We went to Pizza Art around 9:30 PM last night and had a great experience! Â The pizza was delicious. Â We got the "Pizza ART" which is a signature delicious shrimp and cheese topped pizza and the Prosciutto Pizza. Â Both were very tasty. Â
We did not have any problems with service, but it was surprisingly unpacked for a Friday after Valentine's day (probably due to the time we went). Â And the BYOB is a huge plus! Â
Including salad, we walked away with a $35 tab! Â
Absolutely going back here!!!!!!!
The bruschetta here is the best I've ever had. Â The food is always top notch!! Â It's byob too, so when you get the bill you're going to be super happy. Â I haven't tried their desserts because I usually eat everything on my plate here. Â The servers have been kinda rude in the past, but if you can get past that, just go for the awesome food.
Review Source:After working in the restaurant business in some capacity for over ten years, I can honestly say I've never heard of such bad customer service. I always am polite to employees, because I've been there. Mistakes happen-- I get it. The courtesy I showed for them was not returned.
My boyfriend and I ordered carryout pizza and requested an item to be left off because of an allergy. When we discovered that the item was left on the pizza, we VERY politely asked if they could remake the pizza. The host told me that they could remake the pizza at our expense.. When I asked to speak to a manager (owner), she said that he didn't feel like talking to us about the matter-- not even that he was too busy and he'd be with us as soon as possible. I've never been treated so terribly as a customer in my life-- not even close.
Some of the food is good but nothing amazing. And after their "hospitality" I would never go back.
My last trip to Pizza Art goes back two years?! Well, now that I'm in the neighborhood I decided to revisit Pizza Art Cafe. Stil a fan. They continue to serve up tasty wood fired pizza along with that delicious anchovy crostini. Maybe next time, I will reunite with my ole friend...the bolognese pizza and maybe my new friend cevapcici?
Cute little place in Ravenswood, right near the Rockwell stop. Nice place to kick back with a party of five (cue Closer to free) or with a party of two and a nice bottle of wine as Pizza Art is BYOB. No delivery, my mouth is sad but my waistline is grateful.
Five years later and the home fires are still burning here. I should say the wood fires. And I still live downwind where I can catch the smell in early winter, as I exit my front door. Â I brought a couple of newbies here for a Sunday night supper. While quiet around 6:30, this cozy spot filled up pretty quickly in another hour, keeping the servers running. This place is popular with larger groups and families, some European, some not. The menu has not changed much, and the staff is still friendly and efficient. Three of us shared a Greek Salad, a funghi pizza and a big plate of spaghetti Carbonara. Â And some BYOB Stella Artois and Pinot Grigio. The outdoor patio is closed for the season, but all summer it looked like a little corner of Paris. Pizza Art Cafe is still a great value and still the perfect spot for a family-style Italian feast.
Review Source:I would've given this place 5 stars but the service was mediocre however, they were slammed. As a former server I understand the unexpected flood of demanding customers but you should always be on your A-game when someone asks you for basic things like utensils. That should be on the table regardless.
Anyhow this is the closest you'll get to Neapolitan style pizza in Chicago according to my friend who has been to Italy many times and I completely believe her.
Word of warning to my fellow Chicagoans who love deep dish and pan style "American" pizza, this will probably disappoint you and your type II diabetes. This is very thin pizza with minimal cheese and fresh ingredients. In my opinion, it is what a pizza should really be and technically, according to italians it is.
We ordered a large house salad for an appetizer that was very fresh with minimal dressing. Then we ordered two pizzas. the Rucola for it's Arugula and grape tomatoes on top which is an excellent combo of hot and cold on a pizza or rather a "salad pizza". Then the Salame for our protein quota. Salty goodness but not overwhelming. Â
Also it is BYOB so it makes for an inexpensive date. I'll definitely be back to try the other pizzas.
Love the mussels in wine sauce & the shrimp or seafood risotto never disappoint. But service is slow, and the pizzas are disappointing/meh at best. Spaghetti carbonara w/shaved beef (?) is horrible beyond words! And the WORST tasting table water - no ice either?! Pizza DOC on Lawrence off of Western is worth the trip & far better.
Review Source:It could have gotten a three. Â It's great if you like to be surrounded by NPR like conversations, "My great great was best friends with General Grant and blah" or "towson state's students all love to learn and push the boundaries of Bloom's scale." Â
I waited for an hour for a pizza that was good, not great... as were the prices, service and ambiance...honestly this was not my thing but I gave it four stars anyway.
