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There are lots of things that go into planning a visit to Chicago, Illinois. You have to look for the best hotels, fun family activities to explore, and restaurants for you to grab a bite to eat at. You also need to set aside some money and look for flight arrangements. It may take you months to plan the perfect vacation. Since you have many things to plan, we’ll help you out a little bit by giving you a list of the top 10 Italian restaurants in Chicago starting with number 10.
# 10 – Monteverde
The place is very well lit on the inside of the restaurant. It has many windows where the sun can come through. If it’s too much sun, you can ask your host or hostess if you can close the curtains. The gray curtains go well with the gray ceiling and the gray carpet. It’s a nice contrast throughout the room. The plants in the restaurant make the place look lively and welcoming.
Their food is nothing short of amazing. One of their popular choices is the egg yolk raviolo for $28. This dish is pretty much ravioli stuffed with ricotta and truffle. You will also taste some healthy vegetables with the ravioli, such as spinach and asparagus. When you have the plate in front of you, it looks too pretty to eat. Another dish you could try is everyone’s favorite dish, spaghetti. The spaghetti noodles are soaked in chile-garlic oil and the sauce is a tomato sauce with a taste of basil.
Address: 1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
Website: www.monteverdechicago.com
# 9 – Bella Bacino’s
This is one of the best restaurants to visit at night because its patio is beautiful. It is equipped with lamps standing tall so you can see your food after dark. While you’re eating, you can admire the city lights of Chicago. If it’s a little too chilly outside for you, the inside of the restaurant is just as beautiful. The restaurant looks fancy with the neutral tones, the lights, and the decor around the place.
A popular menu item is the BBQ chicken pizza for $10.95. It’s one of the best pizzas you will ever try in your lifetime. It has chicken coated in mozzarella cheese and bbq sauce instead of the regular tomato sauce, and the pizza is topped with green onions. Not everyone is a fan of pizza or you might want to try something else that you haven’t had before, such as rigatoni with Italian sausage for $15.95. Rigatoni is pasta that is shaped like a tube. The pasta is mixed with the sausage and some tomato sauce that has a little bit of a tang to it. It’s topped with asiago spice.
Address: 66 E Wacker Pl, Chicago, IL 60601
Website: www.bacinos.com
# 8 – Spacca Napoli
Inside the restaurant, the place is bright and cheerful, and it has two separate rooms. You could rent out one of them to have a party if you wish or you may be seated in a certain area. Since there are two dining areas, this restaurant seats many people. The hardwood floors make the place look phenomenal. On cooler or slightly warmer days, you may want to eat on their patio that overlooks the parking lot.
The pizza is unique. They don’t have your typical cheese and pepperoni pizza. The kind of pizza you will be eating is something like Finochiona pizza for $20. This pizza has salami and onions as part of its topping that’s carmalized to perfection. Another popular entree is the calzone ripieno for $20. It’s stuffed with two different kinds of cheeses, mozzarella, and ricotta. There is salami also mixed in with the cheeses and some basil on top.
Address: 1769 W Sunnyside Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Website: www.spaccanapolipizzeria.com
# 7 – La Scarola
The walls are covered with photos of people and knickknacks, and there are also lots of wine bottles located in a cellar-type case against the wall. When you walk in for dinner, you’ll notice the tables are already set up perfectly with tablecloths and silverware. The fans tend to be off in the restaurant because if they stay on, then your food will not be hot for long.
Whichever you decide to order, you will receive a plate with generous portions. One of those entrees includes the Penne Alla Vodka for $27.95. The penne pasta is mixed with shrimp, mushrooms, asparagus, and arugula. It’s drenched in a sauce made with vodka. Even though the veal is the most expensive entree, it’s also the most popular. The veal is thrown on the grill and is very flavorful. It is placed on a bed of risotto. Covering the veal is mozzarella and tomatoes that have been roasted. There will be some fresh vegetables on the side.
Address: 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654
Website: www.lascarola.com
# 6 – Bongiorno’s Italian Deli and Pizzeria
This is the place to go to hang out with your friends or take a break from all the adventure tours you’ve been going on. This place is just like it sounds. As soon as you walk into the restaurant, it will give you a deli vibe. It’s smaller than the other restaurants mentioned, but it’s also one of the best restaurants in Chicago. The checkered tablecloths tell you that’s a comfortable environment and not stressful.
The kids will go crazy for their cheese pizza, which is $15.25. It has nothing special just mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce, but it seems to be everyone’s favorite pizza. If you’re a vegetarian, you will be pleased to know that’s a pizza that they have, which is $16.95. It will have some of your favorite vegetables as toppings, such as zucchini, eggplant, and peppers. You can’t have a pizza without cheese, so it’s also loaded with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce to complete the vegetarian pizza.
