Restaurant Review: Osteria Via Stato Pizzeria

Last Friday, I took a trip with a couple of my friends up to the Near North Side for some food. One was craving pizza, and not willing to wait for a table at Uno and Due, we finally picked Osteria Via Stato. Headed by Executive Chef David DiGregorio and located at 620 N. State St, it features two venues: Pizzaria Via Stato and Osteria Via Stato. We went to the pizzeria to fulfill my friend’s quest for good eats. The candlelight dining room had a great ambiance, and a full house of patrons both young and old, as well as some pretty good music.

While the pizzas were a bit pricey ($10-$15 for a tavern pizza), they were well worth the cash. The two pizzas we ordered were a house special of goat sausage and goat cheese and a basic pepperoni pizza. While I wasn’t planning on ordering anything, I eventually succumbed and got a sample of both, they were delicious. The goat cheese and sausage blended together marvelously for a delicious taste, coupled with the crispy crust and fresh ingredients. To top it off, the desserts were phenomenal. One dessert, a slice of dark chocolate cake with candied orange peel, forced me to put aside my usual aversion to dark chocolate and embrace the rich, decadent flavor. Coupled with a selection of ice cream that my other friend purchased, it made the trip well worth it.

I’d definitely recommend this pizzeria to anyone looking for good food, an excellent atmosphere, and friendly service.