Chicago Pan Pizza From A Pop Up Turned Brick & Mortar

When you visit Chicago and think about getting some pizza, the first thing that probably comes to mind is deep dish. There is another popular type of pizza in Chicago known as “tavern style” which is essentially a thin crust bar pie that is traditionally cut into a grid of small squares.

But there are other lesser known styles of pizza that are affiliated with the Chicago region too — including pan pies — and during I recent trip there I went to check out a place which has been generating a lot of buzz since opening in 2020: Milly’s Pizza In The Pan (1005 W Argyle Street).

What’s Unique? Milly’s is located in Chicago’s Uptown area which Chicago Magazine deemed the city’s “fastest-changing neighborhood.” Truth be told, I hadn’t spent much time in that part of town on prior Chicago trips, but you can see the signs of rapid gentrification around nearly every corner. The shop operates primarily as a take-out spot (more on that below), but there are a few tables where you can enjoy food on premises. The pizza-themed decorations are fun to look at and include cans of tomatoes on skateboards and photos that pay homage to some of New York’s most famous pizzerias.

What To Eat? There are usually 6-8 pies on the menu at Milly’s and some of them have fun names like the Craigslist.org (peppadew peppers, sausage, mushrooms, red onions, tomatoes, spinach & ricotta cheese) which we ordered sans sausage and the Untitled #1 (pepperoni, jalapeño, mozzarella, oregano & tomatoes) which we ordered sans pepperoni and jalapeños/tomatoes on only half. Granted this may have impacted our experience, but the Craigslist.org was definitely the winner of the two. Milly’s serves pies in two sizes — 10 inch and 14 inch. These are filling pies and a 10 inch is enough for two people, while a party of four could handle a 14 inch. The crust is about half as thick as a deep dish pie and is accordingly about half as filling (per my very precise stomach calculations).

What To Know Before You Go? Currently, Milly’s operates on a pre-order system where you have to reserve your pie ahead of time and pre-pay online. These pies are not hard to come by, you just need to plan 1-2 days ahead. Even if you go online in the morning day-of, there will likely be availability for later that evening. Milly’s also offers an option for delivery and those slots seem to fill up faster. Because Milly’s is primarily a take-out spot, if you’re planning to enjoy your pie in-house, you’ll have to ask for utensils, plates, and even water.

A pro move: if the weather is nice, walk 10 minutes east and enjoy your pie along the waterfront over looking Lake Michigan.

Chicago Pan Pizza From A Pop Up Turned Brick & Mortar

When you visit Chicago and think about getting some pizza, the first thing that probably comes to mind is deep dish. There is another popular type of pizza in Chicago known as “tavern style” which is essentially a thin crust bar pie that is traditionally cut into a grid of small squares. But there are …