Dining

The fourth location of Pronto Italian Sandwiches opened in the fall at 221 S. Washington St. in downtown Naperville, following eateries in Hinsdale and Des Plaines, and at O’Hare International Airport. The chain is owned by Peter and Dana Burdi, who first ventured into the culinary scene in 2009 with the Hinsdale restaurants Il Poggiolo, which closed last year, and Nabuki. Pronto Italian Sandwiches is all about its Tuscan schiacciata bread, Peter Burdi told the Naperville Sun. “It’s made with all products from Italy. All the flour is flown in from Italy, and the olive oil and things like that,” …

The second location of the restaurant Piacere Mio opened in November at 1303 W. Wilson Ave. in Chicago. The first location opened two years ago in Forest Park under the direction of owners Francisco Perez and chef Jose Marquez, who teamed up with Antonio de la Rosa to open the Chicago location. The menu includes a variety of pasta dishes from across Italy, such as pappardelle Bolognese, trofie al pesto Genovese, gnocchi verdi al tartufo, fusilli alla buttera, spaghetti cacio e pepe, orecchiette Pugliese, rigatoni rustica (with braised wagyu-beef short ribs), tagliatelle con aragosta, linguine alle vongole and fettuccine nero …

Sorelle, a new Italian cafe and market, opened in November within The Glen Town Center in Glenview. The location at 1941 Tower Drive is the second for the business, which also operates a cafe and market in Long Grove. Co-owner Mario Webber, a Glenview native, told the publication Journal & Topics that he always wanted to open a business in his hometown. “My parents used to bring me to the (Naval Air Station Glenview) air shows, and now we’re right on the corner by the tower,” said Webber, who partnered with co-owner George Tsonklas. “It’s kind of a homecoming.” For …

The recently published English translation of an Italian book gives fascinating insight into how Italian prisoners cook in their cells with the few resources that are available to them. “Cooking in Maximum Security” was published by Half Letter Press in November. The Italian original was compiled by Matteo Guidi, who worked with people detained in high-surveillance sections of Italian prisons through an exchange of letters between 2009 and 2013. “Making kitchen tools before one can even begin to gather ingredients is a priority in this cookbook,” Half Letter Press explains. “In addition to identifying the necessary utensils, this book also …

Lucca Osteria & Bar in suburban Oak Brook is the vision of Italian chef and veteran restaurateur Claudio Ulivieri, who co-founded the eatery with Steve Hartenstein on May 1, 2021. Located at 1415 W. 22nd St., across from Oakbrook Center mall, Lucca features a broad menu of authentic Italian dishes including pizza, antipasti, soups, salads, pasta, seafood, meat dishes and sides. Ulivieri was born in Lucca, Italy, and raised on a farm in the town of Altopascio, a small village outside the city. “He learned winemaking from his father and helped him harvest the crop every year,” Lucca’s website recounts. …

The new restaurant Provaré at 1523 W. Chicago Ave. in Chicago pushes boundaries with its convergence of Creole and Italian cuisines. The menu is “perfectly aligned with the saucy and spicy fare,” according to the Michelin Guide. Provaré is the brainchild of chef and partner Jourdan Higgs, a native of suburban Oak Park. “On the menu, the chef pays homage to his Sicilian grandfather, and the results are just full of surprises. Our experience involved ‘crabby fries,’ shatteringly crisp calamari tucked with jalapenos and banana peppers, and tossed with cognac-splashed shrimp scampi,” Michelin writes. Higgs told Forbes magazine that he …

Worth booking weeks ahead, Pizz’Amici in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood sets the new standard for tavern-style pizza, according to Eater Chicago. Located in a former barbershop at 1215 W. Grand Ave., Pizz’Amici is owned by Cecily and Billy Federighi. The dimly lighted eatery has a cozy feeling with seating for about 30 and another eight spots at the bar. Its tavern-style pizza is made with “an impressive cracker-thin crust that’s the perfect base for Chicago-favorite toppings like fennel sausage, Italian beef and giardiniera,” Eater Chicago writes. The menu also features dishes like sausage and peppers, meatballs, caponata, homemade focaccia and …

Bongiorno’s Pizza & Italian Deli has a new owner but continues to offer some of the same well-loved Italian recipes, according to ABC7 Chicago (WLS-TV). The restaurant at 405 N. Wabash Ave. can be “a little tricky to find” but is worth the hunt, thanks to its extensive menu of about 20 pizza varieties, including “rossa” and “bianca,” and toppings including prosciutto cotto, soppressata, sausage, pepperoni, tuna, eggplant, zucchini, bacon, artichokes and many more. The menu also features salads, sandwiches, calzone, pasta and meat dishes. Desserts include cannoli, tiramisu, gelato and Italian cookies, and the drinks selection features beer and …

Featuring a variety of southern Italian family recipes, Cucina Bella celebrated its 20th year in downtown Algonquin earlier this year. Owner Tony Colatorti opened the Italian restaurant in 2005 after operating Luke’s Italian Beef locations in the area, the Northwest Herald reported. One of Colatorti’s favorite menu items is the Suprema sauce, created when marinara sauce was accidentally mixed into Alfredo sauce; it has become one of the restaurant’s best sellers. “Lots of people try to duplicate it. Without the exact marinara ratio, it’s hard to do,” he told the newspaper. For more, click here.  

A new spot in Chicago’s South Loop owned by former Chicago Bear Israel Idonije boasts offering “the world’s best amaro party.” Buttercup, located at 75 E. 16th St., is a coffee bar during the day and an amaro-focused cocktail lounge and bistro in the evening, Eater Chicago reported. The 900-square-foot space features a 40-seat room with an 11-seat, chrome-topped bar. Starting at 7 a.m., the coffee menu offers custom blends for espresso and drip from Chicago-based Sparrow Coffee, alongside baked goods like pastries, blueberry-corn muffins and sticky-toffee bread. The evening menu starts at 4 p.m. and features Italian-leaning classics like …