The 16 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago Right Now These are the best trattorias, red sauce joints, and fully loaded Italian delis in Chicago. Though long gone, the restaurant is still . However, COVID changed that forever. Its not hard to find good Italian in Chicago. Hollywood's oldest family-run Italian restaurant, purchased much of the interior . Gentrification and the occasional rat sighting (whoops!) Get the braciole or the lasagna, both of which will have you covered in the leftover department for about three days. Shes been on both the agency and client-side of the business, helping build brands from the ground up. Alicia is a creative writer living in Chicago. The Viking / 27 W. 150 Roosevelt Rd. Yes, kids, Oprah Winfrey once had a restaurant. Theres even a picture of Bella Bruna above the entryway. Try another? Al's Beef. No, too corny. 34. 1989-present // River North 1943-present // River North Yoshis Caf Related: Restaurants and Bars Owned by Celebrities The name was a contraction of "tutto a posto," roughly meaning "all is as it should be" (we might translate it to "it's all good" today), and the Mediterranean restaurant with the Italian name was the brainchild of Tony Mantuano, who created it in between his two terms running Spiaggia (where he's running things today). 1920-1984 // Loop Phil's 50: Chicago's top restaurants rated, reviewed, mapped , 25 Chicago restaurants earn Michelin stars in 2017 , Craving: Italian -- a month of Chicago's best pastas, antipasti, pizza, secondi and more . 1898-present // Loop Opened: 1941 Until 1995, the only way to experience chef Jean Joho's food was by digging deep into your wallet to dine at Everest. Trio (by then renamed Trio Atelier) closed in 2006 after more than 12 years in business. By winter 2018, Oliver's restaurant group appeared to be in free-fall: The chef closed 12 more Italian restaurants along with his year barely one-year-old steakhouse. 29. Report as inappropriate. .goog-tooltip:hover { According to a GoFundMe, supporters have raised over $17,000 to assist former employees. This Lincoln Park Italian restaurant is popular for a reasonit has great pastas and attentive service. Opened: 1965 With its big glass-backed bar complete and greco-roman statue its a throwback to the gaudy delight of the '60s and '70s, not to mention the pizzas crafter is Peggy Gelsomino, an 80-plus-year-old grandmother who still makes all of the crusts by hand. A sparse no-frills stalwart of Little Italy -- that is still-cash only despite this being the year of our lord 2016 -- Tufanos wins accolades for not only its wonderfully stubborn old-school vibe but also for the fact that it may be the only place in Chicago where you can get a decent plate of pasta for the same price as a Venti double-whip mocha and a cookie.The service has a brusque proficiency, the dishes are a single shade of red, and the place is worked by up to four members of the same family that once had four generations in the kitchen. 1965-late 1980s // Lincoln Park 33. Vintage menus from some of Chicago's dearly departed restaurants, including The Eccdentric, Gordon and The Cottage, help tell the tale of what made them so great. This was the perfect fall restaurant, I thought; the menu offered game (chutney-glazed grilled quail, grilled venison with mustard sauce), and Carolyn's voluptuous soups were not to be missed. Launched in January 2016 by longtime Chicago chef Patrick Crane (currently at the Hidden Shamrock gastropub in Lincoln Park), the site is a place where chefs and others reminisce about departed restaurants. Topolobampo Regional northern Italian specialties mix with Italian-American fare and they dont really have a specialty because everything is that damn good. Its small and usually crowded, and a good choice if you happen to have small children with you. Deerfield, IL. Vito & Nick's was the winner of our March restaurant bracket and thus named Chicago's Most Chicago Restaurant. By . Rosebud on Rush 1,387 reviews Open Now Italian $$ - $$$ "Wonderful Lunch!" "Excellent Cuisine" Order online 12. Both restaurants are excellent choices, but if youre looking for a low-key meal, this is the place. Amidst the steak and potatoes of 1963, its pt, bouillabaisse, Wiener schnitzel, and Viennese tortes stood out as exotic. Frontera Grill Carlos 9. This also happens to be one of the only restaurants on this list with a burrata dish worth going out of your way for. Located in Chicago's River North neighborhood, RPM Italian is modern in approach and Italian in spirit, featuring a contemporary menu with dishes meant to be shared. These Vegetables Have The Lowest Carb Counts. 20. The restaurant, which closed down in 1995, held a prime location in West Hollywood near Beverly Hills. (Contemporary French) From day one, Carlos Nietos patented silver bow tie has said it all: Check your ideas about formal French dining at the door. Maison LaFite, they shoot back. The servers and bartenders are warm and welcoming, and will chat with you even if youre not a regular. But what sometimes seemed like capricious ingredient pairings always made sense on the plate. (Contemporary American) Paul Kahan put American food through a modern lens and unleashed a sleeping giant. 302 West was one of the finest restaurants the western suburbs ever produced. . P: 630.864.5270,