Aquanaut/Budlong Picks Neapolitan Pizza Over Nashville Hot Chicken For New Brewpub

Earlier this week, Phil Tadros shared that he and The Budlong's Jared Leonard wouldn't serve Nashville Hot chicken at their upcoming Aquanaut Brewing Co. brewpub. Now the two have revealed they're leaning toward Neapolitan pizza, citing that pizza has more versatility to go with different beers.

They'll send staff for VPN training, so the pizza will adhere to Neapolitan pizza standards, Leonard said. They'll also import an Italian oven: "They will be very traditional Neapolitan pizza," Leonard added.

Adhering to VPN means no take-out or delivery operations, but foil-lined pizza boxes are at least making Neapolitan pizza-makers more comfortable with the idea of to-go orders. Leonard already experiments with thin-crust pizza at his Rub's Backcountry Smokehouse. The Aquanaut brewpub is to be built at 1221 W. Devon Ave.

Meanwhile, Tadros, who runs Bow Truss coffee, said they're enjoying the creative process in developing the brewpub and said they'll likely play around with a variety of ideas. While Tadros recently announced they'll open a Budlong in the former Ja' Grill spot on Armitage Avenue in Lincoln Park, Tadros also mentioned he has plans for a fourth Budlong in The Loop. Hopefully Lincoln Square residents don't get too antsy. That location, while announced first, still hasn't opened.

DNAinfo first reported the news about pizza coming to Aquanaut.