If your heart yearns for Via Carducci, Giovanni Scalzo's late trattoria in the DePaul area, consider this the next-best thing to a reunion: Now open in Via's former space on Fullerton is the Warehouse Bar and Pizzeria (1419 W. Fullerton Ave., Lincoln Park, 773-661-6454), a next-generation pizzeria-cum-sports bar from Scalzo's nephew Carmelo Scalzo and cousin Agostino Femminella.
Warehouse expertly caters to its college neighborhood. Pizza is the focus: The place churns out pies nonstop, many of which sound as though they were culled from a game of pizza Mad Libs. The Cajun, for instance, mixes shrimp, Gouda, and vinaigrette; the Rustica gets figs and Gorgonzola; the Bacon Mac is exactly what it sounds like. There's even a Nutella pizza and a build-your-own option boasting two dozen ingredients. "We're trying to put some different spins on [pizza]," says Scalzo. The runaway favorite so far? The Angry Italian: spicy soppressata, giardiniera, and sausage. All dine-in pizzas measure 12 inches and cost between $12 and $20 (you can get a 16-incher for carryout).
If that's not your slice of pie, Warehouse offers salads (such as a kale Caesar), finger food (breadsticks), and at least three types of grilled cheese sandwiches.
The bar works hard. In addition to 16 draft beers and another 40 in bottles and cans, Warehouse offers red wine on tap and a list of original cocktails. There are also televisions—15 of them, mostly playing sports—and to round out the perfect collegiate storm, brunch on Saturday and Sunday. The first menu item? Hangover Breakfast.