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Name: Bricks
Address: 1909 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614
Telephone: (312) 255-0851
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.01

Bricks

1909 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614

(312) 255-0851
Store is closed

Bricks Menu

Appetizers

Baked Goat Cheese

Garlic Bread

Pesto Bread

Slutty Ravioli

Gambas Al Ajillo

Stuffed Dates
Salads

House

Caesar

Caprese

Spinach

Arugala
Pasta

Spaghetti With Marinara

Spaghetti With Meatballs

Cheese Ravioli
Pizza

Brickhouse

Popeye

Red Planet

Painful

Mean Green

Sole Mio

Bbq Chicken

Green Garden

Berzerkeley

Sweet Heat

Vegetarian

The Ditka

Petaluma Club

Julius Peppers

Grease Fire

Creole Shrimp Pizza
Pizza - Build Your Own

Tomato Sauce And Mozzarella

Olive Oil Garlic And Mozzarella

Each Additional Ingredient
Sandwiches

Italian Grinder

Baked Ham And Cheese

Italian Meatball

Healthy Meal suggestions for Bricks

Appetizers

Baked Goat Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Garlic Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pesto Bread [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Slutty Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gambas Al Ajillo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Stuffed Dates [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Salads

House [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spinach [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Arugala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Spaghetti With Marinara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Spaghetti With Meatballs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cheese Ravioli [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza

Brickhouse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Popeye [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Planet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Painful [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mean Green [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sole Mio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Green Garden [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Berzerkeley [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sweet Heat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Ditka [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Petaluma Club [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Julius Peppers [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Grease Fire [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Creole Shrimp Pizza [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pizza - Build Your Own

Tomato Sauce And Mozzarella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Olive Oil Garlic And Mozzarella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Each Additional Ingredient [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches

Italian Grinder [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baked Ham And Cheese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Meatball [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Matt S.

Warning: because of the low ceilings in this tiny basement restaurant, this place gets horrifically LOUD. I had to pop some Advil after dinner because hearing four other dinner conversations gave me a massive headache. I have no idea what my dinner date said, but I do know that 1) this random guy named Bobby is really hot, according to the group of teenage girls seated on the other side of the restaurant, 2) the two patriarchs of the families on our right really liked the taste of their Schlitz Tall Boys and 3) the fighting couple on my left wasn't going to make it through 2012. Seriously, kids, if indecision over pizza toppings leads to an screaming argument about each other's shortcomings, you need to break it off. Anyway. Other than yelling the entire time and having to repeat every other sentence twice, the pizza we shared was okay. Because my dining companion was vegetarian, we had the Popeye, which was fresh spinach, tomato, giant chunks of roasted garlic, and feta and mozzarella. The crust was burnt on one side, but nice and crispy nonetheless, and the woman from the kitchen also brought our pizza to the wrong table (to a couple that was actually in the process of ordering?? yikes!), but other than that, the toppings were really fresh and it was served piping hot. I really feel like four stars is misleading though. Cool ambiance (albeit deafening noise level), decent pizza with a good beer selection, but I still walked out feeling "meh" (and felt kind of bad for it). Methinks I should've gotten drunk here, which is always a good idea. Maybe next time.
(3)
erin s.

Can always get a good seat in the beer garden. Good and attentive staff. I've done quite a few private party events here (birthdays and showers) and the staff and mgmt has been very accommodating. Their pepperoni pizza is fantastic!
(4)
Rita W.

My rating for Bricks is really 3.5 but since we can't give half stars, I liked it enough to bump it up to 4 stars. (YELP - you should really let us rate places with half stars so that indecisive people like me would have an easier time time rating places) We ordered the garlic cheese bread and slutty ravioli for our appetizers. OK if you are going to order the slutty rav, just remember that it only has FOUR raviolis in the dish with a enough broiled cheese on top to make a small pizza. We were a party of seven so we were disappointed to see only four raviolis for a nine dollar appetizer. The nice thing about Bricks is that they have a lot of different types of pizza, it is actually hard to make a decision on what to order because I wanted to try all of them. Bricks also give you three size options which is nice. We ordered the 14 inch vegetarian which was generously covered in green pepper, onions, other yummy veg...I can't really remember what else but it was really good! We ordered the painful in 12 inch and the Ditka in a 10 inch. I was a little disapointed that the painful wasn't spicier. And the Ditka was true to its description, lots of meat and cheese and it was winner with all of the boys at our table. I had told my BF (who is a beer connisseur) that I had read the yelp reviews and a couple yelpers had commented on the great beer selection and after going he said it was decent but not a great one. It will definitely do the job though ;)
(4)
Allen A.

So me and my lady were trying to figure out if we wanted a medium or small pizza. Well, we decided on the medium. Sausage and pepperoni medium pizza. They said 45- an hour for delivery. Well we got it a lot sooner(only a few blocks away) and it was quite delicious. The crust wasn't spectacular but it wasn't nasty. But the cheese and meats on it were quite tasty. My problem was I paid $25 with tip. Pizza was $23 before tip and the medium was smaaaaaal I mean much much smaller than any medium pizza I have ever bought in life and I've probably eaten pizza in every state in the country! I was quite mad knowing that I just spent 25 bucks on a pizza so damn small but it was delicious I guess. I just don't understand everything in this area seems to be looking to charge downtown prices, when they aren't downtown. Oh well. Good pizza quite expensive and small
(3)
Ben B.

Bricks is good pizza, but I don't know that it's worth the trip unless you're in the neighborhood. I went on a Friday night and the place was crazy loud. Every surface is solid, so the sound just bounces around. There's not much privacy to be had. It's got more of a bar vibe than anything. Service was good. Nothing special. I had the Ditka pizza - ham, pepperoni and sausage. It was tasty, though I didn't need an explosion of cilantro chucked in the center of my pie. The pizza is best in the center. As you work your way toward the edge, the crust becomes harder and less tasty. The crust is relatively thin, but not crackery. Bricks would be a decent place to hit with friends, but I'd go elsewhere on a date unless you're intentionally *trying* not to hear what they're saying.
(3)
Beau R.

Not the traditional Chicago deep dish but none the less, freaking good. Bricks has an awesome pizza selection. With interesting selections like the Ditka and Creole Shrimp pizza. I had- sweet heat- chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella. The smoked gouda on this was so awesome. It had chunks all over the pizza and the flavor and texture was terrific. The bbq sauce went so well with all the ingredients I had to get this pizza out of my sight so I would stop eating it. The jalapeno's were really hot on this one. My nose was running so much that when I needed something to drink I just opened my mouth and let the snot roll in for hydration. Gross? What would you do?
(4)
Jennifer D.

Lucky for us this is our neighborhood pizza place and has been for 15 years. ALWAYS great quality and never a bad meal, fresh ingredients, great combinations of ingredients. My favorite, the Berzerkley.
(5)
Stephanie F.

When walking through the dark alley-like area to get to the entrance, you might feel like you're about to get mugged. But once you pass that, an amazing pizza place awaits you. I had the petaluma club pizza, and it was amazing. Not only was the food great, but the service was excellent, too. Our group of 13 was probably quite frustrating at times (i.e. some showed up late, most couldn't decide what to order, etc.), but our server remained friendly and attentive. I plan to return and try some other pizzas!
(4)
Paul B.

Got a half Popey (spinach, tomato, mozz, basil, roasted garlic) and half painful (jalapeno's, mozz, tomato base sauce, and spicy pepperoni) and it was really spot on, a solid thin crust with a good crunch. Fair warning, the painful had some serious heat, I was sweating. Good beer specials almost every day. I will be back. Really cool vibes, it is underground.
(4)
Steve M.

I'm not sure how Yelp knows that I recently ate at Bricks, but Bricks is top of the pops! A Red Planet was split (1/2 without sausage and 1/2 with), a Sierra Nevada was consumed, and some divey basement pizza goodness was thoroughly enjoyed. Perfect for putting the calories back on after your 2 hour lakefront and zoo walk! Do it.
(4)
Scott H.

Fun little subterranean cracker-crust pizza place way down Lincoln Ave. It was a hazy night so I forget all the varieties the three of us inhaled that night, but I can guarantee that all involved a pork product of some sort. This is the type of pizza where you should order at least a medium per person as it goes down fast and easy. The PBR with the little beer glasses was a nice touch. The bar looked like a fun place to tie one on so I'd definitely seek that out on my next trip to Bricks.
(4)
Christian P.

It's a really cool, low key place. I like the catacomb atmosphere there. The pizza are original and the thin crust is really good. They offer a choice of 3 sizes of pizza and many type of recipes. I had the creole shrimp and the Sweet heat (spicy jalapeno with bbq tomato sauce). The place is clean and the service is good. So good that it kinda bothered me how they asked me if i found everything ok every 10 minutes. The price is right too!
(4)
Nicki W.

Right now in front of me, I have the delivery order of Spaghetti and Garlic Bread that I ordered from Bricks. This particular updated review is based on the simple fact that they need to give better descriptions of their food so people aren't unpleasantly surprised when their food arrives. People, keep in mind that if you order the Spaghetti with meatballs, the sauce is going to be SPICY. Not just a little spicy (I don't mind that), but unenjoyable spicy, as in I'm questioning even taking another bite as it might upset my stomach. Also, Garlic Bread comes with this order so I wasted money ordering Garlic Bread off the appetizer menu. AGAIN...something that could easily be changed. They couldn't call me to inform me that I might have over ordered on the garlic bread but they did give me a call to tell me to wait downstairs in my lobby for the delivery driver. Why you ask? Because the driver has had problems with our buzzer before and doesn't have a cell phone on him. The buzzer works and it's not my problem your driver doesn't have a cell phone. So I had to wait downstairs in my robe and slippers for this guy...sweeeet. So, $25 later including tip I have a dinner I simply can't eat and a headache from this whole fiasco. I should have just ordered their pizza because you can't go wrong with that. Get your menu straight!
(1)
Simma Down Na H.

Awesome variety of pizzas and a PLETHORA OF BEERS AND DRAFTS!!! My creole skrimp pizza was really good!!! All at such reasonable prices as opposed to others... (cough::Piece::cough) Brick's has a great ambiance for a date night or catching up with friends. Wouldn't deem it "the best pizza in the world" (I've had the best in an inky dinky place in Germany ;)) yet they have seriously great pizza!!!
(4)
Kerry S.

Awesome beer selection and great pizza too! Be sure to order the dates as an appetizer, they won't disappoint!
(5)
Leila T.

Huge disappointment I don't understand how so many restaurants have four stars on yelp but actually are terrible in real life. We ordered garlic pesto cheese bread and it was the most bland bread ever that you could not taste anything and the texture was weird and almost inedible. We asked for an antipasto salad and received a tomato, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic spread of 4 pieces (wtf?). The thin crust pizza was OK at best, but we ordered a medium and for these 3 items it was $35 and none of us were even close to being full. It's be better to spend that $35 on a large deep dish Giordano's pizza and get your money's worth of food.
(1)
Tony B.

This place was great! The waitress was so friendly and the pizza so good, we were upset we hadn't been to Bricks sooner. It's dungeon dark and very cozy, making it a perfect place for a slow meal on a cold winter night. They also offer an extensive selection of top-notch brews, but they'll cost you a few bucks. I've posted photos of the menu and the jalepeÃ±o & smoked pork pizza we ordered.
(4)
Jeff E.

Good pizza. Cool location.
(4)
Kenneth C.

This restaurant produces excellent thin style pizza. It's tasty but not too greasy, even with meat toppings. Furthermore, it has a great beer list and was nicely kid friendly (at least at a non-busy/non-noisy time of the day). We enjoyed the baked shrimp-garlic appetizer as well. And "two thumbs up" from our little one. Negatives (all minor): 1. Pizza is cut in small squares rather then wedges. 2. While an excellent find here in Chicago, only "top" pizza will get 5 stars from me. 3. Dark/dive-bar setting: wouldn't mind going on a date for drinks here, but perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes as my "getting old" vision starts to fade... Summary: if I lived in the area I would frequent Bricks often. However, I'm not sure I'd make a special trip to come here.
(4)
Adrienne G.

Came here with a large group of Friends one Friday before winding up at another bar in Lincoln Park. Service was fine, although since we were a group of ten and the place was packed, I did have to wait a while to order. But that is what happens when you miss your bus and show up late. The pizza was okay- nothing that I would go insane over, but quite good. I got one of the veggie pizzas with spinach tomato and something else on it. If I lived in the neighborhood this place would be one that I would frequent on casual dates with friends and lovahs alike, because it would be down the street from my house. . Again, if I lived in the hood, I'd go here more often. But since I don't, I probably won't be back for a while, unless there's another group outing. I should also mention that they have a fairly extensive beer list, which was really nice and I did appreciate. Then again, most places in the area do these days.
(3)
Ken M.

I consider myself a bit of a pizza snob. I grew up just outside of New Haven, CT and have been frequenting national treasures like Pepe's and Sally's for my entire life. I love brick oven pizzas that are huge on toppings for flavor, not overwhelmed with sauces, cheese, or crust. That said I was a bit worried moving to this deep dish pizza mecca. That was until I found Bricks. Their pizza was fantastic. Great thin, brick oven style, you taste the toppings and enjoy the flavor. Their slutty ravioli's were also a great surprise. I highly recommend this pizza place.
(5)
Michael S.

Roomie and fellow Yelper Derrick T. pretty much nailed it for my review of this place.. Decor was dimly lit, but it was nice.. kind of a weird area to step into to get inside.. I thought the pizzas were good.. Had the shitake pizza which was a white pizza with shitake and red onions, gouda, mozzarrella.. I really liked it.. not as good as piece, but I really liked it.. The sweet heat the roomies really liked.. I thought it was good, but wasn't raving about it.. Waitress was really nice, but wait was ridiculously long.. I know something happened to our pizza and we were glad to of been told, but with 3 young guys you gotta at least offer us some bread or something.. Anyways, 3 stars until I try the place again.. wait was just that long that had to dock the extra star..
(3)
Derrick T.

After a nice four mile run, my roomies and I had a craving for some thin crust pizza... like some cracker thin, deliciously crispy pizza that was made fresh and tasty! And as a die-hard yelper, we had to see what people suggested, leading us to Bricks! On first entrance, we walked down into what looked like a hidden speak easy bar... dim lit, specials posted on the door, it was a quiet and comfotable scene. About three other fairly small parties on a Monday night, we sat down and picked up a specialty beer (trois pistoles) and ordered up a 10 inch Sweet Heat pizza (bacon, chicken, jalapeno, bbq sauce) and a 10 inch special pizza (shitake, red onions, gouda, mozzarella). Trois pistoles - 9% alcohol, tasted closer to a sparkling wine than a beer. Interesting flavor, nothing outstanding. Sweet Heat - This had great flavor... the saltiness of the bacon balanced the simple flavor of the chicken, and the jalapeno left a nice memory post pizza. Recommended. Shitake - What shitake? There was probably 1, maybe 2 shitakes at MOST sliced onto the pizza... the gouda flavor was pretty much absent leaving this white pizza with very little flavor... not a good choice, as the flavors were to subtle to be even noticed. And we started with this pizza first. Crust - It's crisp on the outside, chewey on the inside... which unfortunately is not one of my preferred crust styles... I like em really floppy (NY-style), really crip (think cracker thin all the way through), or deep dish/stuffed (Chicago deep dish) so this crust unfortunately didn't appeal to me. So why the three stars? Well, the specialty pizza was definitely comparable to cheese breadsticks... and after we placed our order, it took nearly 45 minutes to bring out the pizza. I'm not sure if they actually have a brick oven fired up in the kitchen or whether Bricks is just named for the brick interior... but even in my home kitchen with a pizza stone, from rolling the dough to topping to oven, it takes me no longer than 16 minutes to put out a pizza that can feed a family of six. Our waitress explained that they had dropped the pizza accidentally and had to make a new one for us... which unfortunately left us hungry while we sipped on water. The waitress was phenomenally friendly, excellent service, however the slow food and the disappointing shitake pizza left us thinking about where to get our second dinner after this. Verdict: Though the service was great and there's a good list of pizza I'd like to try here, it's unlikely I'll go back. One hit pizza, one miss pizza, and a very slow kitchen. Unfortunately, we didn't have the patience that evening to spend two hours in the restaurant.
(3)
Lawrence S.

My favorite pizza in the city. Creative, fun toppings and names. Love the Painful and the Ditka. And the underground restaurant has a lot of character.
(5)
Kendall J.

To start off I actually really enjoy the pizza here. HOWEVER, the delivery was horrible and over two hours! They said it would be one hour. Once it was an hour and twenty minutes I called to check on the status. They said he walked out the door to deliver it. Another 35 minutes goes by and I call again. They again said it was on its way. Another 15 minutes goes by and I called to say I wanted a refund and that I'd rather not have the pizza. They refused to give me a refund!!!!!!! Once the pizza finally arrived, it was cold. Do not order for delivery from here. It will be late and they will not refund you! Not worth it with better options of pizza who can be on time.
(1)
Kristina D.

This is my favorite Chicago pizza. Some of it's because of the dark hidden prohibition style location like I'm walking into a speakeasy, some of it is the awesome music they generally play but mostly it's because of my favorite pizza combination ever found only here. Half Painful Heat and half Sweet Heat. Perfection. Party in my mouth. Foodgasm. Their salads are also good (spinach, yum). But the pizza. Oh. My. Goodnessgracioussakesalive. Love it. Now on to other things; the staff is friendly and down to earth, I think we've had to wait once when we've come in and that's it. We're seated pretty quickly almost all the time. Their daily deals on drinks also make the visit worthwhile so definitely check them out. If you like basic toppings, this is probably not the place for you but if you're willing to try some interesting combinations and challenge your pizza palate, don't hesitate to try them out.
(5)
Jen B.

Although Bricks is a little tricky to get to if you don't live nearby, it's a great option if you're looking to take a break from the deep-dish carbsplosion. Getting here from downtown involves a cab ride or a train plus bus ride, so kind of a pain. Once you're in the vicinity, look for the sign on the corner of the three way intersection of Lincoln, Lincoln and Wisconsin. Then walk about 100 feet and look for the stairs going down into a semi-scary grotto. That's your destination. Things get much more lively and cozy once you're inside. There are not a lot of tables but we scored a five top on a Friday evening so don't fret if you forgot to make a rezzie. The menu isn't huge but they do have a fair amount of options for the 'za. It's slightly thicker than your average neopolitan pizza so it holds more toppings without flopping over. We opted for a 14-inch Popeye (spinach, tomatoes, garlic, feta). It was really good although $22 seems a little steep. I also got the arugula salad and it was also yummy but a bit too heavily dressed so maybe get it on the side. I love that they cut the pizza into squares. I know it makes zero difference on taste but it just feels right. We had about 5 pieces left over after splitting the large between two people, so estimate that each person in your party will need a little less than half a pizza for themselves. Definitely a casual environment. I think the term "pizza dungeon" says it all.
(4)
Kyle O.

This is my favorite non-chicago style pizza in Chicago. The pizza is absolutely amazing. My go to is the bevererly: meat, veggies, and some heat...a must try. Also they always have some great craft beers that you don't see so regularly in Chicago on tap and also some good beer deals. The ambiance is a little weird at first as it is a dark garden unit that you have to reach through a subterranean alley, but you get used to it and the vibe fits the place. Great place for a casual date.
(5)
Val B.

Decent cozy spot, if a little hard to get to and find from the street. The pizza was tasty - I had a meatball pizza, which was exactly as described. We also tried the cheesy garlic bread, which wasn't amazing but certainly was cheesy. Our service was great at the beginning then promptly fell off, leaving me without a Diet Coke refill and in bummerland. Overall, great, casual, cave-like ambiance, decent pizza.
(3)
Adrie G.

Bricks is by far the most flavorful pizza in the city. It didn't take me long to swear off stuffed/deep dish pizzas after moving to Chicago (so gross) and I was beyond thrilled to find Bricks. Bricks is an awesome place to bring out-of-town guests for an authentic Chicago dining experience. There is no way a tourist could find their way into this purgatory-like space. I say that with love. It's not creepy, just quite literally a hole in the wall. They have an amazing selection of beers, some of which are brewed on site (I believe) and their Ditka pizza is like a Super Bowl parade in your mouth. All of the pizzas I have tried there are innovative and masterfully created. The cracker-thin oven-blistered crust is really the heart of it all. The first time I visited Bricks was after a long afternoon of Christmas shopping. It was a chilly Monday evening and we were the only ones in the dining room. When we got our check, they gave us a house-mixed Christmas CD with all this edgy, bluesy holiday music. I listened to it all season. This place is truly unique and will not disappoint... if you can find it. ;) Parking is nearly impossible too. There's a self-park garage on North Ave., but it's about a half-mile walk to the restaurant from there.
(5)
Janet E.

What a cute little pizza place!!!! We came on a busy Saturday night. We were late for our reservation, but we were still able to snag a nice table in the corner. Service was very prompt and friendly. We ordered garlic bread as an appetizer. It was only ok. I wasn't impressed with it. The pizza came out within 15-20 minutes? Not a long wait at all. Pizza was delicious and crisp. The crust wasn't the thinnest I've had, but still good overall. Parking here sucks (unless you have a permit).
(4)
Linda SingaSong S.

So my friend heard a lot of hype about "Brick's pizza" so we decided to order some delivery during our study session. I'm no pizza expert, but having grown up in NY, I feel that I have a decent sense of what a good pizza entails. Their menu looked creative, not too over the top, and after much deliberation, we decided to get the "Sweet heat." Can't go wrong w/some jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq, etc etc. Pros: - cut up into bite size square pieces - dough/crust was tasty & well baked - Flavors blended really well together - Just the right amount of heat Cons: - It wasn't THAT great. It was good, but not phenomenol. I don't think it lived up to its hype. But I'm not saying that I won't go back. Maybe my views will change when I try the other items of the menu. Plus, it was delivery so I didn't get the whole experience of dining in.
(3)
Carter W.

Bricks is da bomb! The pizza is absolutely delicious and they have a great, reasonably priced beer selection, including Schlitz tall boys. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is absolutely one of a kind. Check out this pizza dungeon for a good time.
(5)
Eric W.

Pizza/Beer Dungeon That's the best way to describe this hole-in-the-wall pizza heaven. They serve thin crust pizza with a wide assortment of toppings. None of the toppings are crazy rare, but they make up for that with taste. Also, their beer selection is probably the best you'll find in a pizza place, outside of Piece in Wicker park who makes their own. They have about 10 or 12 regular pizzas and usually a few specials. Of course, you can always make your own as well. My favorites are the Sweet Heat and the Ditka (I'm a dude, what do you expect). The sweet heat is BBQ Chicken with spicy bbq sauce and jalepinos. The Ditka is exactly what you probably pictured in your head while reading this. Think meat, lots of meat - 4 or 5 different kinds. Its probably what the "superfans" from SNL would eat. One type of meat for every heart attack Chris Farley suffered. Takeaways: - Great thin crust for ~$15 / specialty pie - Impressive beer menu for a basement - You should probably make a reservation because the place fills up quickly.
(5)
Joy E.

We highly appreciated this pizza establishment. We have moved away from chicago to an area with very little high quality pizza. We returned for a visit this past summer and had this awesome pizza! We loved the Red Planet and Sweet Heat...What a winner!
(5)
Kate D.

Went to Bricks with a group of 16 last weekend based on friends' + yelp reviews. This hole in the ground did not disappoint. Yes, the sign ("Best Pizza on Earth") is ridiculous. Yes, it's located in a run-down bomb shelter of a basement. But the beer selection was quirky and the atmosphere was exactly what I want in a pizza joint. I called at 5pm for a reservation for 16 people at 6:30pm that day: no problem. We were seated right away and received great treatment from our server. She dealt with people splitting appetizers, pizzas, salads, and checks with incredible grace. I built my own pizza (goat cheese, artichoke and spinach) and it was good - not phenomenal but good. Others ordered the Sweet Heat and practically licked the pizza tray clean. The caprese salad looked fresh and appetizing although I didn't try it. Handling large groups isn't easy but Bricks did a great job of it. Everyone liked their meal and it didn't cost an arm and a leg at $4.50 for my specialty beer and $9 for my dinner. It's nothing super duper special but definitely convenient if you're in the area. Nex time I'm in the mood for thin crust pizza or just have a lot of mouths to feed I'll head back to Bricks.
(4)
Anand A.

Wonderful little find in Lincoln Park. Two pies that are exceptional here are the Painful and the Popeye. The Painful is by far my favorite and even non-spice lovers will come to enjoy this simply made, thin crust cheese pizza topped with pepperoni, fresh basil, and jalapeno peppers. Try it, you won't regret. The Popeye is pretty good too but doesn't hold a candle to the Painful. PS - Baked Goat Cheese is pretty good here too.
(5)
Amanda C.

I loved the atmosphere of Bricks. It's very cozy with the brick walls and warm lighting, even though it feels like you are walking into a dungeon when you enter. My group ordered 3 pizzas, all of which were good, but I do prefer them a little saucier. Fun place to go and it's a plus that they take reservations.
(4)
Scott C.

Bricks is our go-to pizza place in Chicago. If you want a cool cozy location - albeit even if it is the basement of a building - that serves great pizza consistently, this is the place for you. The place itself is pretty small - the bar area is intimate and the restaurant area is small but it's cozy inside. The place can get loud when it's full - so just be prepared to talk over your neighbors. Now... the pizza. The pizza here is thin crust and delicious. They have several standard pizza's on the menu and you can always make your own up too. We usually make something up ourselves and it is outstanding - very tasty sauce, a good crunchy crust, and fresh ingredients. An underrated part of the menu are the salads. The house salad is just enough enough food and the caprese salad is very good. On the caprese they give you a good hunk of mozzarella with thick tomato and then a tasty balsamic vinegar on top. All together, the pizza and salad make for a very good meal. They also have a fantastic beer list here - anywhere that serves Tripel Karmeliet has a leg up in my book. There are several Belgium and microbrews on the menu to compliment your pizza.
(5)
Sean H.

I've been coming here for a few years. From the looks of it initially, it seems like a joint thats been here since like the 70's. My wife and I have ordered a bunch of the specialty pizzas and a few of our own design. This place for me is the BEST thin crust pizza in Chicago. They also have an amazing micro brew cache at the bar. The service is good, atmosphere and decor are nice, they treat parents with little screaming melt downers with dignity, and its very reasonable. The guy making our pizza was even nice to our little guy, bringing out his mini za. Nice place, this is one of our "regulars".
(4)
DG C.

I highly recommend the 'Painful' to any heat lovers out there! Great mix of spice and flavor.
(5)
Lori M.

Best 'za for miles around, great atmosphere with real smiles and real beer, bring the loved ones.
(5)
Molly L.

I've written it before and I'll write it again: I'm not a big Chicago deep-dish fan. Fortunately, Bricks has me covered when it comes to delicious thin-crust pizza. The entrance is a little strange. It's a basement-level restaurant, so you go down some concrete stairs into an underground alley and then through the not-very-well-marked door into the dimly lit restaurant. But once you get through the door, things start to get awesome. We ordered the goat's cheese appetizer to start. It was very good, but it wasn't memorable. The pizza, however, was. We ordered the Popeye, which is topped with spinach, tomato, garlic, feta and mozzerella. YUM! Everything was very flavorful and the crust was perfectly crispy. They cut their pizza into square pieces. Now, at most restaurants, I don't love eating the middle pieces (the pieces with no crust) because they get soggy and droopy, but at Bricks, I think I devoured all of the middle pieces because it had crispy crust AND all the flavor of the toppings. The best part of Bricks is that it's only 2 blocks from my apartment! Yay! I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Chris B.

Oooh, I love me some Bricks. Here's why. I love the dark, subterranean decor. The short alley into the restaurant says, "Hey, this is a real Chicago restaurant, you comin' in or not?" The staff is friendly and available. The dining room is segregated from the bar by this groovy, rough, cut, brick wall. Which keeps the noise down, between the two. And the pizza? (That IS why you're here, right?) The Pizza was delicious. My friend and I shared the Petaluna Club. Chicken! Bacon shreds! Onion! Cheese! Great Googly Moogly, that was a damn good pizza. We had a small, short, passionate debate over who got to take the leftovers home. (I lost. So, I guess, I'll just have to come back and try again.) I found Bricks, using Yelp, actually. The reviews looked good and they were right! Slide on into this classic, old-school, Chicago pizza joint. Brave the tiny, dark alley! Claim your seat in the comfy dining room and devour one of the best pizzas in the city. Thanks, Bricks!
(5)
Aaron L.

I'm gonna have to try this place again, it must have been a fluke. But until then.... 1* Painful: spicy pepperoni, jalapeno, garlic, purple onions 1.5* Mushroom, Onion & Green Peppers
(1)
James Michael S.

Got the Painful and it was, well, painful but DELICIOUS. For the most part the spiciness was perfect but a few bites actually made me stop eating and wait for the spicy pain to subside. I really liked the fresh jalapenos and the spicy pepperoni. The crust had a light smoke, almost like a charcoal taste to it which complimented the rest of the pizza. As for pizza, this is one of the best pizza's I've had in Chicago, hands down and will be my "go-to" pizza place. Be ready to pay for it though, especially if you're getting delivery.
(5)
Daniel N.

This was my second time there and I'm actually shocked I haven't been there more often. The pizza is simply great. The beer selection is absolutely phenominal. I took a group of 6 there last night, none had been there before and they felt it was amazing too, saying they'd definitely come back. The night started kind of shady as we called to make reservations. The person who answered told us that she would have to take our CC to hold it, my question is how much would they have charged if we didn't show? We told her we didn't feel comfortable about it so she said, "Just don't screw us". Ok that was strange and it put us in a sour mood about the place (we thought about ditching just on that principle). We get there however, and the same person who told us that was ever so nice when we showed up. With 6 of us we ordered 3 10" pizzas, the Brick House, the Popeye and the Sweet Heat (I wanted the Mean Green but no one else is a fan of spicy that I was with). The Brick House was amazing, the Sweet Heat was really tasty but a little too sweet for my taste and the Popeye was pretty good (needed more spinach in my opinion. The fact that they had Spatan Ocktoberfest on tap served in huge mugs is why this was bumped up to a 4 from a 3.75. The atmosphere is really great and it is really just overall a neat place. Some of the cons include parking (hey it's Lincoln Park) and can fill up pretty quickly. Oh and they don't open until 5pm on Sundays. Go, get some great pizza that is different from your typical normal thin or thick pizza you can find anywhere in Chicago.
(4)
Bex F.

Yes I'm from Chicago. Yes I like deep dish pizza. But ya know what, for me, thin crust is where it's at. The husband set up a reservation over there at Bricks for my birthday dinner celebration even though neither of us had been there before. Kinda brave on his part, I know! Such a cool atmosphere! It is small that's for sure, but it is cozy, the brick is nice to be around, and you feel like you've either stepped back in time or been whisked out of the city. Thumbs up. We didn't get any of the fancy schmancy pizzas (which at $22 for a 14" seemed a little on the steep side to us), just a plain ol' pepperoni. It was good -- not the best pizza ever but good. Mighty greasy and the crust was a little chewy-ish, spongy-ish though. We had the baked goat cheese first which was really tasty and inhaled mighty fast. Parking blows. It's not wow-your-socks-off pizza but I'll give them a whirl again since it's so cool in there. Hopefully the pizza will bowl me over next time otherwise the atmosphere alone won't be enough.
(4)
Caitlin S.

don't even think about ordering from anywhere else ! nothing compares . . . the ditka is my fav !
(5)
Ben K.

Want to eat your pizza in a dark brick catacomb that could basically be a pizza oven itself? Bricks has a ton of fairly creative (and universally delicious) pizza options, which start and stop for me at the Red Planet. Sausage, red pepper, onion, goat cheese, mozzarella and marinara. This is a serious combo. You really can't go wrong with any of the pizzas here though, and they have a surprisingly deep beer selection. $21.95 for a large is a little stiff given that they are only 14" pizzas. The value isn't the best but the taste is up there.
(4)
Raana A.

This is a review for delivery. I ordered Bricks clam pizza for delivery and was pretty disappointed. I think it would have been good, but the clams were way too fishy and killed the whole pizza. They also seemed to go pretty light on their white sauce and heavy on cheese, but overall, I just couldn't get over the overpowering fish flavor. Their salad was OK, it was really heavy on lettuce and light on other toppings (besides the dressing). They seemed a little pricey for delivery, but maybe I think it was pricey because I didn't have the best experience. I've had Bricks other vegetarian pizzas awhile back and I remember liking them, so maybe it was an off night.
(2)
Ray K.

One of the best pizzas in Chicago and probably the best thin crust I've had in town. The dough had a nice level of chewiness and firmness and the flavors were amazing. We tried the sweet heat and shrimp creole pizzas.... Great beer selection. Good service. I like the subterranean aspect of the joint but realize it might be a turn off for others. It was my first time here, so if they're consistently good, i'd change it to 5 stars...
(4)
Neil G.

Food: 5 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Value: 3 Trust me on this one. Don't be frightened by the walk down the creepy, SVU-like stairwell. Don't be nervous about the pizza that is neither Chicago deep dish nor "cracker crust" neopolitan-style. Don't be confused when your server tells you that all wine is 1/2 off (on Tuesdays). I had been to Brick's once before, so none of this surprised me. My wife and the other couple we went with were, of course, pleasantly surprised. Chalk up a win for a Neil G. recommendation. We arrived on a Tuesday night at 7:30 and had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. The only one they had was in the bar, which still has a cool atmosphere. Our companions don't keep kosher, but they were happy to oblige our veggie-friendly requests. After seeking our server's advice, we went with a Brickhouse (pureed artichoke sauce, sweet red peppers, roasted garlic, mozzarella, asiago) and a Popeye (spinach, tomatoes, roasted garlic, feta, mozarella). Don't mess around with anything else on the menu because the pizza is fantastic. It came out hot, bubbly, crispy, cheesy, and just about every other adjective you'd want in a pizza. The crust is probably the most unique, and not surprising, given the name of the restaurant (I believe they use a brick oven). It's thin crust, but thicker than your typical thin crust, with enough body to hold up to a boatload of toppings. All in all, a great mix of crunchy and chewy. The cheese was plentiful but not overbearing. The veggies were fresh and I was impressed that our Popeye wasn't watery, given the large amount of spinach and tomato on the pizza. The artichoke sauce was different, but I was glad there was another pizza to choose from because it got old quickly. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone--young, old, trendy, traditional, groups, dates, kosher, non-kosher. It's different, but it still has something for everyone. The price was a little high for pizza, but given the high quality of the ingredients, I wasn't that annoyed. To say Bricks is solid would be an understatement. Instead, I'll go a little further and say that it just plain rocks. [Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.]
(4)
Anthony P.

I went with a group of 20 college students on short notice and the staff were super friendly. I've been taking students around the city for the last 2 years and I've yet to encounter a friendlier and more accommodating restaurant. The pizza was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've had but definitely good enough for me to return on my own time. They had a pretty good selection of beer. Overall 5 stars for service and atmosphere and 4 stars for food!
(4)
Kay J.

Whoa-Ho-Ho... We took my baby bro for his birthday dinner and he choose Bricks. Coupon, 2 pizzas, 2 appetizers. 2 wines, 3 soft drink, tip - $100. The crust is thin, crisp and heaven on earth. Skip the shrimp appetizer. Get the salad - any of them. Oh God, why can't you give me a Bricks in NWI? I promise to be a good girl. Really, I will give up illicit sex, drugs and Frank Sinatra for a Bricks in my hood. Amen.
(5)
Meredith S.

After entering the underground basement, we were waiting on 2 people, so we bellied up to the bar. I had a Duvel for the first time and OH so good. A girl next to me was eating a pizza that had bacon on it and it smelled divine. She said it was called the Sweet Heat. She even offered me a piece, which I declined. If it wasn't so weird to eat off of someone you didn't know's plate, I totally would have done it! We ordered the baked goat cheese for an appetizer. I'm not sure if it was because there were 5 of us, but this was HUGE. They gave a huge basket of bread too. Loved it! Next was onto the pizza. We ordered a PAINFUL and THE DITKA. Let me tell you, it has been a long time since I've said "WOW, this is awesome" when biting into a piece of pizza. It was incredible!!!!! The sauce was a great combination of sweet and spicy. I would go back here in heartbeat! I'm salivating thinking about it!
(5)
John W.

Pizza is my favorite food and this is the best I've had!
(5)
Gabe L.

I actually prefer thin crust pizza. If you don't hear from me 30 minutes after I hit "Post", then Daley's men took me out for saying such blasphemy. Bricks was just ok though. I hate leaving short reviews, so here are some ASCII pizza slices for your entertainment: .:) .:) .:) .:) .:)
(3)
shelly s.

We tried Brick's last night and its a winner for thin crust. Their ingredients are fresh and I'd recommend the "specialty" pizzas on the menu. We were fans of the "painful" - a tasty combination of spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Our other favorite was the "red planet" -sausage, red pepper, purple onion, goat cheese, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Their beer menu is also decent. Its in the basement of the building so don't expect and sunlight, just tasty pizza.
(4)
Megan G.

Here we are Bricks... All these years later and we are still in love. I love you even though you don't have a fancy seating area or particularly friendly servers. Bartenders are rather, well, lacking in personality. I even love you when I have to wait almost an hour for a table. My most recent discovery was "The Painful" which has an amazing combo of caramelized onion, pepperoni, fresh roasted garlic and (most importantly) jalapeno. Yep, I still don't live close enough for delivery, so watch out trixies! I'm coming to a broom closet near you!
(5)
Jenni B.

get the SWEET HEAT-chicken, bacon, jalepenos, gouda, mozarella, and bbq tomato sauce. REALLY TASTY. it was very hot, temperature wise because it came straight out of the oven. I say give it a good 7 minutes to cool down, then you should probably dig in. but, its tempting so, I know no one will do that. When it cools down, you can definitely taste more of the flavor of the bbq sauce and chicken. It was perfect. Thin crust, right amount of sauce and juicy chicken.
(4)
Coleen K.

Solid pizza place right here. Their crust is perfect-- thin and crispy. They have tons of different and unique pizza options. One of my favorites is the clam pizza with white sauce. Although the place has a kind of dungeon-y feel to it (it's in a basement), the pizza definitely makes up for it!
(4)
Jill and Ying J.

This place has probably one of the coolest entrances of any restaurant that we've been to in Chicago. Following an ordinary-looking red awning, you find yourself down a set of steps into a dimly lit underground entry-way with several odd-looking doors. One of them leads to Catacombs, a pretty interesting nightclub, and another leads you to Bricks. The food at Bricks, however, is much more typical...at least compared to pizza oddities such as Ian's (see our review). We got the Popeye (a vegetarian pizza with really really fresh ingredients), red planet (sausage and goat cheese - mostly), sweet heat (chicken, bacon, smoked gouda), and the special - white clam (self explanatory). The pizzas were delicious. 3 smalls and a large filled the 5 of us plenty. The crust is thin, but not paper thin. It retains the chewy consistency that reminds you it's still made of flour. The ingredients were fresh... so fresh we (being amateur food connoisseurs) could easily distinguish their freshness even after their time in the oven. In all, the food was delicious. They certainly do a mean pizza. The only reason it didn't garner 5 stars was that not one pizza really stood out. But then again, it might be another one on their menu. We'll certainly be back to find out.
(4)
Viper B.

2 stars for services and atmosphere 4 stars for pizza The Sole Mio was really quite good, with basil, metballs, and tomatoes. The crust was thin and substantial enough to hold the ingredients, the cheese was browned and little crisp around the edges. It was full of flavor and satisfying. The basement location and entrance exudes a pizza-speakeasy vibe: cool. At least half the patrons, in direct opposition to such vibe, speak very not-easy. I doubt the acoustics of brick walls helped it much, but a table with a family and a table with 3 couples were both literally shouting the entire meal (I speak loudly and passionately, so it takes a lot for me to criticize others of the same, plus this was a Sunday night): uncool. We were served salad without ever getting any silverware, and when we requested it the waitress slammed 2 rolls of silverware on our table. Everyone around us who cam after was served first, and our waitress never came over to update us: unacceptable. The service and rowdy diners very nearly ruined a delicious meal. You're lucky your pizza is so good, Bricks, but don't push it.
(3)
Katy O.

I am a devotee of Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but I really love thin crust too and Bricks does it so well. We always go for the "painful" which has pepperoni, jalapenos and fresh basil. I love the "petaluma club" too. We were here on Saturday for my fiance's birthday and got a pizza that was on special- the "spring fling", which had red peppers, zucchini and goat cheese- it was amazing. The "Ditka", which is a meatlover's pizza with sausage, pepperoni and bacon, is also incredible. Besides the pizza, as if you need any more reasons to come here, the beer selection is killer. I usually get the fin du monde or don de dieu here in wine-sized bottles- party time? You bet. And if you want a Miller Lite, nobody is going to go all snobby on you or give you a hard time either. Bricks is in a basement, which gives it a dive bar atmosphere that I actually really like. Don't let the dank smelly entryway fool you- deliciousness awaits you once you cross the threshold!
(5)
Anne K.

I'm morally opposed to thin crust pizza. It either flakes all over my shirt when I bite into it, or it flops downward as I try to wrestle it from its grease-stained box. Worse, it's just unnecessary here in the cradle of deep dish civilization. But Bricks has me thinking that maybe, just maybe, not all slender pies are inherently evil. Their crust is substantial enough to support an impressive array of toppings without going flaccid, but not so crisp that it scratches the roof of my mouth when I take a bite. The sweet heat, a BBQ chicken pizza with a light sprinkling of diced jalapenos, is more sweet than it is heat, but I'll overlook that because the barbecue sauce base is quite literally finger-lickin' good (and tastes even better cold the next morning). Creole shrimp pizza shouldn't work but does, and think that its underlying layer of tasty pesto deserves most of the credit. And if the words "pureed artichoke sauce" don't sound automatically delicious to you, try the brickhouse and see if you don't change your mind. With a good selection of foreign and domestic brews and a well-stocked bar to wash it all down, Bricks is great choice if you're suffering from deep dish malaise (or as I used to call it, "sacrilege"). Thank you, Bricks, for forcing me to re-evaluate my pizza prejudices.
(4)
Sunny B.

Ohmygod so amazing. Change-your-life pizza! Staff is so nice, food is awesome, atmosphere is unique and prices are reasonable! I take people visiting from out of town here, its a cooler experience than the touristy Lou Malnatis.
(5)
Jessica L.

Still good - and great for the price. A wide beer selection but very small wine selection. I now LOVE their pesto pizza! The goat cheese app is mainly sauce - I wish it was more cheese, but its good! Salads are big - share them!
(4)
Damian S.

I went here with great expectations after a review by my friend. I have a few positive things to say about Bricks...the beer selection is very good for a smaller venue. The bar area and the dining area both have their own unique ambiances. The bartender was very friendly and very fast. The food came out very quickly. The variety of pizzas offered have some interesting flavor combinations, the stuffed dates were also a curiously flavorful appetizer (though only three of them?). As for the 'meh' things to say...I think you cannot experience the full flavors of the pizzas with only a personal-sized 10" pizza. My three mushroom pizza was flavorful, but was small enough that only some bites had the caramelized onions on it. The brick oven pizza is a style I think you have to be used to, or want at the time. The crust is thin, brittle, and not very flavorful. It's there with only a function: to hold everything together, and there's not much to hold together... And the quail's egg on top of the pizza sounds like an interesting addition, but it definitely wasn't worth the extra $1 for the experience. All in all, it hit the spot at the time, but could've had more ingredients on the pizza I think. I'll give it another chance, but I think I'll upsize the pizza to try to get more flavors in each bite.
(2)
Annie M.

I love Bricks. I can't believe I haven't reviewed it already. My friends and I have been coming here for years... always a favorite. I love the thin crust pizza and the variety is awesome. My favorite is Painful - spicy pepperoni, garlic, purple onions and garlic - hello! YUM!!! The staff is always super nice!!! And not just a great spot for pizza and beer (great variety) but wonderful salads and pastas. Another item to review... several years ago - my husband and I had our rehearsal dinner at Bricks. A friend came up with the idea - and I totally have fond memories of our rehearsal dinner there. The package deal was great - not sure if its changed or not - but the manager (who's awesome) worked with us on figuring out how much food to order and said we could get more if we need - which we didn't. They fed us big time! And the beverages/alcohol with the package - FABULOUS. Oh - they have great specials as well... we were in last night and for you wine drinkers - half off bottles Tuesday nights. :D I know there are other specials throughout the week but that's the only one I remembered. So great great place... its definitely a favorite. :D
(5)
Sara E.

We ordered a Red Planet pizza last night from Bricks, along with Garlic bread. The pizza was delicious, as was the bread, but be warned - drink plenty of water with this meal. Otherwise you will be up 10 times in the night to down glasses of water!
(4)
Robin M.

Was a bit wary of the walk down those stairs into the creepy and dark basement (for a moment I thought my friends were gonna whack me!) but it was worth the momentary scare. Wow, that was some amazing pizza! Had the sweet heat and it was a plate of deliciousness. Plus, the service was fantastic. And they will deliver to my place. Wait...I'm gonna run out of money, aren't I? Just moved here and now have a pizza place in Chicago. Sweet.
(3)
Kendra s.

The atmosphere was cool and laid back and we had a couple things on the menu that were decent. The "slutty raviolis" and the caprese salad were good. The beer selection isn't bad either. The pizza on the other hand was not good. It was basically mama celeste with slightly better toppings! We went around 10:30pm and there was no wait which was nice.
(3)
Virginia T.

I haven't been to Bricks in a while and I'm disappointed to have to drop it a star. They used to have Strongbow, and now have Original Sin. They used to be more generous with the toppings (especially the cheese). And most damning of all....the crust used to be much thinner and crispier. I still had a good time, the wait staff was awesome, the prices weren't THAT much higher, and it was still good, but it wasn't AS great. P.S. After looking for parking for 45min, the waitress told us you can valet at Rocco's (just down the block) and walk over.
(4)
Ben R.

Stop reading this..... seriously, just go.
(5)
Stacy C.

Well, first off they don't carry Strongbow anymore! So sad!! They do carry "Original Sin" hard cider now though, and it's definitely a tasty alternative. I still miss my Strongbow tall cans, but this will do. However, we did have our first and only (hopefully) bad experience last night... My boyfriend and I got there at about 9pm and ordered our food. Unfortunately the person who brought out our pizzas (not the waitress) DROPPED one of them...a piece fell onto the floor and she tried catching the plate, so the rest of it ended up on her shirt and our table...she didn't speak English, so we called over our waitress to explain the situation. The waitress was very nice and understanding, she simply ordered another one up for us to go and took most of the cost of the pizza off of our bill...however, my boyfriend and I got separate pizzas so we could get what we wanted and he didn't like my pizza...so he had to just sit there and watch me eat...and by the time we got the second pizza, they were closing up shop, so we just left and he ate most of it on the ride home. I understand it wasn't their fault, but it did ruin our nice dinner that we drove a half hour out of our way to have. Perhaps the waitresses (the ones who are, you know, trained to do this kinda stuff without dropping it all over the floor) could bring out the food. I think that would help...I almost cried when I saw that pizza slipping. :(
(5)
Alan W.

The garlic shrimp rocks! Great hearty pizza, like how they cut it up into squares!
(4)
lesley s.

This place was awesome. I walk by it all the time, but had never contemplated going in until we had some time to kill before a show at Park West. I know the Yelp reviews are sort of all over the place, but I would definitely recommend giving Bricks a shot. Don't be discouraged by the dark, winding alley entrance -- we were confused at first too. And yes, it's dark inside and sends you a bit back in time, but the pizza rocked my world. Added bonus: very affordable! We had the garlic bread with cheese, 2 Stellas, and split a 10" pizza and the bill came to $25 including tip. We'll probably head back soon on a Tuesday so we can take advantage of the 1/2 off wine bottles!
(5)
J R.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! A++++ on pizza. This place was suggested to my boyfriend and I as we do not like Chicago style pizza. We tried it in January and have returned EVERY Thursday since. The pizza is to die for. We are skinny and we can put away a large together. We always order the Painful. It has jalapenos, spicy pepperoni, fresh basil, and cheese. The sauce is amazing and the crust is so crispy. Overall, amazing pizza. Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. I crave this pizza all week. The ambiance of the place is great. It is dim and in a basement. It is a mix of restaurant and bar style. There is always a game on tv and a lot of regulars come in it seems. I love the $4 fat tires on Thursday. You can't beat that price. It can be difficult to get a table on Thursday nights so we just sit at the bar because it is spacious. We might start making reservations as well. The server knows what we order usually so it's nice. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Best Pizza in Chicago!
(5)
Kristin S.

Mmm, been here twice now and came away with a belly full of delicious beer and delicious-er pizza. 4.5 stars if I could give it. Only half a star off because it's a teeny bit pricier than I like to pay for beer and pizza, but still awesome. I love the dark, catacomby atmosphere and I can totally see how someone could miss the place since you have to walk downstairs and through another door that has the look of an abandoned restaurant. Don't let it fool you, though. Go in! Have some incredible craft beer and craft pizza. I love interesting flavor combos on my pizzas, so that's why this place is perfect for me. The creole shrimp pizza was so interesting and fun. The Red Planet pizza and BBQ chicken pizza are also amazingly good. Service has always been stellar and attentive. The servers also give good reco's on pizza sizes for groups and flavors you might like. I appreciate that. My friends' live around the corner, so I'll be back with them as much as possible.
(4)
Blake M.

As a pizza lover, I feel that Chicago is surprisingly lacking in the thin crust department. Thank you, Bricks. After you walk down the stairs into the subterranean cave and open the door to Bricks, the first thing you notice is the dark, slightly dingy bar with the a small tv overheard. You ask yourself, am I in the right place? Yes, you have entered into the world of Bricks, and the sooner you let go of your preconceived notions as to what a great pizza place should be, the longer you will have to enjoy the great, unique pizzas and awesome beer selection. Although few, the appetizers and salads are tasty and a good start if you absolutely cannot wait for your pizza to arrive. But do not fill up or you will regret it. My favorite pizzas are the mean green (pesto sauce, jalepaÃ±os, garlic, pepperoni, and onions) and the popeye (fresh spinach, tomatoes, roasted garlic, tomato sauce, and feta). Of course, after going there so many times, I have started to get my own - pesto sauce, goat cheese, pepperoni, spinach, and mushrooms - yum! The beer selection puts Bricks over the top. I hate going to a pizza place and all they have are yellow fizzy watery beers (Coors, Miller, Bud). They have Duvel, Chimay, Tripel Karmeliet, and Westmalle, none for more than $6 if you go on Mondays, when they have discount beers. And for those a little bit less into the craft beer, they have the fizzy stuff too. A couple of recommendations: I like the pesto sauce a lot better than the tomato, and unless you want to wait an hour for a table, head there during the week or get carry out/ delivery. Better yet, go on Monday and have a few great beers.
(5)
tatiana c.

My favorite thin crust pizza in the city. Discovering this place was no small feat! I can't tell you how many shoddy thin crusts I have had to endure until we found this place! Usually a post St. Michael's Sunday night Mass tradition, we always quickly get seated and always leave happy. Small, dark and cozy. Love this place!
(5)
Nick S.

This is my favorite Pizzeria in Chicago. I love the wheat crust and the artichoke puree sauce. Bricks definitely has the cool factor. It's in the basement of the building and the entrance is in the back of the building through a narrow walk way. Also, one of the best beer lists in the city. This place servers my favorite beer of all time, La Fin Du Monde. It's French for "the end of the world." The only downside I can think of is the parking situation, but that's every restaurant in this area.
(5)
Michael P.

Came here the other night for a man date, sprinkled with a little bromance. WHAT OF IT?!?! A buddy of mine and I came here last Friday night before going out. We live downtown and not only is this closer to us than Piece, I'd argue the pizza is as good or better. I called ahead to check on the wait and there wasn't one on a Friday night, so we sat right down when we arrived. The sweet heat pizza is sweet and hot. It was a delightful concoction of chicken, bacon, jalapeno, gouda, and mozzarella that started off really hot and then became sweet--pretty much the same way I approach relationships, but in a pizza! Finally, the pizza was a full 10 inches, which was more than enough to satisfy even the most voracious of users.
(4)
Ari M.

