A famous Roman-style pizzeria will be opening its third location in Chicago, Eater Chicago reports.
Bonci, the brainchild of storied pizzaiolo Gabrielle Bonci, will be expanding its footprint with a location in Lakeview, a northern neighborhood of Chicago. Bonci already features two other Chicago locations, including one on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview. Its first Chicago storefront, opened in 2017, resides in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.
Founded in Rome, Bonci made its way onto the radar of American foodies when it was featured on Anthony Bourdain’s TV series The Layover. Bourdain is memorably quoted on Bonci’s website: “It’s amazing,” Bonci said. “You want it. You want it bad. Your life would be so much better if you have this right now. Leave your family. Abandon your children…you know you want it.””
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Gabrielle Bonci was also featured on Netflix’s Chef’s Table.
Bonci serves up Roman-style, al taglio slices by the weight. Slices are custom cut, with scissors, from trays according to the customer’s preference and priced per pound. Bonci’s pizzas tend to focus on what he calls “the rule of three,” where three high-quality ingredients are featured on a pie, but rarely more. While Bonci’s pizza is as Roman as it gets, he’s adapted his pizza to mesh with the American palette. Bonci’s menu now includes toppings like pepperoni, for example.
Bonci had attempted to expand in other areas of the U.S., including Miami, but has since reconfigured its plans and appears to be focusing on growth in the Chicago area. The U.S. ownership group is headed up by Chakib Touhami and Rick Tasman, which told Eater Chicago they have been looking at several other locations in Chicago of late.
“Touhami tells Eater they had hoped to start debuting suburban locations and had lined up a Naperville space,” Eater Chicago wrote. “The deal has snarled and they proceeded with their newest Lakeview spot.”
The newest Bonci location is scheduled to open Thursday, April 18, Eater Chicago reported. Notably, Bonci locations do not accept cash.
