Lauren R.

Thank you Spacca Napoli for introducing me to bufaleta pizza. I had no idea how to pronounce the pizzas when I went into this little gem, but the waitor was extremely friendly and helped me interpret everything. I had an awesome goat cheese & lentil appetizer, 2 pizzas (amongst friends) and spumoni rolled in cocoa powder and hazelnuts. All fresh, authentic, and ridiculously delicious. Check out my food blog for more in-depth descriptions for several other restaurants, too: chicagofoodfan.wordpress… No editing here, folks - eat up!

Lauren L.

Love this place. The pizza is delicious with its fresh tomato, basil and mozzarella. That fresh flavor paired with the hints of char from the brick oven keep me going back. Other than the pizza I usually order the insalada mista. It's also fresh with a balanced proportion of vinegrette. Location is also a plus for Spacca. It's accessible whether your driving or taking the train. The Montrose Brown is a block away and parking is abundant along Ravenswood.

Ashley M.

Can't believe this place has been right under our noses! Perfect thin crust, brick oven, Neapolitan style pizza. Fresh quality toppings. I crave their pies on a regular basis. Try it!!!

Cindy A.

I wish that I lived in the neighborhood so that I could dine here often. I went for the first time last night, and everything was perfect. The appetizer portions were large. We had the antipasti and burrata. We had two pizzas for three people, and even had a few pieces leftover. Good selections of both white and red pizzas, with three additional specials. Great wine list, very descriptive. A good mix of couples, groups and families with children. Service was excellent, and they handed out mini cannolis as we were leaving. We went earlier on a Friday night, and it was pretty full, but not crowded. Highly recommend.

Anna S.

I moved from California to Chicago 6 months ago. So, I thought when people refer to pizza in Chicago, they always mean deep dish pizza. That's why I was amazed to see Spacca Napoli is #1 in Pizza category of Chicago Zagat (Lou Malnati's tied for 1st place. I love it, too). In Spacca Napoli, we can enjoy friendly service, fancy terrace, and non-fatty, authentic pizzas. I liked Mozzerlla di Buffala especially. But, I can't rave about it. It is a little pricey. Actually I visited some well-known restaurant of thin-crust pizza in St. Paul, San Francisco, Tokyo and Italy, they offered great pizzas at more reasonable prices.

Thomas D.

I consider myself somewhat of a pizza snob and Spacca Napoli did not disappoint. There was a special salad of the day which was roasted beets. It was basically sliced beets and onions. NOT GOOD at all. It was a chore to eat it. I have never seen so many beets in my life. Ordered the diavolo pizza- Came out perfectly cooked. The cheese was rich and creamy, loved the spicy salami as well as the basil. The crust was real crispy, but a tad soggy towards the middle. Beautiful char on the bottom. Some of the best neapolitan pizza I have had. Overall I give it four stars for the below average service and that god awful salad. Check it out!

Koan D.

Love this place! Tried it for the first time today, Spiro was great and went through everything on the menu with us to help us decide. We got the bufalina pizza, made with buffalo cheese and basil. It was amazing, soft, flavorful, affordable, and most surprisingly, ready in about five minutes! We also tried the hazelnut and pistachio gelato, also delicious. We'll be back for sure. You've got to try this place!

Jesster A.

We went, in part, because of the review of my trusted cher amiga, Lindley E. - and I have to disagree with her on one matter: ANY of the appetizers that involve Bufala Mozzerella (especially when joined/combined with the Insalata Mista) can be scrumptious...! However - the pizza is grand - and plan on ordering (at least) two for a party of two... You really can't miss with any of the selections - but our personal favorites are Funghi e Salsiccia (mushrooms and sausage) and Proscuitto e Rucola (arugula) - both are totally delish! Desserts? They sound good - but who has room? BTW - parking has never been a problem.

Keith W.

I love this place. Good pizza with crust to die for! An excellent neighborhood restaurant with top notch service. The owners are exceptionally gracious and walk around giving people samples of cheese, pizza, etc while they are waiting for tables. The best neapolitna style pizza our city has to offer.

Federica L.

Best pizza in Chicago.

Jason Z.

Bufalina pizza with fresh tomatoes, basil, mozzarella di bufala, and olive oil is my #2 pizza of all time (my #1 is completely different, so it is hard to compare)! Plus the owner (he acted like it) was so extremely nice, he made you feel like your friend that goes there every day...he gave us pizza dough when we left, which we baked later for another meal...so nice!

Joe S.

not my thing really. quality product and setting but i'm too american to enjoy this style of pizza. it's good for what it is.

Anna N.

Best and most authentic pizza around! I love the arugula pizza and the white sauce ones are excellent. I carried out an order recently and it was a busy Friday night. I didn't have to wait long, but they still gave me a complimentary glass of wine. The zucchini appetizer is EXCELLENT and has me anxious to go back for it again.

F M.

We have been a fan of this place since they opened in 2006. We just went back a couple of days ago and still been the same good pizza and service. This time they had a guest chef from Italy and few new choices of Pizza in the menu. We love their house salad with the fresh olives and excellent balsamic vinegar that has a hint of sweetness. Their pizzas are always good too. The place is hard to get in to at dinner time, and there is a reason for it, it is a great place to eat well, drink a moscato and an ending with a good Italian espresso. Maybe not the place some are looking with fusion etc but a solid place nevertheless. Agree with the rest, try the Burrata as an appetizer.

Scott R.

Outstanding pizza. Appetizers were not as good, but that's not why we were there.

Anita W.

The gf and I were back in the windy city in late April and happened upon this lovely little gem - thanks to all of you yelpers! Loved the pizza, loved the fresh mixed greens salad, loved the ambiance. Had great service. No complaints. The fifth star is reserved for The Homemade Pizza Company - THE BEST EVER!!

Caitlin M.

I love Spacca Napoli! We came here on a recommendation from a co-worker on a Friday night. It was pretty crowded but we managed to snag a 2-top table within 5 minutes. SWEET. Since returning from Italy last summer, I've been hunting for pizza that fits that caliber - Spacca does it. Fresh ingredients.. Authentic staff. I'm pretty sure everyone working there was off the boat italian. Plus you get a free cannoli on your way out the door! The only thing lacking is the beer selection. I do enjoy a beer with my pizza and they pretty much limit it to a few italian beers.

Vaidehi T.

I am upgrading my rating to 4 and a half stars!!! I ordered the margherita pizza again and it was to die for. Simple but executed perfectly. Loved it. I could eat that pizza everyday. Perfect amount of sauce and cheese and soft and delicious crust. YUM!! The burrata is sooo good too. It is a huge portion for an appetizer - very rich and decadent. If you are a fan of authentic Neopolitan pizza that tastes like what they serve in Italy, then run don't walk to this place !!

Elizabeth N.

You could order anything here and it would probably be delicious. I don't even remember what we ordered but it had fresh mozzerella and arugula. And the recommended wine was a solid compliment. What a great surprise.

johnny b.

Best fresh moz I've ever had. Also pizza was great. Good sit down place.

Jeanie P.

DELICIOUS!!! The pizza is super fresh here! And they have outdoor patio seating! I usually never order pizza at restaurants, but this pizza was great! Was a great lunchtime place~ Each pizza is like personal size and quite big. (Haha but I still finished it.. :D) It was thin and light, but flavorful! And you could tell the ingredients were very fresh. I got the pizza with the mushrooms and Italian sausage which I highly recommend. Also there were several vegetarian options as well :) The only thing is that the menu is simple and doesn't have anything super creative or fancy, so keep an ear out for the specials!

scott B.

If you are thinking of going here, don't bother and Head over to Pizza D.O.C. on Lawrence near Western instead if you want that style of pizza. The pizza, ingredients and service at D.O.C is head over heals better than this place. As far as our experience at Spacca Napoli -We ordered a mushroom and sausage pizza and they were very stingy with the ingredients. Our pizza was soggy as well. Our waitress ignored us. Finally came over to take our order after 15 minutes. Never checked on us after the food came. We won't be back

Drea E.

Pizza adoration. I just loved it. The toppings are all fresh and authentic, I was with a large group and everyone loved what they ordered, but the thing that makes a pizza a great pizza for me is a great crust. A super thin, chewy, hot oven charred savory crust. Not the dried out too-dense crust you find all over Chicago, honest to god great crust. That said, the toppings are great too- San Marzano tomatoes, bufala mozzarella, crisp arugula, tiny ripe tomatoes, fresh sausage... Get here early to snag a table on the patio, and you won't regret it.

Aileen T.

My boyfriend has been obsessed lately with finding the best thin(ner) crust pizza in Chicago. We've eaten at Spacca Napoli many times and are always pleased with the service and quality of the food. I should add that we've managed to avoid the crowds by going on a Sat-Sun afternoon before/after a visit to the dog beach. I'm not an olive lover but the bowl of green olives (don't know the name) are yummy! By the way, dogs are allowed on the outdoor patio, which is always a plus for me.

T N.

Great pizza! If you are in the Ravenswood Area, definitely pick up a couple of pies. The wood fired flavor comes through and the pizza's take two minutes to make. We ordered the sausage and basil and we were not disappointed. The sausage was spicy without being over bearing and the basil was large leaf with great flavor. The sizes are perfect to get two pizzas for two or three adults. We live in the suburbs and try to stop in when we are in the area. It does get crowded, but they taste great at home too!

Miranda B.

Went on a Monday night for my bday and it was still fairly packed. My friend and I both went for vegetarian pizzas and they were delish. The light crispy crust just wouldn't seem right with big chunks of meat glommed on to it... Anyhoo, the food was delish, i can't wait to go back. The server we had was very nice, but could have been a little more attentive. Then again, it was packed. Come here for a great alternative to Chicago's deep-dish, heart-attack inducing pizza tradition...

Scott W.

Note: YELP iPhone app says Spacca Napoli is Closed on Tuesdays (and maybe some other days), however, call the restaurant because it might be open for dinner only. Don't miss it. Yum.

James M.

I've heard great things about the place, but also heard that recently it hasn't been very consistent. I'm not sure if it was skill or luck, but our pizzas were perfect. And we only waited for 5-10 mins on a Sat night, which was great also. Will be back!!!

Diana A.

So I was all ready to give this place at least 4 stars because the pizzas my friend and I ordered (margherita for her, prosciutto for me) were pretty damn good. Then...as were drinking our wine, having ordered a BOTTLE, some dude with longer curly hair came up to us and asked us to wrap it up. Excuse me? We just dropped $70 at your restaurant - surely that entitles us to finish our bottle of wine! Apparently it was more important to him to turn our table. By no means were we lingering: we arrived at 6:30 and I was at Sheffield's for post-dinner drinks by 7:45. Needless to say, i will not be returning. At least in the real Naples, Italy, they'd never rush you out the door. Poseurs.

Bobby H.

Spacca Napoli was one of the better pizza experiences (of many) that I've had in Chicago. Upon arrival (early on a Tuesday) we were immediately seated and waited upon. Service was prompt and friendly. The pizzas aren't big - between two adults and one child we split two whole pizzas - but what they might lack in size they make up for in quality and flavor. We had the salsiccia and a daily white special and both were fantastic. Wine and spumoni rounded out the dinner nicely. The fact that they were on the a la card deck was nice as well. Will definitely be coming back.

Karis F.

Spacca Napoli is my go-to neighborhood restaurant. I've never had a bad meal here. If the burrata appetizer is on the menu, you MUST order it! The pizzas are amazing and are the closest thing to what you will find in Italy. The spicy Diavola is my favorite, but I also love the Funghi e Salsiccia. Note: They do not take to-go orders over the phone - you need to order in person. I'm pretty sure this is because the pizzas are ready so quickly and they want to make sure you get yours fresh out of the oven. Last time I ordered to-go they brought me a free glass of wine and my pizza was ready in no time.

Beth M.

The Marinara pizza is a simple yet flavourful option for vegans. No cheese, just tomato sauce, fresh basil leaves and peppery chunks of garlic. The waiter asked if I wanted to add any vegetables on top; I opted for mushrooms. They were good quality mushrooms - perhaps crimini - not just your standard white buttons. I managed to eat the whole pizza, but generally you would probably have some leftovers to take home. Reasonably priced and a treat for the taste buds. The complimentary glass of prosecco while waiting for dinner companions to arrive was a nice touch.

Ermelinda C.

Hands down the best pizza place in Chicago!!!!!!!!!! My fiancee and I have been on a hunt for some great, authentic, Italian style pizza for nearly three years. Our search is over - Spacca Napoli is the best pizza / Italian establishment we have been to in Chicago. The staff is friendly and the food just great. The fried zucchini is a must-try, so are the grilled vegetable plate and pizza Capricciosa (often offered as a special). Can't have enough of Spacca Napoli.

Don D.

Great atmosphere. 1 of the best appetizers I've ever had. Big chunk of mozzarella cheese with buffalo milk in the middle served with toasted bread very tasty. Ordered 3 pizzas, all very good would go back!!

Joe I.

Great pizza. This was one of the very first to bring the concept of Pizza Napoletana to light. Just go in and order anything. You can't miss. Daily specials don't disappoint. Give it a try.

Rick F.

Great Service. Pizza came out so fast I barely blinked my eye! It was excellent! Reminded me of Napoli and Capri Style Pizza! I though I saw Kelsey Gramar leaving the restroom and mentioned to the server that this person looks just like him. The server said, it is him and he frequents the restaurant all the time. Cool! The decor and space could have been designed a little differently. I'll be back with all my friends!

Andrea M.

80% true Italian pizza. As close as it can get. The pasta was really good: thick (Neapolitan stile) and well cooked (no flour residuals on the bottom). Just a little chewy, some folks like it some don't, it's a matter of taste. My friend and I opted for the special pizza of the day. Guanciale and spinach, on the top of a mozzarella di bufala bed. Well cooked and quickly served. The atmosphere of the place was friendly and cosy. We got here at 5.30pm (couldn't have a table later on) and the place was already packed. We got our meals very quickly and, while getting out, we have a free cannoli on the go. A nice Italian touch to our dinner.

Mabrie B.

Yummmmmy! Cute atmosphere - Check Good food - Check Good prices - Check Menu not over crowded - Check Great out door seating - Check Pizza that's a little more chard for my taste - Check Great place! Only complaint is the pizza may have been a little to chard but not bad enough to send back. Will SO come back to this place. While there are other pizza places that I like better, this place knows how to pair ingredients nicely!

Rebecca F.

Great pizza, a little pricey, but worth it. If it were less expensive I'd probably go there twice a week... I don't love their wine selection. I always get the same pizza - the Sorrentina with arugula.. Love it. Also: I wish it were open a little later in the evening.

Rachel G.

What a fabulous, fun experience! The pizzas are delicious and creative. The toppings are fresher than fresh and high quality. The crust is perfect-flavorful, chewy, and made with care. The burrata is heavenly and served with crusty, delicious bread. Just get it. Service is friendly and laid back, but still attentive and professional. We had an 8:30 reservation on a Saturday, but chose to wait a bit for an outdoor table given that it was a beautiful night. The wait was relatively short and the staff even brought out slices of focaccia for those of us waiting. I was blown away by this beautiful touch. This place knows what it is doing!

Leah P.

This place is delicious, warm and inviting. Wonderful for families, great for group gatherings, date nights or night out with friend. They have an excellent wine list. The Burrata mozzarella is so creamy. The broccoli rabe and sausage pizza has long been a favorite. On my last visit it was a bit over cooked but the crust is out of this world. Came here after the baptisms of both kids at All Saints. Really a good place.

Ann C.

Ate here for the first time the other day! Super amazing! Had the pizze tarufo which was a white pizza w crispy bacon and an egg in the middle, along w the pizze diavla which wasted sauce, basil and mozzarella. Had some appetizers too, a type of buffalo mozzarella that was super soft, and light she said "flown in from Italy". Wherever it came from, it was great! Had the Tartufo for dessert, and they gave us canolis as we left! Highly recommended. Will definitely come back here to eat again! Very traditional Italian food!

Jason K.

I love this place! I've taken, family, friends from out of town and even celebrated an anniversary here. The cuisine is fantastic at a fair price.

Ellen V.

How have I missed to rate Spacca Napoli yet? We are going to this place for about 6 years, never never disappointed. Took all my guests who were visiting Chicago to eat there. High quality ingredients, excellent buffalo mozzarella that you would rarely in other restaurants. When we come there we do not need the menu :) We just go for white pizza and deserts! And .. do not forget "on the house" cannoli on your way out :) Yammy!!! Love the patio during summer time.

Christina G.

Insanely good pizza. While I went with girls from work (we are all in our 20s) there seemed to be a lot of families there. Three pizzas and an app were enough for 5 very hungry people. I've always been a fan of authentic Italian style pizza but I haven't been able to find a good spot in Chicago, but now I have! The prosciutto and arugula pizza was by far my favorite. I don't know what they do to their meats but you can taste the smokey flavor in the prosciutto. Beyond delicious. I loved everything about it. 5 stars because while we waited the chef brought us mini pizza slices.

Arthur M.

Girlfriend and I went up north for pizza at Spacca Napoli. They have summer hours: open on Monday and Tuesday. It started to rain really hard. I got San Pelligrino chinnoto, limonata and a double espresso. She had rose. We ate seafood salad seasoned with olives and pinenut raisin meatballs to start. Spicy sausage pizza and buffalo mozzarella and pepperoni (probably not called pepperoni) pizza for dinner.

Kris B.

If you love chewy, bubbly, authentic Neapolitan-style pizza, this is the place for you. Fantastic, fresh ingredients and traditional Italian flavor combinations. The brick pizza oven was brought over from Italy, and I'm told it's one of only two of its kind in Chicago. It cooks the pizzas in a flash, so you get your meal comes VERY quickly. Appetizers like creamy burrata and stuffed zucchini blossoms are also great. The patio is lovely, and on weekends you get a (delicious) free baby cannoli as you walk out the door. The servers I've had have all been knowledgeable and pronounce the Italian ingredients correctly. Nice wine list. Easy, free parking nearby on Ravenswood.

Mario A.

Can't say it is the best pizza I've ever had but damn sure close. Never disappointed with this place and love the nights when we are able to dine outside. Oh and did I say how great this pizza is. Yeah it's that good.

Charlene B.

What can I say? I dream of the pizza here. It's that good. The closest to Italy I've had outside of Italy. Go, go, go as soon as possible!

Christine B.

Thin, Italian style pizza. This was incredibly good. Perfect amount of sauce, dough and cheese. Can't wait to go back!

Stefan F.

Best wood fired pizza in town. The staff is extremely well trained and friendly. I've eaten at spacca at least a dozen times and the experience has always been excellent.

Minh D.

Excellent Italian style pizza here. Also very expensive. Portions are small I have to eat 2 to feel full. Not a weekly or monthly return customer kind of place for me. I will definitely be back for some pizza and vino.

Mary S.

My pizza, which art in my stomach, hallowed be thy taste. Thy pie doth come, it will be done, in minutes if not in seconds. Yes, this food is heavenly. I came with around 16 people for my birthday (they take reservations!!) and EVERYONE was impressed. Especially when we were ALL offered an after dinner "shot" our choice (limoncello for free? yes please!) for vacating our table -- not that we were rushed in any way. I'm very picky about my pizza after having lived in Italy for 6 months, but I will sing my praises of this restaurant and most certainly be back.

Doro R.

This is the best pizza I have found in Chicago. It is better than DOC. This pizza is not afraid of its natural inclination to be soggy in the middle. It is served whole. Head to toe, this pizza is Naples pizza. 1 star because I don't like the cleanliness or the way the owner treats his staff. I don't shop at wal-mart either.

Kristin L.

Ate lunch here on a week day while visiting Chicago. The porchetta appetizer and tomato basi pizza were delicious. The wait staff was quick and professional. Coffee was good and desserts yummy. I definitely want to come back when I return to Chicago.

Alessandro G.

Usually I tend to write detailed reviews but Spacca Napoli can be reviewed with one line: Best neapolitan style pizza in Chicago. Period. I grew up in Italy and, trust me, the pizza as good as the one you'll eat overseas. When you leave, they have a tray of mini-cannoli and you can get one for free. Assuming you can still find one... :)

Satyan M.

Best thin-crust pizza in Chicago (Piece comes a close 2nd). PERIOD. True Neapolitan style, with fresh ingredients as toppings. Also, the owner offered us a little glass of prosecco to finish off the meal, great touch. We will be coming back!

Sandy M.

A good meal was overshadowed by owner, Jon Goldsmith, asking us to give up our table, "for some hungry people." A party of three, having spent over $100.00, having just finishing dessert, should not be treated this way. None of us will go back.

Heather B.

I went to this restaurant because it was listed in the American Way magazine as a top ten pizza place in the USA. We ordered the Margarita Pizza (I highly recommend it) and a Funghi (with mushrooms). The coal oven pizza was ready very quickly and it was delicious. However it was not as crispy on the bottom as I had hoped. The weight of the extra toppings made it a little mushy. For dessert we had the Tartufo and the Pan Cotto. The dessert was out of this world. I will go back, and go back often. And I must say, the price was right.

Neal K.

I rate this place as the best Neapolitan pizza in Chicago. The only drawback is this place is LOUD. It's like they stuck 25 tables inside a steel box. Hang some rugs on the walls, redo the ceiling, SOMETHING. Go here early and try to grab a spot outside in the summer. It's worth the noise though. Not impressed with the other options at this place, but if pizza is what you want, you won't be disappointed.

Robert R.

Uhm, best. pizza. ever. Spacca Napoli = quality in every facet. Fresh ingredients, quality wine, remarkable dessert, sparkling silverware (no dishwasher water residue), etc. Though very highly rated on yelp, it was not very crowded. We waited about 10 minutes on a Saturday night (8:00pm). I highly recommend this place. Authentic low-key spot. Can't wait to go back.

Cynthia R.

Really delicious, authentic, pizza. Great neighborhood spot that you wouldn't even know was there unless you live there or just happened by it. We sat outside on a warm autumn night and it felt like we were sitting in the courtyard of a bistro in italy someplace. It's been a few years since I've done that, so it was a nice nostalgic feeling. We had the funghi pizza, which was friggin fantastic....and the Diavola, on recommendation by our server. Would love to go back and try the antipaste and dessert. Service was nice, unassuming, and respectable. Our waiter actually gave us space and time to enjoy the experience. We will definitely be back.

Natasha C.

Definitely one of the coziest, tastiest, romantic pizza places I've been to. the food is phenomenal and worth the wait. The wine was amazing. We ordered their "specials". We had the grilled vegetable app. We didn't have to wait long for our food. It was a really nice time and I recommend it, highly recommend it. We paid about $60.00 for our meal: 2 pizzas, 1 app, 1 drink and 1 wine + dessert, but it was well worth it. We sat by the window and watch people continue to pour in after 9pm on a Saturday. Families large and small were accommodated for. The entire experience was awesome. This could be my every Saturday night date spot.

Jackie G.

Service was good but to me the pizza was just okay nothing special.:( I didn't really enjoy my food experience here... The gelato wasn't that great either but my boyfriend loved his tartofu dessert

Terry L.

This authentic Naples-style pizza place is in the Ravenswood/Andersonville neighborhood. My wife and I have been here about 20 times over the last 3 years. It is consistently excellent! The owner, Jonathan, in usually there when the place is open. He is super welcoming and it is good to see him cycling around the neighborhood in the summer. When they have it, get the burrata (a creamy mozzarella-like cheese) served simply with toasted bread, olive oil and salt. It is awesome! All the pizzas are tasty, both white and red. There are always specials and the waiting staff will describe them lovingly. If you haven't tried it yet, give it a go. You won't be disappointed!

Mattie L.

This is my favorite pizza place in the city! The pizza crust is crisp yet soft and doughy. The sausage is homemade and though I am not a big "sausage pizza person" this is always a must get when I go there. To die for. I have never had a bad pizza there! Go out on a limb and try something you've never had before, you likely will not be disappointed!

Michelle K.

I've never been to Italy, so I don't know how authentic this place is. However, it was exciting when I couldn't understand most of the menu because of the Italian words. We ordered the Bufalina pizza (mozzarella made with buffalo milk), a beer, and a Diet Coke. The Diet Coke came in a cute little glass bottle, something I'd never seen at a restaurant. The wood-fired pizza was a little over-done and had a few burnt spots, but had an excellent balance of cheese and sauce (definitely not cheesy like the pizzas I'm used to). I highly recommend checking out this restaurant!

Emily H.

AHHHHMAZING pizza... definitely check this place out! Was here 3 weeks ago. Pizza was like nothing else in the city. Gourmet and perfectly handcrafted. I typically like pizza with red sauces but here the white pizzas are much better. Get anything with truffles on it and you wont be disappointed. Staff was friendly, service was quick, food was delicious. Pizza moderately priced but for the quality ingredients it was worth the price. Perfect low-key date spot in Ravenswood!

Emily S.

Really great pizza - traditional Italian fare. Local neighborhood spot that is definitely worth checking out.

Dirk S.

You must try the A16. Smoked bacon cherry tomatoes and an egg. Mmmmmmm. We drove in today just for this. The staff is friendly and helpful.

L. B.

Great pizza with an amazing crust!! I always get the Diavola and am pleased every time. It's especially nice in the summer when you can sit outside. The service has always been pleasant enough but not memorable. I keep coming back for the pizza and that's enough.

Millie R.

I love this place! My husband and I have been there twice and have enjoyed each meal. For an appetizer we ordered the Grigliata di Verdure (grilled veggies)...it's delicious. Even people who don't care for vegetables is sure to enjoy this appetizer. Also, the Salsiccia and Prosciutto e Arucola pizze are fantastic. We have tried a few other places that serve authentic style pizze...nothing comes close to Spacca Napoli's pizze. This place is truly one of a kind! It will have you coming back for more soon!

Terri T.

Delish pizza. Very fun for yummy treats that are very close to the Italian version. We had great appetizers (Mozzarella di Bufala and the Prosiutto w/ Melon) and shared a pizza and a bottle of wine. A little on the pricey side for pizza, but a great treat nonetheless. The wait for outdoor seating can be a pain, but the food makes up for the wait! The service was average, in all honesty.

Jen C.

What a great little tucked away treasure. Super cute ambience. The pizza is fantastic. The service is very attentive. And I love the traditional Italian beverages.

LR L.

Had a wonderful lunch here earlier today. Have eaten dinner here several times before. We have chatted with the owner on a few occasions and have found him to be warm, passionate about his business and the quality of food and service and it shows. He has generously comp'd tastes of pizza and aperitifs on several occasions No argument that the prices are higher than your average pizza joint but you get what you pay for. Lovely patio and interior has recently expanded so waits are not as long as they used to be. We'll be back often.

eileen f.

This pizza is awesome, it's just like i had in italy. The owner and wait staff are very nice and answer any questions you have. This pizza takes no time to make, yet you feel like you can stay there for hours without being rushed. I will go back, again and again!

Julie C.

I've been here twice, the first time thought it was great, the second time, thought it was awful. the first time we had red pizzas and the second time we had white. the ingredients were not very fresh at all- which i think would be hard to do in the summer when there are so many local, fresh sources in this city. i really wish they would have fresh ingredients. the crust was not crisp at all, which i didn't understand because the first time it was perfect. my second visit has really thrown me off this place- i've had a good 1st experience here, but my second trip left much to be desired.

gregory j.

i want to love it, i really do, but shouldn't the crust be crisp out of the fancy oven? everything else is 5 star.

Elena T.

Grabbed Sunday lunch here, sampled two pizzas from the menu, grilled octopus and burrata and can't say much about the pizza other than Frasca Pizzeria has more flavor (but not by much). We had a red and a white pizza (evoo base) and although the red had an appreciated and very fresh n light tomato base, this paled in comparison to the grilled flavor from the juicy octopus app. The burrata was buttery and by far the best sampling enjoyed at lunch. Maybe it's authentic Napolian pizza but Napoli needs help like an overly exerted mortgagee or a lazy bedfellow in need of spice. Nice try but need to crank it up. This pizza is lazy, so go for the great apps.

KM I.

MMMMM! Quanda bellissmia! I double heart Spacca Napoli. True to Italian form, the tables are little, the place is lively, and the service is attentive. The oven itself was flown in from Italy and it makes the wood fired pizzas that much more delicious. We enjoyed the margherita, a red, and the the special which was proscieutto and fig, a white. Both were delicious and perfectly cooked. I will happily return here again and again. Hopefully, next time Mama Lucia will accompany me!

Caitlyn S.

We always have a nothing less than a wonderful experience at Spacca Napoli! This isn't your thick, Chicago style pizza...it's authentic Napolian style. I've been to Naples and for those of you who want to taste what authentic Italian pizza really tastes like (without packing your bags for Europe) then this is the #1 place to go! I highly recommend the buffalo cheese mozzarella appetizer and the margarita pizza with extra sauce!

Emily P.

the best thing about this pizza is the fresh mozzarella... so deliciously good! i ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning because i could not hold out for lunch! i probably could have ate the whole thing in one sitting, but i didnt want to out eat my date ... in retrospect, i should have eaten the whole damn thing and then ordered another one for breakfast

Agostino D.

Love the food. It a 9.8.out of 10 if you like good food and now what Italian pizzara is really like.

Christina K.

Probably a 4.5, to be honest. Definitely a change of pace in terms of pizza, but in an absolutely wonderful way. I ordered the nightly special, which was a white pizza with salami and arugula. If that doesn't sound delicious, there's nothing I can do to help you. The slight char on the crust from the wood oven balanced the fresh green arugula, and the salami added a fantastic pungency and richness. Trying to figure out how to eat it took some thought (unlike you Midwesterners, my first instinct is to eat it with my hands, not a fork and knife). The thin, crispy crust lent itself to folding, but it was almost too delicate to pick up with so much on top. I managed. In addition, the leftover slice was a perfect snack at 1:30 AM the next day. (Critical pizza quality in my book.) All in all, I'd go back. If only because I want to try everything on the menu.

Felipe A.

Horrible experience. the dough was raw, completely undercooked and burned. I really don't know why people say this is a good place. The food was really bad, mushy, and bland. I am never coming back

Rachel R.

My first time here....and I'm already planning my next visit. I see a couples night in the near future. The best food, fresh and delious.

Christina M.

Currently there are 577 reviews on Spacca, so I'm going to keep this short. I love Spacca Napoli! I'm vegan and always order the marinara pizza which comes cheeseless and is topped with basil and garlic. The sauce is very flavorful and the pizza dough/crust is to die for... So in sum, Spacca Napoli makes one incredibly tasty pizza! My vote is for you to log off of your computer and to go Spacca immediately, you won't be disappointed!

Connie Y.

This place was great! A friend brought me here and we ordered the caprese to start things off, the Margherita, and the Capricciosa pizza. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and light despite us eating pizza which I always feel can be pretty heavy. The crust was fluffy and quite good even though I generally prefer a thicker crust. Theirs was perfect! Finished off the meal with the Panna Cotta which was absolutely wonderful! The texture was creamy, soft, and slightly sweetened, but definitely not heavy and overly sweet. The blackberries, jam on top, and the sauce complemented it very very well!

Jim S.

Amazing pizza, great appetizers, and the staff was helpful. Unfortunately it's super busy bc it's so good so best to get there early or to go on an off day.

Sarah G.

Hands down best tiramisu I've ever had. Anywhere. Ahhhh mazing. This includes a trip to Italy and my 16th birthday cake which was tiramisu. I consider myself a connoisseur. Pizza is good too. I take off one star because it's a bit pricey.

Meagan H.

Fresh, Fast, Cultured, and Delicious! I love going to a restaurant where the owner literally travels to find the perfect ingredients, style, and recipes. This place is A+ when it comes to Italian. The place is super cute. It's large. Actually, it'd probably be a good place to host a larger event. The decor is on point. The service here is exceptional. Our waiter knew all about Italian Beers and the food they served (where he quoted about 5 different and new specials without a stutter). The food came out instantly. I was amazed to see that immediately after finishing our appetizer the pizza was walking our way. The pizza was thin with buttery, flavorful and crunchy crust. The sauce was obviously prepared each and every day. The cheese was perfectly spread and neither over or underwhelming. You will never walk out of this place feeling like a slug. The ingredients are too fresh and clean that your body will probably appreciate such a meal. I highly suggest it!

Natalie L.

Ditto Maria P. I will add that by "family friendly," she means KIDS EVERYWHERE if you come between 6 and 8.

Adam C.

We had long heard about this place being a fantastic destination for incredible pizza and delicious Italian foods. We finally decided to give it a try and were blown away. This place definitely lives up to all the hype. We started with a Burrata cheese appetizer over toast points. This is like mozzarella that has been turned into a creamy, dough-like consistency and can be used like a thick spread. So delicious. Even better was the special appetizer of the night called "polpette" meatballs. Oh. My. Bleeping. Gawd. Tender meatballs that crumble under your fork, filled with pine nuts and raisins. Served under a bed of tangy red sauce with grated Parmesan cheese. I would go back just for those alone. We ordered a bottle of San Bernardino "Monica" red from Sardinia. It was served chilled, which made it taste surprisingly delicious. We really loved this wine. My wife ordered the funghi pizza which is mushroom. I had the sausage pizza. Both were outstanding. What is really cool is that they give you your own slicer to cut it however you want. I think nexyt time, I may order more sauce or maybe even a cup on the side, but that's just my personal preference. I'm a sauce guy when it comes to pizza. For dessert, we ordered the vanilla pana cotta and the tortufo chocolate thing. We cleaned our plates, in case you were wondering how those are. It is without question that we will be coming back here. Probably very soon, too.

Adam K.

Michelin Bib Gourmand delight. Great pizza, exceptional service, great inexpensive wine selection, and delish dessert. I come here about once a month to get my pizza crave under control and never leave unhappy or dissatisfied. The special pizzas are always what I tend to gravitate toward at this family run restaurant. I love the pizza is rustic and a very thin crispy crust. I always get the Procuitto and Bufala antipasti followed by a pizza off the special menu. If you aren't picky, ask the waitress for a suggestion and you will not leave disappointed. Spumoni is my favorite dessert. If you are a party of two and order an antipasti, bottle of wine, share a pizza and a dessert, you shouldn't leave overwhelmingly full. If you've really got an appetite, get two pizzas and try each others, but be prepared to leave with left overs good the next day. Have fun here and enjoy the Italian family's hospitality and amazing food!

Allison H.

Delicious pizza!! I was just in Naples a couple months ago and can attest this pizza is authentic Neapolitan style. Other reviews who said they didn't like the pizza or the style of pizza obviously don't know or haven't tried Neapolitan pizza. And honestly, who doesn't like pizza regardless of how it's prepared?! We went on a Friday night and it was fairly busy but we were seated right away. Larger parties had a wait. Long list of pizzas to choose from and good wine list. Our server was quick and attentive and did a good job of helping us pick out a bottle. We ordered a couple pizzas to ensure we had left overs (which didn't last long). This is my favorite pizza place in Chicago for authentic Neapolitan pizza!

Christy L.

I don't understand the hype surrounding this restaurant. I've seen it mentioned in numerous foodie blogs and magazines as the best pizza in Chicago. After eating here last night, I'd say the pizza was inconsistent. Better can be had elsewhere and for cheaper. My friend and I shared the Caprese con Bufala Salad, Salsiccia Pizza, and Prosciutto e Rucola Pizza. The Caprese con Bufala Salad included four small pieces of toast accompanied by large pieces of fresh basil, buffalo mozzarella, and tomatoes. All were meant to be assembled to make open-faced sandwiches. It was a unique way to serve the salad, but I prefer the traditional way as you eat more salad and less bread. This seems like an easy way to cut costs while presenting a larger appetizer but without the core ingredients. The Salsiccia Pizza was my favorite part of our meal (other than the glasses of Multipulciano which only cost $6.50 ). The sausage was super tasty and the flavors worked. The Prosciutto e Rucola Pizza was borderline disgusting. The Proscuitto was too smoky and the wrong texture - it was slimy!! For less than half the price, you can get an amazing Prosciutto Pizza at Mariano's. Other than the $6.50 bargain on the wine, I think the food is overpriced. Three glasses of wine, a puny appetizer and two pizzas cost $66. I have to mention the overly erect chairs - too erect for a chair and so uncomfortable. And the lighting was too bright - like a suburban diner. Parking is easy. Service could improve. We had to ask for the specials and felt a bit rushed. With all the good pizza options in Chicago, I don' think I'll be returning to Spacca Napoli anytime soon.

Beth B.

Our waiter was especially patient with us since we really took our time, hadn't looked at the menu in all that timely of a fashion and generally required some hand holding. Per his recommendation, we had the burrata w bread and the fried item which today was battered cheese and rice. The burrata was as advertised...creamy and delicious. I had the bufalina pizza which I liked. The crust was just right -- thin and chewy. Everyone else in group seemed to like their pizza. We were in the back room by request so we could have a small holiday event. I think the waiter said that pizzas are 10 inches in diameter. So it's larger than what I'd consider personal size but since the crust is thin, most of my table finished their pies. We ate a late lunch so I was hungry but I still ended up taking half home. However, I did have bread and the burrata plus a couple of the fried items. Authentic food and beverages. Great place to go! Nice atmosphere -- not too loud but not so quiet that we were afraid of disturbing other patrons. Next time, I'd like to try the non-red sauce side of the pizza menu.

Romana Y.

This is a very popular local pizza spot, and after dining here, you'll understand why. The atmosphere is cozy, but not tight; The vibe is lively, but not obnoxiously loud; The crowd is attractive and diverse; the staff is very welcoming and charming; the food is incredibly good and light! If you don't have a reservation, and find yourself waiting in a 30min line, you will be served complimentary cheeses, foccacio, and prosecco. Enjoy! Spacca Napoli serves authentic Napoli-style thin-crust pizza. I always get the margherita, and black truffle foccacio, along with the eggplant starter (it's a cold dish, but I always ask for it warmed up). The pizza crust will be softer, and more soggy than most are accustomed to, but with the pungent sauce, fresh basil/oregano, and flavorful buffalo mozarella, you'll really appreciate the overall taste. For dessert, I've had the tiramisu, cappuccino, and espresso. I'm not a fan of Italian desserts, but it was decent. The oven was made in Naples, Italy, and its craftsmanship is beautifully displayed upon entrance. The ambiance inside is nice, and could be a very nice date spot.

Jessica S.

Exceptional Neapolitan type pizza. I really enjoyed the pizza. The buffalo mozzarella was fabulous. The meats were wonderful. I had tiramisu which was just ok. I also was a bit disappointed in the arranchi balls. I will be back for the pizza.

Kristina A.

Possibly one of my favorite spots in Chicago. I came here a few years ago and have been dying to come back, so was super excited when the BF and friends agreed to try it out. It's a bit of a trek for us since we hail from Logan Square, but it was beyond worth it. The space is open and bright, energetic and bustling, and the service is friendly and attentive. Case in point, someone was passing out fresh foccacia to those poor suckers who didn't make reservations and had to wait. Like us. We started off with the burrata appetizer (because you don't ever say no to burrata) and oh good lord, it was divine. So creamy and soft, but with a light and delicate flavor. It was perfect with the crunchy, grilled bread, of which they gave us plenty. And because there's no such thing as too much cheese and bread, we ordered 3 pizzas to split between 4 of us: The Bufalina - simple, classic, and light. Crispy, chewy crust with nice little charred bits. The Porcini e Carciofi - I'm not a huge fan of white pizzas, largely because I think cheese and tomato are like the Italian equivalent of PB & J (they just GO together), but this one was tasty. Especially after a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. The Special - romesco sauce, leeks, Italian sausage. The most robust flavor-wise of the 3 pies, it was the favorite of the table. We of course got dessert and loved every bite of the tiramisu and tartufo (big ball of hazelnut gelato rolled in cocoa powder). The perfect ending to a phenomenal meal. So, to sum up, just go.

Bonnie A.

My friends wanted to try this place and so we came here to see what the craze was about. First of all, the pizzas are personal size. I had a really big lunch so I was not able to eat my own pizza but I stole a few bites here and there so I can yelp this place. Dedicated, aren't I? The waiter informed us that their pizza selections with no red sauce were less popular. After trying pizzas with and without red sauce, I thought it did not make a difference. Although, I can assure you that it was no Little Caesar's. The pizza crust was very different from any kind that I have had before. It was thin, somewhat fluffy and chewy but it was not delectable. I mean like after taking one bite, you are not like, 'omg! It was so good I need to keep eating!' It was more like, 'well..it tasted alright, I guess I should finish it. I shouldn't waste food.' Note: I noticed that many people didn't realize that you get a free cannoli when you leave (their equivalence of a fortune cookie; free dessert after a meal) since sometimes the hostesses are too busy to hand them out. Make sure you get one even if you have to wait for it. Trust me, it is so worth it. The shell was crispy, the filling was mildly sweet, and the pistachio gave it a great texture. It was definitely one of the better cannolis I have had in Chicago.

Chris M.

My favorite place for pizza in Chicago! It's the closet thing to pizza in Italy that I've found here in the US. Great and varied choices. The crust is smoky and a perfect complement to the sauce and toppings.

Brittany B.

The main event - the pizza - was all I hope for in pizza! Savory sauce, good cheese, thin browned crust, and quality vegetables. We got bottled Italian beers for a decent price too. Came here for an early dinner before a Friday night movie and there was a good mix of families with kids and young couples on their own. Parking was very easy. Would happily return.

Greg H.

Have been for the pizza four or five times. Sort of "tucked out of the way" location, nice interior, and the pizza and salads/appetizers are very good.

Evan R.

There are literally not enough good things I can say about Spacca Napoli. From the incredible owner who will always take the time to talk to anyone (and you often see riding his bike through Ravenswood to work in the summer) to the awesome staff who are always super friendly and just interested in getting you your awesome pizza. It is all great, no frills, awesome, authentic pizza that is faithful to the Neapolitan style. The other thing I absolutely love is the consistency of quality coming out of the kitchen. Of the two years I have lived in Ravenswood (and 30+ times I've been there), there has never been a single time I wasn't absolutely happy or they exceeded what I was looking for.

shivi d.

So glad we finally tried this place. The pizza, wine, other diners, staff and owner were all delightful. We ordered the burrata, diavolo pizza, panna cotta and two glasses of wine. They offer daily specials but even their traditional menu was enough to keep us going back. The pizza is truly insanely delicious...light and fresh with high quality ingredients. We had a chance to talk the owner who talked a bit about the local farms that they have relationships with, which always makes me happy to hear about. They have a part of their restaurant which closes off to a private party space. The restaurant has tons of windows and natural light. Free parking al around. There's no reason not to go!

Michael U.

...having admittedly never traveled to Naples but a seeker of great Pizzas both in Chicago and in a number of cities around the United States, many of which have been named to any number of "Best Pizza in the America" lists, it was with great interest that lunch would lead us to Spacca Napoli - the only Vera Pizza Napoletana certified restaurant in a city overflowing with great pizza. Owned and operated by Pizzaiuolo Jon Goldsmith and his family and reportedly designed to not only recreate the pizza of Southern Italy, but also their traditions and hospitality Spacca had long been on my list and with mother and aunt in tow after a long afternoon in Oak Park it seemed like the perfect opportunity. Having heard from others that since the expansion Spacca Napoli was vastly more accessible than it once was but waits could still be long due to the single oven our arrival at 2:00pm proved to be quite opportune as free parking proved abundant in the Ravenswood area and lunch service was just winding down as we arrived. With the air a bit warm and the patio umbrellas shading a few leftover patrons we made our way into the restaurant to the lovely smells of yeast and tomatoes and greeted by our hostess/server/busser Rachelle we were led to a small four-top in the middle of the surprisingly empty dining room. With menus presented and a wine list deferred Rachelle next proceeded to explain the daily specials and after a few quick questions waters were filled and we were left to our decisions eventually settling for two pizzas and two Italian sodas - one Aronciata and one Limonata, both bubbly and subtle without being overly sweet. With the oven belonging only to us it would be a mere ten minutes before our pizzas would arrive and sticking to the "less is more" approach both were lightly dressed and invariable delcious. Beginning first with the "Funghi" featuring Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, and Mushrooms the cheese was as mild as one would expect from fresh cow's milk mozzarella while the sauce was lightly sweeted with just touch of acid and spice that complimented the mushroom's earthy finish nicely. While the toppings were good, however, where this pie really shined was in the crust - a light and supple yet slightly crisp and toasty ring of smoky flavor that remained slightly undercooked in the middle; about as authentic as it gets. Moving next to our second pizza, this one slightly more irregularly shaped with great pockets of air in the yeasty dough, the Bufalina - with Basil, Mozzarella di Bufala, and Olive Oil would prove even better than the Funghi for one simple reason - that ever so subtle funk from the intensely creamy cheese and the manner in which it so nicely blended with a thin pour of grassy olive oil. As I noted above, I can't claim I've ever been to Italy, but if the Pizza there is better than this I need to start planning my trip. With pizzas mostly consumed and the rest packed up to go Rachelle would next appear with dessert menus and although tempting I had plans to visit Black Dog Gelato next and deferred while the ladies opted to try two selections, the first a rather flavorless but appropriately silky Panna Cotta served with a substantially more tasty pear-balsamic compote and the second a creamy block of house made spumoni complete with pistachio, rum, strawberry and chocolate ice creams plus a whipped cream and candied fruit center that although tasty in parts did not work for me in its entirety due to the subpar chocolate ice cream and overpowering notes of rum. In and out in under an hour I will note that while it may be unfair to judge our service considering the one-to-one server-to-table ratio I found Rachelle to be both friendly and knowledgeable as she manned everything but the pizza oven and although the space admittedly feels a lot more commercial/casual than New York or Philadelphia's most well regarded pizzerias the pies themselves were absolutely genuine and delicious. As for the desserts - well - most of the "Best Pizza in America" locations don't even serve sweets...and besides, the folks who ordered them actually enjoyed their choices.

Tina L.

The dough and cheese is definitely what sets this place apart from other thin crust pizza joints. Sometimes the crust on thin crust pizza gets too burnt and I don't particularly like eating it that way. But here, it's nice and fluffy with the perfect amount of chewiness. The toppings are fresh and you can tell that they put a lot of effort in using the best cheese. The Diavola has this amazing spicy salami (not too different from pepperoni, but BETTER) that is a must try, and the funghi e salsiccia (mushrooms and sausages) would be something I would definitely want to order when I go there again.

