The Michael family founded the neighborhood pub at 4091 North Broadway in 1983, creating a game-day sports tavern centered on authentic Chicago pizza styles.
The kitchen makes and rolls its dough daily in-house, baking crisp tavern-style thin crusts alongside deep-dish pans under crushed plum tomato sauces and seasoned fennel pork sausage.
Situated in the Buena Park corridor just north of Irving Park Road, Michael’s Original Pizzeria & Tavern provides an independent alternative to downtown tourist chains through its scratch-baked tavern pizzas, deep dish pies, and jumbo wings.
Quick Bite – Michael’s Original Pizzeria & Tavern, Chicago, IL 🍕
Stone deck chambers bake rolled dough rounds until the bottom crust develops a cracker-thin crunch, topped with savory tomato sauce, crumbled Italian sausage, and melted mozzarella before being sliced into traditional party-cut squares.
The line also simmers Italian beef in seasoned au jus for toasted French bread sandwiches, while fryers crisp colossal chicken wings tossed in award-winning buffalo and spicy garlic glazes.
More than forty continuous years of high marks in Chicago Magazine and The Chicago Reader readers’ polls have cemented its role as a premier Cook County sports tavern and pizza destination.
The Local Atmosphere – Michael’s Original Pizzeria & Tavern, Chicago, IL 🏈
Dozens of flat-screen televisions broadcasting local sports, memorabilia-lined walls, and spacious wooden booth rows give the North Side space an energetic, community-first tavern atmosphere.
Pre-game gatherings and evening dinner services bring consistent foot traffic from neighboring areas like Wrigleyville, Lakeview, Uptown, Boystown (Northalsted), and Lincoln Square.
Cold draft pitchers, steaming round pizza pans, and baskets of sauced wings move steadily from the kitchen pass out to crowded tables.
Signature Bites – Michael’s Original Pizzeria & Tavern, Chicago, IL 😋
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Tavern-Style Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza: Cracker-thin crust topped with zesty tomato sauce, spiced fennel sausage, pepperoni, and mozzarella, baked crisp and sliced into classic party squares.
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Chicago Classic Deep Dish: High-walled buttery crust lined with mozzarella cheese and raw Italian sausage, smothered in chunky crushed tomato sauce.
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Award-Winning Jumbo Buffalo Wings: Extra-large bone-in wings fried extra crisp, tossed in signature buffalo, hot, or spicy garlic sauce, served with blue cheese and celery.
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Chicago Italian Beef Sandwich: Thinly sliced roast beef soaked in seasoned spiced au jus on a crusty roll, topped with spicy giardiniera or sweet peppers.
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Stuffed Cheese Pizza: Double-crusted pan pie packed with mozzarella and choice toppings, baked golden under a rich blanket of seasoned tomato puree.
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Cheesy Garlic Bread: Toasted French bread brushed with garlic butter and herbs, blanketed under melted mozzarella, and served with marinara dipping sauce.
Takeaway Bite – Michael’s Original Pizzeria & Tavern, Chicago, IL 😎
Grabbing a booth at 4091 N Broadway connects diners directly to four decades of neighborhood sports tavern culture.
The kitchen’s focus on scratch dough production, edge-to-edge toppings, and proper deck-baking techniques keeps its menu apart from standard commercial chains.
That authentic local execution is why this mom and pops and hole in the wall tavern remains an essential game-day pizza staple on Chicago’s North Side.
📍: 4091 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60613
🕒: Mon-Thu: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM; Fri-Sat: 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM; Sun: 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM