Sharpies Pizza + Cocktails

-Grubbing in Chicago
Detroit Style Pizza on the Elston Corridor

Sharpies Pizza & Cocktails was one of the first restaurants to open along the Elston Corridor following the arrival of the Salt Shed, an indoor concert venue now looking to build an outdoor venue too. More spots will follow, but for now, Sharpies is one of the few places nearby to meet and eat before a show.

Recently Opened near The Salt Shed

Like so many pizza spots across the country, Sharpies was born out of the pandemic (remember people got bored and started making pizza). Owners Ryan Bair and Scott Koehl previously worked together at Ada Street, and the concept grew out of Bair experimenting with Detroit-style pizza, building on Ada Street’s popular focaccia. The playful, outer-space aesthetic includes a UFO above the bar, vintage arcade games and a three-eyed alien dog named Sharpie. There are also batch-style cocktails built around a house-made fruity mixture called Atomic Juice. It’s a fun spot that checks a couple of boxes, particularly if you need parking and or somewhere to eat near the Salt Shed.

Kale Caesar Salad at Sharpies

I’d had Sharpies on my radar since it opened back in March 2025, but it’s the kind of place best suited for a group, so it took a while to make it happen. Recently though we needed somewhere to accommodate eight people with parking, and Sharpies fit the bill. We secured a corner table and ordered a little bit of everything. First up was a Caesar with curly kale, creamy dressing and cheddar cracker crunch. I’m pretty sure those were Goldfish crackers, but either way, the salty crunch worked. Next came fresh-cut fries served with garlic butter aioli. Both the spuds and the sauce were solid. 

Fresh Cut Fries at Sharpies

I’ve been on record predicting that the spice bag is the next big time food trend, and it’s been fun watching this Irish-Chinese takeaway staple pop up on menus across the city. Originating in Dublin’s Chinese takeaway scene, the dish typically combines crispy chicken, fries, peppers and onions tossed in a savory spice blend, with curry sauce for dipping. Sharpies’ version follows that formula, and it was a big hit with the table. This might have been my personal favorite bite of the night. 

The Spice Bag at Sharpies

Outback Steakhouse’s Bloomin’ Onion is an American icon, but due to trademark laws Sharpies calls its version the “Burning Star.” The concept is the same: an onion cut to open like a flower, battered and deep-fried until crisp. It comes with house ranch and makes for a fun group appetizer. I thought the batter was a bit oversalted, but the ranch helped balance things out. It was also a crowd-pleaser. 

The "Burning Star" (Bloomin' Onion) at Sharpies

After all those appetizers, we still had two pizzas coming out. Sharpies puts an emphasis on its dough, using a three-day fermentation and a blend of Wisconsin brick cheese and mozzarella to produce an airy, chewy square pie with deeply browned cheese around the edges. We ordered the “Sausage Singularity,” topped with house-made fennel sausage, tomato sauce, Calabrian chiles and ricotta. I liked it, though I thought the toppings were a bit heavy and the dough was a tad undercooked in the middle. I also remain unconvinced by ricotta on pizza. It always feels so out of place to me. 

Sausage Singularity at Sharpies

The “Onion Eclipse” is topped with caramelized onions, cheese fondue and garlic breadcrumbs. Think French onion soup morphed into a Detroit-style pizza. It’s a clever combination that takes advantage of the cheesy edges, but the pie was so sweet I could only manage to eat one piece. We finished with a tasty banana pudding but I forgot to snap a pic. Overall, I enjoyed the apps more than the pizza, but Sharpies is worth considering if you need a place to eat with a group before a Salt Shed show. The location is convenient, the menu is playful, and there’s enough variety to keep everyone happy.

"Onion Eclipse"

Sharpies Pizza + Cocktails
1721 N Elston Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 772-2368
Website