Reformed Illinois Dive Bar Serving the True Chicago-Style Pizza for 70 Years

While the other 49 states believe deep-dish is the quintessential Chicago-style pizza, fans of this 70-year-old Illinois joint say otherwise. What say you?

This is the only kind of 'food fight' I'm here for, a fight over pizza. There's is no better place to get into a little debate over pizza than the state of Illinois.

The Chicago-Style Pizza Debate: Deep Dish or Anything Else

We're not too far off from celebrating the 100th anniversary of deep-dish pizza getting the title of 'Chicago-style pizza'?

While it's hard to determine who actually invented deep-dish pizza, the story I've seen most often is that it was invented in Chicago in 1943 by Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo. These two men invented the pizza that became a big hit in the Windy City at their new restaurant, Pizzeria Uno.

It's been 80 years and I think we should consider another pizza getting the title of 'Chicago Style', after all, this pizza has been a giant hit for over 70 years. And if I'm being honest, most of the people from Chicago that I've talked about pizza with just shake their heads at the idea of deep-dish being the true Chicago-style.

In a recent article, Thrillist shared what deep-dish pizza should really be called,

...a gluttonous casserole

What is the True Chicago-style Pizza?

It's much thinner, has a very crisp crust, doesn't take forever to make, and as Thrillist also pointed out,

unlike deep-dish, a smattering of evenly dispersed toppings that shows restraint.

You'll often hear this pizza being called tavern-style, or party-style. The locals call it 'The true Chicago-style pizza'. You can find this style in many places but since 1950, this place is one of the best.

And they have the coolest marquee in front of the building.

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Candlelite —7452 N Western Ave Rogers Park, Chicago

What was once a dressed-up for date night kind of place, then a northside dive bar hot spot is now a very comfortable place for your whole family. No deep-dish, just super-thin crust, all the toppings you want, cut into little squares of love.

Candlelite makes pretty good-looking white pizzas, like this one below with olive oil, fresh mozzarella, provolone, parmesan, goat cheese, caramelized onions & roasted garlic.

Do you like it a little spicy?

What's your mom's favorite pizza?

Candlelite is part cozy-booth restaurant and part loud and fun sports bar. True Chicago-style pizzas, burgers, wings, and all the things that make going out fun. Oh, they also do dessert quite well.

QUICK POLL: You get one slice of tavern-style pizza — an edge piece (crust) or a centerpiece (no crust)?

Hit up Candlelite's Facebook page for more.