Anyone have a favorite "Italian" section of Chicago? (Arlington Heights: home, neighborhoods)

[Master Jay]

Hello, anyone have any restaurants or delis that you have high marks for in "Italian" areas in the city? I'm Milwaukeean, but I think I have a good sense of the city. Personally, I tend to dine at Ignotz in the 24th and Oakley area as well as Rosebud in the Taylor Street area. On another note, I find it interesting that the Northwest Avenue section of Edison Park is not considered an "Italian" area since in a small area there are about 5 Italian restaurants, an Italian Ice shop and an Italian Deli!... Anyone able to vouch for E. 26th in Bridge Port, Grand Avenue and Ogden area, or N. Harlem? I'm familiar with the areas yet never stopped by any of the establishments at this point. I'll take any feedback or recommendations. Thanks, Master Jay

[Vlajos]

None of these are Italian areas really, but they are great for Italian foods.

Bari on Grand is a great Italian deli. And D'Amatos next door is a great bakery. My favorite Italian restaurant in the entire US (that I have been to of course) is Riccardo Trattoria.

Riccardo Trattoria - Cozy, casual italian restaurant with traditional dishes, many daily specials & a varied wine list.

[andrew61]

Out of the Italian restaurants I tried during my years in Chicago -- and admittedly there were a great many I never got around to trying -- I found myself rather partial to Francesca's on Taylor. I ordered the Penne alla Siciliana there, and to my delight, the tomato sauce came the closest to what my Sicilian grandmother used to make from scratch compared with any other restaurant sauce I've ever tried.

One I didn't particularly care for was Bruna's on Oakley Avenue. I ordered a Rigatoni Bolognese that was very average and, IMO, quite overpriced for what it was. And the dining-room decor was very dated and tacky.

[ToriaT]

There really are no Italian neighborhood left in Chicago...there are small clusters of places like Oakley that you mention with a few restaurants and also Taylor Street. Harlem Avenue going north around Elmwood Park has a few Italian delis and restaurants as well. Many people like Sabatino's which is not in an Italian neighborhood but is old school and I believe still around.

[Alacran]

Melrose Park has Italians scattered in.

Abruzzo's hidden in Melrose park is supposed to be good.

Scudiero's Bakery in Melrose park always has Italian people coming in and out when I pass by.

[personone]

Originally Posted by andrew61

Out of the Italian restaurants I tried during my years in Chicago -- and admittedly there were a great many I never got around to trying -- I found myself rather partial to Francesca's on Taylor. I ordered the Penne alla Siciliana there, and to my delight, the tomato sauce came the closest to what my Sicilian grandmother used to make from scratch compared with any other restaurant sauce I've ever tried.

One I didn't particularly care for was Bruna's on Oakley Avenue. I ordered a Rigatoni Bolognese that was very average and, IMO, quite overpriced for what it was. And the dining-room decor was very dated and tacky.

Agreed! I love Francesca's on Taylor. They just have great home style food. I've been to Francesca's in Arlington Heights and it has the same great food and ambience as on Taylor. Rosebud on Taylor is good, but I like Francesca's better.

[personone]

Originally Posted by ToriaT

There really are no Italian neighborhood left in Chicago...there are small clusters of places like Oakley that you mention with a few restaurants and also Taylor Street. Harlem Avenue going north around Elmwood Park has a few Italian delis and restaurants as well. Many people like Sabatino's which is not in an Italian neighborhood but is old school and I believe still around.

It's interesting because Chicago's metro has the third largest Italian population by raw numbers (it's much lower on the list when looking at percentage), but you are right, there are really only pockets and not large neighborhoods.

[Creo]

I also agree that a stretch of Harlem Avenue around Grand, I think, has some Italian places with both Italian-Americans and Italians.

[lepoisson]

I really haven't found great Italian food in Chicago, but that's mostly because Italians moved to NYC and the East Coast over Chicago.

[damba]

Originally Posted by personone

It's interesting because Chicago's metro has the third largest Italian population by raw numbers (it's much lower on the list when looking at percentage), but you are right, there are really only pockets and not large neighborhoods.

Do the census numbers reflect only individuals who are first generation or immigrants, or do they reflect only self-identified Italian-Americans? Implying that someone included in those numbers could possibly be half German and half Italian(?)