To start I did not have to pay the bill I had no idea how much our food was so I can't factor price into this review. This it will be based off of the environment, service, food, and location. Overall impress for the entire meal I will rate as average. Location is awesome for downtown Elmhurst. It is right across the street from my work place. We get in an out in our lunch hour down to the perfect minute. We ate outdoors the chairs are okay. My hips were stiff when I stood up. Maybe some cushions??? The umbrella vet the table did shade most of us. My boss preferred to be the sun flower of the group ... no thanks! The food was good. I did find it a bit bland and I am Italian. The vodka sauce was good but I prefer a bit more flavored heat to my sauce. The best thing was the baked clams, awesome with a touch of lemon and the flavor is completely perfect. I had the caprese salad and I liked it. I did not love it. I did love how the water is bottle and placed in each table. Endless bread kept coming out entire meal. Service was to me a typical experience, nothing outstanding. Overall it is an average Italian restaurant. I will visit again.
(3)
Jeff C.
I've been to this restaurant a few times and I finally figured it out. Don't get the pizza. I know, that's part of the name, but it's misleading. The pizza isn't very good, but the pasta and sandwiches are great. This is a super place to get lunch. The lunch menu has a bunch of options for $9.99. It comes with either a sandwich or pasta and soup or a salad. I was feeling like I should eat some vegetables, since it had been several days, so I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich with a salad. My wife ordered the pasta and a bowl of chicken rice soup. Everything was delicious. Great job Pazzi! As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp!
(4)
Liz K.
This place makes my mouth water! They have some of the most amazing baked clams I've ever had.. and I've had a LOT of baked clams in my life. You'll wish you can lick the plate clean(or just use bread like me if you dgaf) Staff has always been super friendly. I've sat at the bar and outside. Great drink specials during the week. Definitely my favorite place in Elmhurst.
(5)
Gina V.
I am torn between 2 and 3 stars, but I really wouldn't classify this place as A-OK. I was super disappointed A couple of my friends had recommended it so I have been wanting to try it, and I finally took the plunge We were initially seated behind a group of 10 men who appeared to be having some business dinner or other. My boyfriend and I started eating our bread, looking at the menu, and chatting it up for about 15 minutes when a man (owner?) asked us if we could move because we were seated very close to the large party. I was a little annoyed that we were expected to pick up all of our stuff and relocate and I didn't feel like the staff was all that nice about the inconvenience, but whatever. To start, we had the grilled calamari and octopus which was fabulous. I definitely recommend this. I wanted to order some type of fish, but they only had 1 or 2 fish options that I didn't think were appealing. I was a little disappointed in the menu. Since I couldn't make up my mind, I decided to go with the pizza since the name of the restaurant translates to "Crazy for Pizza" I figured that was their specialty. I ordered the "Buffalina" which is a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella. The pizza was so overcooked that the mozzarella was completely melted and I could barely taste the difference between the buffalo milk and cow's milk. It just taste like a normal pizza. The pizza wasn't "Bad", but very far from authentic Neopolitan pizza. I imagined the pizza to be phenomenal since they have a wood burning oven, but I was wrong. I thought the pizzas were also way overpriced. I'm not sure I will ever return.
(2)
Doug M.
This place is slipping big time, it's become very inconsistent and the management is out of touch and not responsive to solve problems. The service is mediocre. They don't know how to serve wine. Also we ordered a dish and were told 25 minutes later as we were waiting for the dinner that they ran out of that dish because the waitress didn't put in the ticket. And they didn't do much to resolve this and we were snubbed by the owner and waitress for the rest of the meal. There are much better places to go. Avoid this one
(1)
Simeren S.
I am the killjoy in my family and group of friends who has a gluten allergy, but does not want to deprive anyone else from having what for me, is kryptonite so I planned a get together for my husband's birthday for 13 people. Our server Aleks was amazing and as soon as I told her about my situation, she was extremely accommodating in making recommendations as she happened to have the same affliction, as well. I had the seafood risotto dish and it was fabulous! I oftentimes get a risotto with undercooked rice, but every grain of this dish was perfect. Everyone enjoyed their pizza and my 3 year old ate every bite of her two slices instead of peeling off the cheese and leaving the crust. I will revise my rating to five stars when they offer gluten free pastas and pizzas, but all in all, a great experience!
(4)
Diane V.
We started out with an appetizer which was a fried ball of cheese and rice, which reminded me of my grandma's casserole all fried into a ball. It was strangely tasty, but then we ordered pizza which was served on a plate swimming in a soupy juicy mess. The taste was bland and unappetizing. But the worst part about our meal was the atmosphere. The last time we were here we ate outside so I had a fairly positive memory of the place but since it was raining we were inside where they played loud, club music. VERY OBNOXIOUS! You couldn't hold a conversation with the person next to you. I hated every minute and couldn't wait to leave. I will NEVER return.
(1)
Jon P.
Great salads, great pizza, especially carryout pizza.
(4)
Karen G.
Stopped here with a bud on a weekday night- super nice service, nice decor. The pizza was quite good- the crust was flaky and crisp with lots of cheese and the toppings was generous. My favorite was the "Fungi Stuffati":- the portions was huge, the flavor great with the cheese and the roasted peppers, just outstanding.
(4)
Reyna T.
2 words. White Pizza. Theirs is amazing!!! Great atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating and fantastic staff. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu from Fish to pasta. Def recommend stopping here for lunch or dinner if your in Elmhurst.
(5)
Peter Z.
I've been here on three busy Friday nights and have enjoyed a great experience each time. Last time in, I was a big fan of the arancini and, especially, the eggplant rolls with ricotta and goat cheese. Some of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. I'd rate their wood oven pizzas solidly. I ordered a prosciutto and spinach pizza, and enjoyed it with the meal and also for lunch the next day. They offer a build your own pizza option which is a nice touch. About the only critiques I can give are that just once, we received a pasta dish that was just lukewarm along the edges and slightly dry, but the center of the dish was hot and full of delicious vodka sauce. Also, good luck getting up to go to the bathroom. One has to walk through incredibly narrow spaces, and through a service area to get there. I realize this is more on the building itself than the restaurant, but it can be a bit of an inconvenience. These points are heavily outnumbered by the positive ones. I've had great, personable service and each of the last two times, a manager/owner has checked in with our table to see how we are enjoying the night. They make you feel glad you walked in their doors. Rare and refreshing. TL;DR: Order some appetizers, create your own pizza, have a few drinks and enjoy the night.
(4)
Toni F.
I came here recently with my aunt who lives in the area. Pazzi di Pizza is adorable inside and they have a wonderful patio on the side of the building. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside on the day we went but they have a great ambiance inside the restaurant and bar area. The menu is a nice variety of Italian fare with salads, panini, pasta, pizza, etc. I ordered the Tuna Panini which was bland and aside from the olive oil and tuna flavor, not much taste. The side salad it came with was excellent though. My aunt had the grilled veggie panini and it looked fabulous - that is the one I would try next time we come here. Our server was friendly and prompt - overall we enjoyed our lunch and even though I'm not in this area too often, I would return and try their pizza. I'd also recommend it to others.
(3)
Rick G.
The food was phenomenal everything is fresh you can just taste it. I had the rack of lamb and the Brajole. The service was incredible they were very knowledgeable about the menu it was a Wednesday night at the dinner rush place was crowded everyone was taken care of. This is a great place for a romantic getaway friends meeting for dinner even in groups up to 10 to 12. Bring appetizer I had grilled calamari which was incredible like I said the rack of lamb was very tasty and tender was not overdone the brajole was wrapped with filet mignon so that made it even more incredible and they bake the bread there everyday so the bread is always fresh. The chocolate cake I had for dessert was also fresh and very delicious. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be eating there again.
(5)
Gregory B.
Outstanding pasta, alfredo, marinara. Pretty good pizza, service.
(4)
Steven V.
Great food! This place definitely needs front of the house training! Great looking atmosphere and smiles.... There were about 5 tables sat, hosted sat us near a window and I requested after if we can move to the table near the fire oven for more warmth. She replied, "I think it's for a party" vs "let me check with our seating chart" We were moved to another table. Thank you. That table I requested was never sat. Server was nice but lacked customer service. She didn't pour out water in the glass, didn't go over the specials and when asked what she would suggest, her reply was everything. Server was nice and did cater to our needs. food was amazing! Bring your appetite because portions are huge! Their calamari was great! Get it grilled. Their eggplant Parmesan was great! Great food, a little server and host training and you'll get 5 stars! 3.5 stars total experience.
(3)
Derrick L.
Friendly staff. Nice place for lunch. They have a 9.95 lunch special . This restaurant is also good for grabbing a drink and is close to the train just a half block south.
(4)
Magen R.
I dined at Pazzi di Pizza last night and enjoyed it. It is a really lively place with a fun atmosphere. It was crowded on a Friday night but we were lucky to get seated relatively quickly at a hightop by the back bar. Despite being seated near the bar it was not overly crowded which was nice. We decided to share a few things among the three of us and opted to try the Calamari Dorati, the Margherita Pizza and Gamberi e Broccoli in the garlic and oil sauce. I was really pleased with the portion sizes of everything we were served and thought all the food was good. I especially like the pizza, you could definitely tell it came from a wood fired oven and I would love to go back and try some of the other options, especially one of the white pizzas. There are only two real downsides to Pazzi di Pizza, the service and the layout of the restaurant. The service was somewhat shoddy, it took a significant amount of time for us to put our orders in and it we had to ask for things we probably should not have had to (refills on our drinks, salt and pepper, etc). As for the layout it is simply a difficult place to navigate. There were a lot of people waiting while I waited for my table to get ready and there was nowhere for people to go, it became really crowded and congested near the entrance and it made it difficult for the waitstaff to do their job. The bathrooms are also individual bathrooms located on either end of the restaurant and there's no easy way to navigate to them. All in all I enjoyed my experience at Pazzi but think there are some things that can be improved upon.
(3)
Paige K.
Delicious Italian place that's an upgrade from two brothers but more consistent than Francesca's. The pesto farfalle is amazing! Pizzas good too.
(5)
Judy L.
Pazzi di Pizza...you got that right!. I am crazy about your pizza! First experience was excellent and I am already looking forward to coming back. Great customer service! Perfect for a girls night out, date night, birthday, etc. One suggestion...put more basil on the pizzas with "fresh basil". Just cut some right over the pizza when you take it out of the oven in addition to the 3 leaves in the middle. THE VIBE: Went here last night with 4 girls. Loved the indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Cute place, clean, big bar on the other side of the restaurant and REALLY friendly staff. The hostess, the bus boys, the servers and the manager...all super nice! The booth tables are great...stayed way longer than planned and had another glass of wine. THE FOOD: Love that you get fresh bread/olive oil before your meal. The zucchini pazzi appetizer is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Comes with a nice bed of mixed greens too. Margherita pizza and Capricciosa pizza were both winners. I might try a white pizza next time though. Great wine list although not too many by the glass choices. The Ruffino Chianti for $6 a glass was a super deal.
(5)
Joseph M.
Went with my wife on Sweetest Day. Had a very nice time. Started with the Arancini appetizer which was excellent and so was the Marinara sauce that came with it. My wife had Penne with pesto that was very good and the "Orto" salad full of great grilled vegetables. I had the Arugula salad and a tuna fish sandwich. I never order tuna as a sandwich but everything we tried was very good so I thought "why not?" It was just what I was hoping it would be. We'll be back with our daughters near the Holidays. Their catering menu looks very good-wish we lived closer.
(5)
Tina T.
This new upscale and distinctive Italian restaurant just opened up in the space formerly occupied by Wine & Vine in downtown Elmhurst. Complete with a wood burning pizza oven, this new addition to the Elmhurst dining scene offers ambience, good food, and a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. I love the decor - full of warm, earthy tones, awesome lighting, and a cool bar. I only wish the bar was a bit bigger. My friend and I dined here (and closed the place, of course) the second nite it was opened. While it has some growing pains to deal with, this restaurant has a lot of good going on. Their name means "crazy for Pizza", as evidenced by the variety of pizza options offered here. The comprehensive menu offers something for everyone, with a good concentration of pizzas cooked in their signature wood-burning oven. We ordered a pizza with arugula and mozzarella di bufala. It was very good. They offer takeout and delivery as well, but they will not include pizzas from the wood burning oven in takeout orders, as they don't believe they travel well. They do have thin crust and deep dish pizzas for takeout and delivery. We also ordered the orzo salad - a bed of arugula topped with a multitude of roasted vegetables - just yummy. Their wine list is fairly expansive and varied, with a concentration on Italian wines. They did offer a Silver Oaks cab, which is great. Other dishes featured on the menu include pastas, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials of seafood and meat. We gabbed with two of the owners at the bar - they were friendly and hospitable, and didn't kick us out even though there was no one left in the place. They even gave us limoncello - not too shabby. While I was not anticipating the opening of this restaurant, as we have a ton of Italian restaurants in Elmhurst, it ended up surpassing my expectations greatly. Good food, a fun and great atmosphere, and a unique menu that can't be found in Elmhurst right now. I hope they do well!
(4)
Betsy P.
Finally, I can stay in Elmhurst and enjoy a yummy brick oven pizza. I'm so happy that Pazzi di Pizza (Crazy for Pizza), is opened for business. I've been there a couple of times and I plan on making this restaurant a weekly visit with friends and family. The service is outstanding and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with the right lighting. I don't know what it is with me, but lighting is just as important to me as the food is. We tried the grilled calamari and it was cooked to perfection. The pizza was outstanding and the perfect size for two. You have to stop by with your family and friends. You will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something lite to drink, try Perseco with a splash of Campari (YUM).
(5)
Katie L.
I've only been there once, but it wasn't anything special. This could be a result of what we got, but really. If "pizza" is in your name, all of your pizzas should be fantastic. Just sayin. Also pricey for what you get. My main problem with the pizza was the crust, which was supposed to be a thin crust. If you have a thin crust, it should be crispy or chewy or SOMETHING, but this was neither. Slightly soggy and rubbery (which is not the same as chewy, trust me). Basically, I got a $10 fancy pizza that didn't taste great, was way overpriced, and which I could've made pretty easily. Save your money and go to the Jewel down the street and make your own.
(2)
Emily B.
I came in from downtown Chicago to have pizza with my mom. She was dying to try this place and I figured I'd appease her. Actually, it was pretty good! Our server was the ever-adorable and ultra-Italian, Vince. He was awesome and I'd definitely would ask for him by name again. We did a build-your-own brick-oven pizza with ricotta and spinach. I loved the thin crust and the texture of the dough. Also had rigatoni vodka...pretty delicious also. I bet the leftovers tomorrow will be wonderful. Next time, I'd like to sit on their patio because it's very loud inside.
(4)
Channon C.
Great place. Celebrated an anniversary here and we were seated in a timely manner, treated great by all the workers, and everything tasted great. We had the bruschetta and two pasta dishes. The servings were just large enough to bring a little home with us as well! Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet!
(4)
Lito T.
We're regulars here and we are never disappointed. Food always tastes fresh and atmosphere is great. Plenty of gluten free pasta options that taste just as good if not better than the house pasta.
(4)
Jeremy M.
Had a group of 6 and got right in around 6pm on a Saturday night. Served us bread, awesome!!! Most of us ordered calzones. All of us love them. Served was the best I have had in a long time. Can't wait to go back!!!!
(5)
Karen L.
Won't ever return! We were not happy with the baked clams - they were very small and when my husband went to eat the last one, there wasn't even a clam at all, just the breading. When we showed the waiter, he said he would talk to the manager. There were 4 of us, we had drinks, wine and each had an entree. The bill came and the clams were still on there. We asked the waiter if he would adjust the bill but he said the owner said since we ate most of the clams, they would not take it off. My husband tried then talking to the owner himself, and it became quite clear he thought we were wrong so we will just have to take our money elsewhere!
(1)
B J.
We went at about 7:30 on Saturday night - the place was packed and there was a 30 minute wait. We didn't mind waiting, however, people who know the owner came in after us (3 separate groups - one couple, one party of 3 and a party of 5) and all got seated before us because they knew him. They came in, said hi to him by name, hugged him, etc. and then were all seated before we were. I probably wouldn't have cared except for the fact that I am 8.5 months pregnant....I guess it pays to know someone on a busy Saturday night. The service was ok, but we felt rushed because it was so busy. We ordered drinks, they came right away and my Diet Coke was flat as could be - told the server & he brought me another one, but it was also flat. Food was the only saving grace. Their rigatoni with vodka sauce was delish and my hubby had a rigatoni special with filet and it was also really good. We were never offered a dessert menu, so I am not sure what they have available, but we saw some desserts that looked delicious being served to other tables, so maybe next time we will try it. I will give this place one more chance and hope the service is way better & the favoritism of who gets seated first is gone.
(3)
Candy J.
If I could I'd give it zero stars. Came here with high expectations based on other reviews, and had a completely disappointing experience. Service was bad, food was worse, and drink menu basically non-existent. We sat in the 'bar' area and were served by the bartender, which could explain the complete lack of attention, caprese salad consisted of mealy, under -ripe tomatoes (really??!??? Tomatoes are IN SEASON right now) and the 'pizza' was gooey and mushy... Trust me, no crisp here. Will never go back, and am pretty sure that after the 'shiny new object' effect wears off, no one else will either. Want an EXCELLENT thin crust, properly made za? Go to Q's on Butterfield in in Hillside - now THAT's a proper pizza!
(1)
Judith B.
I work around the corner and was so excited to see this place going up! AND FINALLY went to taste some of their pizza! I can definitely say I loved the look of the inside and the feel of the patio. We chose to sit outside. My fiance and I, along with our hungry toddler, ordered a margarita pizza. Delicious but they skimped on the basil leaves. Literally three leaves! Next time I'll ask for more. The waitress was so sweet. Our daughter loved her and she was very attentive refilling our drinks and checking on us. I will definitely be back- maybe next time when I ask for more basil I'll add that fifth star.
(4)
Diane M.
Wow! Fresh and homemade pastas. Service was good too. Unbelievable meat sauce and ravioli!
(5)
Natalia S.
this place definitely didn't do it for me. i was REALLY excited to be blown away by the pizza (esp since the prices were kinda steep, and the place has a nice atmosphere) but ours turned out to be pretty much flatbread with cheese and baby tomatoes. i could have thrown that together at home for much less, and probably had it taste way better. if you do decide to venture in there, try the orto salad, it was the one thing i really enjoyed apart from the water decanters :) unfortunately, i won't be coming back. ciao pazzi!
(2)
Gina G.
I've mixed reviews about Pazzi di Pizza so I finally tried it out for myself. when walking in it was very small and I was expecting somethign a little more then super casual. This is definitely a pizza joint because 75% of the menu is pizza and apps. We orders a few appitizers, the one with cold cuts and cheese was pretty good. For our main course we ordered about 5 different pizzas. The pizzas all cam eout pretty timely except for one, we got it abotu 15 minutes after the others, almost seemed like they forgot to make it, but the waitress didn't mention any of that to us. Also she seemed to disappear for long periods of time. It was during the week and the place was pretty empty, so it was not due to a busy night. Anyways, the pizza wasy SUPER THIN. I have been to italy had have had my share of italian style pizza, but this was like paper thin and lacked flavor in most of the pizza's. The sausage and red pepper with caramilized onion was my fav, others were just ok. For dessert we tried a few gelatos tiramisu. Server said they were big portions and woudl be enough for the group. Well when they served us they only brought one spoon per dessert. Again, the server was MIA and our ice cream was melted before we could flag her down and get more spoons. I was not impressed and woudl side with the negative reviews. I wanted to like this palce because I love this style of pizza, but I think there are better places in the city if you are looking for this style of pizza. iI am not pazzo for pazzi.
(2)
Bryan B.
There was nothing memorable about the food, service or overall experience. The food quality at Mama Maria's (down the street) is significantly better
(2)
Mike I.
Excellent brick-oven, traditional Italian style, pizza! I dined here Sat. night with four other friends and we all agreed that the place is great. We started with the grigliata mista (grilled octopus and calamari), which was outstanding. We also ordered the fried calamari (yes, I'm a calamari junkie!) which also was prepared well: not a lot of breading and fried perfectly. For dinner we shared three pizzas, a bufalo mozzarella with basil, a sausage and mushroom, and an artichoke and olive. All three were excellent! Not a ton of sauce, not a lot of cheese, great ingredients and very good, non-bready, dough: the perfect balance in a pizza The owner also brought over a platter of fried dough with nutella and a light cream cheese filling (marscapone, I think). It lasted about 10 seconds! They have a nice wine list and also serve panini, pasta and "normal" pizza (thin crust and deep dish), although I saw no one in the place eating those types. Our server, Gina, was excellent and was always nearby to take food/drink orders or simply just to see how everything was going. I will be back, many times, for sure. Quick tip, the place is really crowded (it just opened) and they don't take reservations, but they are willing to let you check in and then go elsewhere for drinks while you wait. We opted to go to Pints across the street which worked perfectly.
(5)
Ben N.
My review is mixed on this place. Some good points, some bad points, and of course some ugly points . . . THE GOOD: Our server and hostess were both very nice and welcoming. I do agree with other reviews though, the servers should know the menu inside and out. Many questions were unanswered because our waitress simply didn't know, or had to ask someone. But a smile goes a long way sometimes, and she did everything to be as accommodating as possible. The Tagliatelle Bolognese and Rigatoni were both delicious, as was the Sausage Appetizer, Crispy Calamari and several of the salads. THE BAD: Pizzas were just fair, not of any real Neapolitan quality like other reviews have mentioned; the crust was soggy. ALL the food hit the table at once. Talk about poor timing! We immediately boxed most of it up to go since there was no room on the table. Nothing was expedited properly. The owner or manager or whoever he was stopped by our table and offered us some complimentary wine and cheese, along with a quick summary on Italian food and geography. Thanks for the lesson on cheese, however this wasn't Parmigiano-Reggiano. It don't think it was even Grana Padano. If you are going to give a complimentary offering, make sure its not your leftovers that you are trying to pass as "authentic". You aren't fooling anyone. THE UGLY: There is a difference between a family restaurant and a day care center, although here the line was pretty blurred. Having kids run amok in your restaurant screaming, crying and being generally obnoxious is a great way to end up like the Olive Garden. We might as well have been sitting INSIDE the brick oven itself. It was ridiculously hot inside the restaurant and made it very uncomfortable to enjoy dinner. I agree that there are too many "old guys" hanging around. Probably the owner and maybe some of the investors, all of them clearly getting in the way of service. And another reminder, many people speak Italian, even in the suburbs, so watch your tongues before you say something ignorant. It's embarrassing to you, and bad for your business. In closing, I'd surprisingly give this place another shot, but will remember to stay away from the pizza and get the rest to carry out.
(2)
fab f.
Yesterday there was the opening of this new pizzeria. Finally a traditional Italian pizza, light and tasty, not a thick bread with overwhelming topping. They were very busy and then I realized why. I had a simple Margherita (cheese and tomato) and it was excellent: great ingredients, great thin bread, perfectly cooked, not heavy at all. You might say: it's just a pizza, but after you taste a good one, you realize the huge difference. I could live of pizza, but I haven't still found a place in Chicago that could make it as I used to have it in Italy. I thought it was because of the ingredients, but then I found out why. I met Gianfranco, the "pizzaiolo". He is from Veneto, Italy and his pizzas are just perfect. I wanted to share this joy with my colleagues and i asked Gianfranco to prepare another pizza. I asked him to surprise me. He came out with an arugola, slices of parmesan, tomato, fresh pomodorini and olive oil pizza that my colleagues devoured in 3 seconds. This is how pizza should be, seriously. Thank you Gianfranco. Ask for him when you go. Did I have to come to Elmhurst to find the best pizza? Too bad Chicago doesn't have one like this (and i passed them all from Spaccanapoli to ...) The place is not huge, but is very comfortable. There also a nice patio outside, hope it gets warmer soon. I'll be definitively back.
(5)
Matthew H.
I wasn't a huge fan of their runny Margarita pizza. Gave them a try a few times. Didn't make me a fan.
(2)
Margie S.
We went there with a little group...8 of us. The service was excellent, the food superb! We each shared a little of what we ordered with everyone else at the table. The evening was wonderful. It is a "little" pricey - but worth it because the pasta texture and flavor are very authentic. We will return agian....the pizza was delicious - we ordered it as an appetizer. Yummy- I'm getting hungry just thinking about this!!
(4)
Chico R.
The ambiance was great. The staff was great and the hostess was very nice. The food, not so much. The pesto panini lacked flavor and the cheese and the tomato were cold on it. If I am not mistaken a panini is supposed to be served hot or at least warm. We tried the pizza as well and it was nothing to write home about. Wood burning oven pizza and soggy crust just doesn't make sense. The beer was good. :) We won't be back. BTW, the picture of the take out pizza showed here on yelp doesn't look like anything we saw.
(1)
John L.
I wish their food were not so good. The dine-in service is unapologetically poor and the carry out window functions about the same. But the pizzas are great and the pastas are also surprisingly fantastic. The proximity to home and superior Italian food (for Elmhurst) will keep us coming back despite the obvious shortcomings.
(4)
Bee T.
This place looked crazy busy for the first month after it opened. I realized why when I tried to make a reservation for 4 on a Friday night shortly thereafter....no reservations allowed! That is honestly my only qualm with this restaurant. The food was up to my expectations. I split a delicious caprese appetizer and the Diavola pizza and was happily full. Warning to pasta lovers, the Bucatini Amatriciana was HOT HOT HOT! The wait for the pizzas was a little longer than expected, but our waiter was very apologetic and rewarded one of us with a beer on the house. Overall we had an enjoyable dinner (outdoors! Seating for out there was much easier to come by), and can see us going back there again soon.
(4)
David K.
Love location by city center and need the tagliatella once a week. Service is good, bar is fun, but mostly we like the unique wood fired pizzas and fresh pasta. Arugula pizza is great. Web ordering is also a plus.
(5)
Tom E.
Soooooo. We read the review and were expecting something pretty decent. They didn't have the beer I asked for off the menu. The tomatoes for the Caprese appetizer were half green. The thin crust pizza was so thin that I had to roll it up off the pizza pan to eat it and they used canned mushrooms and the prosciutto was thinly sliced ham. Paying the check they lost my credit card within 10 feet. Amazingly bad. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Rene P.
Went here tonight and it was very good. The caprese was delicious and the 3 pizzas we had (a prociutto and arugala, margherita, and a white with spicy sausage and red peppers) were all delicious. It's a little small inside, but we went early and had a good seat and they do have outdoor seating for summer. A nice addition to the Elmhurst pizza options.
(4)
Samir R.
Best pizza in Elmhurst, hands down. Got some carry-out, good service, place was packed.
(5)
Lisa B.
If you have been to Italy and have falken in love with the thin, cracker crust pizza you tasted thre , then you will love this place. However- I would not consider this a pizza place as I don't think you come here just for pizza. The name should not be crazy for pizza... It should be crazy for Italian food! After living in down town Chicago for so many years and being exposed to so many restaurant choices, I finally found the pizza I have craved after tasting it in Italy. Their salads are excellent. The arugula salad is so light, simple and delicious. Every dish tastes so fresh and full of flavor. If you have those in your party who must have pepperoni on their pizza - just ask. They will accommodate most requests. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I am so happy to have a restaurant of this quality in my town. I eat there 2x a month :-). I onlly wish they would expand the dinning room - as now it's hard to get a table! :-)
(4)
Jennifer T.
Pazzi is one of the best restaurants in Elmhurst. My husband and his friends are thin-crust connoisseurs who love to check out pizza joints and compare. Pazzi is among their all-time favorites, even when pitted again east-coast and NYC eateries. I enjoy Pazzi's Tonno (tuna) salad with their very delish house dressing on the side. The kids always thoroughly enjoy the spaghetti with meatballs. The husband and kids go crazy for the prosciutto appetizer which includes "real" imported prosciutto and parmesan, not that domestic stuff! The service is always attentive, though sometimes not as speedy as we'd like. Takeout pizza is very good, too, though the thin crust pizza is not an option for takeout.
(4)
Stefman X.
Food was good. But watch your credit card statement carefully! My bill came to $75 and I gave a $15 tip, which makes $90 total. When I got my credit card statement it was suddenly $95. I hate when waiters add in an extra tip for themselves.
(2)
Diana C.
Pazzi di Nada! Went Here For The 1st Time with A Couple Of Girlfriends and Not Impressed, Especially after all the Talk Of A New Place to Go To In Elmhurst. We Ordered The Fried calamari, That was Good. We All Shared The Oven Brick Pizza With Mozzerella and Basil. Where was The Basil??? Probably Still At Caputo's. We also Split The Penne Arribiatta. In The Past at Other Italian Restaurants its Suppose To Be Spicy. Not Spicy at All!!! Service Was A Liitle Slow And Kept Having To Ask For Our Waiter. We All Felt Like We were Being Undressed With Gaulking Eyes From The Male Staff. a Little Uncomfortable And Made You Not Want To Get Up and Use The Bathroom. Waited 20 minutes For Our Bill. Will Not Be Coming Back To This Place! There are Plenty Of other Italian Pizza Places around. SORRY CHARLIE!!!
(1)
janice m.
Last night we visited here with friends from out of town. There were seven of us and we were worried there would be a long wait as we decided to eat around 7. (Duh, what were we thinking) Much to our surprise the hostess was able to put together a table for us in a matter of minutes, despite the crowd that was there. That alone got them a star. We started off the meal with calamari and rice balls. Both were really good, not overly salty which I appreciate a lot. For our main course three friends ordered off the pasta and specials menu and three ordered off the pizza. The pasta dishes were well prepared and very tasty, the portions being very plentiful. The pizza was definitely thin crust, but it was Roman style not Neapolitan, and that might be why people were disappointed by the crust. I enjoyed my buffalina very much and wouldn't hesitate to come back for more. Our server, Alex, was wonderful. She kept our drinks filled, the table clean, and was friendly and sweet. All in all a good time for our friends and for me.
(4)
Jeff B.
The woodfire pizza's are very good. Full of flavor. I would give it 5 stars but they need to add a few more toppings. Other than that, the restaurant is very nice with dining in and outside. Price is reasonable and the food is filling. Highly recommend this pizza place for something a little different than your normal pizza joint.
(4)
J J.
Atmosphere is nice, but I can relate to another review about all the "kids" here. Very reasonably priced on food (all relative), but watch out for the drinks. Had the grilled calamari/octopus, was good. Octopus and Calamari should be cut up so you don't have to do it at the table. Would also make a better presentation. Wood fired Pizza...hmmmm....ordered with sausage, onions and cheese. Had about 5 small dots of sausage, enough onions, but all toppings were about 2 inches away from the crust, which was partially burned, yet still uncooked somewhat in the middle. Server could not have been more accomodating. Highly doubt I would return.
(1)
Liz K.
This place makes my mouth water! They have some of the most amazing baked clams I've ever had.. and I've had a LOT of baked clams in my life. You'll wish you can lick the plate clean(or just use bread like me if you dgaf) Staff has always been super friendly. I've sat at the bar and outside. Great drink specials during the week. Definitely my favorite place in Elmhurst.
(5)
Peter H.
stella on tap, awesome bartenders, kicka$$ nutella dessert, and the grilled octopus app is AMAZE
(5)
Curt L.
As promised here is the update. Went Friday night (their first Friday night). The place was slammed. Such is Elmhurst. We fortunately secured a table outside. House red for Wifey and a Moretti for me. Grilled calamari and octopus for an app (Grigliata Mista)............the grilled items were supplemented with radicchio, other greens and diced tomato. Went with a pizza (of course)....the Capricciosa. The mozzarella was really tasty, Prosciutto cotto (did not really see it on the pizza!) artichoke hearts and gaeta olives. The service was rather slow......which is understandable. Will come back in a few weeks when things have relaxed a bit here. Will try a pasta dish as they looked really nice Good place for Elmhurst. I predict a successful run.
(4)
Christina G.
I met 2 friends here on a Sunday night. One of them was from out of town, so I knew it would be a long, lazy dinner. One friend suggested we make reservations, and she did. I didn't think we would need them, but it turns out, she was right. Our reservations were for 6pm and when we arrived, our table wasn't ready. Annoying, but we didn't wait long. I wish we'd had an appetizer, especially the tavolata, which was a delicious looking meat and cheese plate, but we went straight to the main course. We ordered pizzas all around. They all looked really good. I had the quatro stagioni which had proscuitto, olives, mozzarella, and mushrooms. It was good, but I don't know that it was $16 good. Plus, as it's a woodfire pizza, you have to be careful not to burn it. Part of the top of mine was burned. It wasn't a big deal, but I was surprised our waiter didn't say anything about it when he put it on the table. There was a ton of proscuitto, so no complaints there, but hardly any olives. One last thing that bothered me a bit was that we weren't checked on very much. Granted, our waiter could have had the vibe that we were planning to be there for a bit to chat, but we were never even offered a water refill. When I did ask for one, as water was my only beverage and I was out, he never came back with any. All in all, I had a pizza and with tax and tip, it was about $25. I was surprised the total was so much without even drink on the tab. I would be back to give this place another try, but if I wasn't impressed the second time around, I don't think I'd go back for time #3.
(3)
Kelli M.
I couldn't believe this place didn't have five stars across the board. I've been searching the past year for a good Italian place like I grew up next to in New Jersey and I finally found it. The price is right- they have ten dollar lunch specials that come with soup or salad and the food is delicious. You can tell they put their time into cooking. We stopped in randomly for lunch and they have inside as well as outside seating. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Each table gets warm soft bread with oil and Parmesan like they should! I got a salad that comes with house dressing, onions, tomato, and olives. Boyfriend got house soup which he wouldn't share so I guess it was good. Just ordered some chardonnay that was only $7 and the glass was full! I got pasta with tomatoes and garlic and oil- so many flavors in one- delicious! Boyfriend got the best penne vodka I've had in a while. Good portions, enough to take half home and fill you up while you're there. You can make your own pasta dishes and the homemade sandwiches or fire roasted pizza sound great too! We will definitely be back. They have parking lot nearby and inside restaurant there are coupons for take out or delivery.
(5)
J S.
Where do I begin! If your looking for great Italian food, good looking attentive service, great wine all wrapped up in a cute trendy looking restaurant then pazzi is the place for you! I've prob tried just about everything on the menu but I def have my favorites! For an appetizer you must try the grigliata mista. Perfectly grilled calamari paired with my favorite grilled octopus in a balsamic vinaigrette. I could eat the whole thing all to myself! Make sure to dip your bread in the vinaigrette you'll love it! The woodfire pizza is amazing! Nice and thin like a woodfire pizza should be topped with premium ingredients! There is more then enough of different types of pizza to choose from but my favorite has to be the prosciutto and arugula! My other favorites here are the farfalle alla Francesco and the eggplant parmigiana. All of the menus dishes are a more than generous amount of food but make sure to save some room for their fried dough dessert and a nice cappuccino! As you can tell I love this place not only for their food but for the service as well! All the servers are very knowledgable about the menu and wines here and are very friendly but most importantly attentive! I can't say enough good things out pazzi di pizza!
(5)
Phillip C.
I ordered the grilled calamari which was disgusting but that was not the worst part of the experience. The Worst part of the experience is when I mentioned it to the waiter and his response was that he would see what he could do. He Came back 15 minutes later with another order of calamari which was just as bad as the first order. I didn't ask for another order I just told you that u didn't care for it. I asked for the bill and he didn't even offer to take it off of the bill he just told me that no one else ever complain about the calamari. If you come here to dine just make sure that you don't complain about anything, and If you order something YOU BETTER like it because everybody else does!! Poor service like this is inexcusable in the hospitality industry , get a clue.
(1)
Laura C.
For Elmhurst, I think this is a standout spot. We sat on the patio with a large group. The service was kind of slow, but we weren't in a rush. The food was tasty and enjoyable, but the margherita pizza with a few whole basil leaves just plopped on the middle left something to be desired. If they just chopped up a ton more basil, this might be a 5 star review! Yes, it is crowded, but it is tasty, affordable food and a big patio in Elmhurst, which is lovely, but isn't exactly a foodie metropolis. Check it out. Hope you enjoy it!
(4)
Megan S.
My fish had a disgusting amount of bones in it. When I told the owner, he said it was normal for the fish to have bones. He didn't apologize at all let alone comp my meal. Don't order fish here unless you like it bony!
(1)
Dana L.
The pizza was fantastic. My family got two different pizzas, but my mom and I got the margherita pizza. So good! And one of the managers even brought us a free dessert. That was fried cinnamon dough topped with nutella, I think. Whatever it was, it was good. Kind of on the expensive side so I wouldn't return unless someone else was paying!!
(4)
Cher M.
After thinking long and hard, I can't remember if I've ever had wood fired pizza. You'd remember that, right? I concluded that I must not have, and that makes Pazzi di Pizza a memorable experience. After reading about the "soggy" pizza experiences, I played it safe with my order and chose a white pizza (sans sauce) which turned out to be the right decision. A crispy crust with just the right amount of toppings and seasoned perfectly, the "Quattro Formaggi" was a combination of mozzarella, provolone, parmiggiano reggiano, and gorgonzola. The four cheeses work great together, the mozzarella providing a softness, the provolone a smoothness, the parmiggiano giving its nuttiness, and the gorgonzola lending a "bite" to my slice that you don't often find in a pizza. The service was fine, if a bit helicopter-y. My water stayed filled, but our server never missed a chance to attempt an up-sell (No, I do NOT want to order an entire bottle of chianti at noon on a Thursday. Try me on a Saturday.) The pizza was 14.95, which split between two was a decent price. For lunch, it was the perfect amount of food for me and my dining companion, with two slices left for the next day's lunch. When I heated up my leftovers the next day, they held up pretty good, albeit a tad soggy this time from the microwave. With all the differing opinions on this place, I say go for the white "Quattro Fromaggio" pizza and you won't be disappointed.
Pizza was good, service was not. For that reason, I don't imagine I'll be back. They brought out the wrong pizza. I understand these things happen, but it was how it was dealt with that was less than stellar. The only real difference between the pizza we ordered and the pizza we got was the presence of anchovies. We wanted the anchovy-laden version and when we mentioned their error, they took the (already partially-eaten) pizza back to the kitchen and merely plopped some anchovies right on top. Is that how it was supposed to be? I'm not sure. The staff's attitude was rather immature and they didn't seem too concerned or apologetic that they made an error. Meh.
(2)
Angelo C.
Last night, I went to Pazzi di Pizza with my wife and her parents, and I had high hopes. Upon entering, however, I lost some confidence due to the lack of space in front of and around the hostess stand and bar area. It was very crowded, and no one looked to be interested in making space. Once we gave our names, we were told that there would be a 40 minute wait, which is understandable, because it was quite busy and it was a Saturday night. We stood at the bar, packed in like sardines, and had some wine while we waited. After about 40 minutes, I asked the hostess how close we were to being seated and she told me that there were still two more groups ahead of us to be seated before our turn. This was somewhat aggravating because there were only three groups ahead of us when we arrived. I understand that restaurants can only give an "estimated" wait time, but at this rate it seemed like we wouldn't be seated for at least another 40 minutes. After 20 more minutes, we noticed a table near us being cleared, and everyone that had arrived before us was already seated, so we were excited for our turn to sit down and order some food. At that point, the manager, Nick, walked by and escorted another group of four (who had arrived a considerable amount of time after we had) to the table that had just been set up. This was very frustrating, so I went to the hostess and asked why we had been skipped over when we also had four in our group. She shrugged her shoulders and just pointed at Nick. We asked him about it and he told us, "don't worry about it, I've got you, I've got you," and then he walked away without saying another word. Don't get me wrong, I understand mistakes happen. But this guy did not make any attempt to apologize to us or make it right. He simply talked over us when we voiced our concern, and walked away. He really didn't seem to care at all about our group. So we walked back to the bar and waited. I was fuming at this point, but my wife really wanted to have dinner, so I just shut up about it. After waiting another 10 minutes without any attention, I asked the hostess if we would be seated soon. She told me it looked like some tables were putting their food in boxes, so it wouldn't be too long. I didn't see any such tables, so I'm not sure if she was telling the truth or just fabricating to get us to stop asking her. I walked back to my wife, and we waited for another 10 minutes. Then another server stepped behind the bar and began talking to my wife. The manager was behind the bar as well, but completely ignoring us and making some kind of coffee drink. The server was explaining that they have a terrible system of keeping track of groups waiting to be seated and that they can't always remember who came in and in what order. Then she apologized to us (the first apology we received), and I thanked her for taking it upon herself to speak with us, when it is obviously an issue that the manager should be concerned with. I said this loud enough for Nick to hear, hoping that he might get involved, since previously he didn't seem very concerned about keeping our business. He didn't acknowledge us at all and walked off to another table, at which point my wife turned to me and said, "if they have a terrible system for keeping track of waiting groups, they probably have a terrible system of taking care of seated guests, too." I told her I agreed, and she suggested we just leave, which was what I had wanted to do since Nick had demonstrated his lack of managerial skills. So we left and on the way out we let Nick know that he had lost our business indefinitely. He said nothing and started talking to a busboy about another table, at which point we turned and walked out. To summarize, we waited roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes, twice as long as we were quoted, and we left without eating because Nick was too stubborn, or embarrassed, or what have you, to apologize to us directly and fix the issue. Never will we be returning to Pazzi di Pizza, and I urge you to do the same. You are better off spending your money at a restaurant that appreciates your business and has the ability to address mistakes when they happen.
(1)
Tommaso S.
The West suburb is lucky another !!!!! Excellent trattoria for Italian Home made food!!!! Great wine list, service , the owner personally greats you and oversees the dining room service. I trusted him to pick my wind for dinner and it was DOC! Rockefeller oysters are whole not chopped which I loved and the clams "mamma mia!!! That's right.
(5)
Steve D.
Stopped here for lunch on Friday. I am in constant search of the perfect Neapolitan pizza and thought I would give this place a try. It is located as part of the old Elmhurst bank which is now a First Third bank. Server stopped at my table, no introduction or welcome from him. Definitely did not get a friendly vibe. Ordered the Margherita pizza and an iced tea. One of the best things about wood fired pizzas is that they cook fast and not too much waiting. The pizza itself??? It was OK. I have had better, much better. I guess for Elmhurst, it is OK, but I just don't understand the reviews that rave about it. The crust just did not have the right texture and chew that a good Neapolitan style must have. It was too crisp. When you can pick it up without it drooping, it is too crisp. The flavor of the crust was also less than memorable, and crust is what it is all about for this style pizza. Don't get me wrong and I do not want to sound too negative. The pizza was OK for the area but it was not in my top choices for Neapolitan pizza. I cannot comment on their other dishes since I only had the pizza. Cheers to All
(3)
Becky H.
Service: Seated fairly quick considering it appeared to be packed. Jen was an excellent server, very helpful, gave us advise on what to order. Bar: Super small, went on a Friday night and didn't even bother to squeeze my way in. Food: Pizza dough tasted like crunchy pancakes, the toppings were good, however they couldn't mask the sweet weird flavor of the dough. also not worth the price, just skip the pizza. we did however love the pasta dish, nothing crazy, just the vodka sauce rigatoni, but the vadka sauce was delicious.
(3)
Ciara S.
I have been to Pazzi di Pizza 3 times now, and ordered a pizza for to-go. The first 2 times were great! The food was good, great service, not super over priced. My fiance and I were really impressed overall. We also loved our to-go pizza. Now here comes the bad part. I went there 2 weeks ago on a Sunday for a work meeting with 6 girls. When we all ordered an alcoholic beverage our server asked if he could see our I.D's - which is wonderful. He then awkwardly went on about how "my manager asked me to check your I.D's - I'm really sorry - it's my job" blah blah. It was uncomfortable because no one said anything and it was like he offended us or something..,just weird! So our pizza comes out and it was good. I remember it being MUCH better the first 3 times I went, but still not bad. So then 8:15PM rolls around and our server comes over and says "I'm sorry ladies but we are closing up for the night and you're going to have to leave." So naturally I asked "Oh, what time do you close?" I have worked in the business for over 10 years as a server, hostess, and supervisor. He then says "We close when they tell me." WHAT?!?! What a weird response! So you don't have a closing time???? Needless to say we wrapped things up and on our way out we noticed there were still some people in the bar. It was about 8:25PM at this point so I asked someone who looked like a manager "Excuse me, but are we allowed to sit in the bar?" He says "Ummm...I guess so if you want." So I said "Well what time do you close?" And he proceeds to say "9:00PM." I was fuming!!! I have NEVER been kicked out of a restaurant 45 minutes before closing!!!!!!!! How completely absurd and rude! In all my years of working in this industry, I have never kicked anyone out unless is was an hour or more AFTER closing!! I understand it sucks, and it seemed like a really slow night, but that was awful customer service. Clearly, they didn't want our business. So in turn, I will NOT be going back to Pazzi di Pizza.
(2)
Peter Z.
I've been here on three busy Friday nights and have enjoyed a great experience each time. Last time in, I was a big fan of the arancini and, especially, the eggplant rolls with ricotta and goat cheese. Some of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. I'd rate their wood oven pizzas solidly. I ordered a prosciutto and spinach pizza, and enjoyed it with the meal and also for lunch the next day. They offer a build your own pizza option which is a nice touch. About the only critiques I can give are that just once, we received a pasta dish that was just lukewarm along the edges and slightly dry, but the center of the dish was hot and full of delicious vodka sauce. Also, good luck getting up to go to the bathroom. One has to walk through incredibly narrow spaces, and through a service area to get there. I realize this is more on the building itself than the restaurant, but it can be a bit of an inconvenience. These points are heavily outnumbered by the positive ones. I've had great, personable service and each of the last two times, a manager/owner has checked in with our table to see how we are enjoying the night. They make you feel glad you walked in their doors. Rare and refreshing. TL;DR: Order some appetizers, create your own pizza, have a few drinks and enjoy the night.
(4)
Lana C.
To start I did not have to pay the bill I had no idea how much our food was so I can't factor price into this review. This it will be based off of the environment, service, food, and location. Overall impress for the entire meal I will rate as average. Location is awesome for downtown Elmhurst. It is right across the street from my work place. We get in an out in our lunch hour down to the perfect minute. We ate outdoors the chairs are okay. My hips were stiff when I stood up. Maybe some cushions??? The umbrella vet the table did shade most of us. My boss preferred to be the sun flower of the group ... no thanks! The food was good. I did find it a bit bland and I am Italian. The vodka sauce was good but I prefer a bit more flavored heat to my sauce. The best thing was the baked clams, awesome with a touch of lemon and the flavor is completely perfect. I had the caprese salad and I liked it. I did not love it. I did love how the water is bottle and placed in each table. Endless bread kept coming out entire meal. Service was to me a typical experience, nothing outstanding. Overall it is an average Italian restaurant. I will visit again.
(3)
Reyna T.
2 words. White Pizza. Theirs is amazing!!! Great atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating and fantastic staff. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu from Fish to pasta. Def recommend stopping here for lunch or dinner if your in Elmhurst.
(5)
Jeff C.
I've been to this restaurant a few times and I finally figured it out. Don't get the pizza. I know, that's part of the name, but it's misleading. The pizza isn't very good, but the pasta and sandwiches are great. This is a super place to get lunch. The lunch menu has a bunch of options for $9.99. It comes with either a sandwich or pasta and soup or a salad. I was feeling like I should eat some vegetables, since it had been several days, so I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich with a salad. My wife ordered the pasta and a bowl of chicken rice soup. Everything was delicious. Great job Pazzi! As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp!
(4)
Christina G.
I met 2 friends here on a Sunday night. One of them was from out of town, so I knew it would be a long, lazy dinner. One friend suggested we make reservations, and she did. I didn't think we would need them, but it turns out, she was right. Our reservations were for 6pm and when we arrived, our table wasn't ready. Annoying, but we didn't wait long. I wish we'd had an appetizer, especially the tavolata, which was a delicious looking meat and cheese plate, but we went straight to the main course. We ordered pizzas all around. They all looked really good. I had the quatro stagioni which had proscuitto, olives, mozzarella, and mushrooms. It was good, but I don't know that it was $16 good. Plus, as it's a woodfire pizza, you have to be careful not to burn it. Part of the top of mine was burned. It wasn't a big deal, but I was surprised our waiter didn't say anything about it when he put it on the table. There was a ton of proscuitto, so no complaints there, but hardly any olives. One last thing that bothered me a bit was that we weren't checked on very much. Granted, our waiter could have had the vibe that we were planning to be there for a bit to chat, but we were never even offered a water refill. When I did ask for one, as water was my only beverage and I was out, he never came back with any. All in all, I had a pizza and with tax and tip, it was about $25. I was surprised the total was so much without even drink on the tab. I would be back to give this place another try, but if I wasn't impressed the second time around, I don't think I'd go back for time #3.
(3)
Cher M.
After thinking long and hard, I can't remember if I've ever had wood fired pizza. You'd remember that, right? I concluded that I must not have, and that makes Pazzi di Pizza a memorable experience. After reading about the "soggy" pizza experiences, I played it safe with my order and chose a white pizza (sans sauce) which turned out to be the right decision. A crispy crust with just the right amount of toppings and seasoned perfectly, the "Quattro Formaggi" was a combination of mozzarella, provolone, parmiggiano reggiano, and gorgonzola. The four cheeses work great together, the mozzarella providing a softness, the provolone a smoothness, the parmiggiano giving its nuttiness, and the gorgonzola lending a "bite" to my slice that you don't often find in a pizza. The service was fine, if a bit helicopter-y. My water stayed filled, but our server never missed a chance to attempt an up-sell (No, I do NOT want to order an entire bottle of chianti at noon on a Thursday. Try me on a Saturday.) The pizza was 14.95, which split between two was a decent price. For lunch, it was the perfect amount of food for me and my dining companion, with two slices left for the next day's lunch. When I heated up my leftovers the next day, they held up pretty good, albeit a tad soggy this time from the microwave. With all the differing opinions on this place, I say go for the white "Quattro Fromaggio" pizza and you won't be disappointed.
Pizza was good, service was not. For that reason, I don't imagine I'll be back. They brought out the wrong pizza. I understand these things happen, but it was how it was dealt with that was less than stellar. The only real difference between the pizza we ordered and the pizza we got was the presence of anchovies. We wanted the anchovy-laden version and when we mentioned their error, they took the (already partially-eaten) pizza back to the kitchen and merely plopped some anchovies right on top. Is that how it was supposed to be? I'm not sure. The staff's attitude was rather immature and they didn't seem too concerned or apologetic that they made an error. Meh.
(2)
Angelo C.
Last night, I went to Pazzi di Pizza with my wife and her parents, and I had high hopes. Upon entering, however, I lost some confidence due to the lack of space in front of and around the hostess stand and bar area. It was very crowded, and no one looked to be interested in making space. Once we gave our names, we were told that there would be a 40 minute wait, which is understandable, because it was quite busy and it was a Saturday night. We stood at the bar, packed in like sardines, and had some wine while we waited. After about 40 minutes, I asked the hostess how close we were to being seated and she told me that there were still two more groups ahead of us to be seated before our turn. This was somewhat aggravating because there were only three groups ahead of us when we arrived. I understand that restaurants can only give an "estimated" wait time, but at this rate it seemed like we wouldn't be seated for at least another 40 minutes. After 20 more minutes, we noticed a table near us being cleared, and everyone that had arrived before us was already seated, so we were excited for our turn to sit down and order some food. At that point, the manager, Nick, walked by and escorted another group of four (who had arrived a considerable amount of time after we had) to the table that had just been set up. This was very frustrating, so I went to the hostess and asked why we had been skipped over when we also had four in our group. She shrugged her shoulders and just pointed at Nick. We asked him about it and he told us, "don't worry about it, I've got you, I've got you," and then he walked away without saying another word. Don't get me wrong, I understand mistakes happen. But this guy did not make any attempt to apologize to us or make it right. He simply talked over us when we voiced our concern, and walked away. He really didn't seem to care at all about our group. So we walked back to the bar and waited. I was fuming at this point, but my wife really wanted to have dinner, so I just shut up about it. After waiting another 10 minutes without any attention, I asked the hostess if we would be seated soon. She told me it looked like some tables were putting their food in boxes, so it wouldn't be too long. I didn't see any such tables, so I'm not sure if she was telling the truth or just fabricating to get us to stop asking her. I walked back to my wife, and we waited for another 10 minutes. Then another server stepped behind the bar and began talking to my wife. The manager was behind the bar as well, but completely ignoring us and making some kind of coffee drink. The server was explaining that they have a terrible system of keeping track of groups waiting to be seated and that they can't always remember who came in and in what order. Then she apologized to us (the first apology we received), and I thanked her for taking it upon herself to speak with us, when it is obviously an issue that the manager should be concerned with. I said this loud enough for Nick to hear, hoping that he might get involved, since previously he didn't seem very concerned about keeping our business. He didn't acknowledge us at all and walked off to another table, at which point my wife turned to me and said, "if they have a terrible system for keeping track of waiting groups, they probably have a terrible system of taking care of seated guests, too." I told her I agreed, and she suggested we just leave, which was what I had wanted to do since Nick had demonstrated his lack of managerial skills. So we left and on the way out we let Nick know that he had lost our business indefinitely. He said nothing and started talking to a busboy about another table, at which point we turned and walked out. To summarize, we waited roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes, twice as long as we were quoted, and we left without eating because Nick was too stubborn, or embarrassed, or what have you, to apologize to us directly and fix the issue. Never will we be returning to Pazzi di Pizza, and I urge you to do the same. You are better off spending your money at a restaurant that appreciates your business and has the ability to address mistakes when they happen.
(1)
Tommaso S.
The West suburb is lucky another !!!!! Excellent trattoria for Italian Home made food!!!! Great wine list, service , the owner personally greats you and oversees the dining room service. I trusted him to pick my wind for dinner and it was DOC! Rockefeller oysters are whole not chopped which I loved and the clams "mamma mia!!! That's right.
(5)
John L.
I wish their food were not so good. The dine-in service is unapologetically poor and the carry out window functions about the same. But the pizzas are great and the pastas are also surprisingly fantastic. The proximity to home and superior Italian food (for Elmhurst) will keep us coming back despite the obvious shortcomings.
(4)
Bee T.
This place looked crazy busy for the first month after it opened. I realized why when I tried to make a reservation for 4 on a Friday night shortly thereafter....no reservations allowed! That is honestly my only qualm with this restaurant. The food was up to my expectations. I split a delicious caprese appetizer and the Diavola pizza and was happily full. Warning to pasta lovers, the Bucatini Amatriciana was HOT HOT HOT! The wait for the pizzas was a little longer than expected, but our waiter was very apologetic and rewarded one of us with a beer on the house. Overall we had an enjoyable dinner (outdoors! Seating for out there was much easier to come by), and can see us going back there again soon.
(4)
David K.
Love location by city center and need the tagliatella once a week. Service is good, bar is fun, but mostly we like the unique wood fired pizzas and fresh pasta. Arugula pizza is great. Web ordering is also a plus.
(5)
Tom E.
Soooooo. We read the review and were expecting something pretty decent. They didn't have the beer I asked for off the menu. The tomatoes for the Caprese appetizer were half green. The thin crust pizza was so thin that I had to roll it up off the pizza pan to eat it and they used canned mushrooms and the prosciutto was thinly sliced ham. Paying the check they lost my credit card within 10 feet. Amazingly bad. Don't waste your time.
(1)
Toni F.
I came here recently with my aunt who lives in the area. Pazzi di Pizza is adorable inside and they have a wonderful patio on the side of the building. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside on the day we went but they have a great ambiance inside the restaurant and bar area. The menu is a nice variety of Italian fare with salads, panini, pasta, pizza, etc. I ordered the Tuna Panini which was bland and aside from the olive oil and tuna flavor, not much taste. The side salad it came with was excellent though. My aunt had the grilled veggie panini and it looked fabulous - that is the one I would try next time we come here. Our server was friendly and prompt - overall we enjoyed our lunch and even though I'm not in this area too often, I would return and try their pizza. I'd also recommend it to others.
(3)
Rick G.
The food was phenomenal everything is fresh you can just taste it. I had the rack of lamb and the Brajole. The service was incredible they were very knowledgeable about the menu it was a Wednesday night at the dinner rush place was crowded everyone was taken care of. This is a great place for a romantic getaway friends meeting for dinner even in groups up to 10 to 12. Bring appetizer I had grilled calamari which was incredible like I said the rack of lamb was very tasty and tender was not overdone the brajole was wrapped with filet mignon so that made it even more incredible and they bake the bread there everyday so the bread is always fresh. The chocolate cake I had for dessert was also fresh and very delicious. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be eating there again.
(5)
Gregory B.
Outstanding pasta, alfredo, marinara. Pretty good pizza, service.
(4)
Steven V.
Great food! This place definitely needs front of the house training! Great looking atmosphere and smiles.... There were about 5 tables sat, hosted sat us near a window and I requested after if we can move to the table near the fire oven for more warmth. She replied, "I think it's for a party" vs "let me check with our seating chart" We were moved to another table. Thank you. That table I requested was never sat. Server was nice but lacked customer service. She didn't pour out water in the glass, didn't go over the specials and when asked what she would suggest, her reply was everything. Server was nice and did cater to our needs. food was amazing! Bring your appetite because portions are huge! Their calamari was great! Get it grilled. Their eggplant Parmesan was great! Great food, a little server and host training and you'll get 5 stars! 3.5 stars total experience.
(3)
Derrick L.
Friendly staff. Nice place for lunch. They have a 9.95 lunch special . This restaurant is also good for grabbing a drink and is close to the train just a half block south.
(4)
Kelli M.
I couldn't believe this place didn't have five stars across the board. I've been searching the past year for a good Italian place like I grew up next to in New Jersey and I finally found it. The price is right- they have ten dollar lunch specials that come with soup or salad and the food is delicious. You can tell they put their time into cooking. We stopped in randomly for lunch and they have inside as well as outside seating. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Each table gets warm soft bread with oil and Parmesan like they should! I got a salad that comes with house dressing, onions, tomato, and olives. Boyfriend got house soup which he wouldn't share so I guess it was good. Just ordered some chardonnay that was only $7 and the glass was full! I got pasta with tomatoes and garlic and oil- so many flavors in one- delicious! Boyfriend got the best penne vodka I've had in a while. Good portions, enough to take half home and fill you up while you're there. You can make your own pasta dishes and the homemade sandwiches or fire roasted pizza sound great too! We will definitely be back. They have parking lot nearby and inside restaurant there are coupons for take out or delivery.
(5)
Diane V.
We started out with an appetizer which was a fried ball of cheese and rice, which reminded me of my grandma's casserole all fried into a ball. It was strangely tasty, but then we ordered pizza which was served on a plate swimming in a soupy juicy mess. The taste was bland and unappetizing. But the worst part about our meal was the atmosphere. The last time we were here we ate outside so I had a fairly positive memory of the place but since it was raining we were inside where they played loud, club music. VERY OBNOXIOUS! You couldn't hold a conversation with the person next to you. I hated every minute and couldn't wait to leave. I will NEVER return.
(1)
Jon P.
Great salads, great pizza, especially carryout pizza.
(4)
Karen G.
Stopped here with a bud on a weekday night- super nice service, nice decor. The pizza was quite good- the crust was flaky and crisp with lots of cheese and the toppings was generous. My favorite was the "Fungi Stuffati":- the portions was huge, the flavor great with the cheese and the roasted peppers, just outstanding.
(4)
Peter H.
stella on tap, awesome bartenders, kicka$$ nutella dessert, and the grilled octopus app is AMAZE
(5)
Curt L.
As promised here is the update. Went Friday night (their first Friday night). The place was slammed. Such is Elmhurst. We fortunately secured a table outside. House red for Wifey and a Moretti for me. Grilled calamari and octopus for an app (Grigliata Mista)............the grilled items were supplemented with radicchio, other greens and diced tomato. Went with a pizza (of course)....the Capricciosa. The mozzarella was really tasty, Prosciutto cotto (did not really see it on the pizza!) artichoke hearts and gaeta olives. The service was rather slow......which is understandable. Will come back in a few weeks when things have relaxed a bit here. Will try a pasta dish as they looked really nice Good place for Elmhurst. I predict a successful run.
(4)
Magen R.
I dined at Pazzi di Pizza last night and enjoyed it. It is a really lively place with a fun atmosphere. It was crowded on a Friday night but we were lucky to get seated relatively quickly at a hightop by the back bar. Despite being seated near the bar it was not overly crowded which was nice. We decided to share a few things among the three of us and opted to try the Calamari Dorati, the Margherita Pizza and Gamberi e Broccoli in the garlic and oil sauce. I was really pleased with the portion sizes of everything we were served and thought all the food was good. I especially like the pizza, you could definitely tell it came from a wood fired oven and I would love to go back and try some of the other options, especially one of the white pizzas. There are only two real downsides to Pazzi di Pizza, the service and the layout of the restaurant. The service was somewhat shoddy, it took a significant amount of time for us to put our orders in and it we had to ask for things we probably should not have had to (refills on our drinks, salt and pepper, etc). As for the layout it is simply a difficult place to navigate. There were a lot of people waiting while I waited for my table to get ready and there was nowhere for people to go, it became really crowded and congested near the entrance and it made it difficult for the waitstaff to do their job. The bathrooms are also individual bathrooms located on either end of the restaurant and there's no easy way to navigate to them. All in all I enjoyed my experience at Pazzi but think there are some things that can be improved upon.
(3)
Paige K.
Delicious Italian place that's an upgrade from two brothers but more consistent than Francesca's. The pesto farfalle is amazing! Pizzas good too.
(5)
Judy L.
Pazzi di Pizza...you got that right!. I am crazy about your pizza! First experience was excellent and I am already looking forward to coming back. Great customer service! Perfect for a girls night out, date night, birthday, etc. One suggestion...put more basil on the pizzas with "fresh basil". Just cut some right over the pizza when you take it out of the oven in addition to the 3 leaves in the middle. THE VIBE: Went here last night with 4 girls. Loved the indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Cute place, clean, big bar on the other side of the restaurant and REALLY friendly staff. The hostess, the bus boys, the servers and the manager...all super nice! The booth tables are great...stayed way longer than planned and had another glass of wine. THE FOOD: Love that you get fresh bread/olive oil before your meal. The zucchini pazzi appetizer is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Comes with a nice bed of mixed greens too. Margherita pizza and Capricciosa pizza were both winners. I might try a white pizza next time though. Great wine list although not too many by the glass choices. The Ruffino Chianti for $6 a glass was a super deal.
(5)
Joseph M.
Went with my wife on Sweetest Day. Had a very nice time. Started with the Arancini appetizer which was excellent and so was the Marinara sauce that came with it. My wife had Penne with pesto that was very good and the "Orto" salad full of great grilled vegetables. I had the Arugula salad and a tuna fish sandwich. I never order tuna as a sandwich but everything we tried was very good so I thought "why not?" It was just what I was hoping it would be. We'll be back with our daughters near the Holidays. Their catering menu looks very good-wish we lived closer.
(5)
J S.
Where do I begin! If your looking for great Italian food, good looking attentive service, great wine all wrapped up in a cute trendy looking restaurant then pazzi is the place for you! I've prob tried just about everything on the menu but I def have my favorites! For an appetizer you must try the grigliata mista. Perfectly grilled calamari paired with my favorite grilled octopus in a balsamic vinaigrette. I could eat the whole thing all to myself! Make sure to dip your bread in the vinaigrette you'll love it! The woodfire pizza is amazing! Nice and thin like a woodfire pizza should be topped with premium ingredients! There is more then enough of different types of pizza to choose from but my favorite has to be the prosciutto and arugula! My other favorites here are the farfalle alla Francesco and the eggplant parmigiana. All of the menus dishes are a more than generous amount of food but make sure to save some room for their fried dough dessert and a nice cappuccino! As you can tell I love this place not only for their food but for the service as well! All the servers are very knowledgable about the menu and wines here and are very friendly but most importantly attentive! I can't say enough good things out pazzi di pizza!
(5)
Phillip C.
I ordered the grilled calamari which was disgusting but that was not the worst part of the experience. The Worst part of the experience is when I mentioned it to the waiter and his response was that he would see what he could do. He Came back 15 minutes later with another order of calamari which was just as bad as the first order. I didn't ask for another order I just told you that u didn't care for it. I asked for the bill and he didn't even offer to take it off of the bill he just told me that no one else ever complain about the calamari. If you come here to dine just make sure that you don't complain about anything, and If you order something YOU BETTER like it because everybody else does!! Poor service like this is inexcusable in the hospitality industry , get a clue.
(1)
Laura C.
For Elmhurst, I think this is a standout spot. We sat on the patio with a large group. The service was kind of slow, but we weren't in a rush. The food was tasty and enjoyable, but the margherita pizza with a few whole basil leaves just plopped on the middle left something to be desired. If they just chopped up a ton more basil, this might be a 5 star review! Yes, it is crowded, but it is tasty, affordable food and a big patio in Elmhurst, which is lovely, but isn't exactly a foodie metropolis. Check it out. Hope you enjoy it!
(4)
Megan S.
My fish had a disgusting amount of bones in it. When I told the owner, he said it was normal for the fish to have bones. He didn't apologize at all let alone comp my meal. Don't order fish here unless you like it bony!
(1)
Dana L.
The pizza was fantastic. My family got two different pizzas, but my mom and I got the margherita pizza. So good! And one of the managers even brought us a free dessert. That was fried cinnamon dough topped with nutella, I think. Whatever it was, it was good. Kind of on the expensive side so I wouldn't return unless someone else was paying!!
(4)
Steve D.
Stopped here for lunch on Friday. I am in constant search of the perfect Neapolitan pizza and thought I would give this place a try. It is located as part of the old Elmhurst bank which is now a First Third bank. Server stopped at my table, no introduction or welcome from him. Definitely did not get a friendly vibe. Ordered the Margherita pizza and an iced tea. One of the best things about wood fired pizzas is that they cook fast and not too much waiting. The pizza itself??? It was OK. I have had better, much better. I guess for Elmhurst, it is OK, but I just don't understand the reviews that rave about it. The crust just did not have the right texture and chew that a good Neapolitan style must have. It was too crisp. When you can pick it up without it drooping, it is too crisp. The flavor of the crust was also less than memorable, and crust is what it is all about for this style pizza. Don't get me wrong and I do not want to sound too negative. The pizza was OK for the area but it was not in my top choices for Neapolitan pizza. I cannot comment on their other dishes since I only had the pizza. Cheers to All
(3)
Becky H.
Service: Seated fairly quick considering it appeared to be packed. Jen was an excellent server, very helpful, gave us advise on what to order. Bar: Super small, went on a Friday night and didn't even bother to squeeze my way in. Food: Pizza dough tasted like crunchy pancakes, the toppings were good, however they couldn't mask the sweet weird flavor of the dough. also not worth the price, just skip the pizza. we did however love the pasta dish, nothing crazy, just the vodka sauce rigatoni, but the vadka sauce was delicious.
(3)
Ciara S.
