For decades, Candlelite served beer and ultra-thin crust pizza on the far North Side. The pizza was cracker-thin and square cut, a style of pizza that is as distinctly "Chicago" as our nationally-famous deep-dish.

Not too long ago (about 18 months, I think), Candlelite closed. Their signature sign that used to announce birthdays and weddings of regulars simply read, "Closed". My heart sank when I drove by and saw that message and I immediately felt guilty for not going more often. Fortunately, it wasn't shuttered for long. A group of regulars got together to re-open Candlelite. It underwent a remodeling and expansion and is again open for business.

The pizza is as good as ever. It doesn't noticeably deviate from the original recipe. Candlelite's pizza is about as cracker-thin and crispy as it gets.

I made my first "post-remodeling" visit recently and I was very impressed how the place has been updated while still holding true to what made Candlelite such a neighborhood favorite. It's bigger, cleaner, and a little shinier now. There are nice new TVs at every viewing angle (and in the bathroom). It's more of a "restaurant" now, but it still primarily feels like a bar environment. The menu has been slightly expanded, but I focused on pizza. (A medium with sausage, mushroom, and onion). It (along with a salad and two pints of Guinness) fed two of us for dinner, without a scrap left over. An old addiction has been rekindled.

If you're like me, you like your thin crust crispy and you'll love Candlelite.

Cheap eats tip: Hit Candlelite with some friends on a Tuesday night for 2-for-1 pizza night.

Candlelite is located at 7452 N. Western Ave (just S. of Howard), 773-465-0087, street parking possible.

I'm a new convert to the Candlelite, never having been there for the old version. I often go there with a group of friends for the Tuesday 2-for-1 pizza special and the pizza is really good. It got crowded during softball season and the pizzas suffered (mostly sloppy construction and unevenly cooked)a bit when the traffic was really high, but now that the head count is down somewhat the pizzas are back to being a uniform excellent. Their beer prices seem fair as well. I believe the reason it closed in the first place was that the owners decided to open a new restaurnat in Evanston - Blue Stone on Central St.

Posted by: Paula at November 2, 2004 3:28 PM

The garlic fries at Candlelite are killer too.

For a bar, there are always a lot of real young children running around -- but I guess that's a sign of its neighborhood friendliness. It doesn't bother me.

You probably know this, too, but the proprietors of Candlelite also run Prairie Moon in Evanston, which has a good menu and a nice hang-out area in front.

Posted by: Joe at November 6, 2004 9:46 AM

I live a block away from this place but have never ventured inside. Thanks very much for the review. Think we'll turn up tomorrow for twofer tuesday.

Posted by: Fern at November 8, 2004 9:24 AM

It was closed for that time because of a change of ownership, bought by the owner of Blue Stone. He changed many things, but he saved the original pizza recipe.

The owners of Prarie Moon are separate, and run Candelite's restaurant side as consultants.

Posted by: Paul at November 12, 2004 10:31 AM

Just recently went to Candlelite for the first time. Liked the atmosphere a lot. We didn't have the pizza, but I can tell you the sandwiches are pretty good. I'll have to try the pizza next time.

Posted by: Andrew at November 12, 2004 2:10 PM

I remember a pizza place on up north on Western called the Welcome Inn (I think) that served VERY thin and very good pizza. This isn't the same place, is it? Anyone remember that place? It may have closed around 1990.

Posted by: Brad at February 26, 2006 5:52 AM