad service and slow service due to unexpected large crowds, kitchen problems, being triple sat, etc. In the three times I've been here, I've received bad service all three times. And each time, the waitress/waiter was either rude, unattentive, spacey, or nowhere to be found (which is hillarious considering the small space). Bad service has seemed to become an epidemic in Chicago, as I've noticed it more this year than in year's past. I mean, I get it: this isn't your career, you're really a writer/actor/musician/poet/comedian, and this is just your day-job until your "big break." And I KNOW that some customers can be really, really, really irritating. But why pre-emptively take it out on your's truly because things haven't worked out in the entertainment industry thus far? For this restaurant, it's a shame, as the pizza is a very high-quality brick oven pie. Also a huge plus is the BYOB policy which does NOT require some ridiculous corkage fee. But due to the consistent rude service, I have taken my future pizza eating endeavours to Pizza D.O.C. and Spacca Napoli read more

I went here for dinner with a friend last night for the first time. Like other reviews, I will agree that the service was just OK. The food was really great, though. We had the caprese salad, which was kind of eh. For pizza, we decided to go with something different and try the Capricciosa. I'm generally a pepperoni & mushroom kind of girl, so this was a stretch for me. However, it was amazing! A great blend of flavors and none of them overpowering the others. You must save room for dessert... the Nutella Crepes are incredible. So good! read more

I went to Pizza Art Cafe over the summer and it was AMAZING! Their bruschetta is from another world... so good! It's BYO... and the front patio in summer is to die for. read more

I have since been here countless times - 30 maybe? Wow. It's so tasty and great as a leftover. The pasta is great too. I'd recommend you come, but it's been harder and harder to get in on the weekends recently...so stay away! read more

Great pizza, I like BYOB, interesting selection, good price, cool location.

Very nice alternative to ordering pizza from almost anywhere else. Ive ordered from here roughly 5 times, every time i have picked up a pizza. Ive been meaning to dine in, the atmosphere looks very nice and id imagine the pizza must be tasting even better in the restaurant itself. in any case, nice little local place with fresh pizza and fresh ingredients. read more

Great cozy little place. Great pizza, great bruschetta, cevapi and crepes! Oh and the BYOB. Service could be a bit more attentive but the food and prices make it worth the while. read more

Delicious pizza, and good service. If you left the restaurant without trying the Bruschetta, you did it wrong.

I have walked by this place longer than it has been open. I've only just stopped in tonight. I have a gluten allergy. I'm used to the cold shoulder. They don't have a gluten free pie, and they didn't apologize. So what. They do have an oven roasted octopus with potatoes in a broth that is unparalleled by any other. They used fresh herbs like it were spinach. Bursting. Bursting with flavor. I like a pinch more seasoning, but for the civilians, at this price point it is a must try and try again. read more

I'm not the kind of person that eats out at Italian or Italian influenced restaurants; originally from Bolzano, it's safe to say I know my Italian food. The date and I ordered the Siciliana and the oven roasted octopus. The waiter told us that the octopus usually takes about 45 min but we had are Stella's to drink so we were in no rush. While waiting we noticed that the waiter took on 3 jobs. He was waiting tables, bussing tables, and also being a hostess. Kudos my friend! You busted your butt that night. The octopus was a mushy on the outside but very chewy and firm towards the inside but I did enjoy the sauce with onions and potatoes we ate all of that but left the octopus. The most disappointing part was the pizza... Rule of thumb in Italian cooking ITS ALL ABOUT THE SAUCE and there was little in our pizza it was just straight up cheese I wish I could describe it a little more but again it was just cheese. Personally I like it a little burnt but the whole bottom was just charred reminded me of captn crunch where it would just destroy the roof of your mouth. we usually take our leftover to give to the homeless under the bridge by lake shore but once being in the food industry we've became very tolerant when restaurants are busy or understaffed so we were mad at all the waiter was busy and he was doing the best he can all at the same time being very polite and accommodating. so yeah, 2 stars just for the waiter but the food yeah not really. read more

This is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Fantastic wood fired pizza in all its blistered crispy crust glory, excellent fresh salads (caprese, and fragola are incredible), great tira mi su, AND BYOB! It's right by the Rockwell brown line stop which is both convenient and great for people watching while relaxing with great food, friends, and glass of wine. I've been coming here for several years and the food has always been outstanding and the service welcoming. read more

Cant even say i eat at this place but the owner / guy who's always making the pizzas was so rude to me when I went inside to ask if it was possible for dogs to sit on their deck / side walk curb. Dogs on patios is something common about restaurants throughout the city however I always ask someone first before even bringing my dog near or around that outdoor seating I'm totally fine if they would have said no however he threw a fit in front of me like he was so appalled I even ask that. I'm normally not someone to strike back however after a few rude comments from him, I literally walked out of there looking at him saying f you! Funny thing is that happened a year ago and I was just seeing if maybe I could get it together to go there then I started reading all the reviews on how rude that guy has been other people and I was compelled to post this .... don't waste your money here! read more

We have been Neighbors to Art cafe for about about ten years now, and we still love them...that's saying something. A great place to dine in or take out, I've never ordered something that I didn't like. My current favorites: PIZZA! Diavola, spinaci, and bolongese. Try it, you'll like it. read more

love love love the pizza- hate hate hate the service. we came in to a dead restaurant with a party of five when our reservation said six and I actually got an eye roll!! WTF read more