I have been to Pazzi di Pizza 3 times now, and ordered a pizza for to-go. The first 2 times were great! The food was good, great service, not super over priced. My fiance and I were really impressed overall. We also loved our to-go pizza. Now here comes the bad part. I went there 2 weeks ago on a Sunday for a work meeting with 6 girls. When we all ordered an alcoholic beverage our server asked if he could see our I.D's - which is wonderful. He then awkwardly went on about how "my manager asked me to check your I.D's - I'm really sorry - it's my job" blah blah. It was uncomfortable because no one said anything and it was like he offended us or something..,just weird! So our pizza comes out and it was good. I remember it being MUCH better the first 3 times I went, but still not bad. So then 8:15PM rolls around and our server comes over and says "I'm sorry ladies but we are closing up for the night and you're going to have to leave." So naturally I asked "Oh, what time do you close?" I have worked in the business for over 10 years as a server, hostess, and supervisor. He then says "We close when they tell me." WHAT?!?! What a weird response! So you don't have a closing time???? Needless to say we wrapped things up and on our way out we noticed there were still some people in the bar. It was about 8:25PM at this point so I asked someone who looked like a manager "Excuse me, but are we allowed to sit in the bar?" He says "Ummm...I guess so if you want." So I said "Well what time do you close?" And he proceeds to say "9:00PM." I was fuming!!! I have NEVER been kicked out of a restaurant 45 minutes before closing!!!!!!!! How completely absurd and rude! In all my years of working in this industry, I have never kicked anyone out unless is was an hour or more AFTER closing!! I understand it sucks, and it seemed like a really slow night, but that was awful customer service. Clearly, they didn't want our business. So in turn, I will NOT be going back to Pazzi di Pizza.
(2)
Gina V.
I am torn between 2 and 3 stars, but I really wouldn't classify this place as A-OK. I was super disappointed A couple of my friends had recommended it so I have been wanting to try it, and I finally took the plunge We were initially seated behind a group of 10 men who appeared to be having some business dinner or other. My boyfriend and I started eating our bread, looking at the menu, and chatting it up for about 15 minutes when a man (owner?) asked us if we could move because we were seated very close to the large party. I was a little annoyed that we were expected to pick up all of our stuff and relocate and I didn't feel like the staff was all that nice about the inconvenience, but whatever. To start, we had the grilled calamari and octopus which was fabulous. I definitely recommend this. I wanted to order some type of fish, but they only had 1 or 2 fish options that I didn't think were appealing. I was a little disappointed in the menu. Since I couldn't make up my mind, I decided to go with the pizza since the name of the restaurant translates to "Crazy for Pizza" I figured that was their specialty. I ordered the "Buffalina" which is a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella. The pizza was so overcooked that the mozzarella was completely melted and I could barely taste the difference between the buffalo milk and cow's milk. It just taste like a normal pizza. The pizza wasn't "Bad", but very far from authentic Neopolitan pizza. I imagined the pizza to be phenomenal since they have a wood burning oven, but I was wrong. I thought the pizzas were also way overpriced. I'm not sure I will ever return.
(2)
Doug M.
This place is slipping big time, it's become very inconsistent and the management is out of touch and not responsive to solve problems. The service is mediocre. They don't know how to serve wine. Also we ordered a dish and were told 25 minutes later as we were waiting for the dinner that they ran out of that dish because the waitress didn't put in the ticket. And they didn't do much to resolve this and we were snubbed by the owner and waitress for the rest of the meal. There are much better places to go. Avoid this one
(1)
Simeren S.
I am the killjoy in my family and group of friends who has a gluten allergy, but does not want to deprive anyone else from having what for me, is kryptonite so I planned a get together for my husband's birthday for 13 people. Our server Aleks was amazing and as soon as I told her about my situation, she was extremely accommodating in making recommendations as she happened to have the same affliction, as well. I had the seafood risotto dish and it was fabulous! I oftentimes get a risotto with undercooked rice, but every grain of this dish was perfect. Everyone enjoyed their pizza and my 3 year old ate every bite of her two slices instead of peeling off the cheese and leaving the crust. I will revise my rating to five stars when they offer gluten free pastas and pizzas, but all in all, a great experience!
(4)
Tina T.
This new upscale and distinctive Italian restaurant just opened up in the space formerly occupied by Wine & Vine in downtown Elmhurst. Complete with a wood burning pizza oven, this new addition to the Elmhurst dining scene offers ambience, good food, and a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. I love the decor - full of warm, earthy tones, awesome lighting, and a cool bar. I only wish the bar was a bit bigger. My friend and I dined here (and closed the place, of course) the second nite it was opened. While it has some growing pains to deal with, this restaurant has a lot of good going on. Their name means "crazy for Pizza", as evidenced by the variety of pizza options offered here. The comprehensive menu offers something for everyone, with a good concentration of pizzas cooked in their signature wood-burning oven. We ordered a pizza with arugula and mozzarella di bufala. It was very good. They offer takeout and delivery as well, but they will not include pizzas from the wood burning oven in takeout orders, as they don't believe they travel well. They do have thin crust and deep dish pizzas for takeout and delivery. We also ordered the orzo salad - a bed of arugula topped with a multitude of roasted vegetables - just yummy. Their wine list is fairly expansive and varied, with a concentration on Italian wines. They did offer a Silver Oaks cab, which is great. Other dishes featured on the menu include pastas, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials of seafood and meat. We gabbed with two of the owners at the bar - they were friendly and hospitable, and didn't kick us out even though there was no one left in the place. They even gave us limoncello - not too shabby. While I was not anticipating the opening of this restaurant, as we have a ton of Italian restaurants in Elmhurst, it ended up surpassing my expectations greatly. Good food, a fun and great atmosphere, and a unique menu that can't be found in Elmhurst right now. I hope they do well!
(4)
Betsy P.
Finally, I can stay in Elmhurst and enjoy a yummy brick oven pizza. I'm so happy that Pazzi di Pizza (Crazy for Pizza), is opened for business. I've been there a couple of times and I plan on making this restaurant a weekly visit with friends and family. The service is outstanding and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with the right lighting. I don't know what it is with me, but lighting is just as important to me as the food is. We tried the grilled calamari and it was cooked to perfection. The pizza was outstanding and the perfect size for two. You have to stop by with your family and friends. You will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something lite to drink, try Perseco with a splash of Campari (YUM).
(5)
Katie L.
I've only been there once, but it wasn't anything special. This could be a result of what we got, but really. If "pizza" is in your name, all of your pizzas should be fantastic. Just sayin. Also pricey for what you get. My main problem with the pizza was the crust, which was supposed to be a thin crust. If you have a thin crust, it should be crispy or chewy or SOMETHING, but this was neither. Slightly soggy and rubbery (which is not the same as chewy, trust me). Basically, I got a $10 fancy pizza that didn't taste great, was way overpriced, and which I could've made pretty easily. Save your money and go to the Jewel down the street and make your own.
(2)
Emily B.
I came in from downtown Chicago to have pizza with my mom. She was dying to try this place and I figured I'd appease her. Actually, it was pretty good! Our server was the ever-adorable and ultra-Italian, Vince. He was awesome and I'd definitely would ask for him by name again. We did a build-your-own brick-oven pizza with ricotta and spinach. I loved the thin crust and the texture of the dough. Also had rigatoni vodka...pretty delicious also. I bet the leftovers tomorrow will be wonderful. Next time, I'd like to sit on their patio because it's very loud inside.
(4)
Channon C.
Great place. Celebrated an anniversary here and we were seated in a timely manner, treated great by all the workers, and everything tasted great. We had the bruschetta and two pasta dishes. The servings were just large enough to bring a little home with us as well! Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet!
(4)
Lito T.
We're regulars here and we are never disappointed. Food always tastes fresh and atmosphere is great. Plenty of gluten free pasta options that taste just as good if not better than the house pasta.
(4)
Jeremy M.
Had a group of 6 and got right in around 6pm on a Saturday night. Served us bread, awesome!!! Most of us ordered calzones. All of us love them. Served was the best I have had in a long time. Can't wait to go back!!!!
(5)
Karen L.
Won't ever return! We were not happy with the baked clams - they were very small and when my husband went to eat the last one, there wasn't even a clam at all, just the breading. When we showed the waiter, he said he would talk to the manager. There were 4 of us, we had drinks, wine and each had an entree. The bill came and the clams were still on there. We asked the waiter if he would adjust the bill but he said the owner said since we ate most of the clams, they would not take it off. My husband tried then talking to the owner himself, and it became quite clear he thought we were wrong so we will just have to take our money elsewhere!
(1)
B J.
We went at about 7:30 on Saturday night - the place was packed and there was a 30 minute wait. We didn't mind waiting, however, people who know the owner came in after us (3 separate groups - one couple, one party of 3 and a party of 5) and all got seated before us because they knew him. They came in, said hi to him by name, hugged him, etc. and then were all seated before we were. I probably wouldn't have cared except for the fact that I am 8.5 months pregnant....I guess it pays to know someone on a busy Saturday night. The service was ok, but we felt rushed because it was so busy. We ordered drinks, they came right away and my Diet Coke was flat as could be - told the server & he brought me another one, but it was also flat. Food was the only saving grace. Their rigatoni with vodka sauce was delish and my hubby had a rigatoni special with filet and it was also really good. We were never offered a dessert menu, so I am not sure what they have available, but we saw some desserts that looked delicious being served to other tables, so maybe next time we will try it. I will give this place one more chance and hope the service is way better & the favoritism of who gets seated first is gone.
(3)
Candy J.
If I could I'd give it zero stars. Came here with high expectations based on other reviews, and had a completely disappointing experience. Service was bad, food was worse, and drink menu basically non-existent. We sat in the 'bar' area and were served by the bartender, which could explain the complete lack of attention, caprese salad consisted of mealy, under -ripe tomatoes (really??!??? Tomatoes are IN SEASON right now) and the 'pizza' was gooey and mushy... Trust me, no crisp here. Will never go back, and am pretty sure that after the 'shiny new object' effect wears off, no one else will either. Want an EXCELLENT thin crust, properly made za? Go to Q's on Butterfield in in Hillside - now THAT's a proper pizza!
(1)
Judith B.
I work around the corner and was so excited to see this place going up! AND FINALLY went to taste some of their pizza! I can definitely say I loved the look of the inside and the feel of the patio. We chose to sit outside. My fiance and I, along with our hungry toddler, ordered a margarita pizza. Delicious but they skimped on the basil leaves. Literally three leaves! Next time I'll ask for more. The waitress was so sweet. Our daughter loved her and she was very attentive refilling our drinks and checking on us. I will definitely be back- maybe next time when I ask for more basil I'll add that fifth star.
(4)
Diane M.
Wow! Fresh and homemade pastas. Service was good too. Unbelievable meat sauce and ravioli!
(5)
Natalia S.
this place definitely didn't do it for me. i was REALLY excited to be blown away by the pizza (esp since the prices were kinda steep, and the place has a nice atmosphere) but ours turned out to be pretty much flatbread with cheese and baby tomatoes. i could have thrown that together at home for much less, and probably had it taste way better. if you do decide to venture in there, try the orto salad, it was the one thing i really enjoyed apart from the water decanters :) unfortunately, i won't be coming back. ciao pazzi!
(2)
Matthew H.
I wasn't a huge fan of their runny Margarita pizza. Gave them a try a few times. Didn't make me a fan.
(2)
Margie S.
We went there with a little group...8 of us. The service was excellent, the food superb! We each shared a little of what we ordered with everyone else at the table. The evening was wonderful. It is a "little" pricey - but worth it because the pasta texture and flavor are very authentic. We will return agian....the pizza was delicious - we ordered it as an appetizer. Yummy- I'm getting hungry just thinking about this!!
(4)
Chico R.
The ambiance was great. The staff was great and the hostess was very nice. The food, not so much. The pesto panini lacked flavor and the cheese and the tomato were cold on it. If I am not mistaken a panini is supposed to be served hot or at least warm. We tried the pizza as well and it was nothing to write home about. Wood burning oven pizza and soggy crust just doesn't make sense. The beer was good. :) We won't be back. BTW, the picture of the take out pizza showed here on yelp doesn't look like anything we saw.
(1)
Gina G.
I've mixed reviews about Pazzi di Pizza so I finally tried it out for myself. when walking in it was very small and I was expecting somethign a little more then super casual. This is definitely a pizza joint because 75% of the menu is pizza and apps. We orders a few appitizers, the one with cold cuts and cheese was pretty good. For our main course we ordered about 5 different pizzas. The pizzas all cam eout pretty timely except for one, we got it abotu 15 minutes after the others, almost seemed like they forgot to make it, but the waitress didn't mention any of that to us. Also she seemed to disappear for long periods of time. It was during the week and the place was pretty empty, so it was not due to a busy night. Anyways, the pizza wasy SUPER THIN. I have been to italy had have had my share of italian style pizza, but this was like paper thin and lacked flavor in most of the pizza's. The sausage and red pepper with caramilized onion was my fav, others were just ok. For dessert we tried a few gelatos tiramisu. Server said they were big portions and woudl be enough for the group. Well when they served us they only brought one spoon per dessert. Again, the server was MIA and our ice cream was melted before we could flag her down and get more spoons. I was not impressed and woudl side with the negative reviews. I wanted to like this palce because I love this style of pizza, but I think there are better places in the city if you are looking for this style of pizza. iI am not pazzo for pazzi.
(2)
Bryan B.
There was nothing memorable about the food, service or overall experience. The food quality at Mama Maria's (down the street) is significantly better
(2)
Mike I.
Excellent brick-oven, traditional Italian style, pizza! I dined here Sat. night with four other friends and we all agreed that the place is great. We started with the grigliata mista (grilled octopus and calamari), which was outstanding. We also ordered the fried calamari (yes, I'm a calamari junkie!) which also was prepared well: not a lot of breading and fried perfectly. For dinner we shared three pizzas, a bufalo mozzarella with basil, a sausage and mushroom, and an artichoke and olive. All three were excellent! Not a ton of sauce, not a lot of cheese, great ingredients and very good, non-bready, dough: the perfect balance in a pizza The owner also brought over a platter of fried dough with nutella and a light cream cheese filling (marscapone, I think). It lasted about 10 seconds! They have a nice wine list and also serve panini, pasta and "normal" pizza (thin crust and deep dish), although I saw no one in the place eating those types. Our server, Gina, was excellent and was always nearby to take food/drink orders or simply just to see how everything was going. I will be back, many times, for sure. Quick tip, the place is really crowded (it just opened) and they don't take reservations, but they are willing to let you check in and then go elsewhere for drinks while you wait. We opted to go to Pints across the street which worked perfectly.
(5)
Ben N.
My review is mixed on this place. Some good points, some bad points, and of course some ugly points . . . THE GOOD: Our server and hostess were both very nice and welcoming. I do agree with other reviews though, the servers should know the menu inside and out. Many questions were unanswered because our waitress simply didn't know, or had to ask someone. But a smile goes a long way sometimes, and she did everything to be as accommodating as possible. The Tagliatelle Bolognese and Rigatoni were both delicious, as was the Sausage Appetizer, Crispy Calamari and several of the salads. THE BAD: Pizzas were just fair, not of any real Neapolitan quality like other reviews have mentioned; the crust was soggy. ALL the food hit the table at once. Talk about poor timing! We immediately boxed most of it up to go since there was no room on the table. Nothing was expedited properly. The owner or manager or whoever he was stopped by our table and offered us some complimentary wine and cheese, along with a quick summary on Italian food and geography. Thanks for the lesson on cheese, however this wasn't Parmigiano-Reggiano. It don't think it was even Grana Padano. If you are going to give a complimentary offering, make sure its not your leftovers that you are trying to pass as "authentic". You aren't fooling anyone. THE UGLY: There is a difference between a family restaurant and a day care center, although here the line was pretty blurred. Having kids run amok in your restaurant screaming, crying and being generally obnoxious is a great way to end up like the Olive Garden. We might as well have been sitting INSIDE the brick oven itself. It was ridiculously hot inside the restaurant and made it very uncomfortable to enjoy dinner. I agree that there are too many "old guys" hanging around. Probably the owner and maybe some of the investors, all of them clearly getting in the way of service. And another reminder, many people speak Italian, even in the suburbs, so watch your tongues before you say something ignorant. It's embarrassing to you, and bad for your business. In closing, I'd surprisingly give this place another shot, but will remember to stay away from the pizza and get the rest to carry out.
(2)
fab f.
Yesterday there was the opening of this new pizzeria. Finally a traditional Italian pizza, light and tasty, not a thick bread with overwhelming topping. They were very busy and then I realized why. I had a simple Margherita (cheese and tomato) and it was excellent: great ingredients, great thin bread, perfectly cooked, not heavy at all. You might say: it's just a pizza, but after you taste a good one, you realize the huge difference. I could live of pizza, but I haven't still found a place in Chicago that could make it as I used to have it in Italy. I thought it was because of the ingredients, but then I found out why. I met Gianfranco, the "pizzaiolo". He is from Veneto, Italy and his pizzas are just perfect. I wanted to share this joy with my colleagues and i asked Gianfranco to prepare another pizza. I asked him to surprise me. He came out with an arugola, slices of parmesan, tomato, fresh pomodorini and olive oil pizza that my colleagues devoured in 3 seconds. This is how pizza should be, seriously. Thank you Gianfranco. Ask for him when you go. Did I have to come to Elmhurst to find the best pizza? Too bad Chicago doesn't have one like this (and i passed them all from Spaccanapoli to ...) The place is not huge, but is very comfortable. There also a nice patio outside, hope it gets warmer soon. I'll be definitively back.
(5)
Jeff B.
The woodfire pizza's are very good. Full of flavor. I would give it 5 stars but they need to add a few more toppings. Other than that, the restaurant is very nice with dining in and outside. Price is reasonable and the food is filling. Highly recommend this pizza place for something a little different than your normal pizza joint.
(4)
J J.
Atmosphere is nice, but I can relate to another review about all the "kids" here. Very reasonably priced on food (all relative), but watch out for the drinks. Had the grilled calamari/octopus, was good. Octopus and Calamari should be cut up so you don't have to do it at the table. Would also make a better presentation. Wood fired Pizza...hmmmm....ordered with sausage, onions and cheese. Had about 5 small dots of sausage, enough onions, but all toppings were about 2 inches away from the crust, which was partially burned, yet still uncooked somewhat in the middle. Server could not have been more accomodating. Highly doubt I would return.
(1)
Rene P.
Went here tonight and it was very good. The caprese was delicious and the 3 pizzas we had (a prociutto and arugala, margherita, and a white with spicy sausage and red peppers) were all delicious. It's a little small inside, but we went early and had a good seat and they do have outdoor seating for summer. A nice addition to the Elmhurst pizza options.
(4)
Samir R.
Best pizza in Elmhurst, hands down. Got some carry-out, good service, place was packed.
(5)
Lisa B.
If you have been to Italy and have falken in love with the thin, cracker crust pizza you tasted thre , then you will love this place. However- I would not consider this a pizza place as I don't think you come here just for pizza. The name should not be crazy for pizza... It should be crazy for Italian food! After living in down town Chicago for so many years and being exposed to so many restaurant choices, I finally found the pizza I have craved after tasting it in Italy. Their salads are excellent. The arugula salad is so light, simple and delicious. Every dish tastes so fresh and full of flavor. If you have those in your party who must have pepperoni on their pizza - just ask. They will accommodate most requests. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I am so happy to have a restaurant of this quality in my town. I eat there 2x a month :-). I onlly wish they would expand the dinning room - as now it's hard to get a table! :-)
(4)
Jennifer T.
Pazzi is one of the best restaurants in Elmhurst. My husband and his friends are thin-crust connoisseurs who love to check out pizza joints and compare. Pazzi is among their all-time favorites, even when pitted again east-coast and NYC eateries. I enjoy Pazzi's Tonno (tuna) salad with their very delish house dressing on the side. The kids always thoroughly enjoy the spaghetti with meatballs. The husband and kids go crazy for the prosciutto appetizer which includes "real" imported prosciutto and parmesan, not that domestic stuff! The service is always attentive, though sometimes not as speedy as we'd like. Takeout pizza is very good, too, though the thin crust pizza is not an option for takeout.
(4)
Stefman X.
Food was good. But watch your credit card statement carefully! My bill came to $75 and I gave a $15 tip, which makes $90 total. When I got my credit card statement it was suddenly $95. I hate when waiters add in an extra tip for themselves.
(2)
Diana C.
Pazzi di Nada! Went Here For The 1st Time with A Couple Of Girlfriends and Not Impressed, Especially after all the Talk Of A New Place to Go To In Elmhurst. We Ordered The Fried calamari, That was Good. We All Shared The Oven Brick Pizza With Mozzerella and Basil. Where was The Basil??? Probably Still At Caputo's. We also Split The Penne Arribiatta. In The Past at Other Italian Restaurants its Suppose To Be Spicy. Not Spicy at All!!! Service Was A Liitle Slow And Kept Having To Ask For Our Waiter. We All Felt Like We were Being Undressed With Gaulking Eyes From The Male Staff. a Little Uncomfortable And Made You Not Want To Get Up and Use The Bathroom. Waited 20 minutes For Our Bill. Will Not Be Coming Back To This Place! There are Plenty Of other Italian Pizza Places around. SORRY CHARLIE!!!
(1)
janice m.
Last night we visited here with friends from out of town. There were seven of us and we were worried there would be a long wait as we decided to eat around 7. (Duh, what were we thinking) Much to our surprise the hostess was able to put together a table for us in a matter of minutes, despite the crowd that was there. That alone got them a star. We started off the meal with calamari and rice balls. Both were really good, not overly salty which I appreciate a lot. For our main course three friends ordered off the pasta and specials menu and three ordered off the pizza. The pasta dishes were well prepared and very tasty, the portions being very plentiful. The pizza was definitely thin crust, but it was Roman style not Neapolitan, and that might be why people were disappointed by the crust. I enjoyed my buffalina very much and wouldn't hesitate to come back for more. Our server, Alex, was wonderful. She kept our drinks filled, the table clean, and was friendly and sweet. All in all a good time for our friends and for me.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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 20th 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.
Lana C.
To start I did not have to pay the bill I had no idea how much our food was so I can't factor price into this review. This it will be based off of the environment, service, food, and location. Overall impress for the entire meal I will rate as average. Location is awesome for downtown Elmhurst. It is right across the street from my work place. We get in an out in our lunch hour down to the perfect minute. We ate outdoors the chairs are okay. My hips were stiff when I stood up. Maybe some cushions??? The umbrella vet the table did shade most of us. My boss preferred to be the sun flower of the group ... no thanks! The food was good. I did find it a bit bland and I am Italian. The vodka sauce was good but I prefer a bit more flavored heat to my sauce. The best thing was the baked clams, awesome with a touch of lemon and the flavor is completely perfect. I had the caprese salad and I liked it. I did not love it. I did love how the water is bottle and placed in each table. Endless bread kept coming out entire meal. Service was to me a typical experience, nothing outstanding. Overall it is an average Italian restaurant. I will visit again.