Steve P.

Long lines on the weekend for poor service and so so food. We'd have been better off making a reservation at one of the many Italian restaurants in the city. In the future I'll just go to an old favorite, Piazza Bella Trattoria in Roscoe Village.

Lillian H.

First let me say that if you are looking for a Brooklyn slice or a Chicago deep dish, obviously this is not the place. I think that's where some of the bad reviews come in. I found the ingredients to be fresh and very high quality. The service was good, atmosphere warm and inviting, desserts yummy. Enough said.

Britt C.

I can only imagine this is similar to what you could get in Italy, as I have never been there. Sigh. However, I can vouch for the outstanding quality of the ingredients. Even the salad was tremendous simply because of the olive oil. It was also here that I finally overcame my intense hatred for green olives. Those they put on the "house" salad are fresh, and sweet, and salty, and so full of excellent flavor that all my memories of those pimento-stuffed green knobs went out the window. And finally the pizza. The quality and freshness of the ingredients just really pleased me. My only qualm was that the wine list was a little pricy, but I can appreciate that they have made a conscious decision to place such a high value on the origins and quality (can I say quality once more?) of all of their offerings. I've gone back with friends, and family, and everyone has truly enjoyed this gem.

Ben N.

Who knows the hell how or when the wife and I became such spoiled brats about pizza? It's not like either of us has ever lived in a great pizza town, or even a good one. And the town we live in now is a Black Hole of Pizza. Anyway, we've developed unreasonably high expectations over the years from a handful of great pizzas here and there, and I've discovered that the chasm between "good" and "great" pizza is a huge one. Spacca Napoli tries mightily to make this leap but doesn't quite get there. As the restaurant's name suggests, this place is about Neopolitan-style thin-crust individualized pizzas baked at super-high temps to achieve those tell-tale black char marks of deliciouness, and served with super-fresh sauce and toppings. The pizzas pretty much succeeded in every way except that the crust --other than at its outer edges -- was almost soggy, especially in the center. At $11-15, I think they're a worthwhile value for the size; we couldn't finish ours. I mostly agree with the complaints here about the salad prices, but the simple insalata eoliana--with fingerling potatoes, argulua, tuna, tomatoes, and capers--was terrific and refreshing. I don't really have a problem with the wine served in those glasses old Italian guys use. It's actually pretty authentic, at least in a non-upscale place, especially when the wines are largely pretty modest. Yeah, the decor seems kind of sterile, but at least the restaurant's clean, comfortable, and pleasant. Service by a big bearded dude was attentive, informative, and amiable. Overall, really good but not great food that seems a trifle overpriced.

Aaron M.

So good. Love this place. Have been going there since it opened. I don't know the owner but he is there all the time taking care of things and making them right. Sausage is a my favorite but sometimes Diavola crushes it.

Renee S.

Oh, Spacca Napoli! Your pizzas are small and a bit expensive but they. are. so. good. So fresh and authentic, and the service is great and friendly. I love that it is in an alcove of Ravenswood and there isn't loud traffic or really any noise when sitting on their patio.

E M B.

Delish. Amazing Neopolitan pizza - haven't been anywhere else in Chicago with such authentic pizza. Worth the trek and the patio looks inviting as well!

Jimmy B.

Spacca Napoli is simply incredible. We sorta discovered this place on accident, and it was so incredibly good. The pizzas are out of this world, and I love the burrata when they have it. I asked them once why they seemed to be out of it a lot, and they said it's brought in fresh, so they don't stock pile a lot. If it's available, it's worth getting. I've only eaten inside once, and it's a little on the noisy side, but if you can eat outside, it's a great little area to eat.

paul g.

Great pizza and amazing crust. Overall service pretty slow and not very friendly though... but food makes up for it.

Jean C.

It's been years since I've been here, and since we were out and about late on a Saturday afternoon and didn't have reservations, I really didn't think we'd get in. But we hit the sweet spot, got a table right near the prep area and a friendly, helpful waiter, and we had a terrific meal. We began with the prosciutto e bufala, a nice plate of fresh mozzarella di bufala with prosciutto, good bread, olive oil and basil. The only thing I could find wrong with it was that there wasn't nearly enough to make me happy. The bufala was so delicious it could bring tears to your eyes. We chose one special pizza -- an asparagus-based one with more prosciutto and mozzarella -- and the margherita. Both were terrific with very fresh ingredients on a wonderful, chewy crust. We each had a different dessert, tartufo (tasty but very rich), zabaglione (wonderfully creamy and light), and panna cotta (a beautiful flan-like custard.) Along with the wine and tiny cups of espresso it was a very satisfying meal. The restaurant is clean and bright, and I saw absolutely no indication of the "attitude" that some folks have complained about. On the contrary, the staff couldn't have been nicer or more helpful. And the prices were very good for what we had. I really think I've made a mistake in not coming here more often, but I hope to remedy that.

Linda C.

Don't come here if you expect to have an authentic Italian experience. This restaurant is not a fan of their guests eating slowly and enjoying wine as people do in Italy. Service was pretty bad; the waiter was not around much and we had to put orders in through the busboys. The waiter was clearly annoyed that we stayed for a few hours, even though we were ordering appetizers, pizzas, and wine the entire duration of our stay. He eventually "cut us off" and refused to serve us any more wine after two bottles of white wine in a 3+ hour period. Now, we could understand if we were being rude, disruptive, loud, or acting inappropriately in any way or showing any signs being completely inebriated, but we were not. Also, we understand this place is not a bar which is why we had also ordered over $70 worth of food. We are professionals in our thirties out for a nice meal and were being very respectful of the restaurant and the other guests. And we enjoy drinking wine. We were very offended by this so we talked to the owner who also made a couple rude comments to us because he had to "defend his waiter". All we were looking for was an explanation as to why we were being denied service which was never given to us. Instead of any sort of legitimate explanation we received multiple rude comments. Obviously this made us irate and we made comments we normally would not make. Absolutely unbelievable. We've never been refused service at any restaurant and we've never been so offended. This is highly offensive in the Mediterranean culture where food and wine is everything. Very rude. We're definitely not coming back.

Ju L.

The first time I came here, the pizza was quite good. The second time, the pizza was soggy and not notable in the slightest. And there were screaming children running amok. I will say that Spacca Napoli's zabaglione (Italian dessert custard made with marsala) is one of the best things I have ever eaten.

Malena A.

I've eaten at Spacca twice (one Margerita pizza and one Biaca Nero with mushrooms and truffle oil). The pizzas do not have a lot of toppings....They seem to go more for quality ingredients with good taste and the wood-fired crust. If you like a pizza loaded with tons of toppings, this isn't the place for you. My big disappoints were: (1) The appetizer: My husband and I ordered an appetizer that was a special for the night (veal sausage with capers). It was immediately brought out and looked as though it had been sitting for an hour. It looked really unappetizing and was cold to taste. I know these meatballs shouldn't be served hot but when it sits for so long it doesn't look yummy and is not worth 8.50. (2) Customer service: poor all around starting with the hostess who didn't know what she was doing, the waiter who couldn't explain the menu, and another waiter who came to tell us it was going to rain (we were outside) but then walked off and didn't give us an option to move!?!?!? There are MANY good pizza places in Chicago, so I wouldn't necessarily go out of my way.

Benjamin D.

An excellent restaurant that really does serve the "real deal" Neopolitan-style pie, Or "Za" as I like to call it! The Caprese Salad was great, the pizzas were awesome, service was great, patio was big and the look of the place was good enough. Make the trip and give it a try! Loved it,

Beth A.

spacca napoli makes the whole neighborhood smell delicious and their fresh ingredients make for a great meal diavola has the perfect kick thou the crust was a little doughy around the edges prompt service but unless youre willing to drop a pretty penny, youll probably leave hungry

Katie S.

I've only been once but the first experience was great. My husband and I both took a Friday off and went for a late lunch. We were greeted warmly and when the staff noticed I was freezing from walking outside they told me to go warm my hands by the stone pizza oven, they closed the doors to an area that had a draft, and they turned up the heat without me requesting anything. The server was very knowledgable and welcoming. The bufalo mozzarella pizza came out very quickly and was delicious. The red sauce was the perfect amount of sweet. We treated ourselves to a dessert (the Tartufo) and I basically licked the plate clean. We will definitely be back!

Lindsey C.

This is probably the best thin, Italian-style crust pizza in Chicago. The ingredients are simple but high-quality and fresh. If you opt for take-out, you have to wait til you get to the restaurant to order, but they do this because they have your pizza ready so quickly! If you go on a weeknight when it's not too busy, they'll offer you a glass of prosecco while you wait for your pizza! I don't have a lot to say, other than the pizza is outstanding and really speaks for itself. GO.

Roger J.

Once again it is hard to understand the negative reviews. It is not 3 star Michelin restaurant - it is a well above average thin crust pizza place with interesting topping combinations and good service. I liked that they did not overwhelm it with tons of cheese or sauce - just the right amount.

Diana J.

This joint is hoppin' early, so I definitely recommend reservations any time after 5pm. The appetizers are ok, but not worth the $15 for a small plate of veggies, for example. You're much better off waiting for a pizza, as that's obviously their specialty. They have thin, more traditional Italian pizzas and they are delicious. I can't help but get a margherita but recommend trying from their white pizzas which include artichokes, lots of cheeses, mushrooms, etc. Portions can be tricky if there are odd numbers in your party, but I would do one per hungry person if there's no apps. They have a good wine list, but count on bottles being at least $30 on the cheaper end. They are a family kind of restaurant so my dinner experience had two children screaming and running around their table within earshot. No one else seemed to care so I went with the flow, but it might not be ideal for a romantic kind of evening. Service is good and they give you a treat on your way out, so if you'd like to check out a pizza place that's different from the typical fast food joint, check this one out.

John S.

If all Neapolitan style pizza shops in the city were required to close down (and there are plenty of them), and only one could remain open, Spacca Napoli is the one. Hands down. This is our go-to place and has never disappointed. A close second / shout out to Pizzeria da Nella, as I think they are a better value, but Spacca, how I love you so.

Stephen S.

I feel the need to update my review of Spacca on a subsequent visit. I already heaped praises on the pies, which are a great execution of the Neapolitan style. What I didn't talk about in my previous review, however, was the service. I came in on a Sunday night without a reservation and there was a little bit of a wait. No problem though, because Jonathan, the owner, was helping the man the front, get tables set and seated, and offered some samples of a smoked mozzarella to wet the palate. Jonathan himself walked us to our table and I had a fantastic chat with him as he was showing as back. He was in no hurry to rush away we had a great time discussing Italy as we were seated at the table. Before we even had a chance to order we were greeted by a complimentary round of a little prosecco, courtesy of Jonathan. The pizza, as always, super tasty. And as always on the way out grab a cannoli, it's just another one of the little extras they throw in to make you truly feel welcomed when you step in Spacca Napoli. With this great service and friendly atmosphere in addition to an artfully crafted Neapolitan pie it's no wonder I enjoy returning to this place again and again.

chad a.

My small town Iowa auto mechanic grandfather visited Chicago for the first time last weekend with an extensive to-do list of iconic Chicago stops. Spacca Napoli was on the list along with Smoque BBQ, Southport Grocery, the MSI Charlie Brown exhibit, a ride on the L and the "It's a Wonderful Life" sing-a-long at the Music Box Theater. Our group of 10 had perfect service with eight gorgeous pizzas, a swell cheese plate and two of the most amazing mozzarella balls stuffed with cream. Grandma Dean could not get over how the coffee was served as Americano. Spacca Napoli will always be our favorit pizza in the City. It by far beats that awful lasagna people try to pass off as "Chicago-style deep dish".

Debbie S.

Closer to a 2.5 stars...but not a 3. I hit up Spacca Napoli with a friend to check out some of their pizza. I have been here on a few different occasions and each time, the food was good. But this time, I was really disappointed and I don't think that I'll be back. We started with the Caprese con Bufala Salad appetizer. I was expecting a mozzarella / basil / tomato salad with some balsamic drizzle but it was more like pieces of oily toast along with mozzarella, basil and tomato. The bread was way too oily and I just didn't find the dish particularly flavorful. I was willing to chalk it up to the season -- being winter and Chicago and all, perhaps the tomatoes and the basil were just not up to par. We then split the Salsiccia Pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza (both Neopolitan style). I liked the Salsiccia Pizza -- the sausage was nice and spicy and flavorful however the taste did not overpower the rest of the ingredients on the pizza. I was disappointed in the Prosciutto Pizza -- I always love a good white pitta with prosciutto and arugula but the texture of the Prosciutto seemed off and it just wasn't as flavorful as I wanted it to be. Sizes of the pizzas are good to split if you order a salad or an appetizer. I don't think that I could have eaten a whole one by myself. Prices seemed high for what we got, although the wine was a bargain -- $6 glasses of Montepulciano (and large pours at that). Service was fine, but nothing to write home about. Our waiter didn't offer up the specials -- we had to ask for them -- which always bothers me (although if the food would have been terrific, this probably would not have been as big of a deal). The space is nice although we were in a rather cramped table up against the window. It wasn't busy and we had a reservation, so I wish they had put us at a better table, but again, it wouldn't have bothered me as much if I thought the food was spectacular. Overall, I don't think I'll be back -- especially since I have to eat my way through all of the other pizza places in the City.

Jeff G.

This is the best pizza in the city, and on top of that, they use the most authentic Italian ingredients. The owner makes you feel like family, and the have a great outdoor patio in the summer.

Dennis L.

Give me Spacca Napoli over deep dish any day of the week! My wife and I visited this Ravenswood hot spot to commemorate our last evening as a family of 2, and I so glad that we did! We started with the Involtini di Melanzane (sliced eggplant rolled with prosciutto and mozzarella, marinara) and it was absolutely delicious. I do not eat eggplant all that often, but this dish made me a fan. For our main dish, we ordered a Fungi Pizza and a Prosciutto & Arugula Pizza. Both we absolutely outstanding with the right amount of toppings on a perfect crust. For dessert...Tortufo. So delicious! Overall, we had great service and great food in a relaxing atmosphere. We will be back!

Dragan J.

Imo this is the best thin crust Neapolitan pizza in Chicago. We live close by and eat very often inside or order to take out, and everytime every pizza we order is out of this world. I am in love with this place. Staff is always nice and polite and the owner is one extraordinary man. A must try in Chicago for sure

Jessa P.

I must say, I have soft-spot for lightly-charred pizza right out of a wood-burning oven. I thought I knew what good, authentic pizza was, but I was debunked after my first meal in Spacca. This joint is a gem located on the corner of Ravenswood Ave in North Center. They are known for their authentic Neapolitan pizza, and they do not disappoint. We started with the Burrata- buffalo cheese with a creamy center, served with wood-burn bread. It was so good, and so fresh (may be an acquired taste for some, because the texture is different)... Note: This is not in their menu, they had this on their daily special. However, each of my visits to Spacca, they had it available, so I'm guessing it's a semi-permanent appetizer. For our main course, we of course ordered pizza. We decided to do one red (pizze rose) and one white/cream (pizze bianche). They separate the menu based on these two categories. 1. Salciccia - mozerella, basil, italian sausage, and pecorino. This must be their 'heaviest pizza'. The homemade red sauce makes this pizza taste amazing. I like that their crust is a little charred, and I mean a little. It gives a charcoal/wood burnt flavor perfectly pulling all the flavors together. The serving is good for 1-2 people. 1 for a male definitely. 2. Prosciutto e Rucola- provola, prosciutto, arugula, and parmiagano. This pizza blew me away. Mainly because it was very light but very flavorful. I sat there and savored the medley of flavors for a few seconds. It can also be because I really love good prosciutto and arugula. What a combo. This is my go-to pizza when I visit Spacca. We finished off with the Tiramisu- this was simply okay. The atmosphere is very family-friendly. It's true, it feels like a suburb but this is North Center, million dollar homes and young families all over. I would definitely recommend them for anyone who wants to experience a truly authentic Neapolitan pizze! Grazie tanto Spacca Napoli!

Andrew K.

It's really good pizza. Best Neapolitan in Chicago, without a doubt. That said, you will be disappointed if you come here expecting something on-par with the really standout Neapolitan you'll find in SF. It's just not the same, unfortunately. I'm glad someone out here is trying to do it right, but it does still fall short. Thanks for trying, I will be back, and I'll recommend it to anyone who asks!

Stephen G.

My wife and I just moved to Ravenswood a couple of months ago and we've been trying to make the rounds to try out all of the local restaurants. Spacca Napoli has been the standout thus far. I'm no expert on Neapolitan pizza, but Spacca Napoli's is the best that I've ever had. I'm originally from the NY area, so my go-to style is New York style. I also enjoy Chicago deep dish when I'm in the mood. However, I have no tolerance for Chicago thin crust. Gross. Spacca Napoli has great service. I believe our server's name was Spiro. He was attentive and helpful as we made decisions on what to order, and he was always quick to fill up our water glasses, which was key because we were sitting outside on a warm day. We had one of the funghi pizzas and another pizza that was on special and they were both fantastic. We also has a bufala mozzarella antipasti that was on special. I almost don't want to go around trying new restaurants in the neighborhood anymore because I want to keep going back to Spacca Napoli and trying new specials.

Anna B.

It's been a while that I have been to a place where I could say "just right". The place is cozy and looks very clean. Warm, simple, rustic atmosphere. I would say this place would be nice for a date or even bringing family. Two very different things, but it would work at this place. Service was attentive, efficient and courteous. Food came out ultra fast and it was delicious. Everything was fresh and the ingredients were good quality. Especially the cheese. The small pizzas had just the right amount of toppings, not overloaded with stuff. I ordered one and could only eat half, I had delicious leftovers the next day. My friend and I stayed and talked until closing time, but they never pushed us to leave. Will be back!

Julia M.

Heaven. Neapolitan pizza isn't everyone's cup of tea, but regardless, Spacca Napoli is doing it right. Everything about the pizza tastes fresh. Yes, it can get saggy; just eat from the middle with a fork and knife. The service is good. I've always been seated in a reasonable amount of time, and the servers were quick and to-the-point. In conclusion, yum.

Jen L.

Stopped here for lunch today. It was average. The pizza is overpriced. I had the Margherita pizza and my husband had the sausage and broccoli. My pizza was burned and there was not enough cheese. My husband thought his was okay, but for the price we have gotten better. I don't see what the hype is all about. Maybe I'm spoiled because I've actually eaten authentic Neapolitan pizza. Save your $$ and go somewhere else.

Kristin M.

At long last I have tried Spacca Napoli. This falls somewhere between 3.5 and 4. I really enjoyed my pizza, but was not as blown away as some. We both ordered white pizzas (no tomato sauce). I had one of the specials I had read about on Yelp with asparagus and prosciutto, as well as asparagus and cheese stuffed into the crust. It came out fast, hot, had the perfect amount of crispness to the thin crust, and was quite tasty. My friend ordered another special with truffles and fried egg on top. I was disappointed with this one, the truffles were pretty sparse and the egg was under-fried (the whites were very runny). For dessert I had a delicious (and big!) serving of tartufo. The space is tiny, so be prepared for a lot of neighbor/waiter contact. While it took a while to get our waiter's attention, once he came over he was very helpful explaining ingredients and flavors, and the food came out lightning fast. I really enjoyed that I received 30% off my bill thanks to booking with Savored svrd.co/pHAC19 . It's a nice addition to the neighborhood, and I'm sure I'll come back.

Tony C.

Raised in an Italian-American family and been to Italy multiple times... and I don't recall ever having pizza this good, anywhere. Not only is the pizza amazing but the service was fantastic. The waiter was great. I'd say he was the best waiter I've ever met. After submitting this review I'll be writing a letter to the owner and complimenting not only the food but in particular the gentleman who waited on us, in hopes that it helps advance his career there. Going back as often as possible.

A. M.

This place is very cute but quite the trek up north. We arrived for our 8:30 reservation and the place was still pretty packed, which was good. They don't have a bar though (just a bench in front in side) so don't arrive early and expect to wait for your table while getting a drink. Once we sat down at our table, the waiter greeted us promptly and told us about the specials. We got a bottle of red wine and it tasted really great. The waiter was also really helpful in picking it out. No complaints there. The food was ok. One of our appetizers - prosciutto and arugula - was a little sub par even though it looked beautiful. We were a little taken aback that for the price we only got four slices of proscuitto and the arugula was very bitter. Not sure if it was expired or just a bad batch but there was something funky about it's taste that wasn't normal. I will say I was slightly disappointed about the pizza. That was the main draw for me because it is an authentic Neapolitan style pizza. We got the funghi and while the pizza (crust, cheese, sauce) was delicious, the mushrooms were not fresh and tasted like they came from a can. I still ate the pizza (obviously it was still good) but it was pretty hard to look past the canned ingredients. All the other ingredients were fresh so why not the shrooms? I will say though that the appetizer we got - the burrata zuppa - was PHENOMENAL. That mozzarella was unlike any other I've ever had. Fresh, gooey, creamy...I'm almost drooling now. Overall I liked this place but the canned mushrooms left a bad taste in my mouth (figuratively of course). I would try the place again but I don't know how much I would go out of my way to do so considering it is quite the hike.

Jimmy T.

I had a friend who had gotten there early and been waiting for a table (20ish min.) so I only had to wait for a few minutes; other people seemed to be waiting for at least a half hour. If I had to wait for that long and had the experience I did, my rating would be two stars instead. The oven looked really cool and the rest of the restaurant was nice too. I got the Prosciutto e rucola ...prosciutto, arugula, and parmagiano... pizza without red sauce despite the server telling me the pizzas with red sauce were more popular. The toppings were good. I didn't like Spacca Napoli's dough at all. It was soggy and a little too chewy for me; I was hoping for the edges to be crispy...I guess this style of pizza isn't for me. I tried my friend's pizza with the red sauce and sausage, but that wasn't anything special either. The soda and peach iced tea came in bottles and the latter was a dissapointment since it wasnt "homemade". The best part was the free pistachio cannoli on our way out. I'd come back for more of that!

Stephanie C.

Some good friends of ours discovered this place, and brought us, because they felt the pizza was too good not to share. They were right. I have dreams about this pizza. So, you might be thinking of the traditional 'Chicago' pizza - BIG, with plenty to share. Order one, and the entire table shares, grabbing those small, square slices, right? Not here. Everyone needs to get their own pizza, and I swear - after eating one, you might be full, but you'll be tempted into ordering a 2nd pie. Yes, it's THAT good. Before I get back to the pizza, though, I want to tell you about two of my favorite appetizers: the Caprese con Bufala (Caprese Salad) and Proscuitto e Bufala. The first is a basic caprese salad: fresh buffalo mozzarella, roma tomatoes, olive oil, fresh leaves of basil and some balsamic vinegar. I'm a sucker for anything 'caprese', and this is the real deal. As for the proscuitto e bufala - it's a platter of freshly sliced, well, proscuitto, with a HUGE blob of fresh buffalo mozzarella. It's difficult for me to not just snarf up the whole tray - definitely brings out the 'No - get - your - own - platter' beast in me, like nothing else. (As I typed this, I remembered the last time I had this platter, and now my mouth is watering...) But the pizza - everyone needs to order their own pie. There's no problem with sharing slices, but, honestly, trust me on this: everyone needs to order their own pizzas. Usually, I opt for the 'Funghi e Salsiccia', or sausage & mushroom. I think you get an awesome mix of sauce, fresh buffalo mozzarella, mushrooms and italian sausage, all on a crisp crust.Yum. If they have it, try with the peach iced tea - you'll get an adorable, oh-so-European bottle of San Benedetto Peach Ice Tea, and now I'm addicted to that stuff. I haven't tried the desserts, and I don't drink anything alcoholic, so I can't speak to those aspects. The service is always prompt. The food is always fresh, and I can't wait to go back and snarf down a platter of proscuitto e buffala and have my funghi e salsiccia pizza! Manga!

Alyson H.

So, you arrive with a 12 year old, and he whines, at delivery to the table, that his pizza is "wet". You force him to try 2 pieces before you own it. His pizza is soggy and disgusting. Yet when you point this out to the server (who has never been to the table to check in your satisfaction), he first assures you that this will be removed from your much larger bill then fails to remove it. I then approached the server, bill in hand, at the register, only to be spoken to defensively by the owner, and once I pointed out that our soggy pizza had not been deducted, he finally re-presented that bill, and lead with "yet your son ate several pieces." Yes, you jerk, I made my son to eat several pieces before I finally believed him. I also paid the tax on the $13 cash you gave me back. The least I can do is tell everyone I know not to eat there.

Emily B.

Not only is their food absolutely terrific, the staff knowledgable and helpful, but they keep the sidewalk outside shoveled! Thanks for being such a great neighbor and wonderful restaurant.

Jules H.

I so wanted to give this place more than three stars. I had heard their thin crust pizza was magnificent...well, it was not. It was doughy and chewy. thin and light in the middle, edges and crusts chewy and half cooked. Some of the pizzas were better than others...avoid anything with more than two cheeses in it. The pizzas I tasted with fresh basil, tomato, and mushroom, and one cheese were good. A guest in our party turned into an obnoxious wine snob at the start of meal, and perhaps tainted my experience. May her and her uber sensitive nostrils and palate go to wine hell. Watching her preen and strut around the wine list was exhausting. BIG huge kudos to our server. She rocked the meal, and the unfortunate bitch I dined with. Her maroon hair and patience were born of this world...bless her! Hmmm, 4 star food, 2 star company. I'll try Spacca Napoli again, by myself. Cheers again to the gal who served us. She was sharp, cute, and should be on a reality TV show near YOU soon.

Paola C.

Best original Italian pizza ever in Chicago. Incredible taste. Plus, you can have a huge portion of burrata, heaven's cheese :) They have so many entrées and choices, besides pizza. And a long list of desserts and amari. Perfectly Italian. Super recommended.

Kori E.

My friend and I came here the other night and devoured some pizzas! I love coal fire pizzas, and these were just right. They have a nice chewy crust, which I love. We had the special with mushrooms and truffle oil as well as the sausage. One was a white pizza and one was a red, and both were outstanding. We also started out with their salad and it was DELISH! They had great olives and tomatoes tossed throughout. Its a super cute little pizza joint and I thoroughly enjoyed the pizza. Definitely check them out!

Stephanie W.

This place is a hike, but it's worth every mile. (Please drive; do not walk.) I came here for my birthday meal with family and friends. My boyfriend assured everyone at the table we could each easily finish a pizza on our own. When the pizzas came out, we could only laugh. A table of 7 people does not need 7 pizzas, let's put it that way. 5 or 6 would have been better. Nevertheless, it meant more goodness for each of us. I had the diavola and it was SO FRICKING GOOD. God, salami never gets old, am I right? (Not literally, of course.) Make the trek, All. It's some of the best pizza I've had in Chicago.

Chitown D.

To quote Yelp!, "Meh. I've experienced better." We had two pizzas - Margherita (pretty good) and Salsiccia E Brococoletti (not good at all). The worst was the special appetizer, which was bread and a big blob of cold cheese spread infused with some olive oil or something like that. It was awful and cost $15. Our server was kind of a jerk and made a snarky remark when I tried to help clear space for the two pizzas. Sadly, I don't think we'll be going back, even though it is in a great area and has a lot of potential.

Lois A.

I will eat an entire pizza when I go to Spacca Napoli and wish I had another. The pizza is fantastic. I'd heard nothing but wonderful things about this place for years and when I finally tried it I felt like a moron for not having come sooner. I can't say enough great things about how wonderful the pizza is so I won't try. I'm partial to the arugula pizza because I can pretend I'm being healthy while I eat it. Last week when I was here the pizza was at our table less than 10 minutes after we ordered. The have a nice wine selection and the service is really friendly. Come early because even on a Thursday there was a line out the door by the time we left at 7:30. But, should you arrive late just know that this pizza is well worth the wait.

Namm L.

A little expensive, but good food and good predictable experience every time. We typically get burrata, 3 or 4 pizzas, espresso, and 1-2 tiramisus and it runs about $120.

Susan W.

We tried it when they just opened years ago. The pizza was wet with juice from the veggies. It's a bit disappointed and we'd never gone back until now in hopes they got better after all those years. We ordefed a couple of salad and appetizers, 2 pizzas and a calzone. The pizzas and calzone came out really quick before everything else. We told the food runner we ordered appetizers and he asked us what he should do. Really? So we said he should consult our server. The pizzas and calzone went back and we just hoped that they wouldn't brought the same one out after we finished our appetizers. The appetizers were good. The calzone was a bit undercooked inside but crispy outside. The taste was alright. The pizzas, one Margarita, one Putanesca, both had too much juice on top, So, the crust is a bit soggy. Even the server thought it's wetter that normal. They redid the putanesca pizza. It came out a bit better but it's still wet and the crust is not crispy. Overall, the flavor of food is just average. Nothing surprised us. With all the good comments from others, this place seems overrated! And the server never asked the ladies for a second round of drinks!

Veronica M.

I was excited to finally try this place unfortunately it wasn't a good experience. My friend and I ordered a bottle of wine and some pizza we finished the bottle and still had no pizza !! We finally got our pizza it wasn't all that great or maybe we were very annoyed by the wait and drunk . It left a bad taste I'm not sure if I would like to waste my money on another bad experience.

KC W.

Today was my second time at Spacca Napoli; the first time was several years ago when I still lived in North Center. Since then I have gone gluten free, and I was delighted to hear that they can prepare a gluten free pizza if you give them 24 hours notice to make the crust. I called yesterday evening to see if it was too late to get two crusts for lunch, and they said it was not a problem. My sisters and mom and I had lunch there today, and everything was delicious. One of my sisters is also gluten free, so we shared the funghi pizza and a pancetta pizza they had as a special. Both were fantastic. The service was great too. Our server was the only one for a busy lunch rush, but he did a great job of checking in and taking care of us. I can't wait to go back and indulge in more delicious gluten free pizza!

Jonathan C.

Now when I think pizza in Chicago, I don't expect to find nice thin crust pizza but came here with a large group and it was great. The dinning area has 3 or 4 sections so it's good for large or small parties. Here's a run down of what we had. We had a large selection of antipasti. Bread with Olive oil and Parsley - assuming this is not on the menu and just provided since we had a large party. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Caprese con Bufala -The Caprese was nice as it utilized the punch of cherry tomatoes. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Grigliata di Verdure - Chilled grilled veggies. A nice light started. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Prosciutto e Rucola - Prosciutto, arugula, and Parmigiano Reggiano YUM! Surprisingly split among 4 people quite well. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Like the fact that they have a pizza oven. The thin crust is really good. Thoroughly baked with no burnt smell. Funghi e Salsiccia - Mushrooms and Italian sausage. Good, but compared to the others this one ended up being a little plain. Good thing they served this first. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Margherita Pizza - Again with the cherry tomatoes... nice choice, a little more mellow on the pizza. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… This was actually the most controversial dish. While the olives where a bit too much for some people the sun dried tomatoes really made it the favorite of many. Couldn't find it on the menu but it was basically olives, peppers and sun dried tomato. yelp.com/biz_photos/0fFL… Great food, nice atmosphere, would come back if I was in the area. Only weird thing was that they have several single stall restrooms. Dunno why that stood out to me.

RJ W.

OK, 5 years later, we return. Glad we did. Service was perfect. Apps were very good (although the stuffed zucchini flower could have used another 30 seconds in the fryer) , pizza was amazing! Ordered the Spicy Pepperoni and the Cheese/Arugula. Just perfect. Great ingredients with a smoky, crispy crust. Outstanding! Looking forward to many return visits!

Brian Z.

I love this Spacca Napoli as it is the first place I have been to in the USA that truly reminds me of being back in Italy. All the food great and very authentic to true pizza in Southern Itay! Need I say more?

Kamila T.

Oh I absolutely love their white pizza.. yum yum yum! The slightly charred thin crust from their pizza oven make my mouth water. Their salads are gigantic, good enough for two to share while waiting for pizza. Their chocolate fudge filled ball dessert with coco is awesome! If you are looking for something different - try Spacca! You wont be disappointed. Also, they do have outdoor seating but its slightly crammed in there.

John B.

We went to lunch with family and it was very good. I had the black truffle, porcini and white truffle oil pizza, fantastic! The kids had a very good sausage pizza and it kept them very occupied. The prices were reasonable and the service was very good. I recommend it highly to anyone.

Billy A.

Pizza was great. Perfectly charred and not soggy at all. Got a margherita and a white pie with Ricotta and mushrooms. Really nice. Drinks were reasonably priced but the salads were the profit center. Far too little for the price regardless of taste which was quite good. Service was very cordial and accomodating. Our 2 year old was pitching a bit of a fit and the busser brought over a childrens book to help. Worked. Nice move.

Ashley D.

This place is cute and so neighborly. The antipasto platter and the sausage pizza was the way to go for me! Yum and relatively inexpensive. My hub had the rapini pizza, which he didn't care for too much, but he loved my pizza and will be sure to get that next time. The only negative is the pizza does NOT reheat well - sooo eat up!

Xiomara V.

Probably one of the best and worst pizzas I've had, but I ll explain. We had the Bianca Al Filetto for an appetizer, which there was way more buffalo mozzarella than tomatoes but I did not mind. I saved the extra to add to the crust of my pizza. I only tried the white pizzas here. One pizza we ordered, Salsiccia e Broccoletti, was too bitter for my liking, but if you like broccoli raab, I would say try it. The Bianca Regina was very good, I normally don't like pizzas without meat but this one didn't need it. The service was great as well. And the server answered all of our questions.

Reuben H.

I am really torn about this place. On one hand- I have always adored their doughy, speckle-char-marked, some spots puffy and airy, other parts thick and chewy crust that makes it a delight in itself. On the other hand- I have had some toppings some-what ruin the experience altogether. Charred/Burnt porcetta (I love my pork, preferably without lipstick- you got that Gov. Palin?!?!?) that was so flawed- but could have been so good if exectued properly, overly bitter brocolini, and the aforementioned by many canned mushrooms (as I experienced very recently). The service has varied from very friendly, to a bit cold, to a somewhat-creepy dude who was giving me the eye and made me feel like I needed to hurry up, eat, and get the hell out of Dodge........... Decor- decent dining room size but it gets packed quickly- especially on a weekend evening. They have a decent outdoor area that during the summer or on warm evenings in the Spring and Fall are coveted (only problem is the trains coming by). Inside the only thing worth mentioning are the two portraits hanging on the wall of the west-side dining area. It reminds me of paintings by someone who became famous for making up paintings for the cover of romance novels. From what I can tell- aps seem like standard-fare, and wine/beer list is pretty basic as well. I did also notice recently after going very early for dinner that the pizza was ready in an alarmingly quick period of time. I realize the pizza oven is set at some ungodly high temperature- but 5 minutes brought to our table from the time we ordered? Maybe it is my flawed background as an ex-pizza maker of a different style of pie. I guess another reason I am torn is because I believe with Neapolitan pizza- the more basic, the better. There really shouldn't be more than just 2 or 3 toppings on the pizza (and Spacca Napoli follows this formula). Neapolitan pizza should not be over-loaded with sauce, or even cheese for that matter. The crust- if done right is what should really shine and should be the main part of the experience. That is why every time I come here I tend to leave very happy. Only after looking back on the pizza itself do I realize that I am ultimately just very pleased with how the crust is done. I am torn though because is it really worth $15 for beautifully cooked dough? Is it too much to ask to have some interesting topping combinations, or at least the classics done with completely fresh and perfectly executed ingredients? For example- Is it too much to ask to actually get fresh porcini mushrooms instead of the briny canned variety they gave me recently? Last thing to note- this place is recognized by the Associazione Verace Pizze Napoletana, which is basically an organization based out of Naples that verifies whether a particular pizza is done in the Neapolitan style. I think they do their inspection process with some quality control, but maybe all you need is to follow a check-list of things in order to make it Neapolitan. Not sure......... Maybe by following this process you are able to get crust that is so golden and delicious. Maybe that should be all that I need to keep me coming back and be happy...... Maybe, but I think there is a bit of room for improvement with this place.

Andy M.

I'm old and grumpy. I'm a man's man. I like Football, Hockey fights and late night Reruns of the Rockford Files. I have lived in Chicago the majority of my life and I love Pizza. When I say Pizza, I mean Chicago Pizza. I'm talking about Pizza that lays in your stomach like a hockey puck. I'm talking about Pizza that's hot, solid, covered with enough Cheese, meat and sauce to make a Drunken Packer Fan's Gun go off in his holster. I'm not used to this Neapolitan, pansy food. But I have to admit, in this case, it was pretty good. We started out with this Giant Ball of Burrata Cheese which was their special appetizer of the day. This is what I mean when I talk about Guy food. The Burrata was the size of a football and delicious beyond words. It tasted like a different and wonderful version of Mozzarella cheese that I really enjoyed. For my entree I ordered their Diavola Pizza. Like I stated before, I really don't like Neapolitan Pizza, but this was by far the best one I ever had. The Diavola was topped with Cheese and Salami. It's not Lou Malnati's, but it was pretty damn good. The Bottom Line on Spacca Napoli is this: If you are going to get stuck going to some Foo Foo, Girly joint, Spacca Napoli is the lesser of all the evils. The food was pretty good and the service was top notch. There were moments where I actually enjoyed myself, just don't tell my wife, she may make me go to more places like this.

Dhruv P.

I'm updating my stars to 5 from 4, only because I realize how few good pizza places there are in the city that have true Italian pizza. Great Lake can't compare to the quality of the pizza at Spacca Napoli. The ingredients, the simplicity, the fresh-ness all make Spacca my go-to place to get my pizza fix.

Mindy S.

Haven't been there recently in the last year, but have gone a few times a year since I read about its grand opening. Went to Italy in '98 and was never satisfied with pizza state-side until Spacca Napoli. Trust me, they 99% nail it. And that's close enough for me. The reason we go so rarely is because it's inconvenient, being south siders. I love it, but sometimes it really disagrees with my husband. Sorry hun, I gotta get this fix on. Be prepared for a way simplified pizza experience, but I bet you and your buds won't forget it.

Daniel M.

Went there yesterday for first time. This may be best Neapolitan pizza in Chicago. The crust was very thin and had a few burnt bubbles on the edges. The combination of sauce and cheese was fantastic. The sausage had great flavor and was pretty light. Also had the grilled zucchini and eggplant, which although served cold was still good. If you like Neapolitan style pizza, u must try this place.

Annie D.

Oh, what a nice pizza outing with my Yelp family! As a kid, I used to prefer my pizza with extra-extra-cheese, but my adult self is more partial to a simple Neapolitan pizza. Why, hello Spacca Napoli! Chicago's answer to non-Chicago-style pizza. Neapolitan pizza has a crust that I believe they call "wet" because it's sort of flimsy in the center. It's a light pizza (in weight, not calories), and I could probably eat a whole one here if I was really hungry. We dug in family-style here, which is definitely the way to go if you want to try multiple kinds of pizza (which I always do). We had the Salsiccia (mozzarella, basil, ltalian sausage, red sauce), Bianco Nero (Pecorino with black truffle, fior di latte mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, white truffle oil, olive oil), Sorrentina (Pomodorini, mozzarella di bufala, basil, olive oil) and the Prosciutto e Rucola (Provola, prosciutto di parma, arugula, parmesan and olive oil). We also ordered the spinach and four cheese pizza special and the fried goat cheese appetizer... so on second thought, I do still like extra-extra cheese. I enjoyed all of them, but I think Johnny T and I may have the same taste buds, because I was also especially partial to the Prosciutto e Rucola, because I adore prosciutto on everything. They could wrap it around a chocolate chip cookie for all I care. I'd love it. The truffle pizza was a little rich for me, but I also realized recently that I don't like porcini mushrooms much, so it could have been the mushrooms that I didn't like. The sidewalk seating and the service was magnifico. Our server didn't mind explaining everything to us, suggesting different Italian sodas for those who chose to partake. I had the Italian Peach Iced Tea (not a fan of the sweetness, but my colleagues enjoyed it).

Emma M.

Another great pizza place in my neighborhood. They have expanded their restaurant and the past few times I have not had to wait. They also have a very nice outdoor patio. Their pizza is very good. It's even been verified by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napoletana. There aren't many pizza places in the States that have that. My only dislike is that they could use some help with their beer selection. My favorite pizza is the "white" mushroom pizza with truffle oil. YUM! Can't wait to sip some wine, eat some delicious pizza and relax on the outdoor patio this summer.

Benji T.

These people make some really good food. The pizza is fantastic and geuninely Italian (even gets a thumbs up from the girl, who is, like the pizza, fantastic and genuinely Italian). It's not deep dish and it's not Domino's, it's thin crust and good ingredients. Don't gloss over the appetizers. The eggplant is simple and delicious. The mozzarella cheese - out of this world. The service never fails, either. It's good all around, but you can tell quality service by how they handle it when shit goes south. Our second time there, the girl clearing our pizza (half-eaten and headed for a box) got viciously stripped by some idiot inexplicably coming out of the bathroom at a full sprint. Pizza everywhere. We told her not to worry, she had the kitchen cook us a new pizza. Lightnin quick too. Our next time there, the girl knocked her wine over. They brought her a new glass, on the house. That's quality. Good tiramisu, good grappa to boot. Seriously, eat here.

Johnny T.

She's spacca'n napo-li, she's spacca'n napo-la... Sorry, this is what I hear when I hear the name of this place. I had zero expectations. I am not as familiar with Ravenswood as I should be, so when it comes to Ravenswood businesses, I'm a, little, "ruh roh, Shaggy!" But, I was in good hands. I was brought here by her Yelpiness, Ms. CC and she knows what she's doing. Spacca Napoli (you know you want to say it... napo-lay...) is a neapolitan pizza joint that does pizza the old-country way. I've never been to Italy, but Sofia Petrillo (RIP Estelle Getty) once told me to picture it and I've never let go of the image. If you enjoy your pizza wood-fired and not filled to the brim with ingredients (not a knock; just, you know how we Americans love our more more more...how do you like it, how do you like it?; I think I am channeling satellite radio), you'll love SN. Fortunately, we had a waiter who was quite informed of the menu. Between ten of us, we ordered 5 pizzas and we probably could have polished off a couple more. This is not to say that we're piggy piggersons; the pizzas are thin, smaller than what you'll get at the Hut and topped with only a few ingredients. Unless you're Fiona Apple, you probably won't get super full. For me, the standout pizza was the prosciutto, arugula and two cheese pizza (no red sauce). The spicy Italian sausage was pretty memorable as well. No comments from the peanut gallery, please. I wasn't as big of fan of the truffle oil/mushroom pizza, but that's my taste. A little truffle oil goes a long way. The rest of the table seemed to enjoy it. Finish the feast off with some Italian Peach Iced Tea and you're ready to rock. This might be my most useless, rambling review ever. Apologies. Eat guhd pizza here.

Leyla A.

FAIL FAIL FAIL! So glad they were not busy, so I did not wait to eat this "Pizza". I wish I had gone to Walgreens and bought a 99-cent Tostinos. I left hungry and it was Expensive.

Laura M.

After returning from a trip around Italy I set out to find the most authentic Neapolitan style pizza in Chicago. And by far Spacca Napoli has the most authentic pizza to that served in the Naples area (and south italy). Pizza and ingredients are top quality and fantastic (they use mozzarella di bufala on most of the pizzas which is more $$$). Some of the reviews complain about not enough cheese, too "wet" (from the sauce and type of cheese), crust falling apart in center; but that is very authentic and exactly like the pizza you will get in Naples. Personally I love this type of pizza!! They even hand out canoli on your way out which is a nice touch. LOVE this place!

Just wow! The food is amazing! So delicious I could come here everyday!

Rachel W.

If you want chicago style pizza that's loaded w/tons of cheese, not the place for you...While I"m a fan of pretty much all pizza, this is a delicious unique spot (with TONS of street parking). This pizza is impossible to explain. If you're into a different kind of pizza (lots of ingredients on top, easy on the cheese, the kind you need to cut, etc...) just check it out. I"ve been twice in so many weeks, the arugula proscuitto white pizza is awesome, so is the italian sausage, mushroom and mozzarella one. Food is fresh, wine list is well-priced, cute outdoor patio, great service. The reviews seem all over the board here, but I've been w/2 groups of people and we all loved it.

Tim G.

We have made Spacca Napoli a regular night out for our entire family. The kids love the food, and the restaurant gives my wife and I the feel that we are out for an adult evening. We can enjoy a glass aofwine and the pizza is really terrific - and everybody can enjoy their own pizza without having to sacrifice toppings for another's taste. While I can't quite eat a whole one, my 8 year old can. PROs: + Great food, for adults and kids + Decent, approachable wine list + Friendly staff, good service + For an appetizer, try the zucchini in white balsamic and love. It's heavenly. CONs: + If you have to wait, you will not be very comfortable (make a reservation if you can) + They offer pick up, but you have to order in person, which means... you have to wait in an already overcrowded waiting space

Liz D.

Jonathan Goldsmith of Spacca Napoli did a wonderful job helping us to plan our wedding rehearsal dinner, held in the event space that he built out recently. He worked with us to plan out a delicious menu that would make the most of in-season ingredients, and appeal to guests who we knew hadn't had Naples-style food before. This was the perfect place for us, and so many of our guests said it was the best rehearsal dinner food they've ever had. We'll be back soon!

Chris K.

My girlfriend and I reserve this as a "special" dinner place for certain occasions. Tremendous neopolitan pizza, great insalata mista, and easily the best limoncello anywhere. It's tough to get a table at prime time on a weekend - go there on a weeknight. One of the fun things about going here for is how relaxed and happy all the patrons seem. The owner is very nice, too, and will visit your table if things aren't too busy.

Coleman B.

I went here on a blind date last night, and it was a good choice. It has a nice casual feeling, but also a touch of class. Not too crazy about the wine selection, but the menu focuses on specific cuisine and a specific way of preparing it. In that regard, I guess I expected a little more finesse. The pizza was the best part, in traditional style of the Napoli region, which is simple, yet quality (which I really enjoy). The pizza was also the most affordable part of the meal, while our pancetta salad was VERY bacony and the prosciutto and buffalo cheese was simple, but way too much for two people and at 15 dollars should have been a little more dressed up. Overall, good, not too many bells and whistles, affordable, but I would like to go back to try again and maybe figure out the menu a little bit better to order a better, more well rounded and adventurous meal. Its clean, simple Italian pizza at a acceptable price.

