The Iconic Tavern-Style Pizza of Northern Illinois

Tavern-style pizza, with its crispy, thin crust and square-cut slices, is a beloved tradition in Chicago and throughout northern Illinois.

👇SCROLL DOWN FOR THE 8 BEST TAVERN-STYLE PIZZA SPOTS

This pizza is known for being shareable and perfect with a cold drink and has been a staple in local taverns for decades, making it a favorite in bars and casual dining spots across the Stateline.

A Slice of Illinois History

While deep-dish pizza often grabs the spotlight, Tavern-style pizza holds a special place in Illinois’ pizza history.

It originated in the 1930s in Chicago's South Side taverns, where owners would serve these square-cut pies as a salty snack to keep patrons ordering drinks.

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The thin crust, crackly at the edges, became a hit, and soon the style spread throughout the city and into neighboring towns and villages in northern Illinois.

Popular Pizza Styles in Illinois

Illinois is home to a variety of pizza styles, from the buttery, rich deep-dish to the stuffed pizza that layers ingredients between two crusts.

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However, Tavern-style pizza stands out for its ease of sharing and its crunchy, almost cracker-like base, making it a go-to for social gatherings.

Rockford's Tavern-Style Hotspots

In Rockford, Carlyle Brewing Co. and Buster’s are two standout spots where you can enjoy this regional favorite. Both locations offer their spin on Tavern-style pizza, serving up crispy slices packed with flavor that perfectly pair with a local brew.

Whether you’re in the heart of Chicago or looking for a good pie in Rockford, Tavern-style pizza remains a must-try for any pizza lover.

Here are some of your favorite spots in the Rockford region to get Tavern-Style Pizza:

Best Tavern-Style Pizza in Rockford Area

Best places in the Rockford region that serves Tavern-Style Pizza

Gallery Credit: Johnny Vincent

LOOK: Best Beers From Every State

To find the best beer in each state and Washington D.C., Stacker analyzed January 2020 data from BeerAdvocate, a website that gathers user scores for beer in real-time. BeerAdvocate makes its determinations by compiling consumer ratings for all 50 states and Washington D.C. and applying a weighted rank to each. The weighted rank pulls the beer toward the list's average based on the number of ratings it has and aims to allow lesser-known beers to increase in rank. Only beers with at least 10 rankings to be considered; we took it a step further to only include beers with at least 100 user rankings in our gallery. Keep reading to find out what the best beer is in each of the 50 states and Washington D.C.

Gallery Credit: Angela Underwood