(3)Jeff C.
I've been to this restaurant a few times and I finally figured it out. Don't get the pizza. I know, that's part of the name, but it's misleading. The pizza isn't very good, but the pasta and sandwiches are great. This is a super place to get lunch. The lunch menu has a bunch of options for $9.99. It comes with either a sandwich or pasta and soup or a salad. I was feeling like I should eat some vegetables, since it had been several days, so I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich with a salad. My wife ordered the pasta and a bowl of chicken rice soup. Everything was delicious. Great job Pazzi! As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp!
(4)Liz K.
This place makes my mouth water! They have some of the most amazing baked clams I've ever had.. and I've had a LOT of baked clams in my life. You'll wish you can lick the plate clean(or just use bread like me if you dgaf) Staff has always been super friendly. I've sat at the bar and outside. Great drink specials during the week. Definitely my favorite place in Elmhurst.
(5)Gina V.
I am torn between 2 and 3 stars, but I really wouldn't classify this place as A-OK. I was super disappointed A couple of my friends had recommended it so I have been wanting to try it, and I finally took the plunge We were initially seated behind a group of 10 men who appeared to be having some business dinner or other. My boyfriend and I started eating our bread, looking at the menu, and chatting it up for about 15 minutes when a man (owner?) asked us if we could move because we were seated very close to the large party. I was a little annoyed that we were expected to pick up all of our stuff and relocate and I didn't feel like the staff was all that nice about the inconvenience, but whatever. To start, we had the grilled calamari and octopus which was fabulous. I definitely recommend this. I wanted to order some type of fish, but they only had 1 or 2 fish options that I didn't think were appealing. I was a little disappointed in the menu. Since I couldn't make up my mind, I decided to go with the pizza since the name of the restaurant translates to "Crazy for Pizza" I figured that was their specialty. I ordered the "Buffalina" which is a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella. The pizza was so overcooked that the mozzarella was completely melted and I could barely taste the difference between the buffalo milk and cow's milk. It just taste like a normal pizza. The pizza wasn't "Bad", but very far from authentic Neopolitan pizza. I imagined the pizza to be phenomenal since they have a wood burning oven, but I was wrong. I thought the pizzas were also way overpriced. I'm not sure I will ever return.
(2)Doug M.
This place is slipping big time, it's become very inconsistent and the management is out of touch and not responsive to solve problems. The service is mediocre. They don't know how to serve wine. Also we ordered a dish and were told 25 minutes later as we were waiting for the dinner that they ran out of that dish because the waitress didn't put in the ticket. And they didn't do much to resolve this and we were snubbed by the owner and waitress for the rest of the meal. There are much better places to go. Avoid this one
(1)Simeren S.
I am the killjoy in my family and group of friends who has a gluten allergy, but does not want to deprive anyone else from having what for me, is kryptonite so I planned a get together for my husband's birthday for 13 people. Our server Aleks was amazing and as soon as I told her about my situation, she was extremely accommodating in making recommendations as she happened to have the same affliction, as well. I had the seafood risotto dish and it was fabulous! I oftentimes get a risotto with undercooked rice, but every grain of this dish was perfect. Everyone enjoyed their pizza and my 3 year old ate every bite of her two slices instead of peeling off the cheese and leaving the crust. I will revise my rating to five stars when they offer gluten free pastas and pizzas, but all in all, a great experience!
(4)Diane V.
We started out with an appetizer which was a fried ball of cheese and rice, which reminded me of my grandma's casserole all fried into a ball. It was strangely tasty, but then we ordered pizza which was served on a plate swimming in a soupy juicy mess. The taste was bland and unappetizing. But the worst part about our meal was the atmosphere. The last time we were here we ate outside so I had a fairly positive memory of the place but since it was raining we were inside where they played loud, club music. VERY OBNOXIOUS! You couldn't hold a conversation with the person next to you. I hated every minute and couldn't wait to leave. I will NEVER return.
(1)Jon P.
Great salads, great pizza, especially carryout pizza.
(4)Karen G.
Stopped here with a bud on a weekday night- super nice service, nice decor. The pizza was quite good- the crust was flaky and crisp with lots of cheese and the toppings was generous. My favorite was the "Fungi Stuffati":- the portions was huge, the flavor great with the cheese and the roasted peppers, just outstanding.
(4)Reyna T.
2 words. White Pizza. Theirs is amazing!!! Great atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating and fantastic staff. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu from Fish to pasta. Def recommend stopping here for lunch or dinner if your in Elmhurst.
(5)Peter Z.
I've been here on three busy Friday nights and have enjoyed a great experience each time. Last time in, I was a big fan of the arancini and, especially, the eggplant rolls with ricotta and goat cheese. Some of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. I'd rate their wood oven pizzas solidly. I ordered a prosciutto and spinach pizza, and enjoyed it with the meal and also for lunch the next day. They offer a build your own pizza option which is a nice touch. About the only critiques I can give are that just once, we received a pasta dish that was just lukewarm along the edges and slightly dry, but the center of the dish was hot and full of delicious vodka sauce. Also, good luck getting up to go to the bathroom. One has to walk through incredibly narrow spaces, and through a service area to get there. I realize this is more on the building itself than the restaurant, but it can be a bit of an inconvenience. These points are heavily outnumbered by the positive ones. I've had great, personable service and each of the last two times, a manager/owner has checked in with our table to see how we are enjoying the night. They make you feel glad you walked in their doors. Rare and refreshing. TL;DR: Order some appetizers, create your own pizza, have a few drinks and enjoy the night.
(4)Toni F.
I came here recently with my aunt who lives in the area. Pazzi di Pizza is adorable inside and they have a wonderful patio on the side of the building. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside on the day we went but they have a great ambiance inside the restaurant and bar area. The menu is a nice variety of Italian fare with salads, panini, pasta, pizza, etc. I ordered the Tuna Panini which was bland and aside from the olive oil and tuna flavor, not much taste. The side salad it came with was excellent though. My aunt had the grilled veggie panini and it looked fabulous - that is the one I would try next time we come here. Our server was friendly and prompt - overall we enjoyed our lunch and even though I'm not in this area too often, I would return and try their pizza. I'd also recommend it to others.
(3)Rick G.
The food was phenomenal everything is fresh you can just taste it. I had the rack of lamb and the Brajole. The service was incredible they were very knowledgeable about the menu it was a Wednesday night at the dinner rush place was crowded everyone was taken care of. This is a great place for a romantic getaway friends meeting for dinner even in groups up to 10 to 12. Bring appetizer I had grilled calamari which was incredible like I said the rack of lamb was very tasty and tender was not overdone the brajole was wrapped with filet mignon so that made it even more incredible and they bake the bread there everyday so the bread is always fresh. The chocolate cake I had for dessert was also fresh and very delicious. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be eating there again.
(5)Gregory B.
Outstanding pasta, alfredo, marinara. Pretty good pizza, service.
(4)Steven V.
Great food! This place definitely needs front of the house training! Great looking atmosphere and smiles.... There were about 5 tables sat, hosted sat us near a window and I requested after if we can move to the table near the fire oven for more warmth. She replied, "I think it's for a party" vs "let me check with our seating chart" We were moved to another table. Thank you. That table I requested was never sat. Server was nice but lacked customer service. She didn't pour out water in the glass, didn't go over the specials and when asked what she would suggest, her reply was everything. Server was nice and did cater to our needs. food was amazing! Bring your appetite because portions are huge! Their calamari was great! Get it grilled. Their eggplant Parmesan was great! Great food, a little server and host training and you'll get 5 stars! 3.5 stars total experience.
(3)Derrick L.
Friendly staff. Nice place for lunch. They have a 9.95 lunch special . This restaurant is also good for grabbing a drink and is close to the train just a half block south.
(4)Magen R.
I dined at Pazzi di Pizza last night and enjoyed it. It is a really lively place with a fun atmosphere. It was crowded on a Friday night but we were lucky to get seated relatively quickly at a hightop by the back bar. Despite being seated near the bar it was not overly crowded which was nice. We decided to share a few things among the three of us and opted to try the Calamari Dorati, the Margherita Pizza and Gamberi e Broccoli in the garlic and oil sauce. I was really pleased with the portion sizes of everything we were served and thought all the food was good. I especially like the pizza, you could definitely tell it came from a wood fired oven and I would love to go back and try some of the other options, especially one of the white pizzas. There are only two real downsides to Pazzi di Pizza, the service and the layout of the restaurant. The service was somewhat shoddy, it took a significant amount of time for us to put our orders in and it we had to ask for things we probably should not have had to (refills on our drinks, salt and pepper, etc). As for the layout it is simply a difficult place to navigate. There were a lot of people waiting while I waited for my table to get ready and there was nowhere for people to go, it became really crowded and congested near the entrance and it made it difficult for the waitstaff to do their job. The bathrooms are also individual bathrooms located on either end of the restaurant and there's no easy way to navigate to them. All in all I enjoyed my experience at Pazzi but think there are some things that can be improved upon.
(3)Paige K.
Delicious Italian place that's an upgrade from two brothers but more consistent than Francesca's. The pesto farfalle is amazing! Pizzas good too.
(5)Judy L.
Pazzi di Pizza...you got that right!. I am crazy about your pizza! First experience was excellent and I am already looking forward to coming back. Great customer service! Perfect for a girls night out, date night, birthday, etc. One suggestion...put more basil on the pizzas with "fresh basil". Just cut some right over the pizza when you take it out of the oven in addition to the 3 leaves in the middle. THE VIBE: Went here last night with 4 girls. Loved the indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Cute place, clean, big bar on the other side of the restaurant and REALLY friendly staff. The hostess, the bus boys, the servers and the manager...all super nice! The booth tables are great...stayed way longer than planned and had another glass of wine. THE FOOD: Love that you get fresh bread/olive oil before your meal. The zucchini pazzi appetizer is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Comes with a nice bed of mixed greens too. Margherita pizza and Capricciosa pizza were both winners. I might try a white pizza next time though. Great wine list although not too many by the glass choices. The Ruffino Chianti for $6 a glass was a super deal.
(5)Joseph M.
Went with my wife on Sweetest Day. Had a very nice time. Started with the Arancini appetizer which was excellent and so was the Marinara sauce that came with it. My wife had Penne with pesto that was very good and the "Orto" salad full of great grilled vegetables. I had the Arugula salad and a tuna fish sandwich. I never order tuna as a sandwich but everything we tried was very good so I thought "why not?" It was just what I was hoping it would be. We'll be back with our daughters near the Holidays. Their catering menu looks very good-wish we lived closer.
(5)Tina T.
This new upscale and distinctive Italian restaurant just opened up in the space formerly occupied by Wine & Vine in downtown Elmhurst. Complete with a wood burning pizza oven, this new addition to the Elmhurst dining scene offers ambience, good food, and a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. I love the decor - full of warm, earthy tones, awesome lighting, and a cool bar. I only wish the bar was a bit bigger. My friend and I dined here (and closed the place, of course) the second nite it was opened. While it has some growing pains to deal with, this restaurant has a lot of good going on. Their name means "crazy for Pizza", as evidenced by the variety of pizza options offered here. The comprehensive menu offers something for everyone, with a good concentration of pizzas cooked in their signature wood-burning oven. We ordered a pizza with arugula and mozzarella di bufala. It was very good. They offer takeout and delivery as well, but they will not include pizzas from the wood burning oven in takeout orders, as they don't believe they travel well. They do have thin crust and deep dish pizzas for takeout and delivery. We also ordered the orzo salad - a bed of arugula topped with a multitude of roasted vegetables - just yummy. Their wine list is fairly expansive and varied, with a concentration on Italian wines. They did offer a Silver Oaks cab, which is great. Other dishes featured on the menu include pastas, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials of seafood and meat. We gabbed with two of the owners at the bar - they were friendly and hospitable, and didn't kick us out even though there was no one left in the place. They even gave us limoncello - not too shabby. While I was not anticipating the opening of this restaurant, as we have a ton of Italian restaurants in Elmhurst, it ended up surpassing my expectations greatly. Good food, a fun and great atmosphere, and a unique menu that can't be found in Elmhurst right now. I hope they do well!
(4)Betsy P.
Finally, I can stay in Elmhurst and enjoy a yummy brick oven pizza. I'm so happy that Pazzi di Pizza (Crazy for Pizza), is opened for business. I've been there a couple of times and I plan on making this restaurant a weekly visit with friends and family. The service is outstanding and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with the right lighting. I don't know what it is with me, but lighting is just as important to me as the food is. We tried the grilled calamari and it was cooked to perfection. The pizza was outstanding and the perfect size for two. You have to stop by with your family and friends. You will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something lite to drink, try Perseco with a splash of Campari (YUM).
(5)Katie L.
I've only been there once, but it wasn't anything special. This could be a result of what we got, but really. If "pizza" is in your name, all of your pizzas should be fantastic. Just sayin. Also pricey for what you get. My main problem with the pizza was the crust, which was supposed to be a thin crust. If you have a thin crust, it should be crispy or chewy or SOMETHING, but this was neither. Slightly soggy and rubbery (which is not the same as chewy, trust me). Basically, I got a $10 fancy pizza that didn't taste great, was way overpriced, and which I could've made pretty easily. Save your money and go to the Jewel down the street and make your own.
(2)Emily B.
I came in from downtown Chicago to have pizza with my mom. She was dying to try this place and I figured I'd appease her. Actually, it was pretty good! Our server was the ever-adorable and ultra-Italian, Vince. He was awesome and I'd definitely would ask for him by name again. We did a build-your-own brick-oven pizza with ricotta and spinach. I loved the thin crust and the texture of the dough. Also had rigatoni vodka...pretty delicious also. I bet the leftovers tomorrow will be wonderful. Next time, I'd like to sit on their patio because it's very loud inside.
(4)Channon C.
Great place. Celebrated an anniversary here and we were seated in a timely manner, treated great by all the workers, and everything tasted great. We had the bruschetta and two pasta dishes. The servings were just large enough to bring a little home with us as well! Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet!
(4)Lito T.
We're regulars here and we are never disappointed. Food always tastes fresh and atmosphere is great. Plenty of gluten free pasta options that taste just as good if not better than the house pasta.
(4)Jeremy M.
Had a group of 6 and got right in around 6pm on a Saturday night. Served us bread, awesome!!! Most of us ordered calzones. All of us love them. Served was the best I have had in a long time. Can't wait to go back!!!!
(5)Karen L.
Won't ever return! We were not happy with the baked clams - they were very small and when my husband went to eat the last one, there wasn't even a clam at all, just the breading. When we showed the waiter, he said he would talk to the manager. There were 4 of us, we had drinks, wine and each had an entree. The bill came and the clams were still on there. We asked the waiter if he would adjust the bill but he said the owner said since we ate most of the clams, they would not take it off. My husband tried then talking to the owner himself, and it became quite clear he thought we were wrong so we will just have to take our money elsewhere!
(1)B J.
We went at about 7:30 on Saturday night - the place was packed and there was a 30 minute wait. We didn't mind waiting, however, people who know the owner came in after us (3 separate groups - one couple, one party of 3 and a party of 5) and all got seated before us because they knew him. They came in, said hi to him by name, hugged him, etc. and then were all seated before we were. I probably wouldn't have cared except for the fact that I am 8.5 months pregnant....I guess it pays to know someone on a busy Saturday night. The service was ok, but we felt rushed because it was so busy. We ordered drinks, they came right away and my Diet Coke was flat as could be - told the server & he brought me another one, but it was also flat. Food was the only saving grace. Their rigatoni with vodka sauce was delish and my hubby had a rigatoni special with filet and it was also really good. We were never offered a dessert menu, so I am not sure what they have available, but we saw some desserts that looked delicious being served to other tables, so maybe next time we will try it. I will give this place one more chance and hope the service is way better & the favoritism of who gets seated first is gone.
(3)Candy J.
If I could I'd give it zero stars. Came here with high expectations based on other reviews, and had a completely disappointing experience. Service was bad, food was worse, and drink menu basically non-existent. We sat in the 'bar' area and were served by the bartender, which could explain the complete lack of attention, caprese salad consisted of mealy, under -ripe tomatoes (really??!??? Tomatoes are IN SEASON right now) and the 'pizza' was gooey and mushy... Trust me, no crisp here. Will never go back, and am pretty sure that after the 'shiny new object' effect wears off, no one else will either. Want an EXCELLENT thin crust, properly made za? Go to Q's on Butterfield in in Hillside - now THAT's a proper pizza!
(1)Judith B.
I work around the corner and was so excited to see this place going up! AND FINALLY went to taste some of their pizza! I can definitely say I loved the look of the inside and the feel of the patio. We chose to sit outside. My fiance and I, along with our hungry toddler, ordered a margarita pizza. Delicious but they skimped on the basil leaves. Literally three leaves! Next time I'll ask for more. The waitress was so sweet. Our daughter loved her and she was very attentive refilling our drinks and checking on us. I will definitely be back- maybe next time when I ask for more basil I'll add that fifth star.
(4)Diane M.
Wow! Fresh and homemade pastas. Service was good too. Unbelievable meat sauce and ravioli!
(5)Natalia S.
this place definitely didn't do it for me. i was REALLY excited to be blown away by the pizza (esp since the prices were kinda steep, and the place has a nice atmosphere) but ours turned out to be pretty much flatbread with cheese and baby tomatoes. i could have thrown that together at home for much less, and probably had it taste way better. if you do decide to venture in there, try the orto salad, it was the one thing i really enjoyed apart from the water decanters :) unfortunately, i won't be coming back. ciao pazzi!
(2)Gina G.
I've mixed reviews about Pazzi di Pizza so I finally tried it out for myself. when walking in it was very small and I was expecting somethign a little more then super casual. This is definitely a pizza joint because 75% of the menu is pizza and apps. We orders a few appitizers, the one with cold cuts and cheese was pretty good. For our main course we ordered about 5 different pizzas. The pizzas all cam eout pretty timely except for one, we got it abotu 15 minutes after the others, almost seemed like they forgot to make it, but the waitress didn't mention any of that to us. Also she seemed to disappear for long periods of time. It was during the week and the place was pretty empty, so it was not due to a busy night. Anyways, the pizza wasy SUPER THIN. I have been to italy had have had my share of italian style pizza, but this was like paper thin and lacked flavor in most of the pizza's. The sausage and red pepper with caramilized onion was my fav, others were just ok. For dessert we tried a few gelatos tiramisu. Server said they were big portions and woudl be enough for the group. Well when they served us they only brought one spoon per dessert. Again, the server was MIA and our ice cream was melted before we could flag her down and get more spoons. I was not impressed and woudl side with the negative reviews. I wanted to like this palce because I love this style of pizza, but I think there are better places in the city if you are looking for this style of pizza. iI am not pazzo for pazzi.
(2)Bryan B.
There was nothing memorable about the food, service or overall experience. The food quality at Mama Maria's (down the street) is significantly better
(2)Mike I.
Excellent brick-oven, traditional Italian style, pizza! I dined here Sat. night with four other friends and we all agreed that the place is great. We started with the grigliata mista (grilled octopus and calamari), which was outstanding. We also ordered the fried calamari (yes, I'm a calamari junkie!) which also was prepared well: not a lot of breading and fried perfectly. For dinner we shared three pizzas, a bufalo mozzarella with basil, a sausage and mushroom, and an artichoke and olive. All three were excellent! Not a ton of sauce, not a lot of cheese, great ingredients and very good, non-bready, dough: the perfect balance in a pizza The owner also brought over a platter of fried dough with nutella and a light cream cheese filling (marscapone, I think). It lasted about 10 seconds! They have a nice wine list and also serve panini, pasta and "normal" pizza (thin crust and deep dish), although I saw no one in the place eating those types. Our server, Gina, was excellent and was always nearby to take food/drink orders or simply just to see how everything was going. I will be back, many times, for sure. Quick tip, the place is really crowded (it just opened) and they don't take reservations, but they are willing to let you check in and then go elsewhere for drinks while you wait. We opted to go to Pints across the street which worked perfectly.
(5)Ben N.
My review is mixed on this place. Some good points, some bad points, and of course some ugly points . . . THE GOOD: Our server and hostess were both very nice and welcoming. I do agree with other reviews though, the servers should know the menu inside and out. Many questions were unanswered because our waitress simply didn't know, or had to ask someone. But a smile goes a long way sometimes, and she did everything to be as accommodating as possible. The Tagliatelle Bolognese and Rigatoni were both delicious, as was the Sausage Appetizer, Crispy Calamari and several of the salads. THE BAD: Pizzas were just fair, not of any real Neapolitan quality like other reviews have mentioned; the crust was soggy. ALL the food hit the table at once. Talk about poor timing! We immediately boxed most of it up to go since there was no room on the table. Nothing was expedited properly. The owner or manager or whoever he was stopped by our table and offered us some complimentary wine and cheese, along with a quick summary on Italian food and geography. Thanks for the lesson on cheese, however this wasn't Parmigiano-Reggiano. It don't think it was even Grana Padano. If you are going to give a complimentary offering, make sure its not your leftovers that you are trying to pass as "authentic". You aren't fooling anyone. THE UGLY: There is a difference between a family restaurant and a day care center, although here the line was pretty blurred. Having kids run amok in your restaurant screaming, crying and being generally obnoxious is a great way to end up like the Olive Garden. We might as well have been sitting INSIDE the brick oven itself. It was ridiculously hot inside the restaurant and made it very uncomfortable to enjoy dinner. I agree that there are too many "old guys" hanging around. Probably the owner and maybe some of the investors, all of them clearly getting in the way of service. And another reminder, many people speak Italian, even in the suburbs, so watch your tongues before you say something ignorant. It's embarrassing to you, and bad for your business. In closing, I'd surprisingly give this place another shot, but will remember to stay away from the pizza and get the rest to carry out.
(2)fab f.