Wonderful service, check. Scrumptious food, check. Great atmosphere, check! This little slice of heaven has it all, a fun friendly staff, food you can't stop eating and its BYOB. My friends and I eat there often and we have tried just about everything on the menu without any complaints. The veggie pizza is a must, along with the brushette. It is small and intimate, so if you have a big group you may want to go elsewhere. But if food is your only concern, they have the best pizza in town! read more

I've gone here twice. The first time, the food was good, but the service was lousy. The second time the service was even worse, and the food was only so-so. The first time, it was packed, and we were sitting outside. Other tables seemed to be getting mediocre to decent service, but the server acted as though it was a chore to come to my table, had no recommendations and was impatient. Also, after I finished eating and waited an additional 15 minutes, I went looking for her to find the bill. The second time, it was nearly empty, but the server preferred to stand around staring at the wall and out the window instead of come to the table. I was so thirsty, I had some of the (already opened) bottle of water on the table. I figured they open and reuse the bottles for serving. When I got the bill, we were charged for the water, which then grossed me out because it had been opened. And something tasted weird with my pizza. I really wanted to like this place, but I won't be going back. read more

This is how to do classy pizza!! It's not just a pizza joint, it's a gourmet pizza joint! Delicious food and reasonably priced. The place itself is also classy enough to take a romantic date to. I will go back for sure! read more

Not a large place, seating for maybe 30 inside, and another 16 outside. BYOB. We got an appetizer of mozzarella and tomatoes to start, and I got a calzone and my wife got a pizza. Both were fantastic, they do a thin, wood-fired crust that comes out crispy. Toppings were plentiful, and it wasn't greasy. For dessert we had the gnutella-stuffed crepes, which were amazing. we left stuffed, and with dinner for another night. Our server was prompt and polite - it looks like service was a problem for others, but it was great for us. We brought our 16-month-old - they have high chairs and paper to cover the table clothes, so it was definitely kid-accepting, but it wasn't as kid-friendly as Rockwell's read more

This is seriously the best pizza and the best food I think I've ever enjoyed! I'm super biased b/c I just can't get enough of the pizzas and their smoked meat. I love every pizza they serve-the diavola, ricola, vegetariana, mushroom and garlic, mozarella, siliciana to name a few! I love their house meat-it's the best favor! I could eat a plate of it and nothing else. Their salads are solid and a always a good starter. I enjoy their grilled veggies too. I've also enjoyed the mussels too. My husband and I have been coming here for over 3 years-their food was about the only thing I could eat pregnant. And now my daughter eats it all up too! I wish I could take out a portion of the house meat and eat that alone! It gets really warm in here in the summer but I survived 9 mths pregnant eating inside during the summer! I can't imagine a complaint from this place ever! read more

Friends took us here and we thought the pizza was great. The Capricciosa pizza was the best... we loved the idea of adding an egg over easy to the toppings, it made for an interestingly delicious taste. The ambience is also very cozy and intimate. Great for a date (or double date). BYOB is also a huge plus! read more

Two stars because the food is good. Unfortunately, this place has fallen off tremendously in the service department. Maybe it was a blip on the screen, but I don't really know if I would go back to find out. Got there tonight around 7:40. It was busy but not all of the tables were occupied. We got a seat right away. We ordered pretty quickly after sitting down. We were a party of four, and each of us ordered a salad or soup to start. It was after 8:30 before we received the soups/salads. The minestrones that came out were room temperature as if they just forgot to heat them. The pizzas came out maybe fifteen minutes later after we had been there well over an hour. Everyone was having the same experience. It was hard to figure out who to blame. One of the servers seemed to know what she was doing. The other was clearly new (he referred to the prosciutto on my pizza as prosc-y-oo-to and thought it was a kind of cheese). The servers blamed the cooks. I guess I blame the owner. He/she has a staffing problem, it seems, but wasn't there (or wasn't visible at least) helping out, apologizing, or anything. And he/she knows there is a staffing problem. The help wanted sign has been up in the restaurant for weeks, if not months. Too bad. The food here really is good, but that's not enough to save what appears to be a sinking ship. read more

The most delicious pizza ever, actually everything on the menu is good, their house salad is great too. BOB. They don't have that many servers so if it is busy kinda sucks. But they are very nice and they try to accommodate you, we always come with my baby and the stroller and they are always nice and gives a nice table. Also, their prices are very reasonable. read more

Great food at amazing value! Not sure what's up w. all the complaints about the service because every time I was there the service was good if not VERY good. Then again, I like to treat my waiting staff with respect, so maybe that accounts for something... read more

My husband and I are appalled by the terrible service here. We arrived at 6:15pm and spoke with the hostess, requesting a patio seat and clearly stating that we had two small dogs. She told us the wait would be about 20-25 minutes. We told her we'd walk our dogs around while waiting. We returned about 25-30 minutes later and were told to stay by the window with our dogs so they could see us when a table was ready. After waiting for almost an hour, a table cleared up and we approached. We were then told by another hostess that we could not sit on the patio with the dogs. We expressed our confusion, as we had explicitly stated that we had two dogs and requested a patio table. We then asked to speak with the manager and were told that the manager was not available. After leaving the restaurant we called and requested to speak to the manager again. He was curt and unsympathetic. He appeared uninterested in correcting the misinformation of his staff & offered no token of apology for our Friday evening wasted waiting for a table we couldn't have. We had previously enjoyed coming to this establishment and were incredibly disappointment at the lack of empathy and appreciation for customers. We will not come here again, nor would we recommend it to others based on the poor customer service. read more