Easily one of the best thin crust pizzas in Chicago. Jeff Bush is a brilliant man.
(5)
Rocky B.

Yuck. You know now I remember why I totally blacked this place out of mine. My husband insisted that we had gone to this place years back and for the life of me I couldn't remember it until I walked back into the place. I really want to like this place because it is actually nice and cozy and romantic with it's cavernous feel but you just can't ignore bad food. Their famous goat cheese marinara was more marinara than goat cheese and super salty to boot. The pizza...there really are no words except to say...yuck. Too bad Yelp wasn't around 10 years or so ago so I could have made note on here why I didn't like the place...it would have saved me a wasted trip back. Ah well..at least I have you guys now and duly noted!
(2)
Abigail L.

I like this place. The entrance somewhat creeped me out.. it was like a short, passageway that lead under the building to the door. The ambiance was somewhat mancavesc, in a good way. It was clean, exposed stones on the walls, low lighting. We sat at the bar, but there was low seating/tables. Lots of beers to chose from and they would let you sample the on tap list. Good pizza. Friendly staff. Good times had by all :)
(4)
mike v.

Best thin crust in the city. Not a bad place for parties and get togethers either, I love the informal dark basement ambience with the red/white checkered tableclothes, plastic pitchers of beer or pop. It's a real pizza parlor/bar, comfortable and casual.
(5)
Joscelyn M.

Red wine + yummy pizza + cozy setting = BLISS. Love the pizzas here - always have interesting specials, but I LOVE the painful - nice and spicy! The apps are just OK - not bad or anything, but with pizza this good, I don't think you need to waste your calories on garlic bread.
(4)
Jen N.

Bricks is pretty good, one of my favorites! Someday I will try the "super painful pizza," I just need someone to video it for YouTube. Bricks is a thin crust and the ambiance is casual and in a basement restaurant.
(5)
Katie L.

#NAME?
(5)
Paul C.

When I was a kid I wished I could eat pizza every day. Now as an adult I find that I end up eating pizza way more often than I'd like. But after going to Bricks, I feel like I could definitely eat their pizza everyday. Bricks is a garden level restaurant/bar with a very laid back feel. The bar is fully stocked with beer and the pizza's themselves range from your standard toppings, to the more inventive, with a whole slew of custom pizzas available for the making. A great place to kick back and relax after a day at work and enjoy some good food and good company. With the laid back atmosphere and delicious food, I will definitely be back in the future. I deduct one star because you have to enter the restaurant through what looks like some body's rape dungeon.
(4)
Laura L.

Great thin crust pizza! I have been to Bricks many times over the past couple years and am finally writing a review. I have to say, I'm a deep dish pizza kind of girl. But I have no complaints about Bricks' thin crust! I've tried several of their menu pizzas as well as the choose my own toppings option and have never been disappointed. The crust is somehow crispy and chewy all at once, the sauce is delicious and the topping have always come out perfectly. I love the basement atmosphere, the beer choice is awesome and half-off wine Wednesdays are awesome! Weekdays before 730pm are typically kind of empty, but it's packed later in the night and on weekends. If you have a large group, I recommend a reservation. The reason I'm not marking this as 5-star is because the service is a little hit or miss. I've never had what I would consider AWFUL service, but there is one waitress who is especially inattentive and unfriendly. The other servers and hostess have always been great, however.
(4)
Freddy R.

Ordered for the first time after reading all the yelp reviews. Pizza was delivered cold. Not very tasty. 23 bucks for a 12 inch pizza, expensive! No plans on going back.
(1)
Gabriela J.

Best piZza in chicago
(5)
Susan F.

Absolutely 5 stars, duh!! The atmosphere is a dungeony but it won't scare you away once you try the pizza! There are about 10 diff specialty pizzas, and being the hungry bunch we were, we ordered the Shrimp Creole, Brickhouse, and The Ditka. All of them tasted diff and we amazing, loaded with toppings!! The mediums are pretty large and will def work for 2 people, with a few leftovers. The crust is perfect and crisp without being hard. I wish this was up more by lakeview because I would come here every week. no joke!!! They also have a really large variety of wines and beers, kudos!
(5)
Bill J.

Beer was awesome. La Fin du Monde on tap - are u f'ing kidding me?? The Painful trumps The Green Garden. The slutty ravioli was better than my first high school slut - and she was pretty great. Salads are good. But my ravenous table mates ate the arugula salad before I could taste it. So - assume it was stellar. Minus one star for noise. A table of 12 was nearby with an obnoxious ring leader.
(4)
Scott N.

I have always loved Brick's! Love the Painful. Plus, it's fun to say, "I'll have a 12-inch painful".
(5)
Ali R.

After hearing about the baked goat cheese appetizer from Kristin R. during my St. Patty's Chicago vaca I had to try it out for myself. I am a huge cheese fan so I was ready to try it out. I was expecting it to be much cheesier (marinara and goat cheese) but it was still quite tasty. I personally would up the cheese to marinara ratio, but I don't own this place. It's a huge appetizer so if you order with 3 or less don't get anything more than a small pizza with it. The Caesar Salad was delicious, nice and anchovy like I like it. Kristin R. and I went back and forth a million times trying to decide on the perfect pizza, they all looked so yummy. We finally went with the red planet and I was very pleased. Sausage, red onions, red bell peppers, and I think some other stuff. While I love me some deep Chicago pizza, they always make me sick with their deceptive fullness power, so I was happy to go to Bricks and enjoy a nice ultra-thin pizza. In trying to decide my favorite part about this place, I keep debating if it's the beer list or the ambiance. You feel like you are dining in a cave as you make your way through to your table. The beer list includes some of my faves, La Fin du Monde, 4 styles of Anchor, and many many other great ones. Also I found out the owner is from Petaluma, CA (where I work) so I'm very excited to try that location. ps- sorry for the rambling long review, I'm not feeling very concise today.
(4)
Neesha O.

I literally stumbled upon this place on accident looking for a decent dinner before going to a show at Park West (which, btw is right around the corner). True, I did nearly trip down the steep staircase and break my neck on the way to the pizza dungeon, but I like to live on the wild side. One thing I noticed reading through some of the other posts about this place is that no one mentioned the most important aspect of Bricks: wood. fired. oven. It might seem incredible but wood-fired pizza is somewhat hard to come by in Chicago and yes, it is different from deep dish. It would be difficult and certainly unruly to handle a fat, casserole-like deep dish pizza in a fired oven. The traditional Italian pizzas, on which all other pizzas are based, are thin crust. They are not laden with sauce and toppings, the crust is crispy and the flavors are fresh and simple. I ordered the "Popeye" pizza (spinach, feta, garlic) and I felt like I got exactly what I expected. I could taste the smoke from the wood and the sauce was subtle, simple, delicious. Their arugula salad also gets two thumbs up for freshness. I quite enjoyed the dark, cavernous feel of the place, which managed to be both sexy and cozy. The beer list is pretty great as well, they carry my favorite Belgian beer, Blanche de Bruxelles. The only downside: no dessert. I don't usually get dessert, but I like to see it on the menu and what can I say? I like a happy ending.
(4)
Jori S.

I lived in Lincoln Park for years and always just assumed that Bricks was a scummy underground dive bar. After my favorite pizza place, O'Fame, closed a few years ago, I started looking for another local spot, and Bricks is it. It's cute, relaxed, has great beer, excellent pizza and great service. Try to walk there though, parking is difficult in that area.
(4)
Dusty K.

Bricks is one of those places you can walk past on a daily basis and not even know it's there. It's underground and when it rains puddles form all over the stairwell and walkway as though you're entering a vacant building. At first you think you are lost but then you open the door and the pizza smell hits you. I've eaten here twice over the last few months. It's interesting because both times I had their pizza it tasted different. One time the sauce had a bbq smokey flavor and the other time it did not. However, both times the pizza was great. Very tasty thin crust pizza. But I also like the setup at Bricks. It's not quite a dive bar but not a restaurant either. They have a small eating area with waitresses and a bar near the front. Both times I went here was during the week around 7 PM and it was fairly empty. What impressed me most is their beer selection. They have a few of my favorites in bottle form and some others on tap. Besides that, they have great specials on drinks throughout the week and it's something to look into before you head out. If you haven't tried Bricks, it's worth a visit. I like the crowd here and the wait staff is always nice. It seems like the type of place locals can visit during the week and chat it up with the bartender. Very homey if that's even a word. Give it a try for a new take on thin crust pizza.
(4)
Rachel W.

I can honestly claim to be one of a handful of people that have been to both of Brick's 2 locations: Chicago and Petaluma, CA. And yes, the only reason we took a several hour detour from our wine country vacation was to visit Brick's California. Needless to say, I love this pizza. It is truly the best pizza I've ever had. Deliciously spicy, bursting with flavor- and with weeknight drink and entree specials, it's really hard to beat. Prepare to wait a little bit for your pie, as they make it fresh just for you. Also, make sure that EVERYONE has ordered enough for themselves; I've had to slap more than a few hands reaching for my sausage pie when they got 'tired' of their spinach and mushroom. Go forth. Eat at Brick's. Be merry.
(5)
Lu N.

The pizza here is unique and tasty!! The restaurant itself is cute and cozy. The sweet heat was deliciously sweet and spicy. And the painful was good as well. My date got the simple sausage and mushroom, he enjoyed it a lot. Crimshaw beer was so good! Service was just the right amount! P.s tastes even better the next day! Ha!
(5)
Jorge P.

Everything here is great. Good pizza, good beer, good environment and ambiance. Would give this place 5 stars if it had a larger variety of beers on tap.
(4)
Morgan Richelle M.

This my my moms favorite pizza joint in Chicago, so I knew I was in for a treat. I love the underground location. Totally chill and cozy. They have a bar to accommodate your alcoholic beverage needs, some good music, and plenty of tables for you and your friends/family. There is awesome art and decor that really adds to this place' personality. This restaurant is very unique, and something you could bring friends, go on a date, etc. Perfect for all casual gatherings.
(5)
Stephanie G.

Nice thin crust pizza, fresh toppings and not too filling. Looks shady as the entrance is down a dark staircase with a door not marked clearly, but it's legit!
(4)
Kristin R.

Kudos to this place for being the venue of where a very funny story took place. The quick version: our bill came to $32.70 and the bartender only rang us up for $23. Jessica L: Um guys. He only rang us up for $23. That's bomb. Is it a mistake? Kirsten F: Yeah it's gotta be a mistake. Look the numbers are switched, he must be dyslexic. Me: Yea let's send it back. What if it was an error; I'd hate to jip 'em. We bring the mistake to the attention of our waitress who goes back to figure it out. She comes back and to our surprise, he is NOT dyslexic, he just thought I was cute and gave us a little discount. What a sweetie! Anyway, the food here really is amazing. We decided to eat here based on a recommendation from "Eat. Shop. Chicago". The author claims Bricks has the best thin crust pizza on earth (or was it just Chicago? anyway..) so we had to give it a whirl. It's orgasmic. The crust is cooked to perfection and just all and all, really tasty. We also ordered a caesar salad which tasted nice and fresh. You can tell because the dressing tasting extra sardine-y but I actually liked that, oddly. And they have a huge selection of beer from which to choose. A perfect accompaniment to the pizza. The bartender (bless his heart) gave me a taste of the brown sugga Lagunitas, even though it's not what I ordered, just so I could try it out. The ambiance here is very cool. You walk down stairs into a cave-like area and then you enjoy your pizza with some classic Chicago jazz and blues, some great tasting beer and a succulent pizza. Yum. I'm definitely coming back here and taking every friend that comes to visit.
(5)
Chris K.

I used to eat here all the time when I lived in Chicago and loved it. However, it had been a while and wasnt sure if it had gone downhill in the last 3 years. So when I was in Chicago again last week, I decided to give it another try and I wasnt disappointed. It was great. The Goat Cheese and Marinara appetizer is awesome, the pizzas are great -- especially the Sweet Heat, and the beer selection is fantastic. They have a ton of imported beers from Belgium, Germany, etc... I myself enjoyed a few too many glasses of Chimay. Chicago is known for deep-dish pizza so if you are loking for that, this isnt the place. But if you are looking for good pizza in a cool and different atmosphere, this is a good spot.
(5)
Andy C.

Came here for the super spicy pizza challenge i saw on foodtv. A buddy and i each ordered one, with our better halfs ready to administer first aid should we pass out. Long story short, i did not finish it. 10 minutes to eat a fairly large pizza is bad enough, and i am not sure i could have done it even without the spice, so maybe i am a huge wimp with a child's stomach. But add the spice and my head was off to the races with sweating and itching after my first slice. After my second i needed help blowing my nose as i was starting to leak....:) I gave it my all, but came up a slice and a half short, out of 8. When i stopped eating, i got the shivers bad, even though my mouth felt like i was drinking lava beer. I love spicy food, and the endorphin rush that comes with it. That is why i eat food as hot as i can get it, even though i am certainly not as good at it as i would like to be. The chef came out to talk to us after we failed, and he was a great guy, glad i got to chat with him about the experience. The actual pizza, from what i could tell of the taste, was actually very good! Fresh garlic and the toppings were not lost in the heat, and i had the rest of the pizza the next day for lunch. Would go back for the same spicy or regular za again for sure.
(4)
John R.

Has the best beer selection of any of pizza place on the north side-- very long micro-brew list. I'm not a guy who likes a ton of toppings, but they make all of their specialty pizza's work very well. The toppings definitely work with each other. We ordered six different specialty pizzas and each one was delicious. Though this is a roman pizza, the crust is slightly thicker and has a little more cheese than most of its kind-- this is definitely a good thing though. Go with a group so you can all order differently and share. There's going to be a wait for you table and the pizza (even though it's thin), but that's what the bar area is for, even if it is a little cramped throughout. The interior is dungeon-like, but is decorated and lit as well as the pizza tastes. The atmosphere is border-line pretentious. Frankly, the service could be a little better. I di order a sausage and pepperoni as a safety net in case the other pizzas were eaten too fast or rubbed me the wrong way. It came out burnt and sloppy. I am convinced they messed it up on purpose because of how vanilla the order was.
(4)
Justin P.

My wife and I hit up this restaurant after a Friday night party. We both loved the pizza and the atmosphere. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the weak beer list.
(4)
Luan N.

Here are my complaints about Bricks: 1. Place was way too loud! 2. Pizza took almost an hour. I met up with some friends and I was late, so they ordered before I got there. They ordered spaghetti w/ meatballs and ravioli. I just wanted to hit them on the back side of the head for not ordering pizza. When I finally got my Red Planet pizza, it was piping hot. I thought the sausage was a bit bland, and the flavors didn't quite come together for me. I actually thought the vegetarian pizza was better made. The funny thing was, I left some unfinished slices in the car, while I had one cocktail at Violet Hour. After letting the pizza sit for some time, I tried the cold pizza and it was psychedelic colors spinning in my mouth, tasted so good. However, I guess any pizza tastes great after lining your GI tract with alcohol.
(3)
Amanda N.

My favorite place for pizza! Deep dish is for tourists. Do not miss this place! Crispy thin-but-not-too-thin crust, creative topping creations, fantastic exposed-brick underground atmosphere, great beer selection. What more could you want? We have taken to making Sunday night Sweet Heat carry-out a tradition. Barbecue sauce, cheese, chicken, BACON, jalapeno -- you can't go wrong. You just can't. Other favorites are the Brickhouse -- think finely chopped artichokes as a sauce -- and the Vegetarian (with pepperoni!).
(5)
Eric M.

The first time I went to Brick's I thought the place was closed. I walked down the broken stairs and into the dripping, dark cavern to peek into a small window and see what appeared to be a dive bar. I assumed the place had gone out of business and the sign was still up. After contemplating for a couple minutes, I decided to step up and go into this odd place. The decor isn't the best, but I like that. It's old. It's traditional. It's Chicago. The beer selection is great and they pour each beer in their correct glass. The pizza is outstanding. Thin crust, good amount of cheese, and great topping choices. I strongly suggest the pesto shrimp pizza.
(5)
jenn m.

I was always a deep dish fan until I tried Bricks Pizza. (Okay I still love deep dish, but Bricks gives me a new apprication for thin crust pies). Ive eaten at this restaurant several times and its always a great bite. They have an array of specialty pizzas - "The popeye" - my fav, "the Ditka" etc. And if you like to keep things simple you can create your own pizza and select the toppings you would like to enjoy. Not to one up the pizzas, but their beer and wine menu is pretty extensive! Maudite, Chimay White, Spaten Oktoberfest, Celebration Ale (While in season) and many other unique favorites. Beers you will not find here: coors light and corona, although they do carry miller and bud light (gross!). I love the atmosphere - its quite different being a basement restaurant. You walk down steps into a little common area that bricks pizza and katacomb (an adjacent night club) share. The music is great too and so is the staff! Friendly, helpful and orderly.
(5)
Junaid M.

My buddy and I went to this place because of all the great reviews. This place has a great location and great customer service. The food was also good. They are apparently known for their thin crust pizza, I'm not sure if they have deep dish or regular pan pizza, but I'm sure they do offer that as well. The only thing is that their pizza is pretty small. They offer 10",12" and 14". But the pizza was good. We got the Popeye pizza, which had good flavors. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Tamara R.

Had the vegetarian pizza. Really yummy. We came in mid-afternoon so dining area was totally empty. Loved the very cozy, chill vibe. I also like that they have beer specials everyday. Since we were the only people there, the food came quickly. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive.
(4)
P 3.

Legit pizza place. Love the downstairs basement feeling when you walk in, and the pizzas are great. Try the Sweet Heat if you ever go there. Also the Arugula Salad is excellent. Nice place in the neighborhood and we go often. Staff is always friendly, but I wouldn't say service is why you go here. It's fine but not great.
(5)
Jessie M.

Have never actually been to bricks, but order delivery regularly. They are my favorite basic cheese pizza in the city, BBQ Chicken pizza is also really good.
(4)
Michael K.

Your yelp page said you were open at noon. The sign outside said you would be open at 5:00pm. We showed up hungry at about 1:30, I was disappointed because your food looks delicious on your page and we had to go elsewhere. I would love to try your restaurant some time, you should really update your hours on your page.
(1)
Missi R.

We are staying at Hotel Lincoln and arrived fairly late on a Tuesday evening. The excellent bellhop Joseph recommended that we walk the few blocks to Bricks. Excellent suggestion! Our group of eight enjoyed the rather unique and interesting atmosphere. It was cozy but comfortable and the server quickly pushed several tables together to accommodate our group. We all ordered different pizzas from the wide selection of unique house pizzas. Beware! The pizzas are served extremely hot so give them a few minutes to cool. My first love is deep dish, especially in Chicago but this was some of the best thin crust pizza I have ever had. There were several vegetarian specialities on the menu, almost too many to choose from at least at the late hour of our arrival. I finally settled on the Popeye and it was excellent. The beer menu is HUGE and there are various beer and wine specials on different days of the week. Highly recommend if you are in the area.....or even if you aren't it is worth a drive.
(4)
Se Won P.

The yelp page says this place opens at noon but it does not on Sunday!(opens at 5pm on Sunday) What a waste of my time.
(2)
David P.

Just tried this place for the first time, pretty good. I'm only giving it three stars, because the pizza was a little under cooked. Tasty, just needed to cook a little longer. I had the BBQ Chicken Pizza. I also had the arugula salad, yummy! I will try this place again, as I want to give them four stars.
(3)
Emily Z.

Ordered in to Hotel Lincoln just a block away. Large pizza was $23, not a lot of flavor and no visible sauce. We asked for plates and napkins, as we are in a hotel, they didn't have plates but did bring us napkins. 6 napkins for $3.50! They charged us for napkins, do they charge for napkins if you dine in!? The total with tip was $34, for a bland pizza. I ate in once and enjoyed my meal but this was way over priced and not good. Bricks is a huge delivery fail.
(2)
John T.

Amazing food and exceptional service. We had two kids and two adults. The kids were well taken care of and the parents were impressed by the beer list. Definitely great for families.
(5)
Sarah S.

Pros: vegetarian friendly, good beer selection, neighborhood gem, great service Cons: in a basement, but I liked that Recommended: slutty ravioli, the brickhouse pizza Perfect new addition Friday Pizza Date night! Bricks is a basement pizza joint with a great selection of pizzas, beers, and other Italian food. They have a good selection of vegetarian pizzas (went on a meat-free Friday of Lent) the Brickhouse pizza is particularly good- is has a big artichoke flavor. The slutty ravioli is basically a plate of melted cheese with some pasta in it, which means it is amazing. A wide beer selection, great service even when busy, and options to sit in the restaurant or watch the game on the TVs at the bar make this one of my favorite classic pizza joints.
(4)
Carolina N.

Took my boyfriends parents here over the weekend, and we absolutely loved it. It was a delightful experience and the food was delicious. I really like that it is in the basement giving it a speaky-easy vibe and the decor and furniture really brings it all together. It was surprisingly not that busy or overcrowded for a Saturday night, which I had no problem with! Great beer selection too. I love thin crust pizza (because I can eat a lot of it) and Bricks serves up a mean thin crust pizza! Very pleased with what we ordered. I forgot the name of our pizza, they all had funky names, but it was BBQ chicken pizza, and my bf's dad got one that had artichokes all over it. So so good. Unfortunately I did not order the slutty ravioli as recommended due to the scary amounts of cheese we saw in peoples pictures, but I will get it next time for sure. We also ordered the prosciutto wrapped/sausage stuffed dates. They were just ok, not amazing and a tad overpriced. I will be back again, no doubt about it!
(4)
Nelson B.

Love this place, great atmosphere and delicious pizza.
(5)
Kay H.

Hey just wanted to let you guys know that I was really craving the Sweat Heat pizza today and called THREE times to order it! Your phone number provided is what I used and no one answered! :-( I'm sad to say I ordered elsewhere. You lost out on business guys! I left four stars because I love the pizza but wanted to let your business know that no one is answering from phone number provided on yelp.
(4)
Jessica R.

AMAZING! Do not let the rough exterior fool you. Once inside and downstairs, you're in a classy and clean restaurant. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an old jazz parlor. This place saved my perspective of Chicago pizza! Although it wasn't deep dish, that didn't matter! The hand crafted pizzas here had plenty of flavor and creative toppings. We found it on foodnetwork.com and wanted to try the famous "super painful pizza". Although, they did not have any of the peppers to make the pizza, they brought us a small dish of the spicy sauce they use on that pizza for no extra cost! (And that sauce was hot enough!) All of the toppings are fresh! Not from cans! And the prices are more reasonable than so many other Chicago pizza places! We will definitely be returning to this wonderful pizza place again!
(5)
John J.

Great thin crust pie, which is real nice when every other place is deep dish. Had three pies- sole mio, Petaluma Club and creole shrimp. Some Mio was by far the best, creole shrimp came in second. Only issue I had with the pizza is it was too hot. Cheese was still sliding off a bit. Needs a minute to rest, breathe and adapt. Wish we had tried slutty ravioli- looked tremendous. Beer menu was overly Belgian for my liking. Decor and music was awesome! Beer menu with pizza heat knocked them down a bit. And the Petaluma club was weak. Say 3.5 but will round to a 4. And they added 18% gratuity for the group. I understand why but it always seems to cheap out the waitress. Who only gives 18% these days? And if you do, stop going out to eat.
(4)
Darline L.

The pizza here is horrible. We got a burned pizza with little flavor that tasted like cardboard. If you are looking for bad pizza, save your money and order domino's.
(1)
Andre W.

How in the hell did I live in walking distance of this place for 4 years and never been inside??? I was invited here by a friend yesterday that told me the place was a great option for pizza and beer. I like thin crust and good beer so I was like hell yeah. This place is great as you have to go downstairs as everyone has mentioned to a dungeon like atmosphere. It is very dim lit and has a nice, but romantic charm to it. Due to it being Tuesday, they were having a half off bottle of wine special. Beer took a backseat as my dining companion beat me there and already ordered a bottle of pinot noir which was very good. We got to choose our own table as it was a pretty light crowd at first...the place definitely filled up after we got our seats. We decided we wanted more than one flavor so we went with a half & half pizza. We decided on the Painful (spicy pepperoni purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) and the Sweet Heat (chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella). The Sweet Heat was a good balance of sweet & spicy while the Painful was slightly spicy...we enjoyed both! I look forward to returning here to sample more pizza and to try the beer list.
(5)
Steven H.

Second time here and I was not disappointed. Fantastic food, brilliant atmosphere and fabulous staff. If in Chicago you have to stop in or your trip isn't complete. Double thumps up....pizza is outstanding!
(5)
Amy K.

Fantastic! Unique choices and didn't take forever between ordering and being served! Could offer a few more pizza choices, but we were more than happy with what we ordered.
(4)
Ryan B.

I went here for dinner before a Blackhawks game with my girlfriends family. It's standard pizza. Nothing special. The space is comfortable. I really liked that. They serve alcohol too! I could see myself hanging out here on a weeknight.
(3)
Jan R.

On a wednesday night, we meandered in around 9:30pm expecting a short wait. They told us 30-45 mins, which was alright. After an hour and a half, we got a table. We sat at the bar while we waited. Then we waited to get served at the bar since the place is so short staffed. All of the staff were working their butts off and were sooo nice, but they were so understaffed that the placed was just crumbling apart. We couldn't even order appetizers at the bar, so we just sat hungry. We finally got a table and ordered right away. Our appetizer was brought at the same time as our food. The food was alright. It was good. I liked the variety and it all tasted great. I was starving though so I was not being particular. Definitely good food, but not worth the wait I think this is a case of management gone wrong. Clearly this could be a great place if the staffing was more abundant and poor management. If they turned over tables more quickly, they would have happy customers and make more money
(3)
K S.

Okay we stopped in because of the Worlds best Pizza sign. The Slutty Ravioli was Amazing! However the Peteluma Pizza was just decent. Usually we have to stop ourselves from over eating when it comes to pizza but this was just okay. I think there are a few other places in the area hell on the same street that will give this place a run for their money.
(3)
Tina Y.

My favorite pizza place in Chicago. Love the painful pizza! I will say that if you are into deep dish pizza this will not be the place for you. All of their pizzas are thin crust. I also recommend their arugula salad and meatballs.
(4)
Daniel J.

Their pizza is incredible, the beer list is just as delicious. I have been to Bricks a hand full of times and have had nothing but a great experience every time. Go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Johnnalee K.

We love Bricks! Randomly discovered it on the way to a class at Second City. The hole-in-the-wall vibe is perfect for a pizza joint, and the food is soooo tasty. I love the Red Planet pizza and the goat cheese appetizer, not to mention the $4 22 oz. Fat Tires on Thursdays. The servers are usually prompt and friendly, so it's an all-around good time. I unfortunately had to give Bricks 4 stars instead of 5 because their delivery is bad news. Last time we ordered it was cold, yet had been waaay overcooked so that some of the cheese was burnt. We'd ordered it before and it wasn't awful, but after the cold, burnt Red Planet we won't do Bricks delivery again.
(4)
Veronica H.

It's dark! Good service, great spinach salad, not to busy at lunch on Sunday. It's not deep dish, but it's still delicious. This place is a bar and pizzeria and it's quite dark, especially coming out of the mid-day sun. The pizza was fantastic and the spinach salad complimented it perfectly.
(4)
Dianne J.

I am a person who doesn't like pizza that much but I love their "red planet "thin crust pizza. Four stars because it took me 35 mins to find a parking spot.
(4)
K N.

I have ordered Bricks for take out, as well as dined in and they never, EVER do me wrong. My go-to is the Red Planet, sans goat cheese (I'm weird with cheese). The tomato sauce isn't super sweet, it's savory enough and compliments the mozz cheese perfectly. I don't even mind the red onions because they put red peppers on this pie. The crust is a delightful and scrumptious combination of a thin (not cracker thin) crust. To put it plainly, this place is pizza perfection. I could go on and on and on about the other pizzas I've had here but I'll stick to my fave pie from my fave place. Now, if they would only extend their delivery radius to include my apartment, we'd be in business. :-)
(5)
Krupa A.

Nice atmosphere. Great beer selection, including different varieties on tap. I was dissappointed with the pizza. Ordered the 12" Painful, easy on the cheese, and was still hungry afterwards! The crust was a little too thin. Being from NY, we're super attuned to awesome pizza, and this was just meh. Service was ok. A family next to us were regulars and it was nice to see employees interacting with the family. It's kid friendly even though it seems dark and cavern like inside. I'd go back for drinks if I was in the area again.
(3)
Marshall S.

The only thing better than the entrance is the Belgian-focused beer list, and the only thing better than the beer is the thin crust pizza. Definitely check out they BBQ chicken pizza if that's your thing but you can't go wrong with any of them. If you are in the area (or can find a way to get in the area), definitely try Bricks.
(5)
Len S.

For the food...I have to give it close to five stars. The house salad had a tasty vinegarette and was nicely appointed with bleu cheese crumbles, olives, etc. The pizza special we had tonight was a 14 inch size which was just a tiny bit more than two people can eat unless they want to stuff themselves. The toppings were the bomb...a combo of meatball, sausage, jalapenos, etc. The hots were a bit overwhelming after a while, but dang, what great flavor. The pizza was cooked perfectly, and the thin crust was just awesome. For the atmosphere...On the plus side...Was pretty warm in there. Mentioned to the waitress and they kicked on the AC, and it cooled right down. That was nice. On the downside, please don't put a 2-top RIGHT outside the little hall to the bathrooms. That's where we were seated, and the slamming bathroom door and flushes weren't the most appetizing. I'm sure if I asked to move they would have done it without grumbling, though. Overall, I'd certainly go again. Some of the best pizza I have ever had.
(4)
Jacob J.

Years ago I'd made a mental note to remember to try their pies. The other night we were hanging in the LP so I made this our dinner destination. Chicago thin crust as some say. It talks about the thinness of the pizza. Not Wells brothers thin, but thin. That means not wafer thin. We ordered a Painful pizza, it came topped with spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Was it spicy? I was drinking Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA's while waiting for the pie. I think my pores were drunken. When that pie arrived, we dived right in. The jalapeno slices were hot, plain slices that brought the heat. The spicy pepperoni added flavor to the sauce and we were perspiring. A large Za' almost defeated, with two slices left. We were lucky to get a table for two on a crowded Friday night. We called sometime earlier and were told the wait could be forty five minutes to an hour. We got in there a few minutes later and got seated immediately. It's located a floor below street level and has about fifteen or so tables seating about two to each. Due to the way the bar and dining area are setup it makes it really easy to catch your waitress or see them, when drinks or items are needed. Service was attentive and prompt.
(4)
Christian B.

I just moved to Chicago from Portland and thought I'd kick off my year here with some pizza. I ordered the 14" Sweet Heat pizza ($21) and it was the epitome of mediocrity. The crust was burnt, the pizza was lacking in the sauce department, and I felt that the flavors conflicted to the point where you didn't know what you were supposed to be tasting. I really wanted to like this place, but it seems like they should've spent more time on their pizza and less on their interior design (which I have to admit, was fantastic). It's possible that my taste in pizza is "off" since I'm from the left coast, but I really just didn't enjoy my food.
(2)
Jessica S.

Was here tonight for dinner. I love the atmosphere. Dark lighting, red candles. Pizza was good. Got half a Popeye, and half pepperoni, ham, banana pepper, and sausage. Slutty ravioli was better than expected, had some spice to it. I think there is ground sausage in the filling. Waitress was nice. I do prefer my pizza cut the regular way as opposed to squares but whatever. I would return
(4)
Blake K.

Amazing pizza. We had the olive oil and garlic pizza and I am still dreaming about it! Service was friendly too. But it's hidden down some cement stairs and we thought we were walking into a dive bar instead at first. Will definitely be back though!
(4)
Michael D.

Great place for family and friends to gather. Wait staff is nice. Love the meatball pizza and Caesar Salad is our favs. Great selection of beers. Nice neighborhood easy park. Go for a walk after dinner and enjoy the sites. Made some great memories there with my wife and friends.
(5)
Nina I.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! THIS is what I call pizza! This place had my favorite thin crust pizza~! It's underground and reminds me of a speakeasy, I did look it up and it never was one but I still go there with the illusion and I dig it. It's very dark and ambient and they have awesome artwork on the walls. My top choice is the Painful - spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno (and I mean FRESH), garlic, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. YUM! But get the jalapenos on the side if you value your bowel movements later. ha ha. They have such a variety of pizza though, and same goes for beer! This place is worth every penny I can eat here every day for the rest of the year (2013). I forgot mention one thing though..... THE STAFF ROCKS. Never had poor service. And even if I do in the future the food will make up for it! TRY THIS PLACE ASAP!!!
(5)
Kathy W.

Really Good Thin Crust Pizza and drinks, Not pricey, very clean! Walking in was a little confusing, luckily I saw from previous posts/images where we were headed! Very good, would totally go back! Walking distance from our Hotel Lincoln.
(4)
Parker C.

Great "specialty" pizzas. Beer list is incredible for a pizza place. Ambiance is a little strange -- the restaurant is subterranean and has the feel of a dive bar, but in a not-so-bad way. Not usually busy.
(4)
Kelli F.

So we went in looking for deep-dish pizza.......which Bricks is definitely not..... but it was so delicious that we were not even disappointed by our mistake!!!! It was very late (near closing time), so we got an overall dive-bar-ish feel, but that just added to the unexpected greatness of the entire experience. i can't even remember what toppings we got, but I know it involved jalapeÃ±os--as every great pizza should. The waitress was very nice.
(5)
Lindsey R.

So good! Cozy underground (literally & figuratively) pizza place, perfect for winter! Thin crust pizza that's still crispy. Awesome beer selection too. Definitely a good local find!
(5)
Craig L.

Great thin-crust pizza in the area between northern Michigan Avenue and the heart of Lincoln Park. Wife and I enjoyed our thin crust pizza. Recommend sticking to the more traditional selections. As others have said, you enter by going below the sign and through a little underground passage to the hidden door on your right. It's a nice sedate environment inside with a mix of locals and families.
(4)
LaurenSerena K.

If I could give 0 stars I would. I have lived in Chicago my whole life and never had a worst pizza then from there. First 1.5 hours to arrive and the pizza was not hot at all. Next my pizza wasn't what I ordered. I will never order from here again and tell everyone I know the lousy service and quality. I was a first time customer and they messed up BIG time.
(1)
S R.

Great atmosphere and spectacular pizza! And my date thought it was the second best pie in all of Chicago!
(4)
Karisma E.

Ordered the painful... Will let u know how painful it was ;-)
(5)
Phil T.

A better version of Rosati's?!? Don't know what's the hype about this place. For living in the pizza Mecca city, I was thinking this was average at best. Besides the mass amount of ingredients you can choose from or the chi related names, there's nothing that would draw me back to this place. Even the apps were meh. Whatever the shrimp dish was they were def shrimpy shrimp! No joke they are big as my thumb nail and my hands are not big! lol
(3)
Kathy S.

We've been meaning to try this place and when we saw it on Heat Seekers, we really wanted to try some spicy pizza. We started off with the bacon wrapped dates which was okay and a large pizza, half painful, half sweet heat. The sweet heat was a good bbq chicken pizza but the painful was the show stopper! I could have used slightly more heat (I really love things spicy) but my husband said it was the perfect spice level and I'm sure many will agree. Service was attentive and friendly. Looking forward to trying the slutty ravioli (with a name like that, I am intrigued!) and the popeye next!
(4)
William L.

*3.5 star review * I'm a big fan of pizza places with strange and delicious combinations of toppings, but I always hem and haw over the choices for long enough to annoy my dining partner. I may or may not eat alone a lot as a result. Bricks has a lot of great options, particular a few if you like spicy pizza as I do. However, on my most recent trip, I tried the Kapalua (pineapple, ham, mozzarelly) and loved it. The pineapple was fresh and plentiful and the cured ham gave it a nice, salty counter taste. Their drink selection is great for a pizza place, although drafts are served in water glasses. No pints or tulips? For a pizza place, it's a bit expensive, but for a Lincoln Park anything, it's just average.
(3)
Leslie B.

We had Bricks delivered on a freezing cold Friday night because we didn't want to leave the apartment. Delivery was prompt, only about 45 minutes, and the food was SO good! Slutty ravioli was the best choice we made all night, the sauce on those is fantastic. It's a large portion, but I have a very hungry boyfriend. He kept dipping his pizza into the leftover sauce...We took wayyy too much time debating what kind of pizza to order and ended up with half Red Planet and half Sweet Heat. Red Planet features goat cheese, which I'm a big fan of, but it was pretty overpowering. I was also wishing there were more toppings, kind of lacking in the sausage and red pepper. The Sweet Heat was awesome, I don't think I've ever had Gouda on a pizza and it was delicious. Loved the spice coming from the jalapenos and the BBQ/tomato sauce was a winner. Really enjoyed both kinds, and it was fun to go back and forth between such different flavors, but Sweet Heat was definitely the winner. I'm eager to try their other kinds and will definitely be ordering the slutty ravioli again.
(4)
Kathleen C.

Ok, I know I've had reviews before and have said "I seriously don't get it...why do people like this place", but I think Bricks might be one of the most confusing spots in terms of the great reviews. This is not a 4-star dining experience. First of all, the spot looks like a dungeon - and I'm all for cozy, dark restaurants, but this one is more cozy, dark, creepy. There are hardly any tables, and about 4 were marked reserved, but were empty. A 2 for atmosphere. The service was not great. Our waitress didn't bring menus for everyone at the table and barely came to check on us (and didn't ask if we wanted a refill on drinks until we were almost done with dinner). Additionally, we ordered a quail egg on our pizza - which showed up totally overcooked - and we asked for it to be returned and she completely ignored us (she didn't even respond at all - just walked away). Interesting customer service. She was somewhat helpful when the bill came, so that brings service from a 1 to a 2. The bathrooms were a 3 - they were large, but a bit old. The food left a lot to be desired. I love pizza. I love dives. I love dive pizza. I don't understand why I didn't like this - I mean, it was ok. The crust is decent and it's possible I chose incorrectly, but I thought it was just ok. Nothing special zipped out at me. There are so many good spots in the city for both deep dish and thin crust pizza, that I think I can find somewhere closer and better to eat at. I will say that the slutty ravioli was delicious, but the portion could have been served on a smaller plate as much of it was just overflow cheese. The food is a 3. On to value...the wine and beer was reasonably priced and the food in general was well priced. However, the pricing doesn't always match the food portion sizes. The ravioli was large, but our other appetizer was miniscule for the price. Additionally, I have to say that 2-3 people, if they are having appetizers, can definitely share a 10" pizza. We were informed that a 10" is individual size - and you could definitely do this for an entree. However, 2 of us, with other appetizers, didn't need to be upsold into a larger pizza. Our server should have instead explained the size and we could have decided. A 3 for value. I would like to give this spot a 2, but it unfortunately rounds to a 2.6, so I will have to round up...however, I'm doubtful I will return any time soon.
(3)
Ben T.

Rudest delivery guy who looked like Sargent slaughter. Pizza is mediocre with barley any sauce and it took two hours to show up when they told me an hour. Amatos is better quality. Order from there.
(1)
Hajar A.

The location was pretty cool. It's located in the basement area of the building and is hidden from the main street. Not sure if the Lincoln Zoo lights brought in the families, but the restaurant consisted of all families with young children. We ordered the caprese salad and a 12'" with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. It was definitely enough for two. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza! Overall the food was okay. There wasn't anything special about the pizza.
(2)
Mopsie B.

When I lived in Chicago the last time, Bricks opened in Lincoln Park. We went there often and I loved it. Then I moved away and my brother and his wife started going there and sending me beer labels of beers they'd sampled there that weren't technically legit to sell in IL. I've been back for a couple years now but just decided to back to Bricks last night. Can I just say that it's even better than I'd remembered it being?! What is not to like? It's dark, cozy and romantic. The beer selection is amazing and the pizza...well, honestly, it might just be the "best in the city" (as the awning states). We had two orders of the garlic bread, it was that good. The arugula salad is also rave-worthy. With regard to the pizza- if you like a very thin, crisp crust and toppings that do not overwhelm, then this is for you. We got the Popeye with mushrooms and I was worried that the feta and mozzarella would be too much...but it wasn't at all. There was just the right balance of all the toppings- very flavorful and delicious. I loved every single thing about our meal, including the price. I would complain about the very short white wine list but the pinot grigio I had was excellent. It all feels very adult down there in that candlelit speakeasy-- until some mother of the year brings her two-year-old in at 10 p.m.! The server was really nice about it and even got the kid a high chair, but come on...little kids in a bar an hour before close? Rant over. Bricks is great.
(5)
Andrew D.

So Bricks. Really tasty brick oven pizza. Thin and crispy, crunchy and tasty. It's down in the basement of a building in Lincoln Park, the little entrace area is kind of strange, and a little smelly, but once you get past that and into the restaurant the pizza is good. Had the painful without the pain (aka fresh jalapeno). It really hit the spot. They had a good beer selection on draft and in bottles. Anyone who's looking for a good brick oven pizza should head here.
(5)
Rajat S.

Now, before you guys start bashing one of the most controversial statement I have ever written, I must say that this is only true for the less than 5% of the pizza places I have tried in the city: This is the BEST pizza you can get in Chicago, hands down. OK, I know. People have different preferences. Thick vs thin, variety of toppings etc. Bricks is your good old thin crust pizza, and they make it to perfection. The toppings are so fresh that the Jalapeno's become a challenge to eat after the first bite. The tomato sauce and cheese is in perfect amounts, and the whole experience is amazing. The appetizer's are not bad, although the variety is very small. In terms of the ambiance, it is located in the basement of some building, and you feel hesitant to go in at first. It is a very Pizza place feel, which is a good thing. Give bricks a try, and if not the best, I can promise you that you would at least have had a very very good Pizza.
(5)
Lauren S.

THIS PIZZA IS WONDERFUL!!! While I have only been twice, both times were great experiences!! Underground area with low ceilings over local and unique experience!! Love the goat cheese app, just the right balance and served with yummy little toasts. We always order the Painful and while incredibly delish!! It's painful to eat (lots of fresh jalapenos) and painful the next 12 or so hours. It's delish however, so you will have to be the judge of whether or not it's worth it!! I read some people get the jalapenos on the side which I may try next time. We have also had the slutty ravoli which were pretty good, but not my all time fav.
(5)
Christine F.

Pizza pizza! I love pizza. It's my best friend. With all those carbs and cheese and tomato sauces...mmm. I haven't met a pizza I didn't like. The wonderful pizza streak continued with Bricks. We made a res over the phone (which I recommend you do, because it gets BANANAS in there) for 6:30pm on a Friday. We showed up a little early and were immediately seated. Yippie! The decor is dark (it's partially underground) with lots of bricks (duh). It's also pretty loud, so if you're trying to have an intimate conversation I'd suggest going somewhere else. Anywho, awesome beer menu. It was Friday night and I was feeling fancy, so I got a Delirium Tremens. We skipped apps (I'll see you next time, Slutty Ravioli) and went straight for the 'za. I got the vegetarian and my husband got the red planet. It came out bubbly and piping hot, just as a pizza should. Great crust/sauce/cheese ratio. The crust was crispy but still chewy - which is just delightful. The vegetarian had lots of veggies stacked high (and diced pretty finely, FYI) and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I ate about 1/2 of the pizza before I had to stop. We had each ordered an 11", which is a little larger than an individual pie. My husband loved his pizza as well and ate it all. We passed on dessert, paid and headed home. The rest of my pizza made an awesome breakfast (who needs Wheaties?!) and we'll be back. I want to try the BBQ chicken with gouda ZOMG next time. I would say that Great Lake, Pizza DOC and Piece are still my favorite pie slingers in Chicago, but Bricks is solid and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Amanda M.

I will preface this review by saying we did not eat the food. This is purely my review on service. My husband and I came in for dinner at 6pm on a Saturday. Only three other tables we filled and we saw at least 5 people working. After being seated, we waited more than 10 minutes and not one person came over to say hello, take our order or acknowledge us in any way. We decided to leave and as we walked out my husband told the hostess what happened. Neither she nor the three other people (waitress, bartenders) responded to him in any way. Very disappointing experience.
(1)
Michael S.

I ordered bricks tonight for the first time. I went with the BBQ chicken pizza....absolutely incredible! Finely diced onions and chicken, delivered hot. Extremely fast delivery too, ~25 minutes. (Grubhub said an hour for delivery). Would definitely order from this place again...
(5)
Peter g.

For thin crust, there is Pizzanos downtown that is as good as it gets, but this little joint serves up some tasty options, amazing toping choices (their choices inclued 'painful'- 'green garden' - and more). There is a hot food contest as well, survive and I think you could eat anything spicy, the guy from Mexico next to us said it was too hot for him and only finished half, the other 2 trying it were going at a good clip when we left but had gloves on so they would not burn their hands! Spicy aside, I had the veggie with meatball, and my GF had a make her own. The ingridents were very fresh, the dough was clearly spun right then and there and as thin as it was it did not crumble or break up - it held a good amount of toppings but tasted good also, win win for their crust. The sauce was good, not amazing OMG must go back for breakfast- but good. This is for sure a repeat pizza joint, and that is saying a lot in this town.
(4)
Bill J.

Dumb broad took my order for delivery and then called me back AN HOUR later to say I was out of the delivery zone. What a joke.
(1)
Daniel C.

I'm not gonna deduct stars because of the parking because that would not be fair to the restaurant. This place is amazing. My friend's husband dropped us off so he could find parking and he absolutely no luck so while we were waiting to see if he could find parking me, my mom and my friend had appetizers and drinks. Good Long Island Iced Tea and garlic bread and we had to take the pizzas to go. We ordered the Red Planet, the Ditka and the painful. Best pizza in the city. They use fresh ingredients. The service was incredible. Loved the atmosphere. Will go back again but maybe to Big Bricks. Hopefully there is better parking around there.
(5)
Swati B.

I love pizza, that's no secret...and many places do thin crust, but I've only found 2 places in chicago that are really really good...ok now I've found 3. This place has such a great homey feel. Initially when i walked down a stairwell and into what looked like an alley I was a bit nervous but wow what a great ambiance this place has. The service is really good, our waitress was very friendly and really efficient. I was starving so I ordered the pesto cheese bread..OMG heaven! I love pesto..but to put it on garlic bread and then put cheese on top..hello carb heaven! The pizza was actually pretty perfect, not soggy, not over done, fresh ingredients, great sauce with lots of flavor that I didn't have to add anything to the pizza! Pretty decent beer list as well. definitely recommend it and I'll definitely come back soon!
(5)
Tim R.

Have you ever craved pizza so much, waited an hour for the pizza to arrive and get a call that the delivery man turned around because you are "now" out of their delivery range? Well that just happened! Didn't quite realize that river north was suddenly far enough away to cancel an order mid route. Thanks, Bricks! If your place wasn't in a basement with no windows I'd love to throw a brick through your window to show my appreciation.
(1)
Kaitlin M.

All I can say is... AMAZING!!! Especially on half off wine Wednesdays! Order one of their great thin crust pizzas and you will NOT be disappointed. My biggest issues is that they are just a walk from my house and they are going to take all my money!
(5)
Rachel B.

While it looks like you're walking into a dungeon....the food is wonderful. Had the Slutty Ravioli....highly recommend! I also had the Ditka Pizza and it was amazing.
(5)
Angie M.

I kind of felt like I was entering an underground dungeon when I walked into Bricks. There aren't too many spots in our fair city for pizza, or any food for that matter, that have strictly basement locations. Very cool. What I liked most about Bricks is how deliciously old school it feels. From the brown glass candle holders on the tables to the classic shakers of grated parm and red pepper flakes to the simple white plates stacked in the middle of the table, Bricks is unapologetically traditional. No fancy-schmancy set-ups here! You can get your shaved parmesan toppings elsewhere. Appetizers of baked goat cheese with marinara served with toasted bread and cheesy garlic bread are super traditional and quite well done. The goat cheese was very mild yet nice and creamy and when served on the classic French bread toast slices, it was pretty tasty, too. And really, who's not on board with cheesy garlic bread? Please. That stuff is great! Being a Friday during Lent and dining with all Catholic folk (myself included) we opted for a few meat-free 'zas. I'm in love with the vegetarian pizza, minus the green peppers. Lots of veggie goodness and a good ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings made it delightful. The crust is thin, but not cracker thin, so it held up nicely under all the veggies. We also order a plain cheese (Quite plain. Get some toppings on Bricks pizza if you want to be happy.) and a tomato, garlic and onion pie. I'm Italian, so I can pretty much roll around in garlic. Love it. Bricks isn't shy with the vampire killer so you may want to pack a breath mint if you're on a date. Service was friendly. They have Stella Artois on tap in HUGE glasses, so that's pretty cool. Yeah. I'm down with Bricks.
(4)
Neha M.

Bricks is some of my favorite pizza in the city. That being said I am not a deep dish girl and this is definitely not deep dish- it's more New Haven style. The first time I came here they were shooting an episode of "heat seakers," so it was a really fun atmosphere, and I got to see the lucky participant eat a huge hothothot pizza. They have a great variety of pizzas and their salads are good as well. They have a great beer selection too. The only negative of this place is the ambience/location. It is in the basement of a building and it feels a little dingy. But that is a slight negative and everything else about this place is great :)
(4)
Vaidehi T.

Was here a week ago on a Friday night with friends. The place is kinda underground and feels like you are entering a dungeon. The ceilings are low and the lighting is dark giving it more like a dungeon feel. Well, onto the pizza - it is delicious thin crust pizza. We had the one with artichoke sauce, the green garden and the spicy one. All three were delicious and satisfying.
(4)
Sumi P.

Went here last night with some friends and family and wasn't as wowed as I thought I'd be. Location: This is one of those spots that you tell yourself you'll get around to trying out but avoid it like the plague because it's in lincoln park and in typical lincoln park fashion...parking is a nightmare. As a local, I refuse to pay for valet(i don't think they have valet, but the ranalli's next to it does), which meant circling the block for a spot even on a Wednesday night. The entrance to this place is a bit unorthodox and leads into an underground doorway, and of course I was confused, but you'll figure it out. Service: This place is strange. I called to make reservations, and they told me they take a card to hold the reservation and charge five dollars a person if you don't show up. hahahhaha. This almost made me not wanna go here, but I was craving some crispy thin crust, so I caved. Spot: This place is small, so I'm glad we made the reservation. It was full on a Wednesday night at about 7:30pm. There are only about 12-15 tables in the main dining area, and a few more in the bar/entrance area. Didn't mind the size, but definitely sat way too close to the table next to us and had to endure their trite conversation. But I can't think of one place I've been to in Lincoln Park where I wasn't sitting too close to the table next to me, so no surprise there. Ambiance: Typical Lincoln Park crowd. I think we were the only non-blonde clientele in here. But staff was generally alright. Not very friendly but not unfriendly either. It does get super loud in here b/c it is so small. Lots of families and kids dining here during the week. Not sure if the crowd is different on the weekends. Pizza: I wanted to love this place, but it was just alright. The crust was good in terms of crispiness, but I found it was slightly thicker than what I would have liked to see in a thin crust, but that could be just personal preference. It's thicker than a lou malnati's thin crust, maybe similar to a giordanos in thickness. It is much better in taste than both of those places. The sauce is super mild, not sweet, not spicy, just plain. Cheese and toppings were good, cooked until nice and bubbly. I would have liked a little more salt in the crust, but again it is all preference. There is one dish that we didn't order, but the people next to us ordered that looked awesome - the slutty ravioli appetizer (if i were to go back (unlikely) would try this for sure) Price: I didn't think the pizza was worth the price. We ordered two 14 inch pies, a couple of soft drinks, a very small order of garlic bread and the total was 55 before tip. I guess maybe that's the going price for a pie in the neighborhood, but I don't think the pizzas lived up to the price. Overall: Good place to check out once, but with all the pizza places left to try in the city, I probably won't be back. Solid pizza but nothing to keep me coming. Definitely overpriced.
(3)
Brian H.