Yesterday there was the opening of this new pizzeria. Finally a traditional Italian pizza, light and tasty, not a thick bread with overwhelming topping. They were very busy and then I realized why. I had a simple Margherita (cheese and tomato) and it was excellent: great ingredients, great thin bread, perfectly cooked, not heavy at all. You might say: it's just a pizza, but after you taste a good one, you realize the huge difference. I could live of pizza, but I haven't still found a place in Chicago that could make it as I used to have it in Italy. I thought it was because of the ingredients, but then I found out why. I met Gianfranco, the "pizzaiolo". He is from Veneto, Italy and his pizzas are just perfect. I wanted to share this joy with my colleagues and i asked Gianfranco to prepare another pizza. I asked him to surprise me. He came out with an arugola, slices of parmesan, tomato, fresh pomodorini and olive oil pizza that my colleagues devoured in 3 seconds. This is how pizza should be, seriously. Thank you Gianfranco. Ask for him when you go. Did I have to come to Elmhurst to find the best pizza? Too bad Chicago doesn't have one like this (and i passed them all from Spaccanapoli to ...) The place is not huge, but is very comfortable. There also a nice patio outside, hope it gets warmer soon. I'll be definitively back.
(5)Matthew H.
I wasn't a huge fan of their runny Margarita pizza. Gave them a try a few times. Didn't make me a fan.
(2)Margie S.
We went there with a little group...8 of us. The service was excellent, the food superb! We each shared a little of what we ordered with everyone else at the table. The evening was wonderful. It is a "little" pricey - but worth it because the pasta texture and flavor are very authentic. We will return agian....the pizza was delicious - we ordered it as an appetizer. Yummy- I'm getting hungry just thinking about this!!
(4)Chico R.
The ambiance was great. The staff was great and the hostess was very nice. The food, not so much. The pesto panini lacked flavor and the cheese and the tomato were cold on it. If I am not mistaken a panini is supposed to be served hot or at least warm. We tried the pizza as well and it was nothing to write home about. Wood burning oven pizza and soggy crust just doesn't make sense. The beer was good. :) We won't be back. BTW, the picture of the take out pizza showed here on yelp doesn't look like anything we saw.
(1)John L.
I wish their food were not so good. The dine-in service is unapologetically poor and the carry out window functions about the same. But the pizzas are great and the pastas are also surprisingly fantastic. The proximity to home and superior Italian food (for Elmhurst) will keep us coming back despite the obvious shortcomings.
(4)Bee T.
This place looked crazy busy for the first month after it opened. I realized why when I tried to make a reservation for 4 on a Friday night shortly thereafter....no reservations allowed! That is honestly my only qualm with this restaurant. The food was up to my expectations. I split a delicious caprese appetizer and the Diavola pizza and was happily full. Warning to pasta lovers, the Bucatini Amatriciana was HOT HOT HOT! The wait for the pizzas was a little longer than expected, but our waiter was very apologetic and rewarded one of us with a beer on the house. Overall we had an enjoyable dinner (outdoors! Seating for out there was much easier to come by), and can see us going back there again soon.
(4)David K.
Love location by city center and need the tagliatella once a week. Service is good, bar is fun, but mostly we like the unique wood fired pizzas and fresh pasta. Arugula pizza is great. Web ordering is also a plus.
(5)Tom E.
Soooooo. We read the review and were expecting something pretty decent. They didn't have the beer I asked for off the menu. The tomatoes for the Caprese appetizer were half green. The thin crust pizza was so thin that I had to roll it up off the pizza pan to eat it and they used canned mushrooms and the prosciutto was thinly sliced ham. Paying the check they lost my credit card within 10 feet. Amazingly bad. Don't waste your time.
(1)Rene P.
Went here tonight and it was very good. The caprese was delicious and the 3 pizzas we had (a prociutto and arugala, margherita, and a white with spicy sausage and red peppers) were all delicious. It's a little small inside, but we went early and had a good seat and they do have outdoor seating for summer. A nice addition to the Elmhurst pizza options.
(4)Samir R.
Best pizza in Elmhurst, hands down. Got some carry-out, good service, place was packed.
(5)Lisa B.
If you have been to Italy and have falken in love with the thin, cracker crust pizza you tasted thre , then you will love this place. However- I would not consider this a pizza place as I don't think you come here just for pizza. The name should not be crazy for pizza... It should be crazy for Italian food! After living in down town Chicago for so many years and being exposed to so many restaurant choices, I finally found the pizza I have craved after tasting it in Italy. Their salads are excellent. The arugula salad is so light, simple and delicious. Every dish tastes so fresh and full of flavor. If you have those in your party who must have pepperoni on their pizza - just ask. They will accommodate most requests. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I am so happy to have a restaurant of this quality in my town. I eat there 2x a month :-). I onlly wish they would expand the dinning room - as now it's hard to get a table! :-)
(4)Jennifer T.
Pazzi is one of the best restaurants in Elmhurst. My husband and his friends are thin-crust connoisseurs who love to check out pizza joints and compare. Pazzi is among their all-time favorites, even when pitted again east-coast and NYC eateries. I enjoy Pazzi's Tonno (tuna) salad with their very delish house dressing on the side. The kids always thoroughly enjoy the spaghetti with meatballs. The husband and kids go crazy for the prosciutto appetizer which includes "real" imported prosciutto and parmesan, not that domestic stuff! The service is always attentive, though sometimes not as speedy as we'd like. Takeout pizza is very good, too, though the thin crust pizza is not an option for takeout.
(4)Stefman X.
Food was good. But watch your credit card statement carefully! My bill came to $75 and I gave a $15 tip, which makes $90 total. When I got my credit card statement it was suddenly $95. I hate when waiters add in an extra tip for themselves.
(2)Diana C.
Pazzi di Nada! Went Here For The 1st Time with A Couple Of Girlfriends and Not Impressed, Especially after all the Talk Of A New Place to Go To In Elmhurst. We Ordered The Fried calamari, That was Good. We All Shared The Oven Brick Pizza With Mozzerella and Basil. Where was The Basil??? Probably Still At Caputo's. We also Split The Penne Arribiatta. In The Past at Other Italian Restaurants its Suppose To Be Spicy. Not Spicy at All!!! Service Was A Liitle Slow And Kept Having To Ask For Our Waiter. We All Felt Like We were Being Undressed With Gaulking Eyes From The Male Staff. a Little Uncomfortable And Made You Not Want To Get Up and Use The Bathroom. Waited 20 minutes For Our Bill. Will Not Be Coming Back To This Place! There are Plenty Of other Italian Pizza Places around. SORRY CHARLIE!!!
(1)janice m.
Last night we visited here with friends from out of town. There were seven of us and we were worried there would be a long wait as we decided to eat around 7. (Duh, what were we thinking) Much to our surprise the hostess was able to put together a table for us in a matter of minutes, despite the crowd that was there. That alone got them a star. We started off the meal with calamari and rice balls. Both were really good, not overly salty which I appreciate a lot. For our main course three friends ordered off the pasta and specials menu and three ordered off the pizza. The pasta dishes were well prepared and very tasty, the portions being very plentiful. The pizza was definitely thin crust, but it was Roman style not Neapolitan, and that might be why people were disappointed by the crust. I enjoyed my buffalina very much and wouldn't hesitate to come back for more. Our server, Alex, was wonderful. She kept our drinks filled, the table clean, and was friendly and sweet. All in all a good time for our friends and for me.
(4)Jeff B.
The woodfire pizza's are very good. Full of flavor. I would give it 5 stars but they need to add a few more toppings. Other than that, the restaurant is very nice with dining in and outside. Price is reasonable and the food is filling. Highly recommend this pizza place for something a little different than your normal pizza joint.
(4)J J.
Atmosphere is nice, but I can relate to another review about all the "kids" here. Very reasonably priced on food (all relative), but watch out for the drinks. Had the grilled calamari/octopus, was good. Octopus and Calamari should be cut up so you don't have to do it at the table. Would also make a better presentation. Wood fired Pizza...hmmmm....ordered with sausage, onions and cheese. Had about 5 small dots of sausage, enough onions, but all toppings were about 2 inches away from the crust, which was partially burned, yet still uncooked somewhat in the middle. Server could not have been more accomodating. Highly doubt I would return.
(1)Liz K.
This place makes my mouth water! They have some of the most amazing baked clams I've ever had.. and I've had a LOT of baked clams in my life. You'll wish you can lick the plate clean(or just use bread like me if you dgaf) Staff has always been super friendly. I've sat at the bar and outside. Great drink specials during the week. Definitely my favorite place in Elmhurst.
(5)Peter H.
stella on tap, awesome bartenders, kicka$$ nutella dessert, and the grilled octopus app is AMAZE
(5)Curt L.
As promised here is the update. Went Friday night (their first Friday night). The place was slammed. Such is Elmhurst. We fortunately secured a table outside. House red for Wifey and a Moretti for me. Grilled calamari and octopus for an app (Grigliata Mista)............the grilled items were supplemented with radicchio, other greens and diced tomato. Went with a pizza (of course)....the Capricciosa. The mozzarella was really tasty, Prosciutto cotto (did not really see it on the pizza!) artichoke hearts and gaeta olives. The service was rather slow......which is understandable. Will come back in a few weeks when things have relaxed a bit here. Will try a pasta dish as they looked really nice Good place for Elmhurst. I predict a successful run.
(4)Christina G.
I met 2 friends here on a Sunday night. One of them was from out of town, so I knew it would be a long, lazy dinner. One friend suggested we make reservations, and she did. I didn't think we would need them, but it turns out, she was right. Our reservations were for 6pm and when we arrived, our table wasn't ready. Annoying, but we didn't wait long. I wish we'd had an appetizer, especially the tavolata, which was a delicious looking meat and cheese plate, but we went straight to the main course. We ordered pizzas all around. They all looked really good. I had the quatro stagioni which had proscuitto, olives, mozzarella, and mushrooms. It was good, but I don't know that it was $16 good. Plus, as it's a woodfire pizza, you have to be careful not to burn it. Part of the top of mine was burned. It wasn't a big deal, but I was surprised our waiter didn't say anything about it when he put it on the table. There was a ton of proscuitto, so no complaints there, but hardly any olives. One last thing that bothered me a bit was that we weren't checked on very much. Granted, our waiter could have had the vibe that we were planning to be there for a bit to chat, but we were never even offered a water refill. When I did ask for one, as water was my only beverage and I was out, he never came back with any. All in all, I had a pizza and with tax and tip, it was about $25. I was surprised the total was so much without even drink on the tab. I would be back to give this place another try, but if I wasn't impressed the second time around, I don't think I'd go back for time #3.
(3)Kelli M.
I couldn't believe this place didn't have five stars across the board. I've been searching the past year for a good Italian place like I grew up next to in New Jersey and I finally found it. The price is right- they have ten dollar lunch specials that come with soup or salad and the food is delicious. You can tell they put their time into cooking. We stopped in randomly for lunch and they have inside as well as outside seating. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Each table gets warm soft bread with oil and Parmesan like they should! I got a salad that comes with house dressing, onions, tomato, and olives. Boyfriend got house soup which he wouldn't share so I guess it was good. Just ordered some chardonnay that was only $7 and the glass was full! I got pasta with tomatoes and garlic and oil- so many flavors in one- delicious! Boyfriend got the best penne vodka I've had in a while. Good portions, enough to take half home and fill you up while you're there. You can make your own pasta dishes and the homemade sandwiches or fire roasted pizza sound great too! We will definitely be back. They have parking lot nearby and inside restaurant there are coupons for take out or delivery.
(5)J S.
Where do I begin! If your looking for great Italian food, good looking attentive service, great wine all wrapped up in a cute trendy looking restaurant then pazzi is the place for you! I've prob tried just about everything on the menu but I def have my favorites! For an appetizer you must try the grigliata mista. Perfectly grilled calamari paired with my favorite grilled octopus in a balsamic vinaigrette. I could eat the whole thing all to myself! Make sure to dip your bread in the vinaigrette you'll love it! The woodfire pizza is amazing! Nice and thin like a woodfire pizza should be topped with premium ingredients! There is more then enough of different types of pizza to choose from but my favorite has to be the prosciutto and arugula! My other favorites here are the farfalle alla Francesco and the eggplant parmigiana. All of the menus dishes are a more than generous amount of food but make sure to save some room for their fried dough dessert and a nice cappuccino! As you can tell I love this place not only for their food but for the service as well! All the servers are very knowledgable about the menu and wines here and are very friendly but most importantly attentive! I can't say enough good things out pazzi di pizza!
(5)Phillip C.
I ordered the grilled calamari which was disgusting but that was not the worst part of the experience. The Worst part of the experience is when I mentioned it to the waiter and his response was that he would see what he could do. He Came back 15 minutes later with another order of calamari which was just as bad as the first order. I didn't ask for another order I just told you that u didn't care for it. I asked for the bill and he didn't even offer to take it off of the bill he just told me that no one else ever complain about the calamari. If you come here to dine just make sure that you don't complain about anything, and If you order something YOU BETTER like it because everybody else does!! Poor service like this is inexcusable in the hospitality industry , get a clue.
(1)Laura C.
For Elmhurst, I think this is a standout spot. We sat on the patio with a large group. The service was kind of slow, but we weren't in a rush. The food was tasty and enjoyable, but the margherita pizza with a few whole basil leaves just plopped on the middle left something to be desired. If they just chopped up a ton more basil, this might be a 5 star review! Yes, it is crowded, but it is tasty, affordable food and a big patio in Elmhurst, which is lovely, but isn't exactly a foodie metropolis. Check it out. Hope you enjoy it!
(4)Megan S.
My fish had a disgusting amount of bones in it. When I told the owner, he said it was normal for the fish to have bones. He didn't apologize at all let alone comp my meal. Don't order fish here unless you like it bony!
(1)Dana L.
The pizza was fantastic. My family got two different pizzas, but my mom and I got the margherita pizza. So good! And one of the managers even brought us a free dessert. That was fried cinnamon dough topped with nutella, I think. Whatever it was, it was good. Kind of on the expensive side so I wouldn't return unless someone else was paying!!
(4)Cher M.
After thinking long and hard, I can't remember if I've ever had wood fired pizza. You'd remember that, right? I concluded that I must not have, and that makes Pazzi di Pizza a memorable experience. After reading about the "soggy" pizza experiences, I played it safe with my order and chose a white pizza (sans sauce) which turned out to be the right decision. A crispy crust with just the right amount of toppings and seasoned perfectly, the "Quattro Formaggi" was a combination of mozzarella, provolone, parmiggiano reggiano, and gorgonzola. The four cheeses work great together, the mozzarella providing a softness, the provolone a smoothness, the parmiggiano giving its nuttiness, and the gorgonzola lending a "bite" to my slice that you don't often find in a pizza. The service was fine, if a bit helicopter-y. My water stayed filled, but our server never missed a chance to attempt an up-sell (No, I do NOT want to order an entire bottle of chianti at noon on a Thursday. Try me on a Saturday.) The pizza was 14.95, which split between two was a decent price. For lunch, it was the perfect amount of food for me and my dining companion, with two slices left for the next day's lunch. When I heated up my leftovers the next day, they held up pretty good, albeit a tad soggy this time from the microwave. With all the differing opinions on this place, I say go for the white "Quattro Fromaggio" pizza and you won't be disappointed.
(3)J F.
I think that this is probably the best Italian Restaurant in Elmhurst. It is especially good in the summer when you can sit outside on their patio. They usually have live music there on Thursday nights as well. Most of the pastas are really good, you can't go wrong with any of them. I also like the prosciutto and arugula pizza from their wood burning fire place. The Caprese salad is one of the best I've had, the mozzeralla they use is amazing and it has roasted red peppers with a great balsalmic vinegar. I usually get the chicken limon as my entrée.
(5)Danielle S.
Pizza was good, service was not. For that reason, I don't imagine I'll be back. They brought out the wrong pizza. I understand these things happen, but it was how it was dealt with that was less than stellar. The only real difference between the pizza we ordered and the pizza we got was the presence of anchovies. We wanted the anchovy-laden version and when we mentioned their error, they took the (already partially-eaten) pizza back to the kitchen and merely plopped some anchovies right on top. Is that how it was supposed to be? I'm not sure. The staff's attitude was rather immature and they didn't seem too concerned or apologetic that they made an error. Meh.
(2)Angelo C.
Last night, I went to Pazzi di Pizza with my wife and her parents, and I had high hopes. Upon entering, however, I lost some confidence due to the lack of space in front of and around the hostess stand and bar area. It was very crowded, and no one looked to be interested in making space. Once we gave our names, we were told that there would be a 40 minute wait, which is understandable, because it was quite busy and it was a Saturday night. We stood at the bar, packed in like sardines, and had some wine while we waited. After about 40 minutes, I asked the hostess how close we were to being seated and she told me that there were still two more groups ahead of us to be seated before our turn. This was somewhat aggravating because there were only three groups ahead of us when we arrived. I understand that restaurants can only give an "estimated" wait time, but at this rate it seemed like we wouldn't be seated for at least another 40 minutes. After 20 more minutes, we noticed a table near us being cleared, and everyone that had arrived before us was already seated, so we were excited for our turn to sit down and order some food. At that point, the manager, Nick, walked by and escorted another group of four (who had arrived a considerable amount of time after we had) to the table that had just been set up. This was very frustrating, so I went to the hostess and asked why we had been skipped over when we also had four in our group. She shrugged her shoulders and just pointed at Nick. We asked him about it and he told us, "don't worry about it, I've got you, I've got you," and then he walked away without saying another word. Don't get me wrong, I understand mistakes happen. But this guy did not make any attempt to apologize to us or make it right. He simply talked over us when we voiced our concern, and walked away. He really didn't seem to care at all about our group. So we walked back to the bar and waited. I was fuming at this point, but my wife really wanted to have dinner, so I just shut up about it. After waiting another 10 minutes without any attention, I asked the hostess if we would be seated soon. She told me it looked like some tables were putting their food in boxes, so it wouldn't be too long. I didn't see any such tables, so I'm not sure if she was telling the truth or just fabricating to get us to stop asking her. I walked back to my wife, and we waited for another 10 minutes. Then another server stepped behind the bar and began talking to my wife. The manager was behind the bar as well, but completely ignoring us and making some kind of coffee drink. The server was explaining that they have a terrible system of keeping track of groups waiting to be seated and that they can't always remember who came in and in what order. Then she apologized to us (the first apology we received), and I thanked her for taking it upon herself to speak with us, when it is obviously an issue that the manager should be concerned with. I said this loud enough for Nick to hear, hoping that he might get involved, since previously he didn't seem very concerned about keeping our business. He didn't acknowledge us at all and walked off to another table, at which point my wife turned to me and said, "if they have a terrible system for keeping track of waiting groups, they probably have a terrible system of taking care of seated guests, too." I told her I agreed, and she suggested we just leave, which was what I had wanted to do since Nick had demonstrated his lack of managerial skills. So we left and on the way out we let Nick know that he had lost our business indefinitely. He said nothing and started talking to a busboy about another table, at which point we turned and walked out. To summarize, we waited roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes, twice as long as we were quoted, and we left without eating because Nick was too stubborn, or embarrassed, or what have you, to apologize to us directly and fix the issue. Never will we be returning to Pazzi di Pizza, and I urge you to do the same. You are better off spending your money at a restaurant that appreciates your business and has the ability to address mistakes when they happen.
(1)Tommaso S.
The West suburb is lucky another !!!!! Excellent trattoria for Italian Home made food!!!! Great wine list, service , the owner personally greats you and oversees the dining room service. I trusted him to pick my wind for dinner and it was DOC! Rockefeller oysters are whole not chopped which I loved and the clams "mamma mia!!! That's right.
(5)Steve D.
Stopped here for lunch on Friday. I am in constant search of the perfect Neapolitan pizza and thought I would give this place a try. It is located as part of the old Elmhurst bank which is now a First Third bank. Server stopped at my table, no introduction or welcome from him. Definitely did not get a friendly vibe. Ordered the Margherita pizza and an iced tea. One of the best things about wood fired pizzas is that they cook fast and not too much waiting. The pizza itself??? It was OK. I have had better, much better. I guess for Elmhurst, it is OK, but I just don't understand the reviews that rave about it. The crust just did not have the right texture and chew that a good Neapolitan style must have. It was too crisp. When you can pick it up without it drooping, it is too crisp. The flavor of the crust was also less than memorable, and crust is what it is all about for this style pizza. Don't get me wrong and I do not want to sound too negative. The pizza was OK for the area but it was not in my top choices for Neapolitan pizza. I cannot comment on their other dishes since I only had the pizza. Cheers to All
(3)Becky H.
Service: Seated fairly quick considering it appeared to be packed. Jen was an excellent server, very helpful, gave us advise on what to order. Bar: Super small, went on a Friday night and didn't even bother to squeeze my way in. Food: Pizza dough tasted like crunchy pancakes, the toppings were good, however they couldn't mask the sweet weird flavor of the dough. also not worth the price, just skip the pizza. we did however love the pasta dish, nothing crazy, just the vodka sauce rigatoni, but the vadka sauce was delicious.
(3)Ciara S.
I have been to Pazzi di Pizza 3 times now, and ordered a pizza for to-go. The first 2 times were great! The food was good, great service, not super over priced. My fiance and I were really impressed overall. We also loved our to-go pizza. Now here comes the bad part. I went there 2 weeks ago on a Sunday for a work meeting with 6 girls. When we all ordered an alcoholic beverage our server asked if he could see our I.D's - which is wonderful. He then awkwardly went on about how "my manager asked me to check your I.D's - I'm really sorry - it's my job" blah blah. It was uncomfortable because no one said anything and it was like he offended us or something..,just weird! So our pizza comes out and it was good. I remember it being MUCH better the first 3 times I went, but still not bad. So then 8:15PM rolls around and our server comes over and says "I'm sorry ladies but we are closing up for the night and you're going to have to leave." So naturally I asked "Oh, what time do you close?" I have worked in the business for over 10 years as a server, hostess, and supervisor. He then says "We close when they tell me." WHAT?!?! What a weird response! So you don't have a closing time???? Needless to say we wrapped things up and on our way out we noticed there were still some people in the bar. It was about 8:25PM at this point so I asked someone who looked like a manager "Excuse me, but are we allowed to sit in the bar?" He says "Ummm...I guess so if you want." So I said "Well what time do you close?" And he proceeds to say "9:00PM." I was fuming!!! I have NEVER been kicked out of a restaurant 45 minutes before closing!!!!!!!! How completely absurd and rude! In all my years of working in this industry, I have never kicked anyone out unless is was an hour or more AFTER closing!! I understand it sucks, and it seemed like a really slow night, but that was awful customer service. Clearly, they didn't want our business. So in turn, I will NOT be going back to Pazzi di Pizza.
(2)Peter Z.
