Help - out of town guests coming and want Italian!

[jmspieg513]

We have company coming into Chicago for the first time. For lunch I was planning on taking them to the Taste of Chicago (limitless options!) but they just told us that they'd like to try some Italian at a sit down place. We will be downtown - doing the touristy stuff - boat tour, Millenium park, Michigan Ave., etc. I don't want to do pizza. Budget is moderate. Please help!!!!!! Thanks

[croissantanyone]

The places mentioned so far are decent, but I don't think they offer an enjoyable dining experience. Check out Rose Angelis in Lincoln Park. The restaurant is located in a little store front in a completely residential area. As you are led further and further into the restaurant any memories of the street are forgotten. The service is wonderful and of course most importantly--the food is delicious. I recommend the duck tortellini in a port wine/brown butter sauce.

Rose Angelis
1314 W. Wrightwood Ave., Chicago, [phone].
Italian. Dinner: Sun, Tues-Sat. Closed Monday.
Open late: Friday & Saturday till 11.

[The Food Diva]

The Rosebud on Rush or Carmines - with out a doubt.

[Lilybeth]

Take them a little bit south to Taylor Street - in that area is a great Italian restaurant:
Tufanos (or Vernon Park Tap) - on Vernon Park off Sheffield. Very old school Italian but the food is great. They do not take reservations but it's worth the wait.

[delk]

Sadly, Sheffield does not exist on the Southside! The cross street is Aberdeen. I grew up in the Back of the Yards, lived on the Northside for 25 years and now live in the West Loop. Ashland, Racine and Halsted remain the same, but most of the other N/S streets have different names: 2 blocks East of Ashland is Southport on the North and Laflin on the South. My poor S/O, who only knew the Northside was a bit lost, but for me, it wasa return to my childhood.
And, bear in mind, Tufano's does not accept credit cards!

[Gweck]

I highly recommend Bella Notte (http://www.bellanottechicago.com/) at 1200 East Grand. The portions are HUGE and you can totally get one for 2 people. They do have a sharing fee of like $3 but if you love it you could order a second entre to go and eat it later?! haha!

[SuzMiCo]

How much is moderate?

Check out Coco Pazzo or Coco Pazzo Cafe - very good Italian food. The original is better, but the Cafe is cheaper and closer to most of the tourist attractions.

[coopercj]

We ate last week @ Ricardo Tratoria-- it is in Lincoln Park- Very good. The food is prepaired in a simple manner, so that you can appreciate singular flavors. It is one of the closest to eating authentic Italian food here in the city-- They have a large menu, and are very amenable to substitutions-

good luck-
Charlie