Roots Handmade Pizza
Lincoln Square, Chicago
Restaurant in Chicago, United States
Book with PearlThe Read
Price
$20–30per person
Dress
Casual
Why go
Roots Handmade Pizza is a practical Chicago choice for casual group meals, relaxed dates, and easy weekend plans. Book it when shared pizza and low effort matter more than a formal dining room or a wine-led occasion; compare Nettare or Homestead On The Roof if drinks depth or atmosphere is the priority.
About Roots Handmade Pizza
Roots Handmade Pizza in Chicago has a casual dress code and posted service from 11 AM to 9 PM Wednesday through Sunday, with Monday and Tuesday closed. For menu details, service format, pricing, reservations, or beverage options, check directly with the venue before you go.
Choose it for a casual plan, not a formal night out
Roots Handmade Pizza is a strong fit for an informal outing. It is listed as casual, and its posted hours run from late morning through evening on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That makes it a direct Chicago option to consider when the priority is ease rather than a highly formal setting.
For a specific drinks program, special menu format, or defined service style, confirm current details directly before committing. If those details matter, compare your plans with another option such as Nettare or Homestead On The Roof.
How to use it in a Chicago night out
Use Roots Handmade Pizza as a casual Chicago anchor when its Wednesday–Sunday hours and relaxed dress code match the occasion. Avoid making assumptions about business-dining suitability, menu specifics, pricing, or reservation difficulty. For broader planning, compare it against Our full Chicago restaurants guide, then branch out to Our full Chicago bars guide if the night needs another stop afterward.
For other ideas, compare practical fit against Black Dog Gelato, Homestead On The Roof, Lao Peng You, Nettare, and Soule To Soule, then confirm current hours and details directly with any venue before you go.
Planning details
- Location
- 1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
- Reservations
- Book on the venue's website
- Website
- rootspizza.com
- Phone
- +17736454949
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Roots Handmade Pizza presents a neighborhood-first take on Chicago pizza, grounded in tavern-style tradition rather than tourist spectacle. The description emphasizes craft, 'handmade', and a working-residential stretch of Chicago Avenue that attracts locals more than out-of-towners. That local loyalty shapes the room: expect an unpretentious, approachable environment where consistent execution and neighborhood repeat business matter more than concept-driven theater. The editorial tone highlights Roots as a built-for-residents pizza spot, quietly sustaining Chicago’s broader pizza culture off the beaten path.
Best For
Roots is best for low-key evenings when you want solid, neighborhood pizza without the downtown tourist crowd. The tavern-style, handmade approach makes it a go-to for casual get-togethers, family dinners, and groups who value straightforward, reliably executed pies. Because the restaurant is framed as a local anchor in West Town, it suits repeat visits and informal nights out rather than formal celebrations or destination dining. If you’re looking to experience Chicago pizza as locals do, Roots fits that bill.
Ordering Tips
Order with a focus on the kitchen’s signatures and craft-forward pies. The menu highlights standout options such as Chris Davies' short rib pizza as a steadfast choice, alongside named dishes like Bangers & Lace and the Antique Taco: good bets for first visits. Prioritize the handmade pies that underscore the restaurant’s craft claim rather than seeking novelty or spectacle. Given the neighborhood orientation, stick to familiar, shareable pizzas meant for communal, casual dining.
Venue details
Ambiance
Comfortable and casual atmosphere with an observation window to the pizza kitchen, friendly service, and a great beer selection.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Sourcing
Accessibility
At the Table
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Noise Level
- Conversational
- Service Style
- Casual
- Meal Pacing
- Standard
- Capacity
- Medium
- Kitchen
- Comfort cooking
- Menu Format
- A la carte
- Drinks Focus
- Beer program
- Dietary
- Vegetarian friendly, Vegan options, Gluten-free options
- Private Dining
- Available
- Outdoor Seating
- Yes
Signature Dishes
- Chris Davies' steadfast short rib pizza
- Bangers & Lace
- Antique Taco
Know before you go
Know Before You Go
- Getting there
- 1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
Planning details
Location
1924 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 · Directions
Also consider
Where to go if this does not fit
Choose Nettare if wine or cocktails are central to the night. Choose Homestead On The Roof if the occasion needs more atmosphere than a casual pizza meal.
Restaurant context
How Roots Handmade Pizza compares in Chicago
Pick Roots Handmade Pizza when ease is the main requirement. Against Homestead On The Roof, it reads as the more casual, lower-pressure choice; Homestead is the better fit when setting and occasion energy matter more than speed or simplicity.
For a drinks-leaning meal, compare against Nettare first. Roots Handmade Pizza is the safer pick for groups who want shared food without much planning, while Nettare is the stronger cross-shop when the beverage side is part of the reason for going out.
Lao Peng You and Soule To Soule are better alternatives when the group wants a more cuisine-specific meal rather than pizza as the center of the table. Black Dog Gelato works better as an after-dinner add-on than a substitute for a full meal.
Explore Chicago
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Roots Handmade Pizza guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Roots Handmade Pizza
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Roots Handmade Pizza | Chicago | No published awards |
| Homestead On The Roof | Chicago | No published awards |
| Soule To Soule | Chicago | No published awards |
| Nettare | Chicago | No published awards |
| Lao Peng You | Chicago | No published awards |
| Black Dog Gelato | Chicago | No published awards |
How Roots Handmade Pizza Chicago compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I wear to Roots Handmade Pizza?
Casual clothes are appropriate here. Roots Handmade Pizza has a casual dress code, with posted hours from 11 AM to 9 PM Wednesday through Sunday.
Can Roots Handmade Pizza accommodate groups?
For group plans, contact Roots Handmade Pizza directly to confirm current seating, reservations, and any other practical details.
Is Roots Handmade Pizza good for a special occasion?
It is best framed as a casual Chicago option because of its casual dress code. For a formal special occasion, confirm service style, reservations, and current offerings directly before deciding.
Does Roots Handmade Pizza handle dietary restrictions?
Ask the restaurant directly before going if allergies or dietary needs are a concern.
What are alternatives to compare with Roots Handmade Pizza?
Other options to compare include Black Dog Gelato, Homestead On The Roof, Lao Peng You, Nettare, and Soule To Soule. Choose based on the kind of outing you want, then confirm current hours and details directly.
Is lunch or dinner better at Roots Handmade Pizza?
Roots Handmade Pizza is posted as open from 11 AM to 9 PM Wednesday through Sunday and closed Monday and Tuesday. Check with the restaurant if the timing or menu matters.
