In honor of National Deep Dish Pizza Day, enjoy this slice of Brew City pizza knowledge!

"Where do I find Chicago-style deep dish pizza in Milwaukee?"

That was the question that prompted my recent series of articles show-casing pizzas from area restaurants, all of which make the claim of being Chicago-style deep dish. I knew starting out that I’d find a number of imposters. But I was, overall, surprised by the results.

On my journey, I actually tried ten pizzas. Five pies qualified as Chicago-style deep dish; unsurprisingly four of them were from legit Chicago brands. All sported a thin to medium biscuit-like crust cooked in a pan with oil or butter, with toppings applied in reverse order (cheese on the bottom) and sauce on the top.

Along the way, I also encountered two different types of pizza which were errantly labeled Chicago deep-dish.

The first (and most prevalently mis-labeled) is stuffed pizza. Now, stuffed pizza has a place in the Chicago canon. It’s served at notable spots including Giardano’s and Nancy’s. But it’s not Chicago-style deep dish. Instead, it’s a heftier, amped up version, often made with a denser, breadier dough, that’s layered with toppings and often more cheese than deep-dish, with an added layer of crust across the top. If one mistakes it for classic deep dish, it’s because the sauce is almost always spread on that extra top layer of dough. All in all, it would be nice to see menus that more accurately identify these pizzas as such.

The second is pan pizza. Most places are forthright when they present a pizza of this ilk, and very few label it "Chicago-style," which is a good thing. After all, most pan-style pizzas have little resemblance to Chicago-style deep dish, aside from the fact that they are baked in pans. Pan pizza almost always features a thicker crust with toppings that follow the usual order (sauce on the bottom, toppings, then cheese on top). Pan pizzas are common in Milwaukee (and some venues call them “deep dish”). You’ll find versions of these pies at restaurants like Pizza Man (which serves both a deep dish and pan-style), Fixture Pizza Pub, Falbo Brothers in Shorewood (which also serves a Chicago stuffed) and Tenuta’s in Bay View.

Those caveats aside, what follows is a list of the pizzas I tried in ranked order according to my personal preference. I’ve given highest rankings to the pizzas that are actually Chicago-style, with the remaining pizzas to follow.

I’m pleased to say that, despite the good showing from Chicago-based restaurants on the list (all of which possess their own charms), a locally made Chicago-style deep dish was actually my top pick.

Absolutely Chicago-style deep dish

1. Chuck’s Place

406 N. Main St., Thiensville, (262) 242-9797
chucksplacefamilyrestaurant.com

The deep dish at Chuck’s Place is a Wisconsin-made Chicago-style pie that both captures the essence of the original and makes it well worth the drive to Thiensville.  [Read more]

2. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria 

15795 W Bluemound Rd., (414) 930-4500
8799 N Port Washington Rd., (414) 446-3500
4751 S. 76th St., Greenfield, (414) 310-4600
2720 N. Grandview Blvd., Waukesha,(262) 672-6355
Loumalnatis.com

History aside, Lou Malnati’s is still about as Chicago as Chicago deep dish gets, forging its own path with a classic style pizza that still manages to stand out from the rest. [Read more]

3. Rosati’s Pizza

145 W Oklahoma Ave., Bay View, (414) 489-7191
Rosatispizza.com

As expected, this is a solid example of a Chicago-style deep dish pizza, from its flavor to its build. If you love a crisp, buttery crust augmented with nicely flavored toppings, Rosati’s is an excellent choice. [Read more]

4. UNO Pizzeria & Grill

W180 N9455 Premier Lane, Menomonee Falls, (262) 255-1440
unos.com

In case there was any doubt (which there shouldn’t be), UNO is, indeed, a classic Chicago-style deep dish. In fact, it’s the godfather of Chicago-style deep dish, with a history dating back to 1943. But, was it the best we’ve tried? It wasn’t. It seems growth hasn’t been kind to the quality of this legendary brand. [Read more]

Not Chicago-style deep dish  

5. Pizzeria Scotty!

9022 W Oklahoma Ave, West Allis (414) 543-1300
pizzeriascotty.com

While it’s not a Chicago-style deep-dish, Pizzeria Scotty! has a great reputation for good reason. They make a tasty (cheesy) pan-style pizza. [Read more]

6. Brewtown Eatery

5121 W. Howard Ave., (414) 321-3900
brewtowneatery.com

Although I had to disqualify this pie from the classic Chicago-style deep dish category, it was tasty. In fact, it was among the better stuffed pizzas I’ve tried. If you like a deep dish pizza with a more bread-like crust, more sauce and more cheese, this is a good place to start. [Read more]

7. Pizza Pete’s

 2914 E. Grange Ave., Cudahy, (414) 488-8007
orderpizzapetes.com

Well ... Cudahy is south of Milwaukee. But it's not Chicago. Based on the crust alone (and it's stuffed nature), this is not a classic Chicago-style deep dish. But, if you’re a fan of deep dish with a thick flavorful crust that’s loaded with cheese, you might just find a happy place at Pizza Pete’s. [Read more]

8. Capri di Nuovo

8340 W. Beloit Rd., West Allis, (414) 543-5510
capridinuovo.com

The pizza at Capri di Nuovo was undeniably tasty. But it isn’t a classic Chicago style deep dish. In fact, I’d leave the "Chicago style" out of this altogether. I would describe it as a stuffed deep dish pizza with a crisp, Milwaukee-style crust.  [Read more]

9. Klasiana Pizza

5487 S 76th St, Greendale, (414) 421-0000
Klasianapizza.com 

Again, while it’s not a contender for the classic Chicago-style deep dish category, Klasiana presents a unique spin on the stuffed pizza with a thicker, breadlike crust, plenty of cheese and two layers of well-seasoned sauce. [Read more]