Former Pizza D.O.C. Becomes Himmel's, Joining German and Italian Fare

Lincoln Square residents might notice a change in one of the area’s Italian eateries. 

Pizza D.O.C. became Himmel’s at the start of the New Year, and with the name-change comes the birth of the neighborhood’s first Italian-German restaurant. Himmel, named after the owners, means heaven in German. 

Sisters Carol Himmel and Diana Himmel-Krewer bought Pizza D.O.C. at 2251 W. Lawrence Avenue five years ago.

“We had to learn all of the Italian food and in the last two years, we’ve really started adding more European specials,” Diana said. “They’ve been really well-received.”

Excitement over the dishes got the two thinking about a name change and more incorporation of their German heritage. The menu still keeps the Italian pizzas and pastas known at Pizza D.O.C., but then travels north to Deutschland.

A Bavarian pork shank, dumplings and roast duck join the veal saltimbocca and gnocchi dishes.

And despite the restaurant’s close proximity to Rahm Emanuel’s Ravenswood home, the Champignon Rahm Schnitzel has nothing to do with Chicago’s mayor. It is simply pork tenderloin medallions finished in a shallot mushroom cream sauce with spätzle and red cabbage.

Along with the restaurant, the two inherited the oldest wood-burning brick oven in Chicago, Diana said. Salmon, roasted pork, chicken and even the French onion soup spends time in the oven.

“The flavors that are in that thing, they’re just great,” Carol said. “Everyone’s loved the French onion soup. Everything is made from scratch all the way down to the beef broth.”

Some of the dishes derive from traditional German meals the two sisters cooked growing up. They worked in the catering business and learned under the watchful eye of their mother.

“She was tough,” Carol said. “No one can slice a mushroom thinner than I can.”

The Himmels have lived in a 4-mile radius of Lincoln Square since moving to the United States in the 1950s.

Carol directs the German American Children’s Choir and is active in the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce.

When the chamber started their farmers’ markets at the Western Brown Line Station, the sisters wanted to join in. Carol built a portable oven so the restaurant could cook and sell mini-pizzas to shoppers.

Both help plan German Day festivities and made more than 450 pizzas for Apple Fest in September. 

The restaurant has also become a hub for live music; showcasing acoustic groups and jazz nights.

“We love the family feel of the place, we want families to be able to come in, but then take the kids home and come back for a date night,” Carol said. 

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