The small Version: Piece Brewery and Pizzeria is actually a unique day place situated in Chicago’s Wicker Park community. The relaxed eatery supplies up one of many only alternatives for the town’s well-known deep-dish pizza: brand new Haven-style slim crust. Together with yummy pizza and house-brewed beer, diners can have a cushty conversation in a low-key environment. Piece is an unforgettable place, which can be probably the reason this has remained well-known for longer than 17 years.
Over more than 17 decades running a business, bit Brewery and Pizzeria in Chicago has actually hosted many first times. The majority of partners want to take the stress off that make-or-break very first conference, and bit is the kind of location that can help all of them chill out.
“a lot of people have actually informed me they had their particular first big date at part, then they got interested or hitched,” mentioned Bill Jacobs, Piece’s creator and President. “its both an excellent very first day location and an incredible day place.”
One cause the restaurant can be so favored by daters is its delicious yet unintimidating menu â controlled by thin-crust pizzas and beer brewed on-site.
Additionally, the environment is actually relaxed, but miles away from an activities bar. Part is housed in a converted garage with a skylight running the whole length of the place. The environment frequently provides novice daters with many icebreakers.
“folks like section because it’s relaxed, cool, additionally the food is inexpensive,” stated Bill. “men and women have dates here constantly, and this makes me personally pleased.”
Bill created bit as a work of really love. a local of New Haven, Connecticut, Bill immediately respected that Chicago ended up being ruled by â you thought it â deep-dish pizza pie places. Even with several years of working in the metropolis’s bistro industry, Bill could never ever find the correct kind of thin-crust pizza.
Round the exact same time, Bill met with Matt Brynildson, who worked for the Chicago-based Goose isle brewery.
“Matt contacted me and requested us to keep him planned easily ever made a decision to open up a unique cafe,” Bill said. “ultimately, we decided to set up two fantastic products: great pizza pie and fantastic alcohol.”
In 2001, Bill and Matt opened Piece with a consider in your area brewed beers and New Haven-style thin-crust pizza. The restaurant and brewery currently delighting Chicago daters, lovers, and pizza pie- and beer-lovers since that time.
An Alternative to deep-dish: brand new Haven-Style Thin Crust
Chicago is recognized as a pizza pie area, however the specific type is deepdish. This style of pie is actually wealthy, heavy, and often packed with toppings. Section doesn’t want to take on deep-dish pizzerias but, instead, offer a separate experience altogether.
“do not motivate way too many toppings on a pizza pie, unlike Chicago deep dish,” Bill said. “significantly less is far more here, and in addition we like individuals to taste whatever’re ingesting.”
Unique Haven-style pizza pie focuses on the standard of a few simple materials. Each cake is sold with Pecorino Romano, oregano, olive oil, and restricted toppings.
With this less-is-more mindset, quite a few of part’s consumers choose an easy topping, like pepperoni or sausage, for pizzas, but brand-new collaborations with well-known Chicago chefs have included some flair to part’s selection.
Like, the Hot Doug’s Atomic Pizza is just one you cannot find somewhere else you could go on a romantic date. The pizza pie is produced with pepper jack parmesan cheese, caramelized onions, and Hot Doug’s Atomic Sausage.
“Doug Sohn had this internationally known hot dog place that’s today closed, but we nevertheless use their sausage on all of our pizza pie,” Bill said.
An alternative choice for daring people could be the Honey Butter Fried Chicken Pizza, which, since name proposes, blends pizza and fried poultry. Section partnered making use of the well-known namesake deep-fried poultry bistro to create the collaboration.
“in terms of pizza pie, I’m very a part of the organization, but choices aren’t made in a vacuum,” Bill mentioned. “we talk with my personal executives every Monday, and we also open the menu to conversation.”
Brewing Up a Taplist of Award-Winning Beers
At part, the beer is just as essential given that pizza pie and brewer Jonathan Cutler has what Bill describes as “complete autonomy during the beers.” The maker, who’s 21 numerous years of experience crafting beer and trained during the Master Brewers Association of The united states, in addition continues to be current on the latest in making technology.
Part’s beer selection is modifying in line with the period and on just what piques Jonathan’s interest. Their recent concoctions feature lots of types, including an oatmeal stout known as Roland the Headless Assistant Brewer, an American pale ale called The body weight, and a Dunkelweizen called the deep ân Curvy.
That commitment to crafting fine drinks made part many award-winning brewpub in Chicago. It offers brought house 28 combined medals through the industry Beer Cup while the Great American Beer Festival. A few of its latest winning brews include the It is the error Alt, an altbier that won a 2017 gold medal, in addition to Swingin’ Single, which won a silver in 2016. In 2006, part won the Champion Small Brewpub and Brewer award at the event.
“Jonathan never ever disappoints. He’s put-out merely award-winning drinks, and he has my personal complete self-confidence,” Bill stated.
The winning combination of unusual pizza pie (for Chicago about) and accomplished preparing is actually rounded aside with good music, for an upbeat, delighted atmosphere. Bit is particularly well-liked by more youthful diners â ages 22 to 40. It is not unheard of for youthful family members to produce their own solution to section, that’s based out of a residential community. And although it seats 220 people, bit is usually jam-packed.
“We’re always seeking carry out new things that attract our very own customers. Its a fun planet,” Bill mentioned.
Bit Brewery and Pizzeria: A Comfortable and Hip Date Spot
Piece Brewery and Pizzeria has stayed a popular food destination for Chicago daters as it launched more than fifteen years back. Last year, the establishment also claimed Pizza Today Magazine’s leading private Pizza honor â a national respect.
Bill attributes the eatery’s carried on success to their pleased personnel, just who, in turn, generate content consumers. Though lots of restaurants have a problem with increased return rate for computers, chefs, and bartenders, associates usually remain at section for a long time.
“You will find workers just who exposed the cafe 17 years ago that nonetheless beside me,” Bill stated. “currently an excellent society in regards to our staff members.”
One way that Bill encourages this long-lasting respect is by supplying healthy benefits to regular employees â often a rarity when you look at the bistro company.
“section is developing. If you are available monthly or per year from today, it’s not going to function as the exact same put it is today; it will be better.” â Bill Jacobs, Piece Brewery and Pizzeria Founder and President
One other reason that section is still a well liked spot after all these years is it never rests on its laurels. Instead, it is usually trying to enhance the choices. The group has actually normal group meetings by which they discuss tweaking operations, the menu, and service to ensure Piece is always keeping current for the ever-changing cafe business.
“section is always evolving,” Bill said. “in the event that you may be found in 30 days or a-year from now, it will not end up being the same put it is today; it will be much better.”
This mindset spent some time working really your establishment since 2001, a period when Chicago only had another brewery. In those days, section’s concept ended up being novel: locally brewed alcohol and unique England-style pizza. Eventually, as additional breweries and pizzerias have actually opened inside the area, Piece has continued their strive to create clients pleased. That constant enhancement and dedication are exactly why it has remained towards the top of the package.