The BBQ pizza and Baked goat cheese are delicious! Great atmosphere, service and drink specials.
(5)
Pascal M.

Brick's is a winner on multiple levels. Their interior is bar none my favorite out of all the great pizza spots in our city. It starts with the intimidating walk down into their restaurant, followed by the creepy door and hallway that feel like I'm about to do something illegal. The ceilings are incredibly low but the lighting, brick walls, and wooden table give this places its own unique charm. The slutty Ravioli is hands down a cheese lovers must. If you saw the pictures, you probably know you'll already order it. They have an impressive selection of appetizers to choose from, surprising from a pizza joint too. Fresh colorful salads are great to have with the pizza too. Bricks pizza selection is awesome. They have got something for everyone. Each pizza is loaded with the right amount of cheese and sauce with that crispy crust we all love. We had the Sweet Heat and the Creole Shrimp. Both were perfectly cooked and each held up with their own flavors and textures. Brick's is a restaurant that would be awesome for take out, dining in, or not even getting food and just having a drink in their well stocked bar.
(5)
Ben Z.

Bricks depends too much on its good looks. Built into a basement grotto, Bricks feels old-worldy and is a nice switch from the modish style of other Chicago spots I've visited recently. High marks for authenticity. But the pizza here is just "OK", possibly below average. Their specialty pizzas are loaded with the ingredients pizza purists don't tolerate -- pesto, BBQ chicken, goat cheese, smoked Gouda. The sheer amount of goat cheese on the "Red Planet" pie totally overpowered every other ingredient. Plain old pepperoni and cheese might be a better approach at Bricks. The bar is small but features a killer beer list. A 22oz bottle of Fat Tire Amber Ale pairs well with even the worst pizza. They also have Delirium Tremens -- a rare Belgian beer that's 8.5% alcohol. No kidding around. Finally, I called to check the wait before heading over and was told it was a half hour. But when I arrived ten minutes later the wait turned into an hour. Meh.
(3)
Alyssa C.

I'll keep it short and sweet: I'm pretty sure my husband didn't breathe as he inhaled the slutty ravioli. We went for dinner on a Saturday night and he was asking if we could go back Sunday for lunch. It was the kind of pizza that was so good I started to think about what I wanted to order the next time we eat there immediately after I took the first bite. Overall, Bricks is a great hole-in-the-wall pizza place with pretty cheap (for Chicago) beers. You can't go wrong here!
(5)
Marc J.

Had a neat (dive-bar esque) feel to it, in the basement of a building. This definitely helped the ambience factor quite a bit, as it was something different from any ordinary pizza place. Service was fine. Not sure the pizza is worth the $$ you pay for it though; I like thin crust pizza, but this was just nothing special. Don't get me wrong, it was good and I'd eat there again, but i don't think it's worth going out of your way for. We got BBQ Chicken, Popeyes, Garden, and a Make-you-own (we got pepperoni) pizzas. The Garden and Popeyes went a little over kill on the toppings. The BBQ chicken was really good (probably the best pizza of our 4-pizza order), and the pepperoni was decent. One of the major things that bothered me about Bricks was that they do not have a dessert menu!! They did have a good selection of beers though.
(3)
Damian C.

I was one of the 16 attendees for Kate J's birthday bash weekend and was pretty excited to try this place. While I did enjoy the company and the food, I'm a die-hard thick crust fan. My theory is that thin crust, because of it's size and dimensions, is just so quick and easy to eat that you nom it down right away and move on; thick crust takes time and patience and, because you can only eat so much of it, you chew slowly and savor every cheesy bite. Because of this, I can't chalk Bricks up as a new favorite. I will say, however, their pizza combinations are creative and satisfy anyone's taste buds. I was pretty hungry and was going to order myself a 10" pizza, but the waitress suggested that I should split a 14" "Sweet Heat" with two of the girls in our group because it would be plenty. Fortunately the two of them had eaten an appetizer because it would not have been enough to fill up three hungry people. The toppings were plentiful and the overall taste combination was great but the crust was a bit thin and I just kept piling it on my plate and into my mouth too fast to completely savor. For next time, I have my eye on the "Sole Mio" (meatball pizza). One issue I had was with "The Ditka" - described as "all the meats, lots of cheese." When I asked exactly what "all the meats" meant, I was a bit surprised to hear that it was only pepperoni, sausage, and ham. Throw on some meatballs, chicken, and some bacon and you would have had my heart! Their beer list is a short but impressive list for a neighborhood pizza joint and if I weren't head to a party later I would have loaded up on the Arcadia IPA's. After all was said and done we walked out spending about $15 a person with tip, which isn't bad for a large group. I will give them high marks for our nice waitress and the "basement" atmosphere, but for them to claim the "Best Pizza on Earth" title is quite ambitious.
(3)
Kimberley C.

I love bricks! I've been here so many times. I'd recommend it to anyone. However I give it 3 stars because the olive oil pizza is usually over cooked, so don't get that! Also, the servers can be a bit rude. We asked to split our check because we had people on business with us. She split the check and brought it. Then said next time tell her before we eat. Which was stated almost out of pure frustration because it sounded so rude. I mentioned it was rude and how I love eating here. And she got angry and told me twice that if I didn't like it I should just not come back! Again, I love the atmosphere and usually the food, but this was just not a great experience. Such a bummer.
(3)
Natalie S.

We ordered from Bricks due to the positive reviews we saw on yelp.com . We have been searching for just the right pizza for the last 4 years. The pizza was pretty good. The delivery took and 1 1/2 hours. We asked the driver if the delivery fee was for him or not before we tipped him and he gave us the nastiest look. We would never not tip since in college we were in the service industry also but I will never order from them again.
(3)
Ramya P.

Underground clubby vibe! The ambiance is something I least expected. Its kinda dark and you think you're going to enter a fight club. Once our party of 5 were seated, we tried a couple'a different strong Belgian and German ales. Since we were starving we ordered the baked goat cheese with garlic bread which was yum and also 3 of 12" inch pizzas. The Brickhouse with artichoke sauce, green garden with a pesto and the spicy special... all three were delicious! Great thin crust pizza place in the neighborhood.
(4)
Melanie V.

Flatbread-ish, thin crust pizza? I'm down! Especially when I'm in a town that continually pimps out its deep dish. The atmosphere of Bricks is definitely cozy and filled with all ages of patrons - family friendly, for sure. There's a limited amount of tables, though, so I would probably call in for a reservation. Our party of 4 got lucky as I didn't expect the place to be packed at 6pm on a Sunday! Service was pretty good, too, and I'm glad the waitress didn't yell at us when we (semi-bluntly) asked to switch booths. I was intrigued by the pizzas on the menu. Lotsa different combinations - veggie, bbq chicken, shrimp, one dubbed 'painful' and one dubbed 'da ditka'. Plus, I saw the menu mention that you could add a quail egg to any pizza. Interesting, I thought. But, wtf is a quail egg? The fact that there were options with pesto, spinach and goat cheese...lovely. Winner in my book. Unfortunately, I was with friends that prefer tomato sauce to anything else, so I lost my battle. *sigh* We settled on a pepperoni and a Hawaiian-esque pizza (ham + pineapple). Both were pretty good - loved the crust and the freshness of the ingredients. However, the crust could have been a tad bit crispier and my friends also thought there could've been a little bit more sauce. I'd come back to try the veggie + pesto combos, though. Those are definitely unique to the typical pizza joint! Extensive beer list - from Chimay to PBR. Loved that they offer half bottles of wine, too. The weekly specials look good, too, as they offer 1/2 priced bottles of wine! Perfect for a mid-week, kick back kinda dinner. Nice.
(4)
E M.

I really wanted to like this restaurant. The atmosphere was fantastic, if a little offhand in the service, and the promise of a new great place for pizza was intriguing. But I have to say, after reading all these great reviews I have to wonder if both my husband and I were eating in the wrong place! We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs for our daughter, and the goat cheese pizza (I forgot what it was called) for us. First off - when we ordered the spaghetti, the server told us some people considered it spicy but she didn't think it was. Not being typically shy about that kind of thing we took her at her word, but let me tell you -- it was spicy. That level of spicy is called arrabiata, not meat sauce. Also, the pasta was just kinda limp and unexciting. I could boil better at home...and for the price, I'd expect for sauce on it. Second, the pizza. I'm not a pizza snob by any means -- I hardly ever meet a pizza I don't like. As I said I really wanted to like it, but it was blah. Lackluster. I am from Chicago, and I have had loads of great pizza. For instance, Ranalli's right next door has great pizza. This stuff we had was just a kind of spongy crust that didn't know if it wanted to be thick or thin, and it had no taste. There was no sauce to speak of -- I got the idea they were trying to skimp where they thought no one would really notice. The red peppers kind of overwhelmed it and the goat cheese seemed slightly over-cooked. I suppose we could go back for a different pizza and try again, but frankly there are so many other places to try, I doubt we will. Too bad....
(2)
Mahsa T.

No frills, just great pizza. Take the steps down to this rustic hole-in-the-wall for delicious thin-sliced pizza, good selection of beer, and friendly service. I was so glad that there was no wait on a Friday night and we were able to get a table right away while any other restaurant in town would've had an hour-long wait. We chose our own toppings--pepperoni, mushrooms, and anchovies. Make sure you ask for pie slices unless you want your pizza chopped up into tiny little square pieces.
(4)
Matthew F.

I don't go in for the Chicago deep-dish pizza thing. So Bricks is a candidate for my favorite pizza in town. The crust is hand-tossed, on the thin side but not paper-thin, and a little crisp. Toppings are generous and evenly distributed. The beer list is terrific, with some rare English and Belgian selections and rotating newcomers. We most often opt for a seat at the bar instead of a table, and have always been very well taken care of. Bonus points for the subterranean location and a jukebox that leans heavily on Delta blues and Sinatra & friends. Another reviewer said that this isn't a five-star dining experience. No, it's not Alinea, but what the hell? Relative to what it's trying to accomplish - great food & drink in a relaxed environment - it hits the mark squarely.
(5)
Jennifer G.

On a Saturday night we came in with a last minute reservation for 10 people. The staff went out of their way to accomodate us even though they were packed. The customer service during the entire meal was fabulous. On to the important part. The pizza was very good. We had the painful, which was incredibly unpainful but had great flavor (I credit the jalapenos being out of season with the lack of real heat so I can't blame Bricks). The cheese pizza was great and the belvedere was really good. Of course the star of the show was the slutty ravioli. This is just a cheese lover's paradise. The place has such a great underground feel and it gets loud and boisterous, which is what you want sometimes from a pizza place.
(4)
Jessica C.

Why in the world would a restaurant name one of their dishes "Slutty Ravioli?" Heck, with a reputation like that, it is hard not to want to give it a little try. So, I did. When the server came with our dish, it looked nothing like ravioli. It looked almost like pizza because of the round plate and mounds of sauce and cheese. We grabbed raviolis, put them on our plate, and took a bite. HOLY COW! I was instantly mesmerized. The ravioli was stuffed with the most delicious combination of meat, spices, cheese, and sauce to come together in an exquisite manner. Clearly, now I know why this dish is labeled slutty! You have to keep coming to Bricks to order it over and over again, with no shame! Ha! For our main dish, we had a difficult time picking one of their signature pizzas because they all sounded orgasmic. We ordered the Creole Shrimp Pizza. The sauce was Pesto based and there was a combination of mozzarella and Gouda cheeses. This was quite the pizza! I'm a pizza crust snob, and let me say, this thin, crispy crust was delectable! Grade A in my book. I will not undermine the service because it was fantastic! The servers were very friendly. Indulge in some delicious pizza and come do the "Slutty Ravioli" a favor and give it a try. You will be instantly enamored!
(4)
Faye B.

Now I love me some deep dish pizza and this place soooo is not, and yet I like to come back every now and again. I love the location of this place and it reminds me of a sketchy dive bar. Bricks is located downstairs and is one of those small, cozy, dimly lit joints. This place has interesting thin crust pizzas. For thin crusts with fancy sounding toppings this place does it right. One of my faves is Da Ditka, a meat lovers meal. As far as appetizers go you can't go wrong with the slutty ravioli. Yeah that's right, it makes for a great dinner ice breaker.
(4)
Heather M.

No. Seriously. N. O. I don't really know what else to say... the atmosphere is pretty cool, it's dark and cozy and it's good for a group. But the pizza is... no. I hate to write bad reviews, but I would be remiss if I didn't say something about this place. I don't even think I'm being a NY pizza snob, as most of the people in my 12 person party agreed that the food was lackluster at best. The crust, while certainly thin as other reviews claim, tasted like cardboard. Not tasteless, undersalted or anything like that - it actually tasted like cardboard. I think Mama Celeste makes a better "thin crust pizza." The topping combinations were awesome, and the ingredients were actually quite good (especially the meatball). But it was all lost because the crust was so bad. I really don't understand all the good reviews. I had some great thin crust at an event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, catered by Wolfgang Puck's. If you want some thin crust, check out the cafe (Puck's Restaurant) that they have there during museum hours. And, for god's sake, skip Bricks.
(1)
Shaun S.

Shared "The Painful" and "Sole Mio" with a couple of friends. The Painful was one of the best, if not the best, pizzas I have ever had. Very good atmosphere and unique pizza offering. I hopped for a more diverse beer offering but it was still more than adequate.
(5)
Kit G.

I feel like I have been let in on a secret. Friday my friend suggested we go to Bricks. I had no idea what he was talking about. Pizza in Lincoln Park? - still not jogging my memory. I had probably walked by Bricks a dozen times and never realized that it was a pizza place. It looks more like a staircase leading to a basement. Somewhat confused and curious I walked down the stairs - ok now what? You have to walk straight until out of no where you see a door which opens up to reveal the most hidden restaurant I have ever visited. I would not be surprised if this place used to be a speakeasy, and half expected to be asked for a password when I walked in. I was so glad I went with a big group so we could try several pizzas. They offer 10, 12 and 14 inch pizzas. For 10 of us we decided to get four 10 inchers. It was the perfect amount. There was lots of discussion regarding which slice was our favorite, but we all have different favs. I really liked the BBQ chicken pizza. The menu has great options for vegetarians and meat lovers. The beer and wine list was great. My only compliant was that the service was a little slow at the end of the night. The waitress gave us our bill but then kinda forgot about us for a while.
(4)
Daniel M.

Some of the best south side style pizza on the north side. The pies always come with the cheese a golden brown, the way it should be!!! I used to live down the block and this was always my choice for thin crust. If you eat there, the dining area has the feel of an old school Chicago pizza pub, very cool!
(4)
Rahul V.

The pizza is absolutely to die for. For the first time, we actually finished the whole pie. We ordered half BBQ and half 'Painful' and both were absolutely delicious. I would give Bricks 5 stars but I take away one because the service wasn't the best...this might be because it was late and they only had one waitress. Overall: The best pizza we've ever eaten!!
(4)
Jay B.

I can hear it now... "What you went to Chicago and didn't have Chicago-style pizza pie... What are you crazy?" Relax people, I'm only gettin' started... Gimme time to digest a bit here. So this was the first pizza joint we hooked up with in C-Town and it did not disappoint. Thin handmade crust with such titles as: Painful - spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeÃ±o, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Petaluma club - bacon, chicken breast, onion, fresh tomato, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Both those caught the eye. Ordered a half and half (which can only be done on the medium and large.) The jalapeÃ±os lit the place on fire and the remedy was the Petaluma side-kick. Great combo, but of course had the dousings of Bricks Lager with its hint of sweetness to the golden amber ale. This helped to subdue the 45 minute frantic search for parking around Lincoln Park's South Pond. Parking and traffic are both way too hectic even for an LA'er like myself to experience. What's with all the zone parking people? Next time it's publo transpo for meo. The atmosphere: Literally a trip down a basement cellar. So along with the good and the bad. I'll end on a good note for the northern Californicators, there is a Bricks Petaluma...
(4)
Alicia D.

An odd entrance. Just go into the dark. Good pizza, good beer. A bit pricey.
(4)
Rachel W.

Bricks isn't just a pizza place. It's a hole-in-the-wall, wait, hole-underground pizza place with a great beer list. I probably end up here at least twice a month. Weekends you are pretty much guaranteed a bit of a wait, but I've recently discovered that you can call ahead (!) which is very helpful. Their ingredients are super fresh and you can taste the difference. They have a great selection of pizzas and specials, but you can also make your own pizza. I can't vouch for anything on their menu besides the pizzas and a few salads (get the arugula salad - so delicious), but I'm not sure why you would go here and order anything but pizza...
(4)
Thongsy S.

What a fitting name for this restaurant. For bricks are all you see when you enter the restaurant. It has an interesting layout. It's located in the basement so if you can brave the walk downstairs, you'll find a hidden treasure that this place is. The waitress that helped us was awesome. She was cool, down to earth, funny, and not pushy. It was a very relaxing environment. We didn't feel rushed to eat and leave. We kind of just sat around, enjoyed our food and conversed. We ordered a 10" chicken bbq pizza and a half bottle of wine. The pizza was delicious. I love thin crust pizzas and this was definitely one of the better ones. They had half priced bottles of wine on Tuesdays so we lucked out. Will definitely return to try some of their other pizzas and wines.
(4)
Tiffany T.

Personally, not a fan of the pizza here at all. The pizza had a weird taste and the crust was worse. How do you mess up crust?!! The only thing I enjoyed eating here was the garlic bread with cheese. The service was not great either. No sign of a hostess any where and since it's almost a bar we went to seat ourselves and that is when the hostess magically appeared. Our waitress was not terrible but not great. The only thing this place has going for it is the location and decor.
(2)
Melanie C.

This place AWESOME!!! First let me say I went there for dinner at 7pm on New Years Eve. There was no issue getting right in. We were seated right away with our drink orders taken. They had a wide selection of beers and wine, while also offering many other drink choices. The pesto, cheese bread appetizer was a great alternative to red sauce, and was quick to come out. the build your own pizza was a great choice for us, because we both have dietary restrictions. The only thing that could of made this place a 5 star for me was if they offered vegan cheese. The pizza came out fresh, hot and crispy. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came. It was a great price for everything that we had. I will defiantly go back again.
(4)
Frank L.

We are a Giordano's/Papa John's kind of couple (because that's all we get in the northwest burbs) so BRICKS was a really nice change of pace. The three pizza's we tried: Painful - the spicy pepperoni with jalapenos Popeye - spinach, mushrooms, roasted garlic, feta, and tomatoes Veggie - spinach, mushroom, onions, tomatoes The beauty of BRICK's thin crust pizza is that you're getting pizza that is not "pizza" in that commercial style that pizza can often be thought of as. The best word to describe the pizza here is "elegant", because the pizza is trying to deliver a flavor, instead of a topping. I don't need to say much more - the 200 other yelpers probably have said enough.
(4)
Ali H.

Bricks is some of the best pizza I've had since the last time I had a tombstone pizza from the freezer. I'm giving them two stars for having a unique ambiance and a decent beer list, although the draft list was limited. I give them no stars for the pizza (gross, I would actually have preferred the tombstone), and no stars for the service (do we even have a server?). I have NO idea how a place like this survives in a city with such a ripe pizza culture! I would only recommend eating the pizza here if you came to hang out and drink beer and suddenly found yourself craving sub-par pizza. A situation when even cardboard will do. I won't lie, I've been in this situation before. But if you come here for the pizza, you will be sorely disappointed. Our salad was likewise very sad and pathetic and yet still cost like 7 dollars. Seriously? Anyway, we came here out of desperation after the line at chicago pizza and oven grinder was eternally long one night. We looked on yelp for nearby eats and saw that bricks had 4 stars and decided to try it out. It's a mistake I won't make twice!
(2)
Melissa K.

What I really loved about this place is that the pizza was delicious and I didn't feel extremely guilty about it afterwards. It was light and crispy and fresh tasting. We tried the popeye and one of their specials, which had goat cheese, red pepper and zucchini. Both were great, but the special was our favorite because it was so different than a typical pizza. Definitely will be back!
(4)
Karianne W.

You will find some of the BEST pizza in town at Bricks. Great for eating in, especially on a cold winter night, or takeout. Awesome selection of pizza toppings and great extended menu as well. All I can say is DELICIOUS.
(4)
Anna P.

I am a girl who loves pizza, and now I am a girl who loves Bricks. We had a reservation for four people on a Friday night, and we were seated immediately. The decor is very cool and reflects the name - it's like a cozy little brick Italian dungeon...but in a good way ;-) They have a GREAT beer list and a sufficient wine list. Our waitress was friendly and attentive without overdoing it, which I always appreciate. We started with the slutty ravioli, which we actually ordered mostly for the name, but it's also DELICIOUS. So delicious that we wouldn't let them take our plates away without scraping all of the cheese sauce off. Seriously. And now of course, the pizza - awesome. It is not Chicago-style, but is also not really thin enough to be NY style so it's sort of its own delicious breed. Thin crust, good ratio of sauce and pizza, and the topping options are great. A 10" is perfect for one person (as long as you can eat like I do!) and is loaded with toppings. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Jason Z.

If you don't like this place, you have issues!
(5)
Rajiv H.

Brick's is my favorite pizza place in Chicago. I'm stunned and horrified that i haven't written a review for it yet. I highly prefer the brick oven pizza to traditional Chicago deep dish. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Lou's from time to time, but in order for my heart to continue beating, that needs to be less than a few times a year. Bricks has the most flavorful, fresh pizza's I've had. I've only dined in, so I can't speak for their delivery. As far as appetizers, I've gotten the spicy and rich slutty ravioli and the garlic bread with cheese. Highly recommend the slutty ravioli if you're looking for something with a nice kick to it. But you're here for the pizza. And, if you're not, you're some type of a moron. Sorry, but you are. If you friends haven't told you, well, you need better friends who are more straightforward with you. Life lesson learned. Sooooo, pizza! Yes. The painful is no joke, it's spicy, but not to the inedible point. We had it during jalepeno season and it was the spiciest we've ever had, but even then I was able to down it easily. I'm a medium plus kinda guy, not a hot kinda guy. You can't go wrong with the Red Planet or the Sweet Heat either. The place is super cool, in what they call a catacomb, what normal people call a basement. It's dark, but I wouldn't call it dingy. There's always a good feel inside. The servers are all cool and nice. We've never had a problem. I take anyone from out of town in to Brick's, and I even visit here a few times with my Chicago friends. I've yet to be even marginally disappointed.
(5)
Steve B.

I'm a fan. I live right around the corner, and my wife and I will generally stop in here if we're walking out to pizza. The atmosphere always seems to be upbeat, and I feel as though a majority of the people in the crowd are regulars - giving an inviting, familiar feel. I saw the bit about the Petaluma Club and I have to say that it's been my favorite choice. It's true, it's not a traditional pizza, but it has great flavor. I also appreciate that they have Stella on tap. I'd definitely recommend calling ahead as well, the waiting area can be a bit cramped.
(5)
Jeremy S.

Getting into Bricks is a fun little excursion. It reminded me stroll through an old school haunted house, just waiting for someone to reach out and grab me. +1 star for the heightened awareness and rush of just getting to the place! The inside of Bricks is pretty sweet. Half the joint is a vintage style bar (with old school non flat tv), and the other half is a dimly lit intimate environment. The place felt very homey, and it reminded me of some low key suburban taverns. The waitress was very friendly, and she helped us pick an order. She overheard that we were going to order two medium pizza's and she suggested getting a large that was half and half. Good awareness +1 star. The order: 1 Large half Brickhouse (pureed artichoke sauce, red peppers, garlic and mozz) half BBQ Chicken (with gouda and cilantro). The verdict: I was a bigger fan of the BBQ Chicken. The gouda mixed nicely with the BBQ, and biting into the thin crust creation was very pleasant, and earned a +1 star. The Brickhouse earned better reviews from my friends but I felt like it was missing a little something and that it was just a bit bland. But then again that's how veg pizza is! 3 dudes + 1 large pizza = the need to order 1 slutty ravioli to fill our large bellies. I thought the slutty ravioli was excellent! The cheese was bubbling when it was presented, and the smell was intoxicating. I proceeded to get fat, and I had enough motivation after eating that goodness to push me to go to the gym. +1 star for that! Overall, 4 stars. Very cool basement location, attentive waitress, gouda and BBQ chix pizza, and a slutty creation was enough to solidify my rating. I wish they offered a larger size than 14 inches, but I'm not gonna complain about that. Oh yea, good luck parking! Nice job Bricks!
(4)
Sara K.

The pizza for me was "a-ok." I don't know if I would say it's anything special. At our table, we got the Ditka (cheese + every type of meat topping they have) & the vegetarian (green peppers, onions, spinach, etc). They have a great selection of appetizers, beer/wine, & pizza, so it would be safe to bring a lot of varied tastebuds. The arugula salad was very good, but it could have had a few more ingredients for the money. (It was $7.95 for a plate of arugula with 3 cherry tomatoes and some shaved parmesan). We also got an order of garlic bread for $2.95, and it was pretty skimpy. Just one hoagie roll that was pretty dry & tasteless. If I went back, it would probably be for the ambiance instead of the food. It had a definite style- old time dive bar/basement- with an alley like "brick" entrance. It's a very unique space and could be fun to take friends or family from out of town.
(3)
Kathy B.

Bricks is our favorite pizza in the city, which is no small accomplishment. They have unusual ingredients and their goat cheese app is pretty darn tasty. Our favorite is the Painful, but we've never had a bad pie. The atmosphere is definitely cozy and bar like -- the first time you visit you might be freaked out by the entrance. Highly recommended.
(5)
Carolynne M.

I thought this place was totally beatnik-cool. I could totally see the likes of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs huddling in a dark corner writing the poetry that defined a generation. Or how about Nelson Algren, Carl Sandburg,and Upton Sinclair talking loudly about writing styles and politics over shots of whiskey? Its the kind of place that has this aura of being infamous, famous and unknown all at the same time. Down a few steps into this catacomb-like, dim sub level of a building, the only light eminates from a red neon sign. Had there been no awning boldly declaring this location is correct, you would be slightly worried at this point. But enter through the door to your right and suddenly you are in this warm, low-ceilinged space with dark walls and an inviting bar area. The walls are enshrined with photos of Keith Richards and Mike Ditka (which has single-handedly catapulted this tiny Lincoln Park spot into BF's top three restaurants. Ever.) The waitress was pleasant and helpful, but never annoying. Beer orders came out in seconds, and the ensuing order of caesar salad and pizza (painful, of course, how can you go wrong with a name like that! ingredients: spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) arrived with little wait. And it did not disappoint, I say if your dinner doesnt put up a fight while eating it, then its not worth eating. haha. When we arrived, the place was almost empty, but filled up by the time we were leaving. I was impressed by how varied the clientele was, a little bit of every background, ethnicity and age was represented there. However, I was a bit alarmed at the sizeable number of children that appeared, I do not know if this was an anomaly or not for this particular night. But this place being a bar first and foremost it seemed a bit odd. I really liked this place, but beware it is located in an area that is not all the best to find parking. It is also very small so if you come during peak hours you might be out of luck in getting a table. It is an awesome reminder of how Chicago used to be. Definitely try it for the pizza first, cool hep-cat interior second.
(4)
melissa r.

Incredibly awesome.
(5)
Liz P.

Great pizza! The food is 5 stars! I wish they had outdoor seating which is why I only gave 4 but the food is fantastic. Best thin crust pizza around!!
(4)
Benny T.

Wow I'm surprised at the number of bad reviews this place received, maybe you got them on a bad night or maybe you're just stank b*tches ha jk kinda! First off how can you wrong with a place that has the word 'catacombs' attached to it? Currently Brick's has my favorite place for pizza in city of wind! They have an array of topping combinations (can't find their website right now for specifics) for meat eaters as well as vegetarians and cooked to a crispy perfection. Its one step up from paper-thin and one notch down from overly cheesy soggy like many of the ho hum pizzas in the city that will leave you with boo boo tummy. The place itself will probably be busy, but once you're inside you won't mind hanging out. Get a beer at the bar; they have just about everything you could ask for. They can accommodate a large group; just make sure you call ahead obviously. Haven't had one complaint the couple times I've been there over the past year and this was on very busy nights too. BTW: Parking around here is pretty much Russian roulette (aka Lincoln Park) so maybe take the fine CTA system or cross your toes you'll find something, it's really worth it.
(5)
Steve J.

First off, I'll start by saying that I'm a complete pizza snob, I rarely eat pizza I like. But I finally found a pizza in the city of Chicago that I like! Bricks is a cozy place with a nice bar and atmosphere. You can sit at tables or at the bar and eat a well-deserved pie for a sweet ass price, a pie that isn't 2 inches think and filled with 20 random ingredients and enough cheese to stop you from shatting for a month! Congrats to you Bricks, for not jumping the Chicago-style bandwagon and giving us a taste of something you can pick up and hold. Pizza is something you pick up and eat with your hands, if your need a fork and knife, you probably shouldn't be calling it pizza. Also a great spot to start off your evening if you're hitting somethin' up at Park West, lord knows every other bar in that area is total crap.
(5)
Sam M.

I've been here twice and I'm pretty sure I can hand out a 4 star review. I was a little on the fence about 3 v. 4, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The first time i came here it was absolutely excelent. Great Beer, Amazing pizza (got a special one of the day) and really neat atmosphere. We were seated fast and service was top notch. It was Black Wednesday though, so a lot of people weren't out for Pizza that night. The secon time i came with a larger group on a Saturday, but were seated quickly even though we showed up well before our reservation. The food was just as excelent (Ditka) tried even more beers and that should have been it. The service thoughw as atrocious. The waitress came by maybe once every 15-20 minutes which isn't good for a 1 hour dinner. She would have done well to keep coming by as we were thirsty and that juste = better tip. She then gave out the wrong pizza's to the wrong parts of the table w/out clarify which is which and then told us we have to get up because another party was coming in and they needed that table. I'm going to assume that in the 2 months since then, they've fired her and things are all back to normal. I will be back shortly so we'll see if they can keep that 4th star i guess.
(4)
Not J B.

Nice atmosphere. It's kinda small though for all I've heard about the place but then again, it didn't blow me away like I heard it's supposed to. I did enjoy what I ordered though (especially the baked goat cheese) and felt that I got a good amount of food for the money I paid. Great jukebox and that Pope John Paul II head over the bar scares the hell out of me.
(3)
Escape C.

I am obsessed with Bricks Pizza. I used to go a lot more often, back in the days when it was one of the only places in town where you could get Fat Tire beer. With that being said, obviously the place has good taste. It truly is just amazingly delicious pizza. My two favs, the popeye (spinach & garlic galore) and the painful (spicy pepperoni, tons of onion and jalapeno) literally have you CRAVING for them!! Once you have this pizza, you'll be hooked! Just damn good pizza!!
(5)
jay d.

Hell of a thin crust pizza and good draft beers (would it hurt you to throw on one more cool local craft brew?). kind of a weird basement vibe.
(4)
Rebecca C.

If you love Pizza, but prefer a nice crisp crust over the traditional Chicago style --- then Brick's is your place! Brick's is quite possibly my favorite pizza spot and definitely my favorite Chicago haunt. Each time I walk down the steps and into exposed brick establishment, I feel like I've been transformed back into the days of Al Capone and the Chicago speakeasy scene. They have a great beer selection (with specials each day) and a menu of 10 or so specialty pizzas. My favorite is the Painful, a definite for those that like it HOT! Others I frequent include the Green Godess, the Ditka & the Bezerkly. Also, if you are looking for an appetizer - both the garden salad and the goat cheese marinara are must haves. Just beware, the goat cheese dish it enormous, enough to feed 5. Brick's is a must hit for every true Chicagoan (and even the wannabes)! Delivery: Yes, but only to a select portion of Lincoln Park.
(5)
Michelle Marie R.

I think Bricks is Fantastic! Thinking about it is actually making me hungry! Fabulous place to hang with friends and great food!
(5)
Amanda B.

Love this place! It's my husband's and my favorite pizza in the city by far!! The ambiance is great too. Totally low key with a fun speakeasy feel to it. Definitely a locals place!
(5)
Laura G.

Bricks is one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood and I love coming here with my dad or a good friend or two. Combine their unique menu with a great beer selection and a very cozy atmosphere and you have the perfect spot for a nice, low-key dinner that won't set you back a ton of money. I also like to convince myself that their special part-whole-wheat thin crust is somehow "healthy"... They are cool about splitting a pizza between two different types which I appreciate. My current favorite combo is the 1/2 popeye, 1/2 mean green (the painful with pesto sauce instead of tomato...spicy but SO good!). They do deliver, but then you miss out on the beer and the ambiance, so I try to dine in when possible.
(5)
Charlotte Y.

I have one reason why I frequent this place - my husband loves it. I don't really know what the draw is to be quite honest. Yes, the beer list is quite good (nice list of belgiums) and... the divey atmosphere, although repulsive to some, is actually kinda cool (from a anti-establishment sort of perspective) and... yes, years ago, there was apparently a really really good thai restaurant in the space. But, even assuming all those pluses, the pizza cannot be redeemed. It's ok - dry from my perspective (literally, not figuratively). Somehow, though, my husband (whose had great pizzas from his hometown (the Bronx) and in his travels (think - all over Europe)) seems to think this is a decent place. So, we go from time to time. Personally, though, between the dry pizza and very much indifferent level of service, I'd prefer to be elsewhere when dining here.
(2)
rachel d.

Awesome pizza! I try to stay away from ordering an app, salad, and an entree but it is impossible to resist here! Warm toasty garlic cheese bread, one of the best ceasar salads I've ever had, and the red planet pizza- yummm! The "painful" is a must try too if you are a lover of food with a kick. The speciality beers are a great addition. Very reasonable prices. The short wait for a table is well worth it.
(5)
Brutus B.

I was born on Gino's East and being as stubborn and stupid as I am, it will probably be my favorite until I die. Yet there still is some room for honorable mention, or I guess a separate award for thin crust, if so this is the Gold medal of thin crust. Calling it thin crust doesn't give it justice though, it's easily bigger than any hand tossed you'll get from the major delivery guys. There's just tons of toppings that make this my favorite thin crust in recent history. So far I've tried the Ditka (lotsa meat, lotsa cheese), a pepperoni pizza, and numerous sausage pizzas. I've honestly loved ALL of them. The crust has a smokey/slightly burnt bottom to it that I always enjoy in a pizza, just adds a little accent to the already great toppings. I know they have some Calif-Pizza-Kitchen-esque type ones like a BBQ chicken and creole shrimp pizzas, but I can't mess with a good thing, not just yet. Surprisingly I haven't actually eaten inside this place yet, just carry-out, but I figure the food is the first thing people look for in a restaurant review. The substance of the business, not the aesthetics.
(5)
Joy S.

Yummy! Super fast delivery. Extra tasty pizza.
(4)
Garrett T.

Solid beer selection, epic, affordable thin crust pies, very chill atmosphere. By far the best of its kind in the city.
(5)
Dave A.

best non-deep dish pizza in the city. and a good beer selection to boot. actually bricks somehow served new belgium beer before it was legally allowed to be served in chicago. when we asked the bartender how they did that, he smiled and said that they bootlegged it up from STL. that hopefully gives you an idea of how seriously they take their beer. and they take their pizza just as seriously. very unique styles of pizza, but all delicious. service is enh...and you will likely wait in line, but it's always worth the wait.
(5)
Cason M.

Brick's has the BEST thin crust pizza. it's so amazingly delicious. I have been here twice with friends and we all LOVE it. I had no idea thin crust pizza could be this good. They have the perfect balance of fresh toppings, flavor, season, cheese and crust. I highly recommend this place. I also was introduced to the beer, La Fin Du Monde, here at Brick's and I do love this beer too. For a group of four I suggest getting 3 different small pizzas of different flavors and the pesto cheese bread for starters and just indulging in their beautifully perfect pizza. I'm craving it just thinking about it.... so good.
(5)
Will W.

Great Brick oven pizza here. Will definitely come back soon.
(4)
Meghan H.

Awesome pizza and a rustic setting. I love this place. My favorite is their spinach, tomato and goat cheese pizza - I consider it "healthy" pizza.
(5)
Brooke M.

The Painful pizza is EPIC in taste! Best pizza in Chicago - hands down! The house salad is lovely and the wine/beer list is acceptable - but the pizza is deeee-lish! And, the atmosphere is....highly,,,atmospheric? Love the jukebox (Roxy Music, hello?!) and underground digs. Bricks is a great LP find and I would highly reco to anyone who craves something a little cooler,,,dare I say nyc-y in Chicago. LOVE.
(5)
Kyung P.

Wow, I definitely don't understand the hype on Brick's. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. Here's the breakdown: Pizza: can you say California Pizza Kitchen? The combinations and toppings completely reminded me of that surburbian chain. Catacombs: uhmm...aka dungeon? It's so frickin dark, I couldn't see what I was eating. I just wanted to turn on all the lights and scrub the place down! Service: Pretty decent until the end, when we had to wait about 10 minutes for our server to run the credit card. I guess they use the phone lines to run the credit cards, and someone was on the phone taking a delivery order??? Price: Expensive for mediocre pizza. Digiorno anyone...it tastes like delivery! Overall, it's a decent alternative to a chain restaurant. I'd much rather support the local business, but it'll be hard for me because the food wasn't much better than what you find at a chain.
(3)
Tina M.

I was pretty disappointed in Bricks, given all their positive reviews. The pizza was dry and over cooked. I also got the pesto bread figuring anything with a combo of bread, cheese, and pesto can only be delicious, but again like the pizza, it was hard and there was way more cheese than pesto. The order only took about 25 minutes but the woman forgot to include the pop I asked for. There are a million better pizza joints in Chicago.
(2)
Leigh R.

Beer and pizza, pizza and beer. Its like peanut butter and chocolate. Spaghetti and meatball. Lamb and tunafish. Marriages for your mouth. I really liked everything abut Brick's, even if it did get a little crowded. The beer selection was awesome. We ordered some goat cheese dip and garlic bread for the wait and sadly, by the time we were seated, I was pretty darn stuffed. The pizza I could muster was very tasty but the crust was a little doughy for me. (I prefer my pies flat as a pancake, Jersey Shore style or Chicago super thin style - or a full on deep dish. But, really, most any pizza is good pizza even when it is less than perfect.) I would definitely go back for the beer and the apps, if I were in the neighborhood.
(3)
Jerry M.

I wish yelp allowed us to give out half stars, because I'd give this place 4.5 stars. Very cool atmosphere, dark and mysterious with those checkered tables. Great for groups - I'm always able to call the night before for big groups (10+) and they're happy to seat us all. They're also okay with bringing in outside desserts for those birthday dinners. (they'll even light the candles and bring out the cake at the appropriate time). Pizza is thin crust- I'd rank it up there with Piece - one of the better thin crust pizzas in a thick crust town. Lots of different and fun types - from painful to the spinach to bbq chicken. And this was the first place I had Fat Tire east of the continental divide!
(4)
J. N.

This was my boyfriends pick and I was skeptical initially... I'm glad we made the trek and actually took the 30 minutes necessary to find a parking spot. This pizza is excellent. I suggest getting goat cheese on it - it makes it decadent, different, and completely delicious. I am very able to eat a whole one myself. Also, they have Maudette on draft, which is excellent. Make sure if you are a Belgium fan to head out there for a cheap beer. I love this place and advise you to at the very least give it a go!
(5)
Rebecca B.

I just love this place--great for gown-up pizza party with friends. Perfectly-prepared pies in a great variety plus servers who can help you navigate the extensive beer list. We went there recently with a group of 8 and shared a few salads: the caesar, spinach and the house. For pizzas, went with the popeye, sole mio, berzerkley and brickhouse. I only tried the first two, but they all were eaten with great vigor by the group. i'd definitely recommend getting there early or calling ahead, at least on a weekend, because the place had quite the crowd there on the Friday we went. And it's not a big space. Parking's also tough, but with just a little planning ahead, it works out to be a perfect spot for dinner. Pretty economical as well--we spent about $25 a person, which included the food we mentioned plus drinks.
(5)
Matthew A.

Great selection of beers. Great selection of pizzas. I usually go on a weeknight when it is not very crowded, perhaps that is why I have a more favorable opinion.
(4)
A C.

For ambiance, it's hard to top Bricks. Small and cozy, this below street level establishment has the look and feel of a classy lounge while conveying a sense of warmth and casualness. Great place to stay and have a couple of drinks before or after your meal. There's a separate bar area, complete with television so you don't have to miss a game. My boyfriend and I started off with the garlic cheese bread. I wasn't impressed. It tasted the same as something Chicago's or Renalli's pizza would deliver. My boyfriend got the Ditka, a pizza full of meat and it smelled amazing and he said it was. I forget what I had, but it sounded promising: artichoke sauce, roasted garlic and red peppers and mozzarella. It wasn't. The crust I found very bland and the ingredients on the pie tasteless. I'd recommend Bricks for ambiance and experience, but if you want great pizza, I might consider going elsewhere.
(3)
Ms T.

Took my friend here last night because he wanted "thin crust pizza". The fool! To come to Chicago and make that request! Off with this Dutch tongue... Still, he was the guest so his wish was my command. Wasn't very busy for Wednesday night. Interior seemed like a hole in the wall. Very tiny. It was dark, but I wouldn't say romantic but then again I'm a crabby old fart without an iota of romance in my heart so many the dark lighting was lost on me. Ordered the goat cheese and marinara appitizer... What a disappointment!! Was a huge bowl of prego with some goat cheese mixed in here and there. I also had the house salad which was limp and dripping in oil. My friend enjoyed his pizza but he's Dutch and asking for thin crust in Chicago so what does he know? ;p I wouldn't recommend this place. I've had better thin crust in Chicago and this place isn't it. (Yes, I had a bite of his pizza so that I could make a legitimate review. )
(2)
Kristin C.

Bricks is not in a house. But it would be a lot cooler if it was because then I could make up some clever little song to the tune of the Commodores (love them) classic ditty. . .oh well. To get right down on it, Bricks rivals Piece as my favorite un-Chicago pizza joint. In the end, Piece wins by a slice but I am not sure if this is because the wait there is usually so long that the whole "alas! food" thing comes into play. The scene at Bricks is dark and cozy - pretty small so there may be a wait. Last time I went I ordered the mixed green salad (not as good as Piece's similar salad) and a large PAINFUL pizza. Painful? No. Delicious? Yes. Love the fresh jalapenos, garlic, pepperonis, everything - MWAH! So good. Damn good pizza in fact. The beer selection is fancy pants and a little pricey. They take $2 off the most expensive brews on Mondays and Tuesdays thus making these beverages about the same price as the others. I had wine and found the selection to be average. But good pizza is good pizza. And Bricks has that going on. I had been wanting to revisit for a while know and I'm glad I did. Shake it down, shake it down now . . .
(4)
Phil A.

Ahhh the Brick I have been going there since back when they were the only place in Chicago that I could find that served Fat Tire Beer. But what could be a better end to st pats day. If you go - I suggest the sweet heat pizza and a fat tire beer - and if you have already had a few to drink and are over 6' tall - watch your head as one guy in our group who woke up with a nice memento on his forehead will tell you. (Edit: apparently my spelling doesn't get better with alcohol- its sweet heat - hopefully there is no "sweat" on it)
(5)
Shannon H.

Great thin pizzas. Good friendly service. A good choice of foods incase you are there with a group & are not in the mood for their pizzas! Pricea are cheap, especially if you split the cost of a pizza with someone. Cozy little place located in the basement area, just follow the steps down under their sign.
(4)
Jeff G.

We showed up on the spot on new years day and they were able to cram all eight of us into a corner table for a roaring good time. Amazing pizza - mostly unique - decently fast, satiating salads and a solid selection of beers. The service people were attentive but not obtrusive and the atmosphere was vivacious. All in all a good find, make sure to make reservations for larger groups and know you have to wonder beneath the encompassing building to find the place.
(5)
Holly C.

I was so ready to fall in love with this place - I didn't. There was nothing wrong with it. The food was pretty good, the service was good, the price was okay. There are enough great pizza places in Chicago that I don't want to settle for "okay". In my opinion, for the best thin crust in Chicago look no further than Spacca Di Napoli on Sunnyside Ave...
(3)
Eddie H.

best thin crust in chicago!!
(4)
Claire L.

Bricks will soon become your favorite Chicago pizza. That is, if you prefer Neopolitan style, with quality ingredients and a real atmosphere. The beer menu is great, making dining in just as fun as picking up. Try it! Deep dish is for tourists!
(5)
Katie W.

Ate here for the first time this week and I'm not sure how I had never been here before. The thin crust pizza was amazing! We ordered the baked goat cheese as an appetizer and it was good, similar to all of the other restaurants that now have it on the menu. I definitely recommend ordering the largest size to take home any leftovers for a great lunch/breakfast later. We ordered a large red planet pizza (sausage, red pepper, purple onion, goat cheese, tomato sauce, and mozzarella) and one green garden (pesto sauce, mushroom, onions, sweet red peppers, fresh tomato, and mozzarella) pizza. Both were amazing. Not sure why everyone is complaining about the appetizers and salads. This is a pizza joint so why are you coming here for something other than that?? I will say that there was only one waitress serving the small dining room but I was in no rush. I also found out that they do deliver but have been told it is a little on the slow side. Either way, I'm definitely coming back to try more pizza combinations.
(4)
Scott F.

This is some good pizza. You can not call yourself a man until you have had the Ditka. I recommend always ordering a larger size, because you wiill want to take some home. I moved too far away to walk here, but I still have their number in my mobile to squash those hunger pains. Took a star off because I wish they had more choices of appetizers. And the salad was average.
(4)
Amy L.

Bricks was great....I went here with my sister and her husband while visiting Chicago. We started off with the garlic bread and the caprese salad...which was yum and perfect to split with 3 people. Then we ordered two pizzas...the spinach and the BBQ...both were awesome. I really like the underground atmosphere of the place too and we were seated right away. I definitely recommend this place!!!
(4)
Alan T.

I am a Chicago native and I weep for everyday that I went on my daily routine and did not know about Bricks. Their beer selection is very nice... five or six well selected drafts and a nice bottled beer list that includes some fabulous Belgian beers alongside worthy North American micros. The atmosphere is dark, cozy, and inviting with lots of exposed brick and low ceilings. It's in the basement of an apartment building - but don't let that scare you off! The service is always friendly and prompt. Most importantly, the food is simply fantastic. Their Goat Cheese Marinara is delightful (a huge portion too), and their salads are fantastic. The house salad and the caprese salad are both out of this world. Of course, the one thing I must rave about is the Pizza. This is one of the best places for pizza in Chicago. If you love pizza, you simply must stop in and try Bricks. One of the best I've ever eaten anywhere. I just wish I had discovered it sooner! Oh - and if you're tall like me - watch your head!!! The low ceilings are charming, but can be rather painful if you're not paying attention.
(5)
Eldiva S.

Was told to check it out for a non Chicago style pizza-was a little scared to go in! Split a BBQ chicken pizza-tasty blend of tang and sweetness thanks to the tomato sauce & BBQ sauce combo. Liked the use of Gouda as it gave it a nice smokey flavor & added to the flavor layering...Chicken was good clean white meat-kinda tasty alone - bet better with the pizza! The crust - one of the better ones I have had in this city...not too thin or too crisp-wasn't totally bland either.... 22 bucks for a 14 inch is steep- but 2 of us ate and we were full-so all in all it was actually a cheap dinner for us! Next time I must try the plain cheese pizza-I am a "pizza purist" and it is the best way to tell if it is indeed good pizza period! So this is to be continued-but for now one of my favorite pizzas in this city...worth a try for sure if you are looking for anti-Chicago pizza.
(4)
Katrina B.

I like the pizza here. I don't like Chicago style pizza, I do like this kind of thin crust pizza and they have several different combination pizzas on the menu. So Brick's sounds like a good idea almost any time I crave pizza. The salads and garlic bread are fine, but it's because of their pizza that I would go out of my way to come here and eat. I've always found the ingredients to be flavorful and well balanced and the crust is a nice thickness for the loads of stuff they put on it. I do have to admit that they seem a little pricey for the size, but it's worth it to me.
(4)
Karen L.

Brick's is a fun place for a casual night out! The pizza is also pretty good! My boyfriend loves this place and introduced me to it and swears by the Painful. The Painful is good... but I can only eat a couple since it truly is painful with the jalapenos on there! Their crust is thin and crispy and they also have a decent beer list. I would definitely recommend it if you have never been there before!
(4)
John J.

This is my favorite place to get pizza when we're in Chicago, which is not often enough. The thin crust is crisp, the sauce is thick, and the toppings, well, just try the Ditka. Also, who can review Bricks without talking about the great beer selection.
(5)
Melissa W.

Far be it from me to be contradictory, but Brick's is just not, as its sign claims, the best pizza in the world. And, for me at least, it's good, but not great. The atmosphere is dark and funky--promising of some memorable morsels--but, like a tone-deaf child of musical parents, the pizza fell flat based on expectations (Was that a contrived analogy or what?). And then there's the fact that we waited over an hour before we could even smell it. And I was really hungry. And I'm a cranky hungry. And it wasn't even crowded. And our server was so markedly indifferent to our cause--which was to eat, as promised, as hyped, nothing less than the best pizza in the world!! I'd tone down the monumental claim myself if I were the manager. But even if the sign read "the 2nd best pizza in the world," I'd still head over to the Oven Grinder first (it's just a hop and a jump--no skip--away).
(3)
Sunny W.

Yum! I enjoyed this place. I like that its hidden in some basement...somehow it just works. It seems very Chicago to me and I am not from Chicago. Back in the days before I had ever been here I believe I would have imagined that Chicagoans would go to a place like this. Ok, thats kind of random. In any case the house salad was a very good salad. The olives were delicous and it had the right amount of blue cheese and dressing. All of the pizza's look really good. Ours was great. I especially like the way the edge of the pizza is kind of burnt a little. I'd say the pizza style is a little bit rustic but very tasty and satisfying if you are hungry. Beer selection is good too. This is weird but I really liked that the place is kind of small. See I am very petite and so in the bathroom I felt tall because when I looked in the mirror I could see from my waist up and usually I can only see my face. Guys will like that you can watch the game there too at the bar.
(5)
blake d.

Love this place...High scores on: Food- the pizza here is great. It's not chicago style, more california, but very tasty, piping hot, and innovative. Atmosphere- Bricks has lots of bricks. It's in the basement of an old chicago apt building, and has brick "archways" separating the bar from the dining area. It's small, and dimly lit, but lively. The Zig-Zag man on the wall near the bathroom is sweet, as is Keith Richards. Beer- They had fat tire before anyone, other than those of us fortunate enough to spend lots of time in colorado, knew about it. They've always had belgian beer available and good beers on tap (sierra nevada seasonal et al.)
(5)
Kavitha J.

Boy is this place gross. This is cafeteria pizza - for $17 a pie! yuck.
(1)
Dom G.

This place has everything going for it except that it's in Lincoln Park. But believe me it's well worth it. Great pizza, Perfect Ambiance, and Good beer.
(4)
Jessica K.

Like many fellow yelpers, Bricks is my favorite thin crust pizza in Chicago. Being born and raised in pie-town, that's a pretty tall statement. Is it the variety of toppings placed on pies combinations that don't sound good but explode with awesomeness in your mouth that makes it good? Is it the crispy thin crust that doesn't take away from the flavors of the pizza? Is it the great beer selection? Perhaps its the cozy atmosphere in the basement that makes you feel like you are in on one hell of a tasty secret? For any or all of those reasons, is why I love Bricks. Kind of pricey for a pizza considering what the actual price to make one, but willing to splurge for the unique and tasty flavors of Bricks any time I get that craving.
(5)
Amy R.

Don't be thrown off by the basement setting and the low-level lighting when you enter. This is a great place to go for thin-crust pizza, and the extensive beer menu will probably please anyone in your group of friends. The staff was attentive and catered to our indecisiveness, helping us choose pizzas that she thought we'd like. And she did a damn fine job, too. The BBQ Chicken was amazing, as was The Painful. It's a great place to go on a cold night, or even to order from on a hot summer evening!
(5)
Alfredo L.

