Jimmy's Pizza Cafe

Name: Jimmy's Pizza Cafe
Address: 2434 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618, Chicago, IL, 60618.0, US
Telephone: +1 773-293-6992
Price range: $
Rating: 4.5

Recommended

Italian

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About

Jimmy's Pizza Cafe — clean, consistent italian in Lincoln Square. Order the Pizza. Expect noise, energy, and a full house. "The crust is perfect and fresh, tomato sauce not super acidic and slightly sweet so very fresh" — Cinnamon-Sage

Experience Breakdown

🍴Food

5.0

👥Service

4.2

✨Ambiance

4.6

💬Sentiment

4.4

Luke Aguirre

130 reviews

Highlights

LivelyCozyOld SchoolFamily FriendlyQuick BiteFast ServiceNeighborhood Institution

Must Try

Pizza

What Diners Are Saying

Diners loved

Cozy, intimate spaceWarm, welcoming staff

Some noted

Can be pricey

Read all 1,688+ reviews on Google

Location

2434 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

What 1,688+ diners say about Jimmy's Pizza Cafe

We ordered takeaway as we are not frequent pizza eaters but decided to give this place a try. We prefer New York style pizza , and once I got past the shock of the price they charge for their pies (they are a bit steep) we decided it was worth the risk to try. We ordered the 16 inch margherita and when I tell you this is the best damn NY style we’ve ever had, I’m not lying. We ate it and said “okay I get why they charge so much now”. The crust is perfect and fresh, tomato sauce not super acidic and slightly sweet so very fresh, and overall flavor was amazing. Can’t afford it often but whenever we can and are in the mood for pizza, this is where we will go. 10/10

“Start by saying I was born and raised in Queens New York..”

Start by saying I was born and raised in Queens New York... Hands down the one of best New York style pizza in Chicago! I've been searching for this type of pizza throughout the city and finally found the closest thing to it. Pizza is crispy the texture of the dough is on point with no New York flop. At this point I’ve been here multiple times every time they’ve been consistent 100% recommend!

Hagz

Oct 2025

“I love this pizza so much that I almost moved to the neighborhood just to be close by it.”

I love this pizza so much that I almost moved to the neighborhood just to be close by it. I love pizza just about any style (except for Detroit style) and this is my favorite spot for by the slice. They have original options and new flavors as well. The chicken bacon ranch is a must try. Even their salad is delicious. NY style was never my favorite but after Jimmy's, it's #2 (tavern style is #1). My wife is from NY and she says this is the closest to NY pizza she can get around here. We love this place so much that we even did part of our Engagement photos here. Every time we are even close to Jimmy's, we make a stop. Also, if you like beer they always have amazing craft options in tap. I'm not a big beer drinker but sometimes I just order one to enjoy off the tap. If you've never been, do yourself a favor and try one of the best pizzas in the city!

Luke Aguirre

Sep 2025

“HOLY CANNOLI…ok, so I was on a Dave Portnoy kick where I just watched dozens of his One Bite review...”

HOLY CANNOLI…ok, so I was on a Dave Portnoy kick where I just watched dozens of his One Bite review reels and that’s all my algorithm was for like a week lol. Lo and behold, I was motivated to discover the “best NY pie in Chicago”. Reddit, along with many other food bloggers all kept saying Jimmy’s. Went in on a Friday (place was rockin), and got a 16” pie of just cheese and this was plenty for me, my gf, and her sister and oh my goodness….😳 when I say I was mind blown, that is a major understatement. I’ve lived in Chicago my whole life, love our tavern style and deep dish to death, but THIS…This was different. This was special. I might even argue that (I might have a CPD warrant out for my arrest after this one) but I would argue that the NY slice on a bite vs bite, pound for pound contest, edges out my beloved Chicago style. Spoken from the heart of a foodie, not a life-long Chicagoan (Chicago’s still better than NYC all day) lol. Long story short – GET DOWN TO JIMMY’S and bless your tastebuds!!

Eric Garcia

Aug 2025

“One of the best pizzas in a city known for pizza.”

One of the best pizzas in a city known for pizza. We’ve loved Jimmy’s since it was at its original location on Lincoln. The pizza was so worth squeezing into the tiny parking lot. The old location is gone but the crust is great and the toppings, from the classics to the specials, never have disappointed. The best part is that you can get a slice to satisfy that craving without getting a whole pie.

