The current trend is to overvalue strangers’ opinions on social media and forums like Yelp, to decide where to dine and imbibe. A generation ago, tourists and foodies (not called that) relied on publications like Gourmet, The NYT, or yaboes like me for recommendations.

Anonymously, reviewers/influencers bare their fans, or offer effusive praise without much consideration for the facts, other people’s tastes, or the restaurants themselves. It’s all about click-bait or gaining a pound of flesh for a bad experience. When most reviewer offer a bad review, it’s usually instinctive-an immediate, but not constructive criticism of a recent bad experience. Instead of serving everyone, the reviewer rarely addresses the issue with the owner or management, they go for the jugular.

I’ve been very lucky to have recently (within 7 days) enjoyed pizzas at two, old-school classics-one in Chicago and the other in Milwaukee. The deep-dish v. thin v. NY style v. artisan is being fought on Instagram and other platforms as I type this.

Candlelite (Chicago) and Zaffiro’s, a family-owned operation, have been serving some of the best thin (tavern style) pizza since 1950 and 1954 respectively-that’s almost 8.000 years collectively (actually only 142 years, but I spent today in kindergarten and we’re notorious exaggerators).

I no longer am an influencer, but I’ll always be happy to share some secrets. These are two of the thinner, crispier crusts you’ll find.