'New Year, New Item': Palatine Pizza Restaurant Offering Detroit-Style

PALATINE, IL — While Chicago pizza is of course well-known in this state, another type of pizza has become more and more popular in recent years. Tievoli Pizza Bar, located at 44 W. Palatine Road, is now offering a Detroit-style pizza, with Buffalo chicken, on its menu.

"Just to give another option for our clients to choose from," Giovanni Labbate, owner and chef at Tievoli, told Patch regarding the decision to offer Detroit-style pizza. "New year, new item."

Labbate, who opened Tievoli Pizza Bar in 2023 with his wife, is known for being creative and occasionally adding new items to the menu. The restaurant specializes in artisanal New York-style pizzas made with premium ingredients and cooked to perfection in a wood-fired oven. The menu offers 13 types of wood-fired pizzas (available on gluten-free crust), along with salads, pasta, sandwiches, and panzerotti, catering to a variety of tastes. Tievoli is a true family-owned business, with Labbate's sons and mother also actively involved in daily operations.

Last year, Labbate won first place in the non-traditional category of the 3-Cheese Challenge and claimed the title of grand champion in the Secret Basket Face-Off at the first California Pizza Challenge. PMO Pizza reports Labbate will compete in the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy, next month.

Detroit-style pizza is described by Labbate as thick, chewy, rectangular pan pizza with caramelized cheese edges and crispy corners. He says Tievoli's Detroit-style pizza stands out with its frico preparation, the most typical culinary preparation of the historical northern Italian region of Friuli.

Guests can request any Tievoli pizza in this style. Made with fresh, high-quality ingredients, the 72-hour fermented dough rises for eight hours at room temperature to achieve its signature texture. Prices range from $20 to $30, depending on style.

In addition to their dine-in and takeout services, Tievoli runs a mobile pizza truck, catering gourmet wood-fired pizzas to events across Chicagoland. The food truck has become a popular choice for weddings, parties, and corporate events.

"We couldn't be happier with our business," Labbate said. "We're doing better every year, and we continue to grow."

Tievoli Pizza Bar is open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, and closed Monday.