ZipPicks Awards
Best Italian in Rogers Park
Master Critic Review
Nueva Italy Pizzeria
7.9
A Rogers Park pizzeria with a loyal following for its crisp-edged tavern pies and sauce-forward balance that plays well with classic and offbeat toppings. Order their thin crust when you want snap and structure, then go deep dish only if you’re committing to a heavier, slower meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Butter-crust thin pizza, Sausage-and-pepperoni tavern pie, Gyro meat pizza
Scores:
Value: 8
Service: 7.6
Consistency: 7.8
Food Quality: 8.1
Atmosphere: 6.2
Cultural Relevance: 7.4
What makes it special: A neighborhood pizza shop known for crisp tavern pies and bold toppings.
Who should go: Rogers Park locals chasing reliable delivery pizza
When to visit: Weeknights for easiest ordering and pacing
What to order: Butter-crust thin pizza, sausage pie, gyro meat pizza
Insider tip: If you like heat, add giardiniera to a classic topping combo.
Logistics & Planning
Parking: Street parking in the surrounding Rogers Park blocks is the norm; availability varies heavily by time. Weeknights are usually manageable with a short loop, while weekend evenings can be competitive. If you’re picking up, plan for a quick in-and-out curb stop when possible rather than hunting for the closest spot.
Dress code: Casual and comfortable—jeans, hoodies, and sneakers all fit. This is a come-as-you-are neighborhood pizzeria, not a dress-up Italian night.
Noise level: Moderate—typical pizzeria energy with phones ringing, pick-up traffic, and a steady hum. You can hold a conversation, but it’s not a quiet, romantic dining-room vibe.
Weekend wait: 25–45 min during peak hours (especially for popular thin-crust orders). If you’re dining in or picking up, ordering ahead is the move.
Weekday lunch: 0–10 min typically; faster for quick slices/pickups, slightly longer if you’re waiting on a fresh pie.
Dietary Options
Vegetarian options: Yes—easy to build a strong vegetarian pie with classic toppings (mushrooms, onions, peppers, olives). Best strategy: go thin crust so the veggie-to-crust ratio stays balanced and crisp.
Vegan options: Limited—possible to do a no-cheese veggie pizza, but it will eat more like a saucy flatbread than a classic pie. If you need a true vegan-cheese experience, you’ll likely prefer a spot that explicitly offers vegan cheese and clearer vegan defaults.
Gluten-free options: Unclear/limited—pizza shops like this often don’t guarantee gluten-free safety due to flour in the air and shared ovens. If you have celiac-level sensitivity, treat this as high cross-contact risk and choose a dedicated gluten-free kitchen or a restaurant with verified GF protocols.
Best For
Better for: Crisp-edged tavern thin crust with a sauce-forward balance that holds up under both classic and offbeat toppings. It’s a reliable ‘neighborhood favorite’ pizza play—structured slices, good snap, and strong late-night comfort value.
Consider Alternatives If: You want a quiet, sit-down Italian date-night experience, or you need clearly verified dietary accommodations (true gluten-free protocols, robust vegan options). Also skip deep dish if you’re hungry-now—it’s the slower, heavier commitment compared to their thin-crust sweet spot.