One of the best Italian restaurants in the Chicago area closed its doors in July. Owner Frances Fiorentino and her son and business manager Stephen poured their hearts and souls into Fiorentino’s Cucina Italiana on Ashland Avenue in Chicago for nine years, earning accolades and a loyal customer base with their inviting atmosphere, attentive staff, and delightfully conceived and impeccably crafted dishes. “We are proud of our employees for their dedication and kindness. They are family to us,” Frances wrote in a heartfelt farewell. “We will be forever grateful to everyone who ever walked through our front doors and introduced us to their friends and family. You were more than customers. You were our friends.”