Crave Pizza

This doesn't come close to the mom and pop deep dish pizza I used to have in my small town in Illinois growing up, but it's close to where I live now and I believe you do get what you paid for. The classic deep dish cheese pizza is tasty. I like the cheese, but I wish the outer crust was easier to get through, both with your teeth and by forking/knifing it. Recently, we also ordered a cheese calzone and it was really good. The dough was soft and not at all tough to chew like the pizza crust is.

So I'm not a pizza fan and nobody can convince me otherwise. That was my thought process coming in, "I'm getting pasta." I've always had my pain points with pizza; the sauce is acidic and flavorless, the crust is thin, grainy, flappy, unleavened dough, the cheese is greasy, and toppings are an afterthought. My Chicago friends convinced me that deep dish would be the solution to my pie problems. They were right. Crave was amazing. The sauce was a great compliment and was rich-- not too rich though, and the right amount of flavor. The veggies were cooked perfectly, nice crunch but the onions weren't tart nor overpowering. Chicken was juicy, and that crust. The crust was the highlight but also the partner that didn't need to steal the show. We also ordered calamari and the breading was great. What also stood out was the homey feel, great service, and feeling like I was in someone's kitchen. It was very personal. I'm not sure if I'm a pizza person, but I'm certain I'm a crave pizza person. 10/10!

Enjoyed a great pizza, wonderful appetizers and great service at our recent visit to Crave Pizza. Sat at the bar, just a handful of tables at the moment (they are looking to add a good size outdoor patio we learned during our visit), enjoyed some great wine and food. Started with the Spinach-Artichoke Dip fried balls, with a spicy jam, DELICIOUS! Then joyed a pan dish (they have thin, pan and deep dish options) pizza; sausage, spinach, mushrooms, glad we ordered a large because it was just as good the next day for leftover lunch! Believe it was the owner bartending/waiting on us. Very friendly, kept up the conversation during our entire visit. Will be back very soon,

The pizza and food here is fantastic, without a doubt, however, there is never any room to eat in because it’s so small so we order to pick up. Did that last night, they said an hour…we arrived in an hour, they said another 10 minutes, so back out to my car. In 10 minutes, 8 go back in, still not ready, maybe another 10 so I said, I’m just going to wait in here, to which the blonde lady, I thin’ manager, replied, “You need to wait outside!” First of all, you are already twenty minutes late with my pizza and then to rudely tell me to wait outside is so disrespectful to say to a customer. Even if you don’t have room, you could have said, “I’m sorry your pizzas are taking longer than expected, but because it’s crowed in here, can I offer you a beverage while you wait, either in your car or on the patio.” Rudeness is intolerable and this is not the first time this same lady has been rude while picking up pizza. The pizza s is great but there are other places, 3 strikes and you are out!

My first visit to Crave, and they knocked it it out of the park. The food, atmosphere, service, staff, and prices all made the mark and exceeded my expectations. This little pizza bar makes the jump past pizza parlors and sports bars to a family pizza eatery. Charming, tasty, and wonderful, it is perfect for individuals or small groups. The location of Crave is in the strip mall on the southeast corner of Guadelupe and Sossaman. The restaurant is in a small unit, which holds its bar area and a single larger family table. The atmosphere is cozy, and the room, though holding just 20 seats, is not crammed. The outside windows are shaded, and the signage for the "open" sign is easy to miss, so be sure to walk up to the door before thinking it is closed. You don't want to miss eating there! We ordered the meatballs and ricotta appetizer, a 14" butter crust pizza (with pepperoni, sausage and basil), and drinks (including local brewed beer on tap). The meatballs were awesome and the perfect starter. The pizza was stellar. I have eaten multiple times at Lou Malnati's, Vero, and other Chicago style joints. Crave takes on those pizzerias and wins. The crust is perfect, not too heavy, and cooked precisely to have the crunch on the crust and softness inside. The pizza tomato sauce is delightful without being sluggishly sweet. Finally, the toppings and cheese were hot and delicious! If you love butter crust, Chicago style pizza, you should check Crave out. The staff is also great. They great you warmly, explain the entrées and are attentive and efficient. More than that, they seem intent on getting to know their customrs, old and new. I heard several people come and go who were regulars and for us newbies, the attitude was very inviting. Crave is a small pizzaria, so if you want to try it out, I highly encourage you to get there early. You will love it!

We only get takeout from here so I can’t speak to the service but I’m sure with such good quality in the kitchen, front of the house would probably be amazing too. Husband is obsessed with pizza and this is a normal go-to for him. I like their pizza crust a lot BUT my very favorite thing there is the chopped salad. I mean, how the heck do they get everything so finely chopped that I could eat it with a spoon or a shovel because it is that good.

We went here for the first time the other day. We were surprised by the seating. But in a good way. They really make it so that all the guests interact with each other, which we did and it made it more of an experience. The pizza was absolutely delicious, even the leftovers! We have decided we like it more than the places we normally go to and will definitely be back.