Nick K.

Love this place, completely delicious pizza, and you must get the burrata - its pricey but it would make my "last meal" list. Parking is easy, prices are not unreasonable for the quality. Just an all around great place. We'll be back for sure.

Mohit S.

Finest Neopolitan pizza! Their white pizzas are divine. Best in the city for sure. They had an nduja on special tonight. They should make permanent on the menu. Loved it!!!!

Amanda J.

So, my husband and I tried Spacca Napoli for the first time about a month ago and we have been there three times now. Even though it's slightly out of our neighborhood it is totally worth the drive and a short hunt for parking. We first ventured there as we were trying to burn through some of our unused a la card deck coupons from 2010. In our first trip, we immediately agreed upon the Bianco Nero (without the mushrooms). We are suckers for truffle oil in about anything. Yeah it is so cliche, I know, but really, truffle oil on pizza, how can it be bad? Obviously, it's great because we have ordered it every time since. Our first trip there, we also shared the Tartufo for dessert, YUM! We tried to get the Tartufo again on our second trip, but they were out of it. So far, that has been our only disappointment. Tonight, we went back again with another couple and we all shared the Bianco Nero and the Margherita. Once again, we were quite satisfied. I only wish we weren't so in love with the Bianco Nero so we could test some of the other pizzas as well. Oh well. As we left they were handing out free cannoli. For years I thought I hated cannoli and I nearly passed up the offer. Apparently I was wrong because hours later I still want more. (It was so delicious it even took my mind off of the Bianco Nero for a while) I really hope they add this to the menu because they were amazing. Additionally, we have always had wonderful service there and I love the atmosphere. It is very relaxed and seems to be family friendly, while still being cozy enough to enjoy on date night.

DJ F.

I usually give a restaurant a couple chances, but we were SO turned off by our experience that I would not waste the time or money to go back. We stumbled upon this place on a lazy Sunday afternoon. It wasn't busy, but they sat us on top of the only 2 tables in the restaurant. Whatever. Our waiter was just plain rude and snotty, which I just don't get. I mean, it's a pizza joint? He started by selling us the disgusting $15 cheese appetizer special. Another yelper described it as "a big blob of cold cheese spread infused with olive oil or something". Exactly! It had absolutely NO flavor and was gross. When our waiter asked how it was, we said we didn't like it, that there was really no flavor. He said "OK you're fine" and walked away. Whaaaaaat??? So then we try and order pizza. We asked our lovely server what type of pizzas the next table had because they looked good. He didn't even turn around, just snarked "That's not my table." Um, does it have to be YOUR table to LOOK??? The margherita pizza was soggy and tasteless, as was the "spicy red" wine this guy recommended. Way too pricey for less-than-average food and arrogant service.

David C.

I love eating here.... if you are looking for a great pizza... you cant go wrong... its very good. On my last trip we ordered the eggplant as an appetizer and it was fantastic. However, we both found something strange about the dish... they serve a large portion of eggplant with seven small pieces of bread. ??? It did not stop us from eating the rest of the eggplant but the portion of bread did not match the amount of eggplant served. I've had several of the pizzas and the Prosciutto e Rucola would have to be one of my favorites. On my last trip I had the Bianco Nero... while truffle on anything makes a dish amazing.. this was just ok. I am not sure I would order it again. The pizza was still good... just not fantastic. The staff is very friendly and helpful.... hit this spot for a great pizza.

mariah c.

I love eating this style of pizza because it doesn't leave you feeling gut-busted after. Though with a heavy dose of lactaid, I can handle Chicago style pizza a few times a year, I'm glad that the city has a much broader array of 'za offerings than that archtypical coma-by-the slice. The patio here is lovely, with engaging servers and a few sparkly Italian sodas, you'll be off to a good start. I would suggest heading here with a group of at least 4, just so you can order several different pizzas but end up eating just the right amount. The truffle oil pizza is worth savoring, and is a stand-out. There was also a special white pizza featuring a lovely creamy ricotta that I would also gladly return to devour (delicately, of course). Overall, I'm happy to have a new spot in Ravenswood for outdoor eating, and pleased to think that eating pizza in Chicago will not always lead to a total carb crash!

Kate N.

What should have been a leisurely Thursday afternoon lunch quickly turned to an unmitigated disaster. While the appetizers were fine, the pizza came out right after and was WAY too soggy. When telling the waiter our complaint he spoke over me and was extremely rude. Instead of hearing our complaint he said "Let me educate you." and then went on to tell me that it was my fault I did not like the pizza and was unwilling to attempt to fix my issues. Bad food and even poorer service makes this pick a mistake for any occasion.

Samuel M.

I always feel like a traitor when I say that Chicago doesn't make the world's best pizza; that distinction belongs to Naples, and Spacca Napoli does as good of a job as possible at transporting its diners to this pizza capital of the universe. First off, the space is expansive and inviting; the latter can also describe the staff who, despite the crowds and our lack of reservation, was willing to accommodate our request to hold our table until 6:30 with relative ease. Now for the important stuff: the pizza. All of the pizzas are served on a thin yet impressively soft sourdough crust, roasted to a delectable crisp in an Old World oven. Aside from *maybe* Great Lake, this is the best crust in the city that I have tried. We sampled four pizzas; Funghi e Salsiccia ($14), Broccolette e Salsiccia ($15), Bianco Nero ($16, involving porcini mushrooms, black truffle, and white truffle oil) and a special pizza topped with Guanciale and a fried egg ($16). All of the ingredients are of highest quality; the sausage is spicy and not unpleasantly greasy, the broccoli rabe is bitter but not unpleasantly so, fried egg is cooked to an impressive degree of perfection, and the truffle on the Bianco Nero is easily detectable but not overwhelming. Wine list is long and cheap. What's not to love?! All in all, Spacca Napoli deserves its spot in the pantheon of Chicago pizza joints, largely because it so effectively captures the magic of Neapolitan-style pizza. An absolute gem and a must-try!

Camille P.

I soooo heart Spacca Napoli. I mean, I don't think I can express in words how happy I was to find this place. I actually found it relatively immediately upon moving to Chicago but only because I was REALLY looking for it. Having discovered during my time in NYC that real Neapolitan pizza does actually exist here in the states, I was on a mission to make sure that if it was also in Chicago, I knew about it. And, YIPEE! It is! Needless to say, this was not my first dining experience at Spacca Napoli... just another wonderful one. I can't decide if I wish it was closer to my apartment so that I could have it all the time, or if that would be a bad thing because I'd never want to eat anywhere else. So here's the scoop: In case I haven't made it clear, the pizza is wonderful.... amazing.... delicious.... perfect. The crust has that 1000-degree-oven char where it blisters and burns in just the right way. Plus, it's still chewy and bouncy from the gluten development in the dough. And it gets rolled so thin that the center is flimsy and limp (that's a good thing). Then there's the tomato 'sauce' which is simply San Marzano puree (exactly as it's done in Italy) with no additions. It's not cooked with garlic or onion or basil or oregano. Simple and pure. Just sweet enough, just acidic enough. And the mozzarella. Imported buffalo milk mozz that's still so milky and juicy you have to slurp it up when you bite because the thin crust can't even absorb it all. Wonderful! They have fior di latte mozzarella too, but I just can't bring myself to break away. Not when there's mozzarella di bufala to be had! There aren't all that many different types of pizza on the menu (only 7 red and 7 white) and most of them are super simple, but that's kinda the point. When simple is this good, who needs complicated? Every once in a while I do like a little something extra on a pie, however, so I was very happy when they let me add prosciutto and arugula to the Bufalina pizza. Gawd, it's good. As for the rest, there are some things that I like better than the others. The soups are always fantastic. The eggplant, too, is wonderful but only if you're in the mood for a gigantic mound of EVOO-soaked, tomato-braised, deliciousness. I think it's kinda weird that it's all by itself like that but I'm not going to complain because it's an excellent addition to a pasta sauce the next day. Mmmmm... The only thing I wish they had on the menu is some sort of sauteed greens, like broccoli rabe or chicory or something. I think that's be nice to be able to have along side my pizza. There are usually a couple of specials, as well, which I occasionally indulge in. Last night's was a meatball appetizer that was quite tasty. All beef meatballs with pinenuts and raisins atop a WELL seasoned tomato sauce. Both parts were nice but I wished the meatballs had been simmered in the sauce. I think they would have helped each other out, giving the meat a juiciness and the sauce another layer of depth. Good though. The atmosphere, too, is an authentic representation of Italy, but with a little extra. The tables and chairs are straight out of a restaurant there, but the wall decor and presence of music let you know that you are, in fact, still in the states. And the service is fantastic. Attentive, quick, unpretentious. Ask for Angela, she's the best (and pretty funny, too)! The short version (out of 10)... Food: 9.5 Service: 9 Ambiance: 8 Overall impression: 9.8 Would I go back? A meeeelion times, yes! In fact, I've made the 30 minute drive on multiple occasions just to sink my teeth into that juicy, charred, heavenly pie. I recommend you do, too.

Matt T.

I'm having a hard time finding the perfect pizza spot that I can go to without fail. Granted, Spacca Napoli is a neapolitan pizza spot but even in this sub-genre of pizza I'd like to find a place that I can say I'd go back to time and time again. The pizza here is good but it's hard to tell if it's great. We came on a Friday night at 6:30 and were seated in 10 minutes. Not bad. Our server came over right away and said she'd be right with us. Great start. I like that a server that is clearly busy comes over and let's us know that it'll be a few minutes, rather than us wait and search out for our server. After receiving our menus we were pleased with the appetizer choices (about 10) and the 6 or so red and 6 white pizza choices. We choose an antipasi meat and cheese app that had some tasty provolone, salami, cappacola, prosciutto and sopprasetta with two kinds of delicious olives (the green one was very crisp and enjoyable). I would have liked to see more choices for cheese that I would typically see on a menu for charcuterie, but I can also appreciate some simple but good provolone. When we ordered our app we asked for a class of wine and a beer. I was disappointed to only see four beers on the menu - I know this is a small Italian pizza joint but a bit more variety would have been appreciated. Anyway, after we placed our drink order it took about 10 mins to see our drink even though our server was running around and should have easily noticed the drinks were ready. The server came back and we were ready to get a funghi pizza when the server explained that they had a burrata pizza. We immediately said yes as this is our favorite cheese. The handmade mozzarella is devine. SN was supposed to have an app with burrata but I didn't see it and never asked. I'm not sure if it's ever been on the menu or you you have to ask for it special (there is a pic on Yelp of the burrata and it was in Time Out's "100 Best Things we Ate" issue) but have no doubt I will inquire next time. We quickly finished our drinks and clearly wanted another one after the long week. We again, didn't see our server for some time after receiving our apps and after she showed up we didn't get our drinks for another 5 minutes. Honestly, I didn't think this was a big deal but my fiancee clearly wasn't having it and wanted another drink. Our pizza did arrive pretty quickly but noticed right away that the fresh cherry tomatoes were just dumped in the middle of the pizza. We had to take the tomatoes and place them around the pizza so we could have a few on each slice. We soon found out that burrata is not a good cheese to melt for a pizza. Not only did SN put gobs of this cheese on, but it made the pizza a bit soggy and limp. I will not deny that the pizza had great flavor and I liked the crust. It was crips and chewy and had that great fire oven taste. My fiancee was not as impressed with the crust but we did agree that another more traditional pizza option would have been better and more enjoyable. We skipped desert as I wasn't feeling the options - they weren't bad just not in the mood for gelato, a nutella pannini or tiramisu. I do have to say that this place is noisy with families and parties so I would suggest coming on a week night if you don't want to deal with a loud room. However, I will definitely try SN again and hope to have a better experience next time.

Sonia P.

My favorite place for pizza in the city. This is authentic Italian pizza. The selection is not great but you have all the basic pizzas with great quality. I also think the wine selection is good considering the type of restaurant. As for the wine glasses, they use regular glasses which you find done at mom and pop restaurants all over Italy. This is the most authentic Italian pizza I've had outside of Italy.

Amanda M.

My boyfriend and I went here on a recommendation from a co-worker the night previous. It is a bit far from our area but totally worth the trek! We sat outside and ordered two pizzas, one with red sauce and truffles and the other with olive oil and mozzarella and basil, and they came out shortly after we ordered. The pizzas were big enough for one person, so it was good that we ordered 2 of them since we destroyed them. The waiter explained to us how they cook the pizzas and that it only takes a few seconds in the oven. He was also very friendly and helped us figure out where the bus back to our area was even though we decided to walk. We will go back again and I am excited to try other options!

Char Y.

After months of anticipation, we finally came to this restaurant, which smelt wonderful outside. We ordered melanzane - yummy eggplants! fritti del giorno - really good fried fennel diavola - salty salsiccia - very good biano nero - very good I really enjoyed their pizza due to fresh ingredients and the lightness of the dough. I will come back!

Bella D.

3.5-3.75+ I liked the restaurant and setting. The food was fresh, we ordered, all different pizzas. We just expected it to be crisper and not as soggy in the middle. But we loved the staff, owner and atmosphere. Maybe since we are new to that kind of pizza. Def come here on a date and try the pizza! Just don't expect crunchy pizza bread pizza. They are crowded so def get a reservation. Salads, beverages, service 4.0 : ) Pizza for me 3.5

Mandy P.

I really, really wanted to love Spacca. I'm pretty close, so I think some day it will happen. I hold the bar pretty high for pizza because not much can top my precious Sono Wood Fired, but I gave it a shot based on a recommendation. Spacca is right off of the Montrose Brown Line so I was excited to have easy access to traveling north. I don't make it up that way often! My first impression of Spacca was one of awe. The place was super packed on a Saturday night and I was glad I had made a reservation a few days in advance. My second impression was that it's kind of more of a family place than a "single ladies" place. Every light seems to be on at its full wattage while groups of families crowd around pizzas and talk animatedly to one another. My friend and I each got a glass of wine from their simple but decent wine menu and then ordered the Caprese salad and the prosciutto pizza. The salad came out at lightning speed and wasn't really a great portion for sharing. That was our mistake for not asking the server. Fortunately I had chosen a small friend to come with me, so I got plenty! The pizza came out pretty quickly too, and possibly a little too soon. I don't think it was cooked all the way and considering that it's thin crust that seems difficult to do. I wasn't a fan of the prosciutto either, which seemed pretty chewy and more "hammy" than it should be. The arugula wasn't very flavorful either. Despite all of this, don't think that stopped me from eating half of the pizza. All in all it was still better than the majority, but it hasn't won me over yet.

Rick C.

So I've been to Spacca Napoli before, have had my wife's leftovers from girl night out as well. I've always been a fan. Nice chew and just the right amount of char to the crust. Always pretty tasty, but I had a pizza last night that really freaking rocked. A recent trip to Europe has ruined me on some food. No longer will Pillsbury crescents satisfy me for croissants and no longer do I go by the "no pizza is a bad pizza" motto. You can definitely get more bang for your buck elsewhere, but I think it's worth it here. We went with the Bianco Nero which has Pecorino with Black Truffle, Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Porcini Mushrooms, and White Truffle Oil. It was pretty good, really earthy and mushroomy. If you're into that, you'll dig this one. I found it a little wet especially towards the middle. For our second pizza we went with one of the specials for the night, The Bismark. As our waitress described this pizza I spaced out during the rest of her spiel imagining how good this must taste. It's a white pizza with their Fior di Latte Mozzarella, speck, with an egg cracked in the middle of it before it goes in the oven. A breakfast pizza done right. If you like eggs even a little and this is on the specials board, do yourself a favor and order it. It was awesome. Safe to say, I enjoyed our dinner here. I was even taking trash to the leftovers as they boxed it up, "I'm going to tear you up tomorrow..I'm going to heat you up so fast..." I'm a man of my word, they didn't stand a chance.

Jon A.

Spacca Napoli proves it's not only the Jewish delis with their black & white cookies that care about racial harmony, because they're reaching out to bring together humanity with their black truffle & white truffle oil pizza. Here in every bite my palate rung out, "I have a dream, I have a dream." Th Spacca staff handled our dozen-large party really well. Staying attentive to the multiple germ-o-phobes at the table (that's me) by replacing silverware instead of letting them rest on the patio table. The self-slicing route they take here breeds community, so if you like your tablemates it'll enrich the experience, or if you're with strangers it'll enliven it all a bit. Serving a whole pie doesn't disenfranchise certain toppings sticking together & puts that titanium slicer in our own hands to control our own destiny of being triangle or square or circle? slices. The curly haired Italian gent introduced me to "Chinotto," the finest mid-day non-alcoholic bevvie I've had -- a soft, slightly bitter, carbonated citrus caramel-y soda. This seems to be a campaign to promote tourism to Naples or Ravenswood...'tis working!

Kristen W.

Had dinner here last night, 9pm, the place was about 1/3 full. Took forever for the waitress to greet us and she never took our drink orders. It took her so long to acknowledge us that we had decided on our entire order and were sitting there waiting for her. I ordered a salad, my boyfriend ordered a pizza. We asked that they come at the same time. They didn't. Very slow service throughout. The waitress barely said two words to us and we realized later that there were specials (we saw them written on a board on the way out) that she had never mentioned to us. Disappointing. The food is good, I would get take out the next time. Prices are good and the decor is lovely but the lights inside are WAY TOO BRIGHT. It's like sitting in a cafeteria in there. Ugg. I hate that.

Amanda S.

PROs - super friendly hosts and servers. - beautiful and delicious neopolitan pizzas* that come out impossibly fast. - the nutella dessert:: a battilocchio-style focaccia with hazelnut cream and confectionery sugar. - the fact that i "lebroned" the nutella dessert's confectionery sugar during my first bite and my friend actually had me thinking he was laughing with me, not at me for a few moments. CONs - i made a quick tip about this but a repeat can't hurt. they serve wine in a stumpy (read:: NOT wine) glass. yes, full to the brim, but aesthetically unappealing. especially if you're a member of the finer things club. - they want you to make yourself useful. so go ahead. let's see just how straight you can cut your own pizza(s). - while the crust is chewy and fresh-out-of-the-oven tasting, the moment you pick up your slice, the tip sadly dips down. soggy, limp middles. tsk tsk. - no napkins or utensils for dessert? i mean, it's definitely delectable enough that i'd dare to go back to the ways of our primal ancestors and rip it apart, but doing so isn't very cute. worthy of another shot, but not at the top of the list. --- *diavola:: mozzarella di bufala, spicy salami, red pepper flakes, basil. prosciutto e rucola:: provola, prosciutto di parma, arugula, parmesan.

Ashley B.

This place is outstanding! I called to ask if they had takeout. Though I had to go in to order, they were quick and efficient. The staff was very friendly and made GREAT recommendations. I was offered complimentary sparkling wine while waiting and the wait was not even 5 minutes. The pizza was excellent, all ingredients tasted fresh and complimented one another. I highly recommend the margherita pizza!!I'll definitely be going back to one of Chicago's best pizza places around!

Monica K.

The pizza here was pretty much what I had expected based on other reviews. The ingredients were incredibly fresh and the combinations were very good. I really enjoyed the pizza with prosciutto and arugula, and the margherita pizza was delicious too. I was really puzzled by the pizzas when they came out - they weren't cut into slices, instead just came out whole. I saw another table with a pizza cutter, but none of the other tables around us did. I'm definitely not a fan of having to cut my own pizza... The Menabrea beer was really good and light! It might be my new favorite beer :). Also, try the tiramisu - it's amazing! Otherwise, service is pretty minimal. It was pretty busy on a Friday night...I'd recommend making reservations.

Thomas L.

This pizza is as good as you'll find without going to Naples. In fact, I think it would be considered great pizza even in the old country. Fresh, simple ingredients and a perfectly cooked pie--what more could you ask for. If you want to veer away from the pizza selection, the burrata cheese appetizer is the bomb. Otherwise, I haven't felt the need to sample any of the non-pizza portion of the menu. I live on the other side of the city, but Spacca is always worth a trip.

Jacqueline M.

I followed the crowds to this place on a recent Friday night and waited about 40 minutes with my boyfriend before we got a seat. The waiting space is really cramped but the openness of the restaurant was generally very inviting (we could view the entire kitchen staff preparing pizzas for the oven). The bottom line in Spacca is that it is good for first-time diners newto the uber-thin pizza style. But for those that have had it several times previously, Spacca will certainly underwhelm. Overall, the pizza was just plain boring. Seasoning was amiss. The presentation was a mix of too-toasty ends and too-soggy middles. The appetizers were nice but nothing special. The space itself was inviting: cozy, open, and neighborhood-ly feeling but on the downside also a bit cramped. The wood everywhere (from the oven to the floors) made for a very loud dinner date, too. I think one really once this place DOESN'T SUCCEED is that it just misses the mark on authenticity for almost every dish. I don't think that the fact that owners ARE NOT ITALIAN has anything to do with it but when the recipes are just slightly off across the board you have to wonder...

Chirag P.

I'm a Chicagoan born and raised and love my pizza... Spacca is not your traditional chicago style thin crust but it is awesome in it's own way... the ingredients are fresh, love the authentic "Italian-ness" of the menu, from the apps to the beverages (Orangina and Limonata)

Jose H.

I have nothing but love for this place, its people and its food. Everything that's good about a neighborhood pizza place can be found here. This is the best pizza outside of Italy and by far the best in the country. I have nothing more to add that hasn't been already written, but one thing: The quality hasn't declined at all after Jon opened the expansion. Keep up the good work Spacca. We'll support you.

Katie T.

Italian beers Great decor Beautiful outdoor seating Severely authentic pizza Amazing softshell crab appetizer

Sally C.

I lived by Spacca Napoli for two years but never ate there. Then I moved but got a new job down the street. I totally missed out during the two years I lived by it. It's hard to be impressed with pizza in Chicago due to so many places trying to be the best. But Spacca Napoli was pretty darn awesome. It's Neopolitan style pizza which you don't see too much of in Chicago. The pizzas look like they might serve two people but they're thin and oh so amazing so be sure to order one per person - you won't want to share. Everyone at my table ordered their own pizza and only one person didn't finish it. I don't mind tomato sauce but I'm not the biggest fan so it was like a dream come true to see that half their pizzas came without tomato sauce. I ordered the Quattro Formaggi. It was some of the best pizza I've ever had. It was hard to decide what to order because in addition to the variety of pizzas on the menu, there were three pizza specials for the day. The waiter was extremely patient and helpful, and the pizzas seemed to take less than 10 minutes so cook so there wasn't much waiting around. I will definitely be back!

Brett F.

Let me preface my review by saying there are clearly already numerous renderings for Spacca Napoli here. Since there isn't much (or anything) unprecedented I can add to the collection let's just roll list style, shall we? I'll save my long-windedness for the next one. Spacca Napoli (+) ---------------------------- - It was quite easy to get a last minute reservation for a Thursday night on the patio - Eating al fresco on the verge of Fall among candlelight and neighborhood folk was nice - Friendly, attentive service and my water was filled every time I took a sip. Love via tap water, nice! - Melon and Prosciutto special appetizer; insane portion, delicious, perfect combo of sweet and salty - Insalata Mista; somewhat plain with only lettuces, olives, tomato and some balsamic, however, the freshness and simplicity was appreciated. And again with those portions, 1 salad is easily enough for 4 to share. - Naples-style Pizza. Yum. Yum. Yum. In. My. Tum. Tum. Tum. The margherita (classically done with mozzarella, tomatoes and basil) and funghi e salsiccia (mushrooms, fennel, sausage) pizzas were outstanding!! This is what it's all about, chewy, tangy, fresh and piping hot straight from the oven. - Zabaglione dessert. Served in a juice cup (cute!) it was tasty, creamy and the perfect sweet to accompany after-dinner espresso and good conversation. Spacca Napoli ( - ) ---------------------------- - While sitting outside is nice, being jarred by the adjacent Montrose brown line is not. I may opt for inside seating next time. - The pizzas need to be watched extremely carefully as Napoli style pizza cooks lightening fast. Burnt edges become inedible and you're left with crust castoffs. The crust is my favorite part, a 1/4 section ruined by char on one pizza was a bit of a bummer. - Baked ricotta dessert. Way too dry. Like week-old cheesecake... we drowned it in zabaglione to make it edible.

Francis K.

My review should be taken with a grain of salt. I've never actually eaten _IN_ the restaurant so I won't be talking about their service or staff with the exception of the hostess. Spacca Napoli is our Friday night special. It is almost to the point where I don't need to look at the menu for change. (hey when you find something that works why mess with it?) I probably should one of these days. In the event that they run out of an ingredient. Oh yeah. The pizza! It is "...out of this world..." good. For us lazy folk who can't wait 30 minutes for a seat our really good meal is served in less than fifteen. What you get is the Neopolitan style pizza which is a hit or miss for some (this being Chicago and home of the deep-dish) I have no intentions to start a pizza style war because there's enough bellies for them to co-exist in Chicago. Someday I will venture out of the comfort zone but now I'm afraid the service will have to live up to the food which is -lets face it- tough.

Terry L.

This place is awesome! The service was fantastic. Very attentive when needed and subtle when not. The burrata for starter is a must! The pizzas are all fantastic! The wood fired oven really makes a difference. The wine list is small, but hand-picked, with some great "off the beaten path" wines to try. Sitting outside on a sunny day is just perfect.

Marjie W.

YES! This place is amazing! My boyfriend lives right around the corner so we decided to give it a try. The atmosphere was great, the service was great, and the food was amazing! We had two of the special items.. so of course I can't remember what they were called. But the beer is very well priced (i think they could price it higher. I worked at an Italian restaurant selling peroni's for like 9 dollars!) but then again, that's one factor making this place great. Just four stars because in my eyes, 5 stars is for something unimaginably amazingly fantastic.. but this place is pretty close! Also, if you don't speak or read italian, be prepared to ask questions! it was a little difficult to decipher the menu. I worked at Buca, so the only italian I remember is Pomodoro, insalate,antipasti.. etc. :)

Gregg J.

I think this once hot spot has just about run it's course. I was there with a pretty large group. We had a table reserved (which was allowed b/c of the size of our group), and our actual server was great - nice, attentive, answered all of our questions etc. Here's where it gets bad. We were rushed through our meal - that while won't break the bank is far from cheap. We ended up at $37/person, and since there were a lot of us you'd think that maybe they wouldn't be rude to a group who just gave the restaurant several hundred dollars in about an hour's time. The guy with the facial hair, either owner or manager, basically came up to our table pretty much the exact instant that the plates started being cleared, and requested we move along. What kind of way is that to treat anyone in a restaurant in a city filled with thousands of good ones? When people dine out, they want to feel comfortable and not feel like they are a burden by spending their money in your restaurant. I understand the idea of turnover, and people waiting for tables, but there's a big difference between lingering over that last sip of wine and not ordering for two hours, and simply digesting your meal and wrapping up. So, if you want pretty good food and very poor treatment, have a good time here. For my money I'll go to Frasca or Pizza D.O.C. and get the same food and feel like I can enjoy myself.

Ingrid R.

I came here on a Sunday night with 4 other women. The food and service were good but the noise was unbearable. I could often not hear what my friends were saying. Honestly because of this I wouldn't come back. I gave it 3 stars because the food really was nice - I had the "Insalata di Mare" and the "Funghi" pizza. Both really were excellent. Only if they sort out their acoustics will I go back.

Alexandra S.

The best! I have been several times and I keep coming back. My favorite is the Quattro Formaggi. The crust is the best part, chewy and smoky from the wood burning oven. Last time we were there the bus boy dropped my boyfriend's left overs sent to be boxed up... they made us a whole new pizza, in four minutes flat!

Gaige G.

Went here with work folks and damn.....great pizza. Maybe it's better to go at lunch on a weekday. The pizza is damn good. Fresh, thin crust - sausage & arugula. I could not stop saying yum with a big smile on my face. Service was slow - I think they were short-handed. I'll be back - fer shur! Update: I don't know what crazy person gave this only 4 stars...i musta been drunk or something. This has become my FAVORITE pizza place in Chicago.

beno g.

What a shame. "Authentic" Neapolitan pizza in Chicago so utterly ruined. The pizza is not very bad - just a little bad in that it is runny and just not hitting the mark for this type of pizza. I could eat it and tolerate it though. The room and the service however, are unbearable. I would not go back there even if they had the best pizza in the universe. This is the loudest place I have eaten in since the high school cafeteria. My family and I could not hear each other across the table and my ears were actually ringing after we left. They need to do something to dampen the noise in that space. They could but I guess they prefer the fast table turnover. The service... what can I say. The hostess was grumpy both times I was there. The servers were rude and not helpful at all. The menu is in Italian, the specials are in Italian. I could not get an educated explanation of my options from our server hard as I tried - he even rolled his eyes. I ended up ordering and having no idea what was coming. Note to owner: Fire your waitstaff and promote your busboys. They were the only friendly or attentive people in the place and the only ones who spoke English to me.

Sue B.

Hands down, this is the best pizza in Chicago. I have been here many times over the years with friends and/ or family and the quality has not diminished since it opened. I personally love the white truffle, one of the sausage, and the 4 cheese pizzas (of course, these are not the names on the menu) . The mixed salad and other appetizers are big enough to share and we usually can eat a whole pizza per person. The dining areas have expanded over the years, so even when its crowded, the wait seems to go quickly. The owner, Jon Goldsmith, always seems to out and about in the restaurant, seems very kind and personable. He's a good guy. The restaurant is great and I am glad it's still around.

Crystal D.

Wow, I am really surprised there are not more 5 star reviews. I guess I'm just fortunate that I've had a great experience every time I've been. I love this place. Granted, I've never actually been to Naples, so I'm in no way able to compare authenticity. However, the pizza is wonderful, the appetizers are great with generous portions and you really must try the tartuffo for dessert!! Service is fine, but the owner is great- always checking to make sure everything is ok. If you get stuck with a wait by the door, the downside is that it's a small narrow area- they could benefit from a vestibule in the winter. The upside, though, is that the owner often gives out amazing little bites while you're waiting- I got bread with truffle oil- YUM! Also, the patio is really beautiful in the summer and it's a peaceful little corner of Ravenswood. This is my little neighborhood jewel I show off to all visitors- all VERY impressed!

Emily K.

I like this place very much but I've only been here twice because it's always really crowded and it's also expensive. The pizza is great and they seem to have a good revolving specials menu with new items to try, but each pizza is in the $14-$17 range (most with anything other than cheese or basil topping at the higher end). You really should allocate one pizza per person, even if you're sharing amongst a group. It's gourmet (and delicious) pizza for sure but at the same time... I have to really go out of my way to want to spend $17 per person for a (delicious) pizza. They have a cute outdoor area as well. Oh, I also have never tried an appetizer because there are about 12 of them listed and there are no descriptions, just their names in Italian. There's no way I'm stopping my waitress and making her explain to me what all 12 are (twice, probably, because I can't remember so good) before choosing.

Sarah L.

I really loved the pizza here, my guy not so much. He said it was like eating "air" pizza. My friend and I enjoyed Spacca's pizzas. They are authentic and it's nice to try how pizza is supposed to taste in Italy. They put minimal toppings on their pies. We shared a couple of pizzas, the tomato basil and the sausage pizza. They barely put sauce on their pizza and I like a saucy pizza! Their wine serving could be a tad bit more generous. They serve it to you in a tiny juice glass. Get here early on a Friday night or you could be waiting forever! Ask to be seated outdoors on the patio. It gets very warm and loud because it's a small restaurant.

Mary S.

Delicious!!! I have lived in Italy, thus as extremely particular about Italian food in Chicago, especially pizza. I've heard about this place for years, and finally made my way out there last night. OMG! SO GOOD! I woke up craving it today! My boyfriend felt the same -- as close to being in Italy as it gets in Chicago. And they have pizza bianca! Yum yum yum!!! PS: You get a complimentary canoli on your way out -- what a lovely sweet touch!!! Thank you, Spacca Napoli!

kara m.

I have been to Spacca Napoli about 3 times and have never been disappointed. The pizza is fantastic. We usually order a few and then each trade pieces to try the different varieties. You really feel like you enter a different world in this restaurant. A little gem in Ravenswood!

Lizz M.

I was not all that impressed by this place. A pizza that is supposed to serve one for $13 is hardly my idea of a good value. It would be more understandable if the pizza would have been worth it, but not really. Lacking in the sauce (and I don't even like that much sauce) and the dough didn't have much flavor. "Meh" is right.

Matt W.

I'm torn what to give this place. My wife and I went, and there was only one thing that muddied the experience- I got severe food poisoning. And when I called several days later, they could have cared less. Not even an "I'm sorry". Other than that part, we liked the ambiance, the food (going down, anyway), our waiter, and that service was very quick. We also liked that they took reservations, and parking is easy around the area.

Chris C.

Chicago may be known for its deep dish pizza, but the pizza at Spacca Napoli is definitely worth the visit. When my wife and I first entered the establishment, there was a huge crowd of people waiting inside and outside of the restaurant. We pushed our way through and the hostess quoted us about a 45 minute wait time. As we were debating whether or not to wait, the owner approached us AND HE RECOMMENDED ANOTHER RESTAURANT if we decided not to stay at his! (He recommended Glenn's Diner, in case you're wondering, another fantastic restaurant we frequent often). We decided to wait for a table. During our wait, the owner walked around with some free appetizers for the crowd to sample---you could also get drinks from the bar, although it was kind of tough squeezing around all the people, tables and waitstaff. We were not disappointed. I'm glad we waited! The pizza selection at Spacca Napoli is very unique and refreshing. Lots of fresh vegetables and italian meats. Everything we ate was absolutely delicious from the appetizer to the brickoven pizza. After we paid and were leaving the restaurant, the owner chased us down and insisted we try a few complimentary mini cannolis and he thanked us for waiting! What great customer service!

Annie G.

Ventured there recently with the dames who dine and we had a mighty fine time. Not one for swine, I kept it simple with the margarita pizza and it was delicious. Crust was well cooked, top to bottom (char marks to prove it) and the ingredients were top shelf. My only regret is that it wasn't piping hot when it arrived - just warm. Not sure if that's because I was with a group of 5 and they waited until all were out before serving to me, but yeah, wish it were hot like Don Johnson. We shared a nice bowl of olives. They are not on the menu, so you got to ask for them...but worth the request. Eggplant appy was really good, despite what it looked like on arrival (like dog vomit). Wine was great and so utterly reasonably priced. If you're with a few peeps who are seeking a casual outing and don't want to break the bank, and if you don't need mood-lighting and attentive service, go here.

Elizabeth K.

The pizza was great. But if you've read anything about this place, you already know that. So allow me to talk about the desserts... We had TWO - the Panna Cotta and the Nutella Calzone. Holy crap, they were both insane. They brought the Panna Cotta first - it was the perfect texture, perfect flavor, drizzled with some kind of balsamic reduction and raspberry something. Who cares what it was, it was delicious and so light I could have eaten 17 servings. I licked the plate. Don't judge me. Then they brought out the Nutella Calzone...basically they take their pizza dough, spread it with the chocolatey hazelnut goodness and fold it in half. Theoretically you could make it yourself with a Boboli pizza crust and some Nutella. But your version would be a waste of calories so forget about it. This thing was huge and delicious - I had to hold myself back from swallowing it whole. In a completely uncharacteristic show of restraint, I saved a sliver for leftovers the next day. And I'm happy to report that it was amazing on the re-heat. So order it even if you are already full from the incredible pizza. You will thank me. Did I mention that the desserts were like $5 each or something? Deal of the century!

Alison M.

This is the kind of pizza I dream about. I love the chewy crust, fresh toppings, and the amazing buffalo mozzarella. I have absolutely no suggestions on making these pizzas better. Sure, maybe they're a little pricey, but the quality is excellent-- plus, if you get an appetizer, you can easily split one. And you totally should get an appetizer-- the prosciutto and mozzarella and caprese salad are both great (once again, it's that amazing buffalo mozzarella). I've also had the mussels, and while the broth is absolutely perfect (as in I asked for two extra bread baskets, just to sop it all up), the mussels themselves are kind of scrawny. If you have room for dessert, the gelato is great-- I was disappointed that they ran out of the special banana flavor last time I was there, but the hazelnut was wonderful. This place is worth the wait every time.

Kacie M.

Well, this place was good. I enjoyed my meal here. It's just not a place I would go back to. Don't just think think crust, think... the real authentic Italian stuff. It's just different then most people expect, I think. Service was great and our pizza's (including one of the specials) tasted good. In the end, though, i felt like I had an average meal for too much money. The gelato, though, was AWESOME.

Olivers Mom W.

I went here for the first time today after hearing about it from a friend that has come here several times. I called ahead to order carry out, they said they dont take phone orders since most pizzas are done within 60-90 seconds...OK, I understand. I dont live far, so I took the 5 minute drive and went in. Im guessing the owner was talking to some VIP guests since he just handed me off to another waitress to take my order. He was trying to impress them with some sample wine and a platter of different types of products the restaurant offers. I was out in 5 minutes, so that was great. I got home, chowed down and was very satisfied. My experience is on a carry out level. I am a pizza fanatic, I have had pizza napoletana and pizza al taglio/pizza al trancio, pizza rustica..and CHICAGO STYLE. It was tasty, but there are other places that are just as good or better in the city. I believe as a person having food industry experience in the past, each and every client should be treated equal, because clientele is not just based on the upper class but also the middle class which talk amongst each other and recommend different places de mangiare! Probably will go back, maybe the service will be better if we sit inside the actual restaurant.

Jon O.

Spacca Napoli is one of those places that you will instantly like the moment you walk through their front door. You will be greeted by a friendly face and quickly seated. The food is absolutely amazing. I recommend trying the Caprese con Bufala, Funghi pizza, and if you leave room, finish things of with their Tiramisu. The food is reasonably priced, and the service is pretty quick. Also, there is plenty of street parking available.

Eric n.

Great Pizza! Great Place with outdoor seating and extremely fresh ingredients. A slice of Italy on the Sunnyside of the street. Update: 4-28-2008 Now down to 2 stars! Maybe I was just in a bad mood, maybe it was an off day, or maybe this place should be called Prima Donna Pizza. How freaking full of yourself do you have to be to think cutting a pizza for your customers is just too much and "could lower the quality of the pizzas" Recently My extra special lady friend and 2 friends sat down to have some pizza at what i thought was a good Ravenswood spot. Yeah the pizza is still pretty good (I have had way better since my original 4 star review of this place) but the service was HORRIBLE! Okay so there we are 4 of us sitting at a small wobbly table with 20 plates, three pizzas, 10 glasses, 4 bottles, 6 forks, 6 knives, 2 pizza slicers, and various knickknacks and condiments. HOW IN THE HELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO SLICE THESE PIZZAS! When we asked them to please slice them for us at the time of ordering we were told by our server I can bring you slicers but they wont do it for you and that they yell at her if she asks. WTF. So the Pizzas come and the guy who brings them to our table asks can i get you anything, do you need anything? I say yes, could you please slice these up for us? He looked at me like i had just cock punched him and walked away. Soon our server came back by and ask if we needed anything and was everything okay? I asked, could we please get our pizzas sliced we have no room on this wobbly table and it's just going to be a mess, could you please have the pizzas sliced for us. She went into a ER like state looking for O negative but instead of O negative she was frantic for a slicer. within a minute or two arrived at our now fully stocked wobbly table. Here, she said you can use these and slice them. By this time my Extra special Lady friend and our 2 friend were trying their best to manage the montage of dishes in a mass organizational effort to slice a pizza. I on the other hand was just too pissed off at the utter bullshit i was sitting in front of to eat. WTF. So, now the owner comes by all sweaty and hairy in his dough and flour stained shirt that he's probably been wearing for days by the looks of it. With his hands clasped together in the prayer gesture of please forgive us he began spouting off bullshit about how they don't cut their pizzas when they come out of the over cause it would take up too much time and lower the quality. I sat an listened as he went on calmly waiting for my polite moment to air my grievance. When that time came some 2 minutes later he interrupted me refusing to let me speak to the point of raising his voice saying sorry we don't slice the pizzas and just walked off. What a harry fat asshole. So, if you like so so pizza that you must cut yourself while managing table space, and eating while frustrated-- this is the place for you.

Ross F.

This pizza is awesome- thats all you really need to know. The hours and days open can be random. I'm pretty sure they shut down for a week or two in July or August. We order pick-up from these guys often and they are always real nice about it (you do need to do it in person, and it normally only takes about 5-10 minutes once you get the order in) The apps and bread are very tasty... they do it right! All the dough is made up fresh everyday... mmmmmmmm

Summer P.

Hands down the best spot in the city for that super thin crust/baked in a crazy imported from Italy oven! When Spacca Napoli first opened, we went quite a few times. After a long absence, I was really pleased to see that the quality hadn't changed. Definitely try the Bianca con Bufala - my favorite pizza on their menu - I find it difficult to share. I think that other reviewers have mentioned this as well but the service is excellent - water is always being refilled, great suggestions about the menu and super friendly. My only wish is that the atmosphere had a bit more of that wine-bar feel. I think that there are plans to expand into the art studio space next door (I think it is moving upstairs); it'll be interesting to see how that shakes out.

Jim F.

Spacca Napoli offers you a true Italian experience in that their menu is entirely in Italian. Other than that, it's largely an imitation and a fairly expensive one at that. First off the place was pretty crowded. We went in on a Tuesday night and did not have reservations. It was raining so the outdoor seating was not available. We didn't have to wait that long. YMMV on other nights. It sounds like this place gets crowded. Our waitress was great. She answered all our questions including deciphering the cryptic menu for us as it wasn't in English. Maybe that sounds ignorant but every table around us was asking her what was on the menu and she polity obliged us all. Which took quite a bit of time. I genuinely felt bad for her. Would it be that much of a conceit to have a menu in English? They use premixed flour for dough for Christ sake. The menu consisted of appetizers, pizza, and wine. It's not huge and I'd probably avoid bringing kids here. We ordered based on what our waitress recommended after she went through EVERY item and translated it for us. It was obvious she does this for every table. We ended up getting an eggplant appetizer that was served cold and since we were expecting warm it was a pretty big let down. They also brought out 5 thin slices of melba round sized bread with about 2 pounds of eggplant. We were not sure just how we were supposed to use all of the eggplant with just five pieces of bread. On it's own the cold eggplant wasn't enjoyable. The bread was very good albeit in short supply. We are not drinkers so I can't tell you how their wine list was. It seemed fairly robust and served in classical Italian wine glasses. I can tell you that if you order a coke it's $2 and they bring out an 8 ounce capped baby bottle. Drink water or splurge on wine. $2 for 8 ounces of coke is incredibly disproportionate. For the pizza you're going to want to order your own pie. We didn't know and ordered one to split which was not enough for the both of us. We got a Margarita pizza for about $10. The ingredients where fresh but we were spread extremely thin. One small piece of Spinach on the entire thing. The water sauce ran all over the table. The Cheese was fresh and excellent. The dough seemed prefabricated and as circularly perfect as a pizza from Dominoes. It's edges were burnt as you'd expect a Napoli styled pizza to be but it wasn't that great. It was rather bland with dough that seemed to come from a can. This place is an expensive imitation and not worth the wait.

Sam S.

Woodylicious. It was Friday evening, after the rain. There was a line as usual, but the five of us were famished. Staring at the brick oven - and witnessing rounds and rounds of pizza goodness that weren't coming our way - made us teary-eyed. The free samples the hostess was passing around should've helped, but it actually made it worse. I want my Prosciutto e Rucola. Now. And when she called my name, I knew at that moment how Neo must've felt when he found out he's the One. "Whoa." Five people. Five pizzas. Two appetizers. Some wine and soda. One hell of a good time. They're closed on Mondays. I forgive them. They don't take reservations on weekend. Forgiven. They don't offer white wine mussels everyday. That's just wrong.

Jason T.

We really enjoyed the pizza here. No disappointments there. One area where they could really improve is their beer selection. Serving Peroni because it is italian is a complete joke. You might as well drink budweiser. There are numerous craft beers (even a few from italy) that would pair very well with their food. It's clear they put a lot of thought into their food and wine options, I wish the same was done for the world's greatest beverage, beer.

Ang R.

This is STILL the real deal. I honestly haven't had better mozzarella di bufala in Chicago, and when you're hankering for Italy, it'll bring you right back. The crust is right (every bite of my pizza, every whiff of its aroma, made me feel Italy again), and the olive oil is Italy, distilled. I just can't quibble with this place; and I think that if you've spent any significant amount of time in Italy, you can't either. It IS Italy, brought right here to Chicago. It's a gift.

Mary d.

I had Spacca for the second time this weekend, and it was simply delicious. What is it about the pizza??? The dough is so good, and the ingredients are fresh and in perfect proportion. I went with a simple margherita, and it just blew me away. I like that the pizza is small enough for one person....I certainly didn't feel like sharing! The wine selection is quite Italian, and I like the robust red the hostess helped me pick out. My friend and I wrapped up our lovely al fresco experience with a slice of terramisu, and all I can say is YUM!

gena k.

I am not sure what the seduction of mozarella slices and some basil leaves is, but throwing that on some pizza crust is all Spacca Napoli has to offer. Oh, but maybe it's the canned mushrooms that warrants the $15 price tag on an individual pizza. Lacking in all creativity and distiniction, this place is simply bad food and high prices.

Greg W.

This is some of the best Neapolitan pizza I've ever had! The sauce is on another level & the cheese on the Margherita pizza is unreal. Chicago did it right with this place. I'd definitely come back!!!!!! 5 stars all day!

Melissa M.

I don't know how you could possibly rate Spacca Napoli any less than 5 stars. This is far and away the BEST pizza outside of Napoli. The ingredients, authenticity, flavor, and unbelievable thought that goes into this food is mind blowing. I've traveled around trying to find pizza that even comes close to how Jonathon does his, but I maintain that on my deathbed, I want one of these pizzas to be the last thing I taste. This is one of those things where I cannot begin to explain how amazing it is. You cannot be disappointed here. You just can't.

Sarah Y.