I hate to use public bathrooms, so i waited about 2-3 hours to use mine at home. Â I mention this because the bathroom is where all conversation ends up eventually.
My first dining experience at Pizza Art Cafe was incredibly mediocre. Now...that was four or five years ago. Tonight my boyfriend and I passed by, decided to give it another go in hopes of it not sucking this time. NOPE. Completely unimpressed and underwhelmed (again) with everything that was brought to the table tonight.
We ordered The Mussels, Lasagna "ART", and the Diavola Pizza. The freshness of the mussel was similar to the mussels sitting out at a chinese buffet. The "white wine sauce" was basically a thick layer of oil, overpowered by dill and was more on the salty side. If you want good mussels, go to Fountainhead! The Lasagna "ART" on the menu lied to us. It said it would be layered with a flaky or crispy pastry and all we got was mush. Also, there was sour cream and a cucumber for garnish? I had to scrape that off because it was off-putting. What a confusing dish. Lastly, the pizza. When the server brought it out, it LOOKED good but it certainly did not taste how it looked. All I could taste was the mozzarella cheese - salty and tough. There was no depth or life to it - very bland. Certainly does not live up to the Diavola at Spacca Napoli!
Needless to say I was kinda pissed that I wasted my time and money with Pizza Art Kitchen when there are so many other (better) options around.
Simply lovely.
Small and cozy, with a nice little outdoor patio. I imagine this place gets super packed on Friday and Saturday evenings, but for an early Sunday dinner, there was plenty of room to sit inside, and attentive service.
J and I weren't too hungry and split the cevapcici and pizza bolognese. Both of these dishes was SO delicious. The warm, fluffy pita (?) bread that comes with the cevapcici is divine. The pizza crust is thin, and bubbles/chars in all the right spots. Top that with a well-made pizza sauce, delicious cheese, and a savory bolognese sauce, and you have a winner. Next time I want the pizza with the over easy egg on it. And appetizers. And dessert. Okay, next time I won't try to eat dinner 3 hours after finishing lunch. :)
Bonus: BYOB!
Found this gem a number of years ago and have been a dedicated regular ever since. In fact, I must say that Jasmin Bekto's funghi is the best mushroom pizza I've ever had--suffused with plump mushrooms and bursting with a garlic and parsley inflected red sauce. Just the right amount of cheese. (I demand "extra crispy," btw.)
Nice "Greek" salad and seasonal oven veggies, too. Finally, you can't beat the byo option.
BTW: just got back from three weeks in Italy, and nothing I had in the old country was better than the pies I get at Pizza Art! Long live ZA.
Woof. I will not be returning unless I am getting carry out.
Let me start with the good part - the pizza. Oh my god the pizza. I requested to have the garlic infused olive oil put on my pizza and it was like crack. It was so delicious. If I were grading them on the food alone, they'd get a solid 4.5 stars.
HOWEVER! The serving staff was the worst. As a former server, I rarely give tips that are less than 25%. I gave a 15% tip the night that I went here. We came in and we were the second table seated for the evening. There was a server eating at a booth. We waited for 5 minutes while she finished eating before she got our drinks or anything. Once we ordered, the food came out pretty quickly. After we got our food, she never came back. We didn't get refills on our drinks, no one asked how our food was, and once we finished we sat with dirty plates for TEN MINUTES. Mind you, we were one of TWO tables that were there. We eventually tracked down the other server who was able to find our server so we could get our check. Goodness gracious.
Pizza and pasta are outstanding. Â The smoked beef is very strong, so order it sparingly and pair it with a strong wine. Â You'll be bringing the wine, as it's BYOB (with no corkage fee!). Â The prices are quite low - we had an appetizer, pasta, pizza, and dessert for $36 before tip. Â That's ridiculous!
Service is decent, and we were able to get a Friday reservation 2 hours beforehand. Â The only disappointment was the very bland cannoli we had. Â Everything else was delicious.
Food is not better than Spacca Napoli... it was average pizza at best. The fact that it is BYOB must lead to all the rave reviews on Yelp. Service was average, and only one bathroom in the place? Really? Â Also I believe the owners are not even Italian, which may have something to do with the less-than-authentic pizza.
