Prince Street Pizza - Review - West Loop - Chicago - The Infatuation

"The pizza at Prince Street in the West Loop is good, which is annoying for several reasons. The original Prince Street became famous in New York for its pepperoni-dotted, thick Sicilian-style slices, and then infamous when the owners stepped away from day-to-day operations after racist comments resurfaced online. At the Prince Street location in Chicago, the lines are long, the inside is chaotic, and service is a crapshoot. Sometimes the slices are revitalized in an oven, sometimes they’re handed over at room temperature. Maybe they’re packaged all neat and tidy, or simply just thrown into the box with no respect to the slices' dignity. But despite all of that, Prince Street’s round pies are tasty, and the takeout spot fills a by-the-slice void in Chicago’s most foot-trafficked neighborhood. For Chicagoans who suckle at the teats of deep dish, the NY-style pizza is what matters here. The rounds are foldable, so Midwesterners can pretend that’s how we eat it when no one is looking, and the lightly salted sauce lets the sourdough tang in the crust shine. Prince Street's heavily-topped, square-cut Sicilian pies, on the other hand, are pregnant with oil and would only be satisfying after a night of drinking. But in an area that doesn’t have other by-the-slice options, even Prince Street at its worst is a good a “Hey let's grab something before we black out at Bandit” choice. Food Rundown Original Prince Of all of the options on the menu, this straightforward cheese pie—just sauce and shredded mozzarella—most clearly showcases Prince Street’s tangy Neapolitan crust, which is the best thing about this spot. Fancy Prince Fancy means fresh mozzarella and basil on top of the original’s tomato sauce. So, it tastes like the original…with basil. Spicy Spring The spice in question comes from the diavolo sauce, which adds a nice kick. Just know that the thick square slice overflows with pepperoni and the crust is oily. Have some napkins handy. Maybe even a dermatologist. photo credit: Karisha Desai Chicago Supreme Sausage, onion, mushroom, and peppers are a time-tested combination and this iteration is no exception. A satisfying, hefty slice of pizza. The Sunset Square This reminds us of a giant breadstick in a good way. The Sicilian-style slice is topped with a sweet marinara that cuts through the richness of the oily crust and fresh mozzarella. It’s practically begging to be dipped in ranch." - Adrian Kane