Hooookay! If, like me, it pains you to admit that deep dish isn't your spirit pizza, then you'll be delighted to know that Chicago has a lot more pizza options to offer. Neapolitan pizza is where it's at. It's by far my favorite, and when done right--which it so is at Spacca Napoli--it is a gorgeous pie that tastes amazing! The dough is chewy, the meats are so flavorful, the sauces tangy and sweet, and the cheeses soo gooey. Seriously, you can't go wrong here, just get here fast.

O.M. R.

Awesome customer service! Seriously! Got there 20min before opening and they let us inside, and got food before opening time. How cool is that???? We got this cheese ball with toast that was sooo yummy! And i ate a whole vegetarian pizza by myself! It was that good! Definitely going back!

Mike C.

Excellent pizza! The place is family-friendly and service is great. You can't call in an order, but rather walk in and order- it's ready in like 5 minutes. If you want excellent pizza the way it is in Naples go here.

Chris M.

My friend wanted to try this pizza place. I'm very familiar with pizza in the Napoli / Rome region as I visit often because I have relatives in Italy. The pizza was not what I expected. It was pale, undercooked. The manager came, and I showed him the bottom of a slice, and he was displeased and shook his head. He then apologized and brought out 2 other pizzas that were... better... I looked at other people's pizzas around my table and most of them were the same, undercooked and pale. This kind of pizza should not have fluffy dough. If you try this place, tell them you want it well cooked or you might be disappointed.

Noam S.

Let me be very clear - this is by far the best pizza in Chicagoland. The main reason is the ingredients they use here: only the freshest, authentic ingredients. The cheese is just out of this world.. The olives taste and look like they just fell off the tree.. And the menu always includes amazing specials and a very good selection of pizzas. As a bonus, the coffee and deserts are really good, and the service super professional. You really have to visit this place!

Susan L.

Apologies, Yelp Friends, for not reviewing Spacca Napoli sooner! I've been coming here for YEARS and I absolutely LOVE it! Here's the trick, for a table of 4, order 3-4 pizzas. When you get your pizzas, cut them up, eat a piece, and just pass the rest of the pie to the next person--the pies are your plates and you get to eat a bite of each (you know you want to!). And how much love do I have for the restaurant that introduced me to BURRATA!?!?! SO MUCH LOVE! I will forever be indebted to you, Spacca Napoli! If you order a Morreti Rosa, the burrata, and the arugula and prosciutto pizza, I will happily join you.

Ariel L.

With nearly 500 reviews of this place i will keep this short. The pizza is excellent. It is the thin Neapolitan style pizza with minimal, high quality ingredients. The white pizza can be a little oily, but is also really tasty if you feel like being adventurous. If you are a large person, one pizza goes down really easily, so get an appetizer. Make a reservation so you don't have to wait. Outside is first come first serve. The pizza isn't cheap, but it also isn't outrageous. This is in the top five of Chicago's Neapolitan style pizza. If you haven't been, it's worth trying. I will certainly go back.

Jenn H.

Your food is really good but your hostess is super aloof and disorganized! Why would she ask if we wanted inside or outside, then proceed to seat the next 5 tables and avoid me?? Girl working the night of 7/12/13. She sucks!

Adele n.

I should love it here because I love Ravenswood and I love cheese. Cheese + Ravenswood = bliss. Or so you'd think. But I just can't warm up to this place. The restaurant interior has a cold, unwelcoming feeling to it that I don't like. It seems drafty and everything is hard, which makes it really loud. I think the food is nice enough, but not as good as Pizza Art Cafe or Pizza DOC (and the ambiance of those two restaurants is much, much nicer).

Janet E.

I thought the pizza here was really delicious! We had a group of about 11 and had to wait a little while for a table, but the wait wasnt too bad. To make up for the wait, they offered us a complimentary pizza. It was a mushroom pizza that was fantastic! I shared the Prosciutto e Rucola which was really fresh and full of flavor. The prosciutto was a little too salty for my taste though. Next time I'll choose something without prosciutto. I'm usually a thin crust kinda gal but the pizza dough here was so fresh and airy. I really liked it. Overall the experience here was great. The servers were great as well.

Lauren S.

Bottom line: I was a die-hard deep-dish-only girl until I tried Spacca Napoli. Menu: Go out on a limb and order something you haven't eaten before - you won't be disappointed! The proscuitto w/arugula and the wild mushroom w/sausage are 2 that are always on the menu and a fave of mine, but I can't stress enough - try the specials! 9 times out of 10, they're great. Fun fact: The owner is such a great guy and really remembers his regulars. Get to know him and you won't be disappointed. Tip: If you're going on a Friday or Saturday night, be prepared to wait a while. It gets crowded and stays that ways - but it's worth the wait AND they bring around samples.

Paul K.

Some friends and I went here one night when the wait was too long over at Great Lake. We were dead-set on pizza and gave this place a try based on it's proximity to home. We ordered 4 pizzas, were given a free glass of Prosecco and before I was done with the drink, the pizzas were ready. Holy Moly! Wood burning pizza ovens still amaze me! The buffalo mozzarella and arugula are outta this world. I want it in my mouth now.

Angelica G.

Sort of far North, Spacca Napoli is worth the trip. The traditional "pizze" restaurant has a friendly and efficient staff. The menu is split into appetizers, salads, and what they're popular for-pizza. We had the calamari and shrimp appetizer, delicious with some fresh lemon juice and not fried and the buffalo and argula with olive oil pizza.

Richard S.

The Bianco Nero - "Pecorino with Black Truffle, Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Porcini Mushrooms, White Truffle Oil." This is a pizza with no peers. Perfectly envisioned, perfectly executed, jaw-dropping flavor. We ordered it twice. Wish it had been thrice. I mean really. Bravo.

Jaime Patricio M.

Spacca is one of Chicago's best pizza's. This pizza truly takes inspiration directly from Italia. Chicago is known for it's deep dish but I truly enjoy the thin crust pizza. This crust is judicious and thin and helps to deliver the lovely fresh basil. The basil leaves are few but strategically placed. My pizza had mushrooms and sausage and I could have eaten two. The salad I started with was a transport back to Tuscany. The food and service were even and well delivered. I look forward to going back to this restaurant to enjoy another pizza.

Jonathan L.

Great pizza! Amazing Italian style pizza that uses the best Italian ingredients. Since they are a VPN certified restaurant they use Caputo Pizza flour, a Forno Bravo Oven, and the best Mozz. you can find. Be excited and come ready to eat. Our server was great and the food was even better. Be prepared to spend a bit of money but great food comes a price these days. If I lived close by I would go every week!

Zata M.

This place never disappoints. Last night was the third time I visited Spacca and it's quickly becoming one of my favorites. The restaurant is clean, staff is friendly and pizza is yummy. The best thing, however, is the amazingly delicious cannoli you get on your way out.!

Erin C.

Wow! Excellent pizza for those who'd like thin crust for a change. Not quite as good as pizza in Italy itself, but by far the closest thing I've had in Chicago. I had one of the specials when I went...white pizza with italian cheese, forest mushrooms, and truffle oil...to die for! My husband had something more traditional...spicy sausage with mozzarella, tomato and basil. Still to die for! I think the best thing about this pizza is the absolutely perfect crust! It's chewy, light and wonderful. The only downside to this restaurant is the wait. Forget about going on the weekend. We went super early on a sunday evening and still waited over 45 minutes. But it was totally worth it!

Brian E.

For authentic Italian pizza, this place can't be beat. I try to make it in for dinner at least once a month.

Jennie C.

Last time I was here was over 5 yrs ago and it's as good as I remember! Had the seafood salad (just ok), eggplant appetizer (YUM!!!) and Salsiccia pizza. The pizza crust had excellent texture & flavor and was not buried under a ton of cheese and sauce. Love the basil in the pizza too, added a refreshing punch. It was busy but we walked right in and service was friendly & efficient. Our server was very knowledgeable about the menu. Love this place~

Terese C.

Yum, best thin crust pizza in Chicago, with so many different varieties!

Lauren M.

This place is incredible!! My husband and I ate here last night and were seated straight away, despite not having a reservation (there was a wait for the patio though). The service was fantastic! We ordered 2 glasses of red wine (the waiter had good recommendations for us), a pizza to share (the funghi) and a yummy hazelnut gelato type dessert to share. Everything was delicious!! I can't wait to eat here again! He only downside was the indoor temperature - it was freezing!! AC blasting. Next time, I'd prefer to eat on the patio. If you enjoy thin crust Italian pizza - you must eat here! Good value for money too.

Emily R.

This place was the second stop on our Chicago Pizza Tour. I think it won out as my favorite pizza of the day! They served us the Margherita pizza and OMG it was amaaaaazing!!! I wasn't too sure about the whole Neopolitan pizza thing (I'm scared of things that are "different"....haha) but it was absolutely incredible. The owner came over and talked to our tour group, and you could tell how knowledgeable and passionate he was about pizza. My only complaint was that there was only enough pizza for everyone to have one piece... I could've easily devoured 3 or 4! Delicous!!!

Linda H.

Wow, I've found a new favorite place! Holy crap is this place good! It's a bit off the beaten path (to me, at least) but I'm so glad I found this place. Parking was easy, and we were seated immediately (good timing...the place filled up after we arrived). The owner (I think) brought a lovely amuse-bouche (is it still called that if it's in an Italian restaurant?) of ricotta on a small slice of bread drizzled with olive oil. Very nice. The menu is simple and perfect...very nice antipasti selections, also red and white pizzas. We ordered the white anchovy and arugula salad, and the buffalo mozzarella w/prosciutto, along with the pizza margherita. Service was phenomenal...timing was perfect. Salads were brought out and they were gorgeous...fresh, generous portions, and delicious. I felt like I was back in Italy eating this stuff, especially the buffalo mozzarella. Oh, and the dark-eyed waiter didn't hurt {swoon}. The pizza came next...piping hot out of the oven. I like that they give you the pizza cutter to portion however you want (while retaining the heat...I like my pizza hot hot hot). Pizza was delicious...the dough so light and thin and chewy, topped by fresh ingredients. Simple and perfect. I ran the cutter through twice and BF and I chowed down our 4 large slices. I knew their gelato was going to be good, but I had no idea how good. We split a pistachio and it was the best damn gelato I've ever had. First of all, it was not died green, and it was packed with whole pistachios. It was a pretty large portion too...not some teeny golfball-sized lame-ass presentation. Just a big ol' scoop of deliciousness in a bowl. So yeah, this place is awesome...great food served by nice people. You can't ask for more!

Jessica V.

If this was the last pizza joint in Chicago, and the pizza was free, I might return. Seems like everyone loves this place, but here is why we we wont be returning... -Everything about this place was pretentious. The server was more impressed with his pronunciation of the Italian names on the menu than explaining what we would be eating if we ordered those fancy items. -$2.50 for an 8oz bottle of diet coke. Seriously? Who serves soda in a bottle anymore, and where did they find an 8 oz bottle - a 1950's time capsule? This may not be a big deal to most, but if you enjoy soda with pizza, you'll be spending your time rationing your carbonation the entire meal. A normal can of soda is 12 oz, so their pricing equates to $3.75 for a can of soda! I'm just saying' - if you soda costs more than an airport, hospital, or disneyworld - your pricing is out of line. -Cut my own pizza? I bet some folks find this fun. I don't. If I'm paying $15 for a 12 inch pizza at a sit down restaurant, you can cut my pie into slices. Only seems fair to share some positives... -Pizza came out super fast (maybe because they did not need to cut it, and the server did not need to pour any soda, simply grab a tiny glass bottle.) -Parking was easy.

Tera D.

And I'm proud to be an American......(key dramatic music...) Ok, here's the deal, I like American pizza better than Italian pizza. So this place was slightly doomed for me. BUT, as far as Italian pizza goes, this was pretty darn good. Maybe even 4 star good. The crust is charred and chewy, and the toppings fresh and tasty. Especially the sausage, which isn't always my favorite topping. Theirs was soft and flavorful. The reason it couldn't quite make it to 4 stars overall was the experience. For being in the middle of nowhere next the highway or train tracks or something, it is PACKED. And boy do they know how to turn a table fast. On the plus side, you don't wait long, even when it's crowded. But it totally kills the experience. We made the mistake of ordering a bottle of wine - TOTALLY the wrong atmosphere, and we barely had time to finish it. Prices are pretty high considering the dining experience is pretty fast food. It just seemed off to me. So if you really like Italian pizza and want to give it a whirl, maybe try it out during the week??

Diana H.

Food was amazing. We got one pizza to eat there and took one home for later. Can't wait to go back. We went at 7 on a fri and had no wait. When we left at 8 the place was very busy and a wait. The staff was very nice and place was clean.

Elise A.

So so good. Went a few weeks ago and sat outside. Very enjoyable atmosphere and nice waiter. Food was really good and perfectly cooked. We ordered some specials (not regularly on the menu), so I can't really comment on the regular menu items, but I can't imagine they are of less quality. The bill was a little steep, but not out of line with what other similar restaurants charge in the area. I love having such a great restaurant so close to home!

Nick P.

Thankfully I do not have to visit Pizza Doc again!! This pizza is prepared perfectly. One of their specials every night is always amazing. The sausage pizza is excellent zing to it and is authentic. Waitstaff was attentive and very detailed with our order and answering questions. Plenty of parking outside and plenty of seating space.

Garrett G.

I've only been here once and it was with a large group so my opinion might be slightly skewed. I was able to try almost everything on the menu and I am a fan of it all. The pizzas are great. I like how thin the crust is and how simple and fresh the ingridients are. The owner seemed like a nice guy. I am moving to the area and can't wait to go back... about 100 times.

Rachel S.

Two lifetime Chicagoans recommended this place to me and it came through. I love thin crust pizza and they really know what they're doing here. Went here on a busy Friday night and ordered the antipasti misto with a tasty selection of meats, cheeses, and olives. It came with bread drizzled with olive oil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar on the meats. For our main dish we had one of the night's special pizzas with olives, anchovies, tomatoes, and capers. Yummy! We had the tiramisu and a chocolate ice cream dome sprinkled with hazelnut powder for dessert with a cappuccino. Our server Scott was friendly and prompt. Advice given to me before going here "Prepare to wait for a table and don't go starving because by the time you get seated and your entree is ready it may be between 60 and 90 minutes. " Fine by me! We'll be back!

Chris R.

I'll start by saying, this place has some damn good pizza. Came here on a Wednesday night with a party of 4 and had a great time. When you walk in, you notice immediately that the space is awesome. I've never been to Italy, but the decor seemed authentic, and traditional without going over the top. Service was prompt and solid. For antipasti, we split the prosciutto and arugula salad. The meat was good, but could have been a bit livelier. Not the best I've had, but good stuff nonetheless. The salad and bread which accompanied the dish was average. I also tried a bit of the Insalata Di Mare which is poached calamari, cuttlefish, shrimp, celery, and olives. The texture of each part of this dish impressed me the most, but the flavor could've stood out more. On to the star of the show, the pizza. I really enjoyed the Neapolitan style, and am looking forward to going back and getting more. Frankly, I've reached a point of boredom with Pizza in Chicago. When I first moved here, I went nuts over deep dish and then quickly got tired of it, so this style was a much needed chance of pace. I went with the Salsiccia, which has fresh Mozzarella, Basil and Italian Sausage. The freshness of the ingredients was obvious, and the depth of flavor in the crust was awesome. The only downside to this style, was the thinness of the crust in the middle. It's so thin, that it became very soggy and broke apart easily. Being new to Neapolitan, this may just be an inherent side effect of the style, but it is a slight drawback. Nonetheless it was all delicious. I paired this with a somewhat mediocre red wine, the Cerasulo. Although I was looking for a lighter wine, this must've been too light as I thought it was bland. Last but certainly not least was the dessert. Being a big tiramisu fan, I was obligated to grab some of their version. Extremely well done stuff, definitely some of the better Tiramisu I've ever had. It was well balanced, and not too soggy or too cakey, nor was it overrun with too much mascarpone. It was all in nice proportion with great richness and sweetness. Went well with a high quality cappuccino. Overall Verdict: This place gets 4 stars from me for the great pizza, delicious tiramisu, awesome vibe/atmosphere, and quality service. It loses a star because of the overall average nature of the appetizers, and the mediocre wine I had. I would recommend this place to anyone looking for a great pizza experience.

Andrew L.

After just having a great experience at the nearby Half Acre Brewery tour, we were in the mood for some food and ended up at Spacca Napoli based on the reviews from some fellow Yelpers. I have to say the the entire experience was kind of underwhelming. The service was ok, not great, not bad. The pizza was ok, not great, not bad. The two pizzas we tried were the Margherita and the Salsiccia e Broccoletti (sausage & broccoli). Although the pizzas did resemble true Neapolitan pizza, our feelings towards both were similar. Not great, but not bad. Their prices seemed kind of steep, and I think that my feelings would have been more positive had their pizzas all been a few dollars cheaper. I can't really think of anything that stands out about Spacca Napoli, and with so many other restaurants to choose from I can't see myself returning.

Colleen C.

Spaccalicious. Has it really been TWO years since I've been? Oh my, a tragic oversight on my part, though I feel as if there were some prejudices deeply embedded in my brain...the wait? the quick turn around time after waiting so long? I don't know, but the opportunity aptly presented itself last night, and some serious Spacca love was embraced. Prosciutto arugula salad: not good for a date! But, if you just want to dig in with a gal pal or well-seasoned member of the opposite sex, go at it. Arugula is messy, olive oil drenched bread is messy, long strips of prosciutto are messy. You get it, but it's sooooooooooo good. A perfect size to split between two people, and it won't leave you feeling full, heavy or bloated. Salty, olive oily, fresh cheese, and fresh greens...perfection. Funghi Salsicia 'Za: Well, hello there, I want to eat you all up. The crust was a bit soggier than I would've liked...but still very appetizing. The mini balls of fresh mozzarella, basil and mushrooms just about sent me into a catatonic trance. So much....freshness. For a pizza, or for anything, really. The two of us snapped it up right quick, gone in an instant. Does anyone take home leftovers from this place? For shame, make room. It deserves it. Glass of prosecco: ooooo, bubble me. I only wish for a more proper wine glass. I understand the notion of scaling down by pouring into small water-like cups, but I love a round glass staring me in the face, bubbles making their way to my nose...I do, I can't help it. Water glasses just don't do it for me... Interior/exterior is what I am now calling "Ravenswood chic." Classy, understated. Back of the yards, off the beaten path, etc, etc. Clean. Contemporary. Intimate, buzzing. Prepare to wait, even on a weeknight. It may well be worth it...especially once the outdoor seating is out. ooooo, patio pizza!

Ross R.

Pizza is really great and simple. A little bit pricey, but I think is worth it. Also, I know an Italian guy, and he gave this place his seal of approval.

Kathy S.

Heard mixed reviews, but I really enjoyed Spacca Napoli! Went with a friend and we split a salad, pizza, and dessert and really felt everything was fresh and tasty. Insalata Mista - usually basic but this one was especially good. Pizza Diavola - w/spicy salami and buffalo mozzarella - on the waitress's recommendation. NUTELLA stuffed pastry for dessert - was probably enough for at least 4 people but just the 2 of us couldn't let it go to waste. Atmosphere - seemed to be a lot of small friend groups and young families. Nice outdoor patio.

T-Ronto S.

An absolutely stunning pizza place. Very interesting toppings compared to the other "haute" pizza places I've been to in Chicago (crust, pizza doc, coalfire, etc). In particular, highly recommend the bianconero- porcini mushroom and black truffle awesomeness. Wine selection is small but reasonably priced and very well chosen. Again, a rarity in Chicago.

Mike D.

I went here with Mike K. for a little Sunday night noshing. Though we had no reservation I dropped my Italian last name and we were seated very quickly. Membership does have its privileges. The array of pizza selections is great. We settled on one with spicy pepperoni and pepper flakes. It was so good we ordered another one. Also, though they are not on the menu, you MUST order a bowl of the green olives. They are to for. I guess the only downside is that you really can't create your own pie, which is sort of a bummer, but overall a great dining experience.

D. T.

Rating pizza is, of course, a subjective endeavor. We bring our respective experiences; we remember the great pies, we forget those that disappointed. Accordingly, I hesitate to criticize in the face of so many who wrote favorably of the pizza here at Spacca Napoli... BUT... can someone, anyone, defend a pizza that comes to the table with a crust so soggy only the cornicione (the "lip" or puffy outer edge) is authentic? I really don't think there's an excuse; it's sloppy pizza making at best. It says, "we really don't care." It says, "we'll take reasonably fresh ingredients and we'll make a reasonably good crust, but hey, after that, what happens, happens." So like SN if you must, but somewhere down the road, if you're lucky enough, you may come across a neapolitan pizza maker that cares about everything... all the way to the table.

Lauren W.

This is a delicious place! I've been three times now, starting first in 2007. They do excellent Naples-style pizza. I'm curious to try some of the new places that have opened in Chicago that also claim to serve this type of pizza. This weekend I went and we had some rave items: -Burrata -- like a fresh mozzarella but sooo creamy inside. Spreadable on toasted baguette. (I've bought this at TJoe's before, but Spacca Napoli's Burrata was way better. Almost incomparable). -Pizza funghi - delicious. Lots of mushrooms. -Pizza margherita - excellent and a classic. I'm not an anchovy fan, but that's how we order it here and I love it. -Good wine. We ordered a house-wine priced bottle of red. Loved it. -2 other pizzas off the specials menu. Good too. Watch out for not getting too many toppings -- that will weigh down the pizza. There are no reservations, but we were served 2 hors d'ouevres during our 1/2 hour wait for a table. An aged mozzarella, and also a little fritter with seaweed in it. As soon as we sat down, the server brought complimentary glasses of prosecco, also much appreciated! Overall, delicious and our choice place for an "italian" pizza!

A V.

My husband and I frequent this restaurant. On our recent vacation in Italy we spent a day in Naples and decided to try the pizzas in Spaccanapoli. It is AMAZING how similar they are. The only reason I rate them 4 stars is the prices. They hardly use any ingredients and have a very small menu (in true spaccanapoli fashion, yet they charge the price of a regular pizza.

Kwoky L.

This is definitely not your regular place to get your fix of pepperoni, sausage, and bell peppers pizza. Call it gourmet if you want but for me, it's the perfect balance of chewiness in the crust and the freshness of the ingredients. Mine was bianco nero, which has soft porcini mushrooms with truffle oil and it tasted heavenly! The crust of the slice was too soft to hold on its own but fold it in half and you'll have a pie with a burst of cheesy goodness. Not the best I've had in my life but certainly the best in Chicago so far in my opinion.

Ramya N.

Delicious pizza! I like trying out new restaurants and if I have to make a repeat visit, the food needs to be awesome. And, this is one of those places. So many vegetarian options and great desserts too. We had the pizza special - Rustica, which had no sauce topped with mushrooms, cheese and black olives. Very authentic and full of flavor.. A must visit.. again!!

Angel P.

My husband and I went here because of a recommendation. We didn't have any apps - thought we'd save the extra room for dessert because I'd heard great things. My husband had the Salsiccia and we both thought it was great. I had some serious food envy since the Bianco Nero I ordered wasn't very good at all. It was too much oil, very greasy tasting. I was hoping for just the right amount of truffle, but it was really a bit overboard. We still went for the dessert, we ordered the pistachio gelato and the tartufo. Both were absolutely AMAZING. My husband and I were fighting over them - I won the who gets more battle since I didn't really have any pizza. It's a really loud atmosphere, average pizza and amazing desserts. We probably won't go back, we've had lots better food elsewhere.

Katie R.

3.5 stars, but giving 3 stars based on the positives vs. negatives. the pizza here was very yummy, but the crust i do have to complain about.. overall the consistency was realllly good (light and chewy) but in the center it was so thin the entire pizza fell apart. i don't know if this was a crust problem or an over-saucing issue. either way, it still tasted delicious, even if my friend started calling it a "pizza scramble" by the end of the evening. the prices on the pizza are slightly more expensive than other comparable restaurants but the selection, in my opinion, is lacking. this could possibly be because i only love pizza with red sauce, which is my own issue. service was fine. interior is nice but not charming by any means. OH. forgot to mention they have the best cappuccino ever. good dessert, too.

Angela S.

Best. pizza. ever. I have no problem putting a couple of these away on my own.

Claire F.

Went here with a group of 10 last night and enjoyed everything we ordered. We tried six different pizzas and all of them were delicious. A little loud inside, but overall a nice place with delicious food. On the way out they even offered free cannoli.

Alexandra W.

Highly recommended! The pizza was amazing, great appetizer, great pizza (Diavola). There was a 30 minutes + wait on Saturday night and they gave everyone waiting a complimentary glass of sparkling wine. amazing desert (Nutela) and even great cappuccino. For two people, we had 2 glasses of wine, an appetizer, pizza, desert, and 3 cappuccino's ($70). The service was perfect, everyone was very prompt and smiling. This was a great surprise to run into, I really couldn't ask for anything else in a restaurant. I will definitely come back.

JK G.

My wife and I try to come here every Sunday night. The pizza is so unique and authentic. It's always a pleasant experience. So relaxing with excellent service. We absolutely LOVE this place.

Bella J.

I had really high expectations for this place... My Italian friend recommended this place saying "they serve the real Italian pizza" However, I wasn't that impressed. Pizzas are yummy, but not extraordinary. My pizza crust was really burned so was the appetizer bread. The prices are high. The waiters call all the ingredients in their Italian names and confuse the hell out of you. I didn't get a refill on water the whole time. 4 stars overall.

Louis C.

Arrived on a bustling Saturday night. The place was teaming with activity and we felt energized by the vibe of the place. After being seated promptly, we ordered our appetizers. We ordered the arugula - proscuitto appetizer which was excellent. The greens were fresh, nice shavings of parm and high quality proscuitto. Unfortunately, this would prove to be the apex of our meal and the only factor sparing Spacca Napoli from a one star rating. We each ordered a pizza. My wife the blanca and myself a pizza with sausage and fennel. Both pizzas came out quickly. The problem was each pizza had a pool of water (yes, I'm talking about a pocket of water about 3 inches in diameter) in the center. Look, I've had plenty of 'za with fresh mozz like this joint and I have never, ever seen so much liquid on a pie as I saw here. The pizzas were inedible. You could not even pick up a piece because how wet they were. The consistencey was akin to a wet paper towel in the center of the pizza. The ends of the pizza were ok because, well, water does run downhill. A real shame as the crust had some nice flavor...kind of like naan from an Indian place. It is simply unacceptable to serve pizza this way...and before folks start piling on about this yelper being a homer who only understands the narrow confines of deep dish pizza, please understand that I spent years on the east coast and really do dig that style of thin crust...in fact, I'm not a very big fan of that lovely casserole we call deep dish Chicago pizza...

Yvonne F.

Om nom nom nom nom Wow. Parking was a little difficult. That's all the negative I have about this place. My two friends and I headed here for lunch on Saturday. The place itself is LOVELY. Airy and bright and pretty. Lots of seating without feeling like you are sitting on top of the table next to you. We started with the fried appetizer of the day, which was fried mashed potatoes with smoked mozarella cheese. Yep, FRIED MASHED POTATOES. It was not greasy at all, had a crispy outside and a tasty gooey middle. The four pieces were more than amply sized. We ordered two pizzas - the first being the margharita. (Ok, spelling is a problem for me today, sorry) and one of the daily specials. That one was a white pizza, with buffalo mozzarella, ricotta, mushrooms. I think there was also pixie dust and angel kisses, that's how good this pizza was. The curst was perfect - bubbly and tasty and crisp. Topping were fresh and plentiful. Both pizzas were perfect. We were too full for dessert, but promised we'd try them on our return visits. We were then gifted Moscato. The staff was so friendly, knowledgeable, not pushy, but there when you needed something. Lovely lovely lovely.

Max G.

Nestled in the art of ravenswood is the nations only certified Neapolitan pizza restaurant. On the weekend expect a wait of an hour or more. But once seated, the food arrives from the wood burning oven promptly. The pizzas are about 12 inches large and are made of the freshest ingredients. A great find!

Megan K.

Four stars hands down if you know what Neapolitan style pizza entails, but pegging it against the typical pizza that Chicago has to offer, you'll be sorely disappointed. My boyfriend and I decided to go to Spacca around 7pm without a reservation, and we were able to walk up and get a table outside without a wait! Upon being seated our waitress came over to tell us of the specials for the evening (there were several!) and took our drink orders. We both decided to try a traditional Merreti style beer, and this came out promptly after we ordered. After pouring over the menu we picked out an appetizer and a pizza that we wanted for our meal. They were as follows: 1) Prosciutto e Bufala (Prosciutto crudo, mozzarella di bufala, basil): My oh my. This appetizer made me change all of my previous thoughts/ideas about what prosciutto and mozzarella cheese entailed. I was blown away by how fresh and flavorful this dish was. The mozzarella had an almost ricotta like texture to it and was incredibly flavorful. This wasn't your dry and squeaky run of the mill mozzarella cheese, it was so much more and you'll never go back to what your local grocer offers. Hell, I'd go there just to buy a piece of this cheese off of them. As for the prosciutto, it was also very flavorful and had the right amount of salt. This paired with the mozzarella was unreal, and a small bite of the basil with each forkful of meat and cheese was outstanding. I'd come here just to have this appetizer time and time again. One of the best appetizers I've ever had, and as it should be considering it cost a whopping $15. 2) Diavola Pizza (Mozzarella di Bufala, Spicy Salami, Red Pepper Flakes, Basil): Apparently we just couldn't stay away from the Bufala cheese and had to get it on this pizza. This pizza was your typical "pepperoni" pizza, but... so much more. The base was incredibly thin, but a large crust was present--and extremely airy and fluffy. The tomato sauce was freshly made and flavorful, and it went well with the scattered cheese and salami, lightly spiced with the red pepper flakes. My only "gripe" about this pizza was that you had to cut it yourself, and all of the toppings seemed to come off with the first bite. That aside, it was incredibly fresh and tasty! The service was attentive and spot on, from the busboys to the waitress. Everyone was extremely nice inside and helpful, I can't say anything bad about this aspect of the business. All in all, I had a great experience, but it is pricey for what you get. We walked away still a little hungry, and I think the norm (someone correct me if I'm wrong?) is to get more than one pizza? When we inhaled our pizza, one of the busboys asked if he could clear away our dishes if we weren't planning on getting another pizza. The pizza isn't incredibly filling and the portions are small (outside of the appetizer) but it's very fresh and tasty, so they win four stars in my book.

Unity O.

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza! I love me some pizza & when I was deciding where to eat for my birthday (woot woot Unitypalooza!)...there was no choice other than Pizza. Having just read in Chicago Magazine that Spacca Napoli was #15 for the top pizza places in this glorious city...it sort of sealed the deal for birthday dinner choice. So, I got on the horn to make a reservation (7:15pm), being for Friday night I figured they might be busy. Plus it is a total neighborhood joint bursting at the seams with Ravenswood & Lincoln Square folks. Well my birthday evening arrived & since many were going to be running late, I changed the reservation to 7:30pm...all of which seemed perfectly fine with the person I talked to on the phone (I also called at 5pm to make the change). Upon arrival (it was a madhouse), I was told that they would be a bit late in getting our table ready...now this was not a problem since I have no issues waiting 10-15 mins. Their waiting area however is super narrow & quite uncomfortable. Waiting outside was not really an option since it was raining. Anyhow, they made us wait a full 35 mins before we were seated & that made for an unhappy start to our dinning adventure...the manager was very apologetic, but unfortunately for me that wait soured my impression. Good thing I do not hold grudges against food. Once we were seated our server was everything that was attentive & professional. Our server did not hover over us, but patiently waited while we decided on which pizzas to order & was prompt in making sure we were well cared for....impression improving. Spacca Napoli is an authentic Neapolitan pizza place, wood burning oven, light crisp crust with just right amount of seared marks on it, light on the sauce, minimal toppings, and focus on herbal flavors rather a focus on heavy toppings & loaded sauce. Since we had a group of 8...we ordered 4 pizzas & 3salads to share. This was more than enough food for our party. We started with: Caprese con Bufala---Mozzarella di bufala, cherry tomatoes, basil. Very solid beginning, I mean how can you go wrong with CHEESE! Insalata Mista---Mesculin greens, Castelvetrano olives, cherry tomatoes (we got 2 of these)...basic salad, but still tasty. Our pizza choices: Margherita---Mozzarella, Basil....How can you not order this?!?!?!? Completely lived up to my expectations on the yummyiness level; Funghi e Salsiccia---Mozzarella, Basil, Mushrooms, Italian Sausage Diavola--Mozzarella di Bufala, Spicy Salami, Red Pepper Flakes, Basil Quattro Formaggi--Mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Ementhal, Fontina...I am incredibly grateful to my friend who knows I hate gorgonzola cheese...I was about to take a huge bite out it, when she stopped me. I am sure this pizza tasted great, but it would have been quite awful for me. Food won me over...it was a tasty evening filled with good friend, good food & great conversation. I perhaps would not wander there on a Friday evening again, but I will be back soon .

Sandra N.

Agreed that this is a hidden, yummy gem! As an East Coast girl and a person who grew up on NY-style pizza, I can really only enjoy Chicago's deep-dish and thin-crust "pizza" if I consider it 1) a casserole, in the case of the former or 2) cardboard, in the case of the latter. Sorry my Chicago friends! (You know I am a fan of this truly great city and short of the pizza and your damn dipped beef sandwiches--WTF! Give me a Philly cheesesteak any day--you know I am a lover of all other Chicago foods.) I am an ardent fan of the pizza at Spacca Napoli, folks, and after 1 1/2 years of living in Chicago, I can say that it has even trumped Santullo's in Wicker Park. Santullo's has a true-NY style pizza (that's perhaps a bit runnier than what I grew up on), but it's a much pricier pizza and also the ingredients at Santullo's don't seem as fresh as Spacca Napoli's. However, and be cautioned, my East Coast buddies who have relocated: Spacca Napoli is NOT NY-style pizza. It's Naples-style pizza. AND it's much preferred to any pizza I've had in Chicago. It's so beautifully done--well-balanced, bright sauces, decadent Buffalo mozzarella, fresh herbs, and a great wood-fired crust (the secret is always in the crust, people!). Wow. My Chicago friends and fans of the deep-dish and thin-crust might find the crust at Spacca Napoli a bit thinner than preferred, and runnier, but I suspect those who long for NY-style in Chicagoland will eat these pizzas up in a heartbeat. We're going again to try out other selections, but we were very impressed and immediate fans. I can't wait to bring my husband's cousin from Southern Italy here. Also: Extra star and props to the staff. My husband and I happened to come an hour before they opened for dinner, and they were kind enough to let us in anyway. Thanks so much for this, Spacca Napoli! Hospitality is always golden, and we felt the love.

Quality C.

THE GOOD: Great food. Great ambiance. Very Classy place. THE BAD: Long wait. THE UGLY: Nothing Ugly. Great place. Great taste.

Eric S.

Best Italian/Neopolitan-style pizza I've found in Chicago. They cook the pizzas quickly in a wood-fired oven and the crust has a perfect crunch and thickness. Toppings seem freshly prepared and dishes are composed nicely. I particularly enjoy the "white" pizzas although if you prefer a tomato base, those deliver on quality as well. I've been here a few times and have yet to be disappointed.

Katy S.

The best pizza I ever had in Chicago. This place just makes it right. I am living a gluten free lifestyle and I tried their gluten free pizza and it was amazing. I will be coming to this place. Great service and staff also. They have a wonderful sitting area outside. It is also located in a quiet street.

Eleanor K.

Outstanding pizza and great service. Really pleasant place. FAST service so if you want to stretch it out, start with some apps (PLEASE get whatever giant hunk of cheese they are offering) and drinks... THEN order pizza. Because it will come fast.

Vanessa V.

When I imagine eating pizza, the pizza at Spacca Napoli is the pizza in my head: fresh and vibrant toppings on a perfectly balanced, flavorful chewy-but-with-a-bite crust. Keep in mind that this is not your typical American pizza; it's much less saucy/cheesy/fatty, more like a flatbread with (delicious) stuff on it. I have eaten my fair share of pizza in Italy, and if you want to save yourself the plane fare to Europe, just make for Ravenswood because Spacca Napoli is the real deal. The atmosphere is pleasant and low-key, although not especially a place I'd suggest for a romantic meal or a big night out. Prices for food and wine were moderate and portions generous. Everyone other than our server was very friendly and welcoming. Our server was competent enough but needed an attitude makeover; I don't expect (or want) Applebee's faux-cheerful, but I do expect it not to seem like a giant hassle to, say, tell me what the specials are. Not a deal breaker, but enough to keep me from going for a full five stars despite the excellent food.

Daniel W.

Fresh hand made pizzas that you can just eat the crust and all....not all full of salt just fresh delicious pizza. Salads are great....everything so far is just great here. One of my favorite places and in such a great neighborhood.

Paul S.

Really really good pizza. I'm like munch munch munch yum love this pizza nom nom mmmmmm mmmmmm

A M.

Love this place, the pizzas are great, and are thin enough for each person in the party to order one (plus sharing is way more fun). NOTE: a place like this which uses a wood oven, and tosses each pie by hand when ordered, means that the pizzas may not taste exactly the same each time, esp depending on humidity & temp conditions outside. My favorite thing they have is the burrata cheese appetizer, it's not on the daily menu but has been a special every time I've visited, and is wonderful, I highly recommend asking if its available. Good cheese slices while you wait to be seated are available from the hostess, and cannolis on the way out are a nice touch. Easy to park in the lots immediately west of the restaurant.

Carlo P.

Great Neapolitan style pizza. Soft, crust, good mozzarella (if you are into burrata, definitely try theirs) and a good selection of toppings. While most of their pies deserve your attention, my best experience was the simple margherita. They give you a cannolo on the way out, which is also nice. I also liked the fried zucchini flower, though they were a bit overpriced. In their beer selection, go for the "menabrea."

Carolynne M.

It has taken me 5 attempts at writing this review. I know, I know, normally the words just flow out of the keyboard faster than the water at Buckingham Fountain over here, but what I experienced at Spacca Napoli the other night is not easily translated into prose. Yes, yes, everything from the interior to the service was top-notch, but of course what you are really there for is to eat and have fabulous food brought to your little salivating mouth. And oh! What fabulous food it was. First off, the pizza was amazing. I ordered the Bufalina, which is your basic Margharita with buffalo mozzaralla. However, everything about the way the flavours worked together was a masterpiece. The crust was thin, but doughy and bready, with charred areas giving another dimension of flavour. The sauce was a rich, fresh tomato, and when paired with the cheese and basil was a symphony. Easily the best Neapolitan style pizza I have ever, ever had. But, and I didnt think this was possible, an item that eclipsed the pizza, and possibly, eclipsed anything I have ever eaten before in my ENTIRE LIFE. This item is called Burrata. Burrata is a gift straight from hell. It has to be, because it is SO evil, SO incredibly, horribly decadent, that I would sell my soul, commit heinous crimes, and tattoo the word on my forearm in Comic Sans font just for another taste. It is basically a pouch. A pouch of soft, fresh (as in MADE THAT DAY fresh) mozzarella cheese. But INSIDE the pouch is more mozzarella, only it is even softer and mixed with cream (!!!). THEN the whole thing is drizzled with olive oil and a few crunchy bits of sea salt. You put it on an olive oil brushed piece of toast - and then promptly die from sheer bliss. Seriously I think I passed out once or twice. The only problem is that the Burrata was a special that night, so its not like I can sneak there after work and buy one to scarf down like a Burrata junkie. But the experience was so fantastic I will definitely be back. I just need to convince them to put Burrata on the menu!

Al D.

Went here with several other friends of mine (we're all Italian-American and speak the langauge), all for our first time. Looks like a nice, authentic Italian pizzeria, and we were excited by the prospect of having authentic-Italian pizza again. We had to wait for someone to come in from the airport, and thus we arrived on the late side (there were several groups of people who came in after us, however.) Our very non-Italian waiter first reminded us that it was late before he gave us the menu (we apologized profusely). We ordered our pizzas, and they came back awful quick (we had a suspicion that maybe they were nuked.) Our waiter then kept asking us if we were done early into the meal, even though other diners were still coming in. My margherita was soggy and cold in the middle, my friend's pizza with rocket was nothing but puffy crust and arugula with minute bits of proscuitto. Then our rusher...I mean waiter...came back with the bill and continued to barrage us with questions of when we'd be ready while we were figuring out a bill for four people. We were finished before closing time, a whopping 40 minutes after walking in. We told the owners about the offensive service.

Caroline M.

I'm so in love with their crust! It's perfect! And after my most recent visit, I had leftovers...so I had them for lunch for the next 2 days. I'm happy to report that the crust was still delicious & not at all soggy. Awesome!!! Once you try Spacca Napoli you won't go back to anywhere else :)

Andrea H.

Perfection. These pizzas are traditional brick oven pizzas that are flavorful and delicious. Though I don't usually prefer red sauce on pizza, I really look forward to ordering it here, the flavors are really something. We order out from here more than we dine in, but just know: you can't call in an order, you must arrive in person. We really don't mind though, the wait for food is usually 15 minutes or less, and the hostess always offers a glass of prosecco or water while we wait. The Burrata is a wonderful indulgence when offered as a special. We really like Spacca Napoli! It is our go-to spot for neighborhood pizza!!

Justin B.

There's nothing I can say about the pizza and that crust that hasn't already been said, but special kudos must be given for my quattro formaggi pizza today; damn, this was solid. I have noted this in a number of my Yelp reviews but the A La Card discount deck has pointed me in the direction of at least a dozen solid 5-star choices so far; now I regret not really using this much until the end of the year when it is about to expire (I'll buy the 2014 deck in a few weeks). Service was excellent today at Spacca Napoli, right down to our host/manager/cheerleader providing free prosecco for our table during Christmas Eve lunch. We had the pizza 10 minutes after ordering and the quality was great, with leftovers for our next lunch. Depending on the size of the people involved, I think you can get away with two pizzas for three people and be totally fine, especially if you share an appetizer or a salad.

Kimothee Z.

Simply the best wood oven pizza. The best. The crust is just out of this world.

Jenny C.

I came here with my partner after work one day. I was not expecting pizza to be this good, but it was that good. You really taste the flavor of everything you end up having on your pizza. It was truly great! I also ordered the tiramisu and it was okay, but my boyfriend ordered the tartufo and this was really amazing! I had never tried a tartufo before though. This one had hazelnuts in it. SO GOOD. I can't wait to eat more pizza and more tartufo's. This waistline gives no apologies.

Paul P.

This place is amazing! Few people and places take it beyond just eating a meal, Spacca takes it to another level. Very simple yet so much attention to detail to not only the food but also the entire experience. The owner, Jonathan, makes us feel like family, the burrata (sp?) is the best mixture of buffalo mozzarella, olive oil, and sea salt and is worth returning for. But, far and away, the "00" caputo flour and authentic brick ovens make their pizzas worth the 30 mile trip. We will be back soon!

Kristin R.

Yummy pizza! Want them to bring back the guanciale pizza!

Caitlin G.

You know it's good when a Yellow Cab rolls up, Kelsey Grammer steps out and greets the owner with, "We just couldn't stay away!" I do love a trip to Spacca Napoli. The pizza is always delicious, and the serious Italian mixes of flavors and toppings are delicious. I prefer the red sauces to the white pizzas, but don't mind changing it up every once in a while. Great selection of wine, too, and a lovely little patio for a summer evening. It's a little pricier than my usual trip for pizza, and I do find the crust to be a little bit chewy for my taste, but I keep on coming back to Spacca because it tastes so good. And if it's good enough for Frasier, it's good enough for me.

Bridget H.

Good grief! This place is GREAT. I've been a few times and it's wonderful every time. Pizza is delicious - crust is thin but still soft. Oh! And fire oven baked. Yum. Fresh mozzarella is out of this world (honestly - never had better in Chicago). Prosciutto is fresh and salty. Service is excellent. Wine list is yummy. Easy to park. Close to the brown line. Great outdoor seating in summertime. Free cannoli as you leave (weekends only, I think). They get super crowded at nights on weekends, but waits are pretty short AND they often bring out little samples for you to snack on. If you haven't tried this place yet, please do so!!! You'll love it!

Maram K.

Pizza here is nothing special and mostly bread (yes, I understand that the crust is an essential part of the pizza). Food comes out incredibly quick, but it is still not worth the usual 30-45 minute wait. The host is usually rude (I think he thinks he's being to-the-point, but he's coming off as old and grumpy and uncultured). I've come here at least 4 times and every single time the crust was burnt and the toppings were cheaped out. I stopped coming here when wood-oven pizza became a new craze and more places started serving it with better quality and at a lower cost. This place is a hype and not worth it.

Dennis J.

Good pizza crust but the middle of their pizzas always end up a bit mushy. The fresh ingredients and service make up for that though. I gave it an extra star for their tiramisu - if you even remotely enjoy the dessert (I don't) you must try it here!

Marc W.

This guys make very good pizza. Very thin crust with just a little high quality toppings. My favorite is the proscuito and arugala. Awesome. Some of the pizzas have mozzarella di bufala. Very tasty. They make some good appetizers for those who dine in. The wait staff has always been friendly. The only downside is the wait on a fri or sat night and the noise level. This is not a place for a quite night out unless it happens to be a Tue and even then, only marginal. The owner is very nice too. Their huge wood burning oven, made with several kinds of Italian bricks and put together by Italian macons, is a wonder to see in and of itself.

Lisa F.

UPDATE: Former Italian prof (authentic Italian lady) says this is the best Italian pizza in Chicago. Need I say more? ------ Before evening sitting down here, I knew this had to be a good place. The first time I went there was a wait for a table for two... on a Sunday night! The "soggy" pizza that someone mentioned in the review below is what makes this place great. It's called fresh, Neapolitan style pizza. It's thin, non-crispy crust and is soooo good. My criteria for good pizza is thin-enough crust that you can eat a whole pizza and not feel stuffed. The pizza here definitely meets that criteria. I have also never had problems finding parking in the area either. Extra points for that alone!

Kate C.

