How Alex’s Washington Gardens Evolved to WG Pizzas | Eater Chicago

"Established in 1932 by the Scornavacco family and operating in its current Highwood iteration since 1982, this long-running pizzeria has built a loyal North Shore following for no-frills, family-style dining; a Highwood Historical Society newsletter even claims it’s the oldest pizzeria in Lake County. Weekend visits still draw crowds of all ages to the roughly 65-seat dining room, and the pies are described as old-school with a bit more puff — “plenty thin, but not razor-thin” — distinguishing them from the new wave of tavern-style pizzas (a family that includes Crust Fund Pizza, Bungalow by Middle Brow, Kim’s Uncle Pizza, and Pizz’Amici, which cure rolled-out dough for exceptionally thin crusts). The sauce is a Scornavacco recipe — “a little sweet, but not as much as South Side spots like Beggar’s Pizza” — and the shop uses old-school pepperoni that “doesn’t invert and crisp up in the oven,” a welcome change amid the pepperoni-cup trend popularized by Ezzo Sausage in Columbus, Ohio. Menu highlights mentioned on any given weekend include sausage and giardiniera and a Black and White pizza topped with a balsamic drizzle and Parmesan cheese." - Ashok Selvam