Chicago Tavern-Style Pizza

Famous Pizza

Tavern-style pizza originates from the Home Run Inn Tavern founded in Chicago back in 1923 by Mary and Vincent Grittani!

In the early 1940s, Mary and her son-in-law, Nick Perrino, had the brilliant idea to place complimentary crispy thin-crust pizza, cut into squares and served on napkins, on the bar as a snack to go with a cold drink. Customers soon started asking for pizza more than drinks! The family’s original recipe from Bari, Italy of hand-pinched crispy crust, zesty sauce and plentiful cheese soon became a hit. Thus, Home Run Inn began selling the pizza, and the famous tavern-style recipe took off.

Tavern-Style Pizza

Tavern-style pizza is characterized by its crispy thin crust and square slices, setting it apart from traditional pie cuts. The name “tavern-style” comes from the pizzas originally served in taverns, designed to make customers thirsty. Bartenders would cut the pizza into small square pieces and serve it on paper napkins. This clever approach encouraged guests to snack for free while enjoying a cold drink.