This is one of my favorite places. The food is always fantastic - fresh ingredients, great cheeses and it's just like the pizza I had across Italy. I am not a big fan of Italian desserts in general, but if you have room, they have some of the best desserts out there. The tiramasu is wonderful. There is usually a longer wait, but who cares when you are with friends and are able to buy bottles of wine from the hostess? Also the wait is made better when the owner comes around with samples of cheeses and his own pizza creations. With fantastic food and a fantastic staff, you can't go wrong.

Kristin M.

Spacca is good, if I could give it 3.5 stars I would. It's just not mind blowingly good, but I'll definitely go back! The crust is probably the best I've had in town for thin-crust, however pizza is not just all about the crust. Toppings were fresh, tasty and simple. My major complaint is the degree of sloppiness that occured at the center of the pizza, the crust simply didn't hold up under the weight of all the toppings. I typically refuse to eat pizza with a knife & fork, which made Spacca's pizza an interesting pizza-folding excercise. But once you master the pizza origami, it is quite good!

Yan X.

Another authentic Italian thin-crust pizza place! The decor, feeling, and manager are very Napoli. It rivals Pizza DOC. I love both of them. The differences are this place uses fresh mozarella and the menu mainly consists of pizza and a short list. DOC serves many other entree choices, uses saltier drier mozarella, and has more pizza choices. So, if you go with friends who are not pizza lovers or need a more romantic place, you may need to go to Pizza DOC.

Jack P.

My favorite thing about the place is saying the name real fast. It almost sounds Greek, like George Spaccanopolous, that guy on ABC. This was my third visit, and I had not been in several years. And this time I went with some regulars and got the royal treatment: special appetizers, a visit from the owner and the chef, Henry and his daughter Kate. As well as a swell line-up of insalata mista, and two of the same pizzas, a spicy pepperoni with fresh basil, a tiramasu (not made in-house but really one of the best I've had) and some cream puffs they had made with marscapone and drizzled with honey. Then two of us ordered after-dinner liqueurs which were a favorite of the owner, and they were really unique. Not usually in my repertoire, but I couldn't resist one with citrus, herbs and fennel. Really a nice ending to this meal. The food here is so fresh, the atmosphere inviting, the host so gracious, its just a great spot for brick oven Neopolitan pizza. Don't think you can go wrong. Unless you want to get stuffed from your pizza experience. It's more of your everything-in-moderation place. With a personal touch.

Heather P.

Everyone talks about this spot. Being the complete follower I am, I had been dying to try it. Finally made my way there tonight with two friends. We started out by ordering a bottle of wine, a margaherita pizza and one of the night's specials - prosciutto and asparagus with some kind of asparagus and cheese stuffed crust. It was unbelievable how quickly the food came out - quicker than most McDonald's orders. Both pizzas were good. I was slightly disappointed with the portion of cheese and basil on the margharita, but the other one was really delicious and the crust stuffed concoction was outstanding. We decided to order a round two since we weren't exactly full. This time we got a mixed green salad and a pizza that had mushrooms, basil and italian sausage. Oddly enough, I have to say that the salad was really the thing that blew me away. Don't know why - it was simply some mescalin greens with balsamic vinegar but oh my goodness, it was scrumptious! So for the three pizzas, bottle of wine, and yummy salad - our bill came out to about $90. Not too bad! I didn't think this was the best pizza of all time but it was definitely good enough to return for and I must say that the little complimentary canoli on the way out left a lasting impression. Really, it's the little things like that which get me to come back.

Leanne A.

The best part of Spacca is the patio. Yeah the pizza's good, but the patio is great. You'll forget you're in the city, because it's so homey and refreshing. As a thin-crust fan myself, I was excited for this italian-style pie. Maybe I hyped it up a little in my head, and yes it was good, but just not amazing. The toppings start too far in from the sides...meaning....the crust is too wide. Does that make sense? I felt like I was getting hardly any topping. But the crust is crispy and tasty and definitely authentic. (But I've never been to Italy, so who knows) Service was indifferent, prices are decent. I'll certainly be back for the patio, but I've got to try some more things and find a favorite dish still.

Marco H.

Generally good (but really thin) pizza. Great sauce, good cheese and toppings. I'd suggest you order 1 pizza per person + sharing some apps if you want to leave full and satisfied. Spacca Napoli also has a few good (but really small glasses of) wines. $7 will get you a small pour in an small (not wine) glass. Generally, the wait staff is very friendly and there's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Comensal A.

As expected, I loved the food at Spacca Napoli on this visit. Their pizza really quells my craving for tasty Neopolitan. Plus it's a visually pleasant space: plain but not stark, with a nice airiness and tasteful use of wood trim and b/w photos. And tonight we had an extra special treat: the place was nearly empty! When we've gone in the past, it has been packed, and conversation has been impossible (even without the obligatory early dinner crowd's crying infants). In fact, we stopped coming here because of the noise. Tonight, though, it was truly a little patch of heaven on Sunnyside Ave! We enjoyed a grilled veggie starter, served with SN's very good bread. Pizza was a scurmptious white special with mushrooms and truffles that mellowed us out completely. For dessert, a tartufo was perfect, as was cappuccino. As always, I was impressed with the well-selected, well-described wine list. Shucks, this was so enjoyable! I think we'll try a few more weekday nights to see if our luck holds at avoiding the crowds -- if I can solve that noise problem, I'll be an habitué, for sure...

Alan B.

I love good pizza. I have an appreciation for the different styles and what each one is trying to accomplish. But of all the styles, I have the greatest appreciation for Neapolitan pizza. And this place nails it. Not only do they really "get it" when it comes to their pizza but everything else we tried was great. They choice of wines was great. The ambiance was great. The fact that they had inside and outside seating was great. The staff was great. The only minor negative is that I wish they would cut the pizza instead of leaving it whole and giving the table a pizza cutter. Now in all fairness, I was just in Chicago for 4 days and only tried 3 places. I didnt try other places as suggested by, for example, slice.seriouseats.com/as… . But even if someone in the city makes a better pizza, everyone should try this place. We got three appetizers. The Fried zucchini with mint was excellent. The Burata was very fresh however for just two of us, it was overkill. Better to split between 4-6 in my opinion. White anchovies salad very nice. We got a margherita. The mozzarella was very high quality and the right amount. The sauce was a basic tomato puree which was appropriate for the style. The crust was perfect chared top and bottom. My only complaint was the sparsity of basil leaves.

Jessica G.

This place is amazing. I've been going here as often as I can, ever since it opened 1 block down the street from my work. The pizza is fresh, chewy, delightful. I've tried dozens of pies here and never been disappointed. The Insalata Mista is HUGE and delightful - wonderful greens, delicious imported olives, and balsamic so tasty I wanted to drink it. The soups are good too, but also gigantic, and you need to save room for pizza. Wonderful place to go for lunch, or dress it up a bit for a classy date night. The one thing that would help out though is larger tables. The tables are rather small, and once you load it up with a couple pizzas (each one can be tackled by a single person, so we generally get a selection) it is VERY crowded up there. Finish up the meal with a luscious, generous slice of tiramisu and an espresso or cappuchino, and then moan because you have to go back to work instead of taking a nap!

Luke S.

I spoke with Jonathan (owner) after he reached out to me about my review. I don't think many business owners would take the time to address the concerns of their customers. He apologized and made it clear that isn't tolerated and isn't the norm at his restaurant. Based on other reviews, I think we did just catch them at an off moment. As I mentioned before I will be back and I think my experience will be much improved. The pizza was excellent and I look forward to trying another creation. If only more business owners were as caring and proactive as Jonathan!

kate c.

This place is so very good. Great service, great atmosphere, and amazing pizza. Always look forward to eating here!

Thamer B.

The place has been on my bookmark list for a long time as we went once but sadly i did not check it and it was a monday, so it was a long ride for nothing. Anyways me and my wife went to that area as its kinda far from where we live so as the place is on my mind for a while and we are a big fans of napoli pizza we went there although it was a sunday. the place was in a quite area and looked descent, the waiting time was around 15 mins although we've been told that it could talk longer than 30 which was good. I loved the menu as it was brief and to the point, we had one buffalina and another funghi, the prices was kinda over, but the pizza was really good the cheese the sauce although i would enjoy it more if it had more mozarella, for the appetized we had burrata after we have been told that the grilled octupus is not available anymore. and both of them was off the menu but on the special of the day list. i would go to the place again and recommend it to friends.

Nikkie H.

I like saying the name. Spacca Napoli. Just rolls off the tongue. I really, REALLY loved the pizza here. Growing up in Michigan we never had thin crust, certainly not neopolitan-style pizza, so I am always amazed that I like it so much. Went with a friend and we got a couple apps and split two pizzas. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs and we couldn't finish everything. Unfortunately we were going to a movie and didn't want to carry around leftovers all night, so we left them behind. So sad. I definitely plan on going back, but need to find a time where it's not INSANELY crowded, because it seems to always be, which is why I deducted one star. I mean, it's a good thing they're crowded, but in those cold months there's really nowhere for people to wait. I do appreciate that they will call you if you choose to go wait elsewhere (say, O'Shaugnessy's a block away.)

Trevor H.

Loved it. Had the diavola pizza. It was a delicious pizza with salami, red pepper flakes and basil on mozzarella. A delicious pizza to say the least. Definitely try the fried goat cheese if they have it. It's fried goat cheese squares on a bed of lentils and spinach. So delicious. We had a soup, but unfortunately for the life of me I cannot remember what it was called. It was a delicious mix of cheese, beans, broth, and a few other ingredients... It was one of the specials. My friend said her grandmother made soup like this. Either way, you won't go wrong dining at Spacca Napoli!

Jeff G.

Maybe 3.5 overall. Pizza was slightly above average but to me not superb. Many other pizza places we'd rather try out than go back here again anytime soon pricing is very fair, nice big space with good sidewalk patio

Frank T.

It's not that great, everybody. We sat outside (a plus), had a good appetizer (big plus), ordered a pizza - what else ((meh), had some wine that wasn't really a glass of...(meh), was intimidated by the waiter for an innocent enough question asking if they made there own cheeses (a negative), and got the bill (a negative). It might have been a draw when it first opened, but those days are gone. It's now just another brick-oven pizzeria. To the Waiter: Oh, and by the way, buffalo milk can be shipped to the USA as easily as the cheese might be and can be made in Chicago. "How do you know", you ask? I checked.

Jelena Z.

Stopped by with a group of co-workers today for a little dream of a lunch on the northside. Well, maybe not so 'little' as we ordered up the following pizzas: Salsiccia: Mozzarella, Basil, ltalian Sausage, and traditional red sauce Prosciutto e Rucola: Provola, prosciutto di parma, arugula, parmesan, and olive oil Bianco Nero: Pecorino with black truffle, fior di latte mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, white truffle oil, and olive oil Sorrentina: Pomodorini, Mozzarella di bufala, basil and olive oil Additionally, we tried the fried goat cheese special and the four cheese pizza with spinach special... magnifico! Really, everything was great though my favorites were the double truffle and the prosciutto topped with arugula pizzas. Charming, bistro-esque atmosphere and knowledgeable service. Didn't hurt that our server was clearly Italian and handsome to boot! Can't wait to return for some more authentic Neapolitan pizza! Spacca Napoli has it down pat.

Stephanie L.

PIZZA, PIZZA! YUM, YUM, YUM! Love this cute-sy place. I have heard about this place several times and just hadnt made it there yet. ALAS, I went and didnt regret or fret!!! Our server was hilarious. She came and poured wine in these huge ass glasses....already my kind of place :) We started with the Fritti del Giorno, which was eggplant and something else. The flavor was AMAZING! We got three different kinds of pizza (dont judge)....Funghi e Salsiccia, Prosciutto e Rucola, & Salsiccia e Broccoletti. To be totally honest, I loved all of them. It was great style of pizza and they offer chili oil with them....never had this little hidden gem on pizza but it made it AWESOME!!! Operation hot body was definitely down the tubes this night, but well worth it. Added bonus, they have a whole patio area that they set up in the SUMMER....WOOHOO, I will be back for some al fresco dining :)

Ani M.

I love it when they have prosciutto cotto on the menu as a topping. Best go-to place for some Italian style pizza!

Justine M.

Naples style pizza. Individual pies per person. Fresh ingrediants and nothing like any other pizza places. Very soft and chewy! Spumoni ice cream is so good. Only thing that sucked was they forgot to put my order in; however, a person I was dining with told us that it only takes 90 seconds to make (cuz the stone burning oven is so hott!) It came out fast!

Duncan S.

Food gets about 3 stars. 1 star deducted due to price/value. I was expecting the type of place where you go to the counter, order, and get your food to go eat where you desire (maybe a few booths). Instead this is a sit-down atmosphere where they get you a table and hand you a menu. It's nice inside, with a good amount of room. Even private or party rooms. But you have to pay for this luxury. A small-mid sized family outing can probably rack up a big bill, more than a typical restaurant in our case. My food was just okay. Mine stayed in the oven just a bit too long and you could taste it on the bottom of the crust. But I'm not even mad about that. I understand it comes with the territory with pizza like this. The unburned parts of the pizza were overwhelmed with the taste of basil. Some people might enjoy this, but I don't. I want to taste the rest of the pizza. Overall I don't think everything mixed well. I prefer simplicity, and less gourmet or garnishes

Andrea R.

I typically stay away from pizza in Chicago after returning from NY because it just can't compare, but somehow I ended up lunching at Spacca Napoli just 10 hrs after flying in from the Big Apple. It turns out Spacca Naploli's pizza is comparable to what you can find in NY...perhaps even better. Our very large party ordered lots of pizzas: Salsiccia, Prosciutto e Rucola, Bicano Nero and the Sorrentina. I was psyched to try the Bianco Nero since I heart truffle oil, but I don't think my baby-to-be feels the same way because I wasn't such a fan. I'm not typically a sausage eater, but the Salsiccia was awesome. Pregnancy has done weird things to my taste buds! The other 2 were yummy too..and the rest of my large group thought so too cause they all disappeared pretty fast. The service was fabulous, fast and can't beat sitting on their lovely patio on a warm(ish) June day. I also discovered they have private party rooms inside and may look into having a casual 30th bday bash here for my friends and fam later this summer.

Frank B.

Pizza heaven! This place is very good! Fresh ingredients, chewy, soft dough and gooey, flavorful cheese. This place rocks! We ordered the Funghi (which is pronounced Foo-gi and not like you would think with the heavy emphasis on Fung, like Fungus so you can just point "I want this one" and save yourself some embarrassment. We also got the Margherita which was equally good. Between 2 people it was enough delicious food. Great spot for a date night and the service is quick estimating a turnover of 15 minutes or so from time order is placed. This place boast Naples style pizza but we gotta give props to the Latinos who have nearly perfected this Italian culinary art. I don't think there is one Italian back there ha, ha! Orale!

Oluwatope F.

What I got: Two pizzas (1) red sauce with Buffalo mozzerella and basil, (2) pistachio pesto with mozzerella, red peppers, arugula and something else, free crusty bread with olive oil, and an appetizer of green olives with a delicious red that I can't remember. Everything was wonderful it is a little pricey though ($13 for a pizza that feeds one). Overall: Ahmazingly delicious (thin and chewy crust), creative (pistachio pesto anyone?), and gourmet (important Bufallo cheese, yes please). We will be back! If you love Eat Pray Love and wanted to try that Naples style pizza that makes you feel like you are in a relationship--then thank me later. The only personal set back was that all of the meat was pork. I don't eat pork so yea I would have loved some duck prosciutto or some turkey sausage but whatevs! They have plenty of cheeses, olives, and vegetables so I didn't feel left out. Parking: There is some parking on the street and pay to park across from the restaurant. Decor: Pretty cool vibe, there is a huge oven that you can see the chefs baking the pizzas in. Service: Our waiter was extremely knowledgeable and suggested an awesome red wine that was perfect. I felt like I was learning something new about Italian flavors and meats every time he came to our table lol!

Edwin W.

If this is how Italian's make pizza, than keep it! This is not how Chicago pizza (not limited to just deep dish) is defined as. I'm not even a fan of New Haven style pizza at Piece, but I'd rather take a slice from there than at this place. I ordered the Margherita, and it was literally, a 10" piece of crust, with maybe a drizzle of tomato sauce, uneven portions of mozzarella on the top, with literally (i should have taken a picture) of two tiny crumpled up pieces of basil. How can some of these reviewers say this is the best pizza they have had. I have made better pizza bread at home with a bottle of ragu and a loaf of wonder bread. Not only was the pizza bad. We ordered mussels as an appetizer. I swear, I have found more junk on my finger after picking my nose than what I found in between these mussel shells. I STILL CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS PLACE MADE CHICAGO MAGAZINE'S TOP 25 PIZZA PLACES IN CHICAGO. THAT RIGHT THERE JUST LOST THEM THEIR CREDIBILITY.

Carol S.

The rating people gave this place talks by itself... I can just add my Italian word, just go and enjoy it!!

Kelly C.

After seeing this place in Chicago Magazine's Top 25 pizza places in Chicago, I had some high expectations of the kind of pie I would get here. Let's start with what I really liked: the outdoor seating is a plus, servers were nice, the caprese was fresh and simple, and they have a nice nutella focaccia dessert made with the pizza dough What was good but not great: I was disappointed that the toppings on the pizza didn't reach further out to the crust, so I left feeling like my pizza was mostly crust with a few delectable bites with toppings and cheese. The pizza also wasn't super flavorful (this could also be because so much of it was pizza dough). All in all, it was a nice spot that I would go to again if I were in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't make a special trip.

Tracy F.

I stopped in to order a pizza on my way home from work. One of the pizzas of the day was called "Pistachio". The best pizza i have ever had in my 55 years. I know that would be hard to believe but if that was the only pizza I could ever eat... Tracy

Andre W.

Chicago's Authentic Neapolitan Pizza! Looking for the perfect lunch this past Sunday afternoon, I thought about how good everyone says this place is. I also wanted to prepare for my trip to Italy in a few weeks, by eating something that was "Authentic Italian" Very nice interior with nice music playing, I was quite impressed with the place before I even ordered my meal. Our very nice server Katie (who has never seen The Godfather, by the way) was all smiles as she came to take our order. I wasn't in the mood for wine so I went with Peroni (Italian Beer) and to eat I went with pizza of course...The Bufalina. Bufalina includes basil, Mozzarella di Bufala and Olive Oil. Very good pizza, but the red sauce was a little too runny. I was so hungry I ate the whole damn pizza. Katie came back and asked if we wanted dessert...I could not resist. I went with the Tiramisu which was very delightful. Along with the tiramisu, I decided to have some grappa..good stuff! Great place to get some pretty good pizza! The have an outside patio, but I did not take advantage of it because it was pretty windy out, but don't worry...I will return.

Terrence B.

We stopped by here for a late lunch because we were in the neighborhood and the place was recommended. We ordered 2 pizzas which were fine. There was nothing wrong with them but I have zero desire to revisit them. What left a bad taste in my mouth was the service. We were one of a handful of patrons in the place and seated in the back room alone except for a table directly next to us with an infant in a height chair... It almost felt spiteful. Our table service was unbelievably slow and delegated between four different members of the restaurant staff. To cap what was a non-enjoyable dinning experience was waiter #4 asking what we wanted for dessert; "I'll tell you what I told the 3 previous waiters that asked, I just want my check so I can leave". The owner told us to have a nice day as we departed. I desperately wish he asked us how our meal was so I could have personally told him my experience rather than post it publically. I'm quite generous with my good reviews but this was definitely a sore spot in my chicago dining experience. There are plenty of great brick oven pizzerias around, this is not one of them. (I have added a full star to my review for them having the same ceiling fan I have in my dining room, check it out, its a pretty sweet fan)

Frank N.

Love this authentic Naples Pizza. The place was extremely clean and the pizza oven was equisite. When you walk in, you get the nice view of the authentic pizza oven. Am I a geek for wanting to take a picture with that pizza oven?? I wonder how much it would cost to fly in some authentic Naples brick layers and build me a pizza oven?? We ordered the Pizza Margherita and the Funghi e Salsiccia on this visit. The crust was thin, crunchy, and flavorful. The service was FAST! Obviously when you cook pizzas at that temperature, you can't help but cook pizzas fast. I can't wait to go back and try a medley of pizzas and maybe crack open some of the Pelligrino at the table! The pizza overall was better than I expected and I look forward to another visit! There are plenty of Prosciutto appetizers and I am a big fan of a real Prosciutto di Parma! I think the next visit (soon) I'll be trying the Bianco Nero, a greta sounding pizza of black truffle, white truffle oil, mushrooms and mozzarella!

David R.

Okay, I'll nudge them up to 3.5. The funny thing is, this was nearly an identical experience as the first time, but since my expectations were lowered, I was more disposed to enjoy the meal. And I did. My sister and I shared two pizzas--the straight-up margherita and one of the daily specials, a porcini-somethingaroni. The latter was a white pizza, which, in my opinion, generally suffer from the lack of tomatoey tang. However, this version had the porcinis, some arthichokes, and shaved parmesan, giving it plenty of flavor. The margherita was very solid but again I ask WHERE IS THE BASIL? Our pizza had two spindly medium-sized pieces and two other tiny shreds. LAME. They were doing a very brisk takeout business, so we actually "had" to wait about fifteen minutes for our pizzas. Not a problem. Later we enjoyed the tartufo dessert. The pizza is good but not great and I still think that they are overpriced. If we hadn't had the A La Card I wouldn't have come. That being said, it was an above-average meal in a warm setting with decent service, so I can't complain. On our way out, the button-cute hostess offered us mini-cannoli--bonus.

Glen W.

Best real Neapolitan pizza in Chicago. Great contrast to the standard Chicago deep dish and thin crust.

Mike S.

Spacca Napoli is our benchmark for Neapolitan-style pizza in Chicago. Super consistent and always delicious. We love the roasted vegetable appetizer and pretty much all of the pizzas. We almost always go with one of their specials and something classic off the normal menu. On our last visit, master pizzaiolo Franco Pepe was a guest in the kitchen and there was a noticeable difference in the pizza crust. Whatever he does with the pizza dough really kicks the quality up a few notches-- it was unreal how good it was. I really hope they were taking some good notes because it was seriously amazing. I considered dropping them a star for being overpriced, but they can't be too overpriced or we wouldn't go there so often. Sometimes it's worth paying a little extra for quality.

Christine S.

This place is still fantastic! Went again this past Saturday night at 9PM and walked right in and got seated immediately. They've expanded the restaurant since the last time I've been here (a much needed expansion). ~The Grigliata di Verdure (grilled veggies) are amazing! I love the peppers! ~The Diavola Pizza isn't as spicy as I was hoping it would be... But, you could set my mouth on fire and I wouldn't be satisfied so I'm not a good person to judge spice. ~The Tartufo is a chocolate lovers DREAM. Try it. You won't regret it.

Arya S.

My family and I got the opportunity to be served by the owner, Jonathan. He was so friendly with everyone and he even gave one pizza to us (in the house). The quattro formaggi pizza is one of the best I have eaten so far in the US. The mozzarella appetizer was awesome too. Overall the pizza is thin and crisp, the best napoletana pizza in chicago. I would definitely come back.

Kevin C.

I've been to Spacca Napoli once and I had a decent experience. I am not going to rant and rave because the 388 people behind me have done an excellent job at doing so. And I won't pretend that I know what half the menu actually meant. The restaurant itself it was very classy on the inside and we were seated promptly. I believe it was on a Sunday afternoon and it was moderately busy. We sat at a table for two and waited about 10 minutes without anyone noticing us. We got the attention of a busser which escalated up to head chef (maybe the owner) who was walking around the dining area. Our server was definitely busy, not lazy, and came to our attention shortly there after. The service was fine after this fact. It was not a deal breaker either as we were in no hurry. And the upper echelon offered us a glass of wine for the wait. Pleased to see they cared about our overall experience. As for the food... We started with the prosciutto and arugula topped with olive oil. It was a light and fresh starter. And for the entree we had the Funghi pizza which was a very traditional pizza native to Italy (or so I was informed). Mozzarella, basil and mushrooms - simple yet delicious. It definitely shied away from the Chicago style pizza which was a nice change of pace. Sad to say they only had Italian beer. I was looking for something besides the following: Peroni, Moretti, Moretti La Rossa and Menabrea. I understand trying to keep the authenticity up but I think they might want to cater to the crowd. Overall this place had great food. A bit pricey for my liking but then again I would consider this fine dining. If you are looking for a true Italian night out look no further than this joint on the North side.

Gabriela R.

Best pizza so far... :) Diabola is great!

Evan Thoreau H.

On a bit of a 'best pizza in Chicago' tour and after a few months of eying Spacca Napoli, we decided to take the plunge. Let's review the holy trinity of 'za crust for a second: Flaky Crispy Chewy Spacca Napoli definitely leans very heavily to the 'chewy' column, proper to its Neapolitan roots. Besides being a touch too chewy (a little crunch goes a long way), it really is about as true to the classic Italian style as you can get. The ingredients are amazing fresh and tasty. We sampled the Funghi Salsiccia - a delicious red sauce with wild mushrooms, house-made sausage and creamy mozz - and the sans-sauce Prosciutto e Rucola - a tangy pie with arugula, shaved parmesan and prosciutto. Spacca also nails the second pillar of a great pie - sauce. The red sauce is tangy, fresh and traditional. The 'bianca' pies come equipped with only olive oil and, though flavorful, can be a bit dry. The wine list is strictly Italian, but reasonably priced. The atmosphere is a where Spacca really shines. The outdoor patio along tree-lined streets of Ravenswood almost make you feel as if you were transported to a back street cafe in Napoli. Perfect spot for a hidden little gem. Inside it is clean and modern, with images of old Italia adorning the walls. Overall, great pies and a great atmosphere. A touch on the pricey side, but worth the experience. And the tour marches on...

Alina S.

Best. Pizza. Place for Italian style thin crust pizza. I find myself constantly coming back. So delicious. Had the diablo and it was the perfect spice level. The prosciutto arugula was amazing and the three cheese white was tangy and tasty for a pizza without sauce. Also the little cannoli's handed out on the way out are prob the best I've ever had (even in italy). Staff is very knowledgable of ingredients and their authenticity. Always an amazing dining experience.

Claudia B.

It was a really refreshing dinner in the patio, reminding me of the authentic taste of the Italian pizza. The service was great, our waitress attentive, the wine exactly as requested, not too acidic, not too dry, and the food...mmmm. I will definitely go back.

Christopher G.

This pizza was terrible. The crust on our pizzas were soft chewy doughy, not a hint of crunch to be found. This ultimately led to limpy soggy quality that required us to roll the slice up to eat it. The sausage was sub par and the pies overall lacked any flavor. The wine was not good and the servers hadn't any real knowledge of the wine selection to help in our selection. The place was packed and gets rave reviews. I ate there a couple years ago and thought it then was ok. Maybe the dough had a bad day. Stuff happens. I like many different styles of pizza. All I'm looking for is great flavor. The best I've had is Pizzeria Mozza in LA, by Mario Batali and Nancy Silverman. New York has the best thin crust. My favorite of all time is Pagliai's in Macomb, IL by Papa Don Knox. A little nostalgia here, as it was my first job at 11 years old, but the dough is at the same time crunchy and chewy, the sauce peppery tomatoey and the sausage and other ingredients fresh and delicious.

Jonathan C.

I'd like to preface that I'm a deep dish kind of guy, but my wife is not from Chicago so she likes her pizza in a non-Chicago way. Well I was thinking of ideas for V-day. And then my wife says that she's been craving wood oven pizza. It reminded me that over the summer we decided to go for a run down Ravenswood. This place looked really good, but we were stinky from running. Even thought we wouldn't mind eating pizza, I'm pretty sure a stinky Jon in the restaurant would ruin the ambiance (eww). Well we go there finally last night (not V-day but we went other places that night). My wife is getting into her hungry more so we need some apps quick. We get the poached seafood. It was calamari, cuttlefish, and shrimp drizzled with olive oil and lemon. It was light and hit the spot. But they also had something they called the daily fried item. I don't know about you but when they say that my heart usually skips a beat. I'm not quite sure if that is excitement or a preemptive warning from my heart of an imminent heart attack. I'll just assume excitement. So we order it. That day it was deep fried sandwiches. Yup folks it was an Italian Monte Cristo, but fancy. The bread was a good Italian bread with buffalo mozzarella, prosciutto, and fresh basil leaves. It was served with a nice chunky tomato sauce. Holy Sh!t it was amazing. If I could eat 10 of these I would. A few minutes later and its pizza time. Here were my first impressions. The cheese doesn't cover all the pizza and they didn't cut it for us. Then I notice the crust has little burnt edges from the wood-fired oven. So with the pizza cutter they provided we cut the pizza. For being burnt on the edges it sure is soggy in the middle. Well that aside, the flavors were amazing. We got the Diavola, which was buffalo mozzarella with spicy salami, basil, and red pepper flakes. The dough was chewy and delicious. After wards my wife and I treated ourselves to some after dinner liquor. It helped digest the carb overload that we both enjoyed. The only thing that stopped me from giving 5 stars was the price was more expensive than I would anticipate for a small pizza place.

Richie D.

Chicago is known for it's overwhelming, artery-clogging deep-dish pizza, however, it's also known for it's authentic cultural eats. That's where Spacca [Napoli] comes in. This is the real deal! Well to tell you the truth, I've never actually been to Italia myself but Spacca has the Vera Pizza Napoletana Association sign outside to confirm its authenticity. The pizzaiuolo (pizzamaker) bakes each and every super thin-crust pizza or 'pie' fresh in the custom-built Italian oven surrounded by the mosaic . AND HELLO TRUFFLE LOVERS!!! You have found your match...Bianco Nero: A pie of pecorino with black truffle, fior di latte mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, and white truffle oil. It must be the best (and more uniquely flavored) pizza I've ever bit into. You would think with pizza this delicious there's quite the wait, wrong! The pizzas are baked in literally 2 minutes. If you're in a hurry for a tasty take-out meal (no delivery) or prefer to skip appetizers to dig right in to your main entree, the pizzas quick to be served. Spacca accepts reservations every day of the week. So if you're visiting on a weekend evening, I'd recommend making one. Now for my few complaints (while carefully censoring what I say since the patron saint of pizza was looking down on me at the restaurant): Prices are a bit extreme. $16 for a just under 12" pizza? Really?! Yes, I understand that the Mozzarella di Bufala is imported directly from Naples and truffles are pricey, but the price is steep for a personal sized pizza. We purchased three pizzas and the total was just under $50. The worst part is that the Margherita pizza had only three leaves of basil, not to mention the cheese is was also sparse. We fought over those few slices. Now, whether the owner is trying to go "green" or not, no take-out menus is a bit bothersome. Instead, he recommends you go to the webpage with annoying music and unfriendly mobile interface. All in all, Spacca is so damn tasty and authentic, with a lovely dining ambiance (plus nice outdoor patio for the spring and summer with lights hung above the sidewalk) you can't help but return.

Nina M.

One of my favorite spots! Love the diavola pizza and the panna cotta for dessert. The burrata or the mozzarella and prosciutto for appetizer are great too. Good portions and service. A really fun, casual atmosphere and nice patio off the beaten path.

Natalie S.

I'm actually kinda shocked that all these 5 star reviews are for the place we ate at tonight. It's just a couple blocks from us and we've been meaning to try it for a while. However, I recently saw it on a top 5 overrated pizzas in Chicago list. It made me wary. Tonight, however, we wanted something within walking distance so we gave it a whirl. The good: - service was awesome. Our server was very friendly, our buser was super polite, everything came out in a timely manner. - the outdoor patio is nice, although it seems like the intersection is one where people have issues with figuring out a 4 way stop and need to honk often. C'est la vie. - I had the Diavola pizza without tomato sauce. It was DELICIOUS. The bad: - while my pizza was delicious, $16 for a bit of mozzarella and sliced salami (pepperoni) on top of some dough seems outrageous to me. - my husband had the Funghi e Salsiccia pizza and it was just... bad. The sauce made the crust so soggy that it started falling apart in the middle and was total mush. There were literally 8 minuscule pieces of sausage too... you might even have missed them if you glanced so quickly. Again, $16 for some dough with a teeny amount of sausage and mushrooms seems overpriced. - my stepdaughter had the Salsiccia and, same issues as above. Mushy, falling apart... although she had MUCH more sausage than the Funghi e Salsiccia. We didn't stick around for dessert because, honestly, I found dinner so unimpressive. We live just three blocks away... but we won't be back. I'd rather get in my car and drive to better pizza than waste any more money here.

betsy b.

Awesome pizza....great for kids....get there early......I wish they'd cut the pizza. It was sort of hard to cut them up ourselves. I really liked everything we ordered. This place was packed when we left.

Carmen B.

We landed at Spacca for Father's Day - he is a pizza fan yet had not experienced a wood fired pizza. What a treat for everyone! Starters: Anchovy/arugula/tomato salad: spicy arugula, flavorful OO and tomato a perfect accompaniment for the anchovies Roasted eggplant Caprese Eggplant was our least favorite but still good. Pizzas: don't recall the names... white pizza with porcini and truffle oil, sausage with mushroom and one more... ALL very good. I'm glad i got the reco on this spot, I wouldn't have ventured to Ravenswood otherwise. Will return.

Raana A.

i finally made it out to Spacca Napoli. After all the hype, I was worried I'd be underwhelmed, but not so. Solid service, great good and a casual lively atmosphere. Since it was the first time for a few of us, we tried the Margarita pizza, since it was a classic as well the Blanca Negro pizza (infused with truffle oil - yum!) as well as salads. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. True for all good Neapolitan pizzas, the crust was incredibly good - the perfect texture. For dessert, we had shared a tartufo, perfect for to share for a few bites each for our table of four. Paired with coffee and polished off with the mini cannoli on the way out (what a nice touch!) it was a nice Italian meal. I'll definitely be back when the weather is warmer and the patio is set up! Side note, we made our reservation that day (a Friday) for 7:30 without an issue.

Restaurant Vigilant E.

We went to Spacanappoli for the first time a few weeks ago, having wanted to try it out for several months. We arrived just before 7 pm on a Saturday night, but after about 10 minutes wait or so, were seated at a pleasant table by one of the windows. The place was busy, but we were able to have a conversation - likewise, the interior was bright and inviting. The chairs had the stiffest backs I have ever experience though, but after a minute or two, I stopped noticing. So from what I have heard and read, the establishment are sort of pizza-Nazis...I mean that in a good way. The will not deliver, and they are very hesitant about allowing take away (apart from one's left overs). Ever ingredient used is imported from Italy - being in the industry myself, I find this plausible, and yet VERY difficult to believe...the pricing and logistics of such a thing would be considerable. I understand the fixtures (the wood burning pizza oven hand crafted in Italy), but the flour? Tomato? Cheese? Meat? Everything? Their ingredient snobbery though, is the diners gain! The food is excellent. For a proper meal, I would suggest one pizza per person - it isn't pizza hut...besides, that allows one to try multiple type of pizza! I do not believe you can customize your pizza - you have to order one from the menu...I am not sure if it is verboten, but I wouldn't feel comfortable asking them to add, remove, or substitute something on my pizza...just order off the menu and don't be annoying! The pizzas arrive at the table uncut...each comes with its own, heavy pewter and steel pizza cutter. You might think it odd, but when was the last time you had a thin crust pizza arrive at your table belching clouds of steam due to it being literally 8 seconds out of the oven? Once cut, the pizza cools quickly. There are two types of pizza here...red (using various types of tomato sauces), or white...using no sauce, or something other than tomato. We ordered a red pizza with mozzarella, prosciutto and mushroom (I think)...it was very good... We also ordered a white pizza...upon seeing it, we were very disappointed, it looked like some had taken arugala, prosciutto and pecorino and dumped them (albeit carefully) onto a pizza crust...however, one bite and we bucked our American expectations and the white proved to be better than the red (even though that two was excellent). As an appetizer, we ordered the "fried special of the day" which basically described itself as "friend Italian street food." Two large fritter things arrived on a bed of warm tomato chutney...was it eggplant? We couldn't tell...what we discovered was that they were thick slabs of fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and whole leaves of basil...totally amazing, but almost too much food as an appetizer for two people. Ingredients here are top notch - no shredded Kraft mozzarella or fountain drinks...in fact, I ordered a diet coke and it came in a 6 or 8 ounce glass bottle (no free refills here)...that isn't being pretentious either - in Europe, that is how it's done and they are trying (and succeeding in my estimation) to be as authentic as possible! With such attention to detail, I'll pay the $2.50 for the little coke, no questions asked! Pizzas are $13 to $17 bucks...but guess what? So is pappa johns and that is crap - it is the difference between a high quality dinner on par with a nice sushi or steak place...versus a huge quantity of cardboard from your local take-away pizza shop... We didn't try a desert...we were too stuffed! We will however...be back...I've had other pizza I like - your more American type junk food pizza that you order and love after a night out drinking...but this is some of the best quality pizza I have ever had!

Arlene A.

Oh my goodness gracious! We were a group of 7 on a Sunday night and what a wonderful time we had. It's definitely a benefit to come with a group, because you can order lots and lots of food. We started with salads, sliced cured meats and the most amazing fried sandwiches that were a crispy flavorful delight. We had two of the special pizze, and two off the regular menu. The specials were topped with anchovies, capers artichoke hearts on one, and prosciutto and olives on the other, OMFG! The salty and savory flavors were perfect. We also had two of the bianco pizze, the four cheese was spectacular, the gorgonzola cheese added just the right amount of funk to keep it from being a one note dish. The other bianco pizze was topped with sausage and rapini and was equally delicious. Dessert was deeelightful! Yummy spumoni, tiramisu, gelato combined with chilled Limoncello and Strega on the rocks were a perfect finish to a perfect meal. The service was stellar, and this place is beyond clean from top to bottom. I couldn't imagine anyone not enjoying themselves at this very modern vibrant spot.

R O.

I'm a little surprised this has been ranked the best Neapolitan style pizza in the city. While the sauce and cheese (and sausage) were all pretty good, the crust did not get it done. I remember Italian pizza being much crunchier and less, as the GF put it, pita like. Granted it's been almost six years since I was lucky enough to be in Italy, but it didn't seem as authentic as I remember (and yes I know that memories are fickle). While I wasn't expecting a cracker like crust, it was still too chewy for me. However, I did like the fact that I had to use a fork and knife for most of the pizza, just as it should be. And if I'm back in Italy in the near future and realize that my memory has failed me, I'll change my raking to four stars. Another issue is that the place feels a tad too big and almost chain like, while it was only half full being a Tuesday night, I thought the atmosphere was generic. This is bad, it just is what it is. They could also use a few cheaper bottles of wine on the menu... I didn't want to spend 40 bucks on wine and then 13 dollar a pop on the pizzas. The math didn't work for me.

David B.

Great place and in walking distance from my home! Sometimes we had had to wait but never too long! During warm weather outdoor seating is a big plus and their expanded dining room has really cut down on wait times. The greeters are always friendly and the owner is quite welcoming. If there are long waits for a table, he usually brings out something yummy to nibble on. We typically get a salad and two pizzas to share. I have never had room for dessert so I can't rate those but the tartufo I have seen others devour looks delicious! Their pizzas are terrific. They are not the overladden deep dish Chicago pizzas (whichI also love) but thin, slightly charred pizzas with fresh and flavorful toppings. You can get red (with a tomato sauce) or white (no tomato) pizzas with an assortment of both kinds on the menu and the special board. The staff are nice, attentive, and friendly. The rooms are spacious, well lit, and comfortable. I recommend this place!

Fabian B.

This could have easily ended up as a 4+ star review. Unfortunately it does not. Here is why: My friend Chris recommended this establishment after my rave reviews of Nella on Clark. Having a 2nd Pizza within a week is almost too much, but if it is supposedly as good as at Nella then why not. So we went to Spacca Napoli. First impressions were very good, it looked like a proper Pizzeria, nice and airy, we were promptly seated when we arrived, greeted by the boss it looked liked- drinks came fast and orders were placed. Starters arrived, OK , the waitress (unfortunately she did not introduce herself) forgot to leave the olives off the plate as requested, but hey, not a big deal. Pizzas arrived quickly to - and unfortunately they were not as good as expected. Nice and thin (so good first impressions) but quite soggy, spongy, and not as crisp as you think a traditional Neapolitan Pizza should be. Anyway, they were OK , but nothing too special Moving on to dessert- and to really check out if they know what they are doing we ordered the Tiramisu. It arrived within 2 minutes and I asked the waitress if it was homemade as it looked quite good. "No" she said, "but its really good" - Err, Wait - what ? Not homemade ? But from a Tiramisu Factory ? Obviously it tasted OK with artificial flavoring in it - but how can you serve a fake, machine made Tiramisu in an otherwise nice Pizzeria ?? So I told the waitress that I thought it was quite a shame that they did not have real Tiramisu but would sell fake food. She apologized, and turned up with the check when I realized she had not charged us for the Tiramisu. Obviously I was happy to pay for it even if I was shocked it was not real - but she refused. Nice gesture, but she was missing the point. Anyway, on the way out we ve had the chance to talk to the (supposedly) owner of the place, and I again commented on the fact that it was quite a shame that he did not serve real Tiramisu in an otherwise decent place. He said that he actually did not want to sell Tiramisu ("such a cliche"), but would have to have it as his customers would demand it. He would rather "focus on the dough and the Pizza" and leave desserts to others. To my remark "Making Tiramisu is not difficult" he replied if I wanted I could come in and make the Tiramisu for him in the morning. Excuse me ?? First of all, the dough wasn't all that - so where is the focus ? In addition to that - how as a restaurant owner who prides himself as that " the food, wine and service at Spacca Napoli are all designed to reflect southern Italy's proud traditions and gracious hospitality" (website) sell food that is factory made ?? That is just disgusting and a slap in the face of every Italian. Where is the Passion for food ? Focus on one thing but leave the other stuff to the wholesaler ? What ??? Profit is one thing - but throw your pride for cooking down the drain for it and fill your customers with artificially flavored factory made food ? Err, no. Wrong. Fail. Shame really. Almost forgot : Vfm (my old value-for-money favorite): Starters are too expensive, Pizza is reasonably priced (probably because of the focus they put into that....) overall OK-ish.

Ali H.

Yum yum, double yum. Thinking about restaurants like this make me not want to ever move away from my neighborhood! Tucked away on a little corner of ravenswood, I'm lucky to report that Spacca Napoli is only a quick walk from my house. I've been here several times and never been anything but happy with the food and service. I've also recommended friends here several times and I know they've had similar experiences. I think I've always had vegetarian pizzas here, as well as a variety of their salads. Their pizzas are simple but have the highest quality ingredients. I've never felt like I wanted more toppings, in fact I always appreciate the simplicity, as it allows you to focus more on the few essential ingredients like great crust, sauce, and cheese. I love that they hand you a little cannoli as you walk out the door. A perfect treat to end a delicious meal. Also, it has a great family feel. One night we were the last people in the restaurant and they gave us a bunch of leftover bread from the day, which we took home and ate for days! Love this place.

Athene C.

I've been writing about bad experiences, so I thought I should add a glowing review. I LOVE THIS PLACE! I love the atmosphere. I love the service. I love the owner. I love the pizza. I can walk in, angry about my day, and the moment I sit down, be completely happy. No need for antidepressants, just a lovely pizza with arugula and prosciutto or funghi or whatever your heart desires. It's pizza like you get in Italy. Enough said!

Magdalena W.

Ever since the restaurant expanded, it has been a lot easier to enjoy these delicious pizzas. Plentiful seating inside and out on a quiet street. My favorite: the quattro formaggi, for the cheese fan. No sauce to contend with. Just four melty cheeses. It comes out in minutes (all pizzas do) with a perfectly thin, just a little burnt, crust. Try to go Friday-Sunday. Usually one of their special appetizers is burrata, a fresh mozzarella with sea salt. Delicious.

Windy City Pizza Club K.

I went into Spacca Napoli with the Windy City Pizza Club on Sunday night at 6pm. Trying to find an all around pizza experience? Here is your place. Finding the restaurant was easy and parking was plentiful. Upon entering we were greeted by Jonathan Goldsmith who put us at a nice table for our party of 10. The restaurant is very roomy with lots of nice tables and lighting. The overall landscape of the restaurant was very nice and reflected what it would be like to dine in Southern Italy with wooden tables and private dining areas. The service was also very friendly and smart. There was one screw up with a pizza, but the great part about this place is that the oven is so large and so HOT, that it only takes 3-5 minutes from the time you order to the time you are eating. Each pizza is big enough for only 1 person. The size is large compared to any large pizza you would get anywhere else, but the crust is so thin that sharing would be pointless. Also, you would not want to take out from Spacca Napoli because the pizza is only good when eaten when it comes out of the oven. Because of the high moisture content and the fact that the pizza is ready after 5 minutes, you wouldn't want to compromise the taste. I had the Bianca con Bufala e Rucola Pizza which is Mozzarella di Bufala, Arugula, Basil. The pizza came with a giant pile of green and the crust was very thin and light. If you have ever had Naan (leavened, oven-baked flatbread), this crust was close to what that taste like! So good! Overall, the Windy City Pizza Club had a very relaxed and nice time at Spacca Napoli and we will be back. Thank you Jonathan Goldsmith, owner!

Jamie B.

Brought us back to Italy! The pizza = molto bene! The dough is perfectly cooked and the red sauce and cheese taste extremely fresh. The staff is very attentive and friendly and the ambiance is lovely and very clean! Definitely a place we would go back to! We had the Bufalina and the Salsiccia as well as the Porchetta as our appetizer. All tasted very fresh and perfectly cooked and seasoned!

jenny m.

It pains me a little to give this place only 3 stars. I wanted to love it. A friend in the neighborhood raved about the pizza here and told me I HAD to go. I read all these glowing reviews on Yelp. Citysearch ranked it one of the top 10 pizza places in the city. But I've gone twice now and both times I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. I like the pizza, I just don't think it's great. I also think the service here tends to make you feel a little rushed. This is a popular spot - it's always busy to the point of being full. But I don't like feeling like the second I've taken the last bite of food, I should pay the check and jet. I like to let the meal sit and finish my glass of wine slowly, not be rushed out cuz there's people waiting. I mean, I did just spend a bunch of money here didn't I? At some point in the future I will give this place another shot. Probably when it gets nice out again next spring and I can sit on the lovely sidewalk patio they have. Because I really do want to love it, I really do.