I am lucky to check this place out on a Tuesday because it has a special on 1/2 off on all wine bottles, not bad for wine drinker over every meal like me. Though seriously I am there for pizza. It might be tricky to find this place since it is located in the basement next to Katacomb. There are seatings by the bar, I opt for dinning room section instead. The place is dimly lit w/ intimate and inviting feel. I could sense there are plenty of regulars there and partially new comers (like me) trying out this place. Maybe I was very hungry but I ate most of the sliced butter bread that came with goat cheese ordered on appetizer. I only had BBQ chicken on a 12" pizza twice so far, I love the toppings and the sauce on the thin crust that might be slightly burnt on the edge. The sauce might be a bit too thick and sweet for some but I love it. I do agree with other reviewers and add that if the thin crust edge isn't stiffen and just bricked slight less than usual, I think the crust could turn out to be softer and perfect for the overall pizza experience. But if you were hungry like me all the time, pizza like this wouldn't bother anyone. Service is decent and prompt, there seems to be only one waitress and one buser on Tuesday night. Since this place is not decor to be a fine dining rather a chill relaxing not-so-intimidating environment, it makes me feel easy-go with just about everything there. One thing gives plus about this place is the price, affordably cheap for a dinner out. 1/2 off Tuesday on all wine bottles, not a bad deal. If splitting a 12" or 14" pizza with someone w/ an appetizer, the price runs down to less than $20/person, not bad either.
(4)
Jason P.

This place is a nice change of pace pizza place when you are craving thin crust pizza. They also have a large beverage list that is sure to please. We figured that we had to try some of the specialty pizzas as that is what they are known for. The popeye was good with spinach, garlic, tomato and feta. The menu is really simple as pizza is basically the only thing on there.
(3)
John H.

The pizza is interesting and unique. The barbequed-chicken-flavored thin crust was amazing. However, we brought our daughter and so she ordered the '"kid's meal" spaghetti and meat balls. The meat balls were too rubbery, and not meaty and juicy like they should be. Besides being too spicy for a seven-year-old to handle. Brick's needs to work on the kid's meals or just say they don't have them.
(4)
Garrett J.

If you're looking for amazing thin crust, this is your best bet. As a person who grew up on thin crust pizza, I am very picky about the quality of my pizza, and Brick's has never disappointed. Their ingredients are extremely fresh and the crust is always cooked perfectly. The only reason I'm giving it 4 starts and not 5 is that I don't frequently dine-in, so I can't speak to the service. But in terms of quality, you can't beat this place.
(4)
Alexis H.

Eh, I'm just not that impressed with Bricks. Many people have recommended it to me, but I didn't think it was worth all the talk. My roommates and I ordered a large pizza with pepperoni, 1/2 spinach and 1/2 banana peppers. The ingredients were fresh, and the sauce had a definite kick to it, creating an overall great flavor. However, the crust was thin, but not crisp as I expected. Even the small slices were folding and losing their toppings. Plus, the pizza was already cold when we got it. If you're gonna offer delivery, at least do it right. Major negative points for that. Since we had the pizza delivered, the 14 inch pizza ended up running over $28 after delivery fees and tip. That's just way too much for a smallish pizza with only 2 toppings. Even if we ate at Bricks, the pizza would have been $21 before tax and tip, so either way, it's a pretty crappy deal. I'd rather go with Homemade Pizza or a place that doesn't have a $3.50 delivery fee.
(2)
Erin T.

The atmosphere here is terrific. I love the down in the basement, cozy feel. It's almost like a speakeasy. The pizza is pretty good too. Its thin crust and they have pretty unique options. We have eaten at a regular table as well as at the bar. In both situations, the service was really good. I think it's a good date spot or a good place to bring out of towners.
(4)
Peter B.

I give this place 4 stars for winning the gold medal in gourmet pizza. Don't come expecting "old faithful" pepperoni and sausage-- have fun with the pizzas you order- and you will appreciate the different flavors you can get! If Ian's pizza is the redheaded bastard pot-smoking stepchild of non-traditional pizza, then Brick's is the older brother that went to culinary school. If you don't come here with someone who's ben here before, you really, honestly, might not find it, because its literally in a dungeon. They have a fantastic microbrew selection that goes well with your pizza. The Painful pizza is actually painful unless you get enough water!
(4)
Emily P.

I was introduced to Bricks through a friend's birthday dinner and have returned twice since. They have some really unique pizza combinations not to mention a great beer selection. Not only has the pizza won me over, though- the ambiance is cozy, inviting, and even a bit romantic (although not exclusively). And who doesn't appreciate a good handwritten tab? Although it's not exactly in my neck of the woods, it's a place I always look forward returning to.
(4)
Jeff K.

I have a love/hate relationship with Bricks. I love the pizzas, but hate that I cannot stop myself from eating a whole one every time I visit. Seriously. I'm a Chicago-style thick pizza guy, but will happily eat thin crust if that's what the majority (or the girlfriend) wants. Bricks is thin crust..but so much more! This isn't your typical pepperoni/onions/green peppers place. Bricks has a bunch of ingredient configurations, most of which you definitely won't see at a normal pizza joint. The atmosphere is nice, too. Got a chuckle from Mary's description as "the catacombs". Spot on!
(5)
Ang R.

I'd much rather order this than any other thin crust pizza in the city. I'm not a huge fan of tomato sauce, either, so the fact that a couple of the pizzas don't have it makes me very happy. We tried two--the Brickhouse and a plain pepperoni--and liked both very much. And while I could probably eat more than half a 10" on my own, if you add a salad or an app., you could easily save half a pizza for lunch the next day. It is pricey, I can't deny that. I think it's worth it, though, because of how lovely the crust is, and how nice the toppings are. I'm very appreciative of what this place is doing, and I can't wait to try the Mean Green and one of the BBQ-sauce pizzas.
(5)
Andrea R.

I never thought I was a pizza person...and then I met Bricks. Wow, sign me up for this pizza any night of the week...sooo worth the calories! I'm sure all their pizzas are incredible, but I haven't made it past the "painful" pizza because it's too good to try anything else!
(5)
Katie R.

I think most of the greatness of this place is lost on me. I don't generally like thin pizza and I tend to like very few toppings. I honestly don't have much to say about it - kind of dark and cozy (although our table had a pretty cold draft). Pizza tasted ok (cheese + garlic) but wasn't anything i would go back for..
(2)
W. E.

For years I have run by this place and never taken the plunge to step inside as the exterior is uninviting, yet mysterious...but after hearing endless statements that Brick's boasts the "very best" thin crust pizza in chicago, I could not resist. We arrived on a busy friday and were initially told we would have to wait over an hour for a table, but the smell of freshly baked pizza and tall glasses of draft beer made me believe that this would be worth the wait. And to our surprise, the hostess grabbed us within 15 minutes to surprise us with a table in the back. The setting is intimate with dark lighting and you truly feel like you are in an underground cave. The waitress was wonderful in offering several samples of the different beers on tap before I settled on the Unibroue Maudite - delicious. We had a difficult time choosing our pizzas as everything on the menu looked so unique and appetizing, but we went with the "Sweet Heat" and the "Painful" both utilizing the jalapeno at its finest. The sweet heat was full of flavor with chunky bits of bacon, chicken, red onions - you can never go wrong with bacon! I think we needed one of our pizzas to be tamer because by the end of the meal our mouths were on fire, but its rare to find such good heat in pizza. We will be back!
(4)
G N.

Delicious thin crust. Love the brick walls, dark lighting and super nice wait staff. Amazing beer selection. Great for a chill dinner with friends. There can be a wait on a Fri/Sat night, but generally worth it.
(5)
Todd S.

My favorite pizza joint in Lincoln Park. Love their "Painful Pizza" (pepperoni, jalapenos, garlic, etc). Super casual, fantastic beer list and tap.
(4)
Brynna P.

It sort of infuriates me to give this place 4 stars. It's overpriced, bottom line is no large pizza should really cost me $27. Every time I get ready to order pizza, I contemplate other places to get quality non-deep dish and hit yelp for places nearby, every.damn.time. Here's the thing, Bricks is delicious and I always come back to it. The dough is substantial and holds weight without being chewy or too dense. The sauce is excellent, has some spice and zing. In short, I don't order it often, but I never regret it when I do.
(4)
Angie S.

I went on a first date here. It was probably one of the worst dates I've ever been on, but I would do it all over again for the beer selection and the amazing pizza. So thank you to what's your face for taking me here!
(5)
Annie T.

Fresh basil adds a star for me. We got DA DITKA and savored every last bite. I'm ready to go back and try out some other pizzas. I came into Bricks with high expectations and they were met. The only thing I can bitch and moan about is the slooooow service. My friend sat there with an empty diet coke for the 2nd half of the meal. We got over it and indulged in our scrumptious 20'' pizza.
(4)
MsAnthro P.

I sort of regret that my first Bricks pizza was the Petaluma Club rather than a more traditional pizza. It was okay, but the sauce was very sweet and thick and sort of seemed like little more than tomato paste. I found the prices a little high for the quality of the product, but I was a fan of the crisp thin crust. The reviews here are pretty favorable, so I might give it another shot.
(3)
Rebecca S.

Bricks might be my favorite pizza ever. I think the painful is my favorite of my favorites - pepperoni and jalapeno, yum - but it's also great with pesto instead of tomato sauce (aka the mean green). Other delicious pizzas include the popeye, red planet, and the berzerkley. The house salad is also yummy with blue cheese, olives, and roasted red peppers. I usually get take out, but when I eat in, I make sure to get one of their many delicious beers. It's definitely more of an artsy pizza place, but for me, the more unique pizza ingredients the better. If you haven't tried it yet, do it now.
(5)
Paraisia W.

Awesome pizza. Great combinations and reasonable prices. Best flavor of any pizza that claims to be the best in Chicago
(5)
Jessika R.

Great pizza at a great price - don't let the entrance fool you (you head downstairs to a dimly lit hallway)! The beer list is impressive for your local pub - including anchor brewing co., goose island, and some great imported german beers. And for all of you Sprecher rootbeer fans - they carry that too! We had a salad and the red planet pizza - perfectly crispy wheat crust, plenty of toppings, great flavor combos. And on top of all that, friendly wait staff and prompt service. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Nicolas M.

the pizza: a friend and i split a 14" cheese topped with tomatoes. tomatoed generously. cheese was good and digestible; not rubbery like many other pizzas. sauce was just the right degree of sweet and tangy; not too sweet, mind you, and not over-seasoned. so far, so good... until you get to the crust. it's a cracker crust -- albeit a relatively "good" cracker crust -- which is so loathsome among pizza purists. pizza is fundamentally bread, not toppings. and this crust had an unpleasant texture and was fairly bland. they did bake the pizza well with some tomato sauce charring for a better taste and didn't leave it an uncooked disc of mush like so many places tend to. overall, the rest of the pizza gave it a flavor that was good and so partly explains the four stars i give this pizzeria. the drinx: not the cheapest drinx in town, but the selection is great and compliments the pizza fairly well, i believe. the service: the service was excellent. the night we went, a fuckin' explosion of families with toddlers and older rugrats complete with two-seater ergo-strollers happened somewhere nearby so there were punk brats and their old town bourgie parents noising up the place. the lone server did a great job of accomodating us with a real smile despite the dining room being crammed full of post-yuppie families and what i'm sure were exorbitant demands without generous tips. so the service being so good helped this pizzeria's overall rating, too. the joint: it's a pizzeria/bar in a basement. don't expect an ambience that wouldn't normally come with such a setting.
(4)
Carol J.

I live nearby to this litte slice of heaven. Remarkable beer selection and pizza is pretty amazing too. This is our go to place when we need to eat with a big group and everyone is a PITA picky eater so they can order what they like. I agree the goat cheese on the pizza is totally decadent. Service is a little sketchy at times but for the most part, they are pretty cool. I personally prefer wood fired oven pizza but until one opens up closer to me, this is the best alternative. This is a great place for the beer lover in your group but the salads are good too. And Pedro or peter the pizza maker is an absolute sweetheart who always makes a special pizza for my PITA friend that wants everything on the side or special.
(4)
John B.

Great thin crust pizza in subterranean setting. Excellent beer selection.
(5)
Josh E.

I had pretty high expectations for my visit to Brick's after reading and hearing, up and down, about how great it was. What a crushing disappointment! It wasn't far off from an over-ovened frozen pizza. The basement setting left a bit to be desired considering the circumstances. I can deal with divey conditions when good food is in play, but this just wasn't the case with Brick's, so the combo of jazzed up Mama Celeste in a damp basement was not cool. I may be spoiled after living in Brooklyn and having the run of truly amazing pizza, but Brick's didn't even measure up to much of the lesser pies I've had in non pizza meccas.
(2)
veronika p.

Visting from Philly, we decided to check this place out on a recent visit to Chicago. We got the Sweet Heat pizza and it was awesome. The inside of the place was pretty cool as well - you go down steps and walk down a little alley to get to the entrance of the place. The music is a little loud, which was my only beef with the place.
(4)
Mindy S.

mmm, pizza. Thin crust, deep dish, let's be honest, I like it all! I think Bricks has some of the better thin crust pizza in the city. Mostly though, I like the different toppings that you can get on your pizza. It's not just the average cheese or pepperoni place. We got the pesto shrimp pizza the other night, and it was really good. In fact, I kind of wish I had my leftovers right now! We went on a Sunday night and there was no wait. It might look a little shady at first since you have to walk down in to a dark alley, but I promise it's worth it. And I think I'll always have a special place for Bricks in my heart because it was the first place in Chicago where you could get Fat Tire beer. mmm, pizza and beer....does it get any better?
(4)
Stephanie D.

Arguably the BEST pizza in Lincoln Park!! Thin crust and delicious!! Their delivery isn't the fastest, but well worth the wait. Dining in is nice. Atmosphere is really chill and they have decent drink specials throughout the week (1/2 off bottles of wine on Tuesdays)! The restaurant shares an entrance with Katacombs...walking in I was like head scratching, wondering why this place looked so familiar. OH YEAH...I was there late night last weekend. Duh! How could I have possibly forgotten... ;) Could have been worse...like Beaumonts or something... Anyway, I love the pizza here and have cravings on a regular basis. TRY this place!
(4)
Justin W.

Okay I like this place, the pizza is good and the prices are fair but it has some issues. Getting a table is a hassle, at least the 3 times I have been here. The staff is well....indifferent. The atmosphere is fine but seating is cramped. I would give them four stars but the lack of non pork toppings is almost non-existent. Its a pretty limited selection of pizza but they do it well.
(3)
Andrew T.

Best pizza in Chicago, hands down. It's a great spot, out of the way and not touristy. The shrimp creole is my favorite pizza anywhere. And a phenomenal beer selection.
(5)
Blair B.

I ordered this for delivery, so can't comment on atmosphere. I had a custom pizza with mushrooms and feta cheese.. my particular odd craving of the evening. This was solid pizza for thin crust.. personally I enjoy Piece pizza more, but because this place delivers, I would choose it more often. Toppings were of high quality and amply placed.. points for that too.
(4)
Maura S.

Best pizza in Chicago. Yes I said it. It's just THAT good.
(5)
Sam G.

Good pizza, good beer.
(4)
Carrie R.

HORRIBLE service. I ordered pizza from here for delivery with no initial problem. They called me about 30 minutes after I ordered and asked me to "come pick up my pizza" because my apartment was a half a block out of their delivery radius. This was after they ALREADY charged my card and put the pizza order in. After some convincing, and even offering to WALK a block into their radius, she finally agreed to deliver to me. The woman I talked to was SO RUDE and not accommodating at all. I will NEVER order from here again.
(1)
Kristin M.

Great atmosphere, its always good to be in a basement when guiltily consuming mass amounts of delicious pizza. Super variety of unusual and yummy pizzas, and a great beer selection!
(4)
Brandon H.

This is my new neighborhood "bar"! I love the cozy feel of it. It's nothing overstated and what they do offer, they execute very well. The pizza is fantastic, and I've had my fair share o fpizza! Monday's and Tuesday's are good specials as far as beer goes.. The crowd is (from my experience) usually pretty friendly. Overall I have yet to find a bad thing to say about this place!
(5)
Jessica C.

Yes, yes, wondrous, fantastic...if you hate good food, stay far far away from here. What I loved most: the meatball grinder, the atmosphere, the beer selection, the Ditka, and the service (five stars for each). If you're looking for a fun/casual dinner give them a buzz and reserve a table. (It may not be totally necessary, but it's better be seated that sorry.) ***UPDATE*** I held a Charity event for the American Cancer Society and casually asked the owner if they would be interested in donating a pizza or two, or maybe some $5 gift certificates for a raffle we were holding. THEY DONATED 10 PIZZAS AND 3 HUGE SALADS. They went above and beyond to help raise hundreds of dollars for my event and didn't ask for anything in return. If I could give this place 2 Million Stars I would. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Brick's.
(5)
Cat B.

I love this place! And although it does not matter now that we get it distributed here...this used to be the only place to get Fat Tire in the city. I love the feel of this place, even though it is in the basement, I love the cellar feel to it. They use the freshest ingredients on their pizzas. Watch out...when they come out...although they look and smell so good you want to eat the whole pizza right then and there...they are REALLY HOT! So, if you prefer to risk it and not taste anything for a few days, go right ahead, dig in. The rest of us will just have to salivate over the pizza as it cools in front of us, taunting us with its tantalizing aromas. The Popeye is one of my favorite as is the Brickhouse. Delicious! It is a small place, though so if you go on a weekend you will likely have to wait.
(5)
rachel c.

Bricks kicks ass, plain and simple. Great beer selection, great food, pretty good service. Highly recommend Bricks to those who feel sickened by the deep-dish scene, but still want some authentic, non-chain, Chicago pizza. The only reason I give it 4/5 is because of the pesky long wait on weekends...
(4)
Taylor O.

Would've never found this one tucked in to a basement like a castle cellar, a pizza castle anyway... a brick pizza castle? Stretching the metaphor more than their dough. Went early in the week for some cheap-er beer and 3 pizzas. The 'popeye' was a hit all around and a few of us were big fans of 'the painful.' I supposed that makes me a masochist for wanting to go back for more of that one. As long as it comes with a Spaten Optimator to wash it down, as badass as but not to be confused with Optimus Prime.
(4)
Lee W.

When it comes to Chicago food, I consider myself a Chicago dog connoisseur. Unfortunately, the same doesn't go for deep dish pizza. I hate the stuff -- I'm much more of a thin crust kind of girl. That said, Bricks has the best pizza in Chicago. The "painful" is tasty and very crave-worthy. Their beer selection is outstanding. Definitely a place to hit up if you're not a "Chicago" pizza nut (and a place to consider if you're thinking about branching out)!
(4)
Andrea O.

So i heard about bricks pizza through yelp. i wanted to have good authentic Chicago pizza. i read bricks reviews, so i decided to give it a try and i am so GLAD i did! this place is so great! best thin crust pizza i've ever had in Chicago. i really recommend this place. even though it's small and it's in a basement, the vibe is relaxing and the decor is nice too. SO if you're a huge pizza fan like i am... go here.... these people below know what their saying.
(5)
Jason S.

Love Bricks! Love Fat Tire! Both are best on Thursday when the heavenly beer is on sale for $3. The painful pizza is unbeatable. The bbq chicken will make you return again! The dark underground feel adds to the whole experience. This is a great laid back date place and will also work for meeting a group of people. Prices are reasonable. This place would be perfect if it had a parking lot!
(4)
mike L.

Awesome Neopolitan-style pizza's with a great selection of Belgian beers...what more could you want? Huge fan of the Mean Green - pesto, pepperonia and fresh jalapenos Ignore the somewhat sketchy exterior, it's worth it
(5)
Osh J.

Tuesday is 1/2 price bottles of wine...enough said? Okay then, I'll talk about how awesome this pizza is. Super thin crust, very good meats and ingredients. Sauce is....amazing. The sweet heat is a major winner. It has chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella, and the sweetest and heatiest sauce (but not uncomfortable, burn your mouth hot, just really really pleasant hotness, a "sweet heat" if you will!! haha sorry) We also got a bbq chicken pizza which was def. NOT run of the mill. Seriously tasty, and the meat-lovers, which Im pretty sure was the best meat-loaded pizza i've ever eaten It's the kind of pizza you have to talk about while you're eating it. You'll just start saying things like, "this is just sooo goood." and "oh my god..." and "i love this" and sometimes moans and perma-smiles follow... I think i have to go back here asap. Loved it, you will too. Servers are nice, atmosphere is super-cool because it's underground and made me feel like I was in a pizza cave ( in the best way ;)!!!
(5)
Andrew M.

Although it does not serve Chicago's famous deep dish pizza, Bricks still proudly proclaims to have the best pizza in the city. And it's hard to argue after trying its savory medium crust pizza--a satisfying compromise between thin and New York style pizza. Also, Bricks is notable for being the only place in the ENTIRE city of Chicago to serve Fat Tire Ale. For those of you coming from the West, you know what I'm talking about it and you're probably on your way there right now to glup some down. For those that don't know, figure it out. Bricks is dimly lit and cozy, but works better in the winter than the summer. You won't regret a trip to Bricks.
(5)
Tony G.

The Ditka Pizza here is a Meat-a-tarian's dream! All meats, no veggies. That, and the fact that they had Fat Tire for years before everyone else, and you've got a winner!
(5)
Kristen D.

My favorite pizza place. They have excellent thin crust pizzas. Try the Brickhouse or the Shrimp creole. They also have some really good beer choices (and on Thursdays they have Fat Tire on special...it draws in a good sized crowd) They also have half-off bottles of wine nights. The staff is very nice and helpful, and the place has great atmosphere.
(5)
Jack B.

Some of the best pizza in Chicago and I love the divey underground atmosphere. It's all good, but the painful is my favorite.
(4)
Jessica S.

I am going to echo what most people have said Bricks is fabulous. It's not typical Chicago pizza but it's yummy. I would recommend getting the goat cheese appetizer but to warn you it's huge. Tuesday night is half price bottles of wine. The atmosphere is amazing, I really loved it.
(4)
Jeremy D.

Bricks!! I love it! The best BBQ chicken pizza! chicken, gouda, cilantro, red onions, bbq sauce...mmmm It's a dark cozy little pizza joint hidden away in the basement of an apartment building on Lincoln Ave. It's totally different and that's why I like it. They have a great beer selection too. So let's recap: tasty thin crust pizzas with all sorts of funky toppings & great beer in a secret underground hideout. How can you not love that?
(4)
Mark T.

I heard this place was pretty good and was excited about my first visit. This weekend I had 4 friends from out of town visit for the weekend. I live within walking distance of Bricks and have only lived there for about a year. I heard about Bricks and thought no better time to check it out. So, myself, and 4 other buddies decided to head over and see if we could get in fully prepared that we may have to wait. We walked in and were rudely greeted by a hostes/waitress asking if we had a reservation. We said no. She said, "you guys realize its a Friday night right?" We said that we understand that and she responded saying it would be 40 minutes. We said that is fine we will just put our name in and come back in about 30 minutes. Normal right? Apparently she didn't want to do that and gave us so much attitude that I honestly could not believe that it was happening. I explained to her that its just like giving a reservation. She said, "what if you dont show up?" We offered to give her a credit card and she still didnt' want to work with us. I told her that we came here to give her business and we were leaving. She then told us it would be about an hour wait anyways and let us leave. I have never had anything like this happen to me, especially at a restaurant that is supposed to have a good reputation. We ended up going to Stanley's down the road and had a great waitress that ended up with a huge tip on a $200.00 bill. Great job Bricks. I heard the food was good but they obviously don't know how to hire.
(1)
Ila L.

I really enjoy the basement setting. Delicious pizza (in particular the Painful Pizza) and salad. Tied with Piece and Union Pizza as my favorite pizza place in Chicagoland.
(5)
D F.

Update - I've been back at least six or seven times (probably more) since writing the April review, and those two semi-negative experiences were not repeated. In other words, it's back to its old greatness. They've had a special Hawaiin pizza with ham and pineapple that is also tremendous. But I cannot recommend the Vegetarian strongly enough (and no I am not a vegetarian).
(5)
Melissa M.

I am a thin-crust pizza fan and Bricks fits the bill. I was a little taken aback with the dungeon-like location, but once inside, it's very cozy. I loved the different selections of pizza's available and of the three my group ordered: Sole Mio (homemade meatballs), the Ditka (all meat - all day) and the "Fresh?" (was our vegetarian option - had goat cheese and zucchini!)...they were all just wonderful. I didn't partake of the beer selection, but it was generous. Definitely a better pizza stop than Ranaldi's which is right next door.
(3)
Catherine B.

I ate here with my parents, who were excited to see the Grinders on the menu. We all had grinders, which are essentially italian hoagie sandwiches, put through the oven. We requested they add garlic, as my mother insisted a true grinder be on garlic bread. They were accommodating about it, and the service was fine. We were there at an off time (early for dinner), so it was a little slower than it probably is during regular meal times. The food and beer were good, though the dungeon lower-level entrance definitely puzzled us for a moment.
(4)
Christopher T.

I am not exactly a pizza person and moving to Chicago has made that worse. That mess they call "deep dish" just seems like slop thrown on a bunch of dough. so when a friend who lives in Rome came for a visit and wanted to eat deep dish I thought to myself: "well he is my friend, right?" I looked around online and found bricks, mistakingly thinking that they served deep-dish pizza (I now think I must have been mesmerized by the "best pizza in the world" moniker and the reviews on Yelp). We get there and descend the stairs into that dungeon like entrance and I immediately became worried. I felt a bit better when I went in. We were immediately seated (hey it WAS a monday) and we looked over the menu. To my embarrassment there did not seem to be any deep dish . . . the entire reason for going there. We ordered. I got a Ditka and he--as strange as it sounds for an italian person--ordered some vegetarian something or another given the fact that he is a vegetarian. The pizza came and it was LOVE at first bite! The toppings were delicious. The crust was perfect; it was crunchy though not like a cracker. It was so amazing that I recently went back with friends. They also LOVED the pizza. I again got the Ditka but tried a slice of my friend's pizza which was some chicken and bbq sauce concoction. Next time I go I will try and get half Ditka and half "chicken and BBQ sauce concoction" pizza! Sadly, it will probably be my last for a while since I am leaving the city for a long stretch! SIGH!
(5)
City Swank N.

Yeah this is THE PLACE for tasty pizza...try their great combo pizzas like "Popeyes" or the "ditka". Perfect little underground joint that was serving Fat Tire before it was "Cool".
(4)
Richard C.

I usually like deep dish pizza, but when it comes to thin crust pizza Bricks is among my favorites. I agree with many of these yelpers that the painful is really good, but by the looks of some of these revivews I have some other pizzas to try there.
(4)
mary b.

really yummy thin-crust pizza in a great setting. sitting in the catacombs with pizza and beer = good times for all. it's appropriately priced, and it's super relaxed. the bar is cozy, and the location is right for avoiding the bingers (there aren't very many other bars in a really close proximity).
(4)
Clare K.

this place definitely has a lot of hype. i thought the pizza was good, but i loved the underground atmosphere. i mean--there was nothing life changing about the pizza-i can think of at least 3 or 4 places that i like better than bricks, but it was solid. parking is hellish and there were a lot of children there when i was there. loud, annoying children. i try to stay away from family dining restaurants.
(4)
elizabeth n.

I must have eaten at Bricks on a bad night because I seem to be the only one who doesn't love this pizza place. The sign on the door boasts "World's Best Pizza" but I found it odd tasting and greasy. The garlic bread was rubbery and I could barely force the pizza down. I wish it would have been better because I've heard nothing but good things, although I don't think I'll be going back.
(1)
Chloe M.

This pizza is amazing! The wait is so long so we always call in and pick it up. It tastes just as good when you carry it out. I agree with many of these reviews that the painful is one of the best pizzas on the menu!
(5)
Jake A.

I usually enjoy deep dish pizza over thin crust, but Bricks is definitely one of my favorite pizza joints in Chicago. My buddy and I went here this weekend and waited about 45 minutes for a table, but it was worth it. We loaded it up with our favorite toppings and had a few beers. It left us very satisfied.
(4)
a w.

The "Painful" is definitely something you can't miss if you love spice. Good pizza, lots of spice, and a great bar make this one of the best pizza places in all of Chicago!
(5)
Sarah S.

Instead of the hour-long wait at the oven grinder, we headed back around the corner, and ended up at Bricks. I was confused going in... am I the only one who was thrown off by the dingy underground entrance? But the pizza was good... lots of fresh basil and tomatoes on the Popeye, which I love, but I'm pretty sure they use sardines in the dressing for the ceasar, as it had a pretty fishy aftertaste! The house Pinot Noir is good, and the pizza was excellent, so I'll forgive the weird entrance.
(4)
Devin H.

Brick's is all that you can ask for in a pizza joint and more! They have a fabulous beer selection -- one of the only bars in Chicago to sell Fat Tire! My favorite pizza is the "Painful" (spicy pepperoni, red onion, garlic and jalapenos). Yum! There are plenty of pizzas to meet any taste, or you can mix and match toppings to your liking.
(4)
K. J.

So torn. Is it a four star? A five star? It's just that pizza is so competitive. There are so many people making pizza I'd willingly go back for. Is this one of the best pizzas I've ever had? Is it deserving? I'm not sure. Let's discuss. After a few hours of walking in the cold, spring rain, we finally arrived at this hole-in-the-wall-looking, sketchy underground bar of a place that reminded me more of a bad roadside bar than the pizza highlight I wanted it to be. We dragged our soaked to the bone selves in and were greeted and given a space to sit. Although we weren't really early, we obviously arrived just in time as the place filled up very quickly soon after we sat down. We each ordered a pizza. I got one of my favorites - BBQ pizza. I don't recall much about the service. The place was dark, but in the bar-type way, not the romantic way. Patrons varied from families with young children to post-college, twenty-somethings. The pizza itself was great! If I lived in the area, I would probably be here a lot for pizza. It is a very nice thin-crust style pizza with generous toppings. There is a decent selection of these to chose from as well (not just the traditional pepperoni and veg). I'm on the fence. I'd have to go back a few times before I make a sound four or five star decision on this place, but I'll stick with four for now.
(4)
Becca L.

I've never liked the deep dish Chicago style pizza so Bricks thin crust pizza is perfect for me. Usually it's pretty crowded here, but we got a table here on Friday night with no problem 2 of my friends and I split a large pizza and we devoured it within 20 minutes because it was so good. I'm always impressed with their service as well. The drinks and pizza come out very fast!
(4)
Julia B.

The pizza here is great. The selection of drinks is also pretty extensive! I suggest getting a thin crust veggie pizza-It was great!
(4)
Carrie E.

Pretty good pizza! It definitely fulfilled my pizza craving, but it's kind of out of the way from where I live. I'd recommend it to a friend if they lived nearby, but maybe not travel from a far away neighborhood just for this pizza. I'd definitely go back to try the "slutty ravioli" though since that seemed to be popular here on Yelp. It seems like it'd be better as a main dish than an appetizer. Though the entrance is a little sketch looking (go down the steps even though your gut tells you not to), its very cozy inside. Beware if you're tall: the ceilings are low, especially in the bathroom. I'm pretty sure if you're 6 foot you'd have to duck. Our waitress was nice and helped us decide on a bottle of wine (1/2 price on Tuesdays!). I liked that they thought "outside of the box" when it came to toppings and combinations on pizza. We ordered the "Sweet Heat" (minus the jalapenos). I liked the smoked gouda as well as the bbq-tomato sauce. It made it a unique pizza. Plus the onions weren't charred like they are sometimes at other pizza places. Points for being cut "tavern style" (squares) but I did think it was a little dry.
(4)
Dennis R.

Came here with some friends from out of town on a night when everyone wanted som pizza. We came to the right place. Great thin crust pizza and awesome craft beer selection as well. 1. The thing that sets apart this place is its location, vibe and feel. It's in the basement of the building and SO unique; its cozy. 2. the thin crust allows you to taste all the delicious toppings. I had the Sole Mio and it was amazing!! Will come back again as this was my first visit and will bring some more friends to check this place out!
(4)
Natalie L.

Great place to stop before a show at Park West. Price is right and service was quick. Loved the dates. A little let down on the drunk ravioli or whatever it was. It was tasty but I had expected to have my mind blown. We had the spinach pizza and it was very good. So yes it's in a dark bunker and no it's not "Best Pizza on Earth" but it's a helluva lot better than Oven Grinder, which is pretty much your other option when you don't want to walk more than a couple of blocks to Park West when it's 10 degrees outside.
(4)
Justin L.

It was edible. The pizza lacked in the flavor department. It was no better than elios frozen pizza squares. I should have known that the whole "best pizza in Chicago" was nonsense. I will not be returning.
(2)
Justin W.

This is my go-to pizza joint. Thin, crisp, delicious. Don't be deterred by the dark entrance - bricks is a hidden gem. Try the arugula salad and any pizza - my favorite is sausage/basil. Good beer selection.
(5)
Cjer R.

The guy who took our pick up order and cashed us out was so rude and had this hipster attitude that needs to go. I've spent a lot of money here both dining in and ordering carry out. Maybe it was just an off night but that hipster attitude just angered me enough to write this review and probably won't be back for a while if ever.
(1)
Joe B.

Delicious pizza in a well-hidden restaurant! The exposed brick interior and dim lighting makes for great ambiance. My only qualm is that my friend and I were hurried out. As soon as the final morsel was in my mouth, we got the "actually, we're closed" speech.
(3)
Alynn C.

Fantastic! I dined here with a good friend while in town for a job interview. The restaurant was walkable from Hotel Lincoln and had good reviews so we decided to check it out. So glad we did! It instantly became a favorite with some of the best pizza I've ever had in my life. Bricks has a unique (although somewhat odd) entrance as your descend the stairs and go into what feels like a cellar, but the space has a great ambiance and truly feels like a hidden gem. Other restaurant-goers were assembled in small, intimate groups of 2-6 guests per table which evoked an atmosphere of old friendships and nostalgia. Our server was fantastic -- present, educated, but allowing us space to catch up. She offered great recommendations on the expansive beer and food menu. I opted for a Hawaiian-style pizza and the flavors were perfectly balanced -- sweet, salty, delightful. The pizza has a sweet thin-crust which is a nice alternative to the many deep-dish joints in Chicago. Definitely worth a trip. Also, I got the job and WILL be back to visit soon :)
(5)
Joana M.

The feel of old school comes to mind when I walk into this establishment. It's unique and laid back. The one tv by the bar is from the 90 's. Big and bulky. The music in the background creates a relaxed ambient. Service here is good. Not pushy or any attitude. We usually dine on the bar. The food is delicious. Appetizers and pizza are delicious!
(5)
Joshua D.

So I went to Bricks after watching Heatseekers on TV. I trained with Ghost Peppers and Trinadad scorpions... The heat units on the peppers I trained with are roughly over one million, so eating a pizza with scotch bonets at 150,000 seemed easy. They bring out gloves, and make you sign a waiver. You have 10 minutes to eat a 10 inch...I ate 1.5 slices. I was burned alive, and only ate 1.5 slices. It was fun and the additional normal pizza was great. Cool dingy, dark atmosphere.
(4)
Andy S.

This pizza is gross. I was borderline drunk and it tasted bad. Food tastes amazing when you have the beer munchies but not this cardboard. Seriously I don't know how this place is averaging 4 stars. I can only assume people like the atmosphere and the booze. I ordered delivery so I didn't get to experience the atmosphere. I had 2 pizzas and both were mediocre but they were expensive pizzas.
(2)
Jessa B.

I went here with a friend before a concert at Park West. We almost walked into the club next door, and that was the least awesome part of our visit. The restaurant feels like its in a basement (it is), and so it feels cozy but not cramped. The waitstaff was pretty awesome and helpful. The draft beer selection was slim, but quality (Bear Racer, Half Acre, & Unibroue, to name a few). They had tons of bottles, though. We ordered the slutty ravioli and it was perfection. How can one resist a cheesy, bubbly, spicy plate of ravioli? For dinner, we ordered a pineapple ham pizza special and it was also perfection. For the two of us, it was a great amount of food. We actually couldn't finish it. If I wasn't moving out of the city, I would 100% go back.
(5)
Kelvin F.

In Chicago for the weekend with family wife wanted some of Chicago famous pizza. Well Bricks fell short of the experience. Thought the pizza was world's famous but I'll stick with deweys back in Cincinnati.
(2)
Lisa F.

Love this hole in the wall with amazing specialty pizzas!! Good beer selection, attentive staff and great thin crust pizzas!
(4)
Madhumitha V.

What's unique about my experience with Bricks is the fact that it has been so varied. I have been to Bricks and had amazing pizzas. But, whenever I order delivery, the pizzas just aren't as good. Today the pizzas were dry, burnt and weird tasting. I have frankly not had such terrible pizzas ever. But, they were super prompt with issuing a refund (or a store credit) when I called to let them know the pizza quality today. I wasn't expecting that at all and came away impressed at their customer service.
(2)
Autumn S.

Found the place next to our hotel. We were on our way back from a brewery and something smelled fantastic. We found the root at Bricks. It was a Tuesday night and pretty dead so we were seated immediately. We ordered the slutty ravioli and it was out of this world. The pizza looked good but we didn't order any. Decent beer/wine menu too. Very divey pizza point - would def. recommend.
(4)
Bianca Z.

If you are a deep-dish or even regular crust lover - this is NOT the place to change your opinion on thin-crust pizza. I'll admit that I personally am slightly indifferent towards thin-crust pizza, and the food at Bricks is so-so. I guess charred crust with little sauce and soggy toppings just don't do it for me. I will say that I liked the feel of the place and waitresses were attentive.
(2)
Dominique M.

I had the Petaluma club and it was amazing. The crust was crispy and perfect. It's a little dark but the food is worth it.
(5)
Samantha J.

To keep it short, prompt delivery (30 minutes when grubhub said an hour), delicious THIN CRUST pizza (red planet was good, but I'm not in love with goat cheese so I'll probably try the bbq chicken next time), and the slutty ravioli was awesome (warning: you must really like cheese in order to enjoy this). Moderately priced and good, quality food. Thank you fellow yelpers for pointing me to Bricks!
(4)
Kristine N.

Pretty good pizza in a cool neighborhood. Came in around 9pm on a Tuesday for some drinks and dinner. Got the stuffed dates which were pretty good. There's a ton of leftover sauce which is a great dipping sauce for the pizza! We shared a painful pizza with pepperoni, onions, and jalapenos (perfect for date night right?). The crust is so crispy and its not super oily. Very yummy.
(4)
Andrew ÃŸ.

Great place in the basement A little creepy as we went into the basement. But very nice bar Loved all the pizza choices here.
(4)
Nathan J.

BBQ chicken pizza along with the Ditka was awesome! Great service, bar selection, excellent accommodations and a great location. Really cool atmosphere.
(5)
Arvind P.

Painful is the way to go!!!
(5)
Michael K.

This place is exactly what it seems to be - a nice out-of-the-way pizza place with a bar. My Sweet Heat pizza was excellent and the service by my waitress and the bartender was friendly. They had the baseball games on the TV and a laid-back atmosphere on this Monday evening; very pleasant.
(4)
Christine S.

Yum yum! Half and half, two delicious types of pizza and my fav thin crust. Yes Chicago!!!
(5)
Tim R.

Excellent pizza, great atmosphere below street level. Highly recommend when in the area.
(5)
Bobby D.

Not too shabby, it's got a classic pizza joint feel which is hard to come by. And the za itself is real good. They have a wonderful collection of pizzas with adventurous toppings, but lets be real, the choice of these toppings create a new flavor experience. Too often newer pizza joints with this level of toppings really falls short on the delivery, it ends up being cardboard bread. These however, are legit pizzas with legit toppings and very unique flavor profiles. Try try and try again.
(3)
Michelle P.

A great little gem tucked away. Slutty ravioli was amazing and loved the Popeye pizza! I'll definitely be going back to try the other pizzas!
(4)
Amanda E.

Very good thin crust, crispy and thin. Had the red planet pie.....yummy. Also had to try the slutty ravioli.....cheesy, good sauce. This place is a winner. Go early, they fill up.
(5)
Handan A.

Thin crust pizza is awesome here! We were looking for that for a while in the city and this is our place now!!!
(5)
Kate K.

I've had take out pizza from here and loved it. We got the mean green which has pesto, jalapenos and a bunch of vegetables. It was the right amount of spicy, great crust, great sauce. Very good size pizza for the price. Getting to this place is a little weird, it kind of reminds me of a dungeon because it's really dark and underground. It's definitely more of a bar inside than I would have expected. You walk down a staircase to enter and it's a little confusing which door to go through.
(4)
Radha K.

I love brick oven style pizza and this is as good as it gets in Chicago! The BBQ chicken, Ditka, Margharita, and more...all of it is fantastic! It's a little dim inside, but it's a neat layout and the service is great. Definitely going to return to Bricks!
(4)
Jon T.

Service was brutal and the pizza was decent. The atmosphere was really cool, but not worth the price or wait of the terrible service! We left after waiting for each stage of the meal only to see our waitress smoking next door. Definitely not worth a return trip!
(1)
Doug K.

Best thin pizza in Chicago! OK, I know people differ on the style of pizza they like. Some people like sloppy stuffed pizza you have to eat with a fork, and some like a floppy pizza like you fold in New York. Me, I prefer a very thin but sturdy crust. Bricks is the only place I know of that still make a crust like this. This kind of crust is best with a Chicago cut (square cut for you out of towners), which you will get if you order a large pizza. I love that you can get a white pizza (olive oil and garlic instead of sauce). When I go, I order a large pizza for myself, just so I can get the leftovers, but half the time I wind up eating the rest of it as a late night snack. Other good things there, the beer selection and the slutty ravioli (hope you like cheese). The service is friendly. I like the dark, bar-like feel of the place. It doesn't seem like it would be kid friendly, but I have seen babies and kids there, and have brought my own child. While I am giving this place 5 stars for being my favorite pizza place, here are some minor downsides...the pizza is fairly expensive and the space is medium-small. They will take reservations, but they reserve the right to take your credit card. Parking can be tough around there (I wish they were walking distance from my home).
(5)
Brett C.

Pizza was good. Service great. Had an event next door, they were cool with me running back and forth checking to see if the party had started yet. Pretty waitresses, can't beat that. Bartenders look like bartenders. I mean that in a good way. You know what I mean, don't look at me like that.
(5)
O S.

Love this place! Great pizza, great salads, great service!
(4)
Vic C.

Great atmosphere. Walking downstairs into a dimly lit bar is pretty cool and they have a separate dining area. Food was great. I had a half Beverly / half Red Planet. Beer list was solid. Plenty of options. Service was terrible. Finally requested a pitcher of water because the waitress or busboy would only fill up one pitcher at a time. However, it was a pizza place on a Friday night at 10 with few empty tables and there was only one waitress. Overall, great THIN crust pizza with good beer options. It's worth visiting if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)
Bridget D.

I love the hole-in-the-wall, cozy atmosphere. Great for a date or small group of friends. And though I'm a deep dish lover at heart, this is honestly some of the best thin crust pizza I've ever had. The restaurant is small/cramped and you will wait a while for a table at peak hours, but worth it. They have old school TVs (the big fat ones) and authentic old Chicago memorabilia. My boyfriend and I ordered our pizza to go and got a drink at the bar while we waited. It did take a while, but after the bartender realized he was the one who forgot about our pizza, he gave it to us "on the house." He was genuinely apologetic, so it was all good. Will be going back soon to dine-in.
(4)
Johanna F.

Great place for thin crust pizza. Atmosphere is dark but a very fun place. The bartenders are quick and the servers are really nice. There was about a 15 minute wait for us on an EARLY friday night so we snagged some standing room at the bar. We ended up being seated at the two-tops directly opposite from the bar which was great (once I saw the rest of the restaurant). We ended up making friends with the couple next to us. TIP - early Friday night dinners = great... This way you can grab a few beers, a pizza and then head out for the evening! We'll be back.
(4)
Charles S.

Excellent flavorful pizza with many creations to choose from. All on a tasty crust. Yummy!!
(4)
Ray D.

Half Sweet Heat/Half Ditka Ditka Ditka. Meat lover madness! Could do without the heat and just the sweet. But who cares. The pizza was absolutely delightful. Look forward to enjoying some ZaZa again.
(5)
Agatka C.

This was my first and last time at this place. Although the pizza is fantastic, the service will definitely keep me from coming back. I came in with a few friends to see what the buzz was all about. The ambience is nice, small underground bar/lounge area. We came around 930. NOBODY CAME UP TO US UNTIL 10. We were asked for our drink order (might I mention we were already ready to order and our server just walked away no questions asked!!?) Already infuriated, it took 15 extra minutes to get our beers, and did not receive out pizzas until 1045. Which may I mention all came at different times? What restaurant does that? Half my friends were done with their pizzas while the other half first started. No one came up to us and asked how we were doing. NOT ONCE. And I need to mention again: this place is SMALL. There were no more than 5 tables in the entire place! All servers had an unwelcoming expression on their faces. Also, the server gave us a problem when we told her WHEN WE GOT SEATED that we would like separate checks. When she went back to split our check that she brought CHARGED TOGETHER, she took her sweet time and conversed with her fellow co worker for a few minutes before returning. And thank god we know how to do our math because we were stuck splitting our own checks. Needless to say my friends and I have never received such infuriating service that is surely bound to keep us away from returning.
(1)
Rachael K.

I've been looking for a good pizza place that serves authentic, Italian style pizza with fresh ingredients. Moving from NYC, I had quite a few places. I decided to try Bricks because it had good reviews and the pictures looked decent. My sister and I were disappointed, to say the least. First of all, the Caesar salad dressing was a similar consistency to a big glob of mayonnaise. Their pizzas all seemed to have strange combos. Who puts jalapeÃ±o and pesto together? It sounded interesting, so we tried it out and it was weird. You also just couldn't taste the pesto. The crust tasted like cardboard, it was pretty hard to cut. I just wouldn't order here again. Maybe it's good for drunk people who want weird ingredients thrown together, but if you want good pizza, don't go here.
(2)
Keith A.

Well, I'm a dumbass. Bricks has been on my radar for a while and only now have I actually eaten their pie. And now, I feel like a dumbass for not eating their pizza sooner. This past saturday I finally had a chance to sample from Bricks as they are friends with the people at Domaine Wine Storage. So, we had a lot of Bricks pizza for the tasting. When I was told that, a smile was put on my face as I knew I'd finally break my Bricks cherry. Since there was a lot of pizza for a lot of people, that meant I got to try a couple of them. To start, I was a fan of everything we got (a mushroom based pizza, bbq chicken, and an assorted peppers pie), but the bbq chicken was the real star. This was the one I kept going back to along with the assorted peppers slices. These were all thin crust done in the classic Chicago thin crust pieces. I loved the crust on these. It was crisp and just really good on the whole. I need to get my own order from Bricks in the future. I'm generally a happy guy when it comes to pizza, but Bricks did it right IMO.
(4)
Ermelinda C.

We finally gave Bricks a shot this weekend. A-OK - nothing to rave home about.
(3)
Parker K.

If you've ever seen "Cheers" then you already know something or two about Bricks. This cozy basement spot has extremely friendly and prompt waitstaff by far the BEST (and I repeat, BEST) pizza in Chicago. Their East Coast style thin crust pizza is unparalleled in the city. I work in the industry and this is my spot! If you want great pizza, awesome service, and a unique atmosphere go to Bricks - Where everyone knows your name!
(5)
Anthony S.

I ordered the ditka for takeout and the 10" was more than enough. They definitely don't skimp on the amount of ingredients. I was glad to find a place that says quality, nondeep dish pizza.
(5)
Genie B.

Mmmm, Bricks is amazing. I can't write this review without wanting to go order the Sweet Heat pizza. Probably one of the best pizzas I've ever had and trust me, I know pizza! The BBQ chicken pizza is also fantastic. But, the one thing I recommend the most to anyone that wants to try it out, get the Goat Cheese appetizer. (Drool) Simply put, it's amazing. Pizza lovers should not miss this place, it's a hidden gem in Lincoln Park.
(5)
Ryan M.

Bricks is a great gem of flat, crispy, creative pizza in the deep-dish sea that is Chicago. There are plenty of options for all types of 'vores--vegetarian options, all-meat options, and something in the middle. I tried the self-titled Brickhouse (artichokes, red peppers, garlic) and was very satisfied. The beer selection is also quite good and the prices reasonable. I had two bottles along with my pizza and spent about $20. The place itself is pretty small and popular, so on weekend nights there will more likely be a wait (I went on Saturday and there would have been a wait, but I sat at the bar). The mild-mannered, bearded bartender is also pretty cool. I have no complaints whatsoever about Bricks. I have enjoyed the pizza more at one place I can think of, but it was not thin and crispy. And Bricks was just as eclectic. Also, their weekday specials are great. So do that. Right now... if it is a weekday.
(4)
Stephanie D.

Om nom nom nom. Whew. After spending a day wandering around the Art Institute, we decided to try this little place out and boy I'm soo glad we did. Tucked away in Lincoln Park, it's a great little spot that's out of the way. First off, it's divey and cool and dark and well awesome. The pesto bread was delicious. We went with the painful pizza but got it without the jalapenos. It was sooo good!!!! Holy whatever. I mean it's hard for me to say I love this pizza. But omg. I love Brick's pizza. Love. Amorous. Infatuated. It was so good from the sauce to the crust to the pepperoni (3 top things I grade). Bricks, you have made it to my top 5 pizza joints in the US. Congrats. Consider yourself lucky and I will be returning.
(5)
Vina O.

I ordered the green garden pizza (pesto sauce, mushroom, onions, sweet red peppers, fresh tomato and mozzarella) and asked if they could add pineapple. I say this with no exaggeration: this is probably the BEST thin crust pizza I've ever had in the United States. Only thin crust pizza I've had that tasted better was in Naples, Italy, but c'mon they INVENTED pizza. :P I usually discard the crust, but I seriously ate every bit of each piece of pizza. I devoured it until I could eat no more. Cheese/topping ratio to bread/crust was PERFECT. The pineapple was the best addition, since I can't get enough of the simultaneous sweet & salty in my mouth. The fresh tomato was so delicious and refreshing and the pesto sauce (instead of marinara) gave the entire pizza a unique yet delicious kick. Pizza is typically known to be heavy and greasy or unhealthy, but I totally didn't feel sick after eating this pizza. It actually tasted healthy! I want to order this again and again and again because it was just THAT good. I don't even like pizza all that much, but Bricks green garden pizza with pineapple has changed my mind. I tried my husband's painful pizza, but I didn't like it that much. Probably because I'm not a huge pepperoni fan, so I can't really dock a star for that since I'm biased. Overall, I can't wait to come back! I probably should try another type of pizza, but this was so memorable and amazing that I can't bring myself to order something else.
(5)
Casey Z.

Bricks is awesome! Their pizza is absolutely delicious and their salads are great too. They have a pesto-shrimp pizza that is unreal. My only complaint is that the restaurant kinda has a funky smell - I think it's because the restaurant is below street level.
(3)
Kori E.

The pizza was good, but the slutty ravioli is where it's at! I would definitely return.
(4)
Kyle H.

Goat cheese appetizer is a must have. Decent beer selection, and usually a few less common craft beers on draft. They have really fresh peppers, and the jalapenos are spicy but good. They load up the toppings too. The entrance is dark and damp, which gave me a bad first impression. That quickly changes when I got inside. Has a neighborhood feel and has been pretty crowded every time I've been.
(4)
Amanda B.

I went here for the first time on a whim and was very impressed. The sandwich I ordered was great. The ham and cheese was delicious and had extra elements such as onions and balsamic dressing. The location was unique and the atmosphere was cool and relaxing. I would recommend to my friends.
(5)
Luan N.

Here are my complaints about Bricks: 1. Place was way too loud! 2. Pizza took almost an hour. I met up with some friends and I was late, so they ordered before I got there. They ordered spaghetti w/ meatballs and ravioli. I just wanted to hit them on the back side of the head for not ordering pizza. When I finally got my Red Planet pizza, it was piping hot. I thought the sausage was a bit bland, and the flavors didn't quite come together for me. I actually thought the vegetarian pizza was better made. The funny thing was, I left some unfinished slices in the car, while I had one cocktail at Violet Hour. After letting the pizza sit for some time, I tried the cold pizza and it was psychedelic colors spinning in my mouth, tasted so good. However, I guess any pizza tastes great after lining your GI tract with alcohol.
(3)
Amanda N.