Review Source:Say what you will about me, but I'll bet I'm the only person you know who has an entire series of 6+ minute videos of her semi-androgynous cat (explained in an earlier review) Â humping a worn out stuffed puppy dog in various and interchanging cat karma sutra positions.
What does that have to do with pizza? Well, not a whole lot, to be honest, but it serves the purpose of demonstrating my (and my cat's) comfort level when it comes to freedom of expression as well as my ability to make whomever I'm near appear really levelheaded, patient, mysterious, compassionate, advantageous, etc- I really probably could go on forever, but I'll spare a few moments and lay it out simply: I am the greatest wing-man in the world and you should take me on your dates... and buy me dinner. I will work for food, I will (likely) get you laid, I will earn you the respect of your date, and it will likely be the best non-'three-some' threesome you'll ever go on. But please do note the 'likely' part I've added in the above as I can't guarantee your sexual satisfaction as I will not have any part in the actual acts and I certainly can't be held responsible for either party's possible pre-existing sexual condition and/or foibles. Someone get's whiskey dick? It ain't on me pal... I'm just there to aid in the connection. Â
Before embarking on "our" (you, your guest and little ole me) date, we need to choose the perfect setting. Somewhere you can dress up or go casual, somewhere with heaps of personality but that's still comfortable, not stuffy, and somewhere that won't break the bank either- It's not fun feeling like you're blowing all your money on a risk-y first-ish date, that might not even let you blow your wad while you're in their presence later that evening. And equally, it's not fun feeling like you have to commit more time, conversation or coital relations to a date because there's an unspoken level of agreed upon prostitution on first dates where it feels a little like the code of Hammurabi and paying back an eye for an eye, but instead it's c*ck for cuisine. Anyway...
I suggest nipping any problems in the bud and making an easy peasy rezo for 3 at Pizza Art Cafe. Perfect ambiance, dim to barely lit so everyone looks their best, the portions are perfectly share-able (good thing there'll be 3 of us!), the dishes are insanely delish and total comfort food, but you won't feel uncomfortably fatty afterward... unless you get one of their meat plates- in which case I can also not be responsible for your meat-sweatin' ass not getting any nookie. Nobody wants that ish. The service is attentive, but no where near smothering. They recognize when the mood calls for them to just leave your sh*t alone for a few minutes, the prices are nominal, but not to the point where you look like a cheap ass if you're the one buying. And best of all, they're BYO muthaf*cking B! Ka-ching! Ka-ching!
The mood is set. The wine is on.
We'll all meet, I'll be running late. You two will make eyes with each other while I fumble with heavy silverware that'll surely hit the glassware and bring the awkward attention and conversation back to me. I'll apologize, guzzle some wine, probably break out some cat vids (I can save the sexy ones for a latter date and maybe just show the more wholesome stuff to start; Wouldn't want you to be shown up by a cat in the boudoir). I'll probably drink just enough to tell the story about how on more than one occasion I've eaten gravel chunks thinking they were chocolate chips fallen from a passerby's cookie, or the time I sh*t my pants as an adult while running in my neighborhood and then still continued to finish my route with a load in my shorts even though I had pass my house twice before I finished my distance and crab-walked inside and up to my shared family bathroom.
Yep. You're gonna look like a rock star by I get done with this date. And the beauty is, that everything will go swimmingly, regardless of how grossly (in every sense of the word) it's coming off in this review. We'll be drinking wine and fingering the massive bruschetta bites into our mouths to help soak up the wine (just a bit). I'll tell cordial, but still quirky tales to break the ice as you and yours exchange glances of agreed awkwardness wondering why I'm there, but secretly you both enjoy my company because it takes the pressure off either of you to keep your sh*t in order while I ignore social norms. It's like dinner and show, but on a more personal level.
I'm going to start with the minestrone soup because I don't have to worry about not-slurping, and you guys have to get the pizza. It's their namesake for crying out loud! The seafood, the egg, the mushroom or my no cheese fave are all perfection, just be sure to save room for the nutella pancakes at the end. At the very least, it guarantees you one, but prospectively two, happy endings.
Thanks in advance for free meal; Can't wait for our next date.
I would love to give this place more stars, but the waiting staff is not very good and most of the time there's a long wait. If you plan to eat there, make sure to bring time and not come hungry, because you'll be waiting a bit.
The food though is great and we love the Pizza Siciliana with their smoked meat. It's like crack, seriously!