John K.

Went there before 5 at the spur of the moment for some carry out. I believe I was the only one there. Place looks awesome, kitchen impressive and despite what I heard about the service - the guy at the register was most helpful. But then again, it was pre-dinner. I thought I'd go with something simple and as I was already impressed with the ambiance I thought I'd upgrade the next time around. So I went with the Margherita, simple. Take a look at the picture John C. took. My pizza had 1/3 to 1/2 the cheese, and while the sauce was very tasty, there wasn't much to make up for the lack of cheese. I could see where this could have been really good, the potential was there. I am not trying to be insulting, but had my 16 year old been there - he would have said Pizza Hut is better. In this case I wouldn't have much to defend. I ate almost all the pizza except for one slice where I would have only eaten half. Why, because reheating it would have only reminded me of how bad and overpriced it was. Two stars because of the interior, but I had carry out.

Nicole B.

There are now TWO places to get authentic Italian pizza in Chicago! The second, Nella Napolitana, opened recently in Lincoln Park. Nella's owner is the former teacher of Spacca's owner, and you can really tell. Their menus and wine lists aim for the exact same culinary niche and achieve it equally well. The pizza is identical. Deciding where to eat hinges on two things, both of which are strictly matters of personal preference: the specific items on each menu at a given time, and atmosphere. Nella aims for an "Italian sports bar" atmosphere, while Spacca's theme is "classy, casual European restaurant". Both Spacca and Nella feel distinctly American, not Italian, precisely because they try so hard to seem European. I see nothing wrong with the Americans' "thematic" take on restaurant interiors. It's just cute that they ended up with such a similar feel despite Nella's obvious attempt at a different aesthetic.

carmen b.

Hello, FOOD SNOB here. Having parents and siblings that immigrated from Naples Italy in the late 1950s, and eating pizza in Naples many times myself, I think I know what I am talking about. This Pizza truely brought back memories of my childhood summers in Italy. This is authentic Napolitan Pizza. The first way Pizza was made before we Americanized it with its gobs of salty cheese and cheap sausage, and yes canned tomatoes and mushrooms. This pizza had the most freshest ingredients I ever had. Fresh tomatoes, cooked mushrooms and real mozerella. Yes I am talking Buffalo mozerella, which is way better than cows mozerella. Here you can get either one. The Basil even tasted home grown. The owner himself spent a few years in Italy, and learned the business. I just wish I did not live so far away. Heck even the chairs reminded me of Italy. After this experiance I have to try some of the other wood burnig Pizza restaurants on the North Side so I can compare.

Nicholas S.

There are too many substandard pizzas that try and fool people into thinking that what they're eating is real pizza. Pizza has many guises, I love many of the forms it takes. Here at Spacca Napoli, the pizza is not American, and that is a very good thing indeed. It is not deep dish, it is not New York style, it isn't buttercrust, it isn't thick crust, there are options without pepperoni, without sausage. The best way to describe it, is as proper pizza. Cooked in a wood fired oven. Fresh ingredients and great sauce. Pizza that tastes fresh and delicious. Pizza that you get in a pizzeria in any major European city, be that Milan or Rome, or Paris or London. And what you eat in Spacca Napoli ranks it as one of the best pizzerias worldwide. We're lucky to have it in Chicago, and anyone who really wants to eat a real, proper, Italian pizza should head here. If you're European you'll know exactly what I mean.

Elle M.

We had dinner here last night and I want to go back. Right now. We must have gotten there at just the right time because there was no wait, but it filled up quickly. We had the Insalada di Mare for an appetizer, and it was amazing. The calamari was so tender and tasted incredibly fresh. The olive oil they drizzled on the bread was some of the most flavorful I've ever tasted. We were so sad when it was all gone. We had two pizzas, the Salsiccia and a special which had two kinds of prosciutto and buffalo mozzarella. Both were awesome. The crust was crispy and chewy and perfect, and the flavor of the toppings was so spot on. I can't say enough great things about those pizzas. And the service was great, even after the whole restaurant was full. When we left there was a line practically out the door, so get there early. I seriously can't wait to go back. Yay!

Kirsten N.

Get here early because this hot spot fills up FAST! Favorite meal when I have 2 or 3 peeps with me is...... AntiPasti: Caprese con Bufala, Insalata Eoliana Pizze: Salsiccia e Broccoletti, Sorrentina, Funghi e Salsiccia Dolci: Panna Cotta, Zabaglione, or the traditional tiramisu So happy they've expanded so the lines are not as bad as they used to be!

Rama K.

I've heard several people rave that this is the best pizza in Chicago. Apparently they make the best Margherita pizza around. I have to admit...I am not impressed! The Margherita was relatively tasteless, the crust was too moist and soggy, and there wasn't nearly enough mozzarella on the pie. They did, however, offer burrata cheese as an appetizer, which was excellent. It's in the Ravenswood neighborhood, which is a hike to get to from River North or Old Town, and I have to say that hike is absolutely not worth it!

Sid V.

It's OK in a pinch, but can be absurdly noisy and can feel like a child care facility if you go on the early side. Pizza is tasty but for the money, damn put a little more cheese on there why don't you. Antipasto plate is a nice alternative. Pizza with truffle oil is definitely the pick at this place, it's outstanding.

Liz M.

We have been coming here since shortly after it opened. And we have NEVER EVER been disappointed. The food is incredible, the atmosphere is great and we absolutely LOVE Jonathan. Every time we have been here (and that's a lot) he always makes it so much fun. Regardless of how busy he is or how crowded it may be, he always makes it a point to make you feel welcomed. And he always has a few minutes to swap stories about Italy. Tonight was no different. We celebrated my husband's birthday and after the desert with a little candle, Jonathan came by with a selection of after dinner drinks to choose from with a lovely description of each one. Mmmmm..... Now let's talk about the pizza - remember when you were a kid and you would get excited about having pizza? As adults, we get just as excited about coming here. This is more than just pizza. I can only say it is incredible! The food, the owner and staff, and the location are all really great. And we love the patio. This is most definitely our favorite place!!

natalie v.

I've been by Spacca Napoli several times when the patio and dining room has been packed. I was able to go with a friend yesterday before the dinner rush. It was raining out, so the patio wasn't open. We were seated right in the window. I will say that our server, I can't remember her name was void of personality. Never a smile, just flat affect the whole time. However, the food outweighed all of that. We shared a bottle of wine that was spicy and dry and wonderful. We chose the fried zucchini appetizer that was marinated in white balsamic with mint and basil. It was not the fried zucchini that I was expecting. It was served cold along side fresh french bread drizzled in olive oil. Despite being not at all what I expected, it was a beautiful appetizer. The balsamic wasn't overpowering and you got a mouthful of basil flavor followed by fresh mint. It was fantastic. For our dinner, we shared the Diavola. It was with a red sauce, fresh mozzarella, red pepper flakes and spicy salami. The flavors were amazing. The sauce was slightly chunky, which is my favorite. And the crust was chewy and perfect. I wish the crust had been a bit crispy, but it was still soooooooo good! The prices are affordable here. The ambiance is comforting and welcoming. I plan on coming back. I love a local little pizza joint like this.

matty z.

I wouldn't call this the best neapolitan style pizza in the city, but it does the trick, and it's location is aces. I'm not a fan, however, of how gosh darn BRIGHT it is in Spacca Napoli. tone down the lights, please. ...and thanks!

David D.

Finally! After almost a year combing Chicago for a truly authentic Neapolitan pizza, I've found it. I was dubious my first time; the long trek out to Montrose, the announced wait time of thirty minutes. But the owner and head chef, Jonathan, makes those thirty minutes slip right by providing a mouth-watering slice of pizza, a nibble of parmagiano, or perhaps a glass of prosecco. Once seated, the service is always extremely friendly with wait-staff usually trained how to pronounce the various italian dishes and ingredients. (That said, I wouldn't expect much in the way of conversational Italian.) The wine is fairly priced, the pizzas a bit on the expensive side but oh so worth it. Jonathan has nailed it; the dough is exquisite--just a delicate hint of saltiness, thin and flash-baked to produce galaxies of miniature charred bubbles along the edges. Ingredients are always very fresh. I highly recommend the buffalina, with its uncanny and consistent ability to let three simple ingredients--cherry tomatoes, basil & buffalo mozzarella--shine. One bite is just the tomato, the next perhaps just a bit of the salty mozzarella with a hint of basil... The diavola is also scrumptiously spicy and particularly enjoyable on a warm summer evening spent on Spacca Napoli's patio. Spacca Napoli's desserts are fairly solid, albeit overpriced; I'll occasionally get the panna cotta drizzled in a balsalmic reduction with a few slices of balsalmic-soaked pear. The bottom line:: -Consistently friendly service. -Brilliant Neapolitan pizza--best I've had in the city -A bit pricy but worth it from time to time.

Mike W.

Had a margarita pizza to go. Took 5 mins on a Friday night at 7pm. It was a everything you look for in a freshly made brick oven pizza.A bit pricey but it is Ravenswood.

Kevin C.

Spacca has the best Neoplitan pizza outside of Grimaldi's in Brooklyn. I moved here and searched for a legit pizza joint for a few months before getting referred to Spacca. Make a reservation or take out but only if you live close by. Crispy crust and steamy cardboard boxes don't mix well. The diavola pizza is the only pizza I've ordered, but I've ordered it 6 times now in 3 months. Get an entire pizza for yourself or share 2 among 3 of yous.

Mike P.

Great addition to the neighborhood. I think I lucked out on my first visit this past Sunday. We rolled in right before the crowd and were promptly seated. My wife opted for the traditional sausage and cheese. I went for the white pizza with sausage, basil, and spinach. Service was great from start to finish. The pizzas are definitely unique, although I think my heart still belongs to Apart. I definitely want to go back for the salads and antipasta. The atmosphere is clean and contemporary. Busy without being cramped.

Damian F.

I'm extremely picky about my tomato pie and after experiencing well over two dozen pizzeria's in Chicago I'm confident with saying that Spacca Napoli is the best. I've had pizza in Italy and strongly feel that the taste and texture at Spacca are spot on authentic. I also read the menu at Spacca and learned that the owner study the art of making pizza in Italy and received a certification. You gotta try it!

Christine F.

Spacca, I wanted to love you more :( The food was good. I had the Bianco Nero pizza (truffle oil, black truffles, mozz cheese and porcini mushrooms) and my husband had Prosciutto e Rucola (arugula, prosciutto, cheese, parm). The crusts were thick and chewy, the rest of the 'za was tossed thin. It was a really nice pizza. Mine lacked a little bit of salt, but that's easily remedied. A little pricey, but pretty good. And the peach iced tea? THE BOMMMMMBBBB Honestly, the service and ambiance was terrible. I think these two things are things I tend to overlook and take for granted when they are good, but when they are bad, omfg. They are bad. Our server was pretty much completely disinterested in us. Apparently there were specials. Really delicious sounding specials. He didn't tell us any of that. We heard about the specials (after we ordered our meals) from the table next to us, who he clearly thought was more of a 'high rolling' table than we were. The service for the rest of the meal was lackluster, he checked in on us once or twice but that was it. The ambiance, oh the ambiance. Jesus Christ. We were originally seated inside, and it was like a fucking echo dome in there. My husband and I had to scream across the table at each other to hear. The amount of screaming (throwing toys, crayons, etc) children was unbelievable. I don't mind kids if they can behave themselves. But for the most part, these kids we behaving like animals and their parents weren't stopping them. We moved to the patio, because it was just too loud inside. I KNOW Spacca Napoli can't control who comes to their restaurant, so I didn't mark them down for their annoying customers. But honestly, it's a reason I wouldn't come back to this location. I feel I'm a pretty easygoing person when it comes to ambiance/service, but when people are being SO LOUD (shrill screams of kids) that thoughts are interrupted constantly, that's kind of annoying to me. I would order Spacca Napoli for takeout, but I would NEVER go back to eat at the location. What a headache.

Amanda S.

Egads! Someone making thin crust pizza in the deep-dish capital of the world?? Yes folks, it's true. And this is not just any pizza place- this is Southern Italian style cooking at its best. While I'm not about to pretend to be any sort of expert, I do know what I like in an Italian restaurant, and Spacca Napoli gets an "A" in every one of my make-or-break categories. Pizza - Let's be serious, that's what you really want to know about, right? I had the Bufalina because I am a self-professed Buffalo mozzarella fanatic. If you've never tried it, go and get some right now. I'll wait for you to get back. You got it? Good. Now you know that it has all the creaminess of a plain fresh mozzarella, but with the addition of very slightly sweet and smoky undertones that can stand up to the herbaceousnes of the basil and the acidity of the sauce, but still be a part of the whole. My date got one of the specials of the night (which actually changed as the night went on and showed me that when the pizzolos ran out of one ingredient, they didn't shut down their creativity for the night - they improvised and featured something else instead - major kudos), and it was fantastic as well. Pizza crust - Yes, this does get its own section. It's just that important. First off, an explanation of what I look for in a pizza crust, if you don't agree, skip this section. Thin crust pizzas walk a thin line between crispiness and chewiness. Too crispy, and you've got a dry cracker with toppings on it. Too chewy, and you have foccacia. However, mostly crispy with a slight softness is also a recipe for disaster - as soon as that pizza comes out of the oven, the moisture goes to work to make the crispy-seeming crust a soggy mess. My 'Goldylock's Porridge' is 1/4" thick chewy crust with a crispy bottom. The crispness provides the texture and bit of char flavor, the chewiness gives the pizza a slight bit of structure, more flavor, and most of all, acts as a moisture barrier between the toppings and the crisp crust. Service - My date and I went there on a busy Saturday night. The place was packed, but we didn't have to wait very long and never felt rushed by our server. I especially liked that he was on the casual side, was friendly and personable, and to me it felt like a friend was serving us. Even the busser that cleared our table was friendly and put in our order when we decided we wanted another pizza without referring our server back to us. Plus, the hostess, who had enough to do on a busy Saturday night gave everyone a free mini cannoli as they left, which was a added bonus. Everything else - The decor was nice. Sometimes I feel like Italian restaurants are trying to go with a color scheme to match their marinara, and topping it off with fake vines for basil, and fake stonework for bread. To an extent, Spacca Napoli does this as well, but only to match the idea of their food - light and simple. There are some tastefully used Italian elements, but they work to enhance the experience, not take away from it. The panna cotta was outstanding (as a pastry chef, I'm especially picky about those things), and the marinated grilled zucchini was very good as well. All in all, my date and I were very glad we heard about this place, and though we try not to repeat any restaurants on our date nights, we may have to make an exception for Spacca Napoli.

Retro C.

Pros: Pizza, Service, Location, Outside Patio, Parking Cons: Coffee, Pizza, Price With sufficient parking to be found Spacca Napoli is a throw back of old world Naples Italy. i didn't feel overwhelmed with the choices, simply because the menu only has a few great choices to begin with Learning that the bricks for the oven were imported from Italy really added a nice feel and touch to the place and the overall atmosphere is warm and inviting. Spacca has plenty of space with an outside patio for those great Chicago summer and fall days. The pizza IS real good and plenty for one person to really enjoy. The service is great and those serving are very willing to answer your questions. Now the CONS. Coffee, Instant, Nestle? SERIOUSLY? I was shocked to find out this. For me, is quite appalling and probably a smack in the face to all Italians who really take their coffee seriously and to charge THAT much for instant coffee... not a good idea and not a good idea to tell me that it was instant....... UGH.... ALSO, while Spacca Napoli have some real tasty great pizza, it is the price that really keeps me away for the most. This is why it is under my cons as well. It is one of those places that, if I wanted to really treat myself and spurge money, this is were I will go. For those on a budget, STAY AWAY as you will easily spend more than $20 dollars on some pizza and drinks.

Natalie F.

Best pizza EVERRRR!

Erika G.

I'll never be the same. Moist, chewy, juicy . . . incredible texture. Red wine, yes. Even without meat, they had me at mozzarella. Wow. A charming neighborhood feel, and my vote for the best pizza in Chicago. It's alllllll about the crust.

Max T.

Sigh. I wanted to love this place, because I freakin' love Neapolitan pizza, but have yet to find a place in Chicago that can do it up right. I can name a dozen better Neapolitan pizza places in NYC off the top of my head. Hell, I can name better Chicago pizzerias. I had the buffalo mozzarella pizza. I found the crust is too bready, spongy, flavorless, and chewy, the sauce was totally weak, the mozzarella didn't seem terribly fresh, and the basil portioning was skimpy. And it was ex-pen-sive. That said, the place is super cute (way larger than I expected) and the service was nice enough. Dear fellow expats: it simply won't compare to home. People who have never been east of the Allegheny: You might just like it. But genuinely good Neapolitan pizza in Chicago? The search continues.

Til P.

Yum. Yum Yum. Yum Yum Yum. The pizza is awesome, and I'm not a pizza fan. The crust is thin, crispy, a little chewy and not too heavy. They come out super-fast too, so if you're hungry that's good. If you're looking for a pizza that isn't too doughy, with fresh ingredients, then this is the place to come. Love!

George A.

Excellent brick oven pizza! Recommended to my by Sicilian friends.

Hillary S.

No, no, no! I have not left a restaurant feeling so unsatisfied. First of all, I was not impressed with the ambiance. A chilly atmosphere with no music, an expressionless waiter going through the specials with her eyes glued on the chalkboard. I mean come on! Make the specials special! My boyfriend and I ordered 2 pizzas. I rarely eat meat and we received 2 pizzas with meat. Our waiter failed to mention this topping during the most unawesome descriptions of the "best pizza" in Ravenswood. I didn't make a big hoo-ha about it because its easy to pull off 2 ultra thin cuts of prosciutto. No piggie! I mean, biggie. At this point, my excitement was declining but I gave it a good fun smack on the ass. I wanted to taste the most delicious pizza in Ravenswood!!! So I took a bite, chewed and swallowed. After 5 more bites the pizza was gone. They were small pizzas. It was over. I was not happy. It then dawned on me that I could have popped a piece of naan bread dipped in olive oil with a tablespoon of fresh grated parm in an oven too, but I would have enjoyed it more because it would cost me 1 or 2 bucks, not 18. What a waste of money and time. I'm going to Panera. They play jazz standards and smile at you. I can't get over that Broccoli Cheddar soup and Greek Salad "You Pick Two". I leave full. I leave happy. And yes, Spacca I'm comparing your yuppie Neapolitan narse to Panera. I choose Panera.

Sonali K.

Love, pure love - that is all I have for Spacca Napoli. Nothing I could write could convey just how fantastic this place is. Hands down - THE best pizza place outside of Italy. I found out about Spacca Napoli when I was still in school and Chef Goldsmith came to speak in my Food and Beverage class. I was immediately in love with his story of Italy and how he started Spacca Napoli and all that he has put into it. I went and checked it out with my friend the summer of 2008 and I have never stopped going back. I went again a few weeks ago and they had the burrata appetizer as a special...I was in heaven. It was super fresh and was served warm with a light sprinkling of salt over the top with fresh out of the oven toast. I wish I had some now. Both the red and white pizzas are amazing - my favorites are the Bufalina and the Bianco Nero. I didn't think I'd like the Bianco Nero as I am not the biggest fan of truffles or mushrooms, but this pizza was divine. Whenever I miss Italy, I come to Spacca Napoli. My favorite time to go is in the summer to sit on the patio, enjoy the quiet neighborhood, the great food, and the wine. I am always bringing new friends here and recommend it to anyone and everyone who is looking for a new pizza place. It is definitely THE best pizza in Chicago!

Tony B.

Great pizza, fun atmosphere and tremendous ingredients. All of the pizzas are very simple, but they follow a basic rule in Italian cooking: use few, but very high quality, ingredients. The mozz is incredible. Try the salchicha and broccaletti. And don't forget to get a canoli on the way out.

Josclyn W.

I am so glad we picked this place for dinner last night! We are always in search of really great pizza, this place with it's brick oven Neapolitan style pizza, I feel in love. We arrive and it's slammed, line out the door style, and we put our name in and wait, review the menu and chat about the breathtaking brick oven with exquisite glass tiles. By far the pretties oven I have ever seen. The fresh baked dough smell is so warm and inviting! The owner is passing out herb and oil dough and pieces of cheese to everyone who waits which was unexpected and very very thoughtful. A good business knows free stuff goes a long way! The table turned quickly, I am sure I could spend hours just drinking the sweet Italian beers and eating and talking. I also am very impressed with the simple menu, it had a hand full of pizzas a couple specials and a hand full of antipasto, which usually means what they do they do right! I had the Bianco Nero: Pecorino with black truffle, fior di latte mozzarella, porcini mushrooms, white truffle oil, and olive oil Which was a mushroom kick, very flavorful and earth. Mr had the Funghi e Salsiccia Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, Mushrooms, Italian Sausage We didn't even peek at the desert menu, we were happy with our parting gift of a free cannoli and can not wait to go back.

Gina V.

I've eaten pizza in the heart of Naples, Italy over a dozen of times, and this place comes pretty damn close to perfection. Of course, the ingredients may not be as fresh as those in Italy, but the oven, fabulous. The pizzas really had an authentic taste. My mother, a fickle Italian woman who does not enjoy eating at restaurants was even impressed, and cannot stop talking about how great the pizza was. They even serve San Benedetto Ice tea....AMAZING

Katie H.

Awesome, authentic Italian pizza, within walking distance from the Metra and El? YES PLEASE! I have a hard time breaking away from the simple and delicious Bufalina (can't go wrong with buffalo mozzarella), but if you must have meat on your pizza, the Funghi e Salciccia (mushroom & sausage) is great. Ask the servers to describe the daily pizza specials as well. For dessert, try the panna cotta (especially during rhubarb season), or just save a tiny bit of room for a complimentary cannoli on your way out the door. Only reason I gave 4 out of 5 stars: sometimes the service is so fast that we're out of there in 40 minutes, and I'd typically prefer to linger a little longer. Then again, they're super busy so I can't really blame them. Things seem a little more relaxed in the summer when the patio's open, so if you don't mind a few minutes' wait, go then to get the full experience.

Yoyo M.

We decided to go vegetarian since one of my friends who was with us eats close to no meat. There were lots of options and they were all unique and imaginative. The waitress was knowledgeable and described each item in detail, which really helped us decide what to order. I wish we had ordered more antipasti because the ones we had were better than one of the pizzas. I understand the whole brick oven, Neapolitan thing and have had it elsewhere but the Bufalina pizza was dry and quite burned on the bottom. I'm not a stranger to cooking on an open flame, but this was charred. I preferred the Pizze Bianca ... I can't remember the name of the one we ordered but it was off of the specials menu - it had olives, artichoke and garlic. It was fresh, flavorful and far less burnt that the other pizza. The vegetarian meatballs (an antipasti special) were delicious as was the Grigliata di Verdure that had lots of garlic and a real bite to it. They even brought me a piece of Tiramisu for my birthday, free of charge, which was one of the best I've had. Amazingly fresh, delicious food but they really need to work on the done-ness of the pizza.

R. A.

My apologies already. Sorry but every time I have bad reviews, I feel the need to offer my apologies as it's a tough economy already and we all are trying to survive. I have given this place SO many chances because everyone raves about it, that I always thought I was the 'wrong" one....but, after all these times, I still have the same exact opinion. This is Napoli-style pizza and it's supposed to be thin and crisp, but it is always always soggy (yes, I said it twice!). It is also pretty expensive and way too crowded (very loud too!!). What amazes me is that every time I went there with friends (not same ones) at the end, they all were disappointed & shared the same exact opinion....so, I am not alone in my disenchantment.

Adam B.

I can say, as a REAL Italian who has been to Italy several times in my life that Spacca Napoli is one of, if not the best & most authentic representation of Italian gastronomy that Chicago has to offer. The owner is true to himself and his product. He does one thing and he does it better than anyone! You won't find Chicken Vesuvio on this menu or (God forbid) Chicken Parmesan. It's just Pizza Napoletana, just the way it is in Italy. Bravo to the owner and staff. Keep doing what you do! In boca del lupo!

Calcinor J.

I give Spacca Napoli high marks. Our experience was more than satisfying. I especially appreciated the friendly service and the wonderful specials but the pizza is the star of this show. Fresh ingredients with that great wood burned crust. I like my wood burned pizza with a hint of that wood smoke flavor and crust that is hot, airy and chewy. Toss in a bit of charred wonder from the pizza stone and you are walking on sunshine brother!

Nick B.

It was my friend's birthday earlier this month and I've yet to take him out to celebrate. All he eats is Pizza Hut, so I decided to give him a nice reality check on how to enjoy quality Italian cuisine in the neighborhood. I'm turning into a North Side rat and exploring every small neighborhood near my apartment. Ravenswood is a lovely, well kept secret of a neighborhood. It's located right next to old factories-turned-lofts and the Metra track. It was a little chilly last night, but Spacca's outdoor patio was too tempting to resist. On this cool Thursday night, the place was hopping. The interior was full and guests were waiting to be seated. I really liked the inside, slick, with expose brick, but I have vowed that if I can sit outside this summer, I'm going to. As I surveyed the other dishes, I realized I was going to skip on any appetizer or salad. The personal pizzas were huge. A lot of the pizzas had different meats and cheeses, two ingredients that don't always make me jump (especially the meat...), so I went with the Marinara pizza. When I ordered the waitress quickly noted "There's no cheese on it..." and I simply replied, "Even better!" I've grown accustomed to restaurants giving me the "do you have four heads" eye when I ask for a pizza with no cheese, so it was nice to have that actually be on the menu somewhere. Pizza was delicious! The bread especially was freshly baked. The pizza had basic, chunk marinara sauce, olive oil, and basil. Wonderful! I can't say that it was vegan, but it was probably the closest thing to it! I'm sure there was butter somewhere in the mix, but I can't confirm because I didn't ask. Whoops! I complimented the pizza with just a glass of red wine. Straight forward, helped the food go down. I would totally come by again. The atmosphere was a major selling point to me. Sitting outside on an early summer evening in the neighborhood is a major seller to this location. I think my only drawback was our waitress, who was really sweet, kinda dragged. I'm not a big fan of the whole wait for you check, drop your card, wait for the server to pick it up, and wait again for them to bring it back. Not a major distraction, but definitely a reason to knock off just one star.

Daniel G.

From the food...to the service...to the quaint neighborhood feel - Spacca Napoli is a must. I've been here twice and both times were nothing short of excellent. I will certainly be a loyal patron for years to come.

Andrew H.

Best pizza I've had since I visited Naples. It is not possible to compare it to chain pizza stores here in the U.S. When I left Naples, I just assumed I would never eat pizza like it ever again. I'm not a big fan of doughy pizzas (think Papa Johns) as it is. Deep dish - eh, every now and then. Neapolitan is my preference when possible and this is the best I've had in the U.S. The atmosphere is a clean, open pizza parlor feel. I like being able to see into the kitchen area. The one downside is the small tables -- food did not fit very easily on the table for 4. And we only had 3...Service was prompt and attentive, just right for a pizza place. We began with the insalata di mare - fresh calamari, cuttlefish, and shrimp. When seafood is so fresh, there's no need for much seasoning and they do a good job of preserving the natural flavors. I would have preferred more olives, I think there was one on the entire plate. Pizzas. We had one white (bianco nero), one red sauce (funghi e salsiccia). Both were spectacular. The crust on both had the perfect amount of chew and flavor from the oven. The bianco nero was amazingly light, I loved the porcini mushrooms. The truffle and truffle oil gave the overall flavor a nutty, earthy flavor. The funghi e salsiccia had more going on in terms of toppings. The sausage was wondrous. The only thing I wish was that more basil was added. The few leaves of basil I ate was the perfect complement to the sausage and mushrooms. Will definitely be back.

Lyn W.

RUDE RUDE RUDE. I went with a party of. 6 at 500pm. I immediately noticed there were no tables for 6 outside, but there was a table for 4 and a table for 2. I told the hostess that our party of. 6 would willingly split up. To my surprise and dismay we were told this was not possible.. "They cannot do it". To me nothing is worse than rude service. It is a neighborhood restaurant I will not return to.. Oh by the way those 2 tables were empty a majority oftentimes we were inside.!! Many places have great pizza and polite service. Those are where will spend my money!

Allison P.

I love this place. The pizza is always packed with so much flavor my mouth just can't handle it. If you can, sit out on the patio on a nice summer day. Save room for dessert cause it is totally work the extra work at the gym the next day. The prices are a little higher but I think worth it.

Kerry D.

Really delicious, can't wait to go back! Had a great salad- very fresh, nicely dressed, crisp. The pizza is amazing, so good! I had the margarita w/arugula and would definitely recommend. We were really surprised when the bill came, only b/c we ordered our wine by the glass, which added up quickly. They have a great selection of wines and are very helpful in pointing you in the right direction. Next time, bottle. *Went back tonight, just as amazing- and got free soup! Awesome food and service, can't beat it in Chi!!!

Han Y.

BEST PIZZA EVER! I am not a big fan of pizza majorly because I don't like cheese. However, this place totally blew my mind. The pizza was thin crust with tons of fresh goodies on it. Super yummy that I don't even care the restaurant was noisy and crowded. The seafood appetizer I ordered was also very fresh and tasty.

Tuyen N.

I don't know why Oprah was raving about Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix when the real awesome pizza is right in her hood. Our party ordered the Zucchine alla Scapece (grilled zucchini served cold) and Prosciutto e Bufala (prosciutto with buffalo mozzarella) to start. I wasn't a fan of he zucchini but the mozzarella was on point- fresh and creamy. I ordered the Salsiccia Pizza (Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, ltalian Sausage). The personal sized pizza had a thin crispy crust that was pretty good minus the burned parts when cooked in a brick oven. The cheese and toppings slipped and slid across the slices and had to be man-handled at times. I wished the pizza was pre-cut though but maybe I was just lazy. They also offer some pretty affordable desserts ranging from $4-8 which is nice especially since the apps and pizzas were pretty pricey ($9-16) but I guess it's alright considering the high quality of food you're getting.

Boon K.

It's a solid crust, crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside, a true Neapolitan style pizza. The topping are fresh and they are located in a residential area so the outside seating is nice.

Edward P.

I have been here several times. Each time I've had excellent service and excellent food. The pizza is, as far as I know, authentic Italian style. I've had many different types and have not been disappointed at all. Spacca Napoli also has a reasonably priced wine list. This is really, really good stuff. If you think Pizza Hut knows how to make a pizza, this place is not for you.

Adam T.

Best pizza I've ever had in Chicago (and I've tried a lot!). After Chicago magazine put out their Best of 2007 issue, my sister and I started chipping away at their list of the best neapolitan-style pizza. This was the first place we tried, since it was the winner, and we both agree! My sister got the pizza margherita, which she still raves about, and I got the pizza w/ white sauce and buffalo mozzerella. Mine was creamy with the most delicious subtle flavor--ridiculously good. Just writing about it makes me want to plan a return trip (I live out in the suburbs, so it's a bit of a to-do when i have dinner in the city). Definitely try this place! *2/2/08 UPDATE: finally went back for a 2nd try--LONG overdue! went traditional and got the margherita...delicious as always, cleaned my plate. but wait--this time went all out for dessert! one word: TARTUFO. large ball of gelato with hazelnuts, covered in cocoa powder (see pics). tremendous meal, so underpriced for the amazing experience .

Mandy B.

Always tasty if not a bit out of the way. Love the pizza. Love the desserts. So delish.

Ryan S.

This guy does not no how to make an authentic Italian pizza! All he knows how to do is buy quality ingredients and be nice. Learn how to season...... a hint....... maybe some salt and pepper. I say this because ALL THREE PIZZAS WHERE COMPLETELY SOGGY. Ingredients falling off. Gross! People who give this place five stars don't know a thing about pizza and have never been cultured because they are use to eating fast food pizzas. You need more than a brick oven to make great pizzas! Its talent. I gave it 2 stars because the staff was nice.

Eliza M.

Disclaimer: I am a midwestern girl (born & raised) and have never been to Italy. Boy, this place gets a lot of hype and its busyness has scared me from visiting sooner. On a Saturday at 2:30 the place was nearly empty with one other couple sharing the patio with us. The pizzas are about 10 inches in diameter and come out quick! The ingredients are really fresh and you can taste it (Dear Basil, I love you. I thought my favorite herb was mint but no, it's you.). The crust is soft and doughy which was good for a change, but I'm more of a crispy crust kind of gal. My favorite part of the meal? The Italian peach iced tea. It may have been the best iced tea ever. So, Spacca Napoli, you serve some good pizza in a pleasant setting but my heart is with the Italians on the other side of Irving Park: Pizza Rustica.

Armando M.

As a true Neapolitan born and raised 8 miles from Naples, Italy, I know what a real pizza is. At Spacca Napoli I can find the closest taste and fragrance of a real pizza, except for the price. Obviously it would be more expensive a roundtrip ticket to Italy so I prefer to drive to Spacca Napoli to enjoy a Margherita.

Colleen R.

After a long time without visiting, I've returned to Spacca Napoli a few times recently for some al fresco dining. The patio is great and the service is just as attentive outside as in. I'm less enthused about the crust than I was on my first visit. The middle of the pizza always seems to get a little soggy and it's hard to eat without a knife and fork. Still, the flavor is as delicious as ever. Also, they accept A La Card. Still a little pricey even with the discount, but worth it to sit outside on a nice summer day.

Sherri B.

After living in Italy for 5 years I can say that this really is how the pizza tastes over there. You can tell the owner really enjoys what he does and is almost always there. The outside seating is great. My favorite is the Arugula Pizza and once they had fried zucchini flowers which are really hard to find.

Justin P.

I think Spacca Napoli is a great neighborhood restaurant but it is only worth 3 stars. The atmosphere inside is average and does feel more like the suburbs then the city. The prices are high when compared to other pizza places in the city with similar quality food. Also, the beer and wine list is weak and not having wine glasses is a real turn off. Anyhow, I will go back for the food if I am in the neighborhood but is certainly isn't worth going out of your way to try.

Nelson S.

I thought this place was pretty good. Service was okay. Spacca uses good fresh ingredients on the pizza, like the basil on the Margarita pizza takes center stage in your mouth in flavor. But here's why the 3 stars, granted they use fresh ingredients, but those wonderful flavors were overshadowed by the charred and burned taste of the crust, then to justify that with $13-17 price tag, it was insult to injury. If not for the overwhelming charred taste, the crust is good and chewy (in a good way). I heard many good things about this place, I wish I would have experienced the same.

P W.

Okay, I needed to update this to be based on the quality of the actual food, and have to say I think this is the most delicious pizzaI've had in Chicago. There.

Alysha P.

Very pleased with my pizza experience here last Friday...... Arrived as a party of 3 around 8pm.....there were a couple of other groups ahead of us...but we didn't wait longer than 5 minutes and bingo! our table was ready! We each got a pizza all were red sauce based Funghi e Salsiccia: This baby was mine.....and it was delicious! Mushrooms, basil, sausage and mozzarella.....crust is thin but slightly chewy (I actually wish it was crisper) perfect ratio of toppings to sauce to cheese.....mmmmmmm.....mmmmmm.....good! Diavola: Bf's pie....mozzarella, basil, red pepper flakes and spicy salami......I had a piece....it was yummy but certainly not as spicy as I wanted it to be.......with a name like diavola they should bump up the heat. Funghi: Our friends choice....I actually did not try it....but apparently she gets this almost every time she eats there and loves it!! Tiramisu: Yum!! Pretty authentic tiramisu.....lady fingers held up under the mascarpone and had just the right amount espresso squish......perfect! Service Our waitress was quick but friendly.....couldn't ask for much more! Ambiance I believe there are 3 rooms....we ate in the 2nd....wall are a cheery yellow.....lights were up....it was loud but not obnoxious.....good place for a casual date or a dinner with friends. Overall Happy Happy......I would eat here more often if it were anywhere near where I lived......

aaron r.

Take my word, every city I visit I sniff out the best pizza like a blood hound. I eat pizza, its what I do and Spacca has it going on. Spacca Napoli & Pizzeria Bianco are both must do's. Spacca pizza is so good that it is my only must have pizza when I am in chicago. If you are lucky they might be serving the ever so elusive "black truffle oil" pizza. Johnathan the owner is great. He takes great pride in his restaurant and you will find him mingling with the customers because he really cares. I always get the pizza my friend loved the seasonal soft shell crabs. Enjoy!!!

Cathy B.

The food is good, the servers are knowledgeable, and the atmosphere is informal but nice. But, I've been there only twice, and on both occasions, the pizzas delivered to my table were not the pizzas I ordered. So despite the food being of high quality, I have to lower the ratings since the service is ultimately poor.

Emily S.

Meh. I've been to Spacca three times, and each time it is simply OK. On the most recent visit, our pizza came out straight up burned (and still soggy in the middle). The owner gave us a lecture about how all pizza will have "some scorch on it." That's nice, but our entire crust and bottom was BLACK. That's not "some scorch." We did get another pizza, but it was only half-baked and extremely soggy. It was also very bland. Wine list is decent, but overall this place is overhyped and overpriced. I'll save my pizza eating for Sapori di Napoli and Pizza DOC.

Cat L.

I just love this place, plain and simple. K and I have been going to Spacca since we moved into the 'hood, which was right around the time when they opened. I think we've had just about everything on the menu by now. And then some. I went to Spacca over the wknd with two other couples, one couple had NEVER been there before! One of the newbies asked how big the pizzas were. I simply said "lunch size," since the pizzas remind me of what I'd have for lunch every day while I was in Rome. This time, we tried four different ones - the buffalo mozz and arugula, the sausage and mushroom, the diavola (FINALLY a permanent pie on the menu! I remember when it used to be just a special!), and the three tomato special. All were just as delish as ever! The buffalo mozz is, IMHO, the perfect cheese for these pizzas. Yes, it can leave the middle a little on the soggy side, but I don't mind, not one bit. One other thing I love about Spacca - they serve Menabrea! Only a few spots in the City serve this Italian brew, and, thanks to Spacca, I love it with pizza. It was nice to see that Spacca FINALLY expanded into the space just west of them. And yes, there's still a wait. But it's totally worth it in my book!

Nicki W.

I'm a pretty tough critic when it comes to pizza (one of my favorite foods of all time) and it's been so hard for me to find another solid pizza spot. I was introduced to Spacca Napoli a few years ago and have since been back 3 times. There are a few reasons I like this place, and will trek up to Montrose to chow. First off, the ingredients and toppings on all of their pizza's are SUPER fresh and tasty. The crust is crispy and very light. I suppose if you're a fan of NY style pizza, this is the closest thing in Chicago to it, (but way better in my opinion). If you're out to dinner with just one person, I would suggest trying 2 different pizzas because they aren't huge by any means. The pizza went down amazing with their Peach Iced Tea which by the way was very refreshing. Our server was very friendly and helpful not to mention passionate about what he was explaining to us about the menu. We tried both of the appetizers they had on verbal special. The first one was kind of like mini fried sandwiches with cheese and marinara sauce (full of crunchy goodness). The next one was an arugula salad with prosciutto, the bread we were provided to put everything on was kind of dry and boring but overall very good. For dessert I had the Banana Gelato which was amazing and my friend had the Tartufo. YUM. I will be back many times for sure as this place is worth the drive!

Meghan B.

This is hands down the best pizza in the city. I know we all feel quite loyal to the classic Chicago deep dish, and while that is nice to put ourselves in a food coma every once in a while, Spacca's pizza will keep you craving and raving. It might seem a little pricey for a smaller pizza, but it's the price is erased after your first bite of delicious dough. The arugula and parm pizza will light your taste buds on fire. And the specials are always to be acknowledged. If you haven't tried this place, it's a must. Leave a little room for a shared dessert and you will be coming back for more as soon as possible.

Hooshna A.

Too bad I can't tell you how great the food was or how kind the wait staff was during our visit. The owner, Jonathan, turned away 20 people who didn't even need to be seated at the same place in the restaurant and were willing to wait and drink until things opened up. When calling earlier in the day, the girl who worked in the restaurant knew that he'd be a jerk about it and let us know when we called that if it were her restaurant, she'd never turn away business like that. Apparently, he has a disgust for getting lots of paying customers at once. We had to wait for him to return our call to see if we would be allowed to come to his establishment. Pshhh. We called as a courtesy to give him a heads up. His explanation for telling us NOT to come? Our "party" wanted to come to the restaurant during their dinner rush. Last I checked, we would have been customers as well. It's too bad you didn't accommodate our group, Spacca Napoli. Major thumbs down. We will take our business elsewhere and make sure to steer people away from your restaurant.

Stacie K.

I make a point to travel to this restaurant at least once a month. AMAZING pizza- order your own. HIGH quality ingredients. I am a very hard person to please in the pizza department, and this place blows me away.

Mike B.

This place came very highly recommended from several people. I went there with my wife on a nice summer night and ate outside. We were placed next to a table in the corner with two people that were evidently "VIPs", and the owner came out and spent a lot of time talking to them. It seemed that the waitstaff stayed out of the way because of it, so our service was initially not very attentive. The server (who turned out to be the daughter of the owner) made up for it later. She was very friendly and helpful. Nice recovery! She made some great recommendations on wine, as well as on italian beer that I was unfamiliar with. Food was ok. I had the "Zucchine Alla Scapece" for an appetizer. I didn't expect it to be cold, which was a bit disappointing, but it was very tasty. The pizza was probably below average for a coal/wood fired oven pizza in the city. The toppings were fresh and excellent, but the crust had way too much chew, and there was so much char on the bottom that it was overly bitter. I never went inside, so I can't comment on the cleanliness. Prices were high for what you get. I likely won't be returning. We may have just been there on a bad night, and if their prices were more reasonable I'd probably give it another shot, but there are a lot of other options for coal/wood fired pizza in the city at a much more reasonable price.

Kyle K.

Randomly came across this spot, will not so randomly be returning. Kept it simple with a Margherita pizza which arrived in less than 3 minutes and was in my belly in another 5. A dandy, flavorful crust with a non-soupy interior. Nice work folks.

Santiago A.

Oh yeah! Few things in this world make me (and my stomach) as happy as finding a new, delicious pizza place. My date and I were super tired and decided just to have something delivered. We got lucky and just picked this place at random. I usually scope things out on Yelp, but it wasn't till after we devoured our pizza that I saw this place had tons of reviews, averaging 4-stars. Mmm, Mmm. We had the medium, thin-crust with pineapple. If I wasn't starving at the time, I would have taken my time with it and made sweet, passionate... /cough /remember where I am Suffice it to say this pizza ruled. To quote a great Mr. Show skit, 'The Altered State of Drugachusetts,' "I declare this pizza to be... AWESOME!" - Mayor OD'd on Crack (watch it and that will make sense). Add to that, the delivery guy was a very sweet and nice 60 year-old man that struck up a conversation with me while I signed and got tip money. It was nice. Most pizza delivery guys just hand you the pie and leave... unless of course they are delivering to a pornography shoot, in which case... well, let's not get into that now. Speaking of cameras and 'zas... what ever happened to Two Guys A Girl And A Pizza Place?? I guess Ryan Reynolds got too cool for school.

Katie C.

After mentioning Spacca Napoli as a reliable pizza source to a friend, I thought, "Hey! That's very unYelply of me. I haven't even tried it yet!" So to Italia we go. A little bit off the beaten path, parking is ample in warehouseville, and we parked right in front. Spacca Napoli is very clean, looks new, nearly spotless. The menu isn't huge--it's pizze, pizze, pizze! The list is divided into red pizza (with their italiano version of good ol' marinara) and white (no sauce). I don't know how to explain our waiter's demeanor, but considering the menu was mostly in Italian, I needed further explanation and recommendation--I felt slightly rushed by him to make a decision. I chose the Salsiccia e Broccoletti, with Italian sausage, rapini, mozzarella, and olive oil, my date chose the Diavola (itza pepperoni!). So I chose the wrong pizza. I should have had the Diavola, which was delightfully spicy. Mine tasted like the soup I ordered--the special Carozza soup--and while that was fine, it wasn't for me. All the ingredients were delicious and fresh, yet the flavor combo just didn't hit my palate right--maybe I'm a sauce girl? The crust? A little too burnt around the edges for me. I kind of feel like this place is trying too hard--I know you're trying to be authentic, you win awards, blah blah blah. But serving Coke and Diet Coke in mini European-style bottles at 2 bucks a pop with no refills? That's just shameless. Decent, but not totally impressed. Impress me.

Leo r.

Great Food If your Cook feels Good that day. I have been Here 5 times and I love the Pizza When the chef is on his Game. Very Close to Napolitano Style Pizza. Very Close to the Real thing. I love it here and will return. Hope my Chefs In a good Mood. TY

Kris C.

I love love love this place. The food is amazing. Also, take out is lovely. You have to place your order in the store, but they gave me a glass of proseco as I waited and handed me my pizza 10 minutes into my placing my order. Only reason I don't give 5 stars is due to the price; a little on the high side. But, I still manage to go there at least every two months ... so it doesn't bother me all that much. So fast. So wonderful.

Andrew M.

Absolutely one of the best pizza places in town! Let's start with the restaurant itself. It has a clean, open feel to it. The tables are fairly close to each other, but not uncomfortably so. The wait time is usually very reasonable, even on weekends. The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable about the menu. I HIGHLY recommend you ask about the specials. They have never disappointed me. Listen to what your server has to say and trust their recommendations. They know the menu inside and out. The food! Oh, the food! Most recently, my girlfriend and I tried one of their specials. It was a buffalo mozzarella cheese ball, injected with another cheese (possibly ricotta?) and topped with butter. They served it with fresh, toasted bread. Absolutely amazing. My girlfriend got the grilled vegetables, which were also delicious. I'm not a veggie lover, and even I liked these. We elected to get a traditional pizza margherita. It was delicious. It was cooked perfectly. The dough was thin, but had a good substance to it, I didn't feel like I was eating off a cracker. It was slightly burnt on the bottom, but in a very good way. The wine selection appeared to be very good, though we didn't get any. Their beer selection is decent as well. On the way out, on Friday and Saturday nights, you'll be handed a free canoli. The BEST canoli I have ever had. I will be back many times to come!

Jon P.