Address: 405 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Website: www.bongiornoschicago.com
# 5 – Volare
There’s a patio where you can sit outside in the fresh air while you eat your yummy Italian food. The inside of the restaurant is also amazing. This restaurant also gives off a sense of elegance. The lights on the walls, the chandelier, and the perfect white tablecloths on each table will give you this feeling.
The Grigiliata Mista is where you will get a little bit of everything in one dish, and you can purchase it for $18. There are 4 different types of seafood in this entree. You will taste scallops, calamari, octopus, and shrimp. These are cooked on the grill and mixed with vinegar. Another dish you can choose is the Salisiccia e Peperoni for $14. You will be eating a sausage and peppers that are roasted and mixed with their special sauce. Once it’s mixed, some seasonings are mixed in with garlic and oregano.
Address: 201 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Website: www.volarerestaurant.com
# 4 – Topo Gigio Ristorante
This is a nice restaurant to sit and unwind in after a long day at work or a long day of sightseeing. There are televisions set up at the bar so you can sit at the bar and have a drink and watch sports or the news. The brick wall that is designed as part of the restaurant illustrates a classy look. It’s also a spacious restaurant but you might want to make a reservation just in case because this is a popular restaurant.
Scampi e Capesante al Vino Bianco is a popular dish among customers. You can order for $14.95, which customers believe it’s a reasonable price. If you love seafood, then you’ll give this dish a five-star rating. There are mushrooms mixed in with scallops and scampi. The sauce is made with a favorite wine, Chardonnay, and fresh lemons are squeezed to finish off the sauce. Another popular dish is the Insalata di Petti di Pollo Alla Girglia, which is $15.95. The names can be confusing if you don’t know what they mean. This entree is a chicken breast that’s cooked on the grill and is topped with walnuts and raisins. Poured on top is a balsamic vinaigrette dressing over some lettuce.
Address: 1516 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610
Website: www.topogigiochicago.com
# 3 – RPM Italian
Whether it’s night or day, you’ll be pleased to see candles sitting on each of the tables. Customers love this kind of atmosphere because it sets off a relaxing vibe. The chairs are comfortable, which means you can stay a while and have a few extra drinks after dinner if you want. Make sure you also order water as well.
Customers seem to love the Prime Beef Meatballs, which are $16 a plate. The meatballs are roasted in garlic and are topped with parmesan cheese. Another popular dish is their pepperoni pizza, which is $12. The tomato sauce is a little spicy so make sure you are aware of that before you order it. Most customers like the spicy tang to this pizza.
Address: 52 W Illinois St, Chicago, IL 60654
Website: www.rpmrestaurants.com
# 2 – Francesca’s on Chestnut
According to the customers, this is a popular place to bring the family because the kids love the food here. The atmosphere is warm and inviting. Once you walk in, you feel you are welcome and the waiters and waitresses don’t mind the children that come in to dine with their parents. The staff makes everyone feel welcome and when customers leave, they promise to come back soon because they can’t get enough of this place.
The kids can’t get enough of the shrimp platter, which is $11.75. The shrimp is sauteed and cooked to perfection. The adults love it too. If you come on a date night without the children, try the Ravioli alla Caprese, which is $26.95. The name may sound unfamiliar, but it’s just ravioli stuffed with a few of your favorite things, which are tomato and mozzarella cheese. The sauce is cooked with Vodka, and it’s poured over the ravioli to finish off the dish.
Address: 200 E Chestnut St, Chicago, IL 60611
Website: www.miafrancesca.com
# 1 – Sapori Trattoria
The chandeliers and all the candles on the tables provide an elegant vibe. The hardwood floors and the wooden tables and chairs will make you feel like you’re walking into a lobby of a cabin. It makes you feel cozy inside. The wine bottles sitting against the wall behind the bar lets you know they have several different wine choices to choose from.
They have several dishes that are cooked to perfection. One of the dishes on the menu may catch your eye, called the Gnocchi Al Brivido for $27.00. The gnocchi is a type of pasta that taste like potatoes. You’ll taste some bites of chicken breast and tomatoes. The sauce is creamy and is mixed with parmesan cheese and pine nuts. Another type of pasta worth trying is the Cappellacci All’Aragosta for $30. This pasta is made with the chef’s hands. The chef stuffs the pasta with lobster and other seafood. The pasta is covered in a creamy sauce.
Address: 2701 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Website: www.saporitrattoria.net
10 Best Italian Restaurants In Chicago, Illinois article published on BigCityReview.com© 2022
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