113512 Wed Aug 20 00:08:01 -0700 2003 1 7 Chicago Area 0 617274 Went to Tufano's for dinner tonight and everything was exactly, and I do mean exactly, as expected, even down to dining next to a 3-generation table where it was the little ones birthday, which included singing and a cake. We were seated outside on the open air patio, which is next to a lovely little bubbling fountain, perfect weather for dining outdoors. Our waitress, as I said she might be, was a bit distracted with one too many tables, but efficient and friendly, which included getting baseball score updates for RevrendAndy. Tufano's was out of the first wine we ordered so the waitress offered us a slightly more expensive wine at the same price, a Chianti blend Frescobaldi Pomino Rosso. The warm D'Amato's bread, slathered with the table giardiniera was perfect as was the crisp, greaseless, tender calamari. Served with an abundance of lemon and a tangy red sauce, though I stick to just lemon and crushed red pepper on my fried calamari. We also had half of a caprese salad, the balsamic dressing and fresh mozzarella were good, the tomato a poor excuse for the middle of August and a half of an order of house antipasto salad. By the way, there were 4 of us, The Rev, Dan, Ellen and me, I didn't want you to think just The Rev and I ate all this for appetizers. (smile) Our main courses were plump, perfectly cooked mussels over angel hair pasta with a light tomato sauce, The Rev thought they went a little light on the red sauce, and an a whole lemon chicken. The whole lemon chicken, including breast meat, was perfect, exactly as always, unchanged, crisp, charred in spots, garlic/lemon/juicy perfection. Topped with crisp cottage fries, with the lucky few potatoes on the bottom of the dish luxuriating in olive oil and chicken juice. What a treat! Our dinner for 4, in a lovely little patio with the sound of laughing children and a gurgling fountain as accompaniments cost $120, before tip with two bottles of wine, and two bottle of Moretti. Tufano's, at least to me, is the same as it has ever been, excellent food, excellent value, wrapped up in a pleasant neighborhood family friendly package. Enjoy, Gary Tufano's Vernon Park Tap 1073 W. Vernon Park Pl. Chicago, IL 312-733-3393 Link: http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/113492#617227 Wed Aug 20 00:08:01 -0700 2003 0 G Wiv 1 617299 The inestimable GWiv has pretty much covered all the bases(as did the White Sox)that night for dinner. I hadn't been to Tufanos in some time so it was nice to revisit the place, since it has been recently getting slammed by some Chowhounds. Like Gary, I found the restaurant pretty consistent to what I've always expected. I've never had their Caprese salad, but I suspect the tomatoes were as bad as they've always been. Their house salad hasn't changed-good salad, sh**ty tomatoes. Good calamari, great chicken. I couldn't judge the mussel dish because it was too light on the red sauce. I'd go back anytime. Wed Aug 20 21:46:46 -0700 2003 617274 0 RevrendAndy