I just ate dinner here for the second time last night. I don't have much to say about Spacca that hasn't been said here ad nauseam already, but I'm doing to do it anyways. DEAL WITH IT. Basically, what it comes down to is if you like this style of pizza, you will like Spacca. I happen to enjoy it a lot, so I look forward to coming here when I can. I think this place is best in moderation though. Helps to keep it from getting stale. A word about the pizzas: there are two groups to choose from--more traditional-style with sauce and more interesting specialty pizzas without sauce. Both times I've been here, I've gotten the saucy pizza and enjoyed them immensely. Most others that I've been here with seem to go with the specialty pizzas (they can't resist the exotic, apparently), and it is hit or miss. Some love it, some aren't so thrilled. I've found that the best way to do it is to get a traditional pizza and trade with friends for a few slices of the exotic. That way you have the delicious familiarity of great sausage or spicy salami, but also get a taste of the exotic... the best of both worlds! Oh, and finally, this place is pretty pricey. Really, its biggest fault. If you get a drink, an appetizer and a pizza, be prepared to pay up to $30. Also a great reason to come here in moderation only!

J S.

Hands-down the best pizza in Chicago. Every part of their menu is delicious, except perhaps the appetizers. We've often found the appetizers (particularly the specials) to fall flat. The owner is great and gives you cannoli as you leave. Sometimes, when you're waiting, he'll also give you a complementary glass of prosecco. Must trys: Bufalina pizza and the Nutella dessert.

Jo W.

And the award for restaurant in my bookmarks that took me longest to get to goes to... Spacca Napoli! Finally made it here for lunch today, and I was very pleased. We walked in, and a guy who I assumed was the manager insisted on seating us in the window (we didn't ask), which meant he had to move his laptop. That was nice of him. I thought the interior of this place was very nice and welcoming, and as we ate we watched them setting up the outdoor patio. Can't wait until that's open! We perused the menu for a while, and since neither of us speak Italian we had some questions for our server, Kristy, on what was what. She helped us out, gave us the specials, and we were all set. First of all, love that the sodas come in old school glass bottles. I thought it was a nice touch. Orders placed, my friend and I took turns using the restroom (very clean - always a bonus), and before my friend got back our pizzas were done and on our table. Hot damn, that was super fast! Seriously, under 5 minutes. He went with something with mushrooms on it. I have no idea - it looked good though. I went with the Quattro Formaggi - basically a four cheese pizza with olive oil instead of red sauce. It was good, but not the best I'd ever had. The crust was outstanding (warm, soft, and chewy - just the way I like it), but everything else was just good. Paige W told me to make sure I tried the gelato, and it was a nice warm day, so I figured why not? I got the chocolate, my friend the pistachio, and he inhaled his pretty quickly. Mine was so damn delicious, but I couldn't finish it all... I kept saying, "no seriously, I'm done, get this away from me" as I would grab another spoonful. Finally I had to pour water in it so I would stop myself. That's when you KNOW it's good, right? Apparently our server agreed - she admitted she does the same thing, and we all had a good laugh about it. Overall, great little place. Outstanding service, quick cooking, and good food. Awesome. If and when I come back I wouldn't order the same thing, but I would come back and try some other menu items.

Roshani C.

Pretty good pizza. Service was good. Tried one white (Porcini e Carciofi) and two red (Margherita & Funghi) pizzas. Good place for groups. For dessert we had the Nutella Battilocchio Focaccia. That was really good. And then as you are walking out, they give you another dessert (Canoli). Loved that as well.

Iuliana P.

Some of the best pizza I've had in Chicago. I love the Prosciutto e Rucola. The best thing is that you can just drop by for take-out and leave with a fresh pizza 10 minutes later.

Sarah J.

I've been to Spacca Napoli on numerous occasions... I try to get there at least once a month for lunch or dinner. The Chef/Owner Jeff Goldsmith is ALWAYS there... personable, tending to the patrons and making sure the restaurant is running smoothly and that everyone is statisfied. I love the atmosphere, small, casual... kid friendly, but not to a point of mayhem... Great Neopolitan pizza... the Pizza Margherita is fabulous... the Tre Pomodori in the summer... and some of the specials with Arugula on it... refreshing! (for pizza) And to top it all off, they serve Lacrima Christa del Vesuvio. I really love this place. Definitely one of my favorites...

Diane H.

I was around the corner shopping at Nadeau (love that place) and got hungry so decided to check out Spacca Napoli. I had been craving pizza for a few days, so I had high hopes that lunch here would appease my craving. It was barely noon and the restaurant wasn't busy so I was seated right way. It took the waiter a while to get to my table. It was bit too long for my liking (he didn't even give me a "I'll be right with you to acknowledge me"), especially since I was a table of one so I didn't have anyone else to chat with and I didn't want to dive into reading my book or looking at my phone for fear it would take even longer for me to be waited on, but I waited patiently. The waiter came over and was friendly and explained very well the daily pizza specials, but I was boring and went with a classic pizza. The food was good and the remainder of the meal had good service. Overall, I am not against going back to Spacca Napoli, but I have had better experiences and meals elsewhere. It is worth it to check it out if you are in the area a craving pizza, but it isn't a place I would travel to go to.

Rob B.

Let me say that the food was really good. Went to dinner here with my wife and parents. As I went in I noticed that there was outdoor seating which was full, always a good sign. Inside they had two rooms filled with tables and lots of customers. We sat in the back where we were able to avoid the families with the screaming kids who were running around. I will admit, that I am not a kid person and that I generally avoid restaurants that have young families. However, the second room had smaller tables and was much quieter. The service was pretty good. The waiter took our orders quickly and my water glass was never empty. When the food came out, the pizza's looked and tasted really good. I had the diavalo pizza which was topped with Mozzarella di Bufala, Spicy Salami, Red Pepper Flakes, Basil. There is no better way to say it other than, "it was yummy!". My wife ordered the special which was topped with My parents ordered the Funghi which was topped with Funghi Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, Mushrooms and also the Salsiccia Fior di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, ltalian Sausage. I would have eaten any of them. At the end of the meal, we all each took home a box with our left overs. I only have two complaints, the first is that the pizza's only comes in one size and they are big enough to easily feed two. When we asked about the size we were told that they were individual serving sizes. Given that we each took home a box, it reinforces my belief that they are big enough for two. My other complaint was the price. For single servings (according to them) the price is just too much. I accept that good food generally costs more than cheap food and I am happy to pay for quality food, which this was. Yet based on that standard, I found this to still be pricey for just pizza. And I am not even mentioning how expensive the alcohol turned out to be. I do not consider myself cheap, and in fact my parents picked up the bill so my complaint has nothing to do with what came out of my pocket; but I was really unhappy about the total of our bill. My friend John S. loves this place and I want to love it too. I am sure that I will give it another chance. But until I am convinced otherwise, my recommendation has to be 3 stars.

Meg K.

My favorite pizza in Chicago, hands down. I remember when it opened a few years ago and everyone was complaining about the prices (as in, they were supposedly too high for the size of pizza). Well, now that the gourmet pizza trend has fully caught on, it seems that everyone else is charging about the same. Which is to say that I think it's perfectly reasonable that they charge ~$15 for a pizza big enough to be finished by one hungry person that is topped with premium ingredients. I got the white pizza topped with arugula (my absolute favorite!!! not offered as an option in nearly enough places!) and prosciutto. I didn't love the prosciutto on the pizza, though it was good quality. But I'd definitely get the other arugula topped option they had with mushroom, I think). The other pizza we ordered was the sausage -- far and away the winner of the evening. I love the fennel sausage with a simple tomato sauce. The pizzas are thin crust, but have a fairy sizeable chewy outer crust -- the perfect combination, in my opinion. They cook so quickly (something like 90 seconds) that once you've ordered, you have nearly instant gratification. Also great selection of inexpensive wines by the glass. Convivial atmosphere. Fast service. Easy street parking. Try it.

anthony t.

Real neaplitan pizza. Fresh Mozzarella, wood fired oven with a light crust and a pizza that is so light and delicious you could eat 3 of them by yourself. Not a huge fan of the location but the food is phenomenal.

Tracy K.

I've been coming to Spacca Napoli for a few years now and I absolutely love it. The food is consistently very good to great, and while I can sometimes find this elsewhere, the level of hospitality at Spacca Napoli is what makes this restaurant unparalleled. Its been less than a week and I cannot wait to go back.

Jeff K.

It is always a pleasant experience to eat at Spacca. The owner clearly respects the ingredients, methods, and history of the food he makes.

Katie L.

Hands down the best pizza I have had since I lived in Italy. I couldn't get enough. We had to wait a while, but it was a Saturday night, so that is to be expected. Spaca Napoli is well worth the wait and I can't wait to go back. YUMM!

Maura S.

Having heard that we could find "the best pizza in North America" at Spacca Napoli, we headed over for a late lunch. The table ordered four different pizzas and all were tasty. My favorite was the Margherita. Num, num, num!

D S.

Spacca Napoli's pizza is amazing! As a recent Chicago transplant, it was a great reminder of pizza from New York and CT. Order the porcini and carciofi pizza bianca!!!

Drew S.

Just under the 1 year mark of moving 4 blocks away I finally made it to Spacca Napoli- wooo! Outdoor seating on a quiet neighborhood street? Pizza crust that's both thin and chewy? 4 Italian beers and an extensive wine list? A prosciutto and mozzarella antipasto with an 8oz ball of cheese? Unnecessary use of question marks? 7pm seems to be the magic point after which you can look forward to waiting for a while before sitting down (one of the chefs brought some pizza around to those poor souls). They're also now open on Tuesdays apparently. Takes reservations, but not Friday and Saturday. They're very, very close to a 5th star here but for a $13 funghi pizza I want better than button mushrooms. And the aforementioned 8 oz mozzarella ball app ran $15 but only had 2 giant spinch-esque basil leaves. Turn that into a handful of baby basil and life gets real good real fast.

Bill M.

This hot new pizza place is at the corner of Sunnyside and Ravenswood. The Napoli-style pizza is the opposite of Chicago deep-dish pizza. The individual serving pizzas are very thin, with crisp and puffy crusts and a smattering of fresh and light ingredients. The pizza here is very authentic when compared to what I ate practically every day during my visits in Napoli, Italy. You may have to wait for a table inside or out, but the pizzas themselves take only a few minutes to create. I forgive Liliana for not waiting for me, but she is right this is a great joint.

kim s.

Delish, delish. Service is inconsistent, waits vary, but who cares when the pizza is this good? Chewy, airy, gooey. Among the delights I've experienced here: fresh mozz with basil; mussels; prosciutto and arugula; nummy sausage. Nice wine list to complement. Dining al fresco here during the summer is simply Chicago at its best. I've had some tasty pizza in Rome and Florence. I wouldn't necessarily put this in the same bucket; apples to oranges, as I've yet to visit Naples. But again, who cares? Spacca Napoli is damn good. I'm glad it exists. I almost don't want anyone else to find out about it.

Melissa P.

I'm sorry but I'm not a fan of this place. I do not like the style of pizza that they serve in Naples. I like more cheese and I don't like my crust to be burnt. Seriously, when you get your pizza, the bottom of it and the top of the crust is just black and I hate that. We had the fried zucchini and that was okay but I really did hate my Margherita pizza. I would have rather went to Pizza Hut over this place because at least they don't burn your crust there. It seems like a nice place to go and have some wine and appetizers and chat with your friends though. It is just not my style of pizza that I like to eat. I'm sure I would like to go again sometime and just try to see if the pizza if any better but I doubt it because my friend's pizza was burnt too. I guess it just depends on what kind of pizza you like if you would want to go here. I like more of a thicker crust pizza with more cheese so this is not a good place for me to go if I'm wanting really good filling pizza. Now if you like really thin crust that is burnt with big air bubbles in the crust sometimes and not a lot of sauce or cheese then this is the place for you to go. I suspect people from Naples probably think of pizza as more of an appetizer and maybe that is why it is so light. Pizza was not invented in Italy though, it was invented in New York by Italian Americans, so I think we do it better over here than they do in Europe. I was shocked though when I watched The Girls Next Door a long time ago and they said they liked the Olive Garden's food more than what they were getting in Italy. I would like to go over there and see what I think too, but I do know I don't like their pizza. They do have a nice little selection of desserts though and I maybe would want to try some of their wines sometime but I'm just not sure if I want to have burnt pizza placed in front of me again. Plus I thought the service that night was pretty slow and it really agitated me because I wanted to leave sooner.

Jennifer S.

I am relieved to know I am not the only person who didn't like this place at all! I am pregnant and very into pizza lately! So, we decided to venture up to Spacca Napoli where I was sure we'd get delicious pizza! We went last Saturday night (5/19) and only waited 10 minutes. The outside area was nice and it was a beautiful night but they said they weren't serving out there. You could order food to go and then seat yourself. Anyway, we had a nice table by the window and my husband ordered the "funghi" pizza and I got the basic margarhita. The place is VERY noisy so we had to actually yell to hear each other. My husband figured that was done intentionally so that patrons don't sit and linger for too long. Our pizzas came out and were terrible, disgusting, probably the worst I've ever had. Dominos would have been better that point! Mine, in particular, was wet/soggy and had little to no taste. The buffalo mozzerella was good, I will say that. The sauce which seemed to be evaporating off the pizza was nothing special either. We will obviously not be back- I am still on a quest to find some good thin crust. I think we'll try Pizza D.O.C.

Madelyn H.

my fiance has been on a big pizza-making/-eating kick. and not just any pizza, the real deal, neopolitan-style pizza. he's searched high and low for san marzano tomatoes, bufalo mozzarella and various recipes to achieve his ideal pizza (to the point, that i had to take a full month-long hiatus from eating pizza because i was so sick of it). in this quest, he heard about spacca napoli and was dying to go. spacca napoli didn't disappoint. if you're looking for a neopolitan style pizza in chicago, this is your place. we ordered the bufalina, funghi and bianca con bufala pizzas. all were fantastic, but the bufalina (basically a margherita pizza) was the big winner. it's delicious. the crust was perfectly cooked in the woodfire oven and the ingredients were all very fresh. the only downsides to this place are that the atmosphere is so so and it's slightly pricey for pizza, but well worth the slight up charge for the fresh ingredients and simple, yet great taste. must try: bufalina pizza

Nicole R.

So I decided to spend my hard earned money last night at Spacca. I have heard mostly great things about their pizza and My fiance and I were really excited. We even went with another couple who had been there before and loved it. So we each ordered a pizza so we could share. The pizzas were done in four minutes. SOGGY! And the crust was super char coaled. Why is a pizzeria that is city famous for their awesome Italian Style DOC pizza gonna mess up my pizza like that? The oven is too hot, this is what we tell our server, she just says ok and goes about her business. Why wouldn't she tell someone? Don't they have a reputation to uphold? Something they should know about me, I dont like to waste my money on food that is mediocre! I will, however, go back and give them a second chance. If they mess up again, no more wasted money from my pocket! I can make better pizza at home with my pizza stone and my awesome dough recipe.

stuart R.

An OK sauce is what keeps this pizza from being Dominos. The service is atrocious and the prices outrageous. Spend $5 more and have a nice Italian meal elsewhere. If what you are looking for is fast food disgused as ethnic food, this is the place for you. And if you must eat here pay only cash as the owner is shady.

Kim P.

I really do like this style of pizza (thin crust, light on sauce). I've eaten here twice, and both times the pizza was very good. I like the funghi a lot. However today I tried the Salmone Marinato and it wasn't anything like what I expected. Maybe because I'm such a sashimi fan and enjoy fresh fish, I though this would be like raw salmon in a sort of olive oil and garlic marinade. Instead it was cured. I've never had cured fish before and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't good either. The consistency was tough and really chewy. Another thing that bums me out is the menu is in Italian and there aren't any descriptions of what the appetizers and such are. So you have to ask the waitress if you want to know. In our case, when we inquired about the Salmone she didn't know if it was smoked or raw or cooked. Maybe that should have been a warning. At any rate, the pizza is good and I'm sure we'll be back again.

Chrissy S.

Finally - Italian style pizza in a land of over-stuffed deep dish. Simple, classic pizza with very fresh ingredients. The owner brought over a fennel dish for us to try because he wanted "feedback" - thought that was nice (it was v. good). I'll be back.

M S.

What a wonderful place! We tried the Caprese salad and the mozarella just melted in our mouths. The pizzas are delicious and light. I had one with prosciutto on it, and the meat was divine. Definitely worth multiple visits.

Rich F.

This trendier pizza place has outdoor seating and ample room inside. They serve "authentic" flat bread-like pizza with fresh ingredients (except the mushrooms are from a can...not so good) Arugula, prosciutto and Parmesan pizza was great, and the margarita pizza is above par. Pistachio gelato is outstanding. Not sure if they take reservations, but there is always a line and a wait.

Philip N.

I hesitated to write this since I know Spacca Napoli is everyone's favorite. And, I actually love their pizza and sides. However, I had a weird experience that I have to share because that's what Yelp is for, right? Early on, I was having dinner with Wilma. We ordered our pizza. You know, they pride themselves on serving uncut pizza so diners can cut their own. The place was really bizzy. The table next to us received their pizza and the woman cut it into slices before she realized that it wasn't what she had ordered. You can see it coming, can't you. The server took it back t the kitchen and a few minutes later, that very same cut pizza arrived at my table and placed before me. I complained to the server and then to the owner. His response was kind of like, oh well, no sorry, no attempt to make things better. He didn't take it back, he just left it their for me to eat. It was a big turnoff. Just wanted to share. I actually hate to be so negative. It isn't my style. I wish them well. But, geeeeez, it was really disgusting and need-less-to-say, I won't be back. Which is really too bad because I like the pizza but I don't trust them.

Yujin A.

I must say I love this website. I found this restaurant through Yelp, and I finally made it there tonight. The line was pretty long as I was warned by other yelpers (and it's a rainy Wednesday night). So I can only imagine how bad the line gets on weekends. It is a very casual place. The bottom line is that it was worth the drive and the wait. Their pizzas were very good. As I mentioned in my other reviews, I have a background to become picky about Italian food. OK.. Let me be honest... it did not top the pizzas I've tried in Naples or in other parts of Italy(And I was in Naples recently), but this comes pretty close to the best pizza I had in Italy. Definitely the best Italian style pizza(Italian style is my favorite, hence the best pizza period) in Chicago! One small complain I had was that fresh mozzarella cheese on my pizza wasn't exactly melted. I also think that it could be cheaper. One pizza is just enough to feed one. Maybe you can share two among three people. We had a small appetizer($8), two pizzas($15 each), a glass of wine($7), a diet coke($2), a tartufo($4.50), and a cappuccino ($2.50). I ended up paying 70 bucks (for two) including tax and tip. So it's not exactly a cheap pizza place. But the food is good enough, and I don't mind paying for slightly over-priced pizzas. The service was also remarkable. It was pretty darn busy, and the waiter was always there before I needed anything. Definitely check it out! Yelpers-Thanks for helping me discover Spacca Napoli!

K S.

I love this place!! Excellent service that actually takes care of their guests! Excellent pizza with so many kinds to choose from! The appetizers are delicious and the atmosphere is great! Great date place!

Amy S.

Just ate at Crust and wanted to write a review for this place because it was more memorable. Pizzas are nicely sized and very good. Really nice friendly atmosphere.

Ron G.

Spacca Napoli is by far my favorite place to eat in Chicago. The grilled veggie app. is a must. If you are lucky enough to have soup or mussels as a special, you must try that too. And the pizzas are too good to be true. All ingrediants are ultra fresh, the service is very good, even the desserts merit a positive mention. The best part of a meal at Spacca is how I feel when leaving. I am full, but satisfied. Food tastes good at a lot of restaurants, but how it sits separates the one and done places with the regulars. Every time I walk out of Spacca, I think to myself, that was great, and I feel even better. I do not live too close but make sure to get there one out of every 3 times I eat out.

Sara S.

truly italian. the owner locks sight of you at some point during your visit not to size you up, but to remember you for next time. it's a place with a heart. they want you to feel like family, the good and the bad. the waiter will tell you if he's had better days and exactly what you can't miss on the menu, according to him. they don't cut the pizzas and rightly so, the middle of the crust gets soggy faster than your mom's mood changes. my only complaint is the expense, considering it IS pizza.

Vanessa V.

Amazing pizza. I love this place so much. I have taken friends, family, out of town visitors...and it is always delicious. It never disappoints. Also, the owner of the restaurant is often kind enough to hand out free samples of this or that while you wait. When my mother came from out of town he treated us both to a sweet limoncello. Also, when I once spilled an ENTIRE glass of red wine on my favorite jeans the waiter was more remorseful than the guy I had come with. He immediately brought me towels and a stain stick. The stick was a bit small for the stain (which we had a good laugh about)...but I used it anyway and the whole thing came out in the wash. I agree with others here that the pizza is the real deal. And I'm sorry but, it sure helps to have a great waitstaff as well...

Mark P.

Artisanal Neopolitan style pizza without the seediness of Naples. Authentic brick oven cooks the pizza perfectly within minutes. Loved the white pizza with prosciutto and arugula.

cindy f.

Loved this place! Having spent six months in Italy, it is the real deal. I recommeded it to my friend and husband next door (they lived in Italy) and they have been going at least twice a week.

Cat B.

Okay, I know it is going to sound like I have a sensitivity to light given that this is the second time that I will talk about how bright a restaurant is. It is a bit bright in here...and my friend noticed it first. I met some friends here who had arrived 15 minutes before I had so I did not have to wait long when I got here. But they had servers walking around serving bites of pizza, cheeses, etc to the people waiting in line...totally cool. The smell in here is phenomenal. The kitchen is open, which gives it a cafe/bistro type feel. The pizzas are really good. They look like they are bigger than they really are though because the crust is actually really thin. We ordered one pizza for our table of three women and we each has an Insalata Mista to start. We could have had another pizza so that we could have one more piece and keep the leftovers, but we decided to get the spumoni dessert instead. The dessert was great and the other options that we peeked at on other peoples' tables looked great too (especially the tiramisu!). The ingredients on the pizzas are really fresh and delicious. They use buffalo mozzarella. If you like a lot of sauce on your pizza this isn't for you (unless they have a pizza that you can order with more sauce). There is very little sauce and mostly toppings. I thought it was very delicious. I will definitely go back here again and it is great that it is right around the corner from me!

TeaAddict G.

The best pizza in Chicago! I realize this may offend some hard-core stuffed pizza fans out there but thin is just so much better... If you have been searching for the perfect thin crust, look no more! They also have abundant number of tasty appetizers that make up for the lack of entree choice. The atmosphere is relaxing and seats are spacious. You won't regret coming here!

M S.

I came here in the hopes of having "amazing" pizza, after having read all the rave reviews about it. It actually wasn't bad, but I have beef with some other aspects of my visit. The guy in the front was pretty rude, and spoke to me condescendingly when I asked to sit at the bar. I had no idea there wasn't one, but I didn't need a smart-ass comment from him. Also, I realized it wasn't a super-quiet date spot, but I adamantly refused to sit near a gang of screaming children, while being bathed in bright bright light. Sorry again, rude man in the front. The waitress was awesome and helpful, however, so she worked to make a few wrongs a right. What I didn't like about the wine was the glass. This is obviously a traditional way of serving wine in Italy, but I'm not down with drinking wine from a gargling glass. I think a person should have a choice. I like a wine glass. With a stem. Please. Enough was said about the pizza for gentle readers to realize it's good. I just wouldn't want to go here again for dinner because of the ambience. Screaming kids, gargling glasses, bright lights. It's more of a lunch spot.

Greg V.

Fantastic Food & Atmosphere.

Maria O.

After reading rave reviews in a magazine I was excited to try this neighborhood pizza place. I have never in my life been treated so horribly in a restaurant - tall, thin, blond waiter (so if you do go, ask for someone else). We arrived at 8:45 and were told the kitchen closed at 9 so we would have to order quickly - fine, no problem. By 9:10 he had delivered the bill (right after we got our food), never returned to ask how it was (soggy, tasteless and haphazard), never asked if we wanted another glass of wine and never refilled our water glasses. It wasn't until 9:20 that he asked if we wanted anything boxed up - no thanks. He didn't even say thank you or make an attempt at basic service. And we were by no means the only people there. Don't waste your money - try Apart Pizza on Montrose and Lincoln.

Luke D.

Spacca Napoli is easily the best Neapolitan pizzeria in Chicago. The owner truly loves pizza and it shows in the food and his demeanor when talking to customers. My favorite is the Regina pizza, which is a margherita pizza topped with arugula and marinated tomatoes. It's a must-get if available as a special. Also, the staff here is always really nice to my son which I appreciate. Only knock on this place is that it's not closer to my home.

Coll P.

This place always seems to be packed, but we lucked out waiting only 10 minutes for a table on a Friday night. So, holy burrata! This was absolutely amazing and a big portion, albeit $$ compared to getting an actual pizza. We shared two pizzas that were on special and had tons of leftovers to take home. Another highlight of this place are the free cannolis they pass out at the front when exiting...it could be a little awkward pushing past people waiting for a table for these little guys, but come on! They're delicious.

Jessica O.

Hot damn! I love that I can walk here. :) Incredible pizza, great thin crust with a chewy/crispy crust, very authentic. The burrata is also incredible (and huge). The prices are fair, but not cheap. Love the outside seating... feels very relaxed and European. Their specials are also usually spot on, we tried the eggplant dish last time and it was stellar. I don't know how you make eggplant sing like that... but I'm willing to go back and try to figure it out!

Bernadette M.

This place is amazing. The pizzas are delicious, the prices are reasonable for an authentic Italian pizza. I did not try the burata which sounds amazing, wasn't available when I was there. Would 100% be coming back. The owner is a cute Italian guy who walks around and checks on his customers. Very nice atmosphere and outdoor seating available and ver easy parking.

Chloe R.

Soggy pizza but the antipasti was great, especially the thinly sliced eggplant special with the MOST Delicious red sauce. The cold seafood salad was amazing as well but a bit pricey for the size.

dena h.

Amazing. My boyfriend and I go here quite often. Everything has always been beyond amazing. My boyfriend is from Bari, Italy, and he says this is true Italian pizza! Wine is very good as well.

C.C. H.

This place is a neighborhood gem with high-quality ingredients and service. The style is Neapolitan and the sauce and cheeses are fresh. Get a patio seat if you can and take in the relaxing sight of the sun shining on the trees with a glass of wine. The burrata appetizer special comes with an awe-inspiring ball of cheese, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with coarse salt. The funghi pizza may be tastier than some of its meatier peers. So simple yet sublime.

Christie M.

Wonderful, homey Italian restaurant in the heart of Ravenswood. I recently met a friend here for dinner on Friday night. Since I had gotten there early, I had put our name down while it still wasn't too busy, as they wouldn't seat me until she was there. While I waited the restaurant filled up pretty quickly and there was a ton of people packed into the small entryway. Since I had known I was getting to the restaurant before my friend, I was banking on being able to sit at the bar and have a drink. However, the restaurant doesn't have any bar seating and everyone is crammed into the entryway/hostess stand area. The hostesses will get you a drink from the bar while you're waiting and will put in on your tab once you are seated. It was a nice gesture, but still the whole waiting thing was cramped and chaotic. Once we were seated, we had great service and great food. We ordered a bottle of wine (just beer and wine here; no cocktails) and had two appetizers and spit a pizza. We had the daily special of stuffed zuchini blossoms, which I wasn't impressed by, The zuchni was greasy and flacid. We also had the salad with tuna in it; again not impressed. However, the pizza was a standout. Absolutely perfect wood burned pizza with a soft crust. That absolutely made up for the sub par appetizers. I would go back if I was in the neighborhood. I'd skip the appetizers; go straight for the pizza and go at an off-peak time.

Damian C.

Is it wrong to just think this place is OK? I mean, there are some real shining stars here. Well, at least one: the burrata. I mean, hi, come to Papa. So smooth, succulent, creamy, oily and salty and all that good shiznat. And when you slather it all over that bread... orgasmic. I would get this all day. I guess maybe it's just the pizza that I find to be just average. I mean, nothing overly adventurous... that's fine, cause I am a pretty basic guy. But nothing has really been fantastic. My friends have been only slightly impressed by the prosciutto and arugula pizza and the diavola, my usual go-to, is my personal favorite although just a solid 3. And I can't quite put my finger on why. I will give them props to how burnt yet soft they can get their outer crust to be. Definitely not a place to leave the crust behind (SINNER!) and if you have extra burrata, you should spread it all over. I guess it really all comes back to the burrata though. Service has been all over the place when I've been there - some overly attentive servers, some who hardly ever stop by. Tonight we sat for 10 minutes (not what seemed like 10 minutes, I mean, literally 10 minutes) before anyone even stopped by to take our drink order. My friend was annoyed by the situation and as a result we ended up passing on wine and apps. Argh. At least their pizza comes out quickly...because, you know, it really only takes about 1-3 minutes to actually cook the pizza. Also, to note, I have never really had any luck getting a reservation here, even with a fair amount of empty tables in the restaurant; however, I have never really had a problem just walking in and snagging a table with minimal to no wait. Thankfully I live close enough to take that chance.

Hannah H.

About a 2-2.5: Spacca Napoli is run by Jonathan Goldsmith, as he had always a special place for Italy in his heart. The menu offers antipasti, pizza, desserts, and wine. My cousin and I came here, as we had heard that this place was a local favorite for authentic brick oven pizza. I tried their Salsiccia, which had tomatoes, fior di latte mozzerella, chunks of basil, Italian sausage, and olive oil - the Italian sausage was pretty okay, but I found the crust of the pizza to be extremely soggy T___T My cousin had their Salsiccia e Broccoletti, which was a pizza bianca with Italian sausage, rapini, fior di latte mozzerella, and olive oil. We were both shocked at the taste of this, as it was just sooo bitter - I am not sure if the rabe was overcooked or if it was not fresh, but it really ruined the taste of the pizza. While the pizzas come out pretty quickly, we were just not fans. +bitter rabe +limited parking on Sunnyside

Rowena M.

There's one thing that I'm fearful of when I don't have a place in mind- that I would end up at some chain restaurant eating awesome blossom and having Miller lite! Thankfully, Yelp came to the rescue again and we landed in the lovely town of Ravenswood for some legit Neapolitan style pizza. I can't even imagine how busy this place gets at dinner time and weekends; there are plenty of tables! That brick oven must really pull its weight! The prosciutto and bufala appetizer practically called my name though I wish burrata was available. I also ordered an arugula salad with white anchovies knowing that no one would share it with me (insert evil laugh here). Now the pizza- we ordered three. Pizzas only come in one size and one would be good for 2 people to share though good luck with making a choice! As for us, we opted for the margherita, sausage & mushroom, and a special called A16 which had pork cheeks (so hard to find), arugula, and a fried egg in the middle. Overall a good choice and I'm happy to have on my Rolodex should I be in the area again or threatened to go to Olive Garden!

Jamie B.

The patio is nice and the food was of great quality, the pizza was tasty and light. The crust was incredibly thin (almost raw/watery in the center) and chewy as other reviews mention. I enjoyed the atmosphere for a Thursday night dinner on the patio with my hubby. Overall thoughts: -Wine: ordered a bottle of white. The wine prices here are completely out of line. $10/glass, $48/bottle, someone please logically explain to me why the bottle is more expensive when glass pours at most establishments are 6oz. and we all know that's 4 glasses approx. per bottle. -Appetizers: Prosciutto and melon- good, simple, nothing really to this dish. Small serving of prosciutto. Caprese salad was great, the mozzarella was delicious. -Pizza: Funghi Sicilia- mushrooms, mozz, evoo, and sausage. This was about 11" and sharable just fine, though I did see a lot of people ordering a pizza for themselves. I suppose this would be good for leftovers. The crust was too thin for my liking. It was kind of a spongy, mushy mess in the center and I didn't really like that. Also needed the red pepper flakes for additional flavor. -Dessert: The panna cotta was the star of the meal. This was perfection with balsamic over the top, outstanding. Overall it was a 3.5 star experience. I think the wine pricing is out of line and needs a retool as well as a little bit less doughy crust. If they could crisp this crust up a bit more it would be much more enjoyable.

Louise M.

I did enjoy my pizza at Spacca Napoli, it was the price that didn't thrill me. I joined a few friends from work here last Sunday. I strated out with the Melanzane (Fried eggplant simmered with Italian imported tomatoes, basil and garlic) which was much different than I had expected. It was served cold, and quite mushy. It had an interesting taste, but wasnt my favorite (I probably wouldn't order the Melanzane again). For my entree I ordered the Funghi pizza, which was actually just a cheese pizza with mushrooms. It was tasty. I wasn't blown away by the food, but it was good. I am still having a hard time justifying the price of everything on the menu. My meal alone was about $30, more than I usually spend on lunch for myself. I am not trying to be cheap, but I think the ingredients to make my food couldn't have cost more than $5 total... that is a CRAZY mark up. I wont make arrangements to go back to Spacca Napoli, but if someone invited me I would probably go.

Eric V.

Spacca still makes one sweet Neapolitan pizza. We ordered one Bufalina and one Funghi pizza to-go, and we were kindly offered a complimentary glass of Prosecco while we waited. Quick tip, the pizzas literally take 5 minutes to make so there's no need to call ahead for your carryout order!

Rachel B.

Food - pretty good. There are places I like more, but this is pretty yummy. We had the pizza made with Buffalo cheese - knowing what I know now, I would save my money and just get goat cheese because they taste alike. Still the pizza was pretty good - although my preference is a crisper crust. The roasted vegetables we got as an appetizer were good too. They get an "A" for the free Cannoli they passed out when we were leaving. Service - excellent. Our server was so friendly and patient while we tried to figure out what to order. She made helpful suggestions on the wine as well. Atmosphere - if you sit outside it's great. The street is relatively quiet and pleasant. If you sit inside you will have blood coming out of your ears from the ruptured ear drums due to the high decibel level. We had to go inside towards the end of our meal due to rain and I couldn't believe how insanely loud it was. We discussed this with our server and told her we loved the outdoor seating, but that this was intolerable. She agreed and said someone had a decibel meter in the restaurant one night and the readings were near the dangerous zone. Overall - I would come back here, but only if I could sit outside.

Sara P.

Wow. This place is AMAZING. I cannot even think of anything I disliked about any portion of my meal. We started with two glasses of wine and the special appetizer- some sort of ball of white cheese..almost like a cross between mozzarella and cream cheese, and came with crustini bread. It was so good, we asked for more bread...and I would have asked for a third helping, but I had to control myself a bit for our pizza. We split the diavola pizza- buffalo mozzarella, red sauce, salami, and red flakes. OMG. That was an amazing pizza. For dessert, we had the cappuccino gelato and the tiramasu. Both were incredible. I cannot say good enough things about this place. All I know is that I would like to go here again. VERY soon.

Maya H.

Outstanding time and time again. The thin body of the pizza dough with that exceptional burnt bubbly crust excites every taste sensation I have. The hand pulled dough gives the pizza a chewy yet crisp crust that get enhanced by the fire in the wood burning oven. Go for the over simplied toppings such as tomato, garlic and herbs. Add bufalo mozz for an extra treat. One must is to ask for the house infused chili olive oil to moisten the pizza and bring out yet another layer of flavor. The nice touches by owner Joe such as a small comp glass of sparkling at the beginning or end always brings a smile to my face and reminds me of the home goodness of this joint. Only thing I could ask for is a view of the bay of Napoli with Mt. Vesuvius smouldering in the background.

Elizabeth H.

Not sure why I continue to write reviews since I somehow landed myself on the "filtered" list ... by anyhow - This place was a HUGE disappointment. Our server treated us like we had the plague - maybe because we have two kids or maybe because she is a huge B. To begin we were not offered drinks. Nope, she must have assumed that we were water people and would not waste her time asking. We started with the antipasto misto and that was a mistake. What a sad, sad plate of food. I love three things in life (okay more, but for this post let's say three): CHEESE, OLIVES and MEAT. Fail. The presentation did not even look nice. The pizza: was okay. I gave an extra star for the decent Salsiccia. Even though when I ordered it and had trouble pronouncing it the server looked at me like a moron and did not help me. The other pizza that we had, and the name escapes me, was not good at all. For my husband and I not to finish something (especially pizza) it had to of been bad. I really thought I was going to love Spacca but with such rude/terrible service I will not be back. *Busboy was very attentive and nice.

Mat M.

I live in Tennessee and whenever I travel anywhere I check if there is a local VPN approved authentic Neopolitan Pizzeria. So I had a a 3hour layover at O'Hare and got on a taxi for a memorable and fantastic lunch. The host was very respectful and a gentleman all around. Additionally, the mozzarella de bufala is a cut above what I've had in the states. Definitely worth the taxi fair.

Shelly W.

We were looking for a new pizza place to try out and through yelp found Spacca Napoli. Since the food reviews were good, we figured we could suffer through some bad service based on previous reviews. We didn't make reservations but tried to arrive a little earlier and was seated right away. Our server was extremely outgoing and helpful and provided helpful suggestions. He was very attentive throughout the meal and was great in general. The atmosphere was very relaxed and comfortable. The menu was very simple with just appetizers and pizza. The pizza was delish and I loved the dough/crust. As newbies here, we were a little confused as to how to eat our pizza since it wasn't pre-cut and they didn't provide a pizza cutter so we just used our forks and knives. Later on we saw another table with a pizza cutter but not sure how they got it... probably just have to ask. For some reason, I was really reminded of Italy. Not really sure why ... maybe it was the limonata! (which I absolutely loved btw). Now I want to go back to Italy! In the meantime, I will definitely be back to Spacca Napoli.

Audrey C.

I truly dislike this place. I had two terrible experiences here and I've had to write them off, perhaps for eternity. The first time, they were so busy that after we waited an hour, they took forever to get to our order. Then they accidentally marked our pizza as "to go" and it sat on the counter for a while which I observed. Our server finally noticed our order was nowhere to be found except boxed up, took it out of the damn box, served us soggy freaking thin crust pizza without mentioning what happened, like I wasn't going to notice. To top it off, since we were there forever (little over an hour), he was trying to turnover our table and dropped off the check while taking the last piece without asking if we were done. Why not just take my wine, too, while at it? Oh wait, the busser DID do that cos I decided to take my sweet ass time paying my check. Needless to say, when I left I was literally angry, but the topping was good and the crust probably would've been good had it not soaked in its own sweat so I decided to give it another go. Repeat experience one in the wait and incompetent and shitty service, resulting in just as crappy product. The couple I brought from the South Loop to try this place gave me the evil eye the rest of the night. Foodie cred, lost.

Emily D.

Like so many others note, the crust is king at SN. I know not a thing about Neapolitan pizza (the more cheese and sauce the better, generally speaking), but this crust was so flavorful and the toppings so fresh and generous and. . . love. The four of us started with Prosecco and two appetizer specials. The fried octopus was unbelievable and I was sour on ordering it. (*note to self: try new things, for the love of. . .). We each got a pizza. And we each ate it. All. I know, so ravenous and I think we got some sideways glances from the hipster couples surrounding us. And if you know me, you know I cared not. Down the gullet! Now, the dessert was horrible. We had the baked ricotta (tasted what I imagine a urinal cake would be like). The floors were soooo slippery, and they weren't even wet. I was wearing Sorel boots and pulling a few Yamaguchis (triple sow cow anyone?). Minor complaints though. What they claim to do well, they do amazingly well. So I have no qualms giving four stars. Returning isn't even a question. We were practically ready for round two as we were sipping grappa.

Sean K.

Do you know what makes a really good pizza? Crust. Spacca Napoli has really good pizza because their crust might just be the best in Chicago. Light, supple, chewy and airy with a smoky flavor from their brick ovens. The toppings are, of course, good. The ambience was okay. But the crust? The crust was amazing.

Lori M.

This is my second visit to Spacca Napoli. Unfortunately, it was not an improvement from the last time... I lived in Napoli, Italia for almost 4 years and have had true Neopolitan pizze...this, sadly isn't even close in flavor. Perhaps the cook was 'out of the kitchen' this past Sunday. Not to mention, the prices, but I have to - very overpriced for the mediocre quality and just so-so service. We had 3 pizze, 1 glass of wine, 1 Sprite, and 1 gelato for $73. That's a bit out of sync for this place... now, had the pizzas been superb, and the service above bland, well then I'd be thrilled to pay $73 - but that's not what Spacca was serving on Sunday afternoon. I failed to mention they used white button mushrooms. Thos are NOT Italian OR Napoletano. A mushroom pizza should have nothing short of Porcini. Nel bocca del lupo la prossima volta !

Lauren B.

This place is pretty hyped, so I had pretty high expectations. We had a reservation for 6:30 on a weeknight. By the time we arrived there was a large group of people waiting for their tables, about a 45 minute wait to sit outside but we were able to be seated right when we arrived, we sat inside which was fine with me. The menu is pretty small, with apps, salads and pizzas (both red and white), there are no meat or pasta options. We ordered a bottle of wine, and had absolutely NO help from our young waitress. She seemed "put out" by the fact that we were asking for her suggestions. Um okay??? So we just picked one ourselves. I ordered a grilled calamari salad as an app, it was just ok, nothing special. I picked a red pizza, the white pizzas on the menu looked good... I just have to have red sauce on my pizzas, I always feel like something is missing on a white pizza. I picked the sausage and mushroom (a pretty standard pizza choice for me). It was just good. Since it is a wood-fired style pizza it comes out of the oven charred/burnt on the bottom. Not sure that I love this style, to me the burnt flavor overpowers the pizza, but the crust had a chewy and crunchy thing going on which I did like. The pizza was seriously lacking in the topping department, I was there with 6 people and all of our pizzas barely had any toppings. This was probably the most disappointing part of their pizzas. NOW, back to the service... It continued to be terrible through the meal, we basically had to yell and wave for the waitress in order to get her over to our table. I will not return to this place, I would rather try other pizza places in the city. Or will go to Pizza DOC, which is a similar style pizza but is better.

Rosa C.

If I were to yelp this when I first went a few years ago I would have gave it five stars, but I think in these economic hard times they now use cheaper ingredients..and very different dough. My last visit was extremely dissapointing. My pizza was no longer crispy but more soggy and didn't have that nice crisp like it used to. I thought it was just a rare night, but everyone at the table noticed the difference. On the plus side, they do use fresh ingredients and everything has a great bite to it, but no longer worth the drive or the price. The owner is also real nice and hands out slices in their small waiting area. Expect to wait a bit. The place is small and menu is limited to mainly just pizza. **Previously, i had this review at 3 stars--I have now switched it to 4. The owner had contacted me after placing this review and assured me that they still use fresh ingredients and that sometime it can be difficult to get that crisp feel to the pizza. Like i said before, service has always been excellent. I would definitely go back now b/c of it...GO spacca!!

Daniel P.

I don't get up to this neighborhood often, but perhaps I'll make an effort for this place in the future. Loved it. The restaurant itself is cozy and inviting, and sitting next to the big windows on a sunny day was great. We would have sat outside since it was so gorgeous out, but since it's been snowing all spring, they were just getting around to setting up the outdoor seating area today. (The planters they were planting look like they'll be really pretty when they're all done and set up.) After we ordered, I could not believe how fast the food came out. We didn't order appetizers, but just went right for the pizza, and within maybe 5-7 minutes (?) our pizza was on the table. The pizza is not what what I've been used to having in Chicago. I love pizza in Chicago, and this is something very different... and I loved it. It reminded me of pizza that I've had in Italian restaurants in Europe. (It's a little different than pizza I've had in Italy, but similar to what I've had in Italian restaurants in Germany/France/England.) I don't speak Italian, so I can't tell you what my pizza was called on the menu. But it was italian sausage, mushrooms, basil, and mozzarella. While I would like to try more things on their menu, I was really happy with my pizza and don't know if I could keep myself from getting the same thing again... though next time I may try one of their Italian beers instead of just having a Diet Coke in the cute little glass bottle. I would also like to try some of their other desserts. I had the pistachio gelato, which I quickly scarfed down (yum). All in all, it was a fab lunch. The fact that the crust is very thin and the pizzas are individual sized meant that I didn't feel completely stuffed when I left there. I usually leave pizza places feeling uncomfortably full because pizza is a weakness for me and I will eat it until there's nothing left to eat. I was able to walk out of this restaurant with my head held high and my gut in check.

Casey W.

My roommates and I went to Spacca Napoli to celebrate my birthday. A co-worker told us about it, and it's very close, so we figured it was a safe bet. We ordered two appetizers, and they came so fast we thought the waiter made a mistake. The eggplant didn't look appetizing, but tasted great, and was a very hefty portion (I hate small appetizers). The Insalata di Mare was good as well. For pizza, we ordered the Gorgonzola special (sausage, tomato sauce, spinach), the Diavola (spicy salami, tomato sauce, basil), and the Bianca con Bufala (mozzarella, basil). All of had different opinions on which was our favorite, but all were fantastic. This ranks right up with Coalfire for best pizza in the city (I haven't been to Coalfire in a while so I won't make a judgment). The pizzas also came out very fast which was great. One gripe would be that their didn't seem to be a ton of variety on the menu for pizza, but I'll test this on repeat occasions. Overall, this is just a fantastic neighborhood pizza place, and a restaurant I plan to visit quite frequently from now on.

Tony D.

A pretty good Italian style pizza in Chicago. The service was good, but I was hoping for a little better pizza based upon the reviews I had heard. Don't get me wrong, the pizza is good, but after eating at places like this all over the country, I was hoping for a bit more. I always order the prosciutto and arugula pizza at every Italian pizzeria, so I ordered one here. The crust was really tasty, but the pizza was soggy in the middle. I prefer my crust to remain crispy throughout. I was also able to try the four cheese pizza, which actually was tastier that the prosciutto. Also, the restaurant only had bottled iced tea. It was imported from Italian, so I guess that is why they carry it, but I would like to have had plain old brewed iced tea as an option. The service was helpful, but a little slow with the water refills.

M R.

Excellent pizza, good service, nice people. Out on a walk with the missus we stumbled upon this joint, sortly before stumbling on a great church nearby. We were not hungry, but were so charmed by the nice pizzas, simple wine list and Italian news on TV that we swore we'd come back. Flash forward 4 hours and a friend calls wanting to know where to go for hos B-day. We tell him to come up from the South Sofe and 12 of is descend on the place. Each Pizza is better than the last, and each evokes the idea of a cleaned up pie right from Napoli. The wine was solid and stood up to the food. It even came in reasonable unstemmed glasses, just like in Italy. The staff were patient, all 12 pizzas came out hot and at the same time an we were in awe of this somewhat hidden gem.

