The Torchio Pasta Bar, nestled in a 19th century building at 738 N. Wells St., Chicago (IL), has been a beloved culinary gem for years, and its allure only continues to grow. As a recent convert, I'm finally experiencing the buzz firsthand, spurred on by friends who couldn't stop raving. “

You have to meet the owner Bill, he’s a real charmer,” they’d say, or “Sit at the bar and have Eric the bartender wait on you, he’s fabulous.” The clincher for me was the whisper, “It’s super hard to get a reservation.” Challenge accepted. There's something undeniably enticing about an exclusive spot and, let's face it, I'm a magnet for a club that won't let me in.