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Coalfire Pizza on Grand

Coalfire Pizza on Grand
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  • Post #331 - July 14th, 2009, 10:56 pm
    Post #331 - July 14th, 2009, 10:56 pm Post #331 - July 14th, 2009, 10:56 pm
    I think they buy their sausage from bari foods on Grand, but I'm not sure if it's normal or just an emergency. But I saw the Coalfire owner in Bari once buying sausage.
  • Post #332 - July 15th, 2009, 8:55 am
    Post #332 - July 15th, 2009, 8:55 am Post #332 - July 15th, 2009, 8:55 am
    They do buy the sausage from Bari, unfortunately, no more hot sausage. I was there last week, and I had the meat pizza. Way too much meat I hate to say. The pepperoni made it oily. I think my next order will be the margherita with hot salami. That way I get the basil and spicy of the meat. There were three other couples when we were there, and each couple ordered two pizzas. It just has to be that way, because you have to take some home.
  • Post #333 - August 12th, 2009, 1:42 pm
    Post #333 - August 12th, 2009, 1:42 pm Post #333 - August 12th, 2009, 1:42 pm
    Forgot to mention my last visit to Coalfire last Thursday. One of my friends and I shared a margherita and a sausage, as I had my first time here. I wanted to make sure my first visit wasn't a fluke. The margherita was excellent, but the sausage was off the charts. Spicy, oily, tons of flavor, I couldn't get enough. This place is definitely one of my favorite pizzerias ever. My other friend had the White Pizza, and he was equally impressed.
  • Post #334 - August 14th, 2009, 11:14 pm
    Post #334 - August 14th, 2009, 11:14 pm Post #334 - August 14th, 2009, 11:14 pm
    Coalfire did a great job for us tonight on a takeout order - friendly phone service, pizzas piping hot at the requested pickup time even amid a very packed house, tomatoes in the caprese actually good this time, and thoughtful packaging. Fresh basil was included in a miniature cup for the margherita and white pizzas, and two generous containers of extra sauce were included for the calzone (still the steal of the menu, 2x pizza weight for .7 the cost). We opted for a meat version of the latter, which this time included very thick roughcut pieces in goodly amounts and was extremely tasty. I was most impressed on how gracious and calm the busy counter was compared to visits early on in their career. A solid, even improved GNR in my book.
  • Post #335 - September 11th, 2009, 7:20 am
    Post #335 - September 11th, 2009, 7:20 am Post #335 - September 11th, 2009, 7:20 am
    Had two absolutely perfect pizzas at Coalfire last night. The first, recommended by our server, was the pesto pizza with fresh tomatoes subbed for olives. It was absolutely delicious and we had to restrain ourselves from finishing it so we could have some room for the sausage pizza. We were glad we did. I think Coalfire serves the best sausage pizza I've ever eaten. Perfect char on the crust.
    Service was warm and attentive and we had no trouble getting a table at about 6:15. We also like the Menobrea Amber a lot (an Italian beer that was new to me).
  • Post #336 - October 24th, 2009, 10:14 am
    Post #336 - October 24th, 2009, 10:14 am Post #336 - October 24th, 2009, 10:14 am
    Thinking of going to Coalfire tonight around 5:30. Can anyone give me an estimated wait time around then?

    Also curious about the Spacca love/comparisons. I went to Spacca once (maybe about 2 years ago) and it just didn't do it for me. They were new at the time (I believe) but I remember not having much sauce. A good, flavorful sauce is a crucial component of a fantastic pizza IMHO. Anyways, I'm still searching for a to-die-for thin crust pizza here in Chicago since I haven't found it yet.

    Nick and Vitos looks amazing from the pictures but I'm not familiar with that area. Anyways, I'm in Lincoln square and searching for the ultimate thin crust. If anyone can offer anything else, please do.
  • Post #337 - October 24th, 2009, 10:57 am
    Post #337 - October 24th, 2009, 10:57 am Post #337 - October 24th, 2009, 10:57 am
    There's not likely to be any wait tonight at 5:30.
    Ed Fisher
    my chicago food photos

    RIP LTH.
  • Post #338 - October 24th, 2009, 11:25 am
    Post #338 - October 24th, 2009, 11:25 am Post #338 - October 24th, 2009, 11:25 am
    I've only been to Nick and Vito's twice- both were disappointments besides which, quite a haul. Coalfire on the other hand has never been anything but excellent.
    "In pursuit of joys untasted"
    from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata
  • Post #339 - October 24th, 2009, 12:00 pm
    Post #339 - October 24th, 2009, 12:00 pm Post #339 - October 24th, 2009, 12:00 pm
    Thanks people! Coalfire it is - will report back on my experience.
  • Post #340 - October 24th, 2009, 1:01 pm
    Post #340 - October 24th, 2009, 1:01 pm Post #340 - October 24th, 2009, 1:01 pm
    Rhythmdoctor wrote:Thinking of going to Coalfire tonight around 5:30. Can anyone give me an estimated wait time around then?

