Dining

Elgin-based Cafe Roma is expected to open a second location by this fall inside Old Village Hall in Huntley, in suburban Chicago. The restaurant is owned by chef Frank Redisi, who lived and studied in Rome. His background includes Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago and extensive travel studying and sampling multicultural fare throughout Europe and Southeast Asia, according to Cafe Roma’s website. The restaurant at 2175 Point Boulevard in Elgin opened in 2009 as a lunch-only spot; over time, the lineup was expanded to include dinner hours and catering services. For more, click here.  

Celebrity chef and entrepreneur Giada De Laurentiis has partnered with PENN Entertainment to open upscale restaurants at the future Hollywood Casino sites in Aurora and Joliet in suburban Chicago. The new dining experiences will bring De Laurentiis’ signature fusion of classic Italian cuisine and modern California influence to Sorellina by Giada at the Joliet casino, expected to open later this year, and Sorella by Giada at the Aurora casino, expected to open in 2026. Each restaurant will have its own unique menu of pizza, pastas and more, according to a press release. “I am thrilled to partner with PENN Entertainment …

Having undergone a $4 million renovation over the last two years, Carmine’s on Rush Street in Chicago is scheduled to unveil a new look by June. Known for its classic Italian fare and vibrant atmosphere, the restaurant will feature “an upgraded dining experience, offering both traditional favorites and signature steakhouse selections in a revitalized setting,” according to a press release from parent company Rosebud Restaurant Group. The new 10,000-square-foot building will have a one-floor layout featuring indoor dining, a new private dining room, indoor and outdoor bars, and expansive terrace space, with a total seating capacity of 366. The menu …

After 30 years in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood, Tarantino’s closed in the spring after customers flocked to it over its last few weeks to show their appreciation. “My family, my close friends, my sister, my nieces, people from the North Shore, kids of longtime customers literally flying in just to have one last meal here — it’s been really special,” owner John Tarantino told Block Club Chicago. The restaurant’s menu featured recipes from Tarantino’s mother, Grace. Tarantino has worked in restaurants since age 18 but has never cooked. “I couldn’t cook you one of our sauces if we went back …

After selling her creations at suburban Chicago farmers markets, Nicole Pietrarosso-Pavlinic now has her own bakery, Nicola’s Heavenly Cucina, located in the Lockport Metra station. “I’ve been baking my whole life — my mom taught me — and it’s been a dream for me to open up my own bakery,” Pietrarosso-Pavlinic, whose father is Italian, told the Herald-News. “A lot of these recipes have been in my family for decades.” The menu includes Italian classics such as butter cookies, cannoli and tiramisù, the latter imported from Italy; coffee; and her house specialty, sourdough bread. She also sells other sourdough creations, …

Moretti’s Restaurant opened its 13th Chicagoland location at 365 W. Dundee Road in Wheeling this spring. Founded in 1992, the family-owned company has locations as far north as Fox Lake and as far south as Bedford Park. Moretti’s was founded by Fred Hoffmann and is run by him and his sons Mark and Dean. The original location still exists in Edison Park on Chicago’s Northwest Side. Moretti’s menu features a blend of classic family recipes and modern culinary trends. Pizza options include deep-dish and tavern-style thin crust. For more, click here.

Capriccio Artisan Pizza & Coffee, a Roman-style pizza restaurant, opened in March at 4771 N. Lincoln Ave., in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood. “I grew up in Italy and have been perfecting pizza, dough and fermentation techniques for years,” chef Guillermo Paolisso told Block Club Chicago. His dough goes through an extended fermentation process that allows for an airy, crisp and fluffy crust, explained Paolisso, previously executive chef at Artango Bar & Steakhouse, located next door to his new restaurant. “This has the culture of Italy wrapped up inside of it with fresh ingredients. It’s nostalgic, and brings me memories of …

Zarella, a neighborhood pizzeria and taverna from Boka Restaurant Group, opened in March in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. Chef-partners Chris Pandel and Lee Wolen crafted a menu featuring a mix of tavern-style and artisan pizzas, an array of entrées and small bites, as well as fresh salads and rotating Italian specialties. “Growing up in Chicagoland, Friday nights meant pizza with my family — always tavern-style: thin, crispy and cut into squares. Now, I’m excited to create a place where people can make their own memories over great pizza, just like I did,” Pandel said. For more, click here.

This year, Anichini Brothers celebrates 100 years of their family-operated business. The company has grown from a small grocery store with prime cuts of meat and high-quality sausages to a wholesale food-distribution company based at 545 N. Wells St. in Chicago. Silvio Anichini started the business with his brothers after emigrating from Lucca, in Tuscany. Anichini’s son-in-law, Salvatore Gaddini, recognized the importance of the pizza market and expanded the business to include sausage made in-house. The company offers six types of Italian sausage: Premium Italian Rope Sausage with Fennel; Premium Italian Rope Sausage with Garlic; Premium “Spicy” Italian Rope Sausage; …

A couple who had their first date at Italian mainstay Club Lucky in Chicago about 20 years ago once again left a massive tip the Friday before Valentine’s Day. The generous tippers wish to remain anonymous, executive general manager Thomas Kleiner told Block Club Chicago. In 2021, 2022 and 2024, the couple left $2,000 tips. This year, the couple tipped $3,000 on a $120.38 check. At the couple’s request, the tip was split among the staff that night, some of whom have worked at the restaurant for decades. For more, click here.