So we decided to do take out with them, which means we call them and can pick up our wonderful food 15 minutes later, hassle free and without any wait.
I would give this place another star or two if they'd get rid of that horrid hostess. We walked in at 9:40 on a Friday night (they are open until 11). The woman says "what can I do for you?"; um, how about a table? Then she exaggeratedly cranes her neck to look at the clock, like how dare you come in while we are open and expect to be fed? So after a sigh and telling us she will go set a table for us, she then proceeds to leave us standing in the doorway while she goes to chat with two gentlemen at another table. We finally just sat down.
Other than that, the spinach, garlic olive oil, mozz pizza was wonderful. Next time will BYOB.
I need to begin this review by saying that Ravenswood is a really nice neighborhood. I hadn't spent much time in the residential portion of it... and I'm definitely a fan. Walking by Blago's house (vaarrry niice) and through the tree-lined sidewalks, I daydreamed about having a wife and kid(s) and living in one of these fine fine homes. Possibly, one day. The weather's nice out. Take a stroll and check things out.
Once you get tired and hungry from walking, pick up a bottle of vino and head on into Pizza Art Cafe. I'd stayed away from this place thinking it was a relative of the Art of Pizza. One quick read of that review and you'll see why I was scurred. There was no need. These restos aren't even in the same category (I mean, they are... but not really... well... I'll shut up about this now). Deliciously-made Italian-style pizzas, it's evident why the word 'art' is in the name. The plates are gorgeous. The food looks as good as it smells. Everything about the culinary experience will make you hungry... and your hunger will be satisfied.
White wine at the ready, I began my meal with the bleu cheese salad. Mixed greens, tomato, red onion, and cucumber covered with blue cheese and balsamic vinaigrette sounds pretty basic. But every mouthful of that green deliciousness popped with flavor. I enjoy salads but I don't seek them out. I would seek this out. Do yourself a favor and order it. The taste is wonderful and you won't fill yourself up for dinner. And, you need to throw down on some wood-fired truth. I had a difficult time choosing which pizza to order, given they all sounded so delicious but I finally settled on the Capricciosa. I ordered *so* well. Why? Red sauce base, topped with mushrooms, artichoke, green olives, HAM AND AN OVER-EASY EGG. Done. Done!! As much as I wanted to savor the flavor, I devoured this pizza like I was the Big, Bad Wolf at a retirement home. I couldn't stop eating and I was sad when I was finished with my meal. Do you hear me? I had regret that I had no more to eat.
I propose a name change to Pizza Art *Magic* Cafe. Come for the neighborhood, stay for the pizza joy.
I tried hard to love it! Â I've been by this place multiple times and decided to check it out after seeing that it had 4 stars on yelp. Â The interior is incredibly homey and cute. Â Whilst waiting for a table, and taking in the feel of the place and the delicious smells in the room, I decided that I would most definitely love it. Â They have a wood pizza oven right up front and when I saw the cook take out a freshy bake pita-like thing and make bruschetta with it, I was in heaven!
But I just couldn't love it! Â We were seated at an odd table in the very back of the restaurant; the only one without a light anywhere around it. No candles either, so it was just kind of dark and depressing. Â We had the caprese salad and the arugula pizza. Â The caprese was good; the basil and mozz were delicious but the tomatoes were freezing cold and hard, and had really nothing to contribute flavor-wise. Â I know it's winter; but come on. Â
When we got the arugula pizza, the waiter recommended that we put balsamic vinegar on it.  He  was right; the pizza without the balsamic was bland as anything.  There was barely any tomato sauce on it, so it was mostly just cheese, bread, and arugula.  Does that sound delicious?  No, it doesn't.  The balsamic helped, but I felt like I should have to douse my pizza in balsamic to make it edible!
Also, the pizza was advertised as having cherry tomatoes on it, which it did. A handful of them, uncut, thrown on the middle of the pizza. Â A handful of ice cold, frosty, flavorless cherry tomatoes. Â Hmm. Â Really? Â Can't defrost them to room temp, cut them, make it seem like you put any effort into it all?
I think there was only one (maybe two) waiters for the entire place, which was nearly full. Â The result was excruciatingly slow service. Â Conclusion? Â I'll stick to spacca napoli or one of the other great Neapolitan pizza joints in this pizza-happy city.
I have been going to Pizza Art since 2008 and every time it delivers. Right off the Rockwell brown line stop, it's in a very safe, quiet neighborhood. (You're more likely to get hit by a stroller than by a car around these parts)
Service is always slow. Always. I'm starting to think they do it on purpose. I am actually okay with the slow service, as it's BYOB and a romantic atmosphere, I don't like to be bothered every couple minutes while I dine with my wife.
The crostini with Jasmin's smoked meats is one hell of a way to kick off your evening. Pair it with their house salad and you'll be full before you get your main course. I always order the Diavola. It's spicy with salame and hot green peppers. I've been here 10+ times and it has never disappointed.
For desert, I always go with the cannoli. This is my favorite cannoli in the city. The wife typically orders the nutella crepes and I usually eat half of hers.
When it's all said and done, your bill will likely be less than $50.
People tell me spacca napoli has the best neapolitan style pizza in this town, but my personal opinion is that it doesn't get any better than Pizza Art.
Went here with my fiancee about 2 weeks ago. Place was hopping on a Thursday night.
Food was great, we got the bruschetta, and since we love garlic, it was a home run. They have some garlic spread on it that's unreal. Get it.
We were seated right by the oven and it was toasty over there, so wear some layers in case.
For entrees we got one of their signature pies and a salad. The salad was enormous and delicious, and the pie was a mushroom/meat combo that was killer.
Can't wait to go back and try some other pies. They do have pick up available too, which is great if you're getting off at the Ravenswood stop or are right near there.
The only thing keeping me from a 5th star was the service. We were asked if we wanted dessert and were given the options. She told us she'd give us a minute to decide. Then she walked by our table 6 times. When we flagged her down, she brought us our check. (We wanted dessert) So we ordered 2 coffees (since the cappuccino machine wasn't working) and a tiramisu. (They were out of tiramisu).
It then took another 7-8 minutes to get our check. We couldn't flag our waitress down because she was on her haunches with her back to us making chit chat with another table.
As someone who's waited tables, let me say..come on! She had 6 tables tops. Check on your tables!
RECAP: Food: Â Great! Service: Iffy.
Pizza Art Cafe is a spot where I tend to take out-of-towners for "something different" yet familiar - awesome pizza in a "neat" environment (hint: the 'art' part of the name.)
The 800-degree brick-oven that cooks pies in 2 minutes (tops!) is what makes these Neapolitan babies stand out from others - crusts come out bubbly and char-kissed, gooey and easy to fold. From four cheeses to fungi to meats and more, toppings are standard here so pick what you love and dig in.
Hey, while you're at it - bring your own and have some while you wait for your stuff to come out. And instead of just drinking, order one of their garlic-coma-inducing (in a good way) slabs of bruschetta. You won't be disappointed. Unless you don't like garlic, and in that case, we can't be friends.
This place is a solid 4 star restaurant, in my book. Â I've been living in the 'hood for a few years now, and it's become an old favorite for me and my husband. Â It's tiny, cozy in the winter, BYOB, with delicious pizza. Â The service is...well, I'll call it European. Â The servers are not going to kowtow and hover. The pace of your meal will be relaxed. Â Here's a few helpful hints to get the most out of your experience:
1. Don't come on a Friday night with a birthday party of 6 people at 8pm without a reservation and expect to get seated, oh, anytime ever. This is a tiny place. Call first.
2. ORDER THE SOUP! They make two kinds, minestrone and white bean with smoked beef. Â They are homemade and some of the best soup I've ever had.
3. Bring a bottle or two of wine and have a few glasses to help you chill out while you wait for your pizza. Â They have one dude who makes all the pizza in a brick oven, so it can take a little while.
4. When you get the check, marvel about how you just had a fantastic dinner for about $10 per person.
Oh Pizza Art....I want to love you more than I do.
After moving to this new 'hood I was excited to see a pizza place steps outside my door. I am all about supporting local small businesses, but after my second visit I was still not that impressed. The first visit was really busy so we ordered it to go. I don't know if they forgot about the pizzas in the oven but ours was burnt all around the edges. I like my pizza golden brown, but have a hard time eating crust that tastes like charcoal. Â
We decided to get this place another go since people rave about it. Â I opted to try something other than the pizza so I asked the server her suggestions. Â She highly recommended the Cevapcici. Â That was an experience......a meat sweats, greasy experience.
We had so much food we took the leftover home for lunch the next day. Â Needless to say we weren't excited to eat the food a second time around. Â My husband had to drain his pasta from the vat of oil it was sitting in.