    Also curious about the Spacca love/comparisons. I went to Spacca once (maybe about 2 years ago) and it just didn't do it for me. They were new at the time (I believe) but I remember not having much sauce. A good, flavorful sauce is a crucial component of a fantastic pizza IMHO. Anyways, I'm still searching for a to-die-for thin crust pizza here in Chicago since I haven't found it yet.

    Nick and Vitos looks amazing from the pictures but I'm not familiar with that area. Anyways, I'm in Lincoln square and searching for the ultimate thin crust. If anyone can offer anything else, please do.



    Have you been to the GNR Marie's Pizza? It's not that far west from you. Lawrence & Pulaski. Plenty of sauce on the pizza & a lovely crust. They have great salads as well (get a salad, with or without the anchovies). If you like meat, the folks at my table were in heaven over a delicious-smelling bacon and mushroom pizza. My husband complained the next morning because he had added 3 lb's to his boyish frame. I don't know what it is but I've been thinking about that pizza all week.

    Enjoy,
    Ava-"If you get down and out, just get in the kitchen and bake a cake."- Jean Strickland

    Horto In Urbs- Falling in love with Urban Vegetable Gardening
  • Post #341 - October 24th, 2009, 6:24 pm
    Post #341 - October 24th, 2009, 6:24 pm Post #341 - October 24th, 2009, 6:24 pm
    Coalfire and Marie's are two of my favorite pizzas, and I guess you'd call Coalfire thin, but I don't (I call it Neapolitan). Thin pizza to me is really thin tavern style cut in squares like Marie's.

    Hope you enjoyed Coalfire tonight and try the sausage pizza! :)
  • Post #342 - October 24th, 2009, 9:07 pm
    Post #342 - October 24th, 2009, 9:07 pm Post #342 - October 24th, 2009, 9:07 pm
    The wife and I went to Coalfire as I stated earlier and it was very, very tasty. The middle was pretty soggy so I asked them if they could throw it back on for a few. The owner said he would make me a new one and that's the style - I said not to worry about it, that it tasted terrific. Well, to my surprise, he brought me a new pizza just as we were finishing our first one. I was stuffed but forced down another piece - the 2nd one was perfectly cooked but both were terrific. As good as it was (and I'll go back) I still think there's a better thin crust out there, but that was probably the best thin crust I've had to date in Chicago. Here are some pics of my sausage Za:
    Image
    Without flash

    Image
    With flash
  • Post #343 - October 24th, 2009, 10:25 pm
    Post #343 - October 24th, 2009, 10:25 pm Post #343 - October 24th, 2009, 10:25 pm
    Forgot to mention that I usually order them well done for the same reason you mention, just my preference.
    "In pursuit of joys untasted"
    from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata
  • Post #344 - October 24th, 2009, 11:24 pm
    Post #344 - October 24th, 2009, 11:24 pm Post #344 - October 24th, 2009, 11:24 pm
    Rhythmdoctor wrote:Here are some pics of my sausage Za:

    LMAO! :lol:

    I cannot believe you called it a "Za" but I absolutely love you for it. :D

    Coalfire = good stuff :)

    =R=
    Same planet, different world
  • Post #345 - July 17th, 2010, 6:34 pm
    Post #345 - July 17th, 2010, 6:34 pm Post #345 - July 17th, 2010, 6:34 pm
    had a great late lunch today at coalfire pizza 8)
    types shared today are
    white,napoli,fiorentino,& a sausage with red onion,
    caprese salad's .
    great stuff all around & already planning a trip back :mrgreen:

    COALFIRE PIZZA
    1321 w grand ave
    chicago,il.
    312-226-2625
    coalfirechicago.com
    philw bbq cbj for kcbs &M.I.M. carolina pit masters
  • Post #346 - July 17th, 2010, 9:07 pm
    Post #346 - July 17th, 2010, 9:07 pm Post #346 - July 17th, 2010, 9:07 pm
    philw wrote:had a great late lunch today at coalfire pizza 8)
    Eight of us went after Culinary Historians, four pizza and good to very good caprese. First three pizzas were tasty, waited a while and decided to order a 4th. Last pizza verging on perfect, simple sausage and onion, but something about the way the red onions caramelized into sweet little flavor bombs playing off against the fennel(y) sausage was moving.

