77Smash
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Smash Score👍 Solid Smash
The Infatuation says the bar food beats the pizza at Parlor - and the Parlor Smash Burger is why. Double-patty smash with special sauce and frites, at three Chicago locations.
Photos courtesy of Yelp contributors.
Parlor Pizza Bar opened in Chicago's West Loop around 2014 as a wood-fired Neapolitan pizza destination, expanding to Wicker Park in 2016 and River North to become one of the city's most recognizable multi-location pizza bars. Alongside its signature pies, Parlor built a bar food program centered on the Parlor Smash Burger - a double-patty build with American cheese, special sauce, and house pickles on a brioche bun - that holds its own against the pizza's considerable reputation.
The Parlor Smash Burger runs the classic double-smash format: two beef patties pressed to a full-coverage sear, American cheese melted in, lettuce, tomato, pickle, and special sauce on a brioche bun, served with frites at $18. The Infatuation, reviewing both the West Loop and River North locations, noted the bar food is actually the standout category - which makes this an unexpected highlight at a restaurant better known for its wood-fired pies.
Parlor Pizza Bar serves a broader menu; this assessment focuses specifically on Parlor Smash Burger.
Parlor gives you decent pizza, better bar food, and a solid beer list that best accompanies all activities related to sports watching and outdoor drinking.
The River North location mirrors the original West Loop restaurant's energy - a spacious venue with solid pizzas, an ideal group spot with strong beer and outdoor seating.
Rated 4.3 out of 5 across 3,700+ reviews - one of the most-reviewed West Loop dining destinations on Google.
4.5 stars from 1,400+ West Loop reviewers on Yelp - consistent praise for the bar atmosphere, pizza, and bar food lineup.
Neapolitan-inspired pizzas in wood-burning ovens with fresh local ingredients, a spacious dining room, and an all-seasons patio for year-round dining.
8.3/10 on Foursquare from 471 tips - a strong score for a multi-concept venue where the bar food competes with the wood-fired pizza.