Housed in a 5,800-square-foot former garage, Piece eschews classic deep-dish Chicago pizza in favor of a delicious thin-crust variety that was invented at the famed Sally’s Apizza in New Haven, Connecticut. Piece (which is co-owned by Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, who lent one of his five-necked guitars to the restaurant) serves huge rectangular pizzas featuring toppings that are both standard (pepperoni, onions) and not-so-standard (mashed potatoes, clams). Some of the combinations might sound strange but they somehow meld perfectly with the pizza’s crunchy thin crust and tangy tomato sauce. The pizzas aren’t the only reason that the massive space is always packed with a randy crowd checking out the game (and each other): Piece’s onsite, handcrafted brews won the World Beer Cup’s Small Brewpub Award in 2006.

Piece Information:

• Pizza menu. Lunch, dinner