Il Rione Pizzeria: A passion for pizza in Gordon Square
Passions of every sort are running high these days. Pick any topic and you're picking a fight, and woe to you if you choose to carry it out on any sort of social media. But no one thing so seems to galvanize the masses, and the less numerous strata above, as pizza. It's the one subject that everyone can disagree on ... in relative safety. From the...
Chicago’s First-Ever Italian Beef Festival to Benefit Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
It’s as Chicago as “Da Bears” and the “Machine” that ran the city for decades – just a whole lot tastier. For uninitiated foodies, an Italian beef is a sandwich comprised of thinly sliced beef served in its own gravy on Italian bread and served “hot” (with pickled vegetables a.k.a. giardiniera), “sweet” (with grilled bell peppers), and then either...
Viaggio brings new life to Highland Park location
On a beautiful but chilly May Monday evening, the flames in the outdoor heaters are ablaze on the patio at Viaggio in Highland Park. Inside, Lori Slavin, wife of co-owner Larry, works the room, greeting diners and taking the occasional order. “Something I haven’t done in 40 years,” she jokes. Opened on May 1, Viaggio is the sister restaurant to the...
New Italian spot Sapori Antichi Bar Italiano opens its doors in River North
A new bar and Italian spot has opened its doors in the neighborhood. The fresh arrival to River North, called Sapori Antichi Bar Italiano, is located at 22 W. Ohio St. The menu includes six types of panini and eight types of pasta, including hand-made gnocchi, spinach risotto and ricotta and eggplant stuffed ravioli. Look forward to an array of dri...
Italian eatery Decaro’s brings owner’s tradition home to Alton
Restaurateur Eric Smith made his home here 10 years ago and recently chose his adopted hometown to bring some of his favorite flavors with which he grew up on the other side of the river. “The whole idea was to bring over here what you can get over there, like provel cheese on our pizzas, toasted ravioli and gooey butter cake,” the St. Louis native...
This Springfield restaurant is celebrating 30 years. Here’s what still makes it unique.
Background/Overview: Michael Downing gives much of the credit for his restaurant experience to Jim Lopez, a prominent local entrepreneur for decades. Jim was the franchise owner of the first Taco Bell in town, and then owned and managed Jim’s Coney Island. Michael (“Mike” or “Mic”) earned the title of restaurateur on March 15, 1988, the day he purc...
New River North Italian Contender Promises to Go Beyond Spaghetti and Meatballs
Nine months ago, Michael Meranda revealed his plans to open a new Italian restaurant in River North that featured his award-winning gelato. The path to opening Sapori Antichi Bar Italianohasn’t been as smooth as their tasty Italian desserts are, but on Monday Meranda and wife Mary finally opened their restaurant. They’re serving lunch and dinner wi...
Ristorante Lago serves up authentic Italian in Lake Country
Imagine that you’re on the banks of the Mediterranean Sea enjoying a beautiful waterfront dinner with some authentic Italian cuisine. OK, so it’s not quite the Mediterranean, but the food at Ristorante Lago does its part to paint the picture. Since opening in October 2016 at the site of the former Golden Anchor, executive chef and general manager J...
One of Taylor Street’s Oldest Italian Restaurants Is Closing
Chicago’s Little Italy on Taylor Street will lose one of its longest-running restaurants. RoSal’s Italian Cucina, which has been open for 28 years at 1154 W. Taylor Street, will close for good on May 13, ownership announced on Facebook: “We are super excited to be starting a new chapter in our lives but will miss everything about the restaurant; th...
Aurelio’s Pizza is opening a Wrigleyville location next week
No matter what side of the Eisenhower you call home, there’s one thing we can agree on: Chicago pizza is, unquestionably, the best. And Aurelio’s is certainly no exception. Having first opened its doors in Homewood in 1959, Aurelio’s Pizza is one of the oldest pizza chains in and around the city, making it a favorite of many both old and new. Feat...
Glen Lakes' Trattoria Funistrada
Holly and Tom Reay, owners of Funistrada since the spring of 2000, were Glen Lake “summer kids” growing up. She is a native of Chicago, and he hails from St. Louis. (More on that later.) “Our families had been coming up here for generations, and this is where we met,” Holly explained. Later, as adults, they each decided that they wanted to live the...
Rose Italian Kitchen to open in Solon
Chef Art Pour will open Rose Italian Kitchen in Solon, adding to its stable of restaurants in Northeast Ohio. The company is viewing Rose as a "potential growth concept," so the restaurant could expand to other locations much like the company has done with Burntwood Tavern. The restaurant is scheduled to open Monday, April 30, at 6140 Som Center Ro...