I've been here on three busy Friday nights and have enjoyed a great experience each time. Last time in, I was a big fan of the arancini and, especially, the eggplant rolls with ricotta and goat cheese. Some of the best appetizers I've had in a long time. I'd rate their wood oven pizzas solidly. I ordered a prosciutto and spinach pizza, and enjoyed it with the meal and also for lunch the next day. They offer a build your own pizza option which is a nice touch. About the only critiques I can give are that just once, we received a pasta dish that was just lukewarm along the edges and slightly dry, but the center of the dish was hot and full of delicious vodka sauce. Also, good luck getting up to go to the bathroom. One has to walk through incredibly narrow spaces, and through a service area to get there. I realize this is more on the building itself than the restaurant, but it can be a bit of an inconvenience. These points are heavily outnumbered by the positive ones. I've had great, personable service and each of the last two times, a manager/owner has checked in with our table to see how we are enjoying the night. They make you feel glad you walked in their doors. Rare and refreshing. TL;DR: Order some appetizers, create your own pizza, have a few drinks and enjoy the night.
(4)Lana C.
To start I did not have to pay the bill I had no idea how much our food was so I can't factor price into this review. This it will be based off of the environment, service, food, and location. Overall impress for the entire meal I will rate as average. Location is awesome for downtown Elmhurst. It is right across the street from my work place. We get in an out in our lunch hour down to the perfect minute. We ate outdoors the chairs are okay. My hips were stiff when I stood up. Maybe some cushions??? The umbrella vet the table did shade most of us. My boss preferred to be the sun flower of the group ... no thanks! The food was good. I did find it a bit bland and I am Italian. The vodka sauce was good but I prefer a bit more flavored heat to my sauce. The best thing was the baked clams, awesome with a touch of lemon and the flavor is completely perfect. I had the caprese salad and I liked it. I did not love it. I did love how the water is bottle and placed in each table. Endless bread kept coming out entire meal. Service was to me a typical experience, nothing outstanding. Overall it is an average Italian restaurant. I will visit again.
(3)Reyna T.
2 words. White Pizza. Theirs is amazing!!! Great atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating and fantastic staff. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu from Fish to pasta. Def recommend stopping here for lunch or dinner if your in Elmhurst.
(5)Jeff C.
I've been to this restaurant a few times and I finally figured it out. Don't get the pizza. I know, that's part of the name, but it's misleading. The pizza isn't very good, but the pasta and sandwiches are great. This is a super place to get lunch. The lunch menu has a bunch of options for $9.99. It comes with either a sandwich or pasta and soup or a salad. I was feeling like I should eat some vegetables, since it had been several days, so I ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich with a salad. My wife ordered the pasta and a bowl of chicken rice soup. Everything was delicious. Great job Pazzi! As of this writing there are ninety-six restaurants in Elmhurst. I plan on eating at, and reviewing, every one. Follow me on Yelp!
(4)Christina G.
I met 2 friends here on a Sunday night. One of them was from out of town, so I knew it would be a long, lazy dinner. One friend suggested we make reservations, and she did. I didn't think we would need them, but it turns out, she was right. Our reservations were for 6pm and when we arrived, our table wasn't ready. Annoying, but we didn't wait long. I wish we'd had an appetizer, especially the tavolata, which was a delicious looking meat and cheese plate, but we went straight to the main course. We ordered pizzas all around. They all looked really good. I had the quatro stagioni which had proscuitto, olives, mozzarella, and mushrooms. It was good, but I don't know that it was $16 good. Plus, as it's a woodfire pizza, you have to be careful not to burn it. Part of the top of mine was burned. It wasn't a big deal, but I was surprised our waiter didn't say anything about it when he put it on the table. There was a ton of proscuitto, so no complaints there, but hardly any olives. One last thing that bothered me a bit was that we weren't checked on very much. Granted, our waiter could have had the vibe that we were planning to be there for a bit to chat, but we were never even offered a water refill. When I did ask for one, as water was my only beverage and I was out, he never came back with any. All in all, I had a pizza and with tax and tip, it was about $25. I was surprised the total was so much without even drink on the tab. I would be back to give this place another try, but if I wasn't impressed the second time around, I don't think I'd go back for time #3.
(3)Cher M.
After thinking long and hard, I can't remember if I've ever had wood fired pizza. You'd remember that, right? I concluded that I must not have, and that makes Pazzi di Pizza a memorable experience. After reading about the "soggy" pizza experiences, I played it safe with my order and chose a white pizza (sans sauce) which turned out to be the right decision. A crispy crust with just the right amount of toppings and seasoned perfectly, the "Quattro Formaggi" was a combination of mozzarella, provolone, parmiggiano reggiano, and gorgonzola. The four cheeses work great together, the mozzarella providing a softness, the provolone a smoothness, the parmiggiano giving its nuttiness, and the gorgonzola lending a "bite" to my slice that you don't often find in a pizza. The service was fine, if a bit helicopter-y. My water stayed filled, but our server never missed a chance to attempt an up-sell (No, I do NOT want to order an entire bottle of chianti at noon on a Thursday. Try me on a Saturday.) The pizza was 14.95, which split between two was a decent price. For lunch, it was the perfect amount of food for me and my dining companion, with two slices left for the next day's lunch. When I heated up my leftovers the next day, they held up pretty good, albeit a tad soggy this time from the microwave. With all the differing opinions on this place, I say go for the white "Quattro Fromaggio" pizza and you won't be disappointed.
(3)J F.
I think that this is probably the best Italian Restaurant in Elmhurst. It is especially good in the summer when you can sit outside on their patio. They usually have live music there on Thursday nights as well. Most of the pastas are really good, you can't go wrong with any of them. I also like the prosciutto and arugula pizza from their wood burning fire place. The Caprese salad is one of the best I've had, the mozzeralla they use is amazing and it has roasted red peppers with a great balsalmic vinegar. I usually get the chicken limon as my entrée.
(5)Danielle S.
Pizza was good, service was not. For that reason, I don't imagine I'll be back. They brought out the wrong pizza. I understand these things happen, but it was how it was dealt with that was less than stellar. The only real difference between the pizza we ordered and the pizza we got was the presence of anchovies. We wanted the anchovy-laden version and when we mentioned their error, they took the (already partially-eaten) pizza back to the kitchen and merely plopped some anchovies right on top. Is that how it was supposed to be? I'm not sure. The staff's attitude was rather immature and they didn't seem too concerned or apologetic that they made an error. Meh.
(2)Angelo C.
Last night, I went to Pazzi di Pizza with my wife and her parents, and I had high hopes. Upon entering, however, I lost some confidence due to the lack of space in front of and around the hostess stand and bar area. It was very crowded, and no one looked to be interested in making space. Once we gave our names, we were told that there would be a 40 minute wait, which is understandable, because it was quite busy and it was a Saturday night. We stood at the bar, packed in like sardines, and had some wine while we waited. After about 40 minutes, I asked the hostess how close we were to being seated and she told me that there were still two more groups ahead of us to be seated before our turn. This was somewhat aggravating because there were only three groups ahead of us when we arrived. I understand that restaurants can only give an "estimated" wait time, but at this rate it seemed like we wouldn't be seated for at least another 40 minutes. After 20 more minutes, we noticed a table near us being cleared, and everyone that had arrived before us was already seated, so we were excited for our turn to sit down and order some food. At that point, the manager, Nick, walked by and escorted another group of four (who had arrived a considerable amount of time after we had) to the table that had just been set up. This was very frustrating, so I went to the hostess and asked why we had been skipped over when we also had four in our group. She shrugged her shoulders and just pointed at Nick. We asked him about it and he told us, "don't worry about it, I've got you, I've got you," and then he walked away without saying another word. Don't get me wrong, I understand mistakes happen. But this guy did not make any attempt to apologize to us or make it right. He simply talked over us when we voiced our concern, and walked away. He really didn't seem to care at all about our group. So we walked back to the bar and waited. I was fuming at this point, but my wife really wanted to have dinner, so I just shut up about it. After waiting another 10 minutes without any attention, I asked the hostess if we would be seated soon. She told me it looked like some tables were putting their food in boxes, so it wouldn't be too long. I didn't see any such tables, so I'm not sure if she was telling the truth or just fabricating to get us to stop asking her. I walked back to my wife, and we waited for another 10 minutes. Then another server stepped behind the bar and began talking to my wife. The manager was behind the bar as well, but completely ignoring us and making some kind of coffee drink. The server was explaining that they have a terrible system of keeping track of groups waiting to be seated and that they can't always remember who came in and in what order. Then she apologized to us (the first apology we received), and I thanked her for taking it upon herself to speak with us, when it is obviously an issue that the manager should be concerned with. I said this loud enough for Nick to hear, hoping that he might get involved, since previously he didn't seem very concerned about keeping our business. He didn't acknowledge us at all and walked off to another table, at which point my wife turned to me and said, "if they have a terrible system for keeping track of waiting groups, they probably have a terrible system of taking care of seated guests, too." I told her I agreed, and she suggested we just leave, which was what I had wanted to do since Nick had demonstrated his lack of managerial skills. So we left and on the way out we let Nick know that he had lost our business indefinitely. He said nothing and started talking to a busboy about another table, at which point we turned and walked out. To summarize, we waited roughly 1 hour and 20 minutes, twice as long as we were quoted, and we left without eating because Nick was too stubborn, or embarrassed, or what have you, to apologize to us directly and fix the issue. Never will we be returning to Pazzi di Pizza, and I urge you to do the same. You are better off spending your money at a restaurant that appreciates your business and has the ability to address mistakes when they happen.
(1)Tommaso S.
The West suburb is lucky another !!!!! Excellent trattoria for Italian Home made food!!!! Great wine list, service , the owner personally greats you and oversees the dining room service. I trusted him to pick my wind for dinner and it was DOC! Rockefeller oysters are whole not chopped which I loved and the clams "mamma mia!!! That's right.
(5)John L.
I wish their food were not so good. The dine-in service is unapologetically poor and the carry out window functions about the same. But the pizzas are great and the pastas are also surprisingly fantastic. The proximity to home and superior Italian food (for Elmhurst) will keep us coming back despite the obvious shortcomings.
(4)Bee T.
This place looked crazy busy for the first month after it opened. I realized why when I tried to make a reservation for 4 on a Friday night shortly thereafter....no reservations allowed! That is honestly my only qualm with this restaurant. The food was up to my expectations. I split a delicious caprese appetizer and the Diavola pizza and was happily full. Warning to pasta lovers, the Bucatini Amatriciana was HOT HOT HOT! The wait for the pizzas was a little longer than expected, but our waiter was very apologetic and rewarded one of us with a beer on the house. Overall we had an enjoyable dinner (outdoors! Seating for out there was much easier to come by), and can see us going back there again soon.
(4)David K.
Love location by city center and need the tagliatella once a week. Service is good, bar is fun, but mostly we like the unique wood fired pizzas and fresh pasta. Arugula pizza is great. Web ordering is also a plus.
(5)Tom E.
Soooooo. We read the review and were expecting something pretty decent. They didn't have the beer I asked for off the menu. The tomatoes for the Caprese appetizer were half green. The thin crust pizza was so thin that I had to roll it up off the pizza pan to eat it and they used canned mushrooms and the prosciutto was thinly sliced ham. Paying the check they lost my credit card within 10 feet. Amazingly bad. Don't waste your time.
(1)Toni F.
I came here recently with my aunt who lives in the area. Pazzi di Pizza is adorable inside and they have a wonderful patio on the side of the building. Unfortunately it was too cold to sit outside on the day we went but they have a great ambiance inside the restaurant and bar area. The menu is a nice variety of Italian fare with salads, panini, pasta, pizza, etc. I ordered the Tuna Panini which was bland and aside from the olive oil and tuna flavor, not much taste. The side salad it came with was excellent though. My aunt had the grilled veggie panini and it looked fabulous - that is the one I would try next time we come here. Our server was friendly and prompt - overall we enjoyed our lunch and even though I'm not in this area too often, I would return and try their pizza. I'd also recommend it to others.
(3)Rick G.
The food was phenomenal everything is fresh you can just taste it. I had the rack of lamb and the Brajole. The service was incredible they were very knowledgeable about the menu it was a Wednesday night at the dinner rush place was crowded everyone was taken care of. This is a great place for a romantic getaway friends meeting for dinner even in groups up to 10 to 12. Bring appetizer I had grilled calamari which was incredible like I said the rack of lamb was very tasty and tender was not overdone the brajole was wrapped with filet mignon so that made it even more incredible and they bake the bread there everyday so the bread is always fresh. The chocolate cake I had for dessert was also fresh and very delicious. I would definitely recommend this place and I will be eating there again.
(5)Gregory B.
Outstanding pasta, alfredo, marinara. Pretty good pizza, service.
(4)Steven V.
Great food! This place definitely needs front of the house training! Great looking atmosphere and smiles.... There were about 5 tables sat, hosted sat us near a window and I requested after if we can move to the table near the fire oven for more warmth. She replied, "I think it's for a party" vs "let me check with our seating chart" We were moved to another table. Thank you. That table I requested was never sat. Server was nice but lacked customer service. She didn't pour out water in the glass, didn't go over the specials and when asked what she would suggest, her reply was everything. Server was nice and did cater to our needs. food was amazing! Bring your appetite because portions are huge! Their calamari was great! Get it grilled. Their eggplant Parmesan was great! Great food, a little server and host training and you'll get 5 stars! 3.5 stars total experience.
(3)Derrick L.
Friendly staff. Nice place for lunch. They have a 9.95 lunch special . This restaurant is also good for grabbing a drink and is close to the train just a half block south.
(4)Kelli M.
I couldn't believe this place didn't have five stars across the board. I've been searching the past year for a good Italian place like I grew up next to in New Jersey and I finally found it. The price is right- they have ten dollar lunch specials that come with soup or salad and the food is delicious. You can tell they put their time into cooking. We stopped in randomly for lunch and they have inside as well as outside seating. Staff were super friendly and helpful. Each table gets warm soft bread with oil and Parmesan like they should! I got a salad that comes with house dressing, onions, tomato, and olives. Boyfriend got house soup which he wouldn't share so I guess it was good. Just ordered some chardonnay that was only $7 and the glass was full! I got pasta with tomatoes and garlic and oil- so many flavors in one- delicious! Boyfriend got the best penne vodka I've had in a while. Good portions, enough to take half home and fill you up while you're there. You can make your own pasta dishes and the homemade sandwiches or fire roasted pizza sound great too! We will definitely be back. They have parking lot nearby and inside restaurant there are coupons for take out or delivery.
(5)Diane V.
We started out with an appetizer which was a fried ball of cheese and rice, which reminded me of my grandma's casserole all fried into a ball. It was strangely tasty, but then we ordered pizza which was served on a plate swimming in a soupy juicy mess. The taste was bland and unappetizing. But the worst part about our meal was the atmosphere. The last time we were here we ate outside so I had a fairly positive memory of the place but since it was raining we were inside where they played loud, club music. VERY OBNOXIOUS! You couldn't hold a conversation with the person next to you. I hated every minute and couldn't wait to leave. I will NEVER return.
(1)Jon P.
Great salads, great pizza, especially carryout pizza.
(4)Karen G.
Stopped here with a bud on a weekday night- super nice service, nice decor. The pizza was quite good- the crust was flaky and crisp with lots of cheese and the toppings was generous. My favorite was the "Fungi Stuffati":- the portions was huge, the flavor great with the cheese and the roasted peppers, just outstanding.
(4)Peter H.
stella on tap, awesome bartenders, kicka$$ nutella dessert, and the grilled octopus app is AMAZE
(5)Curt L.
As promised here is the update. Went Friday night (their first Friday night). The place was slammed. Such is Elmhurst. We fortunately secured a table outside. House red for Wifey and a Moretti for me. Grilled calamari and octopus for an app (Grigliata Mista)............the grilled items were supplemented with radicchio, other greens and diced tomato. Went with a pizza (of course)....the Capricciosa. The mozzarella was really tasty, Prosciutto cotto (did not really see it on the pizza!) artichoke hearts and gaeta olives. The service was rather slow......which is understandable. Will come back in a few weeks when things have relaxed a bit here. Will try a pasta dish as they looked really nice Good place for Elmhurst. I predict a successful run.
(4)Magen R.
I dined at Pazzi di Pizza last night and enjoyed it. It is a really lively place with a fun atmosphere. It was crowded on a Friday night but we were lucky to get seated relatively quickly at a hightop by the back bar. Despite being seated near the bar it was not overly crowded which was nice. We decided to share a few things among the three of us and opted to try the Calamari Dorati, the Margherita Pizza and Gamberi e Broccoli in the garlic and oil sauce. I was really pleased with the portion sizes of everything we were served and thought all the food was good. I especially like the pizza, you could definitely tell it came from a wood fired oven and I would love to go back and try some of the other options, especially one of the white pizzas. There are only two real downsides to Pazzi di Pizza, the service and the layout of the restaurant. The service was somewhat shoddy, it took a significant amount of time for us to put our orders in and it we had to ask for things we probably should not have had to (refills on our drinks, salt and pepper, etc). As for the layout it is simply a difficult place to navigate. There were a lot of people waiting while I waited for my table to get ready and there was nowhere for people to go, it became really crowded and congested near the entrance and it made it difficult for the waitstaff to do their job. The bathrooms are also individual bathrooms located on either end of the restaurant and there's no easy way to navigate to them. All in all I enjoyed my experience at Pazzi but think there are some things that can be improved upon.
(3)Paige K.
Delicious Italian place that's an upgrade from two brothers but more consistent than Francesca's. The pesto farfalle is amazing! Pizzas good too.
(5)Judy L.
Pazzi di Pizza...you got that right!. I am crazy about your pizza! First experience was excellent and I am already looking forward to coming back. Great customer service! Perfect for a girls night out, date night, birthday, etc. One suggestion...put more basil on the pizzas with "fresh basil". Just cut some right over the pizza when you take it out of the oven in addition to the 3 leaves in the middle. THE VIBE: Went here last night with 4 girls. Loved the indoor/outdoor atmosphere. Cute place, clean, big bar on the other side of the restaurant and REALLY friendly staff. The hostess, the bus boys, the servers and the manager...all super nice! The booth tables are great...stayed way longer than planned and had another glass of wine. THE FOOD: Love that you get fresh bread/olive oil before your meal. The zucchini pazzi appetizer is crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside. Comes with a nice bed of mixed greens too. Margherita pizza and Capricciosa pizza were both winners. I might try a white pizza next time though. Great wine list although not too many by the glass choices. The Ruffino Chianti for $6 a glass was a super deal.
(5)Joseph M.
Went with my wife on Sweetest Day. Had a very nice time. Started with the Arancini appetizer which was excellent and so was the Marinara sauce that came with it. My wife had Penne with pesto that was very good and the "Orto" salad full of great grilled vegetables. I had the Arugula salad and a tuna fish sandwich. I never order tuna as a sandwich but everything we tried was very good so I thought "why not?" It was just what I was hoping it would be. We'll be back with our daughters near the Holidays. Their catering menu looks very good-wish we lived closer.
(5)J S.
Where do I begin! If your looking for great Italian food, good looking attentive service, great wine all wrapped up in a cute trendy looking restaurant then pazzi is the place for you! I've prob tried just about everything on the menu but I def have my favorites! For an appetizer you must try the grigliata mista. Perfectly grilled calamari paired with my favorite grilled octopus in a balsamic vinaigrette. I could eat the whole thing all to myself! Make sure to dip your bread in the vinaigrette you'll love it! The woodfire pizza is amazing! Nice and thin like a woodfire pizza should be topped with premium ingredients! There is more then enough of different types of pizza to choose from but my favorite has to be the prosciutto and arugula! My other favorites here are the farfalle alla Francesco and the eggplant parmigiana. All of the menus dishes are a more than generous amount of food but make sure to save some room for their fried dough dessert and a nice cappuccino! As you can tell I love this place not only for their food but for the service as well! All the servers are very knowledgable about the menu and wines here and are very friendly but most importantly attentive! I can't say enough good things out pazzi di pizza!
(5)Phillip C.
I ordered the grilled calamari which was disgusting but that was not the worst part of the experience. The Worst part of the experience is when I mentioned it to the waiter and his response was that he would see what he could do. He Came back 15 minutes later with another order of calamari which was just as bad as the first order. I didn't ask for another order I just told you that u didn't care for it. I asked for the bill and he didn't even offer to take it off of the bill he just told me that no one else ever complain about the calamari. If you come here to dine just make sure that you don't complain about anything, and If you order something YOU BETTER like it because everybody else does!! Poor service like this is inexcusable in the hospitality industry , get a clue.
(1)Laura C.
For Elmhurst, I think this is a standout spot. We sat on the patio with a large group. The service was kind of slow, but we weren't in a rush. The food was tasty and enjoyable, but the margherita pizza with a few whole basil leaves just plopped on the middle left something to be desired. If they just chopped up a ton more basil, this might be a 5 star review! Yes, it is crowded, but it is tasty, affordable food and a big patio in Elmhurst, which is lovely, but isn't exactly a foodie metropolis. Check it out. Hope you enjoy it!
(4)Megan S.
My fish had a disgusting amount of bones in it. When I told the owner, he said it was normal for the fish to have bones. He didn't apologize at all let alone comp my meal. Don't order fish here unless you like it bony!
(1)Dana L.
The pizza was fantastic. My family got two different pizzas, but my mom and I got the margherita pizza. So good! And one of the managers even brought us a free dessert. That was fried cinnamon dough topped with nutella, I think. Whatever it was, it was good. Kind of on the expensive side so I wouldn't return unless someone else was paying!!
(4)Steve D.
Stopped here for lunch on Friday. I am in constant search of the perfect Neapolitan pizza and thought I would give this place a try. It is located as part of the old Elmhurst bank which is now a First Third bank. Server stopped at my table, no introduction or welcome from him. Definitely did not get a friendly vibe. Ordered the Margherita pizza and an iced tea. One of the best things about wood fired pizzas is that they cook fast and not too much waiting. The pizza itself??? It was OK. I have had better, much better. I guess for Elmhurst, it is OK, but I just don't understand the reviews that rave about it. The crust just did not have the right texture and chew that a good Neapolitan style must have. It was too crisp. When you can pick it up without it drooping, it is too crisp. The flavor of the crust was also less than memorable, and crust is what it is all about for this style pizza. Don't get me wrong and I do not want to sound too negative. The pizza was OK for the area but it was not in my top choices for Neapolitan pizza. I cannot comment on their other dishes since I only had the pizza. Cheers to All
(3)Becky H.