I might give this one last ditch effort on a weekday night to make sure I'm not crazy!
I love this place. Â People who are giving it 2 or 3 stars might need to understand what happens when you get authentic Italian pizza. Â You might actually have to sit a little while, drink some vino (BYOB), relax, have some mind-blowing bruschetta, sit a little more and then get the pizza of a lifetime.
I mean. La Dolce Vita people. Â
Pasta with smoked beef (I've never had it, but have seen people's faces as they enjoy it), shrimp on my pizza, garlic coming out of the pores for days... but SO worth it.
Amazing.
I went here for a large birthday dinner of a dozen or so. Â
They make an excellent bru-sket-ta where every bite is teeming with the right amount of cooked garlic. Â A few of their pizzas are truly creative and well executed. Â Of the many laid before me I preferred the Bresaola (smoked sliced house beef + arugula...a well balanced combo) and the Bolognese which is as the name implies. Â I had never seen the latter on a menu on the sauce was very well spiced and worthy of its name. Â
Pizza-wise, it's a tiny bit lacking for me in creativity despite an excellent system to work with. Â Service-wise, the staff was very friendly, but man...incredibly long wait upon sitting without any communication much less food coming in. Â This was mitigated by BYO, and I'd like to go back some time with a normal sized party.
It's ALL about the service here, I'm telling ya.
And, if you can land "Sonny" then it's likely you'll have a pretty damn good experience at Pizza Art Cafe. And, you might be a little scared...but, he knows his shit, and he knows it WELL.
Up until a few weeks ago I'd had the same types of servers for most of my visits (at least 10 times). Young, somewhat unaffected female servers that weren't entirely knowledgeable about the food, restaurant, etc. Totally fine, just not totally into the experience, nor adding to it. But hey, if you can get the right food to my table...I'm happy.
Then I opted for PAC for a recent dinner excursion that included both of my parents (who are divorced), my extremely hungover (read: mute, grouchy) younger brother and my boyfriend. Who had not yet met my father. So, yeah. Let's go...I guess. :)
Sonny was an entertainer of epic proportions (literally and figuratively, that guys got some big hands)! Suggestions abound and quick with the upsell...which here doesn't amount to much on the check, but beacoup food on the table. Great for the hangover kid, hungry dad, and sending leftovers home with the boy.
Pizzas: Quatro Stagioni, Funghi (yum!), and one that's like a calzone. a little thick, and watch for errant mushrooms. *must be in the sauce.
Apps: Cold Cut Plate
Salads: 2 people can split 1. ($5)
Desserts: Nutella crepes with whip cream.
BYOB, still.
Total bill for 5 people was under $70, and everyone was STUFFED. I'll say it again, great for large groups on a budget, good food for a good price, cool little neighborhood, very convenient to the brown line...and if you can get Sonny, do.
I was beyond excited to try this place with my pizza-loving sister. Â Pizza for her, BYOB for me - perfecto, no?
Well, to be honest... no.
Things started out well - the bruchette was quite tasty. Â The homemade pita bread forming the foundation of this dish was possibly the best thing I had all night.
The pizza itself, unfortunately, was underwhelming at best. Â The menu had a plethora of pizza choices - all members of the B. family found something that sounded perfect. Â However, everything came out SO QUICKLY that we couldn't even pretend that it wasn't at least partially prepared ahead of time. Â The dominant flavor on both my (pugiliese) and my sister's (spinaci) pizza was cheese. Â So, so much cheese on such a thin pizza.
My mother fared far better with her proscuitto pizza. Â Once baked, the proscuitto took on a "country ham"-type taste - deliciously salty. Â Regardless, we all picked the proscuitto off the top rather than actually eating it with the pizza.
Sure, it's BYOB with no corkage fee - but Pizza Art isn't the only such joint in town. Â I'll be takin' my wine elsewhere from now on.
Pizza Art landed on my radar for their calzone (thank you, Yelp search), but it's a pretty cute place which screams "Bring a date." Â However, I am so confused by all the reviews which stated that this joint is tiny and crowded. Â We got there shortly after opening to beat the rush, but when we left sometime after 6pm, there were only two other tables occupied. Â It was a Tuesday, not a Friday, but where's the crowd? Â Surely at least some of these reviews have been written since the recession, right? Â And by the way, it's hardly tiny--eight four-tops and eight two-tops. Â Smallish, I guess, but a 48-person occupancy is definitely not "tiny."
Now that that's out of the way, I can say that I liked this place but I didn't love it. Â They have a long menu of interesting pizzas, but of course I had eyes for only the calzone. Â It was large but I only give it a B-. Â There was no glaring flaw; it simply tasted "just okay." Â I liked the pizza a lot more, snagging the funghi slices from my tragically mushroom-averse dining companion's quattro stagioni.
We had started the meal with the caprese salad, which was very good: Â all ingredients perfectly proportioned, with BIG whole basil leaves, not too much balsamic vinegar, and an unexpected sprinkling of some kind of very fine green herb (probably not orgegano, maybe thyme? parsley?). Â Good stuff.
Service was good, atmosphere was charming, prices were right (including BYO for no fee), but I don't know...it just didn't add up to more than the sum of its parts. Â A decent neighborhood place, but now that I've tried the calzone, it's crossed off my list.
I'm tightening my belt like never before, which seems counterintuitive since this place will force you to losen it a couple of notches.
A few friends and I were planning to grab dinner, I only had to know 3 things to know this was the perfect spot:
1. BYOB with no corkage fee
2. Huge portions
3. Cheap prices
The place is tiny, if it were a retail shop it would err on the small side. In the warmer months they have a few tables outside, which increases the seating capacity, but either way reservations are advised.
A bad day, had me running late to dinner so I didn't have much opportunity to drink in the decor. About the only thing I had the chance, or patience, to drink in was a few bottles of Magic Hat #9.
When I arrived, bruschetta and grilled veggies had already been ordered. Both items were quite good, but be forewarned the bruschetta is not what think of when they think bruschetta. Instead of bread rounds, it's served on a puffy, doughy crust with diced tomatoes and feta on top. It's a bit messy to eat, but quite good.
Despite the huge portions my friend promised, she insisted we each get our own pie. At first I thought she was crazy, but I'm glad I went along with it. We ordered 2 Spinacci's and 2 Margheritas (one with garlic). Of the two varieties I preferred the Spinacci, it was delicious, the sauce, the cheese and the crust make my mouth water just typing about it. I liked the Margherita too, but it was really heavy on the cheese and greasy; even the plate underneath was covered in oil. Just a warning, they are heavy handed with the garlic in case you're not a big fan.
Generally, it seems like the biggest complaint about this place is service. Service was ok, a bit slow but we weren't in any hurry to get through our meal. Our server delivered our pizzas haphazardly; first one, then several minutes later 2 more, and then another 5 minutes later the last one. This was kind of annoying since we didn't want our pizza to get cold, but also didn't want to be rude and eat although not everyone was served. After we ate I did feel a bit like we were being encouraged to wrap it up, which was annoying.
There's only one bathroom and I was seated facing it, I noticed that there was pretty much a steady line throughout our meal. The bathroom itself is pretty big, if they could find a way to split it into two it would be great.
Our bill for 4 came to $57 total, which considering how much food we got was such a steal. I had enough leftover pizza for 2 more meals.
Bottom line: Great pizza, huge portions, fantastic prices, service leaves room for improvement.
To the guy sitting at the next table facing me:
I know the pizza is good, but that is no excuse for shoving nauseatingly large pieces of it into your mouth like a savage. Especially when you do it only to realize you've overstuffed your mouth - gross! This is a restaurant, not an eating contest; there's a fork and knife on the table for a reason - use them!
This is a cute little gem on Rockwell, right off the brown line. The restaurant  is not that big but there is a small patio with a few tables. If you want to stop in on a Friday or Saturday night, reservations are more than likely required. Every table I spotted when I came here on Friday had a "reserved" sign on it. This place is very reasonable and there is no corkage fee for this BYOB. Our party of 6 was seated way in the back with a nice intimate booth, the seats are red velvet, so sexy!
We had the pleasure of having Sonny as our waiter. We loved him from the start and all the way up to the end of our night. He was very knowledgeable, accommodating, sweet and attentive. He explained the top 5 pizzas at Pizza Art and it was hard to choose one. I settled on the Bolognese pizza. Nice amount of meat sauce (fabulous) and not too much cheese with perfectly thin crust. This was the winner at our table! My husband had the Capricciosa pizza and it was ok, there was an egg over easy on top. He loved it! I also shared the caprese salad with a friend and it was nice and fresh.
