Chicago is known for dishing out some of the best pizza pies in the country. From deep dish to thin sliced, Chicago knows no bounds in providing endless opportunities to enjoy the age-old Italian favorite. With such a buzz around pizza, the well-known restaurants serving up the slices are often crowded and standard – that’s why it’s important to find the small neighborhood eateries that are both authentic and unique in their approach to creating prized pies.

Located in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Pat’s Pizza is the kind of local spot that is best kept a secret. The authentic Italian eatery serves up some of the best pizzas at a reasonable price. Without the crazy crowds, I’m able to focus on the matter at hand and order exactly what I want in a pizza – which usually includes an array of the fresh vegetables available at Pat’s. If I’m feeling the cheese craze, I’ll order the Quatro Formagi Thin Crust Specialty Pizza ($16.95), which combines ricotta, Parmesan, gorgonzola, mozzarella and garlic onto one perfectly-cooked crust.