Melba CastilloJung

Jul 2025

“Highly recommend for anyone looking for NY style pizza in Chicago.”

Highly recommend for anyone looking for NY style pizza in Chicago. Staff is super helpful and kind, atmosphere is energetic and fun, and the food is amazing. Will definitely be back for more!

Jul 2025

“Just tried Jimmy's Pizza for the first time and immediately fell in love with this place.”

Just tried Jimmy's Pizza for the first time and immediately fell in love with this place. Placed an order over the phone for a 16" plain cheese pizza, a 12pc pecorino garlic wings, and a large Jimmy's house salad. Their service over the phone was friendly and the delivery was fast. The food was phenomenal. The plain cheese pie had a perfect, beautiful undercarriage, a superb crunch to the crust with just the right amount of chewy density, delicious sweet and tangy tomato sauce, and savory aromatic cheese. Absolutely wonderful pie. 8.8/10. The salad was a refreshing flavor explosion with excellent texture amplified by the vinegariette. The wings were crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, well-seasoned with garlic with just a nice bit of stank to it from the pecorino. Such a great experience. You now have a lifelong customer. Come on over and check out Jimmy's Pizza Cafe. Ya won't regret it. Cheers!

Puppers Policetti

Jul 2025

“I've been coming to Jimmy's since they had the old store on Lawrence and I'm just so glad they've...”

I've been coming to Jimmy's since they had the old store on Lawrence and I'm just so glad they've only continued to get better as time goes on. As a New York native but Chicago transplant for almost 30 years, Jimmy's takes me back to my childhood. The regular cheese is very very close to what you get at some of the best Brooklyn Pizza shops. The White Pizza is my absolute favorite ( I get it with homemade meatballs). You can't customize the individual slices, so if you want extra toppings you need to order a full pie. This is not a full service restaurant. You order and the bring you the whole pie to your table or the slices to the pick up window. There are no servers to run you drinks. Just a fountain machine. Totally acceptable. Pretty decent amount of seats and plenty of TVs to watch if you wanted to watch the game. I love this place and I try to stop in when I'm near by for a slice. You need this in your life right now. It'll make everything ok for an evening. Trust me. Order the pizza.

Darren Schwartz

Jun 2025

“Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe captures the essence of a traditional New York slice pizza in Chicago.”

Jimmy’s Pizza Cafe captures the essence of a traditional New York slice pizza in Chicago. The dough is thin enough to fold without breaking and is chewy yet crispy! They use quality ingredients and real cheese that leaves you wanting more without being too heavy or greasy. All their toppings were delicious but the table favorite was the Elotes slice. Grab a slice and thank me later. If you have time to grab a seat enjoy the beautiful interior. We got pretty lucky and got here right at open on a Monday around 5pm. I highly recommend this place to those seeking genuinely good dough, real cheese, and a touch of mid‑century pizzeria charm. I will be back!

Minty

Jun 2025

“Met up with some friends here this past Sunday and will definitely be coming back.”

Met up with some friends here this past Sunday and will definitely be coming back. Their New York slice options are some of the best I’ve seen and the porchetta one I tried was delicious. It was busy but there was still a good amount of seating and I enjoyed the lively, family-friendly atmosphere of the place. They have a decent selection of beers and several other menu items that looked really good including the big garlic knots and Buffalo wings. When I went up to grab my slice I saw an order of the wings coming out that looked perfectly crisp and piping hot. Plenty of staff were on hand to keep things moving and the long line was quick. Everyone I interacted with was really friendly too. I’ve been telling everyone I know who hasn’t already to check out Jimmy’s and I’m looking forward to stopping in more.

Erik Barragan

May 2025

“Love how you can grab different pizza slices of anything you want.”

Love how you can grab different pizza slices of anything you want! Must get the beignets!!! Also anytime we’ve been here whether to just grab and go or eat in the service has been amazing and so friendly.

Susan Kim

Apr 2025

“Honestly, this is some of the best pizza I've had in Chicago.”

Honestly, this is some of the best pizza I've had in Chicago. Certainly the best NY-style. It's a little pricey, but worth it. They also have amazing gluten-free pizza! Very cozy atmosphere, as well.