Courtney H.

Great neighborhood pizzeria. Specials are always interesting and pizzas are hand-tossed with unique ingredients. Appetizer and wine selections are also good. Nice casual environment, but usually busy.

Frank G.

Very disappointed .. We had a 9:00 reservation on Saturday and told when we got there it would be after 10.. .. So why bother ?

Carrie R.

This is the best pizza I have ever had outside of Naples. No deep-dish nonsense here, just the perfect blend of fresh ingredients (I had Bianca con Bufala e Rucola: Pizza Bianca with Mozzarella Di Bufala, Arugula, Basil, Olive Oil) and crust that was thin-ish, chewy and crispy, and actually flavorful, not just bland bread. We also had the appetizer special of cheese and prosciutto between pieces of sourdough bread and then deep fried served with a mouthwatering tomato sauce. My mouth is actually watering as I remember eating it. My husby got Salsiccia: Tomatoes, Fior Di Latte Mozzarella, Basil, Italian Sausage, Olive Oil as his pizza, and as I am not a huge sausage person I was shocked at how much I loved it. This carb-heavy fantastic meal was topped off with espresso and panna cotta served with some sort of tangy, sour-ish sauce and fruit (I wish I had been paying more attention, but I knew I wanted panna cotta as soon as I heard the words and blanked out, but I think it was maybe pears in a marsala wine sauce). Husby got tiramisu, which he loved, but I was so in love with the perfectly sweet and sour blend of creamy custard and sauce that I hardly tasted his. The topper of it all is that the pizzas are individual size, but huge, so I have half of the amazing pizza to look forward to for lunch today! Go there!

Jennifer B.

I really like Spacca Napoli. It's a short walk from home, the servers are lovely, the food is almost always fresh and delicious (sometimes the pizza is a bit soggy, but, I'll live), and the specials are always exciting. It's not going to blow your mind, it's not perfect, but it's solid. And they finally take reservations, which is just so much easier. I've got just one little beef. They don't allow you to bring in your own bottle of wine and open it for a corkage fee. Come on! I had a bottle of wine that I wanted to bring in because it would be fabulous with their prosciutto and arugula pizza, but it's not allowed? Please. Even the fanciest of fancy restaurants "allow" you to bring in a bottle which they open for a sometimes hefty fee (which I totally understand), but it's not about the money, it's about the FOOD and the experience, and a restaurant that prides itself on being so traditionally and hospitably Italian should understand that. If you're going to talk the talk, Spacca Napoli, you should learn to walk the walk.

Brent W.

We were in a bit of a hurry and asked how long for one of their pizza's. "In about 5-10 Min". Great. 1 Funghi e Salsiccia 1 Moretti 2 Water Pizza came out in under 5 minutes. Solid. Not great but good. Priced right with friendly, efficient service. In a hurry and looking for an above average Neapolitan pizza, come to Spacca Napoli.

Nicole C.

These are the most authentic thin crust pizzas I've had outside of Italy. Yum. :) I normally get the prosciutto and arugla, which is delicious. I really enjoy going in the summer and eating outside. This is THE spot for pizza.

Brad F.

The pizza here is the $hi+!!!! But the burrata cheese is one of the best things ive ever tasted. The whole meal was just excellent. Our waiter was awesome too, and when you leave they give you a cannoli that is just amazing, if you havent been here its a must. Do yourself a favor.

Keith L.

Im a big fan of Neopolitan style pizza and this place does it serious justice. The flavor and consistency of the dough is otherworldly...and the toppings are high quality. We had to wait a half hour last time in on a friday night, but while we waited we were treated to a taste of black truffle pizza, really black truffle? wow. Dinner was truly tasty i would highly recommend the salsiccia and mushroom pizza as well as the margahrita. as an added bonus on the way out th owner handed us a complimentary cannoli, one of the best i've ever had. I shall return.

Jeffrey C.

I thought that when Spacca Napoli opened its doors (replacing a hole-in-the-wall diner) I would be a frequent customer as I lived just down the street. OK - it deserves high marks for efforts at authenticity of Neopolitan pizza. However, the menu is very limited - you can pay a lot not to be filled up (very un-Chicago, so it should also be true to its local roots!) It suffers from its success - they just don't know how to handle excess flow of customers. Lack of restaurant experience from the proprietors bring it down. To paraphrase Yogi Berra, "no one goes there anymore, it's too busy."

John D.

I was pretty excited to go to this place after reading all the reviews. My girlfriend and I had a $10 off coupon from the 52 deck of cards so we said let's give it a try. We ordered the caprese salad first which was good. The ingredients here are so fresh. The mozzarella just melts which is awesome. Then we ordered the Prosciutto e Rucola pizza which comes with prosciutto (obviously) and arugula. I was very anxious and extremely excited for it. When he put it on the table the first thing I noticed was there was a lot of black char on the crust. I fully expected to have a nice crispy crust after it being in a fire hot brick oven and noticing the char. Unfortunately the crust was soft and the middle was soggy. The char taste was very overpowering, to the point where it was almost inedible. My girlfriend could not eat more than two pieces because of it. The tiramisu was unbelievable though! Overall the service was very good, the ingredients fresh and delicious, the dessert amazing, but I just can't get over the fact that the pizza was soggy and the char taste was way too overpowering. I will not be going back.

Maria C.

I love this pizza. It's exactly like the pizza you eat in parts of Italy. If you want thin crisp, do NOT go there. It's not as thick as a pan pizza but it's certainly thicker than thin crisp. I love the one with arrugula, prosciutto and cheese. I love the atmosphere and if you get there later on a Saturday (around 9) you will have better chances of sitting down right away instead of waiting in line.

Sally R.

We are total regulars. They are VERY quick to serve pizza, its great in the summer you can sit outside in the shade of the trees. The buffalo cheese is great and the pizza's are cooked in a clay oven. They change the specials every week. The owner often shouts us a glass of bubbly we go so regularly, Parking on Ravenswood is not usually a problem. The hours are not always easy to remember and they do vacation at times so always ring before you go.Its busy at times but we have never had to wait long for a table.Take stuff for kids to do nothing is provided.

Dave M.

OK - let me put my review in perspective. I''m Mr. Naperville. That means you can add a little over an hour drive to my intro to this place. It was recommended by a friend who lives in this neighborhood. For truth in advertising that drive time influenced my experience. My girlfriend and I had pizzas and salads. The wood burning oven made the pizza tasty, but the prices seemed a tad high for something that I feel I've had many times elsewhere for less. The salads were good - not memorable. The decor was kind of predictable. Black and white pictures of Italians. Could have been at Maggianos or Buca. If you live nearby it's worthwhile. If you're coming a great distance it's good. I would return if we were going to be in the area for another reason.

John M.

I've eaten here a few times in the past and went back last night with da wife for a mid-week pizza fix. Spacca used to be closed on Tuesdays, but as of early June they decided to let people dine on their delicious pizza on Tuesdays once again. We were able to snag a table on the sidewalk, which is set up nicely and very quiet due to the location off of Ashland. They had some specials, but my wife had her heart set on the Prosciutto e bufala appetizer....essentially a giant ball of fresh mozzarella, surrounded by prosciutto and served with some toast. I'm not a cheese fan like she is, but I gotta say, this dish hit the mark! After finishing off a giant ball of cheese, we opted for just 1 pizza, as we knew they are fairly large. The Funghi pizza was delicious....absolutely. Mushroom, sausage, crushed tomatoes on a crispy and thin crust. It really does remind you of the pizza you'd get in a small Italian village. Overall, this place is a crowd pleaser. You see all ages here, families/dates dining and some babies/kids scattered in between. The owner is a very friendly guy and is always present making sure things are running smoothly. Chat him up and he'll be more than happy to talk pizza or Italy with you.

A Q.

A bit out of my price range, but delicious, and I LOVE what the owner is about.

Barry J.

Took the wife to dinner here last night. It was our third visit. Once again we enjoyed the delicious pizza, friendly service and attractive dining areas. Every time we go, actual Italian people are talking to each other--in Italian! It feels totally authentic. We ate outside. It's somewhat swanky and you pay for that. The immediate area is a slightly down at the heels industrial corridor so in my mind I am expecting to hear some bittersweet accordion music and see some guys chasing a bicycle thief, yelling in Italian. This was kind of an off night for SpaNa. Our salad was generous and tasty. The grilled 'n' chilled vegetables featured peppers, eggplant and zucchini with plenty of garlic. But my funghi e salsiccia pizza had plain ol' grocery store mushrooms instead of something more interesting like portobellos. Wife's broccolletta + salsiccia was quite good. Rapini is bitter and tangy, I think you have to like it. Both of our pizzas had fresh moz and that wonderful crust. Our waitress was very pleasant but failed to mention their specials. Minus .000001 pts for that. The owner came around to offer impromptu slices of tartuffo pizza. I love truffles and was tempted to grab three slices. The pizzas have a little puddle of moisture at the center. That's just how they do it, get over it and enjoy the fresh flavors. I'm talking to you, people at the next table. Good selection of tasty and pricy wines, bottle or glass. We split an excellent tiramisu. Our decaf americanos were perfect. For us it breaks down like this. At the moment we actually prefer the flavor and value of Pizza D.O.C., about 10 minutes drive from Spacca Napoli. But SN is the better choice for a quiet romantic dinner. So if you're out with the kids or didn't get your hair did, it's D.O.C. But if you're wearing your grownup clothes Spacca Napoli.

Rosemarie R.

By far the most fresh and authentic Italian tapas and fresh pizza i have ever had. Especially the deep fried proscioutto and mozzarella over fresh marinara!

D S.

I went to Spacca Napoli with the Windy City Pizza Club and had a pretty good time. It is pretty far off the beaten path so there isn't a whole lot on the block nor did it seem that close to public transit but parking couldn't have been easier. We were able to wet our appetites with a tasty complimentary owner's creation although it reminded me of naan bread more than pizza. I enjoyed it although it really did not remind me of what I think of as pizza. It was a delightful surprise. I then enjoyed a margarita pizza which had some of the best cheese I had in a while. Otherwise, there was nothing particularly memorable about it. This would be a great restaurant for a date but given its remote location and quiet atmosphere, I probably wouldn't go back with a large group or for a big night out.

Diana C.

Before I get hanged for my one-star rating of this Yelper's favorite, I'll tell you why the rating suffered: cleanliness. Back to that in a moment. The food was great. No complaints there. Our salads were huge and very fresh tasting, and the pizzas were delicious. My problem with it: my boyfriend witnessed one of the servers dipping her finger into a glass of water to fish something (a "floatie", I'd call it) out of there. Disgusting. Needless to say, this was a huge turnoff; the only reason we continued on with the meal (our pizzas were not yet out when he saw this) was that this woman was not handling food, only taking care of putting down water glasses and refilling water. I went thirsty after finishing my wine because I was so creeped out. It's really too bad. The food was great (albeit a bit pricey), but I'll never be back.

Brian L.

Truly one of the best pizzas on the globe!

Diana S.

With all the hype, I had high hopes for this place. I wasn't disappointed but I wasn't blown away either. We tried a number of pizzas and there were some hits and some misses. The pizzas were similar in size to Forno Diablo. The crust is by better, thicker and bubbly. I love bubbly crusts. Like Forno, it suffered from the toppings not covering the entire pizza. Many edges were naked, but I didn't mind as much because I like the doughier crust. While the toppings didn't always extend to the edges, the toppings were generous on the majority of the pizzas. At Forno, even in the center of the pizzas, the toppings were scattered sparingly. The pizzas with the buffalo mozzarella could have used a couple more minutes in the oven to melt and caramelize. Also, the pizzas came uncut and it was a bit of a production to have to cut them ourselves. Overall, good not great.

Serena W.

Love, love, love it! Excellent Italian style pizza, fresh ingredients, simple and delicious dishes. This is one of my absolute favorite restaurants. Bear in mind, the white pizzas do not have a sauce. They are olive oil based, but they do not suffer for it! I almost always get a white pizza when I'm there! The tomato based pizzas are also exceptional, as are the appetizers ( I recommend the fennel balls if available! Mmmmm), the desserts (all are delicious, I recommend the zabaglione), and they make a great cappuccino or espresso. The grappa and other various digestifs are great too. And they offer yummy mini canolis on the way out! Does it get any better?

BuddhaGrl l.

This is my favorite Brick Oven Pizza in the City!!! I always have their house salad except I ask for red peppers on my salad. The house oil and balsamic vinegar they use is amazing! The margarita is my favorite! I eat one by myself .. even if I go there with friends I make them order their own. Plus I think that Spacca pizza size is more a personal size then to share you will leave hungry if you share your pizza. The dough is perfect, not too thin and not too thick, The sauce is perfect well seasoned a good flavor. The cheese is delicious, but I think they can use a little more then it would be perfect..and as for the basil..no complaints here. The owner John had Italian brick oven maker build the oven its beautiful, the restaurant is so tastefully done, very inviting and in the summer they have the sidewalk patio open for business, an added plus is his staff offers great service. This is a HUGH Plus for any restaurant... I HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND SPACCA NAPOLI.

Cindy D.

I have been searching for a good, Italian-style (sorry, I've never gotten used to the deep dish thing) pizza topped with spinach and ricotta after a semester abroad years ago. While this is not a regular menu item at Spacca Napoli, it was a special one day last winter, and it was fantastic! I know not everyone shares my appreciation for spinach and ricotta, but even a simple pizza here with sauce and mozzarella just melts in your mouth. Also, the owner is a really friendly guy.

Wendy V.

I just had lunch there today after not going for about 8 months and I am so sad. Spacca pizza is forever changed from the airy, Roman/Napoli style to a spongy, doughy crust that is a perfect circle, which leaves me wondering if they use a tool to make them all exactly the same size. I have been to Rome 6 times and I used to go to Spacca to get my fix, but I am not going back. They did something to change the dough and the pizza sauce was unimpressive. No more of the bubbles in the dough like in italy. First it was Pizza DOC to take a nose dive and now this place. The pizza resembled the spongy bread served at Ethiopian restaurants in the middle, and the crust was heavy and thick. Definitely NOT worth the money. I am so sad about this place :(

Tony C.

After a $35+ bill for 2 "personal pizzas", i walked out tired and unfulfilled. Tired because we waited for 45+ min for 4 minutes of pizza baking. Unfulfilled because we really got nothing more than $2 of dough and $2 of grass (arugula + basil, but whatever) i don't care much about "energy" or "atmosphere" at a restaurant, i just want to eat. would much rather have a greasy $3 NY slice from Greenwich Village than a $15 brick oven fired pie, especially having been pizza'd (neapolitian, firenzian?, nissarded style?) out during the last Italy trip. Also, mirroring someone's complaint from elsewhere: you really want to be in-the-know with the owner. some people don't get gratis prosseco, some people got to taste gratis apps for enduring the excruciating wait. But others didn't. I hate double standards when I'm paying just as much as the next guy. ** EDIT '08 ** We've been out of Chicago for over 6 months now... I really gotta make amends and admit the Nea pie here is easily 4-5*s. Have had mediocre pies all over LA and the finest here (beyond Pizz Mozz) is only on par with Spacca. Nonetheless, the entire experience of Spacca remains barely 2* .

ER S.

I loved this place. First, easy parking on a charming little side street. Second fabulous food in a comfortable, cozy restaurant. I understand it can be really loud, but it wasn't that crowded when we were there so I didn't experience that. Here's what we had (there were five of us): Antipasti: 1) Zucchini antipasto. This is perhaps the best zucchini I've ever had. According the waiter, they sautee it then marinade in lemon juice overnight. Then they add the mint. I think I might search the web for a similar recipe. 2) Caprese salad. Very nice. I like that they used small, flavorful tomatoes rather than large ones and the buffalo mozz was nicely tangy. 3) Arugula & prosciutto salad. Yum. Pizza: 1) I had the artichoke & porcini special pizza. It was lovely and very earthy. 2) My husband had the sausage & rapini. That spicy / rich / bitter combination is fabulous. It reminded me of my favorite pasta at Anteprima. 3) My daughter had the sausage pizza. Good sausage with lots of fennel seeds. 4) & 5) Our dining partners had the four cheese and the plain tomato sauce one... didn't try them myself, but they seemed pretty happy. Dessert: 1) I had the zabaglione... it was fabulous and we were all fighting over it. 2) My husband had the risotto gelato... it was very interesting and good. 3) The Tuscan Chocolate gelato was good... we liked the hint of spicy and the chocolate pieces, but were less excited about the raspberries as they made it a bit too sweet. 4) The ricotta cake was the least favorite... it was light, but a bit bland and dry. We did like the raspberries with balsamic sauce that came with. So all in all an absolutely terrific place and I can't wait to go back.

Kons M.

I've been here at least 5 or 6 times now. Pizza here is incredible! Traditional Neapolitan style. The pizza is enough for one person (maybe two can share, but you better have an appetizer). The ingredients are always fresh. Fresh mozzarella di buffula, regular old mozzarella, veggies, etc... incredible. My favorite on the menu is the Diabola. That has fresh mozz, pepperoni and a little kick to it. The best part about it though, are the daily specials. There are always 2 or 3 daily special pizzas that are unique and look delicious. We've tried the Burrata and that was also good. They have some appetizers, most of which I've had. They servings range in size. The meat and cheese platter is pretty good, as is the fried zucchini. I didn't care for their presentation of their mozzarella and prosciutto dish. It was a giant ball of fresh mozz with pieces of prosciutto hanging out. It was good, it just looked... odd. Wish there was more prosciutto as well. The restaurant itself is always clean. The staff is friendly and the owner/chef is always around. Last time I was there he was passing out cannolis as we left. Overall, I would give this place 5-stars with the exception that they are NOT BYOB. They have wine there that represents the south of Italy and their prices are OK, but I'm a BYOB person, so that "turned me off." Regardless, I'll be back again and again and again!

Nicole V.

After I read ROTD, I headed over to Spacca Napoli that night! The description of the fresh mozz was too much for me to withstand. I went with a friend and we ordered the mozz/prosciutto appetizer along with the greens salad and one red pizza w/mushroom and sausage. Let me tell you the mozz/prosciutto appetizer will have me back for more! I haven't had fresh mozz like that since I was in Italy! Also, the olives they used in the salad were fantastic. By the time our pizza came we were pretty full, but it was tasty none the less. Be ready for an authentic soggy middle though. Overall, I really liked decor, it is a simple Italian design with fun pictures lining the wall. Also the service was outstanding. Even though they were very busy, my water was refilled at half glass! I'll definitely be going back again.

Heather K.

my favorite pizza in chicago. Absolutely wonderful.

arc g.

Great pizza! Not your average pizza place. Good appetizers and definitely good desserts. They have a decent variety of dessert wines; nonetheless it is a pizza place. When you are in need of just good pizza and something to top it off but you want something more than a take out box left after the meal, like oh I don't know a great feeling of satisfaction of having had a gourmet meal, healthy, with great ingredients but still decadent enough to boast as simply pizza, this is the place for you. It's a small storefront place with decent seating arrangements but it definitely holds its own with the variety of wood burning oven pizza places out there.

Kevin F.

This place was terrible! Burned pizza, no flavor, expensive and poor service to boot! That's an hour of my life I can never get back, this totally a horrible dining experience! One star is one too many!

Johnny B.

The pizza was good, but christ the unruly kiddies are absurd. I can handle kids, but kids that are allowed to more or less take over an establishment? No thank you. I hate to knock a place for that; afterall, it's not Spacca Napoli's fault. But it is reason enough for me not to return.

Samantha W.

Love this place! Finally was able to try this place last night. We made a large reservation for 10 people the about 2 hours before arriving. Unfortunately our table was not ready for us when we had requested.....but they felt sorry and totally made up for it! The food was amazing! The closest to real Italian pizza I have found in Chicago. I am not Italian, but I did live in Italy for five months, so I know their pizza. Definitely going back and you should too!

Jon C.

Great pizza, great service. Also, when I'm in the area it's nice to be able to call ahead for carry-out which is super quick!

nellie l.

I went here with a few friends after hearing rave reviews about the place. We all ordered our own pizzas, and while everyone loved theirs, I just didn't enjoy mine. The crust was a little burned and the sauce just not quite to my liking. I almost felt bad; I wanted to love it as much they all did, but I felt it was very average. I am not opposed to trying it again, but it isn't on my short list.

Jessica J.

I was originally taken here by an Italian ex-pat who told me it was "the real deal." How could anyone possibly turn that down? The pizza is excellent - ultra thin crust the way I like it. All the food is fresh. I had anti pasti with various sausages & cheeses & olives that were a foodie's wet dream (not that I consider myself a foodie). The last time I went I had the ice cream truffle thingy and it was REALLY good. The owner came by and served us glasses of prosecco and we were given miniature cannolis on our way out the door. Really charming. This is my kind of place. The location is a little tucked away spot on along the train tracks. I've never been patient enough to wait for an outdoor table, but I haven't had to wait long for a table inside. Yes, the food is a little pricey, but I feel like I'm getting a special meal, so I don't mind paying extra.

Kathryn M.

I've been driving by Spacca Napoli for years...YEARS and I finally went tonight. Now maybe it was the years of aniticipation, but I wasn't very impressed. The servers are very nice and fun, they have a killer outdoor patio (no wait at 6 on a Wednesday by the way), and a super cute neighborhood location, but the pizza just didn't do it for me. Maybe it's cause I went with an olive oil instead of tomato base, but my pizza was just eh. I'll have to give it another whirl.

Shannon F.

This place is outstanding! The mozzarella is the best that I have ever tasted and the crust is so authentic. This is my new go to for friends and family!

Sarah B.

While the wait was long, the owner was right there at the front door, talking with us, offering to get us drinks, and generally being the jovial guy he is. The food was excellent--the pizza reminded me of European pizzerias I've been to. I also tried the fruti di mare appetizer and, while it was fresh, didn't fall in love it. But i'd be willing to try it again, or anything else on the menu for that matter! LOVE the Atmosphere--feels urban and homey at the same time.

Valerie S.

You have to go here! It is so delicious. This is the best pizza I have had outside of Italy. If you're looking for Chicago-style deep dish pizza this is not your place. If you want to eat pizza like you had in Italy or wish you have had pizza in Italy...come here! Outstanding!

Heather D.

I went here last week and am going again tonight because I loved it so much! The tomato sauce is so fresh. The pizza is nice and light -- I didn't feel like I was 10 lbs heavier by eating here. I had the eggplant appetizer and loved it. All and all, a great place -- and worth the wait! I can't wait to go back.

David R.

This is a restaurant with a fantastic staff and owner who make you feel like you are in their home. And the food is fantastic. In reading the other reviews - most rave about the Pizza - and I cannot disagree. It is top-tier - cooked in a gorgeous wood fired oven imported from Italy. But for me - it was about the cheeses. Starting with the buffalo mozerella - imported weekly from Italy - was so fresh and lovely you could taste the subtle sweetness of the milk and the Italian grasses on which the buffalo grazed. My comment was 'it gives me the sensation of Angel wings' - and it did. It is that good - best I've ever had. And the imported prosciutto that was served with it was amazing and added a perfect richness to the lightness of the cheese. Ultimately, though, I forgot about the prosciutto and kept going back for Angel wing after Angel wing of the Buffalo Mozzarella. The next cheese which blew me away was the buratta. Served with crusty bread out of the oven and roasted sweet peppers - unreal! Again, this was a very special cheese which was a bit heavier in style than the buffalo mozerella but every bit as special. A remarkable experience with the bread and roasted veggies. Overall, this is a wonderful, neighborhood restaurant with a caring owner who loves food almost as much as I do :) He takes pride in treating his customers well and showing his appreciation for their business.

Tina H.

The best authentic Italian pizza in the city, I love this place!

Desiree K.

I once ate here every week. It wasn't by design or pre-meditated or anything. It was a natural inclination that wasn't meant to be suppressed, so for a month last summer, I hung out on the al fresco porch every Friday evening waiting for a patio seating. Each time I brought different friends for some real-life Yelping it forward. Because I love to chew, the Napolitan dough fit my masticulative habits perfectly. Thin yet with enough substance for slow oral savouring, the topping of fresh ingredients was a complement to the crust, rather than an American-style barrage of slathered meats and sloppy cheese. Any of the appetisers is a great way to start the meal and go ahead, get a pizza per person. It's completely possible to polish it off on your own, and if the Italians stay skinny doing just this, so will you. The tiramisu and tartufo are the two desserts we always get, as well as the Moretti La Rossa bierra. Because the pizzas take just 90 seconds to be baked in the oven shipped in from the shores of Naples, carryout is an extremely speedy process (just make sure you're steady enough to clear a glass of prosecco that proprietor Jonathan Goldsmith serves while you wait). But you better get home fast -- the intricacy of the pizza demands that it be eaten while freshly hot, or it will wilt, literally.

Tim R.

I had the very best pizza at Spacca Napoli I have ever eaten in the USA. After spending four years living in Italy, I have grown spoiled for perfect pizza. I had the Buffalina with Mozzerlla di Buffala; it was amazing. All natural and wood fired. Man, I can't stop thinking about it.

N. S.

I was smitten with this place when the first opened a few years ago, and went there several times in the first year or so. I hadn't been back in a while, since we are spoiled with so many good restaurants in Chicago. Anyway - I went late on a Saturday evening last month. We were seated right away, and the service was good. The salad we got was great, and the softshell crab appetizer special looked kind of gross, but was in fact delicious. However, the pizza this time was really disappointing. I am a sucker for the word "truffle" so we got the Bianco Nero, or whatever it's called. While I could sort of taste tht truffle oil, the assorted mushrooms were flavorless and SLIMY. My date and I both love mushrooms, and were so disappointed. They were really so bad we even ended up picking them off. The crust was still pretty good, but the flavorless pizza is sadly probably enough to keep me from going back for a while.

Adam H.

Pork cheek and potato pizza? It's like 3 servings of bacon with hash browns served up on a crust. This was my third visit and I'm delighted to say each visit has sustained the high standard from my first impression. Excellent appetizers, choice of Italian beers and entrees are punctuated by table visits from the chef with one bite samples crafted a few feet away from the table. I recommend sitting near the ovens so you can watch them working the pizza dough before putting it inside the authentic italian oven. For a similar bite in Wicker Park check out Crust and it's range of organic pizzas and vast organic beer selection.

Joel S.

I asked our waiter where they got their buffalo mozzarella, because I cook with mozzarella enough to recognize the best damn product available. His response? Italy. Although I was disappointed that I couldn't source my cheese from the same place they do, the disappointment stopped there. Had a miracle experience here, where we arrived on a cold and snowy night with a line out the door - we prepared for a long wait... but we were the only party of two waiting in a crowd of what must have been 20-30 people and we were whisked to our table!!! I didn't ask questions, but rather immediately ordered beer, wine and a bounty of delicious bread cheese, and melted cheese on bread with ingredients just as good and fresh as the aforementioned mozzarella on something called "pizza". I'm starting to get spoiled by all the insanely good authentic Italian pizza around here - among D.O.C., I Monelli, Antica Pizzeria - Spacca Napoli stands near the top if not the best. I'd probably try to avoid the crowds, but to be honest it would be worth the wait.

Ashton K.

We stopped by after a day at antique stores in the area. The food wasn't bad by any means, but we were a bit underwhelmed by the entire place. If you're a fan of Neapolitan pizza, you'll probably love the place. If you aren't a purist though, you might be a bit underwhelmed by the prices and proportions.

Slu S.

Go late or be prepared to wait. Seriously. We stuck it out and we were rewarded with a fantasically simple, yet wonderful meal. We started with the proscuitto antipasti and followed it with the Margherita Pizza. The owner was there and bouncing table to table. He took great pride in his business and it shows. This place is wonderful.

Sue P.

I'm afraid that I've got to be the dissenting opinion here and say that I did not care for this restaurant or their pizza at all. If you like the type of pizza that they serve here, go to Pizza DOC instead. A couple of friends and I went there over the summer and we didn't have a very good experience which is what I am basing my review on and which is also why I will not go back. The first thing we didn't like was that they don't, or at least at that time, didn't take reservations so we ended up waiting an hour an half for the crappiest table in the joint. We ordered drinks while we were waiting and never got them and every time we asked, we got ignored. Finally, we got our crappy table and it took another half hour for anyone to come over to even ask us if we wanted anything to drink (which we still hadn't received)! Suffice it to say, we were already irritated so when our server came over and treated us like we were interrupting something important that he had been doing,,,,,,it was at that moment that we decided to never go back. And we hadn't even tasted the food yet. Which leads me my last disappointment. I l-o-v-e pizza and I thought perhaps that at least the pizza would cause this restaurant to redeem itself but how disappointed was I when I got a thin, soggy, cold gross.....I don't even want to insult other pizza and give it that name. I know this review seems a little harsh but as I said, it is based on one experience that was bad enough to make me never go back. And I'm a really hard person to piss off when it comes to restaurants and service because I worked as a server for a long time and I know how difficult that job can be.

Cindy N.

Bianco Nero flavor was good, and I loved the simple red sauce on the Margherita--very Italian. But overall a little pricey for limp crust! I lived in Italy and expected thin and crisp. Quick for take-out, and no, the crust wasn't soggy from steaming in the box. We opened it as soon as we got into the car. By contrast, the tartufo was fantastic and worth every penny.

Megan G.

Spacca Napoli was a huge disappointment, which is partially my fault because I'd really built it up in my head. I live a few blocks from Spacca Napoli and I've been meaning to go there for at least a year. Since it's nowhere near anything else, I tend to forget about it when choosing a restaurant in the neighborhood. When we were rejected from Mixteco on Saturday night for lack of reservations, I finally remembered SN and demanded we go there despite the fact that my date had his heart set on Mexican. After a year of anticipation, I was primed to like this place, I wanted to LOVE this place, I wanted to erase the bitter Mixteco disappointment. None of these things happened. We were seated almost immediately. For a Saturday night, that's impressive, though I seem to recall it used to be difficult to get a table here. It makes me wonder if word has started to get around that SN isn't really all that special. Our order was taken promptly and our food arrived literally within 5 minutes of ordering. I realize it doesn't take that long to cook a Neopolitan pizza, but I am not a fan of food coming that quickly. It really doesn't make for a relaxing dining experience. If I wanted food lightening fast, I'd go to a drive through. If I'm paying a premium for sit down service, I want to linger over my dinner. This may be the first time I ever wished a restaurant had NOT started my order as soon as the waitress put it in. It could not have been more than 25 minutes from the time we sat down to the time we were finished eating (and we hemmed and hawed over the menu for a few minutes before ordering). The pizza itself was fine, but unexceptional. The more interesting options were all offered in white pizza form. For some reason I was really craving tomatoes, and for red pizzas our options were pretty much limited to cheese, mushroom, or sausage. I do feel the pizzas are overpriced at anywhere from $12 to $16. I far prefer the personal sized pizzas at Apart, which are about half the price. The dining room is very noisy and kid-friendly, but I knew that going in so it didn't bother me. All of the staff were pleasant enough. Overall, SN isn't bad, it's just a very average restaurant at a higher than average price point. One bright spot is that we were offered a free taste of what seemed to be a test appetizer by the very personable chef. Even free food couldn't redeem Spacca Napoli for me, though. After my year of waiting, I have no plans to return.

Sharon Z.

Needed a place to go to in the bf's hood and since I don't know it as well as my own, I turned to Yelp. From reading the reviews, we were expecting a wait. Luckily, the 20 min wait we were given turned out to be only about ten. We had mussels to start which were really good. He ordered the funghi e salsiccia pizza and I ordered one of the specials which had prosciutto, salumi, mushrooms and black olives. We both studied in Italy in college and both said it reminded us of the pizza we had there. Overall it was very good, but at the end of the night, we were a little surprised by the bill ($70 including tip). I guess we did have an appetizer and each had two drinks, but $16 for my "special" pizza? Call me cheap, but had it been listed on the regular menu with prices, I would have gone with something else--it is only pizza after all.

Jennifer L.

I have been to Spacca Napoli twice and both times I left with a smile on my face. Service is friendly and the food is fresh and made with high quality ingredients. Def will be going back when craving pizza!!!

Lindley E.

Minus one star for making me wait an hour for a dinner that lasted 15 minutes -- man, your service is fast! But your Pizza is fantastic...tastes perfect...just like a real DOC pizza. And you are even members of VPN - you are certified and loved! This is some of the best pizza in America -- if you are keen on authentic, Naples-style pizza. Thin crust that is just chewy enough, sauce that is gorgeous, ingredients that are imported from Italy, like Molino Caputo '00' Flour and San Marzano tomatoes for sauce and Mozzarella di Bufala from Campagnia. The oven is spectacular, and is nearly 1200 F on a good day... Show me another 1200 degree oven in Chicago that isn't a kiln! When you go, don't order an app...just order more Pizza! now it would get one more star if it were more like this place: yelp.com/biz/TrCwRjom3hT…

Nando R.

Simply perfect pizza. Now, I have a very high standard for pizza, given that I'm not only from a traditional italian family, but also was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where they have the best pizza in the world (I promise). This one is a champion. Where else can you have buffalo mozzarella pizza around these parts? It's the kind of pizza that you just can't eat without silverware, because the ingredients just melt with the incredible sauce, all so light but so fulfilling. Conclusion: mangia, que te fa bene!!!

Alex S.

I thought the food at this place was excellent. My biggest issue with the restaurant is being asked to leave as soon as I rest my fork on my plate or take my last sip of wine, beer, etc. Here is a tip to restaurant owners: If you want to keep people coming back, don't ask them to fucking leave the millisecond that they have completed their meal. I think we were there maybe an hour. I understand that they want to get as many people in the door, but this was ridiculous and from what I understand, was not the first time this has happened. I will go back because I liked the food, but if they think of pulling this shit again, it will be the last time.

Pat N.

Both times I've been to Spacca Napoli, I've seen the van pull up delivering the cheeses rigt off the plane from O'Hare. This place is not messing around. True Italian pizza...yes, it gets mushy in the center, but that's the type of pie it is. Go here; pour your wine into little glass tumblers, chat with the owner and don't try to pick it apart. Just enjoy it.

Anne B.

I love this place! I moved out of Chicago last year, but still make a point to stop for pizza here whenever I'm in town. Ingredients are fresh, dough is yummy, servers are friendly, what more could you ask for? My parent's favorite (and they're pretty picky eaters) is the black truffle on foccacia (it's not on their regular menu, it was a special once and we order it every time now)

erin k.

I've been to Spacca a number of times and while I've always enjoyed it...the pizza special last week took this place from great to outstanding. Porcini mushrooms and truffled provolone and fresh mozzarella and some more truffle oil. WOW. Top that off with good service, a killer bottle of wine, and the baked ricotta dessert and heaven cannot compare to my meal. Yum, and I say again...Yum.

Lisa P.

The server took foreverrrrr!! She took a good 5 minutes to take our drink order, dropped the drinks off without even giving us a second to say "were ready to order!" and didn't come back for 20 minutes to take our food order. When we asked for a good appetizer recommendation, she suggested the Prosciutto with arugala & Parmesan. It was literally a few strips of meat SOAKED in oil, like each piece literally DRIPPING in oil when I picked it up. Then the oily meat was topped with a mound of dry arugula lettuce & a few pieces of Parmesan. NOT appetizing!! Then came our main order- the Funghi Pizza (pizza with mushrooms) The sauce had no taste to it, let alone there was hardly any sauce on the pizza, and the pizza itself was soggy. Both my friend and I were NOT impressed with the food at all. Plus, beyond pizza there are no other choices except different variations of anti-pasti (almost all including the oily prosciutto..ick) I understand the place offers traditional Italian fare, but I would suggest adding some salads, soups, or mozzerella sticks for variety...and some more sauce to your pizzas!

John W.

While I love brick oven, Italian style pizza, I just don't see myself going back here unless Pizza DOC closes its doors. That being said, if it weren't for Pizza DOC, this would probably be my favorite pizza in the city; I have tried many. The buffalo mozzerella was good but it's just too watery. I have some friends that swear by this place but it's not better than DOC so....

Bruce R.

8 of us, from Lillstreet Art Center, had dinner last night at Spacca The food was spectacular and the ambiance was wonderful. Also Jonathan, the owner, really went out of his way to make the evening enjoyable and we will be back again very soon.

Kathleen O.

REALLY REALLY good! very fresh and good crust. Also great wine!

Hm C.

I have to agree with Wendy V! My wife and I had been going to Spacca every so often over the last few years, and we always enjoyed it. Pizza reminded us of our trip to Cetona, Italy. Light, flaky, FLAVORFUL! Went back there last weekend after a year, and my wife almost cried! Gone were the effervescent flavors and the flaky crust. The fava bean soup was BLAND. The fried zucchini was BLAND. The pizza was BLAND. We were thoroughly disappointed. The only non-bland thing was the very jovial owner handing us a dessert as we left. He was happy b/c the place was full. We were not happy to say the least. Is it back to Pizza D.O.C.?

Eric H.

Fine pizza, and a nice casual atmosphere. Appetizers were good too. It would have been a good experience if my party hadn't been asked to clear out right after we paid the check. As my Italian friend pointed out, this never happened to him in Italy.

Paige L.

This place was great. The food and wine were good, the atmosphere was simple and our waitress was fantastic. I went with a book club and we ended up with complimentary appetizers and dessert. The place made us feel extremely welcome AND it was delicious. Plus, the pizzas were ready in no time flat. Will be going back again!

Catherine W.

I have been eager to try this place since hearing about it a few years ago from an Italian friend living in Chicago. As previously reviewed, you go here for traditional, authentic pizza, which is the only thing offered on the menu, besides a few appetizer options and dessert. The pizza was definitely tasty, and it was very refreshing to have this kind of unique dining option in North Chicago. We only ended up waiting about 20 minutes on a weekday night. We enjoyed the bresaola pizza special, but thought the marinated anchovy appetizer was so-so (which is actually a few pieces of anchovy on top of a green salad). However, I was disappointed with the poor, slow service. I am not sure if the place is short staffed or what, but it took a long time for the waiter to visit our table to take our initial order after being seated, a long time for the waiter to come back to take our dessert order after giving us the dessert menu, a long time for us to get the check after we requested it. Food came out very promptly after we ordered, so I don't think the kitchen was backed up, just the service. I'm all for European style, relaxed service, but this was not quite right. I am only giving 3 stars for the quality of pizza.

jamie k.

I've been here once.. after trying 4 times. it was great! The server was so kind, we ate awesome food, the inexpensive wine was fabulous. But, honestly...the schedule is just irritating to me. It makes no sense. It's not like it's Schwa or anything. Personally I am really looking forward to the organic oven roasted pizza place on Division to open, then I can stop constantly day dreaming of Spacca Napoli pizza..then being disappointed by the fact that they are never open and I can never eat it and walk down the street where hopefully normal hours will prevail.

Jennifer P.

The appetizers are amazing - I think next time I will make a meal of the antipasto or the mussels or the proscuitto y arugula (which comes with a delicious ball of fresh buffalo mozzarella). My pizza was delicious, but I almost don't need it after a starter like that. My advice would be to go very early if you want to be seated - this place has become a neighborhood favorite and is quickly packed. I'm looking forward to eating antipasto with green olives and working my way further into the wine list again.

Kate Z.

This place is amazing! The owner will often walk around with plates of imported cheese to taste and mini cannoli! The eggplant appetizer (Melanzane) is fantastic and the Sorrentina pizza is to die for! I have never had a bad experience here!

J P.

I feel I have to leave a review for this one because so many people have raved about it but I was seriously underwhelmed. I want to second someone else's review that the crust was SOGGY. I mean - disgusting soggy. Italian pizza is crisp, no? And terrible atmosphere. It was like being in a cafeteria.

Chris S.

I knew the second I walked in and saw the wood-fired oven that would cook my pizza, that I would be in for a treat. They had a impressive list of combo options for the toppings, and the crust was perfectly thin. Normally, I'd say their pizzas could feed two, but my friend and I were both hungry and polished off one a piece.

Tom M.

The pizza is great, but can be a bit inconsistent at times. The regular menu items are almost universally good but it does seem like they used canned mushrooms on the funghi e salsiccia. Either that, or they need to really get some better caramelization on them before using them. The specials are usually good, but a friend had one w/ lardo this past Friday and disliked it. I, on the other hand, had a great appetizer special of mozz & prociutto sandwiched & fried between breaded toasts. Great ! The wait times can be 30-45 mins or less than 5 minutes, even on a Friday. I was there at around 8 this past Friday and we were seated right away. I guess try and stay away from the 6-8 rush hour.

Donato C.

This pizza is truly a recreation of what one can expect when visiting Naples. I was so impressed with the quality of the ingredients! Real Buffalo Mozzarella. Prosciutto (di Parma?) that isn't cut too thin, which is how one encounters it in Italy. The Aceto Balsamico was of a very good quality and it makes a difference, even when used in a salad dressing. The tomato sauce was perfectly done....not too bitter and not too sweet. I could go on...All I can say is if you are having withdrawals from your summer spent in Italy, go to Spacca Napoli as soon as possible!

Jules D.

Best Prosciutto e Rucola pizza in town. It's been our favorite here for years - so naturally we tried it at one of the new "hot" spots in River North, because it was nearby. New place? Did not come close to the finesse and freshness here. The owner and staff are fantastic. We held a wedding rehearsal luncheon here last fall and it could not have been better. Started off with Prosecco and foccacia with truffles, at the owner's suggestion. Then appetizers, several pizzas and a few different desserts. Everything was truly delicious. When we asked if anyone wanted to come back another time, they all said, I do! Ok, sorry, but you won't be sorry here.

a d.

We went to Italy for 2 weeks this past July, so hope to have a little different view on this place. No way in heck are my frat buddys in Chicago going to like this place since they eat Lou Malnati/Giordano type pizza. This is as authentic as it comes. The wood fired pizzas are light, perfect tasting, and fresh. If I closed my eyes, I might have been sitting in Tuscany again. The salad and appetizers were very good. Reasonable pricing and truly authentic. I'm glad we went during the week since there was no wait. Also, its more of a "family friendly" spot, so I would not want to be there on a Saturday Night. I would call it a step higher than most pizza places in terms of ambience. Please go if you know what "real" pizza is. I'm born/raised in Chicago and 5 years ago I would not have understood this pizza. After Italy, I realize you are not supposed to feel like you ate a 15 lbs. pizza for dinner. Enjoy! The Italian proverb for Eat to live and not live to eat

Christine M.

This place is delicious, but it is also the most I have ever paid for a personal pizza! Nonetheless, I would recommend it to anyone interested.

John O.

I had high expectations for this Neopolitan style pizza eatery. Tucked away on a quiet street off Ravenswood, it seemed like it could be a hidden gem that I could bike to from my house. I even heard rumors that they flew in fresh mozzarella daily from some secret location. My hopes were slowly dashed as we waited over an hour for a table (I guess partly my fault for not calling first). When we were finally seated and ordered the margherita and special pizza. When the pizzas arrived I found them overly greasy and barely edible...what a disappointment!!! I don't know if someone new was on the oven or if it was just the pancetta topping on my pizza but the crust turned into the consistency of a soaked paper towel. Nevertheless, this might have just been an off night, so I am going to give them one more shot at some point in the future. It's hard to do though when I could go to Frasca or Pizza D.O.C and get great wood-fired pizza with a shorter wait and for less money.

Brian C.

In a town that has more than its fair share of good pizza, this place really stands out. The service is great. If you're forced to wait for a spell, they might bring out a taste of prosecco. At our last dinner there, they came around with complimentary cannoli around dessert time. The Neapolitan pizza is a huge winner. True to form, with a number of different combos. I would put it up against any other thin crust pizza I've had in Chicago. I also like that they don't seriously mark up glasses of wine here. I had a Nero d'Avola that was only $5.50 a glass. Some other places would want to charge me $10, I imagine.

Jonathan C.

Really wish I could give this more stars. But I don't really get the pizza. Ingredients are top notch, but the spongy sort of crust really does nothing for me. I am a pizza barbarian I guess. I will say that the pizza is much better fresh from the restaurant, do not ever let this thing go in a box, even for a short while. Very nice service, and the space is nice, has an outdoor area in the summer. Prices are a bit high but I guess you are paying for italian authenticity. The pizza is about 4 stars fresh, but gets dragged down by pricing and inablility to keep long.

lesley s.

I came to Spacca Napoli because it's a friend's favorite pizza restaurant in the city, but was slightly disappointed. We went in the dead of winter on a Saturday night around prime dinner time, which I would have avoided if I had realized we were a group of 6 instead of my anticipated group of 3. There was a long wait, which was obviously to be expected, but there was nowhere to go during that wait. We were always in someone's way, and even when we finally got to sit by the door to wait, we froze each time the door opened. Our wait kept getting extended, and after about an hour and 45 minutes I was ready to eat my own arm. I do love that the owner comes around with appetizers while you wait, but I actually watched him throw a piece of pizza away while I stood there salivating. Food itself was really good, and once we were finally seated we were pleasantly surprised by the quick service. I'll give it another shot this summer when they have outdoor seating, but I'll probably go on a weeknight to avoid the long wait.

Colleen B.

The pizza was not inedible, but it was just...meh. There are similar quality pizzas available elsewhere for a comparable price without the incomprehensible Italian menu. Burnt crust and a soggy center are not to my liking either, "authentic" or not.

Lisa M.

Honestly if people do not like this pizza then there is an issue and you don't know the 'real thing'. Sure Chicago style pizza is good but having originated and lived in Napoli itself this is the closest thing you will get to it. People complaining about soggy pizza? and charred crust? GET REAL! It is absolutely amazing. The owner is such a nice guy, the people who wait on you are just there to bring your food and answer questions, they aren't really into small talk which personally I like because I hate the overly agressive wait staff that I see at other restaurants it makes me uncomfortable when it's too much. Anyways, the tiramisu is unreal also and they have pizza to go which is good when you just want to scarf it down on the go : ). It's Friday! That means i'll make my down here tonight I think.