Founded in 1927 by Alfredo Capitanini, the Italian Village in downtown Chicago is an institution. Its art nouveau décor heralds the days when the likes of opera stars like Luciano Pavarotti and Marilyn Horne dined under it faux starlit roof and the legendary three-dot celebrity columnist Irv Kupcinet held court over a Cobb Salad in one of its cozy booths.

A recent proved that this third-generation family business still boasts one of the best home-style Italian kitchens in town. The restaurant plans to reopen its legendary upstairs dining room in early spring. For now, lunch and dinner are served in the street-level Vivere.