My favorite place for pizza! Deep dish is for tourists. Do not miss this place! Crispy thin-but-not-too-thin crust, creative topping creations, fantastic exposed-brick underground atmosphere, great beer selection. What more could you want? We have taken to making Sunday night Sweet Heat carry-out a tradition. Barbecue sauce, cheese, chicken, BACON, jalapeno -- you can't go wrong. You just can't. Other favorites are the Brickhouse -- think finely chopped artichokes as a sauce -- and the Vegetarian (with pepperoni!).
(5)
Eric M.

The first time I went to Brick's I thought the place was closed. I walked down the broken stairs and into the dripping, dark cavern to peek into a small window and see what appeared to be a dive bar. I assumed the place had gone out of business and the sign was still up. After contemplating for a couple minutes, I decided to step up and go into this odd place. The decor isn't the best, but I like that. It's old. It's traditional. It's Chicago. The beer selection is great and they pour each beer in their correct glass. The pizza is outstanding. Thin crust, good amount of cheese, and great topping choices. I strongly suggest the pesto shrimp pizza.
(5)
jenn m.

I was always a deep dish fan until I tried Bricks Pizza. (Okay I still love deep dish, but Bricks gives me a new apprication for thin crust pies). Ive eaten at this restaurant several times and its always a great bite. They have an array of specialty pizzas - "The popeye" - my fav, "the Ditka" etc. And if you like to keep things simple you can create your own pizza and select the toppings you would like to enjoy. Not to one up the pizzas, but their beer and wine menu is pretty extensive! Maudite, Chimay White, Spaten Oktoberfest, Celebration Ale (While in season) and many other unique favorites. Beers you will not find here: coors light and corona, although they do carry miller and bud light (gross!). I love the atmosphere - its quite different being a basement restaurant. You walk down steps into a little common area that bricks pizza and katacomb (an adjacent night club) share. The music is great too and so is the staff! Friendly, helpful and orderly.
(5)
Kathy B.

Bricks is our favorite pizza in the city, which is no small accomplishment. They have unusual ingredients and their goat cheese app is pretty darn tasty. Our favorite is the Painful, but we've never had a bad pie. The atmosphere is definitely cozy and bar like -- the first time you visit you might be freaked out by the entrance. Highly recommended.
(5)
Carolynne M.

I thought this place was totally beatnik-cool. I could totally see the likes of Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs huddling in a dark corner writing the poetry that defined a generation. Or how about Nelson Algren, Carl Sandburg,and Upton Sinclair talking loudly about writing styles and politics over shots of whiskey? Its the kind of place that has this aura of being infamous, famous and unknown all at the same time. Down a few steps into this catacomb-like, dim sub level of a building, the only light eminates from a red neon sign. Had there been no awning boldly declaring this location is correct, you would be slightly worried at this point. But enter through the door to your right and suddenly you are in this warm, low-ceilinged space with dark walls and an inviting bar area. The walls are enshrined with photos of Keith Richards and Mike Ditka (which has single-handedly catapulted this tiny Lincoln Park spot into BF's top three restaurants. Ever.) The waitress was pleasant and helpful, but never annoying. Beer orders came out in seconds, and the ensuing order of caesar salad and pizza (painful, of course, how can you go wrong with a name like that! ingredients: spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) arrived with little wait. And it did not disappoint, I say if your dinner doesnt put up a fight while eating it, then its not worth eating. haha. When we arrived, the place was almost empty, but filled up by the time we were leaving. I was impressed by how varied the clientele was, a little bit of every background, ethnicity and age was represented there. However, I was a bit alarmed at the sizeable number of children that appeared, I do not know if this was an anomaly or not for this particular night. But this place being a bar first and foremost it seemed a bit odd. I really liked this place, but beware it is located in an area that is not all the best to find parking. It is also very small so if you come during peak hours you might be out of luck in getting a table. It is an awesome reminder of how Chicago used to be. Definitely try it for the pizza first, cool hep-cat interior second.
(4)
melissa r.

Incredibly awesome.
(5)
Benny T.

Wow I'm surprised at the number of bad reviews this place received, maybe you got them on a bad night or maybe you're just stank b*tches ha jk kinda! First off how can you wrong with a place that has the word 'catacombs' attached to it? Currently Brick's has my favorite place for pizza in city of wind! They have an array of topping combinations (can't find their website right now for specifics) for meat eaters as well as vegetarians and cooked to a crispy perfection. Its one step up from paper-thin and one notch down from overly cheesy soggy like many of the ho hum pizzas in the city that will leave you with boo boo tummy. The place itself will probably be busy, but once you're inside you won't mind hanging out. Get a beer at the bar; they have just about everything you could ask for. They can accommodate a large group; just make sure you call ahead obviously. Haven't had one complaint the couple times I've been there over the past year and this was on very busy nights too. BTW: Parking around here is pretty much Russian roulette (aka Lincoln Park) so maybe take the fine CTA system or cross your toes you'll find something, it's really worth it.
(5)
Steve J.

First off, I'll start by saying that I'm a complete pizza snob, I rarely eat pizza I like. But I finally found a pizza in the city of Chicago that I like! Bricks is a cozy place with a nice bar and atmosphere. You can sit at tables or at the bar and eat a well-deserved pie for a sweet ass price, a pie that isn't 2 inches think and filled with 20 random ingredients and enough cheese to stop you from shatting for a month! Congrats to you Bricks, for not jumping the Chicago-style bandwagon and giving us a taste of something you can pick up and hold. Pizza is something you pick up and eat with your hands, if your need a fork and knife, you probably shouldn't be calling it pizza. Also a great spot to start off your evening if you're hitting somethin' up at Park West, lord knows every other bar in that area is total crap.
(5)
Sam M.

I've been here twice and I'm pretty sure I can hand out a 4 star review. I was a little on the fence about 3 v. 4, but I will give them the benefit of the doubt. The first time i came here it was absolutely excelent. Great Beer, Amazing pizza (got a special one of the day) and really neat atmosphere. We were seated fast and service was top notch. It was Black Wednesday though, so a lot of people weren't out for Pizza that night. The secon time i came with a larger group on a Saturday, but were seated quickly even though we showed up well before our reservation. The food was just as excelent (Ditka) tried even more beers and that should have been it. The service thoughw as atrocious. The waitress came by maybe once every 15-20 minutes which isn't good for a 1 hour dinner. She would have done well to keep coming by as we were thirsty and that juste = better tip. She then gave out the wrong pizza's to the wrong parts of the table w/out clarify which is which and then told us we have to get up because another party was coming in and they needed that table. I'm going to assume that in the 2 months since then, they've fired her and things are all back to normal. I will be back shortly so we'll see if they can keep that 4th star i guess.
(4)
Not J B.

Nice atmosphere. It's kinda small though for all I've heard about the place but then again, it didn't blow me away like I heard it's supposed to. I did enjoy what I ordered though (especially the baked goat cheese) and felt that I got a good amount of food for the money I paid. Great jukebox and that Pope John Paul II head over the bar scares the hell out of me.
(3)
Escape C.

I am obsessed with Bricks Pizza. I used to go a lot more often, back in the days when it was one of the only places in town where you could get Fat Tire beer. With that being said, obviously the place has good taste. It truly is just amazingly delicious pizza. My two favs, the popeye (spinach & garlic galore) and the painful (spicy pepperoni, tons of onion and jalapeno) literally have you CRAVING for them!! Once you have this pizza, you'll be hooked! Just damn good pizza!!
(5)
jay d.

Hell of a thin crust pizza and good draft beers (would it hurt you to throw on one more cool local craft brew?). kind of a weird basement vibe.
(4)
Steve B.

I'm a fan. I live right around the corner, and my wife and I will generally stop in here if we're walking out to pizza. The atmosphere always seems to be upbeat, and I feel as though a majority of the people in the crowd are regulars - giving an inviting, familiar feel. I saw the bit about the Petaluma Club and I have to say that it's been my favorite choice. It's true, it's not a traditional pizza, but it has great flavor. I also appreciate that they have Stella on tap. I'd definitely recommend calling ahead as well, the waiting area can be a bit cramped.
(5)
Rebecca C.

If you love Pizza, but prefer a nice crisp crust over the traditional Chicago style --- then Brick's is your place! Brick's is quite possibly my favorite pizza spot and definitely my favorite Chicago haunt. Each time I walk down the steps and into exposed brick establishment, I feel like I've been transformed back into the days of Al Capone and the Chicago speakeasy scene. They have a great beer selection (with specials each day) and a menu of 10 or so specialty pizzas. My favorite is the Painful, a definite for those that like it HOT! Others I frequent include the Green Godess, the Ditka & the Bezerkly. Also, if you are looking for an appetizer - both the garden salad and the goat cheese marinara are must haves. Just beware, the goat cheese dish it enormous, enough to feed 5. Brick's is a must hit for every true Chicagoan (and even the wannabes)! Delivery: Yes, but only to a select portion of Lincoln Park.
(5)
Michelle Marie R.

I think Bricks is Fantastic! Thinking about it is actually making me hungry! Fabulous place to hang with friends and great food!
(5)
Amanda B.

Love this place! It's my husband's and my favorite pizza in the city by far!! The ambiance is great too. Totally low key with a fun speakeasy feel to it. Definitely a locals place!
(5)
Laura G.

Bricks is one of my favorite spots in the neighborhood and I love coming here with my dad or a good friend or two. Combine their unique menu with a great beer selection and a very cozy atmosphere and you have the perfect spot for a nice, low-key dinner that won't set you back a ton of money. I also like to convince myself that their special part-whole-wheat thin crust is somehow "healthy"... They are cool about splitting a pizza between two different types which I appreciate. My current favorite combo is the 1/2 popeye, 1/2 mean green (the painful with pesto sauce instead of tomato...spicy but SO good!). They do deliver, but then you miss out on the beer and the ambiance, so I try to dine in when possible.
(5)
Charlotte Y.

I have one reason why I frequent this place - my husband loves it. I don't really know what the draw is to be quite honest. Yes, the beer list is quite good (nice list of belgiums) and... the divey atmosphere, although repulsive to some, is actually kinda cool (from a anti-establishment sort of perspective) and... yes, years ago, there was apparently a really really good thai restaurant in the space. But, even assuming all those pluses, the pizza cannot be redeemed. It's ok - dry from my perspective (literally, not figuratively). Somehow, though, my husband (whose had great pizzas from his hometown (the Bronx) and in his travels (think - all over Europe)) seems to think this is a decent place. So, we go from time to time. Personally, though, between the dry pizza and very much indifferent level of service, I'd prefer to be elsewhere when dining here.
(2)
rachel d.

Awesome pizza! I try to stay away from ordering an app, salad, and an entree but it is impossible to resist here! Warm toasty garlic cheese bread, one of the best ceasar salads I've ever had, and the red planet pizza- yummm! The "painful" is a must try too if you are a lover of food with a kick. The speciality beers are a great addition. Very reasonable prices. The short wait for a table is well worth it.
(5)
Brutus B.

I was born on Gino's East and being as stubborn and stupid as I am, it will probably be my favorite until I die. Yet there still is some room for honorable mention, or I guess a separate award for thin crust, if so this is the Gold medal of thin crust. Calling it thin crust doesn't give it justice though, it's easily bigger than any hand tossed you'll get from the major delivery guys. There's just tons of toppings that make this my favorite thin crust in recent history. So far I've tried the Ditka (lotsa meat, lotsa cheese), a pepperoni pizza, and numerous sausage pizzas. I've honestly loved ALL of them. The crust has a smokey/slightly burnt bottom to it that I always enjoy in a pizza, just adds a little accent to the already great toppings. I know they have some Calif-Pizza-Kitchen-esque type ones like a BBQ chicken and creole shrimp pizzas, but I can't mess with a good thing, not just yet. Surprisingly I haven't actually eaten inside this place yet, just carry-out, but I figure the food is the first thing people look for in a restaurant review. The substance of the business, not the aesthetics.
(5)
Joy S.

Yummy! Super fast delivery. Extra tasty pizza.
(4)
Garrett T.

Solid beer selection, epic, affordable thin crust pies, very chill atmosphere. By far the best of its kind in the city.
(5)
Dave A.

best non-deep dish pizza in the city. and a good beer selection to boot. actually bricks somehow served new belgium beer before it was legally allowed to be served in chicago. when we asked the bartender how they did that, he smiled and said that they bootlegged it up from STL. that hopefully gives you an idea of how seriously they take their beer. and they take their pizza just as seriously. very unique styles of pizza, but all delicious. service is enh...and you will likely wait in line, but it's always worth the wait.
(5)
Alan W.

The garlic shrimp rocks! Great hearty pizza, like how they cut it up into squares!
(4)
lesley s.

This place was awesome. I walk by it all the time, but had never contemplated going in until we had some time to kill before a show at Park West. I know the Yelp reviews are sort of all over the place, but I would definitely recommend giving Bricks a shot. Don't be discouraged by the dark, winding alley entrance -- we were confused at first too. And yes, it's dark inside and sends you a bit back in time, but the pizza rocked my world. Added bonus: very affordable! We had the garlic bread with cheese, 2 Stellas, and split a 10" pizza and the bill came to $25 including tip. We'll probably head back soon on a Tuesday so we can take advantage of the 1/2 off wine bottles!
(5)
J R.

I LOVE THIS PLACE!!! A++++ on pizza. This place was suggested to my boyfriend and I as we do not like Chicago style pizza. We tried it in January and have returned EVERY Thursday since. The pizza is to die for. We are skinny and we can put away a large together. We always order the Painful. It has jalapenos, spicy pepperoni, fresh basil, and cheese. The sauce is amazing and the crust is so crispy. Overall, amazing pizza. Thursdays are my favorite day of the week. I crave this pizza all week. The ambiance of the place is great. It is dim and in a basement. It is a mix of restaurant and bar style. There is always a game on tv and a lot of regulars come in it seems. I love the $4 fat tires on Thursday. You can't beat that price. It can be difficult to get a table on Thursday nights so we just sit at the bar because it is spacious. We might start making reservations as well. The server knows what we order usually so it's nice. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. Best Pizza in Chicago!
(5)
Virginia T.

I haven't been to Bricks in a while and I'm disappointed to have to drop it a star. They used to have Strongbow, and now have Original Sin. They used to be more generous with the toppings (especially the cheese). And most damning of all....the crust used to be much thinner and crispier. I still had a good time, the wait staff was awesome, the prices weren't THAT much higher, and it was still good, but it wasn't AS great. P.S. After looking for parking for 45min, the waitress told us you can valet at Rocco's (just down the block) and walk over.
(4)
Ben R.

Stop reading this..... seriously, just go.
(5)
Kristin S.

Mmm, been here twice now and came away with a belly full of delicious beer and delicious-er pizza. 4.5 stars if I could give it. Only half a star off because it's a teeny bit pricier than I like to pay for beer and pizza, but still awesome. I love the dark, catacomby atmosphere and I can totally see how someone could miss the place since you have to walk downstairs and through another door that has the look of an abandoned restaurant. Don't let it fool you, though. Go in! Have some incredible craft beer and craft pizza. I love interesting flavor combos on my pizzas, so that's why this place is perfect for me. The creole shrimp pizza was so interesting and fun. The Red Planet pizza and BBQ chicken pizza are also amazingly good. Service has always been stellar and attentive. The servers also give good reco's on pizza sizes for groups and flavors you might like. I appreciate that. My friends' live around the corner, so I'll be back with them as much as possible.
(4)
Blake M.

As a pizza lover, I feel that Chicago is surprisingly lacking in the thin crust department. Thank you, Bricks. After you walk down the stairs into the subterranean cave and open the door to Bricks, the first thing you notice is the dark, slightly dingy bar with the a small tv overheard. You ask yourself, am I in the right place? Yes, you have entered into the world of Bricks, and the sooner you let go of your preconceived notions as to what a great pizza place should be, the longer you will have to enjoy the great, unique pizzas and awesome beer selection. Although few, the appetizers and salads are tasty and a good start if you absolutely cannot wait for your pizza to arrive. But do not fill up or you will regret it. My favorite pizzas are the mean green (pesto sauce, jalepaÃ±os, garlic, pepperoni, and onions) and the popeye (fresh spinach, tomatoes, roasted garlic, tomato sauce, and feta). Of course, after going there so many times, I have started to get my own - pesto sauce, goat cheese, pepperoni, spinach, and mushrooms - yum! The beer selection puts Bricks over the top. I hate going to a pizza place and all they have are yellow fizzy watery beers (Coors, Miller, Bud). They have Duvel, Chimay, Tripel Karmeliet, and Westmalle, none for more than $6 if you go on Mondays, when they have discount beers. And for those a little bit less into the craft beer, they have the fizzy stuff too. A couple of recommendations: I like the pesto sauce a lot better than the tomato, and unless you want to wait an hour for a table, head there during the week or get carry out/ delivery. Better yet, go on Monday and have a few great beers.
(5)
tatiana c.

My favorite thin crust pizza in the city. Discovering this place was no small feat! I can't tell you how many shoddy thin crusts I have had to endure until we found this place! Usually a post St. Michael's Sunday night Mass tradition, we always quickly get seated and always leave happy. Small, dark and cozy. Love this place!
(5)
Nick S.

This is my favorite Pizzeria in Chicago. I love the wheat crust and the artichoke puree sauce. Bricks definitely has the cool factor. It's in the basement of the building and the entrance is in the back of the building through a narrow walk way. Also, one of the best beer lists in the city. This place servers my favorite beer of all time, La Fin Du Monde. It's French for "the end of the world." The only downside I can think of is the parking situation, but that's every restaurant in this area.
(5)
Matthew A.

Great selection of beers. Great selection of pizzas. I usually go on a weeknight when it is not very crowded, perhaps that is why I have a more favorable opinion.
(4)
A C.

For ambiance, it's hard to top Bricks. Small and cozy, this below street level establishment has the look and feel of a classy lounge while conveying a sense of warmth and casualness. Great place to stay and have a couple of drinks before or after your meal. There's a separate bar area, complete with television so you don't have to miss a game. My boyfriend and I started off with the garlic cheese bread. I wasn't impressed. It tasted the same as something Chicago's or Renalli's pizza would deliver. My boyfriend got the Ditka, a pizza full of meat and it smelled amazing and he said it was. I forget what I had, but it sounded promising: artichoke sauce, roasted garlic and red peppers and mozzarella. It wasn't. The crust I found very bland and the ingredients on the pie tasteless. I'd recommend Bricks for ambiance and experience, but if you want great pizza, I might consider going elsewhere.
(3)
Ms T.

Took my friend here last night because he wanted "thin crust pizza". The fool! To come to Chicago and make that request! Off with this Dutch tongue... Still, he was the guest so his wish was my command. Wasn't very busy for Wednesday night. Interior seemed like a hole in the wall. Very tiny. It was dark, but I wouldn't say romantic but then again I'm a crabby old fart without an iota of romance in my heart so many the dark lighting was lost on me. Ordered the goat cheese and marinara appitizer... What a disappointment!! Was a huge bowl of prego with some goat cheese mixed in here and there. I also had the house salad which was limp and dripping in oil. My friend enjoyed his pizza but he's Dutch and asking for thin crust in Chicago so what does he know? ;p I wouldn't recommend this place. I've had better thin crust in Chicago and this place isn't it. (Yes, I had a bite of his pizza so that I could make a legitimate review. )
(2)
Kristin C.

Bricks is not in a house. But it would be a lot cooler if it was because then I could make up some clever little song to the tune of the Commodores (love them) classic ditty. . .oh well. To get right down on it, Bricks rivals Piece as my favorite un-Chicago pizza joint. In the end, Piece wins by a slice but I am not sure if this is because the wait there is usually so long that the whole "alas! food" thing comes into play. The scene at Bricks is dark and cozy - pretty small so there may be a wait. Last time I went I ordered the mixed green salad (not as good as Piece's similar salad) and a large PAINFUL pizza. Painful? No. Delicious? Yes. Love the fresh jalapenos, garlic, pepperonis, everything - MWAH! So good. Damn good pizza in fact. The beer selection is fancy pants and a little pricey. They take $2 off the most expensive brews on Mondays and Tuesdays thus making these beverages about the same price as the others. I had wine and found the selection to be average. But good pizza is good pizza. And Bricks has that going on. I had been wanting to revisit for a while know and I'm glad I did. Shake it down, shake it down now . . .
(4)
Phil A.

Ahhh the Brick I have been going there since back when they were the only place in Chicago that I could find that served Fat Tire Beer. But what could be a better end to st pats day. If you go - I suggest the sweet heat pizza and a fat tire beer - and if you have already had a few to drink and are over 6' tall - watch your head as one guy in our group who woke up with a nice memento on his forehead will tell you. (Edit: apparently my spelling doesn't get better with alcohol- its sweet heat - hopefully there is no "sweat" on it)
(5)
Shannon H.

Great thin pizzas. Good friendly service. A good choice of foods incase you are there with a group & are not in the mood for their pizzas! Pricea are cheap, especially if you split the cost of a pizza with someone. Cozy little place located in the basement area, just follow the steps down under their sign.
(4)
Jeff G.

We showed up on the spot on new years day and they were able to cram all eight of us into a corner table for a roaring good time. Amazing pizza - mostly unique - decently fast, satiating salads and a solid selection of beers. The service people were attentive but not obtrusive and the atmosphere was vivacious. All in all a good find, make sure to make reservations for larger groups and know you have to wonder beneath the encompassing building to find the place.
(5)
Katie W.

Ate here for the first time this week and I'm not sure how I had never been here before. The thin crust pizza was amazing! We ordered the baked goat cheese as an appetizer and it was good, similar to all of the other restaurants that now have it on the menu. I definitely recommend ordering the largest size to take home any leftovers for a great lunch/breakfast later. We ordered a large red planet pizza (sausage, red pepper, purple onion, goat cheese, tomato sauce, and mozzarella) and one green garden (pesto sauce, mushroom, onions, sweet red peppers, fresh tomato, and mozzarella) pizza. Both were amazing. Not sure why everyone is complaining about the appetizers and salads. This is a pizza joint so why are you coming here for something other than that?? I will say that there was only one waitress serving the small dining room but I was in no rush. I also found out that they do deliver but have been told it is a little on the slow side. Either way, I'm definitely coming back to try more pizza combinations.
(4)
Scott F.

This is some good pizza. You can not call yourself a man until you have had the Ditka. I recommend always ordering a larger size, because you wiill want to take some home. I moved too far away to walk here, but I still have their number in my mobile to squash those hunger pains. Took a star off because I wish they had more choices of appetizers. And the salad was average.
(4)
Amy L.

Bricks was great....I went here with my sister and her husband while visiting Chicago. We started off with the garlic bread and the caprese salad...which was yum and perfect to split with 3 people. Then we ordered two pizzas...the spinach and the BBQ...both were awesome. I really like the underground atmosphere of the place too and we were seated right away. I definitely recommend this place!!!
(4)
Alan T.

I am a Chicago native and I weep for everyday that I went on my daily routine and did not know about Bricks. Their beer selection is very nice... five or six well selected drafts and a nice bottled beer list that includes some fabulous Belgian beers alongside worthy North American micros. The atmosphere is dark, cozy, and inviting with lots of exposed brick and low ceilings. It's in the basement of an apartment building - but don't let that scare you off! The service is always friendly and prompt. Most importantly, the food is simply fantastic. Their Goat Cheese Marinara is delightful (a huge portion too), and their salads are fantastic. The house salad and the caprese salad are both out of this world. Of course, the one thing I must rave about is the Pizza. This is one of the best places for pizza in Chicago. If you love pizza, you simply must stop in and try Bricks. One of the best I've ever eaten anywhere. I just wish I had discovered it sooner! Oh - and if you're tall like me - watch your head!!! The low ceilings are charming, but can be rather painful if you're not paying attention.
(5)
Eldiva S.

Was told to check it out for a non Chicago style pizza-was a little scared to go in! Split a BBQ chicken pizza-tasty blend of tang and sweetness thanks to the tomato sauce & BBQ sauce combo. Liked the use of Gouda as it gave it a nice smokey flavor & added to the flavor layering...Chicken was good clean white meat-kinda tasty alone - bet better with the pizza! The crust - one of the better ones I have had in this city...not too thin or too crisp-wasn't totally bland either.... 22 bucks for a 14 inch is steep- but 2 of us ate and we were full-so all in all it was actually a cheap dinner for us! Next time I must try the plain cheese pizza-I am a "pizza purist" and it is the best way to tell if it is indeed good pizza period! So this is to be continued-but for now one of my favorite pizzas in this city...worth a try for sure if you are looking for anti-Chicago pizza.
(4)
Katrina B.

I like the pizza here. I don't like Chicago style pizza, I do like this kind of thin crust pizza and they have several different combination pizzas on the menu. So Brick's sounds like a good idea almost any time I crave pizza. The salads and garlic bread are fine, but it's because of their pizza that I would go out of my way to come here and eat. I've always found the ingredients to be flavorful and well balanced and the crust is a nice thickness for the loads of stuff they put on it. I do have to admit that they seem a little pricey for the size, but it's worth it to me.
(4)
Karen L.

Brick's is a fun place for a casual night out! The pizza is also pretty good! My boyfriend loves this place and introduced me to it and swears by the Painful. The Painful is good... but I can only eat a couple since it truly is painful with the jalapenos on there! Their crust is thin and crispy and they also have a decent beer list. I would definitely recommend it if you have never been there before!
(4)
John J.

This is my favorite place to get pizza when we're in Chicago, which is not often enough. The thin crust is crisp, the sauce is thick, and the toppings, well, just try the Ditka. Also, who can review Bricks without talking about the great beer selection.
(5)
Melissa W.

Far be it from me to be contradictory, but Brick's is just not, as its sign claims, the best pizza in the world. And, for me at least, it's good, but not great. The atmosphere is dark and funky--promising of some memorable morsels--but, like a tone-deaf child of musical parents, the pizza fell flat based on expectations (Was that a contrived analogy or what?). And then there's the fact that we waited over an hour before we could even smell it. And I was really hungry. And I'm a cranky hungry. And it wasn't even crowded. And our server was so markedly indifferent to our cause--which was to eat, as promised, as hyped, nothing less than the best pizza in the world!! I'd tone down the monumental claim myself if I were the manager. But even if the sign read "the 2nd best pizza in the world," I'd still head over to the Oven Grinder first (it's just a hop and a jump--no skip--away).
(3)
Sunny W.

Yum! I enjoyed this place. I like that its hidden in some basement...somehow it just works. It seems very Chicago to me and I am not from Chicago. Back in the days before I had ever been here I believe I would have imagined that Chicagoans would go to a place like this. Ok, thats kind of random. In any case the house salad was a very good salad. The olives were delicous and it had the right amount of blue cheese and dressing. All of the pizza's look really good. Ours was great. I especially like the way the edge of the pizza is kind of burnt a little. I'd say the pizza style is a little bit rustic but very tasty and satisfying if you are hungry. Beer selection is good too. This is weird but I really liked that the place is kind of small. See I am very petite and so in the bathroom I felt tall because when I looked in the mirror I could see from my waist up and usually I can only see my face. Guys will like that you can watch the game there too at the bar.
(5)
blake d.

Love this place...High scores on: Food- the pizza here is great. It's not chicago style, more california, but very tasty, piping hot, and innovative. Atmosphere- Bricks has lots of bricks. It's in the basement of an old chicago apt building, and has brick "archways" separating the bar from the dining area. It's small, and dimly lit, but lively. The Zig-Zag man on the wall near the bathroom is sweet, as is Keith Richards. Beer- They had fat tire before anyone, other than those of us fortunate enough to spend lots of time in colorado, knew about it. They've always had belgian beer available and good beers on tap (sierra nevada seasonal et al.)
(5)
Kavitha J.

Boy is this place gross. This is cafeteria pizza - for $17 a pie! yuck.
(1)
Dom G.

This place has everything going for it except that it's in Lincoln Park. But believe me it's well worth it. Great pizza, Perfect Ambiance, and Good beer.
(4)
Jessica K.

Like many fellow yelpers, Bricks is my favorite thin crust pizza in Chicago. Being born and raised in pie-town, that's a pretty tall statement. Is it the variety of toppings placed on pies combinations that don't sound good but explode with awesomeness in your mouth that makes it good? Is it the crispy thin crust that doesn't take away from the flavors of the pizza? Is it the great beer selection? Perhaps its the cozy atmosphere in the basement that makes you feel like you are in on one hell of a tasty secret? For any or all of those reasons, is why I love Bricks. Kind of pricey for a pizza considering what the actual price to make one, but willing to splurge for the unique and tasty flavors of Bricks any time I get that craving.
(5)
Alfredo L.

I am lucky to check this place out on a Tuesday because it has a special on 1/2 off on all wine bottles, not bad for wine drinker over every meal like me. Though seriously I am there for pizza. It might be tricky to find this place since it is located in the basement next to Katacomb. There are seatings by the bar, I opt for dinning room section instead. The place is dimly lit w/ intimate and inviting feel. I could sense there are plenty of regulars there and partially new comers (like me) trying out this place. Maybe I was very hungry but I ate most of the sliced butter bread that came with goat cheese ordered on appetizer. I only had BBQ chicken on a 12" pizza twice so far, I love the toppings and the sauce on the thin crust that might be slightly burnt on the edge. The sauce might be a bit too thick and sweet for some but I love it. I do agree with other reviewers and add that if the thin crust edge isn't stiffen and just bricked slight less than usual, I think the crust could turn out to be softer and perfect for the overall pizza experience. But if you were hungry like me all the time, pizza like this wouldn't bother anyone. Service is decent and prompt, there seems to be only one waitress and one buser on Tuesday night. Since this place is not decor to be a fine dining rather a chill relaxing not-so-intimidating environment, it makes me feel easy-go with just about everything there. One thing gives plus about this place is the price, affordably cheap for a dinner out. 1/2 off Tuesday on all wine bottles, not a bad deal. If splitting a 12" or 14" pizza with someone w/ an appetizer, the price runs down to less than $20/person, not bad either.
(4)
Jason P.

This place is a nice change of pace pizza place when you are craving thin crust pizza. They also have a large beverage list that is sure to please. We figured that we had to try some of the specialty pizzas as that is what they are known for. The popeye was good with spinach, garlic, tomato and feta. The menu is really simple as pizza is basically the only thing on there.
(3)
John H.

The pizza is interesting and unique. The barbequed-chicken-flavored thin crust was amazing. However, we brought our daughter and so she ordered the '"kid's meal" spaghetti and meat balls. The meat balls were too rubbery, and not meaty and juicy like they should be. Besides being too spicy for a seven-year-old to handle. Brick's needs to work on the kid's meals or just say they don't have them.
(4)
Garrett J.

If you're looking for amazing thin crust, this is your best bet. As a person who grew up on thin crust pizza, I am very picky about the quality of my pizza, and Brick's has never disappointed. Their ingredients are extremely fresh and the crust is always cooked perfectly. The only reason I'm giving it 4 starts and not 5 is that I don't frequently dine-in, so I can't speak to the service. But in terms of quality, you can't beat this place.
(4)
Alexis H.

Eh, I'm just not that impressed with Bricks. Many people have recommended it to me, but I didn't think it was worth all the talk. My roommates and I ordered a large pizza with pepperoni, 1/2 spinach and 1/2 banana peppers. The ingredients were fresh, and the sauce had a definite kick to it, creating an overall great flavor. However, the crust was thin, but not crisp as I expected. Even the small slices were folding and losing their toppings. Plus, the pizza was already cold when we got it. If you're gonna offer delivery, at least do it right. Major negative points for that. Since we had the pizza delivered, the 14 inch pizza ended up running over $28 after delivery fees and tip. That's just way too much for a smallish pizza with only 2 toppings. Even if we ate at Bricks, the pizza would have been $21 before tax and tip, so either way, it's a pretty crappy deal. I'd rather go with Homemade Pizza or a place that doesn't have a $3.50 delivery fee.
(2)
Erin T.

The atmosphere here is terrific. I love the down in the basement, cozy feel. It's almost like a speakeasy. The pizza is pretty good too. Its thin crust and they have pretty unique options. We have eaten at a regular table as well as at the bar. In both situations, the service was really good. I think it's a good date spot or a good place to bring out of towners.
(4)
Peter B.

I give this place 4 stars for winning the gold medal in gourmet pizza. Don't come expecting "old faithful" pepperoni and sausage-- have fun with the pizzas you order- and you will appreciate the different flavors you can get! If Ian's pizza is the redheaded bastard pot-smoking stepchild of non-traditional pizza, then Brick's is the older brother that went to culinary school. If you don't come here with someone who's ben here before, you really, honestly, might not find it, because its literally in a dungeon. They have a fantastic microbrew selection that goes well with your pizza. The Painful pizza is actually painful unless you get enough water!
(4)
Emily P.

I was introduced to Bricks through a friend's birthday dinner and have returned twice since. They have some really unique pizza combinations not to mention a great beer selection. Not only has the pizza won me over, though- the ambiance is cozy, inviting, and even a bit romantic (although not exclusively). And who doesn't appreciate a good handwritten tab? Although it's not exactly in my neck of the woods, it's a place I always look forward returning to.
(4)
Jeff K.

I have a love/hate relationship with Bricks. I love the pizzas, but hate that I cannot stop myself from eating a whole one every time I visit. Seriously. I'm a Chicago-style thick pizza guy, but will happily eat thin crust if that's what the majority (or the girlfriend) wants. Bricks is thin crust..but so much more! This isn't your typical pepperoni/onions/green peppers place. Bricks has a bunch of ingredient configurations, most of which you definitely won't see at a normal pizza joint. The atmosphere is nice, too. Got a chuckle from Mary's description as "the catacombs". Spot on!
(5)
Holly C.

I was so ready to fall in love with this place - I didn't. There was nothing wrong with it. The food was pretty good, the service was good, the price was okay. There are enough great pizza places in Chicago that I don't want to settle for "okay". In my opinion, for the best thin crust in Chicago look no further than Spacca Di Napoli on Sunnyside Ave...
(3)
Eddie H.

best thin crust in chicago!!
(4)
Claire L.

Bricks will soon become your favorite Chicago pizza. That is, if you prefer Neopolitan style, with quality ingredients and a real atmosphere. The beer menu is great, making dining in just as fun as picking up. Try it! Deep dish is for tourists!
(5)
Amy R.

Don't be thrown off by the basement setting and the low-level lighting when you enter. This is a great place to go for thin-crust pizza, and the extensive beer menu will probably please anyone in your group of friends. The staff was attentive and catered to our indecisiveness, helping us choose pizzas that she thought we'd like. And she did a damn fine job, too. The BBQ Chicken was amazing, as was The Painful. It's a great place to go on a cold night, or even to order from on a hot summer evening!
(5)
Ang R.

I'd much rather order this than any other thin crust pizza in the city. I'm not a huge fan of tomato sauce, either, so the fact that a couple of the pizzas don't have it makes me very happy. We tried two--the Brickhouse and a plain pepperoni--and liked both very much. And while I could probably eat more than half a 10" on my own, if you add a salad or an app., you could easily save half a pizza for lunch the next day. It is pricey, I can't deny that. I think it's worth it, though, because of how lovely the crust is, and how nice the toppings are. I'm very appreciative of what this place is doing, and I can't wait to try the Mean Green and one of the BBQ-sauce pizzas.
(5)
Andrea R.

I never thought I was a pizza person...and then I met Bricks. Wow, sign me up for this pizza any night of the week...sooo worth the calories! I'm sure all their pizzas are incredible, but I haven't made it past the "painful" pizza because it's too good to try anything else!
(5)
Katie R.

I think most of the greatness of this place is lost on me. I don't generally like thin pizza and I tend to like very few toppings. I honestly don't have much to say about it - kind of dark and cozy (although our table had a pretty cold draft). Pizza tasted ok (cheese + garlic) but wasn't anything i would go back for..
(2)
W. E.

For years I have run by this place and never taken the plunge to step inside as the exterior is uninviting, yet mysterious...but after hearing endless statements that Brick's boasts the "very best" thin crust pizza in chicago, I could not resist. We arrived on a busy friday and were initially told we would have to wait over an hour for a table, but the smell of freshly baked pizza and tall glasses of draft beer made me believe that this would be worth the wait. And to our surprise, the hostess grabbed us within 15 minutes to surprise us with a table in the back. The setting is intimate with dark lighting and you truly feel like you are in an underground cave. The waitress was wonderful in offering several samples of the different beers on tap before I settled on the Unibroue Maudite - delicious. We had a difficult time choosing our pizzas as everything on the menu looked so unique and appetizing, but we went with the "Sweet Heat" and the "Painful" both utilizing the jalapeno at its finest. The sweet heat was full of flavor with chunky bits of bacon, chicken, red onions - you can never go wrong with bacon! I think we needed one of our pizzas to be tamer because by the end of the meal our mouths were on fire, but its rare to find such good heat in pizza. We will be back!
(4)
G N.

Delicious thin crust. Love the brick walls, dark lighting and super nice wait staff. Amazing beer selection. Great for a chill dinner with friends. There can be a wait on a Fri/Sat night, but generally worth it.
(5)
Todd S.

My favorite pizza joint in Lincoln Park. Love their "Painful Pizza" (pepperoni, jalapenos, garlic, etc). Super casual, fantastic beer list and tap.
(4)
Brynna P.

It sort of infuriates me to give this place 4 stars. It's overpriced, bottom line is no large pizza should really cost me $27. Every time I get ready to order pizza, I contemplate other places to get quality non-deep dish and hit yelp for places nearby, every.damn.time. Here's the thing, Bricks is delicious and I always come back to it. The dough is substantial and holds weight without being chewy or too dense. The sauce is excellent, has some spice and zing. In short, I don't order it often, but I never regret it when I do.
(4)
Angie S.

I went on a first date here. It was probably one of the worst dates I've ever been on, but I would do it all over again for the beer selection and the amazing pizza. So thank you to what's your face for taking me here!
(5)
Annie T.

Fresh basil adds a star for me. We got DA DITKA and savored every last bite. I'm ready to go back and try out some other pizzas. I came into Bricks with high expectations and they were met. The only thing I can bitch and moan about is the slooooow service. My friend sat there with an empty diet coke for the 2nd half of the meal. We got over it and indulged in our scrumptious 20'' pizza.
(4)
MsAnthro P.

I sort of regret that my first Bricks pizza was the Petaluma Club rather than a more traditional pizza. It was okay, but the sauce was very sweet and thick and sort of seemed like little more than tomato paste. I found the prices a little high for the quality of the product, but I was a fan of the crisp thin crust. The reviews here are pretty favorable, so I might give it another shot.
(3)
Rebecca S.

Bricks might be my favorite pizza ever. I think the painful is my favorite of my favorites - pepperoni and jalapeno, yum - but it's also great with pesto instead of tomato sauce (aka the mean green). Other delicious pizzas include the popeye, red planet, and the berzerkley. The house salad is also yummy with blue cheese, olives, and roasted red peppers. I usually get take out, but when I eat in, I make sure to get one of their many delicious beers. It's definitely more of an artsy pizza place, but for me, the more unique pizza ingredients the better. If you haven't tried it yet, do it now.
(5)
Paraisia W.

Awesome pizza. Great combinations and reasonable prices. Best flavor of any pizza that claims to be the best in Chicago
(5)
Nicolas M.

the pizza: a friend and i split a 14" cheese topped with tomatoes. tomatoed generously. cheese was good and digestible; not rubbery like many other pizzas. sauce was just the right degree of sweet and tangy; not too sweet, mind you, and not over-seasoned. so far, so good... until you get to the crust. it's a cracker crust -- albeit a relatively "good" cracker crust -- which is so loathsome among pizza purists. pizza is fundamentally bread, not toppings. and this crust had an unpleasant texture and was fairly bland. they did bake the pizza well with some tomato sauce charring for a better taste and didn't leave it an uncooked disc of mush like so many places tend to. overall, the rest of the pizza gave it a flavor that was good and so partly explains the four stars i give this pizzeria. the drinx: not the cheapest drinx in town, but the selection is great and compliments the pizza fairly well, i believe. the service: the service was excellent. the night we went, a fuckin' explosion of families with toddlers and older rugrats complete with two-seater ergo-strollers happened somewhere nearby so there were punk brats and their old town bourgie parents noising up the place. the lone server did a great job of accomodating us with a real smile despite the dining room being crammed full of post-yuppie families and what i'm sure were exorbitant demands without generous tips. so the service being so good helped this pizzeria's overall rating, too. the joint: it's a pizzeria/bar in a basement. don't expect an ambience that wouldn't normally come with such a setting.
(4)
Carol J.

I live nearby to this litte slice of heaven. Remarkable beer selection and pizza is pretty amazing too. This is our go to place when we need to eat with a big group and everyone is a PITA picky eater so they can order what they like. I agree the goat cheese on the pizza is totally decadent. Service is a little sketchy at times but for the most part, they are pretty cool. I personally prefer wood fired oven pizza but until one opens up closer to me, this is the best alternative. This is a great place for the beer lover in your group but the salads are good too. And Pedro or peter the pizza maker is an absolute sweetheart who always makes a special pizza for my PITA friend that wants everything on the side or special.
(4)
John B.

Great thin crust pizza in subterranean setting. Excellent beer selection.
(5)
Josh E.

I had pretty high expectations for my visit to Brick's after reading and hearing, up and down, about how great it was. What a crushing disappointment! It wasn't far off from an over-ovened frozen pizza. The basement setting left a bit to be desired considering the circumstances. I can deal with divey conditions when good food is in play, but this just wasn't the case with Brick's, so the combo of jazzed up Mama Celeste in a damp basement was not cool. I may be spoiled after living in Brooklyn and having the run of truly amazing pizza, but Brick's didn't even measure up to much of the lesser pies I've had in non pizza meccas.
(2)
Cason M.

Brick's has the BEST thin crust pizza. it's so amazingly delicious. I have been here twice with friends and we all LOVE it. I had no idea thin crust pizza could be this good. They have the perfect balance of fresh toppings, flavor, season, cheese and crust. I highly recommend this place. I also was introduced to the beer, La Fin Du Monde, here at Brick's and I do love this beer too. For a group of four I suggest getting 3 different small pizzas of different flavors and the pesto cheese bread for starters and just indulging in their beautifully perfect pizza. I'm craving it just thinking about it.... so good.
(5)
Will W.

Great Brick oven pizza here. Will definitely come back soon.
(4)
Meghan H.

Awesome pizza and a rustic setting. I love this place. My favorite is their spinach, tomato and goat cheese pizza - I consider it "healthy" pizza.
(5)
Brooke M.

The Painful pizza is EPIC in taste! Best pizza in Chicago - hands down! The house salad is lovely and the wine/beer list is acceptable - but the pizza is deeee-lish! And, the atmosphere is....highly,,,atmospheric? Love the jukebox (Roxy Music, hello?!) and underground digs. Bricks is a great LP find and I would highly reco to anyone who craves something a little cooler,,,dare I say nyc-y in Chicago. LOVE.
(5)
Kyung P.

Wow, I definitely don't understand the hype on Brick's. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it. Here's the breakdown: Pizza: can you say California Pizza Kitchen? The combinations and toppings completely reminded me of that surburbian chain. Catacombs: uhmm...aka dungeon? It's so frickin dark, I couldn't see what I was eating. I just wanted to turn on all the lights and scrub the place down! Service: Pretty decent until the end, when we had to wait about 10 minutes for our server to run the credit card. I guess they use the phone lines to run the credit cards, and someone was on the phone taking a delivery order??? Price: Expensive for mediocre pizza. Digiorno anyone...it tastes like delivery! Overall, it's a decent alternative to a chain restaurant. I'd much rather support the local business, but it'll be hard for me because the food wasn't much better than what you find at a chain.
(3)
Tina M.

I was pretty disappointed in Bricks, given all their positive reviews. The pizza was dry and over cooked. I also got the pesto bread figuring anything with a combo of bread, cheese, and pesto can only be delicious, but again like the pizza, it was hard and there was way more cheese than pesto. The order only took about 25 minutes but the woman forgot to include the pop I asked for. There are a million better pizza joints in Chicago.
(2)
Leigh R.

Beer and pizza, pizza and beer. Its like peanut butter and chocolate. Spaghetti and meatball. Lamb and tunafish. Marriages for your mouth. I really liked everything abut Brick's, even if it did get a little crowded. The beer selection was awesome. We ordered some goat cheese dip and garlic bread for the wait and sadly, by the time we were seated, I was pretty darn stuffed. The pizza I could muster was very tasty but the crust was a little doughy for me. (I prefer my pies flat as a pancake, Jersey Shore style or Chicago super thin style - or a full on deep dish. But, really, most any pizza is good pizza even when it is less than perfect.) I would definitely go back for the beer and the apps, if I were in the neighborhood.
(3)
Jerry M.

I wish yelp allowed us to give out half stars, because I'd give this place 4.5 stars. Very cool atmosphere, dark and mysterious with those checkered tables. Great for groups - I'm always able to call the night before for big groups (10+) and they're happy to seat us all. They're also okay with bringing in outside desserts for those birthday dinners. (they'll even light the candles and bring out the cake at the appropriate time). Pizza is thin crust- I'd rank it up there with Piece - one of the better thin crust pizzas in a thick crust town. Lots of different and fun types - from painful to the spinach to bbq chicken. And this was the first place I had Fat Tire east of the continental divide!
(4)
J. N.

This was my boyfriends pick and I was skeptical initially... I'm glad we made the trek and actually took the 30 minutes necessary to find a parking spot. This pizza is excellent. I suggest getting goat cheese on it - it makes it decadent, different, and completely delicious. I am very able to eat a whole one myself. Also, they have Maudette on draft, which is excellent. Make sure if you are a Belgium fan to head out there for a cheap beer. I love this place and advise you to at the very least give it a go!
(5)
Rebecca B.

I just love this place--great for gown-up pizza party with friends. Perfectly-prepared pies in a great variety plus servers who can help you navigate the extensive beer list. We went there recently with a group of 8 and shared a few salads: the caesar, spinach and the house. For pizzas, went with the popeye, sole mio, berzerkley and brickhouse. I only tried the first two, but they all were eaten with great vigor by the group. i'd definitely recommend getting there early or calling ahead, at least on a weekend, because the place had quite the crowd there on the Friday we went. And it's not a big space. Parking's also tough, but with just a little planning ahead, it works out to be a perfect spot for dinner. Pretty economical as well--we spent about $25 a person, which included the food we mentioned plus drinks.
(5)
Jessika R.

Great pizza at a great price - don't let the entrance fool you (you head downstairs to a dimly lit hallway)! The beer list is impressive for your local pub - including anchor brewing co., goose island, and some great imported german beers. And for all of you Sprecher rootbeer fans - they carry that too! We had a salad and the red planet pizza - perfectly crispy wheat crust, plenty of toppings, great flavor combos. And on top of all that, friendly wait staff and prompt service. We will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Mindy S.

mmm, pizza. Thin crust, deep dish, let's be honest, I like it all! I think Bricks has some of the better thin crust pizza in the city. Mostly though, I like the different toppings that you can get on your pizza. It's not just the average cheese or pepperoni place. We got the pesto shrimp pizza the other night, and it was really good. In fact, I kind of wish I had my leftovers right now! We went on a Sunday night and there was no wait. It might look a little shady at first since you have to walk down in to a dark alley, but I promise it's worth it. And I think I'll always have a special place for Bricks in my heart because it was the first place in Chicago where you could get Fat Tire beer. mmm, pizza and beer....does it get any better?
(4)
Stephanie D.

Arguably the BEST pizza in Lincoln Park!! Thin crust and delicious!! Their delivery isn't the fastest, but well worth the wait. Dining in is nice. Atmosphere is really chill and they have decent drink specials throughout the week (1/2 off bottles of wine on Tuesdays)! The restaurant shares an entrance with Katacombs...walking in I was like head scratching, wondering why this place looked so familiar. OH YEAH...I was there late night last weekend. Duh! How could I have possibly forgotten... ;) Could have been worse...like Beaumonts or something... Anyway, I love the pizza here and have cravings on a regular basis. TRY this place!
(4)
Justin W.

Okay I like this place, the pizza is good and the prices are fair but it has some issues. Getting a table is a hassle, at least the 3 times I have been here. The staff is well....indifferent. The atmosphere is fine but seating is cramped. I would give them four stars but the lack of non pork toppings is almost non-existent. Its a pretty limited selection of pizza but they do it well.
(3)
Andrew T.

Best pizza in Chicago, hands down. It's a great spot, out of the way and not touristy. The shrimp creole is my favorite pizza anywhere. And a phenomenal beer selection.
(5)
Blair B.

I ordered this for delivery, so can't comment on atmosphere. I had a custom pizza with mushrooms and feta cheese.. my particular odd craving of the evening. This was solid pizza for thin crust.. personally I enjoy Piece pizza more, but because this place delivers, I would choose it more often. Toppings were of high quality and amply placed.. points for that too.
(4)
Maura S.

Best pizza in Chicago. Yes I said it. It's just THAT good.
(5)
Sam G.

Good pizza, good beer.
(4)
Carrie R.

HORRIBLE service. I ordered pizza from here for delivery with no initial problem. They called me about 30 minutes after I ordered and asked me to "come pick up my pizza" because my apartment was a half a block out of their delivery radius. This was after they ALREADY charged my card and put the pizza order in. After some convincing, and even offering to WALK a block into their radius, she finally agreed to deliver to me. The woman I talked to was SO RUDE and not accommodating at all. I will NEVER order from here again.
(1)
Kristin M.

Great atmosphere, its always good to be in a basement when guiltily consuming mass amounts of delicious pizza. Super variety of unusual and yummy pizzas, and a great beer selection!
(4)
Brandon H.

This is my new neighborhood "bar"! I love the cozy feel of it. It's nothing overstated and what they do offer, they execute very well. The pizza is fantastic, and I've had my fair share o fpizza! Monday's and Tuesday's are good specials as far as beer goes.. The crowd is (from my experience) usually pretty friendly. Overall I have yet to find a bad thing to say about this place!
(5)
Jessica C.

Yes, yes, wondrous, fantastic...if you hate good food, stay far far away from here. What I loved most: the meatball grinder, the atmosphere, the beer selection, the Ditka, and the service (five stars for each). If you're looking for a fun/casual dinner give them a buzz and reserve a table. (It may not be totally necessary, but it's better be seated that sorry.) ***UPDATE*** I held a Charity event for the American Cancer Society and casually asked the owner if they would be interested in donating a pizza or two, or maybe some $5 gift certificates for a raffle we were holding. THEY DONATED 10 PIZZAS AND 3 HUGE SALADS. They went above and beyond to help raise hundreds of dollars for my event and didn't ask for anything in return. If I could give this place 2 Million Stars I would. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou Brick's.
(5)
Cat B.

I love this place! And although it does not matter now that we get it distributed here...this used to be the only place to get Fat Tire in the city. I love the feel of this place, even though it is in the basement, I love the cellar feel to it. They use the freshest ingredients on their pizzas. Watch out...when they come out...although they look and smell so good you want to eat the whole pizza right then and there...they are REALLY HOT! So, if you prefer to risk it and not taste anything for a few days, go right ahead, dig in. The rest of us will just have to salivate over the pizza as it cools in front of us, taunting us with its tantalizing aromas. The Popeye is one of my favorite as is the Brickhouse. Delicious! It is a small place, though so if you go on a weekend you will likely have to wait.
(5)
rachel c.

Bricks kicks ass, plain and simple. Great beer selection, great food, pretty good service. Highly recommend Bricks to those who feel sickened by the deep-dish scene, but still want some authentic, non-chain, Chicago pizza. The only reason I give it 4/5 is because of the pesky long wait on weekends...
(4)
Taylor O.

