Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna
Chicago
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna is celebrated for its cracker-thin, square-cut Chicago tavern-style pizzas, with favorites including spicy vodka, mushroom truffle, and sopressata served alongside hot honey bear bottles. Hidden behind a secret walk-in refrigerator door, the lively speakeasy setting pairs its pies with craft cocktails, house-made mozzarella sticks, and pasta dishes. While the thin crust consistently earns rave reviews, menu items like the vodka pasta receive somewhat mixed marks for texture and flavor.
Commenters show strong enthusiasm for the speakeasy entrance, stylish vibe, and craveable appetizers like the mozzarella sticks and crab Rangoon dip. While many locals praise the crispy thin-crust pizza varieties, some express fatigue over the widespread hot honey pizza trend. A few commenters also debate pizza authenticity, feeling the spot caters more to trendy North Side dining than classic neighborhood joints.
- Enter through the secret walk-in refrigerator door to find the speakeasy space.
- Order tavern-style thin-crust pies like the Spicy Vodka or Sopressata & Mortadella.
- Don't skip the hot honey bear bottles and signature pizza dips for crust dunking.
- Start with the house-made mozzarella sticks or crab Rangoon dip.
- Be aware that pasta dishes like the vodka radiatore receive mixed feedback on consistency.
Summaries are created based on reviews, notes, and social media posts.
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