Service: Seated fairly quick considering it appeared to be packed. Jen was an excellent server, very helpful, gave us advise on what to order. Bar: Super small, went on a Friday night and didn't even bother to squeeze my way in. Food: Pizza dough tasted like crunchy pancakes, the toppings were good, however they couldn't mask the sweet weird flavor of the dough. also not worth the price, just skip the pizza. we did however love the pasta dish, nothing crazy, just the vodka sauce rigatoni, but the vadka sauce was delicious.
(3)Ciara S.
I have been to Pazzi di Pizza 3 times now, and ordered a pizza for to-go. The first 2 times were great! The food was good, great service, not super over priced. My fiance and I were really impressed overall. We also loved our to-go pizza. Now here comes the bad part. I went there 2 weeks ago on a Sunday for a work meeting with 6 girls. When we all ordered an alcoholic beverage our server asked if he could see our I.D's - which is wonderful. He then awkwardly went on about how "my manager asked me to check your I.D's - I'm really sorry - it's my job" blah blah. It was uncomfortable because no one said anything and it was like he offended us or something..,just weird! So our pizza comes out and it was good. I remember it being MUCH better the first 3 times I went, but still not bad. So then 8:15PM rolls around and our server comes over and says "I'm sorry ladies but we are closing up for the night and you're going to have to leave." So naturally I asked "Oh, what time do you close?" I have worked in the business for over 10 years as a server, hostess, and supervisor. He then says "We close when they tell me." WHAT?!?! What a weird response! So you don't have a closing time???? Needless to say we wrapped things up and on our way out we noticed there were still some people in the bar. It was about 8:25PM at this point so I asked someone who looked like a manager "Excuse me, but are we allowed to sit in the bar?" He says "Ummm...I guess so if you want." So I said "Well what time do you close?" And he proceeds to say "9:00PM." I was fuming!!! I have NEVER been kicked out of a restaurant 45 minutes before closing!!!!!!!! How completely absurd and rude! In all my years of working in this industry, I have never kicked anyone out unless is was an hour or more AFTER closing!! I understand it sucks, and it seemed like a really slow night, but that was awful customer service. Clearly, they didn't want our business. So in turn, I will NOT be going back to Pazzi di Pizza.
(2)Gina V.
I am torn between 2 and 3 stars, but I really wouldn't classify this place as A-OK. I was super disappointed A couple of my friends had recommended it so I have been wanting to try it, and I finally took the plunge We were initially seated behind a group of 10 men who appeared to be having some business dinner or other. My boyfriend and I started eating our bread, looking at the menu, and chatting it up for about 15 minutes when a man (owner?) asked us if we could move because we were seated very close to the large party. I was a little annoyed that we were expected to pick up all of our stuff and relocate and I didn't feel like the staff was all that nice about the inconvenience, but whatever. To start, we had the grilled calamari and octopus which was fabulous. I definitely recommend this. I wanted to order some type of fish, but they only had 1 or 2 fish options that I didn't think were appealing. I was a little disappointed in the menu. Since I couldn't make up my mind, I decided to go with the pizza since the name of the restaurant translates to "Crazy for Pizza" I figured that was their specialty. I ordered the "Buffalina" which is a margherita pizza with buffalo mozzarella. The pizza was so overcooked that the mozzarella was completely melted and I could barely taste the difference between the buffalo milk and cow's milk. It just taste like a normal pizza. The pizza wasn't "Bad", but very far from authentic Neopolitan pizza. I imagined the pizza to be phenomenal since they have a wood burning oven, but I was wrong. I thought the pizzas were also way overpriced. I'm not sure I will ever return.
(2)Doug M.
This place is slipping big time, it's become very inconsistent and the management is out of touch and not responsive to solve problems. The service is mediocre. They don't know how to serve wine. Also we ordered a dish and were told 25 minutes later as we were waiting for the dinner that they ran out of that dish because the waitress didn't put in the ticket. And they didn't do much to resolve this and we were snubbed by the owner and waitress for the rest of the meal. There are much better places to go. Avoid this one
(1)Simeren S.
I am the killjoy in my family and group of friends who has a gluten allergy, but does not want to deprive anyone else from having what for me, is kryptonite so I planned a get together for my husband's birthday for 13 people. Our server Aleks was amazing and as soon as I told her about my situation, she was extremely accommodating in making recommendations as she happened to have the same affliction, as well. I had the seafood risotto dish and it was fabulous! I oftentimes get a risotto with undercooked rice, but every grain of this dish was perfect. Everyone enjoyed their pizza and my 3 year old ate every bite of her two slices instead of peeling off the cheese and leaving the crust. I will revise my rating to five stars when they offer gluten free pastas and pizzas, but all in all, a great experience!
(4)Tina T.
This new upscale and distinctive Italian restaurant just opened up in the space formerly occupied by Wine & Vine in downtown Elmhurst. Complete with a wood burning pizza oven, this new addition to the Elmhurst dining scene offers ambience, good food, and a friendly, vibrant atmosphere. I love the decor - full of warm, earthy tones, awesome lighting, and a cool bar. I only wish the bar was a bit bigger. My friend and I dined here (and closed the place, of course) the second nite it was opened. While it has some growing pains to deal with, this restaurant has a lot of good going on. Their name means "crazy for Pizza", as evidenced by the variety of pizza options offered here. The comprehensive menu offers something for everyone, with a good concentration of pizzas cooked in their signature wood-burning oven. We ordered a pizza with arugula and mozzarella di bufala. It was very good. They offer takeout and delivery as well, but they will not include pizzas from the wood burning oven in takeout orders, as they don't believe they travel well. They do have thin crust and deep dish pizzas for takeout and delivery. We also ordered the orzo salad - a bed of arugula topped with a multitude of roasted vegetables - just yummy. Their wine list is fairly expansive and varied, with a concentration on Italian wines. They did offer a Silver Oaks cab, which is great. Other dishes featured on the menu include pastas, salads, sandwiches, and daily specials of seafood and meat. We gabbed with two of the owners at the bar - they were friendly and hospitable, and didn't kick us out even though there was no one left in the place. They even gave us limoncello - not too shabby. While I was not anticipating the opening of this restaurant, as we have a ton of Italian restaurants in Elmhurst, it ended up surpassing my expectations greatly. Good food, a fun and great atmosphere, and a unique menu that can't be found in Elmhurst right now. I hope they do well!
(4)Betsy P.
Finally, I can stay in Elmhurst and enjoy a yummy brick oven pizza. I'm so happy that Pazzi di Pizza (Crazy for Pizza), is opened for business. I've been there a couple of times and I plan on making this restaurant a weekly visit with friends and family. The service is outstanding and the restaurant is beautifully decorated with the right lighting. I don't know what it is with me, but lighting is just as important to me as the food is. We tried the grilled calamari and it was cooked to perfection. The pizza was outstanding and the perfect size for two. You have to stop by with your family and friends. You will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something lite to drink, try Perseco with a splash of Campari (YUM).
(5)Katie L.
I've only been there once, but it wasn't anything special. This could be a result of what we got, but really. If "pizza" is in your name, all of your pizzas should be fantastic. Just sayin. Also pricey for what you get. My main problem with the pizza was the crust, which was supposed to be a thin crust. If you have a thin crust, it should be crispy or chewy or SOMETHING, but this was neither. Slightly soggy and rubbery (which is not the same as chewy, trust me). Basically, I got a $10 fancy pizza that didn't taste great, was way overpriced, and which I could've made pretty easily. Save your money and go to the Jewel down the street and make your own.
(2)Emily B.
I came in from downtown Chicago to have pizza with my mom. She was dying to try this place and I figured I'd appease her. Actually, it was pretty good! Our server was the ever-adorable and ultra-Italian, Vince. He was awesome and I'd definitely would ask for him by name again. We did a build-your-own brick-oven pizza with ricotta and spinach. I loved the thin crust and the texture of the dough. Also had rigatoni vodka...pretty delicious also. I bet the leftovers tomorrow will be wonderful. Next time, I'd like to sit on their patio because it's very loud inside.
(4)Channon C.
Great place. Celebrated an anniversary here and we were seated in a timely manner, treated great by all the workers, and everything tasted great. We had the bruschetta and two pasta dishes. The servings were just large enough to bring a little home with us as well! Definitely a place to try if you haven't yet!
(4)Lito T.
We're regulars here and we are never disappointed. Food always tastes fresh and atmosphere is great. Plenty of gluten free pasta options that taste just as good if not better than the house pasta.
(4)Jeremy M.
Had a group of 6 and got right in around 6pm on a Saturday night. Served us bread, awesome!!! Most of us ordered calzones. All of us love them. Served was the best I have had in a long time. Can't wait to go back!!!!
(5)Karen L.
Won't ever return! We were not happy with the baked clams - they were very small and when my husband went to eat the last one, there wasn't even a clam at all, just the breading. When we showed the waiter, he said he would talk to the manager. There were 4 of us, we had drinks, wine and each had an entree. The bill came and the clams were still on there. We asked the waiter if he would adjust the bill but he said the owner said since we ate most of the clams, they would not take it off. My husband tried then talking to the owner himself, and it became quite clear he thought we were wrong so we will just have to take our money elsewhere!
(1)B J.
We went at about 7:30 on Saturday night - the place was packed and there was a 30 minute wait. We didn't mind waiting, however, people who know the owner came in after us (3 separate groups - one couple, one party of 3 and a party of 5) and all got seated before us because they knew him. They came in, said hi to him by name, hugged him, etc. and then were all seated before we were. I probably wouldn't have cared except for the fact that I am 8.5 months pregnant....I guess it pays to know someone on a busy Saturday night. The service was ok, but we felt rushed because it was so busy. We ordered drinks, they came right away and my Diet Coke was flat as could be - told the server & he brought me another one, but it was also flat. Food was the only saving grace. Their rigatoni with vodka sauce was delish and my hubby had a rigatoni special with filet and it was also really good. We were never offered a dessert menu, so I am not sure what they have available, but we saw some desserts that looked delicious being served to other tables, so maybe next time we will try it. I will give this place one more chance and hope the service is way better & the favoritism of who gets seated first is gone.
(3)Candy J.
If I could I'd give it zero stars. Came here with high expectations based on other reviews, and had a completely disappointing experience. Service was bad, food was worse, and drink menu basically non-existent. We sat in the 'bar' area and were served by the bartender, which could explain the complete lack of attention, caprese salad consisted of mealy, under -ripe tomatoes (really??!??? Tomatoes are IN SEASON right now) and the 'pizza' was gooey and mushy... Trust me, no crisp here. Will never go back, and am pretty sure that after the 'shiny new object' effect wears off, no one else will either. Want an EXCELLENT thin crust, properly made za? Go to Q's on Butterfield in in Hillside - now THAT's a proper pizza!
(1)Judith B.
I work around the corner and was so excited to see this place going up! AND FINALLY went to taste some of their pizza! I can definitely say I loved the look of the inside and the feel of the patio. We chose to sit outside. My fiance and I, along with our hungry toddler, ordered a margarita pizza. Delicious but they skimped on the basil leaves. Literally three leaves! Next time I'll ask for more. The waitress was so sweet. Our daughter loved her and she was very attentive refilling our drinks and checking on us. I will definitely be back- maybe next time when I ask for more basil I'll add that fifth star.
(4)Diane M.
Wow! Fresh and homemade pastas. Service was good too. Unbelievable meat sauce and ravioli!
(5)Natalia S.
this place definitely didn't do it for me. i was REALLY excited to be blown away by the pizza (esp since the prices were kinda steep, and the place has a nice atmosphere) but ours turned out to be pretty much flatbread with cheese and baby tomatoes. i could have thrown that together at home for much less, and probably had it taste way better. if you do decide to venture in there, try the orto salad, it was the one thing i really enjoyed apart from the water decanters :) unfortunately, i won't be coming back. ciao pazzi!
(2)Matthew H.
I wasn't a huge fan of their runny Margarita pizza. Gave them a try a few times. Didn't make me a fan.
(2)Margie S.
We went there with a little group...8 of us. The service was excellent, the food superb! We each shared a little of what we ordered with everyone else at the table. The evening was wonderful. It is a "little" pricey - but worth it because the pasta texture and flavor are very authentic. We will return agian....the pizza was delicious - we ordered it as an appetizer. Yummy- I'm getting hungry just thinking about this!!
(4)Chico R.
The ambiance was great. The staff was great and the hostess was very nice. The food, not so much. The pesto panini lacked flavor and the cheese and the tomato were cold on it. If I am not mistaken a panini is supposed to be served hot or at least warm. We tried the pizza as well and it was nothing to write home about. Wood burning oven pizza and soggy crust just doesn't make sense. The beer was good. :) We won't be back. BTW, the picture of the take out pizza showed here on yelp doesn't look like anything we saw.
(1)Gina G.
I've mixed reviews about Pazzi di Pizza so I finally tried it out for myself. when walking in it was very small and I was expecting somethign a little more then super casual. This is definitely a pizza joint because 75% of the menu is pizza and apps. We orders a few appitizers, the one with cold cuts and cheese was pretty good. For our main course we ordered about 5 different pizzas. The pizzas all cam eout pretty timely except for one, we got it abotu 15 minutes after the others, almost seemed like they forgot to make it, but the waitress didn't mention any of that to us. Also she seemed to disappear for long periods of time. It was during the week and the place was pretty empty, so it was not due to a busy night. Anyways, the pizza wasy SUPER THIN. I have been to italy had have had my share of italian style pizza, but this was like paper thin and lacked flavor in most of the pizza's. The sausage and red pepper with caramilized onion was my fav, others were just ok. For dessert we tried a few gelatos tiramisu. Server said they were big portions and woudl be enough for the group. Well when they served us they only brought one spoon per dessert. Again, the server was MIA and our ice cream was melted before we could flag her down and get more spoons. I was not impressed and woudl side with the negative reviews. I wanted to like this palce because I love this style of pizza, but I think there are better places in the city if you are looking for this style of pizza. iI am not pazzo for pazzi.
(2)Bryan B.
There was nothing memorable about the food, service or overall experience. The food quality at Mama Maria's (down the street) is significantly better
(2)Mike I.
Excellent brick-oven, traditional Italian style, pizza! I dined here Sat. night with four other friends and we all agreed that the place is great. We started with the grigliata mista (grilled octopus and calamari), which was outstanding. We also ordered the fried calamari (yes, I'm a calamari junkie!) which also was prepared well: not a lot of breading and fried perfectly. For dinner we shared three pizzas, a bufalo mozzarella with basil, a sausage and mushroom, and an artichoke and olive. All three were excellent! Not a ton of sauce, not a lot of cheese, great ingredients and very good, non-bready, dough: the perfect balance in a pizza The owner also brought over a platter of fried dough with nutella and a light cream cheese filling (marscapone, I think). It lasted about 10 seconds! They have a nice wine list and also serve panini, pasta and "normal" pizza (thin crust and deep dish), although I saw no one in the place eating those types. Our server, Gina, was excellent and was always nearby to take food/drink orders or simply just to see how everything was going. I will be back, many times, for sure. Quick tip, the place is really crowded (it just opened) and they don't take reservations, but they are willing to let you check in and then go elsewhere for drinks while you wait. We opted to go to Pints across the street which worked perfectly.
(5)Ben N.
My review is mixed on this place. Some good points, some bad points, and of course some ugly points . . . THE GOOD: Our server and hostess were both very nice and welcoming. I do agree with other reviews though, the servers should know the menu inside and out. Many questions were unanswered because our waitress simply didn't know, or had to ask someone. But a smile goes a long way sometimes, and she did everything to be as accommodating as possible. The Tagliatelle Bolognese and Rigatoni were both delicious, as was the Sausage Appetizer, Crispy Calamari and several of the salads. THE BAD: Pizzas were just fair, not of any real Neapolitan quality like other reviews have mentioned; the crust was soggy. ALL the food hit the table at once. Talk about poor timing! We immediately boxed most of it up to go since there was no room on the table. Nothing was expedited properly. The owner or manager or whoever he was stopped by our table and offered us some complimentary wine and cheese, along with a quick summary on Italian food and geography. Thanks for the lesson on cheese, however this wasn't Parmigiano-Reggiano. It don't think it was even Grana Padano. If you are going to give a complimentary offering, make sure its not your leftovers that you are trying to pass as "authentic". You aren't fooling anyone. THE UGLY: There is a difference between a family restaurant and a day care center, although here the line was pretty blurred. Having kids run amok in your restaurant screaming, crying and being generally obnoxious is a great way to end up like the Olive Garden. We might as well have been sitting INSIDE the brick oven itself. It was ridiculously hot inside the restaurant and made it very uncomfortable to enjoy dinner. I agree that there are too many "old guys" hanging around. Probably the owner and maybe some of the investors, all of them clearly getting in the way of service. And another reminder, many people speak Italian, even in the suburbs, so watch your tongues before you say something ignorant. It's embarrassing to you, and bad for your business. In closing, I'd surprisingly give this place another shot, but will remember to stay away from the pizza and get the rest to carry out.
(2)fab f.
Yesterday there was the opening of this new pizzeria. Finally a traditional Italian pizza, light and tasty, not a thick bread with overwhelming topping. They were very busy and then I realized why. I had a simple Margherita (cheese and tomato) and it was excellent: great ingredients, great thin bread, perfectly cooked, not heavy at all. You might say: it's just a pizza, but after you taste a good one, you realize the huge difference. I could live of pizza, but I haven't still found a place in Chicago that could make it as I used to have it in Italy. I thought it was because of the ingredients, but then I found out why. I met Gianfranco, the "pizzaiolo". He is from Veneto, Italy and his pizzas are just perfect. I wanted to share this joy with my colleagues and i asked Gianfranco to prepare another pizza. I asked him to surprise me. He came out with an arugola, slices of parmesan, tomato, fresh pomodorini and olive oil pizza that my colleagues devoured in 3 seconds. This is how pizza should be, seriously. Thank you Gianfranco. Ask for him when you go. Did I have to come to Elmhurst to find the best pizza? Too bad Chicago doesn't have one like this (and i passed them all from Spaccanapoli to ...) The place is not huge, but is very comfortable. There also a nice patio outside, hope it gets warmer soon. I'll be definitively back.
(5)Jeff B.
The woodfire pizza's are very good. Full of flavor. I would give it 5 stars but they need to add a few more toppings. Other than that, the restaurant is very nice with dining in and outside. Price is reasonable and the food is filling. Highly recommend this pizza place for something a little different than your normal pizza joint.
(4)J J.
Atmosphere is nice, but I can relate to another review about all the "kids" here. Very reasonably priced on food (all relative), but watch out for the drinks. Had the grilled calamari/octopus, was good. Octopus and Calamari should be cut up so you don't have to do it at the table. Would also make a better presentation. Wood fired Pizza...hmmmm....ordered with sausage, onions and cheese. Had about 5 small dots of sausage, enough onions, but all toppings were about 2 inches away from the crust, which was partially burned, yet still uncooked somewhat in the middle. Server could not have been more accomodating. Highly doubt I would return.
(1)Rene P.
Went here tonight and it was very good. The caprese was delicious and the 3 pizzas we had (a prociutto and arugala, margherita, and a white with spicy sausage and red peppers) were all delicious. It's a little small inside, but we went early and had a good seat and they do have outdoor seating for summer. A nice addition to the Elmhurst pizza options.
(4)Samir R.
Best pizza in Elmhurst, hands down. Got some carry-out, good service, place was packed.
(5)Lisa B.
If you have been to Italy and have falken in love with the thin, cracker crust pizza you tasted thre , then you will love this place. However- I would not consider this a pizza place as I don't think you come here just for pizza. The name should not be crazy for pizza... It should be crazy for Italian food! After living in down town Chicago for so many years and being exposed to so many restaurant choices, I finally found the pizza I have craved after tasting it in Italy. Their salads are excellent. The arugula salad is so light, simple and delicious. Every dish tastes so fresh and full of flavor. If you have those in your party who must have pepperoni on their pizza - just ask. They will accommodate most requests. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. I am so happy to have a restaurant of this quality in my town. I eat there 2x a month :-). I onlly wish they would expand the dinning room - as now it's hard to get a table! :-)
(4)Jennifer T.
Pazzi is one of the best restaurants in Elmhurst. My husband and his friends are thin-crust connoisseurs who love to check out pizza joints and compare. Pazzi is among their all-time favorites, even when pitted again east-coast and NYC eateries. I enjoy Pazzi's Tonno (tuna) salad with their very delish house dressing on the side. The kids always thoroughly enjoy the spaghetti with meatballs. The husband and kids go crazy for the prosciutto appetizer which includes "real" imported prosciutto and parmesan, not that domestic stuff! The service is always attentive, though sometimes not as speedy as we'd like. Takeout pizza is very good, too, though the thin crust pizza is not an option for takeout.
(4)Stefman X.
Food was good. But watch your credit card statement carefully! My bill came to $75 and I gave a $15 tip, which makes $90 total. When I got my credit card statement it was suddenly $95. I hate when waiters add in an extra tip for themselves.
(2)Diana C.
Pazzi di Nada! Went Here For The 1st Time with A Couple Of Girlfriends and Not Impressed, Especially after all the Talk Of A New Place to Go To In Elmhurst. We Ordered The Fried calamari, That was Good. We All Shared The Oven Brick Pizza With Mozzerella and Basil. Where was The Basil??? Probably Still At Caputo's. We also Split The Penne Arribiatta. In The Past at Other Italian Restaurants its Suppose To Be Spicy. Not Spicy at All!!! Service Was A Liitle Slow And Kept Having To Ask For Our Waiter. We All Felt Like We were Being Undressed With Gaulking Eyes From The Male Staff. a Little Uncomfortable And Made You Not Want To Get Up and Use The Bathroom. Waited 20 minutes For Our Bill. Will Not Be Coming Back To This Place! There are Plenty Of other Italian Pizza Places around. SORRY CHARLIE!!!
(1)janice m.
Last night we visited here with friends from out of town. There were seven of us and we were worried there would be a long wait as we decided to eat around 7. (Duh, what were we thinking) Much to our surprise the hostess was able to put together a table for us in a matter of minutes, despite the crowd that was there. That alone got them a star. We started off the meal with calamari and rice balls. Both were really good, not overly salty which I appreciate a lot. For our main course three friends ordered off the pasta and specials menu and three ordered off the pizza. The pasta dishes were well prepared and very tasty, the portions being very plentiful. The pizza was definitely thin crust, but it was Roman style not Neapolitan, and that might be why people were disappointed by the crust. I enjoyed my buffalina very much and wouldn't hesitate to come back for more. Our server, Alex, was wonderful. She kept our drinks filled, the table clean, and was friendly and sweet. All in all a good time for our friends and for me.
(4)