Would've never found this one tucked in to a basement like a castle cellar, a pizza castle anyway... a brick pizza castle? Stretching the metaphor more than their dough. Went early in the week for some cheap-er beer and 3 pizzas. The 'popeye' was a hit all around and a few of us were big fans of 'the painful.' I supposed that makes me a masochist for wanting to go back for more of that one. As long as it comes with a Spaten Optimator to wash it down, as badass as but not to be confused with Optimus Prime.
(4)
Lee W.

When it comes to Chicago food, I consider myself a Chicago dog connoisseur. Unfortunately, the same doesn't go for deep dish pizza. I hate the stuff -- I'm much more of a thin crust kind of girl. That said, Bricks has the best pizza in Chicago. The "painful" is tasty and very crave-worthy. Their beer selection is outstanding. Definitely a place to hit up if you're not a "Chicago" pizza nut (and a place to consider if you're thinking about branching out)!
(4)
Andrea O.

So i heard about bricks pizza through yelp. i wanted to have good authentic Chicago pizza. i read bricks reviews, so i decided to give it a try and i am so GLAD i did! this place is so great! best thin crust pizza i've ever had in Chicago. i really recommend this place. even though it's small and it's in a basement, the vibe is relaxing and the decor is nice too. SO if you're a huge pizza fan like i am... go here.... these people below know what their saying.
(5)
Jason S.

Love Bricks! Love Fat Tire! Both are best on Thursday when the heavenly beer is on sale for $3. The painful pizza is unbeatable. The bbq chicken will make you return again! The dark underground feel adds to the whole experience. This is a great laid back date place and will also work for meeting a group of people. Prices are reasonable. This place would be perfect if it had a parking lot!
(4)
mike L.

Awesome Neopolitan-style pizza's with a great selection of Belgian beers...what more could you want? Huge fan of the Mean Green - pesto, pepperonia and fresh jalapenos Ignore the somewhat sketchy exterior, it's worth it
(5)
Osh J.

Tuesday is 1/2 price bottles of wine...enough said? Okay then, I'll talk about how awesome this pizza is. Super thin crust, very good meats and ingredients. Sauce is....amazing. The sweet heat is a major winner. It has chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella, and the sweetest and heatiest sauce (but not uncomfortable, burn your mouth hot, just really really pleasant hotness, a "sweet heat" if you will!! haha sorry) We also got a bbq chicken pizza which was def. NOT run of the mill. Seriously tasty, and the meat-lovers, which Im pretty sure was the best meat-loaded pizza i've ever eaten It's the kind of pizza you have to talk about while you're eating it. You'll just start saying things like, "this is just sooo goood." and "oh my god..." and "i love this" and sometimes moans and perma-smiles follow... I think i have to go back here asap. Loved it, you will too. Servers are nice, atmosphere is super-cool because it's underground and made me feel like I was in a pizza cave ( in the best way ;)!!!
(5)
Andrew M.

Although it does not serve Chicago's famous deep dish pizza, Bricks still proudly proclaims to have the best pizza in the city. And it's hard to argue after trying its savory medium crust pizza--a satisfying compromise between thin and New York style pizza. Also, Bricks is notable for being the only place in the ENTIRE city of Chicago to serve Fat Tire Ale. For those of you coming from the West, you know what I'm talking about it and you're probably on your way there right now to glup some down. For those that don't know, figure it out. Bricks is dimly lit and cozy, but works better in the winter than the summer. You won't regret a trip to Bricks.
(5)
Tony G.

The Ditka Pizza here is a Meat-a-tarian's dream! All meats, no veggies. That, and the fact that they had Fat Tire for years before everyone else, and you've got a winner!
(5)
Kristen D.

My favorite pizza place. They have excellent thin crust pizzas. Try the Brickhouse or the Shrimp creole. They also have some really good beer choices (and on Thursdays they have Fat Tire on special...it draws in a good sized crowd) They also have half-off bottles of wine nights. The staff is very nice and helpful, and the place has great atmosphere.
(5)
Jack B.

Some of the best pizza in Chicago and I love the divey underground atmosphere. It's all good, but the painful is my favorite.
(4)
Jessica S.

I am going to echo what most people have said Bricks is fabulous. It's not typical Chicago pizza but it's yummy. I would recommend getting the goat cheese appetizer but to warn you it's huge. Tuesday night is half price bottles of wine. The atmosphere is amazing, I really loved it.
(4)
Jeremy D.

Bricks!! I love it! The best BBQ chicken pizza! chicken, gouda, cilantro, red onions, bbq sauce...mmmm It's a dark cozy little pizza joint hidden away in the basement of an apartment building on Lincoln Ave. It's totally different and that's why I like it. They have a great beer selection too. So let's recap: tasty thin crust pizzas with all sorts of funky toppings & great beer in a secret underground hideout. How can you not love that?
(4)
Mark T.

I heard this place was pretty good and was excited about my first visit. This weekend I had 4 friends from out of town visit for the weekend. I live within walking distance of Bricks and have only lived there for about a year. I heard about Bricks and thought no better time to check it out. So, myself, and 4 other buddies decided to head over and see if we could get in fully prepared that we may have to wait. We walked in and were rudely greeted by a hostes/waitress asking if we had a reservation. We said no. She said, "you guys realize its a Friday night right?" We said that we understand that and she responded saying it would be 40 minutes. We said that is fine we will just put our name in and come back in about 30 minutes. Normal right? Apparently she didn't want to do that and gave us so much attitude that I honestly could not believe that it was happening. I explained to her that its just like giving a reservation. She said, "what if you dont show up?" We offered to give her a credit card and she still didnt' want to work with us. I told her that we came here to give her business and we were leaving. She then told us it would be about an hour wait anyways and let us leave. I have never had anything like this happen to me, especially at a restaurant that is supposed to have a good reputation. We ended up going to Stanley's down the road and had a great waitress that ended up with a huge tip on a $200.00 bill. Great job Bricks. I heard the food was good but they obviously don't know how to hire.
(1)
Ila L.

I really enjoy the basement setting. Delicious pizza (in particular the Painful Pizza) and salad. Tied with Piece and Union Pizza as my favorite pizza place in Chicagoland.
(5)
D F.

Update - I've been back at least six or seven times (probably more) since writing the April review, and those two semi-negative experiences were not repeated. In other words, it's back to its old greatness. They've had a special Hawaiin pizza with ham and pineapple that is also tremendous. But I cannot recommend the Vegetarian strongly enough (and no I am not a vegetarian).
(5)
Melissa M.

I am a thin-crust pizza fan and Bricks fits the bill. I was a little taken aback with the dungeon-like location, but once inside, it's very cozy. I loved the different selections of pizza's available and of the three my group ordered: Sole Mio (homemade meatballs), the Ditka (all meat - all day) and the "Fresh?" (was our vegetarian option - had goat cheese and zucchini!)...they were all just wonderful. I didn't partake of the beer selection, but it was generous. Definitely a better pizza stop than Ranaldi's which is right next door.
(3)
Catherine B.

I ate here with my parents, who were excited to see the Grinders on the menu. We all had grinders, which are essentially italian hoagie sandwiches, put through the oven. We requested they add garlic, as my mother insisted a true grinder be on garlic bread. They were accommodating about it, and the service was fine. We were there at an off time (early for dinner), so it was a little slower than it probably is during regular meal times. The food and beer were good, though the dungeon lower-level entrance definitely puzzled us for a moment.
(4)
Christopher T.

I am not exactly a pizza person and moving to Chicago has made that worse. That mess they call "deep dish" just seems like slop thrown on a bunch of dough. so when a friend who lives in Rome came for a visit and wanted to eat deep dish I thought to myself: "well he is my friend, right?" I looked around online and found bricks, mistakingly thinking that they served deep-dish pizza (I now think I must have been mesmerized by the "best pizza in the world" moniker and the reviews on Yelp). We get there and descend the stairs into that dungeon like entrance and I immediately became worried. I felt a bit better when I went in. We were immediately seated (hey it WAS a monday) and we looked over the menu. To my embarrassment there did not seem to be any deep dish . . . the entire reason for going there. We ordered. I got a Ditka and he--as strange as it sounds for an italian person--ordered some vegetarian something or another given the fact that he is a vegetarian. The pizza came and it was LOVE at first bite! The toppings were delicious. The crust was perfect; it was crunchy though not like a cracker. It was so amazing that I recently went back with friends. They also LOVED the pizza. I again got the Ditka but tried a slice of my friend's pizza which was some chicken and bbq sauce concoction. Next time I go I will try and get half Ditka and half "chicken and BBQ sauce concoction" pizza! Sadly, it will probably be my last for a while since I am leaving the city for a long stretch! SIGH!
(5)
City Swank N.

Yeah this is THE PLACE for tasty pizza...try their great combo pizzas like "Popeyes" or the "ditka". Perfect little underground joint that was serving Fat Tire before it was "Cool".
(4)
Richard C.

I usually like deep dish pizza, but when it comes to thin crust pizza Bricks is among my favorites. I agree with many of these yelpers that the painful is really good, but by the looks of some of these revivews I have some other pizzas to try there.
(4)
mary b.

really yummy thin-crust pizza in a great setting. sitting in the catacombs with pizza and beer = good times for all. it's appropriately priced, and it's super relaxed. the bar is cozy, and the location is right for avoiding the bingers (there aren't very many other bars in a really close proximity).
(4)
Clare K.

this place definitely has a lot of hype. i thought the pizza was good, but i loved the underground atmosphere. i mean--there was nothing life changing about the pizza-i can think of at least 3 or 4 places that i like better than bricks, but it was solid. parking is hellish and there were a lot of children there when i was there. loud, annoying children. i try to stay away from family dining restaurants.
(4)
elizabeth n.

I must have eaten at Bricks on a bad night because I seem to be the only one who doesn't love this pizza place. The sign on the door boasts "World's Best Pizza" but I found it odd tasting and greasy. The garlic bread was rubbery and I could barely force the pizza down. I wish it would have been better because I've heard nothing but good things, although I don't think I'll be going back.
(1)
Chloe M.

This pizza is amazing! The wait is so long so we always call in and pick it up. It tastes just as good when you carry it out. I agree with many of these reviews that the painful is one of the best pizzas on the menu!
(5)
Jake A.

I usually enjoy deep dish pizza over thin crust, but Bricks is definitely one of my favorite pizza joints in Chicago. My buddy and I went here this weekend and waited about 45 minutes for a table, but it was worth it. We loaded it up with our favorite toppings and had a few beers. It left us very satisfied.
(4)
a w.

The "Painful" is definitely something you can't miss if you love spice. Good pizza, lots of spice, and a great bar make this one of the best pizza places in all of Chicago!
(5)
veronika p.

Visting from Philly, we decided to check this place out on a recent visit to Chicago. We got the Sweet Heat pizza and it was awesome. The inside of the place was pretty cool as well - you go down steps and walk down a little alley to get to the entrance of the place. The music is a little loud, which was my only beef with the place.
(4)
Sarah S.

Instead of the hour-long wait at the oven grinder, we headed back around the corner, and ended up at Bricks. I was confused going in... am I the only one who was thrown off by the dingy underground entrance? But the pizza was good... lots of fresh basil and tomatoes on the Popeye, which I love, but I'm pretty sure they use sardines in the dressing for the ceasar, as it had a pretty fishy aftertaste! The house Pinot Noir is good, and the pizza was excellent, so I'll forgive the weird entrance.
(4)
Devin H.

Brick's is all that you can ask for in a pizza joint and more! They have a fabulous beer selection -- one of the only bars in Chicago to sell Fat Tire! My favorite pizza is the "Painful" (spicy pepperoni, red onion, garlic and jalapenos). Yum! There are plenty of pizzas to meet any taste, or you can mix and match toppings to your liking.
(4)
K. J.

So torn. Is it a four star? A five star? It's just that pizza is so competitive. There are so many people making pizza I'd willingly go back for. Is this one of the best pizzas I've ever had? Is it deserving? I'm not sure. Let's discuss. After a few hours of walking in the cold, spring rain, we finally arrived at this hole-in-the-wall-looking, sketchy underground bar of a place that reminded me more of a bad roadside bar than the pizza highlight I wanted it to be. We dragged our soaked to the bone selves in and were greeted and given a space to sit. Although we weren't really early, we obviously arrived just in time as the place filled up very quickly soon after we sat down. We each ordered a pizza. I got one of my favorites - BBQ pizza. I don't recall much about the service. The place was dark, but in the bar-type way, not the romantic way. Patrons varied from families with young children to post-college, twenty-somethings. The pizza itself was great! If I lived in the area, I would probably be here a lot for pizza. It is a very nice thin-crust style pizza with generous toppings. There is a decent selection of these to chose from as well (not just the traditional pepperoni and veg). I'm on the fence. I'd have to go back a few times before I make a sound four or five star decision on this place, but I'll stick with four for now.
(4)
Becca L.

I've never liked the deep dish Chicago style pizza so Bricks thin crust pizza is perfect for me. Usually it's pretty crowded here, but we got a table here on Friday night with no problem 2 of my friends and I split a large pizza and we devoured it within 20 minutes because it was so good. I'm always impressed with their service as well. The drinks and pizza come out very fast!
(4)
Julia B.

The pizza here is great. The selection of drinks is also pretty extensive! I suggest getting a thin crust veggie pizza-It was great!
(4)
Tiffany T.

Personally, not a fan of the pizza here at all. The pizza had a weird taste and the crust was worse. How do you mess up crust?!! The only thing I enjoyed eating here was the garlic bread with cheese. The service was not great either. No sign of a hostess any where and since it's almost a bar we went to seat ourselves and that is when the hostess magically appeared. Our waitress was not terrible but not great. The only thing this place has going for it is the location and decor.
(2)
Junaid M.

My buddy and I went to this place because of all the great reviews. This place has a great location and great customer service. The food was also good. They are apparently known for their thin crust pizza, I'm not sure if they have deep dish or regular pan pizza, but I'm sure they do offer that as well. The only thing is that their pizza is pretty small. They offer 10",12" and 14". But the pizza was good. We got the Popeye pizza, which had good flavors. Definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Tamara R.

Had the vegetarian pizza. Really yummy. We came in mid-afternoon so dining area was totally empty. Loved the very cozy, chill vibe. I also like that they have beer specials everyday. Since we were the only people there, the food came quickly. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive.
(4)
P 3.

Legit pizza place. Love the downstairs basement feeling when you walk in, and the pizzas are great. Try the Sweet Heat if you ever go there. Also the Arugula Salad is excellent. Nice place in the neighborhood and we go often. Staff is always friendly, but I wouldn't say service is why you go here. It's fine but not great.
(5)
Jessie M.

Have never actually been to bricks, but order delivery regularly. They are my favorite basic cheese pizza in the city, BBQ Chicken pizza is also really good.
(4)
Michael K.

Your yelp page said you were open at noon. The sign outside said you would be open at 5:00pm. We showed up hungry at about 1:30, I was disappointed because your food looks delicious on your page and we had to go elsewhere. I would love to try your restaurant some time, you should really update your hours on your page.
(1)
Missi R.

We are staying at Hotel Lincoln and arrived fairly late on a Tuesday evening. The excellent bellhop Joseph recommended that we walk the few blocks to Bricks. Excellent suggestion! Our group of eight enjoyed the rather unique and interesting atmosphere. It was cozy but comfortable and the server quickly pushed several tables together to accommodate our group. We all ordered different pizzas from the wide selection of unique house pizzas. Beware! The pizzas are served extremely hot so give them a few minutes to cool. My first love is deep dish, especially in Chicago but this was some of the best thin crust pizza I have ever had. There were several vegetarian specialities on the menu, almost too many to choose from at least at the late hour of our arrival. I finally settled on the Popeye and it was excellent. The beer menu is HUGE and there are various beer and wine specials on different days of the week. Highly recommend if you are in the area.....or even if you aren't it is worth a drive.
(4)
Se Won P.

The yelp page says this place opens at noon but it does not on Sunday!(opens at 5pm on Sunday) What a waste of my time.
(2)
David P.

Just tried this place for the first time, pretty good. I'm only giving it three stars, because the pizza was a little under cooked. Tasty, just needed to cook a little longer. I had the BBQ Chicken Pizza. I also had the arugula salad, yummy! I will try this place again, as I want to give them four stars.
(3)
Emily Z.

Ordered in to Hotel Lincoln just a block away. Large pizza was $23, not a lot of flavor and no visible sauce. We asked for plates and napkins, as we are in a hotel, they didn't have plates but did bring us napkins. 6 napkins for $3.50! They charged us for napkins, do they charge for napkins if you dine in!? The total with tip was $34, for a bland pizza. I ate in once and enjoyed my meal but this was way over priced and not good. Bricks is a huge delivery fail.
(2)
John T.

Amazing food and exceptional service. We had two kids and two adults. The kids were well taken care of and the parents were impressed by the beer list. Definitely great for families.
(5)
Sarah S.

Pros: vegetarian friendly, good beer selection, neighborhood gem, great service Cons: in a basement, but I liked that Recommended: slutty ravioli, the brickhouse pizza Perfect new addition Friday Pizza Date night! Bricks is a basement pizza joint with a great selection of pizzas, beers, and other Italian food. They have a good selection of vegetarian pizzas (went on a meat-free Friday of Lent) the Brickhouse pizza is particularly good- is has a big artichoke flavor. The slutty ravioli is basically a plate of melted cheese with some pasta in it, which means it is amazing. A wide beer selection, great service even when busy, and options to sit in the restaurant or watch the game on the TVs at the bar make this one of my favorite classic pizza joints.
(4)
Carolina N.

Took my boyfriends parents here over the weekend, and we absolutely loved it. It was a delightful experience and the food was delicious. I really like that it is in the basement giving it a speaky-easy vibe and the decor and furniture really brings it all together. It was surprisingly not that busy or overcrowded for a Saturday night, which I had no problem with! Great beer selection too. I love thin crust pizza (because I can eat a lot of it) and Bricks serves up a mean thin crust pizza! Very pleased with what we ordered. I forgot the name of our pizza, they all had funky names, but it was BBQ chicken pizza, and my bf's dad got one that had artichokes all over it. So so good. Unfortunately I did not order the slutty ravioli as recommended due to the scary amounts of cheese we saw in peoples pictures, but I will get it next time for sure. We also ordered the prosciutto wrapped/sausage stuffed dates. They were just ok, not amazing and a tad overpriced. I will be back again, no doubt about it!
(4)
Nelson B.

Love this place, great atmosphere and delicious pizza.
(5)
Kay H.

Hey just wanted to let you guys know that I was really craving the Sweat Heat pizza today and called THREE times to order it! Your phone number provided is what I used and no one answered! :-( I'm sad to say I ordered elsewhere. You lost out on business guys! I left four stars because I love the pizza but wanted to let your business know that no one is answering from phone number provided on yelp.
(4)
Jessica R.

AMAZING! Do not let the rough exterior fool you. Once inside and downstairs, you're in a classy and clean restaurant. The atmosphere is reminiscent of an old jazz parlor. This place saved my perspective of Chicago pizza! Although it wasn't deep dish, that didn't matter! The hand crafted pizzas here had plenty of flavor and creative toppings. We found it on foodnetwork.com and wanted to try the famous "super painful pizza". Although, they did not have any of the peppers to make the pizza, they brought us a small dish of the spicy sauce they use on that pizza for no extra cost! (And that sauce was hot enough!) All of the toppings are fresh! Not from cans! And the prices are more reasonable than so many other Chicago pizza places! We will definitely be returning to this wonderful pizza place again!
(5)
John J.

Great thin crust pie, which is real nice when every other place is deep dish. Had three pies- sole mio, Petaluma Club and creole shrimp. Some Mio was by far the best, creole shrimp came in second. Only issue I had with the pizza is it was too hot. Cheese was still sliding off a bit. Needs a minute to rest, breathe and adapt. Wish we had tried slutty ravioli- looked tremendous. Beer menu was overly Belgian for my liking. Decor and music was awesome! Beer menu with pizza heat knocked them down a bit. And the Petaluma club was weak. Say 3.5 but will round to a 4. And they added 18% gratuity for the group. I understand why but it always seems to cheap out the waitress. Who only gives 18% these days? And if you do, stop going out to eat.
(4)
Darline L.

The pizza here is horrible. We got a burned pizza with little flavor that tasted like cardboard. If you are looking for bad pizza, save your money and order domino's.
(1)
Lu N.

The pizza here is unique and tasty!! The restaurant itself is cute and cozy. The sweet heat was deliciously sweet and spicy. And the painful was good as well. My date got the simple sausage and mushroom, he enjoyed it a lot. Crimshaw beer was so good! Service was just the right amount! P.s tastes even better the next day! Ha!
(5)
Jorge P.

Everything here is great. Good pizza, good beer, good environment and ambiance. Would give this place 5 stars if it had a larger variety of beers on tap.
(4)
Andre W.

How in the hell did I live in walking distance of this place for 4 years and never been inside??? I was invited here by a friend yesterday that told me the place was a great option for pizza and beer. I like thin crust and good beer so I was like hell yeah. This place is great as you have to go downstairs as everyone has mentioned to a dungeon like atmosphere. It is very dim lit and has a nice, but romantic charm to it. Due to it being Tuesday, they were having a half off bottle of wine special. Beer took a backseat as my dining companion beat me there and already ordered a bottle of pinot noir which was very good. We got to choose our own table as it was a pretty light crowd at first...the place definitely filled up after we got our seats. We decided we wanted more than one flavor so we went with a half & half pizza. We decided on the Painful (spicy pepperoni purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella) and the Sweet Heat (chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella). The Sweet Heat was a good balance of sweet & spicy while the Painful was slightly spicy...we enjoyed both! I look forward to returning here to sample more pizza and to try the beer list.
(5)
Steven H.

Second time here and I was not disappointed. Fantastic food, brilliant atmosphere and fabulous staff. If in Chicago you have to stop in or your trip isn't complete. Double thumps up....pizza is outstanding!
(5)
Amy K.

Fantastic! Unique choices and didn't take forever between ordering and being served! Could offer a few more pizza choices, but we were more than happy with what we ordered.
(4)
Ryan B.

I went here for dinner before a Blackhawks game with my girlfriends family. It's standard pizza. Nothing special. The space is comfortable. I really liked that. They serve alcohol too! I could see myself hanging out here on a weeknight.
(3)
Jan R.

On a wednesday night, we meandered in around 9:30pm expecting a short wait. They told us 30-45 mins, which was alright. After an hour and a half, we got a table. We sat at the bar while we waited. Then we waited to get served at the bar since the place is so short staffed. All of the staff were working their butts off and were sooo nice, but they were so understaffed that the placed was just crumbling apart. We couldn't even order appetizers at the bar, so we just sat hungry. We finally got a table and ordered right away. Our appetizer was brought at the same time as our food. The food was alright. It was good. I liked the variety and it all tasted great. I was starving though so I was not being particular. Definitely good food, but not worth the wait I think this is a case of management gone wrong. Clearly this could be a great place if the staffing was more abundant and poor management. If they turned over tables more quickly, they would have happy customers and make more money
(3)
Carrie E.

Pretty good pizza! It definitely fulfilled my pizza craving, but it's kind of out of the way from where I live. I'd recommend it to a friend if they lived nearby, but maybe not travel from a far away neighborhood just for this pizza. I'd definitely go back to try the "slutty ravioli" though since that seemed to be popular here on Yelp. It seems like it'd be better as a main dish than an appetizer. Though the entrance is a little sketch looking (go down the steps even though your gut tells you not to), its very cozy inside. Beware if you're tall: the ceilings are low, especially in the bathroom. I'm pretty sure if you're 6 foot you'd have to duck. Our waitress was nice and helped us decide on a bottle of wine (1/2 price on Tuesdays!). I liked that they thought "outside of the box" when it came to toppings and combinations on pizza. We ordered the "Sweet Heat" (minus the jalapenos). I liked the smoked gouda as well as the bbq-tomato sauce. It made it a unique pizza. Plus the onions weren't charred like they are sometimes at other pizza places. Points for being cut "tavern style" (squares) but I did think it was a little dry.
(4)
Dennis R.

Came here with some friends from out of town on a night when everyone wanted som pizza. We came to the right place. Great thin crust pizza and awesome craft beer selection as well. 1. The thing that sets apart this place is its location, vibe and feel. It's in the basement of the building and SO unique; its cozy. 2. the thin crust allows you to taste all the delicious toppings. I had the Sole Mio and it was amazing!! Will come back again as this was my first visit and will bring some more friends to check this place out!
(4)
Natalie L.

Great place to stop before a show at Park West. Price is right and service was quick. Loved the dates. A little let down on the drunk ravioli or whatever it was. It was tasty but I had expected to have my mind blown. We had the spinach pizza and it was very good. So yes it's in a dark bunker and no it's not "Best Pizza on Earth" but it's a helluva lot better than Oven Grinder, which is pretty much your other option when you don't want to walk more than a couple of blocks to Park West when it's 10 degrees outside.
(4)
Justin L.

It was edible. The pizza lacked in the flavor department. It was no better than elios frozen pizza squares. I should have known that the whole "best pizza in Chicago" was nonsense. I will not be returning.
(2)
Justin W.

This is my go-to pizza joint. Thin, crisp, delicious. Don't be deterred by the dark entrance - bricks is a hidden gem. Try the arugula salad and any pizza - my favorite is sausage/basil. Good beer selection.
(5)
Cjer R.

The guy who took our pick up order and cashed us out was so rude and had this hipster attitude that needs to go. I've spent a lot of money here both dining in and ordering carry out. Maybe it was just an off night but that hipster attitude just angered me enough to write this review and probably won't be back for a while if ever.
(1)
Joe B.

Delicious pizza in a well-hidden restaurant! The exposed brick interior and dim lighting makes for great ambiance. My only qualm is that my friend and I were hurried out. As soon as the final morsel was in my mouth, we got the "actually, we're closed" speech.
(3)
Alynn C.

Fantastic! I dined here with a good friend while in town for a job interview. The restaurant was walkable from Hotel Lincoln and had good reviews so we decided to check it out. So glad we did! It instantly became a favorite with some of the best pizza I've ever had in my life. Bricks has a unique (although somewhat odd) entrance as your descend the stairs and go into what feels like a cellar, but the space has a great ambiance and truly feels like a hidden gem. Other restaurant-goers were assembled in small, intimate groups of 2-6 guests per table which evoked an atmosphere of old friendships and nostalgia. Our server was fantastic -- present, educated, but allowing us space to catch up. She offered great recommendations on the expansive beer and food menu. I opted for a Hawaiian-style pizza and the flavors were perfectly balanced -- sweet, salty, delightful. The pizza has a sweet thin-crust which is a nice alternative to the many deep-dish joints in Chicago. Definitely worth a trip. Also, I got the job and WILL be back to visit soon :)
(5)
Joana M.

The feel of old school comes to mind when I walk into this establishment. It's unique and laid back. The one tv by the bar is from the 90 's. Big and bulky. The music in the background creates a relaxed ambient. Service here is good. Not pushy or any attitude. We usually dine on the bar. The food is delicious. Appetizers and pizza are delicious!
(5)
Joshua D.

So I went to Bricks after watching Heatseekers on TV. I trained with Ghost Peppers and Trinadad scorpions... The heat units on the peppers I trained with are roughly over one million, so eating a pizza with scotch bonets at 150,000 seemed easy. They bring out gloves, and make you sign a waiver. You have 10 minutes to eat a 10 inch...I ate 1.5 slices. I was burned alive, and only ate 1.5 slices. It was fun and the additional normal pizza was great. Cool dingy, dark atmosphere.
(4)
Andy S.

This pizza is gross. I was borderline drunk and it tasted bad. Food tastes amazing when you have the beer munchies but not this cardboard. Seriously I don't know how this place is averaging 4 stars. I can only assume people like the atmosphere and the booze. I ordered delivery so I didn't get to experience the atmosphere. I had 2 pizzas and both were mediocre but they were expensive pizzas.
(2)
Jessa B.

I went here with a friend before a concert at Park West. We almost walked into the club next door, and that was the least awesome part of our visit. The restaurant feels like its in a basement (it is), and so it feels cozy but not cramped. The waitstaff was pretty awesome and helpful. The draft beer selection was slim, but quality (Bear Racer, Half Acre, & Unibroue, to name a few). They had tons of bottles, though. We ordered the slutty ravioli and it was perfection. How can one resist a cheesy, bubbly, spicy plate of ravioli? For dinner, we ordered a pineapple ham pizza special and it was also perfection. For the two of us, it was a great amount of food. We actually couldn't finish it. If I wasn't moving out of the city, I would 100% go back.
(5)
Kelvin F.

In Chicago for the weekend with family wife wanted some of Chicago famous pizza. Well Bricks fell short of the experience. Thought the pizza was world's famous but I'll stick with deweys back in Cincinnati.
(2)
Morgan Richelle M.

This my my moms favorite pizza joint in Chicago, so I knew I was in for a treat. I love the underground location. Totally chill and cozy. They have a bar to accommodate your alcoholic beverage needs, some good music, and plenty of tables for you and your friends/family. There is awesome art and decor that really adds to this place' personality. This restaurant is very unique, and something you could bring friends, go on a date, etc. Perfect for all casual gatherings.
(5)
Stephanie G.

Nice thin crust pizza, fresh toppings and not too filling. Looks shady as the entrance is down a dark staircase with a door not marked clearly, but it's legit!
(4)
Bill J.

Beer was awesome. La Fin du Monde on tap - are u f'ing kidding me?? The Painful trumps The Green Garden. The slutty ravioli was better than my first high school slut - and she was pretty great. Salads are good. But my ravenous table mates ate the arugula salad before I could taste it. So - assume it was stellar. Minus one star for noise. A table of 12 was nearby with an obnoxious ring leader.
(4)
Nathan J.

BBQ chicken pizza along with the Ditka was awesome! Great service, bar selection, excellent accommodations and a great location. Really cool atmosphere.
(5)
Arvind P.

Painful is the way to go!!!
(5)
Michael K.

This place is exactly what it seems to be - a nice out-of-the-way pizza place with a bar. My Sweet Heat pizza was excellent and the service by my waitress and the bartender was friendly. They had the baseball games on the TV and a laid-back atmosphere on this Monday evening; very pleasant.
(4)
Christine S.

Yum yum! Half and half, two delicious types of pizza and my fav thin crust. Yes Chicago!!!
(5)
Tim R.

Excellent pizza, great atmosphere below street level. Highly recommend when in the area.
(5)
Bobby D.

Not too shabby, it's got a classic pizza joint feel which is hard to come by. And the za itself is real good. They have a wonderful collection of pizzas with adventurous toppings, but lets be real, the choice of these toppings create a new flavor experience. Too often newer pizza joints with this level of toppings really falls short on the delivery, it ends up being cardboard bread. These however, are legit pizzas with legit toppings and very unique flavor profiles. Try try and try again.
(3)
Michelle P.

A great little gem tucked away. Slutty ravioli was amazing and loved the Popeye pizza! I'll definitely be going back to try the other pizzas!
(4)
Amanda E.

Very good thin crust, crispy and thin. Had the red planet pie.....yummy. Also had to try the slutty ravioli.....cheesy, good sauce. This place is a winner. Go early, they fill up.
(5)
Handan A.

Thin crust pizza is awesome here! We were looking for that for a while in the city and this is our place now!!!
(5)
Kate K.

I've had take out pizza from here and loved it. We got the mean green which has pesto, jalapenos and a bunch of vegetables. It was the right amount of spicy, great crust, great sauce. Very good size pizza for the price. Getting to this place is a little weird, it kind of reminds me of a dungeon because it's really dark and underground. It's definitely more of a bar inside than I would have expected. You walk down a staircase to enter and it's a little confusing which door to go through.
(4)
Radha K.

I love brick oven style pizza and this is as good as it gets in Chicago! The BBQ chicken, Ditka, Margharita, and more...all of it is fantastic! It's a little dim inside, but it's a neat layout and the service is great. Definitely going to return to Bricks!
(4)
Jon T.

Service was brutal and the pizza was decent. The atmosphere was really cool, but not worth the price or wait of the terrible service! We left after waiting for each stage of the meal only to see our waitress smoking next door. Definitely not worth a return trip!
(1)
Doug K.

Best thin pizza in Chicago! OK, I know people differ on the style of pizza they like. Some people like sloppy stuffed pizza you have to eat with a fork, and some like a floppy pizza like you fold in New York. Me, I prefer a very thin but sturdy crust. Bricks is the only place I know of that still make a crust like this. This kind of crust is best with a Chicago cut (square cut for you out of towners), which you will get if you order a large pizza. I love that you can get a white pizza (olive oil and garlic instead of sauce). When I go, I order a large pizza for myself, just so I can get the leftovers, but half the time I wind up eating the rest of it as a late night snack. Other good things there, the beer selection and the slutty ravioli (hope you like cheese). The service is friendly. I like the dark, bar-like feel of the place. It doesn't seem like it would be kid friendly, but I have seen babies and kids there, and have brought my own child. While I am giving this place 5 stars for being my favorite pizza place, here are some minor downsides...the pizza is fairly expensive and the space is medium-small. They will take reservations, but they reserve the right to take your credit card. Parking can be tough around there (I wish they were walking distance from my home).
(5)
Brett C.

Pizza was good. Service great. Had an event next door, they were cool with me running back and forth checking to see if the party had started yet. Pretty waitresses, can't beat that. Bartenders look like bartenders. I mean that in a good way. You know what I mean, don't look at me like that.
(5)
O S.

Love this place! Great pizza, great salads, great service!
(4)
Vic C.

Great atmosphere. Walking downstairs into a dimly lit bar is pretty cool and they have a separate dining area. Food was great. I had a half Beverly / half Red Planet. Beer list was solid. Plenty of options. Service was terrible. Finally requested a pitcher of water because the waitress or busboy would only fill up one pitcher at a time. However, it was a pizza place on a Friday night at 10 with few empty tables and there was only one waitress. Overall, great THIN crust pizza with good beer options. It's worth visiting if you're in the neighborhood.
(3)
Bridget D.

I love the hole-in-the-wall, cozy atmosphere. Great for a date or small group of friends. And though I'm a deep dish lover at heart, this is honestly some of the best thin crust pizza I've ever had. The restaurant is small/cramped and you will wait a while for a table at peak hours, but worth it. They have old school TVs (the big fat ones) and authentic old Chicago memorabilia. My boyfriend and I ordered our pizza to go and got a drink at the bar while we waited. It did take a while, but after the bartender realized he was the one who forgot about our pizza, he gave it to us "on the house." He was genuinely apologetic, so it was all good. Will be going back soon to dine-in.
(4)
Johanna F.

Great place for thin crust pizza. Atmosphere is dark but a very fun place. The bartenders are quick and the servers are really nice. There was about a 15 minute wait for us on an EARLY friday night so we snagged some standing room at the bar. We ended up being seated at the two-tops directly opposite from the bar which was great (once I saw the rest of the restaurant). We ended up making friends with the couple next to us. TIP - early Friday night dinners = great... This way you can grab a few beers, a pizza and then head out for the evening! We'll be back.
(4)
Charles S.

Excellent flavorful pizza with many creations to choose from. All on a tasty crust. Yummy!!
(4)
Ray D.

Half Sweet Heat/Half Ditka Ditka Ditka. Meat lover madness! Could do without the heat and just the sweet. But who cares. The pizza was absolutely delightful. Look forward to enjoying some ZaZa again.
(5)
Agatka C.

This was my first and last time at this place. Although the pizza is fantastic, the service will definitely keep me from coming back. I came in with a few friends to see what the buzz was all about. The ambience is nice, small underground bar/lounge area. We came around 930. NOBODY CAME UP TO US UNTIL 10. We were asked for our drink order (might I mention we were already ready to order and our server just walked away no questions asked!!?) Already infuriated, it took 15 extra minutes to get our beers, and did not receive out pizzas until 1045. Which may I mention all came at different times? What restaurant does that? Half my friends were done with their pizzas while the other half first started. No one came up to us and asked how we were doing. NOT ONCE. And I need to mention again: this place is SMALL. There were no more than 5 tables in the entire place! All servers had an unwelcoming expression on their faces. Also, the server gave us a problem when we told her WHEN WE GOT SEATED that we would like separate checks. When she went back to split our check that she brought CHARGED TOGETHER, she took her sweet time and conversed with her fellow co worker for a few minutes before returning. And thank god we know how to do our math because we were stuck splitting our own checks. Needless to say my friends and I have never received such infuriating service that is surely bound to keep us away from returning.
(1)
Rachael K.

I've been looking for a good pizza place that serves authentic, Italian style pizza with fresh ingredients. Moving from NYC, I had quite a few places. I decided to try Bricks because it had good reviews and the pictures looked decent. My sister and I were disappointed, to say the least. First of all, the Caesar salad dressing was a similar consistency to a big glob of mayonnaise. Their pizzas all seemed to have strange combos. Who puts jalapeÃ±o and pesto together? It sounded interesting, so we tried it out and it was weird. You also just couldn't taste the pesto. The crust tasted like cardboard, it was pretty hard to cut. I just wouldn't order here again. Maybe it's good for drunk people who want weird ingredients thrown together, but if you want good pizza, don't go here.
(2)
Keith A.

Well, I'm a dumbass. Bricks has been on my radar for a while and only now have I actually eaten their pie. And now, I feel like a dumbass for not eating their pizza sooner. This past saturday I finally had a chance to sample from Bricks as they are friends with the people at Domaine Wine Storage. So, we had a lot of Bricks pizza for the tasting. When I was told that, a smile was put on my face as I knew I'd finally break my Bricks cherry. Since there was a lot of pizza for a lot of people, that meant I got to try a couple of them. To start, I was a fan of everything we got (a mushroom based pizza, bbq chicken, and an assorted peppers pie), but the bbq chicken was the real star. This was the one I kept going back to along with the assorted peppers slices. These were all thin crust done in the classic Chicago thin crust pieces. I loved the crust on these. It was crisp and just really good on the whole. I need to get my own order from Bricks in the future. I'm generally a happy guy when it comes to pizza, but Bricks did it right IMO.
(4)
Ermelinda C.

We finally gave Bricks a shot this weekend. A-OK - nothing to rave home about.
(3)
Parker K.

If you've ever seen "Cheers" then you already know something or two about Bricks. This cozy basement spot has extremely friendly and prompt waitstaff by far the BEST (and I repeat, BEST) pizza in Chicago. Their East Coast style thin crust pizza is unparalleled in the city. I work in the industry and this is my spot! If you want great pizza, awesome service, and a unique atmosphere go to Bricks - Where everyone knows your name!
(5)
Anthony S.

I ordered the ditka for takeout and the 10" was more than enough. They definitely don't skimp on the amount of ingredients. I was glad to find a place that says quality, nondeep dish pizza.
(5)
Genie B.

Mmmm, Bricks is amazing. I can't write this review without wanting to go order the Sweet Heat pizza. Probably one of the best pizzas I've ever had and trust me, I know pizza! The BBQ chicken pizza is also fantastic. But, the one thing I recommend the most to anyone that wants to try it out, get the Goat Cheese appetizer. (Drool) Simply put, it's amazing. Pizza lovers should not miss this place, it's a hidden gem in Lincoln Park.
(5)
Ryan M.

Bricks is a great gem of flat, crispy, creative pizza in the deep-dish sea that is Chicago. There are plenty of options for all types of 'vores--vegetarian options, all-meat options, and something in the middle. I tried the self-titled Brickhouse (artichokes, red peppers, garlic) and was very satisfied. The beer selection is also quite good and the prices reasonable. I had two bottles along with my pizza and spent about $20. The place itself is pretty small and popular, so on weekend nights there will more likely be a wait (I went on Saturday and there would have been a wait, but I sat at the bar). The mild-mannered, bearded bartender is also pretty cool. I have no complaints whatsoever about Bricks. I have enjoyed the pizza more at one place I can think of, but it was not thin and crispy. And Bricks was just as eclectic. Also, their weekday specials are great. So do that. Right now... if it is a weekday.
(4)
Stephanie D.

Om nom nom nom. Whew. After spending a day wandering around the Art Institute, we decided to try this little place out and boy I'm soo glad we did. Tucked away in Lincoln Park, it's a great little spot that's out of the way. First off, it's divey and cool and dark and well awesome. The pesto bread was delicious. We went with the painful pizza but got it without the jalapenos. It was sooo good!!!! Holy whatever. I mean it's hard for me to say I love this pizza. But omg. I love Brick's pizza. Love. Amorous. Infatuated. It was so good from the sauce to the crust to the pepperoni (3 top things I grade). Bricks, you have made it to my top 5 pizza joints in the US. Congrats. Consider yourself lucky and I will be returning.
(5)
Vina O.

I ordered the green garden pizza (pesto sauce, mushroom, onions, sweet red peppers, fresh tomato and mozzarella) and asked if they could add pineapple. I say this with no exaggeration: this is probably the BEST thin crust pizza I've ever had in the United States. Only thin crust pizza I've had that tasted better was in Naples, Italy, but c'mon they INVENTED pizza. :P I usually discard the crust, but I seriously ate every bit of each piece of pizza. I devoured it until I could eat no more. Cheese/topping ratio to bread/crust was PERFECT. The pineapple was the best addition, since I can't get enough of the simultaneous sweet & salty in my mouth. The fresh tomato was so delicious and refreshing and the pesto sauce (instead of marinara) gave the entire pizza a unique yet delicious kick. Pizza is typically known to be heavy and greasy or unhealthy, but I totally didn't feel sick after eating this pizza. It actually tasted healthy! I want to order this again and again and again because it was just THAT good. I don't even like pizza all that much, but Bricks green garden pizza with pineapple has changed my mind. I tried my husband's painful pizza, but I didn't like it that much. Probably because I'm not a huge pepperoni fan, so I can't really dock a star for that since I'm biased. Overall, I can't wait to come back! I probably should try another type of pizza, but this was so memorable and amazing that I can't bring myself to order something else.
(5)
Casey Z.

Bricks is awesome! Their pizza is absolutely delicious and their salads are great too. They have a pesto-shrimp pizza that is unreal. My only complaint is that the restaurant kinda has a funky smell - I think it's because the restaurant is below street level.
(3)
Kori E.

The pizza was good, but the slutty ravioli is where it's at! I would definitely return.
(4)
Kyle H.

Goat cheese appetizer is a must have. Decent beer selection, and usually a few less common craft beers on draft. They have really fresh peppers, and the jalapenos are spicy but good. They load up the toppings too. The entrance is dark and damp, which gave me a bad first impression. That quickly changes when I got inside. Has a neighborhood feel and has been pretty crowded every time I've been.
(4)
Amanda B.

I went here for the first time on a whim and was very impressed. The sandwich I ordered was great. The ham and cheese was delicious and had extra elements such as onions and balsamic dressing. The location was unique and the atmosphere was cool and relaxing. I would recommend to my friends.
(5)
K S.

Okay we stopped in because of the Worlds best Pizza sign. The Slutty Ravioli was Amazing! However the Peteluma Pizza was just decent. Usually we have to stop ourselves from over eating when it comes to pizza but this was just okay. I think there are a few other places in the area hell on the same street that will give this place a run for their money.
(3)
Tina Y.

My favorite pizza place in Chicago. Love the painful pizza! I will say that if you are into deep dish pizza this will not be the place for you. All of their pizzas are thin crust. I also recommend their arugula salad and meatballs.
(4)
Daniel J.

Their pizza is incredible, the beer list is just as delicious. I have been to Bricks a hand full of times and have had nothing but a great experience every time. Go, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Johnnalee K.

We love Bricks! Randomly discovered it on the way to a class at Second City. The hole-in-the-wall vibe is perfect for a pizza joint, and the food is soooo tasty. I love the Red Planet pizza and the goat cheese appetizer, not to mention the $4 22 oz. Fat Tires on Thursdays. The servers are usually prompt and friendly, so it's an all-around good time. I unfortunately had to give Bricks 4 stars instead of 5 because their delivery is bad news. Last time we ordered it was cold, yet had been waaay overcooked so that some of the cheese was burnt. We'd ordered it before and it wasn't awful, but after the cold, burnt Red Planet we won't do Bricks delivery again.
(4)
Veronica H.

It's dark! Good service, great spinach salad, not to busy at lunch on Sunday. It's not deep dish, but it's still delicious. This place is a bar and pizzeria and it's quite dark, especially coming out of the mid-day sun. The pizza was fantastic and the spinach salad complimented it perfectly.
(4)
Dianne J.

I am a person who doesn't like pizza that much but I love their "red planet "thin crust pizza. Four stars because it took me 35 mins to find a parking spot.
(4)
K N.

I have ordered Bricks for take out, as well as dined in and they never, EVER do me wrong. My go-to is the Red Planet, sans goat cheese (I'm weird with cheese). The tomato sauce isn't super sweet, it's savory enough and compliments the mozz cheese perfectly. I don't even mind the red onions because they put red peppers on this pie. The crust is a delightful and scrumptious combination of a thin (not cracker thin) crust. To put it plainly, this place is pizza perfection. I could go on and on and on about the other pizzas I've had here but I'll stick to my fave pie from my fave place. Now, if they would only extend their delivery radius to include my apartment, we'd be in business. :-)
(5)
Krupa A.

Nice atmosphere. Great beer selection, including different varieties on tap. I was dissappointed with the pizza. Ordered the 12" Painful, easy on the cheese, and was still hungry afterwards! The crust was a little too thin. Being from NY, we're super attuned to awesome pizza, and this was just meh. Service was ok. A family next to us were regulars and it was nice to see employees interacting with the family. It's kid friendly even though it seems dark and cavern like inside. I'd go back for drinks if I was in the area again.
(3)
Marshall S.

The only thing better than the entrance is the Belgian-focused beer list, and the only thing better than the beer is the thin crust pizza. Definitely check out they BBQ chicken pizza if that's your thing but you can't go wrong with any of them. If you are in the area (or can find a way to get in the area), definitely try Bricks.
(5)
Len S.

For the food...I have to give it close to five stars. The house salad had a tasty vinegarette and was nicely appointed with bleu cheese crumbles, olives, etc. The pizza special we had tonight was a 14 inch size which was just a tiny bit more than two people can eat unless they want to stuff themselves. The toppings were the bomb...a combo of meatball, sausage, jalapenos, etc. The hots were a bit overwhelming after a while, but dang, what great flavor. The pizza was cooked perfectly, and the thin crust was just awesome. For the atmosphere...On the plus side...Was pretty warm in there. Mentioned to the waitress and they kicked on the AC, and it cooled right down. That was nice. On the downside, please don't put a 2-top RIGHT outside the little hall to the bathrooms. That's where we were seated, and the slamming bathroom door and flushes weren't the most appetizing. I'm sure if I asked to move they would have done it without grumbling, though. Overall, I'd certainly go again. Some of the best pizza I have ever had.
(4)
Kristine N.

Pretty good pizza in a cool neighborhood. Came in around 9pm on a Tuesday for some drinks and dinner. Got the stuffed dates which were pretty good. There's a ton of leftover sauce which is a great dipping sauce for the pizza! We shared a painful pizza with pepperoni, onions, and jalapenos (perfect for date night right?). The crust is so crispy and its not super oily. Very yummy.
(4)
Andrew ÃŸ.

Great place in the basement A little creepy as we went into the basement. But very nice bar Loved all the pizza choices here.
(4)
Jacob J.

Years ago I'd made a mental note to remember to try their pies. The other night we were hanging in the LP so I made this our dinner destination. Chicago thin crust as some say. It talks about the thinness of the pizza. Not Wells brothers thin, but thin. That means not wafer thin. We ordered a Painful pizza, it came topped with spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Was it spicy? I was drinking Bear Republic Racer 5 IPA's while waiting for the pie. I think my pores were drunken. When that pie arrived, we dived right in. The jalapeno slices were hot, plain slices that brought the heat. The spicy pepperoni added flavor to the sauce and we were perspiring. A large Za' almost defeated, with two slices left. We were lucky to get a table for two on a crowded Friday night. We called sometime earlier and were told the wait could be forty five minutes to an hour. We got in there a few minutes later and got seated immediately. It's located a floor below street level and has about fifteen or so tables seating about two to each. Due to the way the bar and dining area are setup it makes it really easy to catch your waitress or see them, when drinks or items are needed. Service was attentive and prompt.
(4)
Christian B.

I just moved to Chicago from Portland and thought I'd kick off my year here with some pizza. I ordered the 14" Sweet Heat pizza ($21) and it was the epitome of mediocrity. The crust was burnt, the pizza was lacking in the sauce department, and I felt that the flavors conflicted to the point where you didn't know what you were supposed to be tasting. I really wanted to like this place, but it seems like they should've spent more time on their pizza and less on their interior design (which I have to admit, was fantastic). It's possible that my taste in pizza is "off" since I'm from the left coast, but I really just didn't enjoy my food.
(2)
Jessica S.

Was here tonight for dinner. I love the atmosphere. Dark lighting, red candles. Pizza was good. Got half a Popeye, and half pepperoni, ham, banana pepper, and sausage. Slutty ravioli was better than expected, had some spice to it. I think there is ground sausage in the filling. Waitress was nice. I do prefer my pizza cut the regular way as opposed to squares but whatever. I would return
(4)
Blake K.

Amazing pizza. We had the olive oil and garlic pizza and I am still dreaming about it! Service was friendly too. But it's hidden down some cement stairs and we thought we were walking into a dive bar instead at first. Will definitely be back though!
(4)
Michael D.

Great place for family and friends to gather. Wait staff is nice. Love the meatball pizza and Caesar Salad is our favs. Great selection of beers. Nice neighborhood easy park. Go for a walk after dinner and enjoy the sites. Made some great memories there with my wife and friends.
(5)
Nina I.

LOVE LOVE LOVE! THIS is what I call pizza! This place had my favorite thin crust pizza~! It's underground and reminds me of a speakeasy, I did look it up and it never was one but I still go there with the illusion and I dig it. It's very dark and ambient and they have awesome artwork on the walls. My top choice is the Painful - spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno (and I mean FRESH), garlic, tomato sauce, and mozzarella. YUM! But get the jalapenos on the side if you value your bowel movements later. ha ha. They have such a variety of pizza though, and same goes for beer! This place is worth every penny I can eat here every day for the rest of the year (2013). I forgot mention one thing though..... THE STAFF ROCKS. Never had poor service. And even if I do in the future the food will make up for it! TRY THIS PLACE ASAP!!!
(5)
Scott N.

I have always loved Brick's! Love the Painful. Plus, it's fun to say, "I'll have a 12-inch painful".
(5)
Lisa F.

Love this hole in the wall with amazing specialty pizzas!! Good beer selection, attentive staff and great thin crust pizzas!
(4)
Madhumitha V.

What's unique about my experience with Bricks is the fact that it has been so varied. I have been to Bricks and had amazing pizzas. But, whenever I order delivery, the pizzas just aren't as good. Today the pizzas were dry, burnt and weird tasting. I have frankly not had such terrible pizzas ever. But, they were super prompt with issuing a refund (or a store credit) when I called to let them know the pizza quality today. I wasn't expecting that at all and came away impressed at their customer service.
(2)
Autumn S.

Found the place next to our hotel. We were on our way back from a brewery and something smelled fantastic. We found the root at Bricks. It was a Tuesday night and pretty dead so we were seated immediately. We ordered the slutty ravioli and it was out of this world. The pizza looked good but we didn't order any. Decent beer/wine menu too. Very divey pizza point - would def. recommend.
(4)
Bianca Z.

If you are a deep-dish or even regular crust lover - this is NOT the place to change your opinion on thin-crust pizza. I'll admit that I personally am slightly indifferent towards thin-crust pizza, and the food at Bricks is so-so. I guess charred crust with little sauce and soggy toppings just don't do it for me. I will say that I liked the feel of the place and waitresses were attentive.
(2)
Dominique M.

I had the Petaluma club and it was amazing. The crust was crispy and perfect. It's a little dark but the food is worth it.
(5)
Samantha J.

To keep it short, prompt delivery (30 minutes when grubhub said an hour), delicious THIN CRUST pizza (red planet was good, but I'm not in love with goat cheese so I'll probably try the bbq chicken next time), and the slutty ravioli was awesome (warning: you must really like cheese in order to enjoy this). Moderately priced and good, quality food. Thank you fellow yelpers for pointing me to Bricks!
(4)
William L.

