60737 Tue Jun 08 12:25:10 -0700 2004 16 2 Los Angeles Area 0 321494 Hello there. Ok, I'm posting a query on behalf of my wife and her idiosyncratic pizza proclivitites :-0. We've read the recent posts here on the topic of the thick and stuffed crust Chicago-style pizza alternatives in greater Los Angeles. My wife, born and bred Chicagoan until recently moving out here, insists that there is an equally loved *alternate* Chicago-style pizza known to true afficiandos. In Chicago, the exemplar of this style is offered by the famous Aurelios pizza chain: think thin crusted with a distinctly spiced seasoned-sauce, crowned with a very crispy broiled cheese topping. In Eagle Rock, the pies at Casa Bianca sorta come close (even similarly sliced into squares). But what my wife seeks is something way way crispy-cheesier on top, with a thin but crispy-chewy bottom crust. She is convinced that there are Chicago-transplanted chowhounds in Los Angeles that know of what she speaks. If anyone else admits to this brand of madness :-) please chime in. Amen! Tue Jun 08 12:25:10 -0700 2004 0 silence9 1 321500 So close... Link: http://www.digitalcity.com/lasvegas/entertainment/venue.adp?vid=201207 Tue Jun 08 12:35:03 -0700 2004 321494 0 Joe B. 2 321505 Hi Joe B. Thank you for the prompt response. Indeed, the Aurelios parlor in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson constructs a mighty fine crispy cheesy pie, one we've tried and enjoyed. The 5 hour trip for the real deal is not so very outlandish for a freak like my wife :-). However, she will inevitably store the frozen pie in our frosty frosty freezer for up to a year, hording each slice therein until freezer burn takes it's toll. So any local stylistically similar venues would be nice, if they exist. Thanks again for the link! Tue Jun 08 12:52:52 -0700 2004 321500 0 silence9 1 321507 Well, your wife is right one..."Chicago-style" pizza is more than just the deep dish/stuffed crust stuff. The thin crisp crust cut-in-squares pizza is as much or more a trademark of Chicago pizza than the other good stuff. In addition to Aurelio's, there is Rosati's (which has locations in Phoenix BTW), Home Run Inn, Pat's, Leona's and plenty of others...even going back to Barnaby's! Here in SoCal, asking for an extra-thin or to cook it well-done sometimes helps. A couple of places here in OC (Giorgio's and Luke's) have come and gone, but I do remember a place in N Hollywood that I used to go to that did it pretty well...Little Tony's on Lankershim, just N of Universal Studios. You mentioned Casa Bianca and that is another good option. Tue Jun 08 12:56:04 -0700 2004 321494 0 RSMBob 2 321509 I forgot to mention... the 2 places I have touted for stuffed crust also do the thin crust "Chicago Style"...Chicago Pasta House in Moreno Calley and Tony's Little Italy in Placentia. I've only had the thin crust at Tony's once and it was not as good as I hoped, but another friend swears by it so I may have just gotten a bad one. Both places are well worth checking out, even if they are a bit of a ways from LA proper. Tue Jun 08 13:01:58 -0700 2004 321507 0 RSMBob 3 3825620 When do you Chicago Pasta House lovers eat at the place? I go by there occasionally at different times of the day and week on my way to or from Palm Springs and have never seen more than a couple of tables filled. The look reminds me more of Rockford than Chicago. Mon Jun 30 05:07:43 -0700 2008 321509 77350 sbritchky 4 3826673 you can try Al Gelato, they are transplanted Chicagoans, and it's definitely thin crust. Mon Jun 30 10:50:08 -0700 2008 3825620 10866 kevin 2 321518 Much appreciated, RSMBob. You certainly know your pies. My wife will enjoy being proven right, as per your informative reply. Peace (of pie!). Tue Jun 08 13:37:24 -0700 2004 321507 0 silence9 1 321508 Looks like there have been a few threads on this subject, (see link) in the past. Link: http://www.chowhound.com/cgi-htdig/htsearch?config=chowhound-search&restrict=&exclude=&words=thin+crust+chicago+pizza+los+angeles Tue Jun 08 13:00:38 -0700 2004 321494 0 WLA 2 321515 Hey now, WLA, thanks for the link to the thread! Tue Jun 08 13:30:15 -0700 2004 321508 0 silence9 1 321531 I'm not too familiar with "Chicago-style" thin crust pizza's, but as far as finding a thin crusted pie with a spiced seasoned-sauce and crispy broiled cheese topping, there is the amazingly good D'amore's Pizza Connection. It's Boston style thin crust, where they even import water from Boston to give it a truly authentic taste. They have a few locations, two in the SFV in Sherman Oaks and Canoga Park, and one in Malibu. It's the best pie I've tasted on the west coast. Tue Jun 08 14:45:05 -0700 2004 321494 0 Josh 2 321540 Sounds good, Josh. I'll give D'Amores a test drive before convincing Mrs. Silence. Thanks. Tue Jun 08 15:50:10 -0700 2004 321531 0 silence9 3 321549 My favorites are: Cheese with extra oregano (for the simplists like myself) The Bianco: spinach, roasted peppers, garlic and ricotta cheese, without tomato sauce (awesome!) Tue Jun 08 16:55:06 -0700 2004 321540 0 Josh 2 321542 BTW, D'amore's has a new location in Westwood. But some think the SGV restaurants are better. Tue Jun 08 16:12:04 -0700 2004 321531 0 Norm 2 321559 Where in Canoga Park? Tue Jun 08 19:02:21 -0700 2004 321531 0 Debbie J. 3 321717 Winnetka just south of Sherman Way. Wed Jun 09 21:20:17 -0700 2004 321559 0 markn 1 322960 My first job was at Jake's Pizza in Glenview, IL and the pizza she describes is exactly the way they made it. Delicious. I never tired of it! I'm sad to say I've never had a reasonable facimile in So Cal. Usually the crust is too thick (even if it's thin crust) and the sauce is too sweet and not spicy enough. I'll watch the posts, I hope someone knows of someplace because I miss Jake's pizza. Fri Jul 16 17:24:07 -0700 2004 321494 0 Patty