Dining

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.

Boasting a family-friendly and garden-inspired atmosphere, Giardino Trattoria & Pizzeria opened late last year at 12 N. River St. in the historic Hobbs Building in Aurora, the Daily Herald reported. The menu features wood-fired pizza and a wide range of Italian dishes, including handmade pasta. Chef Ruben de la Cruz previously worked at Hugo’s Frog Bar and specializes in seafood and Italian cooking. Chef Martin Balderas focuses on innovative Italian dishes with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and sustainable practices. For more, click here.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of Labriola restaurant at 535 N. Michigan Ave. in Chicago. Its menu features a variety of pasta and pizza, including thin-crust, deep-dish, thin deep-dish and gluten-free. Founder Rich Labriola, a native of Blue Island in south suburban Chicago, first established the Labriola Baking Company in 1993, which he eventually sold. Labriola’s Doughboy Restaurant Group also includes Labriola Ristorante in Oak Brook and LaBarra Ristorante, also in Oak Brook. In addition, Labriola owns and operates 16 Stan’s Donuts & Coffee locations in Chicago. For more, click here.    

In January, Prince Street Pizza opened its first location in the Midwest at 939 W. Randolph St. in Chicago. The eatery serves Sicilian-style, square slices, Neapolitan pizzas and signature sauces. This is the 16th location for Prince Street Pizza, which has locations on the East and West Coasts, and first opened in 2012 in New York City. The Chicago opening was spearheaded by Prince Street Pizza founder and CEO Lawrence Longo, along with restaurateur and chef David Choi, owner of Seoul Taco. “We are thrilled to open Prince Street Pizza in Chicago as it’s one of the greatest food cities …