    Enjoy,
    Gary
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #347 - July 19th, 2010, 8:23 pm
    Post #347 - July 19th, 2010, 8:23 pm Post #347 - July 19th, 2010, 8:23 pm
    Went to Coalfire yesterday for the first time with Mrs. Trpt, ordered the caprese salad and a Margharita pizza. Really good on both counts, the mozzarella and tomato in the caprese were fresh and succulent, the olive oil tasty. The pizza was really good, not quite Neapolitan, not quite New York, but a nice charred crust that didn't mush in the middle like Spacca Napoli. Attractive little space. The only thing that bothered me was that looking at the crowd I realized we were the oldest people there. How did everyone get so young all of a sudden?
    trpt2345
  • Post #348 - July 20th, 2010, 10:22 am
    Post #348 - July 20th, 2010, 10:22 am Post #348 - July 20th, 2010, 10:22 am
    Hi,

    I very much enjoyed my first visit to Coalfire on Saturday. One of the reasons I never went, I always assumed it was crowded. It may be true on other times, though on Saturday afternoon it was easy seating.

    I had dinner with Josephine later that day. When I brought up Coalfire, she had exactly the same thought, "I never go because it is so crowded."

    I need to readjust my thinking, which I suspect I may not be alone on having the same perceptions of endlessly crowded.

    Regards,
    Cathy2

    "You'll be remembered long after you're dead if you make good gravy, mashed potatoes and biscuits." -- Nathalie Dupree
    Facebook, Twitter, Greater Midwest Foodways,
  • Post #349 - July 20th, 2010, 11:00 am
    Post #349 - July 20th, 2010, 11:00 am Post #349 - July 20th, 2010, 11:00 am
    We always go on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and find it pretty empty.
  • Post #350 - July 24th, 2010, 8:04 pm
    Post #350 - July 24th, 2010, 8:04 pm Post #350 - July 24th, 2010, 8:04 pm
    made it back tonight & had a cheese(pizza) for little antoinette
    antoinette & i had the caprese salad & sausage & red onion pie
    with fresh motz.,well done .
    outstanding stuff 8)
    also had a little cup cake cookie thing for a lite dessert

    got there at 7pm had a 1/2 hr wait
    philw bbq cbj for kcbs &M.I.M. carolina pit masters
  • Post #351 - July 25th, 2010, 7:44 am
    Post #351 - July 25th, 2010, 7:44 am Post #351 - July 25th, 2010, 7:44 am
    Went last Sun around 530 also expecting it to be crowded. Was seated in about minute. Had a pretty good white and a fantastic Fiorentina with intensely spicy salami. Great service too. Owner brought us the wrong salad and then threw in the extra too, which was nice. By the time we left around 645 the place was so packed with people waiting for a table we could hardly get out of the door.
  • Post #352 - August 7th, 2010, 3:51 pm
    Post #352 - August 7th, 2010, 3:51 pm Post #352 - August 7th, 2010, 3:51 pm
    Pizza for lunch today from Coalfire. Excellent per usual. Not much else to say besides that.

    White Pizza
    Image

    Sausage pizza
    Image
    Image
    Image
  • Post #353 - December 21st, 2010, 8:10 am
    Post #353 - December 21st, 2010, 8:10 am Post #353 - December 21st, 2010, 8:10 am
    Ran into Jay, co owner of Coalfire, and he mentioned Coalfire is now open for lunch everyday but Monday.

    Hours of operation:
    TUES - THURS: 12pm - 10pm
    FRIDAY & SATURDAY: 12pm - 11pm
    SUNDAY: 12pm - 10pm
    CLOSED MONDAY
    Hold my beer . . .

    Low & Slow
  • Post #354 - April 24th, 2011, 7:34 pm
    Post #354 - April 24th, 2011, 7:34 pm Post #354 - April 24th, 2011, 7:34 pm
    Excellent dinner tonight at Coalfire Pizza! The clear favorite was the sausage pizza. I liked the flavor and texture of the sausage a lot, and the tomato sauce was really nice (refreshing, light, juicy tasting). The Fiorentino pizza (hot salami and roasted red bell peppers) was good, but I thought there was a little too much of the roasted bell peppers, which made the pizza somewhat watery/soggy. Of course, we really enjoyed the crust with its char/blistering. If Slyce and Coalfire were the same distance from me, I would probable choose Slyce. I don't have a strong preference for one restaurant's crust over the other, but I like the combination of toppings at Slyce (e.g. cream, prosciutto, garlic; fennel sausage, caramelized onions, cream, garlic; etc). I definitely plan on going back to Coalfire for that awesome sausage pizza though. I would also like to try their calzones to compare with La Madia's.