I don't know how we ended up ordering desserts but we did! We all shared the tiramisu and the Nutella and strawberry jam crepes. All I can say is WOW! The crepes were my favorite, especially the Nutella! The crepes were nice and airy and the Nutella was a nice touch. I highly recommend Pizza Art Cafe for a nice low key evening with friends or your special someone. After our food fest, our bill came to $120 between 6 people. You cannot ask for better prices, food or service!
Came in here this weekend. I LOVE this place. We ordered enough food to kill a large child, and the bill was less that $30! Well less. Just to put this in perspective, 1 bowl of Minestrone soup, 1 LARGE Greek salad, 1 bruschetta (which is just amazing, unlike anyone I've had before. The plate is drizzled in olive oil, and the giant, thick, soft bread is baked in the oven, and then tomatoes and cheese dumped on top, so good), and a pizza. The sad thing was, we ate almost all of it. The waiter even said, "I'm impressed." I took that as a compliment at first, then realized, That was a heck of a lot of food that is now missing from the plates.
Also, the entire staff is so amazingly nice. After we finished, the waiter told us to take our time and finish our bottle of wine. They were in no hurry to rush us out to make room for a new table. Also, while eating the apps, he came to us to let us know that he hadn't put in the order for the pizza, to give us time to clear out the apps, and to just let him know when we'd be ready for it. Great service.
Pizza Art Cafe has been suggested, and has come up in conversation, and has always been rejected as a place to try until last night. Being a million and one degrees below zero, we wanted to go some place really close, so we decided to give them a shot.
It's a cute little place with white linens and multimedia on the walls, with a brick oven on the left when you enter. It's a smallish place--maybe 15 tables?--but seems cozy, and we chose a table a little further away from the door. At 6:30, I was surprised to see that a few tables were already taken.
Their pizza menu looked AWESOME, and there were a lot of seemingly authentic Italian choices. When I go back here, I think I'll try the Spinaci pizza, with spinach, garlic, and tomato sauce (cheese is optional on that pizza). I really couldn't make up my mind, so I decided on one of the non-pizza options, the chicken marsala. The boy ordered the salame pizza, and then we waited.
His pizza came first, and because I am neurotic about this sort of stuff, I was a little freaked out that our waited forgot my order. I tried his salame pizza--which looked and tasted incredible--and then, my place came out. Two huge, tender, juicy boneless chicken breasts smothered with white wine and a gazillion mushrooms, over a bed of garlicky, peppery pasta--I was in heaaaaven. Delicious. I would eat that meal every other day.
Seems like we've found our new neighborhood place...I can't wait to be back and try everything on the menu....okay wait, maybe not. They serve octopus (eeeeek!) and veal (that's a no no). Okay, then I'll be trying everything else...=)
Though I live practically around the corner from this place, only recently have I made my first visit to this restaurant - for a number of years this address housed an unwelcoming, slightly creepy ethnic "cafe" which seemed to be patronized by practically no one. Â Pizza Art moved in a year or two ago & updated the space such that it is now much more inviting.
Their pizza may be my second-favorite thin crust next to Spacca Napoli. Â All their pizzas are priced under $10, a lot cheaper than similar pies that you'd find at Coal Fire. Â My favorite for sharing is the quatro staggione, I always go right for the slices with olives and artichokes. Â Their dining space is usually busy but never crowded. Â The pizzas come out pretty quickly, service is friendly, but they usually have just one waitperson who tends to get noticably slowed up when the cafe gets busy - last time i was there, I needed some ground pepper & ended up going up to the bar myself to borrow the grinder & grind the pepper myself. Â But aside from service bumps, this place is just about perfect for a quick, flavorful, and inexpensive meal.
OK, after trying this place out for a second time...I have to give it five stars...
The pizza is delicious. Â The pizzas truly remind me of the pizzas I ate the summer I was in Rome (yikes, and the ensuing 20 lbs. I gained...perhaps it's not so good I live so close!)...
I love that it's BYOB, I love that you can get appetizers and share a pizza and eat pretty cheaply...and for dessert, a lovely chocolate crepe. Â My girlfriend with whom I went here the other night had mentioned in passing that it was my birthday, so they had written "Happy Birthday" on my crepe plate in syrups...YUM! Â So good!
I highly recommend it. Â Nice music, ambience...great and very affordable food!
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