"West Of Chicago has midwestern mise en scène down to a science, with ridged ramekins pumped full of neon-orange liquid cheese, red plastic tumblers for fountain soda, and Italian beef-scented air circulating throughout the dining room. Luckily, the pizza lives up to the Chi-Town vérité that unfolds at this former pop-up’s permanent West Seattle outpost. Their deep dish has a great cornmeal chew and mozzarella that could maybe stretch around the whole planet. But you’re making a trip for the tavern pie, with its cracker-thin, earth-shattering crunch, oregano-flecked sauce, and additions like crispy-edged pepperoni cups and creamy dollops of ricotta. Though, the starters don’t play second fiddle either, from Mama Lil’s-spiked sausage dip to doughy breadsticks dusted in parmesan. Pass the pitcher of Goose Island, baby—all homesick Chicagoans are welcome here. " - aimee rizzo