*3.5 star review * I'm a big fan of pizza places with strange and delicious combinations of toppings, but I always hem and haw over the choices for long enough to annoy my dining partner. I may or may not eat alone a lot as a result. Bricks has a lot of great options, particular a few if you like spicy pizza as I do. However, on my most recent trip, I tried the Kapalua (pineapple, ham, mozzarelly) and loved it. The pineapple was fresh and plentiful and the cured ham gave it a nice, salty counter taste. Their drink selection is great for a pizza place, although drafts are served in water glasses. No pints or tulips? For a pizza place, it's a bit expensive, but for a Lincoln Park anything, it's just average.
(3)
Leslie B.

We had Bricks delivered on a freezing cold Friday night because we didn't want to leave the apartment. Delivery was prompt, only about 45 minutes, and the food was SO good! Slutty ravioli was the best choice we made all night, the sauce on those is fantastic. It's a large portion, but I have a very hungry boyfriend. He kept dipping his pizza into the leftover sauce...We took wayyy too much time debating what kind of pizza to order and ended up with half Red Planet and half Sweet Heat. Red Planet features goat cheese, which I'm a big fan of, but it was pretty overpowering. I was also wishing there were more toppings, kind of lacking in the sausage and red pepper. The Sweet Heat was awesome, I don't think I've ever had Gouda on a pizza and it was delicious. Loved the spice coming from the jalapenos and the BBQ/tomato sauce was a winner. Really enjoyed both kinds, and it was fun to go back and forth between such different flavors, but Sweet Heat was definitely the winner. I'm eager to try their other kinds and will definitely be ordering the slutty ravioli again.
(4)
Bill J.

Dumb broad took my order for delivery and then called me back AN HOUR later to say I was out of the delivery zone. What a joke.
(1)
Daniel C.

I'm not gonna deduct stars because of the parking because that would not be fair to the restaurant. This place is amazing. My friend's husband dropped us off so he could find parking and he absolutely no luck so while we were waiting to see if he could find parking me, my mom and my friend had appetizers and drinks. Good Long Island Iced Tea and garlic bread and we had to take the pizzas to go. We ordered the Red Planet, the Ditka and the painful. Best pizza in the city. They use fresh ingredients. The service was incredible. Loved the atmosphere. Will go back again but maybe to Big Bricks. Hopefully there is better parking around there.
(5)
Swati B.

I love pizza, that's no secret...and many places do thin crust, but I've only found 2 places in chicago that are really really good...ok now I've found 3. This place has such a great homey feel. Initially when i walked down a stairwell and into what looked like an alley I was a bit nervous but wow what a great ambiance this place has. The service is really good, our waitress was very friendly and really efficient. I was starving so I ordered the pesto cheese bread..OMG heaven! I love pesto..but to put it on garlic bread and then put cheese on top..hello carb heaven! The pizza was actually pretty perfect, not soggy, not over done, fresh ingredients, great sauce with lots of flavor that I didn't have to add anything to the pizza! Pretty decent beer list as well. definitely recommend it and I'll definitely come back soon!
(5)
Kathleen C.

Ok, I know I've had reviews before and have said "I seriously don't get it...why do people like this place", but I think Bricks might be one of the most confusing spots in terms of the great reviews. This is not a 4-star dining experience. First of all, the spot looks like a dungeon - and I'm all for cozy, dark restaurants, but this one is more cozy, dark, creepy. There are hardly any tables, and about 4 were marked reserved, but were empty. A 2 for atmosphere. The service was not great. Our waitress didn't bring menus for everyone at the table and barely came to check on us (and didn't ask if we wanted a refill on drinks until we were almost done with dinner). Additionally, we ordered a quail egg on our pizza - which showed up totally overcooked - and we asked for it to be returned and she completely ignored us (she didn't even respond at all - just walked away). Interesting customer service. She was somewhat helpful when the bill came, so that brings service from a 1 to a 2. The bathrooms were a 3 - they were large, but a bit old. The food left a lot to be desired. I love pizza. I love dives. I love dive pizza. I don't understand why I didn't like this - I mean, it was ok. The crust is decent and it's possible I chose incorrectly, but I thought it was just ok. Nothing special zipped out at me. There are so many good spots in the city for both deep dish and thin crust pizza, that I think I can find somewhere closer and better to eat at. I will say that the slutty ravioli was delicious, but the portion could have been served on a smaller plate as much of it was just overflow cheese. The food is a 3. On to value...the wine and beer was reasonably priced and the food in general was well priced. However, the pricing doesn't always match the food portion sizes. The ravioli was large, but our other appetizer was miniscule for the price. Additionally, I have to say that 2-3 people, if they are having appetizers, can definitely share a 10" pizza. We were informed that a 10" is individual size - and you could definitely do this for an entree. However, 2 of us, with other appetizers, didn't need to be upsold into a larger pizza. Our server should have instead explained the size and we could have decided. A 3 for value. I would like to give this spot a 2, but it unfortunately rounds to a 2.6, so I will have to round up...however, I'm doubtful I will return any time soon.
(3)
Ben T.

Rudest delivery guy who looked like Sargent slaughter. Pizza is mediocre with barley any sauce and it took two hours to show up when they told me an hour. Amatos is better quality. Order from there.
(1)
Hajar A.

The location was pretty cool. It's located in the basement area of the building and is hidden from the main street. Not sure if the Lincoln Zoo lights brought in the families, but the restaurant consisted of all families with young children. We ordered the caprese salad and a 12'" with tomato sauce, mozzarella and basil. It was definitely enough for two. I am a huge fan of thin crust pizza! Overall the food was okay. There wasn't anything special about the pizza.
(2)
Mopsie B.

When I lived in Chicago the last time, Bricks opened in Lincoln Park. We went there often and I loved it. Then I moved away and my brother and his wife started going there and sending me beer labels of beers they'd sampled there that weren't technically legit to sell in IL. I've been back for a couple years now but just decided to back to Bricks last night. Can I just say that it's even better than I'd remembered it being?! What is not to like? It's dark, cozy and romantic. The beer selection is amazing and the pizza...well, honestly, it might just be the "best in the city" (as the awning states). We had two orders of the garlic bread, it was that good. The arugula salad is also rave-worthy. With regard to the pizza- if you like a very thin, crisp crust and toppings that do not overwhelm, then this is for you. We got the Popeye with mushrooms and I was worried that the feta and mozzarella would be too much...but it wasn't at all. There was just the right balance of all the toppings- very flavorful and delicious. I loved every single thing about our meal, including the price. I would complain about the very short white wine list but the pinot grigio I had was excellent. It all feels very adult down there in that candlelit speakeasy-- until some mother of the year brings her two-year-old in at 10 p.m.! The server was really nice about it and even got the kid a high chair, but come on...little kids in a bar an hour before close? Rant over. Bricks is great.
(5)
Andrew D.

So Bricks. Really tasty brick oven pizza. Thin and crispy, crunchy and tasty. It's down in the basement of a building in Lincoln Park, the little entrace area is kind of strange, and a little smelly, but once you get past that and into the restaurant the pizza is good. Had the painful without the pain (aka fresh jalapeno). It really hit the spot. They had a good beer selection on draft and in bottles. Anyone who's looking for a good brick oven pizza should head here.
(5)
Rajat S.

Now, before you guys start bashing one of the most controversial statement I have ever written, I must say that this is only true for the less than 5% of the pizza places I have tried in the city: This is the BEST pizza you can get in Chicago, hands down. OK, I know. People have different preferences. Thick vs thin, variety of toppings etc. Bricks is your good old thin crust pizza, and they make it to perfection. The toppings are so fresh that the Jalapeno's become a challenge to eat after the first bite. The tomato sauce and cheese is in perfect amounts, and the whole experience is amazing. The appetizer's are not bad, although the variety is very small. In terms of the ambiance, it is located in the basement of some building, and you feel hesitant to go in at first. It is a very Pizza place feel, which is a good thing. Give bricks a try, and if not the best, I can promise you that you would at least have had a very very good Pizza.
(5)
Lauren S.

THIS PIZZA IS WONDERFUL!!! While I have only been twice, both times were great experiences!! Underground area with low ceilings over local and unique experience!! Love the goat cheese app, just the right balance and served with yummy little toasts. We always order the Painful and while incredibly delish!! It's painful to eat (lots of fresh jalapenos) and painful the next 12 or so hours. It's delish however, so you will have to be the judge of whether or not it's worth it!! I read some people get the jalapenos on the side which I may try next time. We have also had the slutty ravoli which were pretty good, but not my all time fav.
(5)
Christine F.

Pizza pizza! I love pizza. It's my best friend. With all those carbs and cheese and tomato sauces...mmm. I haven't met a pizza I didn't like. The wonderful pizza streak continued with Bricks. We made a res over the phone (which I recommend you do, because it gets BANANAS in there) for 6:30pm on a Friday. We showed up a little early and were immediately seated. Yippie! The decor is dark (it's partially underground) with lots of bricks (duh). It's also pretty loud, so if you're trying to have an intimate conversation I'd suggest going somewhere else. Anywho, awesome beer menu. It was Friday night and I was feeling fancy, so I got a Delirium Tremens. We skipped apps (I'll see you next time, Slutty Ravioli) and went straight for the 'za. I got the vegetarian and my husband got the red planet. It came out bubbly and piping hot, just as a pizza should. Great crust/sauce/cheese ratio. The crust was crispy but still chewy - which is just delightful. The vegetarian had lots of veggies stacked high (and diced pretty finely, FYI) and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I ate about 1/2 of the pizza before I had to stop. We had each ordered an 11", which is a little larger than an individual pie. My husband loved his pizza as well and ate it all. We passed on dessert, paid and headed home. The rest of my pizza made an awesome breakfast (who needs Wheaties?!) and we'll be back. I want to try the BBQ chicken with gouda ZOMG next time. I would say that Great Lake, Pizza DOC and Piece are still my favorite pie slingers in Chicago, but Bricks is solid and I wouldn't hesitate to come back.
(4)
Amanda M.

I will preface this review by saying we did not eat the food. This is purely my review on service. My husband and I came in for dinner at 6pm on a Saturday. Only three other tables we filled and we saw at least 5 people working. After being seated, we waited more than 10 minutes and not one person came over to say hello, take our order or acknowledge us in any way. We decided to leave and as we walked out my husband told the hostess what happened. Neither she nor the three other people (waitress, bartenders) responded to him in any way. Very disappointing experience.
(1)
Michael S.

I ordered bricks tonight for the first time. I went with the BBQ chicken pizza....absolutely incredible! Finely diced onions and chicken, delivered hot. Extremely fast delivery too, ~25 minutes. (Grubhub said an hour for delivery). Would definitely order from this place again...
(5)
Peter g.

For thin crust, there is Pizzanos downtown that is as good as it gets, but this little joint serves up some tasty options, amazing toping choices (their choices inclued 'painful'- 'green garden' - and more). There is a hot food contest as well, survive and I think you could eat anything spicy, the guy from Mexico next to us said it was too hot for him and only finished half, the other 2 trying it were going at a good clip when we left but had gloves on so they would not burn their hands! Spicy aside, I had the veggie with meatball, and my GF had a make her own. The ingridents were very fresh, the dough was clearly spun right then and there and as thin as it was it did not crumble or break up - it held a good amount of toppings but tasted good also, win win for their crust. The sauce was good, not amazing OMG must go back for breakfast- but good. This is for sure a repeat pizza joint, and that is saying a lot in this town.
(4)
Tim R.

Have you ever craved pizza so much, waited an hour for the pizza to arrive and get a call that the delivery man turned around because you are "now" out of their delivery range? Well that just happened! Didn't quite realize that river north was suddenly far enough away to cancel an order mid route. Thanks, Bricks! If your place wasn't in a basement with no windows I'd love to throw a brick through your window to show my appreciation.
(1)
Kaitlin M.

All I can say is... AMAZING!!! Especially on half off wine Wednesdays! Order one of their great thin crust pizzas and you will NOT be disappointed. My biggest issues is that they are just a walk from my house and they are going to take all my money!
(5)
Rachel B.

While it looks like you're walking into a dungeon....the food is wonderful. Had the Slutty Ravioli....highly recommend! I also had the Ditka Pizza and it was amazing.
(5)
Angie M.

I kind of felt like I was entering an underground dungeon when I walked into Bricks. There aren't too many spots in our fair city for pizza, or any food for that matter, that have strictly basement locations. Very cool. What I liked most about Bricks is how deliciously old school it feels. From the brown glass candle holders on the tables to the classic shakers of grated parm and red pepper flakes to the simple white plates stacked in the middle of the table, Bricks is unapologetically traditional. No fancy-schmancy set-ups here! You can get your shaved parmesan toppings elsewhere. Appetizers of baked goat cheese with marinara served with toasted bread and cheesy garlic bread are super traditional and quite well done. The goat cheese was very mild yet nice and creamy and when served on the classic French bread toast slices, it was pretty tasty, too. And really, who's not on board with cheesy garlic bread? Please. That stuff is great! Being a Friday during Lent and dining with all Catholic folk (myself included) we opted for a few meat-free 'zas. I'm in love with the vegetarian pizza, minus the green peppers. Lots of veggie goodness and a good ratio of sauce to cheese to toppings made it delightful. The crust is thin, but not cracker thin, so it held up nicely under all the veggies. We also order a plain cheese (Quite plain. Get some toppings on Bricks pizza if you want to be happy.) and a tomato, garlic and onion pie. I'm Italian, so I can pretty much roll around in garlic. Love it. Bricks isn't shy with the vampire killer so you may want to pack a breath mint if you're on a date. Service was friendly. They have Stella Artois on tap in HUGE glasses, so that's pretty cool. Yeah. I'm down with Bricks.
(4)
Neha M.

Bricks is some of my favorite pizza in the city. That being said I am not a deep dish girl and this is definitely not deep dish- it's more New Haven style. The first time I came here they were shooting an episode of "heat seakers," so it was a really fun atmosphere, and I got to see the lucky participant eat a huge hothothot pizza. They have a great variety of pizzas and their salads are good as well. They have a great beer selection too. The only negative of this place is the ambience/location. It is in the basement of a building and it feels a little dingy. But that is a slight negative and everything else about this place is great :)
(4)
Sumi P.

Went here last night with some friends and family and wasn't as wowed as I thought I'd be. Location: This is one of those spots that you tell yourself you'll get around to trying out but avoid it like the plague because it's in lincoln park and in typical lincoln park fashion...parking is a nightmare. As a local, I refuse to pay for valet(i don't think they have valet, but the ranalli's next to it does), which meant circling the block for a spot even on a Wednesday night. The entrance to this place is a bit unorthodox and leads into an underground doorway, and of course I was confused, but you'll figure it out. Service: This place is strange. I called to make reservations, and they told me they take a card to hold the reservation and charge five dollars a person if you don't show up. hahahhaha. This almost made me not wanna go here, but I was craving some crispy thin crust, so I caved. Spot: This place is small, so I'm glad we made the reservation. It was full on a Wednesday night at about 7:30pm. There are only about 12-15 tables in the main dining area, and a few more in the bar/entrance area. Didn't mind the size, but definitely sat way too close to the table next to us and had to endure their trite conversation. But I can't think of one place I've been to in Lincoln Park where I wasn't sitting too close to the table next to me, so no surprise there. Ambiance: Typical Lincoln Park crowd. I think we were the only non-blonde clientele in here. But staff was generally alright. Not very friendly but not unfriendly either. It does get super loud in here b/c it is so small. Lots of families and kids dining here during the week. Not sure if the crowd is different on the weekends. Pizza: I wanted to love this place, but it was just alright. The crust was good in terms of crispiness, but I found it was slightly thicker than what I would have liked to see in a thin crust, but that could be just personal preference. It's thicker than a lou malnati's thin crust, maybe similar to a giordanos in thickness. It is much better in taste than both of those places. The sauce is super mild, not sweet, not spicy, just plain. Cheese and toppings were good, cooked until nice and bubbly. I would have liked a little more salt in the crust, but again it is all preference. There is one dish that we didn't order, but the people next to us ordered that looked awesome - the slutty ravioli appetizer (if i were to go back (unlikely) would try this for sure) Price: I didn't think the pizza was worth the price. We ordered two 14 inch pies, a couple of soft drinks, a very small order of garlic bread and the total was 55 before tip. I guess maybe that's the going price for a pie in the neighborhood, but I don't think the pizzas lived up to the price. Overall: Good place to check out once, but with all the pizza places left to try in the city, I probably won't be back. Solid pizza but nothing to keep me coming. Definitely overpriced.
(3)
Brian H.

The BBQ pizza and Baked goat cheese are delicious! Great atmosphere, service and drink specials.
(5)
Pascal M.

Brick's is a winner on multiple levels. Their interior is bar none my favorite out of all the great pizza spots in our city. It starts with the intimidating walk down into their restaurant, followed by the creepy door and hallway that feel like I'm about to do something illegal. The ceilings are incredibly low but the lighting, brick walls, and wooden table give this places its own unique charm. The slutty Ravioli is hands down a cheese lovers must. If you saw the pictures, you probably know you'll already order it. They have an impressive selection of appetizers to choose from, surprising from a pizza joint too. Fresh colorful salads are great to have with the pizza too. Bricks pizza selection is awesome. They have got something for everyone. Each pizza is loaded with the right amount of cheese and sauce with that crispy crust we all love. We had the Sweet Heat and the Creole Shrimp. Both were perfectly cooked and each held up with their own flavors and textures. Brick's is a restaurant that would be awesome for take out, dining in, or not even getting food and just having a drink in their well stocked bar.
(5)
Ben Z.

Bricks depends too much on its good looks. Built into a basement grotto, Bricks feels old-worldy and is a nice switch from the modish style of other Chicago spots I've visited recently. High marks for authenticity. But the pizza here is just "OK", possibly below average. Their specialty pizzas are loaded with the ingredients pizza purists don't tolerate -- pesto, BBQ chicken, goat cheese, smoked Gouda. The sheer amount of goat cheese on the "Red Planet" pie totally overpowered every other ingredient. Plain old pepperoni and cheese might be a better approach at Bricks. The bar is small but features a killer beer list. A 22oz bottle of Fat Tire Amber Ale pairs well with even the worst pizza. They also have Delirium Tremens -- a rare Belgian beer that's 8.5% alcohol. No kidding around. Finally, I called to check the wait before heading over and was told it was a half hour. But when I arrived ten minutes later the wait turned into an hour. Meh.
(3)
Alyssa C.

I'll keep it short and sweet: I'm pretty sure my husband didn't breathe as he inhaled the slutty ravioli. We went for dinner on a Saturday night and he was asking if we could go back Sunday for lunch. It was the kind of pizza that was so good I started to think about what I wanted to order the next time we eat there immediately after I took the first bite. Overall, Bricks is a great hole-in-the-wall pizza place with pretty cheap (for Chicago) beers. You can't go wrong here!
(5)
Marc J.

Had a neat (dive-bar esque) feel to it, in the basement of a building. This definitely helped the ambience factor quite a bit, as it was something different from any ordinary pizza place. Service was fine. Not sure the pizza is worth the $$ you pay for it though; I like thin crust pizza, but this was just nothing special. Don't get me wrong, it was good and I'd eat there again, but i don't think it's worth going out of your way for. We got BBQ Chicken, Popeyes, Garden, and a Make-you-own (we got pepperoni) pizzas. The Garden and Popeyes went a little over kill on the toppings. The BBQ chicken was really good (probably the best pizza of our 4-pizza order), and the pepperoni was decent. One of the major things that bothered me about Bricks was that they do not have a dessert menu!! They did have a good selection of beers though.
(3)
Damian C.

I was one of the 16 attendees for Kate J's birthday bash weekend and was pretty excited to try this place. While I did enjoy the company and the food, I'm a die-hard thick crust fan. My theory is that thin crust, because of it's size and dimensions, is just so quick and easy to eat that you nom it down right away and move on; thick crust takes time and patience and, because you can only eat so much of it, you chew slowly and savor every cheesy bite. Because of this, I can't chalk Bricks up as a new favorite. I will say, however, their pizza combinations are creative and satisfy anyone's taste buds. I was pretty hungry and was going to order myself a 10" pizza, but the waitress suggested that I should split a 14" "Sweet Heat" with two of the girls in our group because it would be plenty. Fortunately the two of them had eaten an appetizer because it would not have been enough to fill up three hungry people. The toppings were plentiful and the overall taste combination was great but the crust was a bit thin and I just kept piling it on my plate and into my mouth too fast to completely savor. For next time, I have my eye on the "Sole Mio" (meatball pizza). One issue I had was with "The Ditka" - described as "all the meats, lots of cheese." When I asked exactly what "all the meats" meant, I was a bit surprised to hear that it was only pepperoni, sausage, and ham. Throw on some meatballs, chicken, and some bacon and you would have had my heart! Their beer list is a short but impressive list for a neighborhood pizza joint and if I weren't head to a party later I would have loaded up on the Arcadia IPA's. After all was said and done we walked out spending about $15 a person with tip, which isn't bad for a large group. I will give them high marks for our nice waitress and the "basement" atmosphere, but for them to claim the "Best Pizza on Earth" title is quite ambitious.
(3)
Kimberley C.

I love bricks! I've been here so many times. I'd recommend it to anyone. However I give it 3 stars because the olive oil pizza is usually over cooked, so don't get that! Also, the servers can be a bit rude. We asked to split our check because we had people on business with us. She split the check and brought it. Then said next time tell her before we eat. Which was stated almost out of pure frustration because it sounded so rude. I mentioned it was rude and how I love eating here. And she got angry and told me twice that if I didn't like it I should just not come back! Again, I love the atmosphere and usually the food, but this was just not a great experience. Such a bummer.
(3)
Natalie S.

We ordered from Bricks due to the positive reviews we saw on yelp.com . We have been searching for just the right pizza for the last 4 years. The pizza was pretty good. The delivery took and 1 1/2 hours. We asked the driver if the delivery fee was for him or not before we tipped him and he gave us the nastiest look. We would never not tip since in college we were in the service industry also but I will never order from them again.
(3)
Ramya P.

Underground clubby vibe! The ambiance is something I least expected. Its kinda dark and you think you're going to enter a fight club. Once our party of 5 were seated, we tried a couple'a different strong Belgian and German ales. Since we were starving we ordered the baked goat cheese with garlic bread which was yum and also 3 of 12" inch pizzas. The Brickhouse with artichoke sauce, green garden with a pesto and the spicy special... all three were delicious! Great thin crust pizza place in the neighborhood.
(4)
Melanie V.

Flatbread-ish, thin crust pizza? I'm down! Especially when I'm in a town that continually pimps out its deep dish. The atmosphere of Bricks is definitely cozy and filled with all ages of patrons - family friendly, for sure. There's a limited amount of tables, though, so I would probably call in for a reservation. Our party of 4 got lucky as I didn't expect the place to be packed at 6pm on a Sunday! Service was pretty good, too, and I'm glad the waitress didn't yell at us when we (semi-bluntly) asked to switch booths. I was intrigued by the pizzas on the menu. Lotsa different combinations - veggie, bbq chicken, shrimp, one dubbed 'painful' and one dubbed 'da ditka'. Plus, I saw the menu mention that you could add a quail egg to any pizza. Interesting, I thought. But, wtf is a quail egg? The fact that there were options with pesto, spinach and goat cheese...lovely. Winner in my book. Unfortunately, I was with friends that prefer tomato sauce to anything else, so I lost my battle. *sigh* We settled on a pepperoni and a Hawaiian-esque pizza (ham + pineapple). Both were pretty good - loved the crust and the freshness of the ingredients. However, the crust could have been a tad bit crispier and my friends also thought there could've been a little bit more sauce. I'd come back to try the veggie + pesto combos, though. Those are definitely unique to the typical pizza joint! Extensive beer list - from Chimay to PBR. Loved that they offer half bottles of wine, too. The weekly specials look good, too, as they offer 1/2 priced bottles of wine! Perfect for a mid-week, kick back kinda dinner. Nice.
(4)
E M.

I really wanted to like this restaurant. The atmosphere was fantastic, if a little offhand in the service, and the promise of a new great place for pizza was intriguing. But I have to say, after reading all these great reviews I have to wonder if both my husband and I were eating in the wrong place! We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs for our daughter, and the goat cheese pizza (I forgot what it was called) for us. First off - when we ordered the spaghetti, the server told us some people considered it spicy but she didn't think it was. Not being typically shy about that kind of thing we took her at her word, but let me tell you -- it was spicy. That level of spicy is called arrabiata, not meat sauce. Also, the pasta was just kinda limp and unexciting. I could boil better at home...and for the price, I'd expect for sauce on it. Second, the pizza. I'm not a pizza snob by any means -- I hardly ever meet a pizza I don't like. As I said I really wanted to like it, but it was blah. Lackluster. I am from Chicago, and I have had loads of great pizza. For instance, Ranalli's right next door has great pizza. This stuff we had was just a kind of spongy crust that didn't know if it wanted to be thick or thin, and it had no taste. There was no sauce to speak of -- I got the idea they were trying to skimp where they thought no one would really notice. The red peppers kind of overwhelmed it and the goat cheese seemed slightly over-cooked. I suppose we could go back for a different pizza and try again, but frankly there are so many other places to try, I doubt we will. Too bad....
(2)
Mahsa T.

No frills, just great pizza. Take the steps down to this rustic hole-in-the-wall for delicious thin-sliced pizza, good selection of beer, and friendly service. I was so glad that there was no wait on a Friday night and we were able to get a table right away while any other restaurant in town would've had an hour-long wait. We chose our own toppings--pepperoni, mushrooms, and anchovies. Make sure you ask for pie slices unless you want your pizza chopped up into tiny little square pieces.
(4)
Matthew F.

I don't go in for the Chicago deep-dish pizza thing. So Bricks is a candidate for my favorite pizza in town. The crust is hand-tossed, on the thin side but not paper-thin, and a little crisp. Toppings are generous and evenly distributed. The beer list is terrific, with some rare English and Belgian selections and rotating newcomers. We most often opt for a seat at the bar instead of a table, and have always been very well taken care of. Bonus points for the subterranean location and a jukebox that leans heavily on Delta blues and Sinatra & friends. Another reviewer said that this isn't a five-star dining experience. No, it's not Alinea, but what the hell? Relative to what it's trying to accomplish - great food & drink in a relaxed environment - it hits the mark squarely.
(5)
Jennifer G.

On a Saturday night we came in with a last minute reservation for 10 people. The staff went out of their way to accomodate us even though they were packed. The customer service during the entire meal was fabulous. On to the important part. The pizza was very good. We had the painful, which was incredibly unpainful but had great flavor (I credit the jalapenos being out of season with the lack of real heat so I can't blame Bricks). The cheese pizza was great and the belvedere was really good. Of course the star of the show was the slutty ravioli. This is just a cheese lover's paradise. The place has such a great underground feel and it gets loud and boisterous, which is what you want sometimes from a pizza place.
(4)
Jessica C.

Why in the world would a restaurant name one of their dishes "Slutty Ravioli?" Heck, with a reputation like that, it is hard not to want to give it a little try. So, I did. When the server came with our dish, it looked nothing like ravioli. It looked almost like pizza because of the round plate and mounds of sauce and cheese. We grabbed raviolis, put them on our plate, and took a bite. HOLY COW! I was instantly mesmerized. The ravioli was stuffed with the most delicious combination of meat, spices, cheese, and sauce to come together in an exquisite manner. Clearly, now I know why this dish is labeled slutty! You have to keep coming to Bricks to order it over and over again, with no shame! Ha! For our main dish, we had a difficult time picking one of their signature pizzas because they all sounded orgasmic. We ordered the Creole Shrimp Pizza. The sauce was Pesto based and there was a combination of mozzarella and Gouda cheeses. This was quite the pizza! I'm a pizza crust snob, and let me say, this thin, crispy crust was delectable! Grade A in my book. I will not undermine the service because it was fantastic! The servers were very friendly. Indulge in some delicious pizza and come do the "Slutty Ravioli" a favor and give it a try. You will be instantly enamored!
(4)
Kathy W.

Really Good Thin Crust Pizza and drinks, Not pricey, very clean! Walking in was a little confusing, luckily I saw from previous posts/images where we were headed! Very good, would totally go back! Walking distance from our Hotel Lincoln.
(4)
Parker C.

Great "specialty" pizzas. Beer list is incredible for a pizza place. Ambiance is a little strange -- the restaurant is subterranean and has the feel of a dive bar, but in a not-so-bad way. Not usually busy.
(4)
Heather M.

No. Seriously. N. O. I don't really know what else to say... the atmosphere is pretty cool, it's dark and cozy and it's good for a group. But the pizza is... no. I hate to write bad reviews, but I would be remiss if I didn't say something about this place. I don't even think I'm being a NY pizza snob, as most of the people in my 12 person party agreed that the food was lackluster at best. The crust, while certainly thin as other reviews claim, tasted like cardboard. Not tasteless, undersalted or anything like that - it actually tasted like cardboard. I think Mama Celeste makes a better "thin crust pizza." The topping combinations were awesome, and the ingredients were actually quite good (especially the meatball). But it was all lost because the crust was so bad. I really don't understand all the good reviews. I had some great thin crust at an event at the Museum of Contemporary Art, catered by Wolfgang Puck's. If you want some thin crust, check out the cafe (Puck's Restaurant) that they have there during museum hours. And, for god's sake, skip Bricks.
(1)
Shaun S.

Shared "The Painful" and "Sole Mio" with a couple of friends. The Painful was one of the best, if not the best, pizzas I have ever had. Very good atmosphere and unique pizza offering. I hopped for a more diverse beer offering but it was still more than adequate.
(5)
Kit G.

I feel like I have been let in on a secret. Friday my friend suggested we go to Bricks. I had no idea what he was talking about. Pizza in Lincoln Park? - still not jogging my memory. I had probably walked by Bricks a dozen times and never realized that it was a pizza place. It looks more like a staircase leading to a basement. Somewhat confused and curious I walked down the stairs - ok now what? You have to walk straight until out of no where you see a door which opens up to reveal the most hidden restaurant I have ever visited. I would not be surprised if this place used to be a speakeasy, and half expected to be asked for a password when I walked in. I was so glad I went with a big group so we could try several pizzas. They offer 10, 12 and 14 inch pizzas. For 10 of us we decided to get four 10 inchers. It was the perfect amount. There was lots of discussion regarding which slice was our favorite, but we all have different favs. I really liked the BBQ chicken pizza. The menu has great options for vegetarians and meat lovers. The beer and wine list was great. My only compliant was that the service was a little slow at the end of the night. The waitress gave us our bill but then kinda forgot about us for a while.
(4)
Kelli F.

So we went in looking for deep-dish pizza.......which Bricks is definitely not..... but it was so delicious that we were not even disappointed by our mistake!!!! It was very late (near closing time), so we got an overall dive-bar-ish feel, but that just added to the unexpected greatness of the entire experience. i can't even remember what toppings we got, but I know it involved jalapeÃ±os--as every great pizza should. The waitress was very nice.
(5)
Lindsey R.

So good! Cozy underground (literally & figuratively) pizza place, perfect for winter! Thin crust pizza that's still crispy. Awesome beer selection too. Definitely a good local find!
(5)
Jay B.

I can hear it now... "What you went to Chicago and didn't have Chicago-style pizza pie... What are you crazy?" Relax people, I'm only gettin' started... Gimme time to digest a bit here. So this was the first pizza joint we hooked up with in C-Town and it did not disappoint. Thin handmade crust with such titles as: Painful - spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeÃ±o, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Petaluma club - bacon, chicken breast, onion, fresh tomato, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Both those caught the eye. Ordered a half and half (which can only be done on the medium and large.) The jalapeÃ±os lit the place on fire and the remedy was the Petaluma side-kick. Great combo, but of course had the dousings of Bricks Lager with its hint of sweetness to the golden amber ale. This helped to subdue the 45 minute frantic search for parking around Lincoln Park's South Pond. Parking and traffic are both way too hectic even for an LA'er like myself to experience. What's with all the zone parking people? Next time it's publo transpo for meo. The atmosphere: Literally a trip down a basement cellar. So along with the good and the bad. I'll end on a good note for the northern Californicators, there is a Bricks Petaluma...
(4)
Alicia D.

An odd entrance. Just go into the dark. Good pizza, good beer. A bit pricey.
(4)
Rachel W.

Bricks isn't just a pizza place. It's a hole-in-the-wall, wait, hole-underground pizza place with a great beer list. I probably end up here at least twice a month. Weekends you are pretty much guaranteed a bit of a wait, but I've recently discovered that you can call ahead (!) which is very helpful. Their ingredients are super fresh and you can taste the difference. They have a great selection of pizzas and specials, but you can also make your own pizza. I can't vouch for anything on their menu besides the pizzas and a few salads (get the arugula salad - so delicious), but I'm not sure why you would go here and order anything but pizza...
(4)
Thongsy S.

What a fitting name for this restaurant. For bricks are all you see when you enter the restaurant. It has an interesting layout. It's located in the basement so if you can brave the walk downstairs, you'll find a hidden treasure that this place is. The waitress that helped us was awesome. She was cool, down to earth, funny, and not pushy. It was a very relaxing environment. We didn't feel rushed to eat and leave. We kind of just sat around, enjoyed our food and conversed. We ordered a 10" chicken bbq pizza and a half bottle of wine. The pizza was delicious. I love thin crust pizzas and this was definitely one of the better ones. They had half priced bottles of wine on Tuesdays so we lucked out. Will definitely return to try some of their other pizzas and wines.
(4)
Faye B.

Now I love me some deep dish pizza and this place soooo is not, and yet I like to come back every now and again. I love the location of this place and it reminds me of a sketchy dive bar. Bricks is located downstairs and is one of those small, cozy, dimly lit joints. This place has interesting thin crust pizzas. For thin crusts with fancy sounding toppings this place does it right. One of my faves is Da Ditka, a meat lovers meal. As far as appetizers go you can't go wrong with the slutty ravioli. Yeah that's right, it makes for a great dinner ice breaker.
(4)
Melanie C.

This place AWESOME!!! First let me say I went there for dinner at 7pm on New Years Eve. There was no issue getting right in. We were seated right away with our drink orders taken. They had a wide selection of beers and wine, while also offering many other drink choices. The pesto, cheese bread appetizer was a great alternative to red sauce, and was quick to come out. the build your own pizza was a great choice for us, because we both have dietary restrictions. The only thing that could of made this place a 5 star for me was if they offered vegan cheese. The pizza came out fresh, hot and crispy. We were pleasantly surprised when the bill came. It was a great price for everything that we had. I will defiantly go back again.
(4)
Frank L.

We are a Giordano's/Papa John's kind of couple (because that's all we get in the northwest burbs) so BRICKS was a really nice change of pace. The three pizza's we tried: Painful - the spicy pepperoni with jalapenos Popeye - spinach, mushrooms, roasted garlic, feta, and tomatoes Veggie - spinach, mushroom, onions, tomatoes The beauty of BRICK's thin crust pizza is that you're getting pizza that is not "pizza" in that commercial style that pizza can often be thought of as. The best word to describe the pizza here is "elegant", because the pizza is trying to deliver a flavor, instead of a topping. I don't need to say much more - the 200 other yelpers probably have said enough.
(4)
Ali H.

Bricks is some of the best pizza I've had since the last time I had a tombstone pizza from the freezer. I'm giving them two stars for having a unique ambiance and a decent beer list, although the draft list was limited. I give them no stars for the pizza (gross, I would actually have preferred the tombstone), and no stars for the service (do we even have a server?). I have NO idea how a place like this survives in a city with such a ripe pizza culture! I would only recommend eating the pizza here if you came to hang out and drink beer and suddenly found yourself craving sub-par pizza. A situation when even cardboard will do. I won't lie, I've been in this situation before. But if you come here for the pizza, you will be sorely disappointed. Our salad was likewise very sad and pathetic and yet still cost like 7 dollars. Seriously? Anyway, we came here out of desperation after the line at chicago pizza and oven grinder was eternally long one night. We looked on yelp for nearby eats and saw that bricks had 4 stars and decided to try it out. It's a mistake I won't make twice!
(2)
Melissa K.

What I really loved about this place is that the pizza was delicious and I didn't feel extremely guilty about it afterwards. It was light and crispy and fresh tasting. We tried the popeye and one of their specials, which had goat cheese, red pepper and zucchini. Both were great, but the special was our favorite because it was so different than a typical pizza. Definitely will be back!
(4)
Karianne W.

You will find some of the BEST pizza in town at Bricks. Great for eating in, especially on a cold winter night, or takeout. Awesome selection of pizza toppings and great extended menu as well. All I can say is DELICIOUS.
(4)
Craig L.

Great thin-crust pizza in the area between northern Michigan Avenue and the heart of Lincoln Park. Wife and I enjoyed our thin crust pizza. Recommend sticking to the more traditional selections. As others have said, you enter by going below the sign and through a little underground passage to the hidden door on your right. It's a nice sedate environment inside with a mix of locals and families.
(4)
LaurenSerena K.

If I could give 0 stars I would. I have lived in Chicago my whole life and never had a worst pizza then from there. First 1.5 hours to arrive and the pizza was not hot at all. Next my pizza wasn't what I ordered. I will never order from here again and tell everyone I know the lousy service and quality. I was a first time customer and they messed up BIG time.
(1)
S R.

Great atmosphere and spectacular pizza! And my date thought it was the second best pie in all of Chicago!
(4)
Karisma E.

Ordered the painful... Will let u know how painful it was ;-)
(5)
Phil T.

A better version of Rosati's?!? Don't know what's the hype about this place. For living in the pizza Mecca city, I was thinking this was average at best. Besides the mass amount of ingredients you can choose from or the chi related names, there's nothing that would draw me back to this place. Even the apps were meh. Whatever the shrimp dish was they were def shrimpy shrimp! No joke they are big as my thumb nail and my hands are not big! lol
(3)
Kathy S.

We've been meaning to try this place and when we saw it on Heat Seekers, we really wanted to try some spicy pizza. We started off with the bacon wrapped dates which was okay and a large pizza, half painful, half sweet heat. The sweet heat was a good bbq chicken pizza but the painful was the show stopper! I could have used slightly more heat (I really love things spicy) but my husband said it was the perfect spice level and I'm sure many will agree. Service was attentive and friendly. Looking forward to trying the slutty ravioli (with a name like that, I am intrigued!) and the popeye next!
(4)
Daniel M.

Some of the best south side style pizza on the north side. The pies always come with the cheese a golden brown, the way it should be!!! I used to live down the block and this was always my choice for thin crust. If you eat there, the dining area has the feel of an old school Chicago pizza pub, very cool!
(4)
Rahul V.

The pizza is absolutely to die for. For the first time, we actually finished the whole pie. We ordered half BBQ and half 'Painful' and both were absolutely delicious. I would give Bricks 5 stars but I take away one because the service wasn't the best...this might be because it was late and they only had one waitress. Overall: The best pizza we've ever eaten!!
(4)
Vaidehi T.

Was here a week ago on a Friday night with friends. The place is kinda underground and feels like you are entering a dungeon. The ceilings are low and the lighting is dark giving it more like a dungeon feel. Well, onto the pizza - it is delicious thin crust pizza. We had the one with artichoke sauce, the green garden and the spicy one. All three were delicious and satisfying.
(4)
Anna P.

I am a girl who loves pizza, and now I am a girl who loves Bricks. We had a reservation for four people on a Friday night, and we were seated immediately. The decor is very cool and reflects the name - it's like a cozy little brick Italian dungeon...but in a good way ;-) They have a GREAT beer list and a sufficient wine list. Our waitress was friendly and attentive without overdoing it, which I always appreciate. We started with the slutty ravioli, which we actually ordered mostly for the name, but it's also DELICIOUS. So delicious that we wouldn't let them take our plates away without scraping all of the cheese sauce off. Seriously. And now of course, the pizza - awesome. It is not Chicago-style, but is also not really thin enough to be NY style so it's sort of its own delicious breed. Thin crust, good ratio of sauce and pizza, and the topping options are great. A 10" is perfect for one person (as long as you can eat like I do!) and is loaded with toppings. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Jason Z.

If you don't like this place, you have issues!
(5)
Rajiv H.

Brick's is my favorite pizza place in Chicago. I'm stunned and horrified that i haven't written a review for it yet. I highly prefer the brick oven pizza to traditional Chicago deep dish. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Lou's from time to time, but in order for my heart to continue beating, that needs to be less than a few times a year. Bricks has the most flavorful, fresh pizza's I've had. I've only dined in, so I can't speak for their delivery. As far as appetizers, I've gotten the spicy and rich slutty ravioli and the garlic bread with cheese. Highly recommend the slutty ravioli if you're looking for something with a nice kick to it. But you're here for the pizza. And, if you're not, you're some type of a moron. Sorry, but you are. If you friends haven't told you, well, you need better friends who are more straightforward with you. Life lesson learned. Sooooo, pizza! Yes. The painful is no joke, it's spicy, but not to the inedible point. We had it during jalepeno season and it was the spiciest we've ever had, but even then I was able to down it easily. I'm a medium plus kinda guy, not a hot kinda guy. You can't go wrong with the Red Planet or the Sweet Heat either. The place is super cool, in what they call a catacomb, what normal people call a basement. It's dark, but I wouldn't call it dingy. There's always a good feel inside. The servers are all cool and nice. We've never had a problem. I take anyone from out of town in to Brick's, and I even visit here a few times with my Chicago friends. I've yet to be even marginally disappointed.
(5)
Jeremy S.

Getting into Bricks is a fun little excursion. It reminded me stroll through an old school haunted house, just waiting for someone to reach out and grab me. +1 star for the heightened awareness and rush of just getting to the place! The inside of Bricks is pretty sweet. Half the joint is a vintage style bar (with old school non flat tv), and the other half is a dimly lit intimate environment. The place felt very homey, and it reminded me of some low key suburban taverns. The waitress was very friendly, and she helped us pick an order. She overheard that we were going to order two medium pizza's and she suggested getting a large that was half and half. Good awareness +1 star. The order: 1 Large half Brickhouse (pureed artichoke sauce, red peppers, garlic and mozz) half BBQ Chicken (with gouda and cilantro). The verdict: I was a bigger fan of the BBQ Chicken. The gouda mixed nicely with the BBQ, and biting into the thin crust creation was very pleasant, and earned a +1 star. The Brickhouse earned better reviews from my friends but I felt like it was missing a little something and that it was just a bit bland. But then again that's how veg pizza is! 3 dudes + 1 large pizza = the need to order 1 slutty ravioli to fill our large bellies. I thought the slutty ravioli was excellent! The cheese was bubbling when it was presented, and the smell was intoxicating. I proceeded to get fat, and I had enough motivation after eating that goodness to push me to go to the gym. +1 star for that! Overall, 4 stars. Very cool basement location, attentive waitress, gouda and BBQ chix pizza, and a slutty creation was enough to solidify my rating. I wish they offered a larger size than 14 inches, but I'm not gonna complain about that. Oh yea, good luck parking! Nice job Bricks!
(4)
Sara K.

The pizza for me was "a-ok." I don't know if I would say it's anything special. At our table, we got the Ditka (cheese + every type of meat topping they have) & the vegetarian (green peppers, onions, spinach, etc). They have a great selection of appetizers, beer/wine, & pizza, so it would be safe to bring a lot of varied tastebuds. The arugula salad was very good, but it could have had a few more ingredients for the money. (It was $7.95 for a plate of arugula with 3 cherry tomatoes and some shaved parmesan). We also got an order of garlic bread for $2.95, and it was pretty skimpy. Just one hoagie roll that was pretty dry & tasteless. If I went back, it would probably be for the ambiance instead of the food. It had a definite style- old time dive bar/basement- with an alley like "brick" entrance. It's a very unique space and could be fun to take friends or family from out of town.
(3)
Paul B.

Got a half Popey (spinach, tomato, mozz, basil, roasted garlic) and half painful (jalapeno's, mozz, tomato base sauce, and spicy pepperoni) and it was really spot on, a solid thin crust with a good crunch. Fair warning, the painful had some serious heat, I was sweating. Good beer specials almost every day. I will be back. Really cool vibes, it is underground.
(4)
Steve M.

I'm not sure how Yelp knows that I recently ate at Bricks, but Bricks is top of the pops! A Red Planet was split (1/2 without sausage and 1/2 with), a Sierra Nevada was consumed, and some divey basement pizza goodness was thoroughly enjoyed. Perfect for putting the calories back on after your 2 hour lakefront and zoo walk! Do it.
(4)
Matt S.

Warning: because of the low ceilings in this tiny basement restaurant, this place gets horrifically LOUD. I had to pop some Advil after dinner because hearing four other dinner conversations gave me a massive headache. I have no idea what my dinner date said, but I do know that 1) this random guy named Bobby is really hot, according to the group of teenage girls seated on the other side of the restaurant, 2) the two patriarchs of the families on our right really liked the taste of their Schlitz Tall Boys and 3) the fighting couple on my left wasn't going to make it through 2012. Seriously, kids, if indecision over pizza toppings leads to an screaming argument about each other's shortcomings, you need to break it off. Anyway. Other than yelling the entire time and having to repeat every other sentence twice, the pizza we shared was okay. Because my dining companion was vegetarian, we had the Popeye, which was fresh spinach, tomato, giant chunks of roasted garlic, and feta and mozzarella. The crust was burnt on one side, but nice and crispy nonetheless, and the woman from the kitchen also brought our pizza to the wrong table (to a couple that was actually in the process of ordering?? yikes!), but other than that, the toppings were really fresh and it was served piping hot. I really feel like four stars is misleading though. Cool ambiance (albeit deafening noise level), decent pizza with a good beer selection, but I still walked out feeling "meh" (and felt kind of bad for it). Methinks I should've gotten drunk here, which is always a good idea. Maybe next time.
(3)
erin s.

Can always get a good seat in the beer garden. Good and attentive staff. I've done quite a few private party events here (birthdays and showers) and the staff and mgmt has been very accommodating. Their pepperoni pizza is fantastic!
(4)
Rita W.

My rating for Bricks is really 3.5 but since we can't give half stars, I liked it enough to bump it up to 4 stars. (YELP - you should really let us rate places with half stars so that indecisive people like me would have an easier time time rating places) We ordered the garlic cheese bread and slutty ravioli for our appetizers. OK if you are going to order the slutty rav, just remember that it only has FOUR raviolis in the dish with a enough broiled cheese on top to make a small pizza. We were a party of seven so we were disappointed to see only four raviolis for a nine dollar appetizer. The nice thing about Bricks is that they have a lot of different types of pizza, it is actually hard to make a decision on what to order because I wanted to try all of them. Bricks also give you three size options which is nice. We ordered the 14 inch vegetarian which was generously covered in green pepper, onions, other yummy veg...I can't really remember what else but it was really good! We ordered the painful in 12 inch and the Ditka in a 10 inch. I was a little disapointed that the painful wasn't spicier. And the Ditka was true to its description, lots of meat and cheese and it was winner with all of the boys at our table. I had told my BF (who is a beer connisseur) that I had read the yelp reviews and a couple yelpers had commented on the great beer selection and after going he said it was decent but not a great one. It will definitely do the job though ;)
(4)
Allen A.

So me and my lady were trying to figure out if we wanted a medium or small pizza. Well, we decided on the medium. Sausage and pepperoni medium pizza. They said 45- an hour for delivery. Well we got it a lot sooner(only a few blocks away) and it was quite delicious. The crust wasn't spectacular but it wasn't nasty. But the cheese and meats on it were quite tasty. My problem was I paid $25 with tip. Pizza was $23 before tip and the medium was smaaaaaal I mean much much smaller than any medium pizza I have ever bought in life and I've probably eaten pizza in every state in the country! I was quite mad knowing that I just spent 25 bucks on a pizza so damn small but it was delicious I guess. I just don't understand everything in this area seems to be looking to charge downtown prices, when they aren't downtown. Oh well. Good pizza quite expensive and small
(3)
Ben B.

Bricks is good pizza, but I don't know that it's worth the trip unless you're in the neighborhood. I went on a Friday night and the place was crazy loud. Every surface is solid, so the sound just bounces around. There's not much privacy to be had. It's got more of a bar vibe than anything. Service was good. Nothing special. I had the Ditka pizza - ham, pepperoni and sausage. It was tasty, though I didn't need an explosion of cilantro chucked in the center of my pie. The pizza is best in the center. As you work your way toward the edge, the crust becomes harder and less tasty. The crust is relatively thin, but not crackery. Bricks would be a decent place to hit with friends, but I'd go elsewhere on a date unless you're intentionally *trying* not to hear what they're saying.
(3)
Beau R.

Not the traditional Chicago deep dish but none the less, freaking good. Bricks has an awesome pizza selection. With interesting selections like the Ditka and Creole Shrimp pizza. I had- sweet heat- chicken breast, bacon, diced jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq-tomato sauce and mozzarella. The smoked gouda on this was so awesome. It had chunks all over the pizza and the flavor and texture was terrific. The bbq sauce went so well with all the ingredients I had to get this pizza out of my sight so I would stop eating it. The jalapeno's were really hot on this one. My nose was running so much that when I needed something to drink I just opened my mouth and let the snot roll in for hydration. Gross? What would you do?
(4)
Jennifer D.

Lucky for us this is our neighborhood pizza place and has been for 15 years. ALWAYS great quality and never a bad meal, fresh ingredients, great combinations of ingredients. My favorite, the Berzerkley.
(5)
Stephanie F.

When walking through the dark alley-like area to get to the entrance, you might feel like you're about to get mugged. But once you pass that, an amazing pizza place awaits you. I had the petaluma club pizza, and it was amazing. Not only was the food great, but the service was excellent, too. Our group of 13 was probably quite frustrating at times (i.e. some showed up late, most couldn't decide what to order, etc.), but our server remained friendly and attentive. I plan to return and try some other pizzas!
(4)
Nicki W.

Right now in front of me, I have the delivery order of Spaghetti and Garlic Bread that I ordered from Bricks. This particular updated review is based on the simple fact that they need to give better descriptions of their food so people aren't unpleasantly surprised when their food arrives. People, keep in mind that if you order the Spaghetti with meatballs, the sauce is going to be SPICY. Not just a little spicy (I don't mind that), but unenjoyable spicy, as in I'm questioning even taking another bite as it might upset my stomach. Also, Garlic Bread comes with this order so I wasted money ordering Garlic Bread off the appetizer menu. AGAIN...something that could easily be changed. They couldn't call me to inform me that I might have over ordered on the garlic bread but they did give me a call to tell me to wait downstairs in my lobby for the delivery driver. Why you ask? Because the driver has had problems with our buzzer before and doesn't have a cell phone on him. The buzzer works and it's not my problem your driver doesn't have a cell phone. So I had to wait downstairs in my robe and slippers for this guy...sweeeet. So, $25 later including tip I have a dinner I simply can't eat and a headache from this whole fiasco. I should have just ordered their pizza because you can't go wrong with that. Get your menu straight!
(1)
Simma Down Na H.

Awesome variety of pizzas and a PLETHORA OF BEERS AND DRAFTS!!! My creole skrimp pizza was really good!!! All at such reasonable prices as opposed to others... (cough::Piece::cough) Brick's has a great ambiance for a date night or catching up with friends. Wouldn't deem it "the best pizza in the world" (I've had the best in an inky dinky place in Germany ;)) yet they have seriously great pizza!!!
(4)
Kerry S.

Awesome beer selection and great pizza too! Be sure to order the dates as an appetizer, they won't disappoint!
(5)
Leila T.

Huge disappointment I don't understand how so many restaurants have four stars on yelp but actually are terrible in real life. We ordered garlic pesto cheese bread and it was the most bland bread ever that you could not taste anything and the texture was weird and almost inedible. We asked for an antipasto salad and received a tomato, mozzarella, basil, and balsamic spread of 4 pieces (wtf?). The thin crust pizza was OK at best, but we ordered a medium and for these 3 items it was $35 and none of us were even close to being full. It's be better to spend that $35 on a large deep dish Giordano's pizza and get your money's worth of food.
(1)
Tony B.

