Pinsa, Not Pizza: Meet Lake Roots’ Light + Crispy Italian Favorite

If you’ve looked at the Lake Roots dinner menu and wondered, “What exactly is a pinsa?” you’re not alone.

It may look a little like pizza at first glance, but pinsa has a personality all its own. Light, crispy, airy, and made for sharing, it’s become one of our favorite ways to do dinner at Lake Roots.

So, What Is A Pinsa?

Pinsa is an Italian-style flatbread made from a blend of wheat, rice, and soy flours. The dough is highly hydrated and slowly fermented, helping create its signature texture: crisp around the edges with a soft, airy center.

Compared with a traditional pizza crust, pinsa feels noticeably lighter while still holding up to plenty of toppings.

Think: crispy outside, fluffy inside, and just the right amount of chew.

Why We Love It at Lake Roots

Pinsas fits right into the way we like to eat at Lake Roots: relaxed, fresh, and meant to be enjoyed around the table.

Order one as your main, grab a couple for the table, or pair one with a salad, Lake Roots Potatoes, and a round of drinks. It’s an easy option for date night, dinner with friends, or those evenings when you planned to stop in for “just one drink” and suddenly dinner sounds like a very good idea.

The Lake Roots Pinsa Lineup

There’s a little something for every kind of pinsa person.

Caprese

Fresh, simple, and classic. Our Caprese Pinsa brings together the flavors you already love in a caprese with the light, crispy texture of pinsa.

Pear + Prosciutto

A little sweet, a little savory, and one of those combinations that just works. Pear and prosciutto make this an especially good choice for sharing alongside a glass of wine.

BBQ Chicken

Comfort food meets crispy Italian flatbread. Savory BBQ chicken makes this one a crowd favorite when you’re looking for something hearty but still lighter than a traditional pizza.

Carnivore

For the meat lovers. The Carnivore is the pinsa to order when you’re ready to fully commit to dinner.

Pinsa + Drinks = A Pretty Good Night

One of our favorite things about pinsa is how naturally it fits into an evening at Lake Roots.

Pair yours with a glass of wine, a local beer, or one of our house cocktails like the Lake Roots Old Fashioned. Add a few small plates for the table and you’ve got the kind of dinner that encourages you to stay awhile.

Try Pinsa at Lake Roots in Crystal Lake

Whether you’re already a pinsa convert or you’ve never heard of it before today, come give it a try.

Light. Crispy. Shareable — if you want to.

Find pinsas on the dinner menu at Lake Roots Café, Market & Bar in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Dinner service begins at 4 PM.

Now for the important question: which one are you trying first?