Cuisine type: pizza! Chicago style deep dish
Atmosphere: casual, modern design
Meal: dinner
Overall score: 8.4
Nina
Chicago style deep dish pizza is one of those timeless classics that’s simple in essence, but hard to get right. I find it almost poetic how well it brings the words “pizza” and “pie” together. What can be so difficult about deep dish pizza, you may ask? After all, it’s just dough with high edges, cheese and sauce (extra toppings entirely optional). Well, everything. The crust is quite unique, it has to cook through while loaded with toppings, and develop a crunchy crust on the outside while remaining moist and flaky on the inside; it has to absorb enough of the sauce to blend smoothly, but not enough to become a soggy mess and lose its texture. The cheese is not as complex (basic mozzarella is all that it takes), though it simply has to be much thicker than a regular pizza can withstand - half an inch is not uncommon, and while it may sound obscene it is exactly what needs to happen to make the experience complete. Finally, the sauce - this isn’t much different than any other pizza sauce (in fact, many places serving Chicago style pizza also make regular and thin crusts using the same sauce), but the quality and flavor matter so much more when you expect it by the cupful rather than a thin film on the bottom of each slice. Strong herbal flavors and rich, slowly cooked tomatoes are a must and the right consistency is important to hold up to the thick layering.
Now that I went to such great lengths to explain why Chicago style deep dish is so sublime, it will make my job much easier to talk about Patxi’s. After suffering a couple of bitter disappointments elsewhere in the area, we had almost resolved to saving our deep dish cravings for our next visit to Chicago, when I heard about this place. On an evening drive from SFO, it was actually not too far out of the way (and we were so hungry), so perfect excuse to stop by this spot in Palo Alto. Pro tip: chicago style pizza takes a *long* time to bake, so call ahead. Because it’s, well, deep dish, it can take almost an hour between the time you place your order and the time the pizza is ready to serve. If you’re going for a casual, fun meal with a group and are planning to order drinks and appetizers, that may not be such a big problem. However, if you’re hungry or just want to get in and out more quickly, you can call ahead and place your order and they will get it started for you. That way, we waited less than 20 minutes between the time we entered the restaurant to the time we had a hot, steamy pizza in front of us.
We ordered something a bit unorthodox for a Chicago style deep dish - mushroom and prosciutto (usually, you see them in cheese only or pepperoni for a kick). I realize now there is a good reason why the more strongly flavored protein is usually preferred, since the delicate and subtle prosciutto gets a little lost in the midst of all the rich flavors of the pie. However, getting back to our meal, I can say I am very impressed with what I was presented. The crust had just the right texture, and the flavors were rich and balanced. The layer of cheese and the layer of sauce were both a little lighter than what I have had in the Windy City, but on the other hand that made the pizza overall feel lighter and we were able to finish a small pizza between the two of us, leaving us satisfied but not hopelessly stuffed by the end.
Huge props to Patxi’s for doing justice to such an amazing Chicago staple. I will definitely be recommending them to anyone looking for a taste of the Midwest, and I will return when I miss a taste of the Chicago deep dish wonder.
Now that I went to such great lengths to explain why Chicago style deep dish is so sublime, it will make my job much easier to talk about Patxi’s. After suffering a couple of bitter disappointments elsewhere in the area, we had almost resolved to saving our deep dish cravings for our next visit to Chicago, when I heard about this place. On an evening drive from SFO, it was actually not too far out of the way (and we were so hungry), so perfect excuse to stop by this spot in Palo Alto. Pro tip: chicago style pizza takes a *long* time to bake, so call ahead. Because it’s, well, deep dish, it can take almost an hour between the time you place your order and the time the pizza is ready to serve. If you’re going for a casual, fun meal with a group and are planning to order drinks and appetizers, that may not be such a big problem. However, if you’re hungry or just want to get in and out more quickly, you can call ahead and place your order and they will get it started for you. That way, we waited less than 20 minutes between the time we entered the restaurant to the time we had a hot, steamy pizza in front of us.
We ordered something a bit unorthodox for a Chicago style deep dish - mushroom and prosciutto (usually, you see them in cheese only or pepperoni for a kick). I realize now there is a good reason why the more strongly flavored protein is usually preferred, since the delicate and subtle prosciutto gets a little lost in the midst of all the rich flavors of the pie. However, getting back to our meal, I can say I am very impressed with what I was presented. The crust had just the right texture, and the flavors were rich and balanced. The layer of cheese and the layer of sauce were both a little lighter than what I have had in the Windy City, but on the other hand that made the pizza overall feel lighter and we were able to finish a small pizza between the two of us, leaving us satisfied but not hopelessly stuffed by the end.
Huge props to Patxi’s for doing justice to such an amazing Chicago staple. I will definitely be recommending them to anyone looking for a taste of the Midwest, and I will return when I miss a taste of the Chicago deep dish wonder.
Food 9
Drinks 9
Atmosphere 8
Service 9
Value 8
Drinks 9
Atmosphere 8
Service 9
Value 8
Ben
We finally found a legitimate Chicago style pizza in the bay area. A vibrant place in downtown Palo Alto, the place is really hopping with a good mix of younger and older crowd. The food is truly authentic chicago deep-dish style, thick, gooey, and generous. My only comment is that the ownership may have been in california a little too long and forgotten about that next level of possible decadence (though I understand some might perceive the amount of cheese given at pizzerias in chicago as “obscene” rather than decadent). The food was definitely as good as could be expected outside Chicago, and at reasonable prices for the location and quality of the restaurant. The inside is well decorated with Chicago icons, and is a lively and fun place. A good drink menu of craft beers and wines rounds out the selection of pizzas and italian classics. Like any good quality pizza restaurant, it has a good range from a low-key / intimate pizza meal to a large group meal / informal business dinner place.
Food 9
Drinks 9
Atmosphere 8
Service 7
Value 7
Drinks 9
Atmosphere 8
Service 7
Value 7
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