This place was great! The waitress was so friendly and the pizza so good, we were upset we hadn't been to Bricks sooner. It's dungeon dark and very cozy, making it a perfect place for a slow meal on a cold winter night. They also offer an extensive selection of top-notch brews, but they'll cost you a few bucks. I've posted photos of the menu and the jalepeÃ±o & smoked pork pizza we ordered.
(4)
Jeff E.

Good pizza. Cool location.
(4)
Kenneth C.

This restaurant produces excellent thin style pizza. It's tasty but not too greasy, even with meat toppings. Furthermore, it has a great beer list and was nicely kid friendly (at least at a non-busy/non-noisy time of the day). We enjoyed the baked shrimp-garlic appetizer as well. And "two thumbs up" from our little one. Negatives (all minor): 1. Pizza is cut in small squares rather then wedges. 2. While an excellent find here in Chicago, only "top" pizza will get 5 stars from me. 3. Dark/dive-bar setting: wouldn't mind going on a date for drinks here, but perhaps a bit too dark for my tastes as my "getting old" vision starts to fade... Summary: if I lived in the area I would frequent Bricks often. However, I'm not sure I'd make a special trip to come here.
(4)
Adrienne G.

Came here with a large group of Friends one Friday before winding up at another bar in Lincoln Park. Service was fine, although since we were a group of ten and the place was packed, I did have to wait a while to order. But that is what happens when you miss your bus and show up late. The pizza was okay- nothing that I would go insane over, but quite good. I got one of the veggie pizzas with spinach tomato and something else on it. If I lived in the neighborhood this place would be one that I would frequent on casual dates with friends and lovahs alike, because it would be down the street from my house. . Again, if I lived in the hood, I'd go here more often. But since I don't, I probably won't be back for a while, unless there's another group outing. I should also mention that they have a fairly extensive beer list, which was really nice and I did appreciate. Then again, most places in the area do these days.
(3)
Ken M.

I consider myself a bit of a pizza snob. I grew up just outside of New Haven, CT and have been frequenting national treasures like Pepe's and Sally's for my entire life. I love brick oven pizzas that are huge on toppings for flavor, not overwhelmed with sauces, cheese, or crust. That said I was a bit worried moving to this deep dish pizza mecca. That was until I found Bricks. Their pizza was fantastic. Great thin, brick oven style, you taste the toppings and enjoy the flavor. Their slutty ravioli's were also a great surprise. I highly recommend this pizza place.
(5)
Michael S.

Roomie and fellow Yelper Derrick T. pretty much nailed it for my review of this place.. Decor was dimly lit, but it was nice.. kind of a weird area to step into to get inside.. I thought the pizzas were good.. Had the shitake pizza which was a white pizza with shitake and red onions, gouda, mozzarrella.. I really liked it.. not as good as piece, but I really liked it.. The sweet heat the roomies really liked.. I thought it was good, but wasn't raving about it.. Waitress was really nice, but wait was ridiculously long.. I know something happened to our pizza and we were glad to of been told, but with 3 young guys you gotta at least offer us some bread or something.. Anyways, 3 stars until I try the place again.. wait was just that long that had to dock the extra star..
(3)
Derrick T.

After a nice four mile run, my roomies and I had a craving for some thin crust pizza... like some cracker thin, deliciously crispy pizza that was made fresh and tasty! And as a die-hard yelper, we had to see what people suggested, leading us to Bricks! On first entrance, we walked down into what looked like a hidden speak easy bar... dim lit, specials posted on the door, it was a quiet and comfotable scene. About three other fairly small parties on a Monday night, we sat down and picked up a specialty beer (trois pistoles) and ordered up a 10 inch Sweet Heat pizza (bacon, chicken, jalapeno, bbq sauce) and a 10 inch special pizza (shitake, red onions, gouda, mozzarella). Trois pistoles - 9% alcohol, tasted closer to a sparkling wine than a beer. Interesting flavor, nothing outstanding. Sweet Heat - This had great flavor... the saltiness of the bacon balanced the simple flavor of the chicken, and the jalapeno left a nice memory post pizza. Recommended. Shitake - What shitake? There was probably 1, maybe 2 shitakes at MOST sliced onto the pizza... the gouda flavor was pretty much absent leaving this white pizza with very little flavor... not a good choice, as the flavors were to subtle to be even noticed. And we started with this pizza first. Crust - It's crisp on the outside, chewey on the inside... which unfortunately is not one of my preferred crust styles... I like em really floppy (NY-style), really crip (think cracker thin all the way through), or deep dish/stuffed (Chicago deep dish) so this crust unfortunately didn't appeal to me. So why the three stars? Well, the specialty pizza was definitely comparable to cheese breadsticks... and after we placed our order, it took nearly 45 minutes to bring out the pizza. I'm not sure if they actually have a brick oven fired up in the kitchen or whether Bricks is just named for the brick interior... but even in my home kitchen with a pizza stone, from rolling the dough to topping to oven, it takes me no longer than 16 minutes to put out a pizza that can feed a family of six. Our waitress explained that they had dropped the pizza accidentally and had to make a new one for us... which unfortunately left us hungry while we sipped on water. The waitress was phenomenally friendly, excellent service, however the slow food and the disappointing shitake pizza left us thinking about where to get our second dinner after this. Verdict: Though the service was great and there's a good list of pizza I'd like to try here, it's unlikely I'll go back. One hit pizza, one miss pizza, and a very slow kitchen. Unfortunately, we didn't have the patience that evening to spend two hours in the restaurant.
(3)
Lawrence S.

My favorite pizza in the city. Creative, fun toppings and names. Love the Painful and the Ditka. And the underground restaurant has a lot of character.
(5)
Kendall J.

To start off I actually really enjoy the pizza here. HOWEVER, the delivery was horrible and over two hours! They said it would be one hour. Once it was an hour and twenty minutes I called to check on the status. They said he walked out the door to deliver it. Another 35 minutes goes by and I call again. They again said it was on its way. Another 15 minutes goes by and I called to say I wanted a refund and that I'd rather not have the pizza. They refused to give me a refund!!!!!!! Once the pizza finally arrived, it was cold. Do not order for delivery from here. It will be late and they will not refund you! Not worth it with better options of pizza who can be on time.
(1)
Kristina D.

This is my favorite Chicago pizza. Some of it's because of the dark hidden prohibition style location like I'm walking into a speakeasy, some of it is the awesome music they generally play but mostly it's because of my favorite pizza combination ever found only here. Half Painful Heat and half Sweet Heat. Perfection. Party in my mouth. Foodgasm. Their salads are also good (spinach, yum). But the pizza. Oh. My. Goodnessgracioussakesalive. Love it. Now on to other things; the staff is friendly and down to earth, I think we've had to wait once when we've come in and that's it. We're seated pretty quickly almost all the time. Their daily deals on drinks also make the visit worthwhile so definitely check them out. If you like basic toppings, this is probably not the place for you but if you're willing to try some interesting combinations and challenge your pizza palate, don't hesitate to try them out.
(5)
Jen B.

Although Bricks is a little tricky to get to if you don't live nearby, it's a great option if you're looking to take a break from the deep-dish carbsplosion. Getting here from downtown involves a cab ride or a train plus bus ride, so kind of a pain. Once you're in the vicinity, look for the sign on the corner of the three way intersection of Lincoln, Lincoln and Wisconsin. Then walk about 100 feet and look for the stairs going down into a semi-scary grotto. That's your destination. Things get much more lively and cozy once you're inside. There are not a lot of tables but we scored a five top on a Friday evening so don't fret if you forgot to make a rezzie. The menu isn't huge but they do have a fair amount of options for the 'za. It's slightly thicker than your average neopolitan pizza so it holds more toppings without flopping over. We opted for a 14-inch Popeye (spinach, tomatoes, garlic, feta). It was really good although $22 seems a little steep. I also got the arugula salad and it was also yummy but a bit too heavily dressed so maybe get it on the side. I love that they cut the pizza into squares. I know it makes zero difference on taste but it just feels right. We had about 5 pieces left over after splitting the large between two people, so estimate that each person in your party will need a little less than half a pizza for themselves. Definitely a casual environment. I think the term "pizza dungeon" says it all.
(4)
Kyle O.

This is my favorite non-chicago style pizza in Chicago. The pizza is absolutely amazing. My go to is the bevererly: meat, veggies, and some heat...a must try. Also they always have some great craft beers that you don't see so regularly in Chicago on tap and also some good beer deals. The ambiance is a little weird at first as it is a dark garden unit that you have to reach through a subterranean alley, but you get used to it and the vibe fits the place. Great place for a casual date.
(5)
Val B.

Decent cozy spot, if a little hard to get to and find from the street. The pizza was tasty - I had a meatball pizza, which was exactly as described. We also tried the cheesy garlic bread, which wasn't amazing but certainly was cheesy. Our service was great at the beginning then promptly fell off, leaving me without a Diet Coke refill and in bummerland. Overall, great, casual, cave-like ambiance, decent pizza.
(3)
Adrie G.

Bricks is by far the most flavorful pizza in the city. It didn't take me long to swear off stuffed/deep dish pizzas after moving to Chicago (so gross) and I was beyond thrilled to find Bricks. Bricks is an awesome place to bring out-of-town guests for an authentic Chicago dining experience. There is no way a tourist could find their way into this purgatory-like space. I say that with love. It's not creepy, just quite literally a hole in the wall. They have an amazing selection of beers, some of which are brewed on site (I believe) and their Ditka pizza is like a Super Bowl parade in your mouth. All of the pizzas I have tried there are innovative and masterfully created. The cracker-thin oven-blistered crust is really the heart of it all. The first time I visited Bricks was after a long afternoon of Christmas shopping. It was a chilly Monday evening and we were the only ones in the dining room. When we got our check, they gave us a house-mixed Christmas CD with all this edgy, bluesy holiday music. I listened to it all season. This place is truly unique and will not disappoint... if you can find it. ;) Parking is nearly impossible too. There's a self-park garage on North Ave., but it's about a half-mile walk to the restaurant from there.
(5)
Janet E.

What a cute little pizza place!!!! We came on a busy Saturday night. We were late for our reservation, but we were still able to snag a nice table in the corner. Service was very prompt and friendly. We ordered garlic bread as an appetizer. It was only ok. I wasn't impressed with it. The pizza came out within 15-20 minutes? Not a long wait at all. Pizza was delicious and crisp. The crust wasn't the thinnest I've had, but still good overall. Parking here sucks (unless you have a permit).
(4)
Linda SingaSong S.

So my friend heard a lot of hype about "Brick's pizza" so we decided to order some delivery during our study session. I'm no pizza expert, but having grown up in NY, I feel that I have a decent sense of what a good pizza entails. Their menu looked creative, not too over the top, and after much deliberation, we decided to get the "Sweet heat." Can't go wrong w/some jalapeno, smoked gouda, bbq, etc etc. Pros: - cut up into bite size square pieces - dough/crust was tasty & well baked - Flavors blended really well together - Just the right amount of heat Cons: - It wasn't THAT great. It was good, but not phenomenol. I don't think it lived up to its hype. But I'm not saying that I won't go back. Maybe my views will change when I try the other items of the menu. Plus, it was delivery so I didn't get the whole experience of dining in.
(3)
Carter W.

Bricks is da bomb! The pizza is absolutely delicious and they have a great, reasonably priced beer selection, including Schlitz tall boys. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is absolutely one of a kind. Check out this pizza dungeon for a good time.
(5)
Eric W.

Pizza/Beer Dungeon That's the best way to describe this hole-in-the-wall pizza heaven. They serve thin crust pizza with a wide assortment of toppings. None of the toppings are crazy rare, but they make up for that with taste. Also, their beer selection is probably the best you'll find in a pizza place, outside of Piece in Wicker park who makes their own. They have about 10 or 12 regular pizzas and usually a few specials. Of course, you can always make your own as well. My favorites are the Sweet Heat and the Ditka (I'm a dude, what do you expect). The sweet heat is BBQ Chicken with spicy bbq sauce and jalepinos. The Ditka is exactly what you probably pictured in your head while reading this. Think meat, lots of meat - 4 or 5 different kinds. Its probably what the "superfans" from SNL would eat. One type of meat for every heart attack Chris Farley suffered. Takeaways: - Great thin crust for ~$15 / specialty pie - Impressive beer menu for a basement - You should probably make a reservation because the place fills up quickly.
(5)
Joy E.

We highly appreciated this pizza establishment. We have moved away from chicago to an area with very little high quality pizza. We returned for a visit this past summer and had this awesome pizza! We loved the Red Planet and Sweet Heat...What a winner!
(5)
Kate D.

Went to Bricks with a group of 16 last weekend based on friends' + yelp reviews. This hole in the ground did not disappoint. Yes, the sign ("Best Pizza on Earth") is ridiculous. Yes, it's located in a run-down bomb shelter of a basement. But the beer selection was quirky and the atmosphere was exactly what I want in a pizza joint. I called at 5pm for a reservation for 16 people at 6:30pm that day: no problem. We were seated right away and received great treatment from our server. She dealt with people splitting appetizers, pizzas, salads, and checks with incredible grace. I built my own pizza (goat cheese, artichoke and spinach) and it was good - not phenomenal but good. Others ordered the Sweet Heat and practically licked the pizza tray clean. The caprese salad looked fresh and appetizing although I didn't try it. Handling large groups isn't easy but Bricks did a great job of it. Everyone liked their meal and it didn't cost an arm and a leg at $4.50 for my specialty beer and $9 for my dinner. It's nothing super duper special but definitely convenient if you're in the area. Nex time I'm in the mood for thin crust pizza or just have a lot of mouths to feed I'll head back to Bricks.
(4)
Anand A.

Wonderful little find in Lincoln Park. Two pies that are exceptional here are the Painful and the Popeye. The Painful is by far my favorite and even non-spice lovers will come to enjoy this simply made, thin crust cheese pizza topped with pepperoni, fresh basil, and jalapeno peppers. Try it, you won't regret. The Popeye is pretty good too but doesn't hold a candle to the Painful. PS - Baked Goat Cheese is pretty good here too.
(5)
Amanda C.

I loved the atmosphere of Bricks. It's very cozy with the brick walls and warm lighting, even though it feels like you are walking into a dungeon when you enter. My group ordered 3 pizzas, all of which were good, but I do prefer them a little saucier. Fun place to go and it's a plus that they take reservations.
(4)
Scott C.

Bricks is our go-to pizza place in Chicago. If you want a cool cozy location - albeit even if it is the basement of a building - that serves great pizza consistently, this is the place for you. The place itself is pretty small - the bar area is intimate and the restaurant area is small but it's cozy inside. The place can get loud when it's full - so just be prepared to talk over your neighbors. Now... the pizza. The pizza here is thin crust and delicious. They have several standard pizza's on the menu and you can always make your own up too. We usually make something up ourselves and it is outstanding - very tasty sauce, a good crunchy crust, and fresh ingredients. An underrated part of the menu are the salads. The house salad is just enough enough food and the caprese salad is very good. On the caprese they give you a good hunk of mozzarella with thick tomato and then a tasty balsamic vinegar on top. All together, the pizza and salad make for a very good meal. They also have a fantastic beer list here - anywhere that serves Tripel Karmeliet has a leg up in my book. There are several Belgium and microbrews on the menu to compliment your pizza.
(5)
Sean H.

I've been coming here for a few years. From the looks of it initially, it seems like a joint thats been here since like the 70's. My wife and I have ordered a bunch of the specialty pizzas and a few of our own design. This place for me is the BEST thin crust pizza in Chicago. They also have an amazing micro brew cache at the bar. The service is good, atmosphere and decor are nice, they treat parents with little screaming melt downers with dignity, and its very reasonable. The guy making our pizza was even nice to our little guy, bringing out his mini za. Nice place, this is one of our "regulars".
(4)
DG C.

I highly recommend the 'Painful' to any heat lovers out there! Great mix of spice and flavor.
(5)
Lori M.

Best 'za for miles around, great atmosphere with real smiles and real beer, bring the loved ones.
(5)
Molly L.

I've written it before and I'll write it again: I'm not a big Chicago deep-dish fan. Fortunately, Bricks has me covered when it comes to delicious thin-crust pizza. The entrance is a little strange. It's a basement-level restaurant, so you go down some concrete stairs into an underground alley and then through the not-very-well-marked door into the dimly lit restaurant. But once you get through the door, things start to get awesome. We ordered the goat's cheese appetizer to start. It was very good, but it wasn't memorable. The pizza, however, was. We ordered the Popeye, which is topped with spinach, tomato, garlic, feta and mozzerella. YUM! Everything was very flavorful and the crust was perfectly crispy. They cut their pizza into square pieces. Now, at most restaurants, I don't love eating the middle pieces (the pieces with no crust) because they get soggy and droopy, but at Bricks, I think I devoured all of the middle pieces because it had crispy crust AND all the flavor of the toppings. The best part of Bricks is that it's only 2 blocks from my apartment! Yay! I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Chris B.

Oooh, I love me some Bricks. Here's why. I love the dark, subterranean decor. The short alley into the restaurant says, "Hey, this is a real Chicago restaurant, you comin' in or not?" The staff is friendly and available. The dining room is segregated from the bar by this groovy, rough, cut, brick wall. Which keeps the noise down, between the two. And the pizza? (That IS why you're here, right?) The Pizza was delicious. My friend and I shared the Petaluna Club. Chicken! Bacon shreds! Onion! Cheese! Great Googly Moogly, that was a damn good pizza. We had a small, short, passionate debate over who got to take the leftovers home. (I lost. So, I guess, I'll just have to come back and try again.) I found Bricks, using Yelp, actually. The reviews looked good and they were right! Slide on into this classic, old-school, Chicago pizza joint. Brave the tiny, dark alley! Claim your seat in the comfy dining room and devour one of the best pizzas in the city. Thanks, Bricks!
(5)
Aaron L.

I'm gonna have to try this place again, it must have been a fluke. But until then.... 1* Painful: spicy pepperoni, jalapeno, garlic, purple onions 1.5* Mushroom, Onion & Green Peppers
(1)
James Michael S.

Got the Painful and it was, well, painful but DELICIOUS. For the most part the spiciness was perfect but a few bites actually made me stop eating and wait for the spicy pain to subside. I really liked the fresh jalapenos and the spicy pepperoni. The crust had a light smoke, almost like a charcoal taste to it which complimented the rest of the pizza. As for pizza, this is one of the best pizza's I've had in Chicago, hands down and will be my "go-to" pizza place. Be ready to pay for it though, especially if you're getting delivery.
(5)
Daniel N.

This was my second time there and I'm actually shocked I haven't been there more often. The pizza is simply great. The beer selection is absolutely phenominal. I took a group of 6 there last night, none had been there before and they felt it was amazing too, saying they'd definitely come back. The night started kind of shady as we called to make reservations. The person who answered told us that she would have to take our CC to hold it, my question is how much would they have charged if we didn't show? We told her we didn't feel comfortable about it so she said, "Just don't screw us". Ok that was strange and it put us in a sour mood about the place (we thought about ditching just on that principle). We get there however, and the same person who told us that was ever so nice when we showed up. With 6 of us we ordered 3 10" pizzas, the Brick House, the Popeye and the Sweet Heat (I wanted the Mean Green but no one else is a fan of spicy that I was with). The Brick House was amazing, the Sweet Heat was really tasty but a little too sweet for my taste and the Popeye was pretty good (needed more spinach in my opinion. The fact that they had Spatan Ocktoberfest on tap served in huge mugs is why this was bumped up to a 4 from a 3.75. The atmosphere is really great and it is really just overall a neat place. Some of the cons include parking (hey it's Lincoln Park) and can fill up pretty quickly. Oh and they don't open until 5pm on Sundays. Go, get some great pizza that is different from your typical normal thin or thick pizza you can find anywhere in Chicago.
(4)
Bex F.

Yes I'm from Chicago. Yes I like deep dish pizza. But ya know what, for me, thin crust is where it's at. The husband set up a reservation over there at Bricks for my birthday dinner celebration even though neither of us had been there before. Kinda brave on his part, I know! Such a cool atmosphere! It is small that's for sure, but it is cozy, the brick is nice to be around, and you feel like you've either stepped back in time or been whisked out of the city. Thumbs up. We didn't get any of the fancy schmancy pizzas (which at $22 for a 14" seemed a little on the steep side to us), just a plain ol' pepperoni. It was good -- not the best pizza ever but good. Mighty greasy and the crust was a little chewy-ish, spongy-ish though. We had the baked goat cheese first which was really tasty and inhaled mighty fast. Parking blows. It's not wow-your-socks-off pizza but I'll give them a whirl again since it's so cool in there. Hopefully the pizza will bowl me over next time otherwise the atmosphere alone won't be enough.
(4)
Caitlin S.

don't even think about ordering from anywhere else ! nothing compares . . . the ditka is my fav !
(5)
Ben K.

Want to eat your pizza in a dark brick catacomb that could basically be a pizza oven itself? Bricks has a ton of fairly creative (and universally delicious) pizza options, which start and stop for me at the Red Planet. Sausage, red pepper, onion, goat cheese, mozzarella and marinara. This is a serious combo. You really can't go wrong with any of the pizzas here though, and they have a surprisingly deep beer selection. $21.95 for a large is a little stiff given that they are only 14" pizzas. The value isn't the best but the taste is up there.
(4)
Raana A.

This is a review for delivery. I ordered Bricks clam pizza for delivery and was pretty disappointed. I think it would have been good, but the clams were way too fishy and killed the whole pizza. They also seemed to go pretty light on their white sauce and heavy on cheese, but overall, I just couldn't get over the overpowering fish flavor. Their salad was OK, it was really heavy on lettuce and light on other toppings (besides the dressing). They seemed a little pricey for delivery, but maybe I think it was pricey because I didn't have the best experience. I've had Bricks other vegetarian pizzas awhile back and I remember liking them, so maybe it was an off night.
(2)
Ray K.

One of the best pizzas in Chicago and probably the best thin crust I've had in town. The dough had a nice level of chewiness and firmness and the flavors were amazing. We tried the sweet heat and shrimp creole pizzas.... Great beer selection. Good service. I like the subterranean aspect of the joint but realize it might be a turn off for others. It was my first time here, so if they're consistently good, i'd change it to 5 stars...
(4)
Neil G.

Food: 5 Service: 3 Atmosphere: 4 Value: 3 Trust me on this one. Don't be frightened by the walk down the creepy, SVU-like stairwell. Don't be nervous about the pizza that is neither Chicago deep dish nor "cracker crust" neopolitan-style. Don't be confused when your server tells you that all wine is 1/2 off (on Tuesdays). I had been to Brick's once before, so none of this surprised me. My wife and the other couple we went with were, of course, pleasantly surprised. Chalk up a win for a Neil G. recommendation. We arrived on a Tuesday night at 7:30 and had to wait about 5 minutes for a table. The only one they had was in the bar, which still has a cool atmosphere. Our companions don't keep kosher, but they were happy to oblige our veggie-friendly requests. After seeking our server's advice, we went with a Brickhouse (pureed artichoke sauce, sweet red peppers, roasted garlic, mozzarella, asiago) and a Popeye (spinach, tomatoes, roasted garlic, feta, mozarella). Don't mess around with anything else on the menu because the pizza is fantastic. It came out hot, bubbly, crispy, cheesy, and just about every other adjective you'd want in a pizza. The crust is probably the most unique, and not surprising, given the name of the restaurant (I believe they use a brick oven). It's thin crust, but thicker than your typical thin crust, with enough body to hold up to a boatload of toppings. All in all, a great mix of crunchy and chewy. The cheese was plentiful but not overbearing. The veggies were fresh and I was impressed that our Popeye wasn't watery, given the large amount of spinach and tomato on the pizza. The artichoke sauce was different, but I was glad there was another pizza to choose from because it got old quickly. Overall, I would recommend this place to anyone--young, old, trendy, traditional, groups, dates, kosher, non-kosher. It's different, but it still has something for everyone. The price was a little high for pizza, but given the high quality of the ingredients, I wasn't that annoyed. To say Bricks is solid would be an understatement. Instead, I'll go a little further and say that it just plain rocks. [Thanks for reading my review and be sure to check out my other reviews on Yelp. My mission is to find restaurants that have great vegetarian, kosher, and vegan fare. On every review, I rate food, service, atmosphere, and value on a 1-5 scale to give you quick and easy overview of the restaurant. I love cooking, eating, and doing both with my friends and family. I always welcome your questions, comments, and suggestions so contact me on Yelp or Facebook if you want to share ideas.]
(4)
Anthony P.

I went with a group of 20 college students on short notice and the staff were super friendly. I've been taking students around the city for the last 2 years and I've yet to encounter a friendlier and more accommodating restaurant. The pizza was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've had but definitely good enough for me to return on my own time. They had a pretty good selection of beer. Overall 5 stars for service and atmosphere and 4 stars for food!
(4)
Kay J.

Whoa-Ho-Ho... We took my baby bro for his birthday dinner and he choose Bricks. Coupon, 2 pizzas, 2 appetizers. 2 wines, 3 soft drink, tip - $100. The crust is thin, crisp and heaven on earth. Skip the shrimp appetizer. Get the salad - any of them. Oh God, why can't you give me a Bricks in NWI? I promise to be a good girl. Really, I will give up illicit sex, drugs and Frank Sinatra for a Bricks in my hood. Amen.
(5)
Meredith S.

After entering the underground basement, we were waiting on 2 people, so we bellied up to the bar. I had a Duvel for the first time and OH so good. A girl next to me was eating a pizza that had bacon on it and it smelled divine. She said it was called the Sweet Heat. She even offered me a piece, which I declined. If it wasn't so weird to eat off of someone you didn't know's plate, I totally would have done it! We ordered the baked goat cheese for an appetizer. I'm not sure if it was because there were 5 of us, but this was HUGE. They gave a huge basket of bread too. Loved it! Next was onto the pizza. We ordered a PAINFUL and THE DITKA. Let me tell you, it has been a long time since I've said "WOW, this is awesome" when biting into a piece of pizza. It was incredible!!!!! The sauce was a great combination of sweet and spicy. I would go back here in heartbeat! I'm salivating thinking about it!
(5)
John W.

Pizza is my favorite food and this is the best I've had!
(5)
Gabe L.

I actually prefer thin crust pizza. If you don't hear from me 30 minutes after I hit "Post", then Daley's men took me out for saying such blasphemy. Bricks was just ok though. I hate leaving short reviews, so here are some ASCII pizza slices for your entertainment: .:) .:) .:) .:) .:)
(3)
shelly s.

We tried Brick's last night and its a winner for thin crust. Their ingredients are fresh and I'd recommend the "specialty" pizzas on the menu. We were fans of the "painful" - a tasty combination of spicy pepperoni, purple onion, fresh jalapeno, garlic, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Our other favorite was the "red planet" -sausage, red pepper, purple onion, goat cheese, tomato sauce and mozzarella. Their beer menu is also decent. Its in the basement of the building so don't expect and sunlight, just tasty pizza.
(4)
Megan G.

Here we are Bricks... All these years later and we are still in love. I love you even though you don't have a fancy seating area or particularly friendly servers. Bartenders are rather, well, lacking in personality. I even love you when I have to wait almost an hour for a table. My most recent discovery was "The Painful" which has an amazing combo of caramelized onion, pepperoni, fresh roasted garlic and (most importantly) jalapeno. Yep, I still don't live close enough for delivery, so watch out trixies! I'm coming to a broom closet near you!
(5)
Jenni B.

get the SWEET HEAT-chicken, bacon, jalepenos, gouda, mozarella, and bbq tomato sauce. REALLY TASTY. it was very hot, temperature wise because it came straight out of the oven. I say give it a good 7 minutes to cool down, then you should probably dig in. but, its tempting so, I know no one will do that. When it cools down, you can definitely taste more of the flavor of the bbq sauce and chicken. It was perfect. Thin crust, right amount of sauce and juicy chicken.
(4)
Coleen K.

Solid pizza place right here. Their crust is perfect-- thin and crispy. They have tons of different and unique pizza options. One of my favorites is the clam pizza with white sauce. Although the place has a kind of dungeon-y feel to it (it's in a basement), the pizza definitely makes up for it!
(4)
Jill and Ying J.

This place has probably one of the coolest entrances of any restaurant that we've been to in Chicago. Following an ordinary-looking red awning, you find yourself down a set of steps into a dimly lit underground entry-way with several odd-looking doors. One of them leads to Catacombs, a pretty interesting nightclub, and another leads you to Bricks. The food at Bricks, however, is much more typical...at least compared to pizza oddities such as Ian's (see our review). We got the Popeye (a vegetarian pizza with really really fresh ingredients), red planet (sausage and goat cheese - mostly), sweet heat (chicken, bacon, smoked gouda), and the special - white clam (self explanatory). The pizzas were delicious. 3 smalls and a large filled the 5 of us plenty. The crust is thin, but not paper thin. It retains the chewy consistency that reminds you it's still made of flour. The ingredients were fresh... so fresh we (being amateur food connoisseurs) could easily distinguish their freshness even after their time in the oven. In all, the food was delicious. They certainly do a mean pizza. The only reason it didn't garner 5 stars was that not one pizza really stood out. But then again, it might be another one on their menu. We'll certainly be back to find out.
(4)
Viper B.

2 stars for services and atmosphere 4 stars for pizza The Sole Mio was really quite good, with basil, metballs, and tomatoes. The crust was thin and substantial enough to hold the ingredients, the cheese was browned and little crisp around the edges. It was full of flavor and satisfying. The basement location and entrance exudes a pizza-speakeasy vibe: cool. At least half the patrons, in direct opposition to such vibe, speak very not-easy. I doubt the acoustics of brick walls helped it much, but a table with a family and a table with 3 couples were both literally shouting the entire meal (I speak loudly and passionately, so it takes a lot for me to criticize others of the same, plus this was a Sunday night): uncool. We were served salad without ever getting any silverware, and when we requested it the waitress slammed 2 rolls of silverware on our table. Everyone around us who cam after was served first, and our waitress never came over to update us: unacceptable. The service and rowdy diners very nearly ruined a delicious meal. You're lucky your pizza is so good, Bricks, but don't push it.
(3)
Katy O.

I am a devotee of Chicago-style deep dish pizza, but I really love thin crust too and Bricks does it so well. We always go for the "painful" which has pepperoni, jalapenos and fresh basil. I love the "petaluma club" too. We were here on Saturday for my fiance's birthday and got a pizza that was on special- the "spring fling", which had red peppers, zucchini and goat cheese- it was amazing. The "Ditka", which is a meatlover's pizza with sausage, pepperoni and bacon, is also incredible. Besides the pizza, as if you need any more reasons to come here, the beer selection is killer. I usually get the fin du monde or don de dieu here in wine-sized bottles- party time? You bet. And if you want a Miller Lite, nobody is going to go all snobby on you or give you a hard time either. Bricks is in a basement, which gives it a dive bar atmosphere that I actually really like. Don't let the dank smelly entryway fool you- deliciousness awaits you once you cross the threshold!
(5)
Anne K.

I'm morally opposed to thin crust pizza. It either flakes all over my shirt when I bite into it, or it flops downward as I try to wrestle it from its grease-stained box. Worse, it's just unnecessary here in the cradle of deep dish civilization. But Bricks has me thinking that maybe, just maybe, not all slender pies are inherently evil. Their crust is substantial enough to support an impressive array of toppings without going flaccid, but not so crisp that it scratches the roof of my mouth when I take a bite. The sweet heat, a BBQ chicken pizza with a light sprinkling of diced jalapenos, is more sweet than it is heat, but I'll overlook that because the barbecue sauce base is quite literally finger-lickin' good (and tastes even better cold the next morning). Creole shrimp pizza shouldn't work but does, and think that its underlying layer of tasty pesto deserves most of the credit. And if the words "pureed artichoke sauce" don't sound automatically delicious to you, try the brickhouse and see if you don't change your mind. With a good selection of foreign and domestic brews and a well-stocked bar to wash it all down, Bricks is great choice if you're suffering from deep dish malaise (or as I used to call it, "sacrilege"). Thank you, Bricks, for forcing me to re-evaluate my pizza prejudices.
(4)
Sunny B.

Ohmygod so amazing. Change-your-life pizza! Staff is so nice, food is awesome, atmosphere is unique and prices are reasonable! I take people visiting from out of town here, its a cooler experience than the touristy Lou Malnatis.
(5)
Jessica L.

Still good - and great for the price. A wide beer selection but very small wine selection. I now LOVE their pesto pizza! The goat cheese app is mainly sauce - I wish it was more cheese, but its good! Salads are big - share them!
(4)
Damian S.

I went here with great expectations after a review by my friend. I have a few positive things to say about Bricks...the beer selection is very good for a smaller venue. The bar area and the dining area both have their own unique ambiances. The bartender was very friendly and very fast. The food came out very quickly. The variety of pizzas offered have some interesting flavor combinations, the stuffed dates were also a curiously flavorful appetizer (though only three of them?). As for the 'meh' things to say...I think you cannot experience the full flavors of the pizzas with only a personal-sized 10" pizza. My three mushroom pizza was flavorful, but was small enough that only some bites had the caramelized onions on it. The brick oven pizza is a style I think you have to be used to, or want at the time. The crust is thin, brittle, and not very flavorful. It's there with only a function: to hold everything together, and there's not much to hold together... And the quail's egg on top of the pizza sounds like an interesting addition, but it definitely wasn't worth the extra $1 for the experience. All in all, it hit the spot at the time, but could've had more ingredients on the pizza I think. I'll give it another chance, but I think I'll upsize the pizza to try to get more flavors in each bite.
(2)
Annie M.

I love Bricks. I can't believe I haven't reviewed it already. My friends and I have been coming here for years... always a favorite. I love the thin crust pizza and the variety is awesome. My favorite is Painful - spicy pepperoni, garlic, purple onions and garlic - hello! YUM!!! The staff is always super nice!!! And not just a great spot for pizza and beer (great variety) but wonderful salads and pastas. Another item to review... several years ago - my husband and I had our rehearsal dinner at Bricks. A friend came up with the idea - and I totally have fond memories of our rehearsal dinner there. The package deal was great - not sure if its changed or not - but the manager (who's awesome) worked with us on figuring out how much food to order and said we could get more if we need - which we didn't. They fed us big time! And the beverages/alcohol with the package - FABULOUS. Oh - they have great specials as well... we were in last night and for you wine drinkers - half off bottles Tuesday nights. :D I know there are other specials throughout the week but that's the only one I remembered. So great great place... its definitely a favorite. :D
(5)
Sara E.

We ordered a Red Planet pizza last night from Bricks, along with Garlic bread. The pizza was delicious, as was the bread, but be warned - drink plenty of water with this meal. Otherwise you will be up 10 times in the night to down glasses of water!
(4)
Robin M.

Was a bit wary of the walk down those stairs into the creepy and dark basement (for a moment I thought my friends were gonna whack me!) but it was worth the momentary scare. Wow, that was some amazing pizza! Had the sweet heat and it was a plate of deliciousness. Plus, the service was fantastic. And they will deliver to my place. Wait...I'm gonna run out of money, aren't I? Just moved here and now have a pizza place in Chicago. Sweet.
(3)
Kendra s.

The atmosphere was cool and laid back and we had a couple things on the menu that were decent. The "slutty raviolis" and the caprese salad were good. The beer selection isn't bad either. The pizza on the other hand was not good. It was basically mama celeste with slightly better toppings! We went around 10:30pm and there was no wait which was nice.
(3)
Jori S.

I lived in Lincoln Park for years and always just assumed that Bricks was a scummy underground dive bar. After my favorite pizza place, O'Fame, closed a few years ago, I started looking for another local spot, and Bricks is it. It's cute, relaxed, has great beer, excellent pizza and great service. Try to walk there though, parking is difficult in that area.
(4)
Liz P.

Great pizza! The food is 5 stars! I wish they had outdoor seating which is why I only gave 4 but the food is fantastic. Best thin crust pizza around!!
(4)
Stacy C.

Well, first off they don't carry Strongbow anymore! So sad!! They do carry "Original Sin" hard cider now though, and it's definitely a tasty alternative. I still miss my Strongbow tall cans, but this will do. However, we did have our first and only (hopefully) bad experience last night... My boyfriend and I got there at about 9pm and ordered our food. Unfortunately the person who brought out our pizzas (not the waitress) DROPPED one of them...a piece fell onto the floor and she tried catching the plate, so the rest of it ended up on her shirt and our table...she didn't speak English, so we called over our waitress to explain the situation. The waitress was very nice and understanding, she simply ordered another one up for us to go and took most of the cost of the pizza off of our bill...however, my boyfriend and I got separate pizzas so we could get what we wanted and he didn't like my pizza...so he had to just sit there and watch me eat...and by the time we got the second pizza, they were closing up shop, so we just left and he ate most of it on the ride home. I understand it wasn't their fault, but it did ruin our nice dinner that we drove a half hour out of our way to have. Perhaps the waitresses (the ones who are, you know, trained to do this kinda stuff without dropping it all over the floor) could bring out the food. I think that would help...I almost cried when I saw that pizza slipping. :(
(5)
Scott H.

Fun little subterranean cracker-crust pizza place way down Lincoln Ave. It was a hazy night so I forget all the varieties the three of us inhaled that night, but I can guarantee that all involved a pork product of some sort. This is the type of pizza where you should order at least a medium per person as it goes down fast and easy. The PBR with the little beer glasses was a nice touch. The bar looked like a fun place to tie one on so I'd definitely seek that out on my next trip to Bricks.
(4)
Christian P.

It's a really cool, low key place. I like the catacomb atmosphere there. The pizza are original and the thin crust is really good. They offer a choice of 3 sizes of pizza and many type of recipes. I had the creole shrimp and the Sweet heat (spicy jalapeno with bbq tomato sauce). The place is clean and the service is good. So good that it kinda bothered me how they asked me if i found everything ok every 10 minutes. The price is right too!
(4)
Michael P.

Came here the other night for a man date, sprinkled with a little bromance. WHAT OF IT?!?! A buddy of mine and I came here last Friday night before going out. We live downtown and not only is this closer to us than Piece, I'd argue the pizza is as good or better. I called ahead to check on the wait and there wasn't one on a Friday night, so we sat right down when we arrived. The sweet heat pizza is sweet and hot. It was a delightful concoction of chicken, bacon, jalapeno, gouda, and mozzarella that started off really hot and then became sweet--pretty much the same way I approach relationships, but in a pizza! Finally, the pizza was a full 10 inches, which was more than enough to satisfy even the most voracious of users.
(4)
Ari M.

Easily one of the best thin crust pizzas in Chicago. Jeff Bush is a brilliant man.
(5)
Rocky B.

Yuck. You know now I remember why I totally blacked this place out of mine. My husband insisted that we had gone to this place years back and for the life of me I couldn't remember it until I walked back into the place. I really want to like this place because it is actually nice and cozy and romantic with it's cavernous feel but you just can't ignore bad food. Their famous goat cheese marinara was more marinara than goat cheese and super salty to boot. The pizza...there really are no words except to say...yuck. Too bad Yelp wasn't around 10 years or so ago so I could have made note on here why I didn't like the place...it would have saved me a wasted trip back. Ah well..at least I have you guys now and duly noted!
(2)
Abigail L.

I like this place. The entrance somewhat creeped me out.. it was like a short, passageway that lead under the building to the door. The ambiance was somewhat mancavesc, in a good way. It was clean, exposed stones on the walls, low lighting. We sat at the bar, but there was low seating/tables. Lots of beers to chose from and they would let you sample the on tap list. Good pizza. Friendly staff. Good times had by all :)
(4)
mike v.

Best thin crust in the city. Not a bad place for parties and get togethers either, I love the informal dark basement ambience with the red/white checkered tableclothes, plastic pitchers of beer or pop. It's a real pizza parlor/bar, comfortable and casual.
(5)
Joscelyn M.

Red wine + yummy pizza + cozy setting = BLISS. Love the pizzas here - always have interesting specials, but I LOVE the painful - nice and spicy! The apps are just OK - not bad or anything, but with pizza this good, I don't think you need to waste your calories on garlic bread.
(4)
Jen N.

Bricks is pretty good, one of my favorites! Someday I will try the "super painful pizza," I just need someone to video it for YouTube. Bricks is a thin crust and the ambiance is casual and in a basement restaurant.
(5)
Katie L.

#NAME?
(5)
Paul C.

When I was a kid I wished I could eat pizza every day. Now as an adult I find that I end up eating pizza way more often than I'd like. But after going to Bricks, I feel like I could definitely eat their pizza everyday. Bricks is a garden level restaurant/bar with a very laid back feel. The bar is fully stocked with beer and the pizza's themselves range from your standard toppings, to the more inventive, with a whole slew of custom pizzas available for the making. A great place to kick back and relax after a day at work and enjoy some good food and good company. With the laid back atmosphere and delicious food, I will definitely be back in the future. I deduct one star because you have to enter the restaurant through what looks like some body's rape dungeon.
(4)
Laura L.

Great thin crust pizza! I have been to Bricks many times over the past couple years and am finally writing a review. I have to say, I'm a deep dish pizza kind of girl. But I have no complaints about Bricks' thin crust! I've tried several of their menu pizzas as well as the choose my own toppings option and have never been disappointed. The crust is somehow crispy and chewy all at once, the sauce is delicious and the topping have always come out perfectly. I love the basement atmosphere, the beer choice is awesome and half-off wine Wednesdays are awesome! Weekdays before 730pm are typically kind of empty, but it's packed later in the night and on weekends. If you have a large group, I recommend a reservation. The reason I'm not marking this as 5-star is because the service is a little hit or miss. I've never had what I would consider AWFUL service, but there is one waitress who is especially inattentive and unfriendly. The other servers and hostess have always been great, however.
(4)
Freddy R.

Ordered for the first time after reading all the yelp reviews. Pizza was delivered cold. Not very tasty. 23 bucks for a 12 inch pizza, expensive! No plans on going back.
(1)
Gabriela J.

Best piZza in chicago
(5)
Susan F.

Absolutely 5 stars, duh!! The atmosphere is a dungeony but it won't scare you away once you try the pizza! There are about 10 diff specialty pizzas, and being the hungry bunch we were, we ordered the Shrimp Creole, Brickhouse, and The Ditka. All of them tasted diff and we amazing, loaded with toppings!! The mediums are pretty large and will def work for 2 people, with a few leftovers. The crust is perfect and crisp without being hard. I wish this was up more by lakeview because I would come here every week. no joke!!! They also have a really large variety of wines and beers, kudos!
(5)
Ali R.

After hearing about the baked goat cheese appetizer from Kristin R. during my St. Patty's Chicago vaca I had to try it out for myself. I am a huge cheese fan so I was ready to try it out. I was expecting it to be much cheesier (marinara and goat cheese) but it was still quite tasty. I personally would up the cheese to marinara ratio, but I don't own this place. It's a huge appetizer so if you order with 3 or less don't get anything more than a small pizza with it. The Caesar Salad was delicious, nice and anchovy like I like it. Kristin R. and I went back and forth a million times trying to decide on the perfect pizza, they all looked so yummy. We finally went with the red planet and I was very pleased. Sausage, red onions, red bell peppers, and I think some other stuff. While I love me some deep Chicago pizza, they always make me sick with their deceptive fullness power, so I was happy to go to Bricks and enjoy a nice ultra-thin pizza. In trying to decide my favorite part about this place, I keep debating if it's the beer list or the ambiance. You feel like you are dining in a cave as you make your way through to your table. The beer list includes some of my faves, La Fin du Monde, 4 styles of Anchor, and many many other great ones. Also I found out the owner is from Petaluma, CA (where I work) so I'm very excited to try that location. ps- sorry for the rambling long review, I'm not feeling very concise today.
(4)
Neesha O.

I literally stumbled upon this place on accident looking for a decent dinner before going to a show at Park West (which, btw is right around the corner). True, I did nearly trip down the steep staircase and break my neck on the way to the pizza dungeon, but I like to live on the wild side. One thing I noticed reading through some of the other posts about this place is that no one mentioned the most important aspect of Bricks: wood. fired. oven. It might seem incredible but wood-fired pizza is somewhat hard to come by in Chicago and yes, it is different from deep dish. It would be difficult and certainly unruly to handle a fat, casserole-like deep dish pizza in a fired oven. The traditional Italian pizzas, on which all other pizzas are based, are thin crust. They are not laden with sauce and toppings, the crust is crispy and the flavors are fresh and simple. I ordered the "Popeye" pizza (spinach, feta, garlic) and I felt like I got exactly what I expected. I could taste the smoke from the wood and the sauce was subtle, simple, delicious. Their arugula salad also gets two thumbs up for freshness. I quite enjoyed the dark, cavernous feel of the place, which managed to be both sexy and cozy. The beer list is pretty great as well, they carry my favorite Belgian beer, Blanche de Bruxelles. The only downside: no dessert. I don't usually get dessert, but I like to see it on the menu and what can I say? I like a happy ending.
(4)
Dusty K.

Bricks is one of those places you can walk past on a daily basis and not even know it's there. It's underground and when it rains puddles form all over the stairwell and walkway as though you're entering a vacant building. At first you think you are lost but then you open the door and the pizza smell hits you. I've eaten here twice over the last few months. It's interesting because both times I had their pizza it tasted different. One time the sauce had a bbq smokey flavor and the other time it did not. However, both times the pizza was great. Very tasty thin crust pizza. But I also like the setup at Bricks. It's not quite a dive bar but not a restaurant either. They have a small eating area with waitresses and a bar near the front. Both times I went here was during the week around 7 PM and it was fairly empty. What impressed me most is their beer selection. They have a few of my favorites in bottle form and some others on tap. Besides that, they have great specials on drinks throughout the week and it's something to look into before you head out. If you haven't tried Bricks, it's worth a visit. I like the crowd here and the wait staff is always nice. It seems like the type of place locals can visit during the week and chat it up with the bartender. Very homey if that's even a word. Give it a try for a new take on thin crust pizza.
(4)
Rachel W.

I can honestly claim to be one of a handful of people that have been to both of Brick's 2 locations: Chicago and Petaluma, CA. And yes, the only reason we took a several hour detour from our wine country vacation was to visit Brick's California. Needless to say, I love this pizza. It is truly the best pizza I've ever had. Deliciously spicy, bursting with flavor- and with weeknight drink and entree specials, it's really hard to beat. Prepare to wait a little bit for your pie, as they make it fresh just for you. Also, make sure that EVERYONE has ordered enough for themselves; I've had to slap more than a few hands reaching for my sausage pie when they got 'tired' of their spinach and mushroom. Go forth. Eat at Brick's. Be merry.
(5)
Kristin R.

Kudos to this place for being the venue of where a very funny story took place. The quick version: our bill came to $32.70 and the bartender only rang us up for $23. Jessica L: Um guys. He only rang us up for $23. That's bomb. Is it a mistake? Kirsten F: Yeah it's gotta be a mistake. Look the numbers are switched, he must be dyslexic. Me: Yea let's send it back. What if it was an error; I'd hate to jip 'em. We bring the mistake to the attention of our waitress who goes back to figure it out. She comes back and to our surprise, he is NOT dyslexic, he just thought I was cute and gave us a little discount. What a sweetie! Anyway, the food here really is amazing. We decided to eat here based on a recommendation from "Eat. Shop. Chicago". The author claims Bricks has the best thin crust pizza on earth (or was it just Chicago? anyway..) so we had to give it a whirl. It's orgasmic. The crust is cooked to perfection and just all and all, really tasty. We also ordered a caesar salad which tasted nice and fresh. You can tell because the dressing tasting extra sardine-y but I actually liked that, oddly. And they have a huge selection of beer from which to choose. A perfect accompaniment to the pizza. The bartender (bless his heart) gave me a taste of the brown sugga Lagunitas, even though it's not what I ordered, just so I could try it out. The ambiance here is very cool. You walk down stairs into a cave-like area and then you enjoy your pizza with some classic Chicago jazz and blues, some great tasting beer and a succulent pizza. Yum. I'm definitely coming back here and taking every friend that comes to visit.
(5)
Chris K.

I used to eat here all the time when I lived in Chicago and loved it. However, it had been a while and wasnt sure if it had gone downhill in the last 3 years. So when I was in Chicago again last week, I decided to give it another try and I wasnt disappointed. It was great. The Goat Cheese and Marinara appetizer is awesome, the pizzas are great -- especially the Sweet Heat, and the beer selection is fantastic. They have a ton of imported beers from Belgium, Germany, etc... I myself enjoyed a few too many glasses of Chimay. Chicago is known for deep-dish pizza so if you are loking for that, this isnt the place. But if you are looking for good pizza in a cool and different atmosphere, this is a good spot.
(5)
Andy C.

Came here for the super spicy pizza challenge i saw on foodtv. A buddy and i each ordered one, with our better halfs ready to administer first aid should we pass out. Long story short, i did not finish it. 10 minutes to eat a fairly large pizza is bad enough, and i am not sure i could have done it even without the spice, so maybe i am a huge wimp with a child's stomach. But add the spice and my head was off to the races with sweating and itching after my first slice. After my second i needed help blowing my nose as i was starting to leak....:) I gave it my all, but came up a slice and a half short, out of 8. When i stopped eating, i got the shivers bad, even though my mouth felt like i was drinking lava beer. I love spicy food, and the endorphin rush that comes with it. That is why i eat food as hot as i can get it, even though i am certainly not as good at it as i would like to be. The chef came out to talk to us after we failed, and he was a great guy, glad i got to chat with him about the experience. The actual pizza, from what i could tell of the taste, was actually very good! Fresh garlic and the toppings were not lost in the heat, and i had the rest of the pizza the next day for lunch. Would go back for the same spicy or regular za again for sure.
(4)
John R.

Has the best beer selection of any of pizza place on the north side-- very long micro-brew list. I'm not a guy who likes a ton of toppings, but they make all of their specialty pizza's work very well. The toppings definitely work with each other. We ordered six different specialty pizzas and each one was delicious. Though this is a roman pizza, the crust is slightly thicker and has a little more cheese than most of its kind-- this is definitely a good thing though. Go with a group so you can all order differently and share. There's going to be a wait for you table and the pizza (even though it's thin), but that's what the bar area is for, even if it is a little cramped throughout. The interior is dungeon-like, but is decorated and lit as well as the pizza tastes. The atmosphere is border-line pretentious. Frankly, the service could be a little better. I di order a sausage and pepperoni as a safety net in case the other pizzas were eaten too fast or rubbed me the wrong way. It came out burnt and sloppy. I am convinced they messed it up on purpose because of how vanilla the order was.
(4)
Justin P.

My wife and I hit up this restaurant after a Friday night party. We both loved the pizza and the atmosphere. The only thing keeping it from 5 stars is the weak beer list.
(4)

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Address : 1909 N Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL, 60614
Phone (312) 255-0851
Website https://www.brickschicago.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 11:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Pizza

Pizza is a famous Italian dish savored around the world. The entire credit for the popularity of Pizza in the United States goes to the chain of pizzerias all over the country. While the base and the texture of Pizza remains same across the globe, it's the toppings that differs from country to country. In the United States, you will find the top pizzerias serving pizzas with the toppings of mainly beef, bacon, chicken, ham, and sausage for the non-vegetarians. Other than these famous meat options, Pizzas with veg toppings such as mushrooms, pepperonis, garlic, tomatoes, spinach, etc. are also famous in most restaurants in the United States.

Irrespective of your locality, you will find a variety of different restaurants in your cities offering pizzas of all different types. Pizza is hot favorite among people of all ages in the United States. A large size pizza is enough to feed a family of 3 or 4 at large. Pizza is also the most preferred food whenever a group of friends is hanging out together. Pizza gained popularity in the United States after the American soldiers stationed in Italy returned from World War II.

Over the years, different pizzerias in the United States have developed their own respective regional variations. Pizza gained popularity as the iconic dish in the United States in the second half of the 20^th century. Whether you prefer thin or thick crust pizza, you can find a pizza of your preference at the best pizza restaurants in your city.

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Bricks

1909 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614

Bricks Menu

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Appetizers

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