Chicago has become a battleground for fast-casual concepts from around the country, and on Friday, a trendy new contender in the quick-fired pizza segment will enter from the west coast. 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, a 10-store partnership between chef Anthony Carron and the people behind the Umami Burger chain that originated in Los Angeles, will enter the Chicagoland area with its Evanston location at 812 Church Street.
800 Degrees is a counter-service "assembly line" operation where customers build their own pizzas (crust, sauce base, cheeses, toppings) or order specialty pies via a long counter with an open kitchen on one side, can order drinks (including beer and wine), sides (including different types of burrata and salads), and gelato, pay at a back register at the end of the counter, and seat themselves, although there's little time to wait because pizzas only take around 90 seconds to cook.
The 100-seat space could be described as upscale fast-casual, as it's full of wood and off-white tones with a classic tin ceiling and glittery chandeliers above. Take a look around in the photo gallery.