New Pizza Restaurant Coming To Highwood

HIGHWOOD, IL — A family-owned artisanal pizza place is opening up its second location next week at in downtown Highwood. Slyce Coal Fired Pizza, which recently celebrated its seventh anniversary in Wauconda, will start taking orders Tuesday at its new 254 Green Bay Rd. location.

The owners of the pizzeria are mother and daughter duo Laurie and Brittany Barth. According to an announcement of the opening, they're both thrilled to bring their Neapolitan coal fired pizzas, small plates and salads to town.

The new 200-seat Highwood location features three coal ovens, with two visible from the walk-up display kitchen.

“Coal is the hottest and cleanest burning fossil fuel," Chef Mike McElwee explained. "The high temperature allows our hand-pressed pizzas to cook in 3 to 4 minutes which results in the perfect balance of char, crunch and chew,” remarks McElwee.

The restaurant's bar also serves its own brand of beer: Slyce Basil Ale. Specials include fresh pasta on Thursday, and kids can get in on the action every day with a ball of dough and flour at each table.

The general manager, who was previously at the Wauconda location, said the pizzeria takes pride in its high standards for food.

"There is a lot of heart and soul put into every 'SLYCE' and I know Highwood is exactly where we need to be," Nicole Fry said.

The founder and former chef and general manager of Slyce Coal Fired Pizza, Gary Bougie, relocated to Minnesota in 2013. He started a new restaurant there but died the following year at age 35 following complications from gallbladder surgery.

Opening hours for Slyce Highwood run from 4 to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays through Saturdays, 4 to 9 p.m. on Sundays – and closed Mondays. No reservations but diners can be added to a waitlist using an app. For more information call 847-780-4065 or visit the restaurant's website.

_{Top photo courtesy Slyce Coal Fired Pizza}