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For the fourth time in nearly five years, a new pizzeria is open in the same Streeterville space at 355 E. Ohio Street. The newest entry — Streeterville Pizzeria & Tap — will feature South Side-style thin-crust pizza in the tradition of Vito and Nick’s. The new operating team comes with experience at other restaurants including Compass Bar in Lincoln Park and The Tankard in Wicker Park. The last tenant, Urban Crosta, lasted three months before closing in November.
Ryan See is part of the management team. He’s also partnered with Boka Restaurant Group on their Lincoln Park venues — The Kennison, Elaine’s Coffee Call, and The J. Parker. See is confident that success can be had at this 55-seat space built for a pizzeria. The ventilation hood covers the pizza oven, so unless radical changes were made inside, the space is always going to be a pizzeria.
“We just feel this was a great opportunity,” See said.
For those scoring at home: Flour & Stone debuted in 2013. They were followed in 2016 by Robert’s Pizza Company. Urban Crosta opened in August. All four pizzerias serve different styles of pie. See, along with partners Patrick and Philicia Wrona, enlisted the talents of Anthony Scardino, a consultant who has worked with Paulie Gee’s and Deadbolt in Logan Square. Professor Pizza teamed up with Geo Tapia, the chef at Tankard and Compass Bar, to develop the pizza recipe. They’ll also serve paninis and craft beer from the bar’s six taps.
They’ve swapped out furniture, chalkboards, and lighting, See said. But the main change, according to See, is that his team knows what they’re doing. He hopes their knowledge of the restaurant industry and improved hospitality makes Streeterville Pizzeria a winner. And that’s the number one question from residents: “What makes you think you can succeed after three other pizzerias failed?” Find out today. Streeterville Pizzeria & Tap is open.
Streeterville Pizzeria & Tap, 355 E. Ohio Street, (312) 631-3877, open 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday through Thursday; 4 p.m to midnight on Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight on Saturday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