    Image
    Sausage pizza.

    Image
    White pizza.

    Image
    Fiorentino pizza.
  • Post #355 - April 25th, 2011, 8:29 am
    Post #355 - April 25th, 2011, 8:29 am Post #355 - April 25th, 2011, 8:29 am
    My favorite bread like substance in Chicago are Coalfire's pizza bones (crust) dipped in olive oil. Ask for some a sm glass. Dip, eat, marvel.
    "In pursuit of joys untasted"
    from Giuseppe Verdi's La Traviata
  • Post #356 - April 25th, 2011, 8:34 am
    Post #356 - April 25th, 2011, 8:34 am Post #356 - April 25th, 2011, 8:34 am
    We ate at Coalfire a lot this season before Bulls games and it really has become one of my favorite places in the city, and not just for pizza.

    The pizza is obviously fantastic, but the people who work here could not be nicer. When we're there, usually around 6pm or so, Coalfire is a classic neighborhood restaurant. Families coming in with young kids, dad walking in and having a young toddler run up and give him a hug...it verges on Norman Rockwell at times. I just get a warm, friendly feeling whenever I'm there. That being said, I hope people continue to visit. It's rarely crowded (granted I'm generally there early and during the week) and a few times it's been virtually empty. If Coalfire has fallen off your radar, I suggest you give them another shot.
    -Josh

    I've started blogging about the Stuff I Eat
  • Post #357 - April 25th, 2011, 9:27 am
    Post #357 - April 25th, 2011, 9:27 am Post #357 - April 25th, 2011, 9:27 am
    jesteinf wrote:We ate at Coalfire a lot this season before Bulls games and it really has become one of my favorite places in the city, and not just for pizza.

    The pizza is obviously fantastic, but the people who work here could not be nicer. When we're there, usually around 6pm or so, Coalfire is a classic neighborhood restaurant. Families coming in with young kids, dad walking in and having a young toddler run up and give him a hug...it verges on Norman Rockwell at times. I just get a warm, friendly feeling whenever I'm there. That being said, I hope people continue to visit. It's rarely crowded (granted I'm generally there early and during the week) and a few times it's been virtually empty. If Coalfire has fallen off your radar, I suggest you give them another shot.

    Totally agree. Coalfire is our neighborhood pizza place and I order it any chance I get. The owners know me by name and are always super friendly. One of my favorite pizzas in the city is their well-done white pizza, but any of the others are fine choices. I've heard rumors that they've been a little empty recently, and I would hate to lose a gem like this.
  • Post #358 - April 25th, 2011, 9:54 am
    Post #358 - April 25th, 2011, 9:54 am Post #358 - April 25th, 2011, 9:54 am
    I wish Coalfire was closer to where I live, I would definitely go there more often. The sausage pizza is one of my absolute favorite pizzas anywhere.

    This is in direct contrast to my overall take on the neapolitan pizza thing, which is - I think this stuff doesn't compare to Chicago deep dish or Midwest style thin crust pizzerias. Most of the pizzas are bland, and expensive. Sure, they seem to be of a high quality with very fresh tasting ingredients, nice dough, but the overall pizzas don't taste that great. Fresh mozzarella on a pizza is not a big deal, if anything, it detracts from a pizza with it's bland taste and it's water content. Give me low-moisture, whole milk mozzarella. I recently had Slyce (Wauconda), and Spacca Napoli. They were both pretty good, but nothing more. I would never go out of my way for them. I'm going to try Stop 50 in Michiana Shores next month and I'm expecting the same thing. I will try Great Lake as well, since it's the most touted of all - though I have a feeling it's not trying to be authentic pizza from Naples (which is a good thing to me). I guess I am used to pizzas with a lot more fat and salt! :oops: 8)
  • Post #359 - April 26th, 2011, 4:34 pm
    Post #359 - April 26th, 2011, 4:34 pm Post #359 - April 26th, 2011, 4:34 pm
    After seeing this thread and the lunch hours we made a visit. Two pies: white pipzza and the fiorentino. Both cooked perfectly. Was wishing for a bit more garlic on the whole, but overall very satisfied with both.

    Such a great spot. Sometimes I think they would kill it on a bit more crowded street like Division.
  • Post #360 - July 25th, 2011, 5:32 am
    Post #360 - July 25th, 2011, 5:32 am Post #360 - July 25th, 2011, 5:32 am
    took my son from kzoo and some of his friends,
    had great salads, and 5 pies that where outstanding :mrgreen:
    philw bbq cbj for kcbs &M.I.M. carolina pit masters

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