Yelp ranks Jacksonville restaurant in Top 25 for Chicago-style pizza
If you're looking for great Chicago-style pizza, you don't have to go far: a Jacksonville restaurant has some of the best in the United States and Canada, Yelp says.
According to the online source of crowd-sourced restaurant reviews, Carmines Pie House ranks No. 2 in its recently released Top 25 Spots for Chicago-style Pizza.
Second only to Monterey, Calif.'s Heirloom Pizza, the restaurant at 2677 Forbes St. in historic Riverside is the only Florida pizzeria making the list.
Yelp said the Top 25 pizzerias were businesses identified in the pizza category "with a large concentration of reviews mentioning 'Chicago style pizza,' 'Chicago-style pizza,' and 'deep dish pizza'. They then were ranked "using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews," Yelp said of the selection process.
Since its opening in 2011, Carmines has earned a reputation for its Chicago-style and New York-style pizzas, as well as other menu items, including classic Italian pasta, sub sandwiches and paninis, calzone, stromboli, salads, wings and more.
"The Chicago-style pizza is very, very popular. … We sell about 600 to 700 pies a week," Mujo, restaurant owner and general manager, told the Times-Union.
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What makes Chicago-style pizza so special?
Baked in a pan, Chicago-style pizzas have a thick crust layered (in this order) with cheese, meat and/or veggies, and finally, the sauce.
"Chicago-style pizza is hard to make. You've got to have the right amount of dough, the right amount of toppings, the right amount of cooking, all combined together," Mujo said.
He also said high-quality ingredients along with experienced cooks are key: if everything isn't done right, the pizza will fail.
Patience also is a key ingredient. Chicago-style pizzas take about 25-30 minutes to bake.
Carmines offers 10-inch Chicago-style pies that serve two or three people. The base price for a stuffed cheese crust pie is $18.67. Meat toppings are $2.97 each while fruit and vegetable toppings are $2.77 each and gourmet toppings are $3.97 apiece, the menu shows.
Carmines Chicago-style specialty pizzas
It's a Train Wreck Baby ($26.27): Ham, beef, pepperoni, bacon, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms, garlic, spinach, onions, green peppers, pineapple and mozzarella cheese
Purple Haze ($26.17): Eggplant, fresh mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, garlic, sausage, traditional Italian pizza sauce and ricotta cheese
The Zinger ($24.87): A basil pesto base with artichoke hearts, green olives, pineapple, goat cheese, feta cheese with fresh basil and banana peppers
The Frenchy ($25.47): French fries, Philly steak, bacon, mushrooms, fresh garlic, cheddar and mozzarella cheeses
Carmines is open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, its website shows.
Teresa Stepzinski is the dining reporter for the Times-Union. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @TeresaStepz or reach her via email at [email protected].
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Carmines Pie House in Jacksonville among tops for Chicago-style pizza
