As a Chicago transplant living in New York City, the one food question I get asked the most is, “What’s better? Chicago’s pizza or New York’s pizza?” And of course, being a fiercely loyal Chicagoan I always say, “Chicago’s pizza.”
But everything changed when I ate at Artichoke Pizza. Located on 328 East 14th St. between First and Second Avenues, this hole-in-the-wall pizza joint is creative in both décor and dish. First, there’s the Kennedy brothers painting on the wall and the leg lamp standing in the corner. Then, there’s the unique menu which includes the Artichoke Spinach pizza and the Crab pizza.
Inside Artichoke Pizza, there’s only room for a couple people to stand in line. Yes, you’re going to have to wait in line (the later you go, the longer the line). Yes, you’re going to have nowhere to sit (but you can hover around the park bench in front of Artichoke for a seat). And yes, the pizza is totally worth it, especially the Artichoke Spinach.
The Artichoke Spinach has no tomato sauce, but you don’t even remember why pizzas even need it once you bite into its hot, gooey goodness. The melted cheese and artichoke pieces are creamy and buttery, with the texture of something like Cream of Artichoke Soup, and the crust is crispy and thick, just the way it should be. For $4, you’ll usually get a huge slice about the size of your head, and this isn’t your usual thin, cardboard-like New York pizza.
Although I haven’t tried the other three pizzas (Margarita, Sicilian, and Crab), the Artichoke Spinach is definitely the star player. You’ll know this when you’re daydreaming about it weeks later. So now, whenever I have Chicago visitors in town and they ask which city has better pizza, I say, “Before you think me a traitor, let me take you somewhere.”
They just opened up another one across the street from my office in Chelsea on 17th & 10th ave. There’s a to-go area AND a sit down restaurant!