Restaurant Review: Celebrating Tavern-Style Pizza and other fresh, healthy delights at Candelite in Rogers Park
When I lived in Rogers Park, one of our go-to places was Candelite on Western Avenue. What always drew us to the location was their garishly 50’s-style neon sign, illuminated with a welcoming martini topped with an olive! There were all kinds of personalized messages on the marquee below as well.
Candelite is celebrating 75 years of bringing Tavern-Style Pizza and other delights to this far north end of Chicago, serving up some of the best cracker-thin crust pies in the city since 1950.
But for those in the know in Rogers Park, they’re so much more!!
As the catering partner for Northwestern University over the border in Evanston, their hearty, fresh comfort food would grace any training table or tailgate party. Take, for example, their Tailgate Beef Chili isslow-cooked ground beef chili, served in tomato-ey goodness with shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro and oyster crackers. Southern Fried Pickles are crispy, fried dill pickles slices served with a spicy aioli dipping sauce. I love their Parmesan Fries, coated with Parmesan cheese, cilantro, and served with marinara dipping sauce. I usually can’t decide between those and the healthier Veggie Hummus Plate, with roasted red pepper hummus, fresh vegetables and grilled pita bread. I’m also fond of their Chicken Quesadillas, a mix of grilled chicken, roasted red peppers, cilantro, pepper jack cheese, served with sour cream and salsa on the side.
For lighter appetites, you’ll also like their Candlelite Mini Wedge Salad, with iceberg lettuce, bacon, egg, tomato, blue cheese crumbles, and covered in onion straws and served with side of creamy garlic dressing. You can add grilled chicken or salmon for an upcharge.
They were smart to partner with local meat savant Hecky’s for their Pulled Pork Sandwich, which features Hecky’s BBQ slow-cooked pork, topped with onion straws on a brioche bun and served with cole slaw & Hecky’s BBQ sauce. Their Candlelite Pub Burger comes with lettuce, tomato, onion straws, on a brioche bun, with your choice of American, Merkt’s Cheddar, Blue Cheese, Cheddar, Provolone, Feta, Swiss, Pepper Jack or Mozzarella cheese.
And Candelite leaves it up to you whether you want your side with their sandwiches healthy or not, with a choice of fries, tots, broccoli, or sauteed spinach. I’d recommend the sauteed spinach because it’s a fairly unique option among Chicago restaurants.
And now …Tavern-Style Pizza
Candelite’s “Famous Cracker Thin Crust Signature Pizzas” are named so because they have both a thin crust firm enough to have a noticeable crunch and slices cut into squares, as opposed to wedges. Toppings run straight over the sides instead of stopping at the crust, which is my favorite part!
According to one narrative from Wikipedia sources, the pizza’s signature square slices were created so that a customer could hold that in one hand and a beer in the other. Another theory is that they made it possible for taverns without plates to instead set the pizza on napkins.
I’d still use a plate if I were you!
Candelite serves quite a range of pizzas, including a full White Pizza menu. While you can create your own, there’s lots of unique options, including Sweet Soppressata, a red pizza with pizza sauce, soppressata (coarse salami,) basil, and Mike’s hot honey. Taco Pizza features a roasted red pepper sauce and is covered in black beans, corn, tortilla strips, pepper jack, cheddar, chopped mixed greens, and mozzarella, topped with ranch drizzle and served with a side of salsa. The Angry Hawaiian has Buffalo sauce, Canadian bacon, pineapple, and fresh jalapenos.
White pizzas include the BLT, with a buttermilk ranch base, bacon, tomatoes, and mixed greens tossed in red wine vinaigrette, and the Candlelite White with olive oil, whole roasted garlic, caramelized onions, fresh mozzarella, parmesan, provolone, and goat cheese. Popeye Pesto has basil pesto, baby spinach, and mozzarella.
Don’t forget dessert!
Desserts are ooey and gooey, and include the Fundae Sundae, two luscious scoops Homer’s vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream, with your choice of chocolate or caramel sauce (both for a nickel upcharge,) and your choice of M&M’s or sprinkles (both for a nickel upcharge.) Candlelite Cookie Skillet is a big chocolate chip cookie, with Homer’s vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, caramel and chocolate sauce.
Candelite is located at 7452 N. Western Avenue. They are open Monday – Thursday, 5pm – 10pm, Friday from 4pm – 1am, Saturday from 11am – 1am, and Sunday from 11am – 10pm. For more information, click here.
Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago
