One of my favorite streets in Chicago is Southport Avenue, specifically the part that runs through the north side Lakeview neighborhood. Shops, restaurants, and coffee spots dot both sides of the street, bustling with residents all on leisurely strolls as they pop into stores and stop for a coffee.
Right in the heart of all the action lies Coalfire, a quaint, but sizable, pizza spot. True to its name, Coalfire specializes in coal oven pizzas, with their Southport location having over 15 pizza options, as well as the option to build your own. They also have a fabulous appetizer menu, which includes multiple salad options, as well as a burrata dish, to name a few. They pride themselves on using ingredients sourced from local artisan butchers and growers who provide hormone free, humanely raised meats, and organic, fresh non-GMO produce.
My boyfriend and I went on a Friday evening a few weeks ago. We were very set on sitting outside, since it was a beautiful 70 degrees. Unfortunately, Coalfire does not take reservations, so when we arrived we had to wait around ten minutes before a table opened up; they initially told us around thirty minutes, so the ten was a pleasant surprise, but if you’re trying to avoid waiting at all, I recommend going before 7p or after 9p, as we were one of the only people left outside once 9p hit.
For our appetizer, my partner and I decided to split the Burrata #2 appetizer, which was on their specials menu. It featured berkshire prosciutto, currant pine jam, focaccia bread, and spicy honey. One thing about us is that if there’s burrata on the menu, there’s a 95% chance we’re ordering it. Adding in the prosciutto, focaccia bread, spicy honey, and jam, it was practically calling to us. And when it came out, I knew we had made the right move.
The focaccia was toasted and crispy, but not burnt. The prosciutto was laid over a bed of arugula, which is one of my favorite vegetables, especially paired with prosciutto and burrata. The spicy honey was drizzled over the burrata, which was a divine decision, and blended perfectly when spread over the bread. The only surprise was that the jam was not jam necessarily but instead currant berries. And while I would've enjoyed a jam more, purely because I am a big lover of jam, the currants were delicious. All the flavors blended delicately - it was everything I expected and more.
For our pizza, we chose the pepperoni and whipped ricotta, since ricotta holds the same power over us that burrata does. The pizza was constructed by a blend of mozzarella, red sauce, pepperoni, whipped ricotta, basil, garlic, and parmesan. Once again, I am a big fan of all of those ingredients, so I knew I’d likely be satisfied, especially since my favorite type of pizza is thin-crust. The ricotta spread seamlessly atop the pizza, mingling well with the red sauce, the cheeses, and pepperoni, while the garlic gave each slice a bit of a kick.
All in all, if you’re looking for a casual, laid-back date pizza spot to enjoy Chicago summer and fall at, Coalfire is the place for you. Despite all of the pizza spots I have tried in this city, Coalfire’s pizza never fails to land in the top three for me. And don’t worry—if you aren’t very close to the Southport location, there is another Coalfire in West Town, although it might be more of a cozy winter spot, as it doesn’t have any outdoor seating.
Coalfire Lakeview is located at 3707 N. Southport. It's open for lunch through dinner Wednesday through Sunday and dinner only on Tuesdays. It's closed on Mondays.
