First Look: Downtown Detroit gets an authentic northern Italian pizzeria when La Lanterna returns in April
Two of Michigan’s biggest culinary exports are Little Cesars and Jet’s, so it’s understandable if your neighborhood Hot-N-Ready purveyor is what pops to mind when someone says “pizzeria.” But that’s what passes for an American pizzeria. Those that you’ll find in northern Italy — of which the soon-to-open La Lanterna in downtown Detroit’s Capitol Pa...
Bringing the Italian Ritual of “Resentin” to the Bar World
The act of shooting an oyster and downing a shot are superficially similar—both often end with an overturned vessel on the bar. But where the latter can be sipped or lingered over, if desired, eating an oyster is inevitably a fleeting affair. At Chicago’s Sink|Swim, the seafood-centric restaurant from Scofflaw Group, however, the short-lived ritual...
12 Old School Italian Joints You Need To Know About
Italian food means a lot more than spaghetti and meatballs these days, but sometimes the basics, in an old school red sauce joint, are all we want. They’re the places that originally made Italian food popular in this country – authenticity aside. That’s why we want to tell you about some of Chicago’s best old school Italian joints – the kind of pla...
After 35 years, Rosie’s Italian Grille is still a joy
Not that diners need an excuse to enjoy one of Toledo’s better restaurants, but Rosie’s Italian Grille marking its 35th anniversary this year is as valid as any. Other reasons include the delicious lobster bisque; the must-have appetizer hot mama bread with gooey cheese; the “house-made” pizzas; and separate but equally well-done lunch and dinner m...
Martino's Italian Villa inducted into Pizza Hall of Fame
If you order a pizza from Martino’s Italian Villa, you are literally eating a Martino’s pizza. That’s because only a Martino family member makes the restaurant’s iconic pizza pie. Every morning, Angela Martino and her son, Mike, whip up the crust and sauce from scratch, season the sausage and grate the cheese before it’s put into the oven. That’s t...
Marciano’s Chicago Style Deli celebrates its first year in Canyon Country
If you’re craving food from the windy city, you don’t need a plane ticket, just a drive into Canyon Country. Marciano’s Chicago Style Deli was not only deemed the go-to sandwich shop for Super Bowl Sunday on KTLA’s “Burrous’ Bites,” it has become the destination for hungry SCV residents since March 11 of last year. “It’s been great,” says owner Bre...
Let's Eat: Casetta Kitchen and Counter has sandwich ideals
Like the ingredients in a good sandwich, the owners of the new Casetta Kitchen and Counter complement each other. Casetta, an Italian-American sandwich shop and bar, opened in February on West Washington Avenue in the space formerly occupied by Bluephie’s Downtown Deli. Of the two owners, James Juedes, 30, recently a sommelier at L’Etoile, is outgo...
Italian spots La Buona Vita and La Notte brighten western suburbs
When is a new restaurant not a new restaurant? Today we take a look at two newish places in the western suburbs. La Notte Ristorante Italiano in Oak Park opened in November but is a virtual copy of 12-year-old La Notte Cafe in Berwyn; La Buona Vita in La Grange has been open more than two years, but chef/owner Terry Rempert recently debuted a new l...
Fazoli's Announces Opening of Newest Restaurant in Indiana
Fazoli's, America's largest fast casual Italian chain, announced today the opening of its newest franchised restaurant in Zionsville, Indiana, marking the company's 35th location in the state. Located at 6378 Crane Drive, the restaurant will celebrate its grand opening with a first ribbon cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on March 6th, to be attended b...
Pat’s Pizza and Ristorante – Go-to local pizza spot
Chicago is known for dishing out some of the best pizza pies in the country. From deep dish to thin sliced, Chicago knows no bounds in providing endless opportunities to enjoy the age-old Italian favorite. With such a buzz around pizza, the well-known restaurants serving up the slices are often crowded and standard – that’s why it’s important to fi...
Polenta Bar Brings Taste Of Northern Italy To Lake Street In West Loop
A new fast casual restaurant focused on all-things polenta has opened on Lake Street in the West Loop. Milan natives Emile Chalouhi and chef Camillo Villa opened The Polenta Bar at 1002 W. Lake St. last week. Chalouhi and Villa moved to Chicago from Italy to open the restaurant this year. While American Italian cooking often focuses on pasta dishe...
Mequon Italian restaurant celebrates 40 years
The owners of Ferrante’s Restaurant in Mequon credit their success to family recipes from Rome that have remained unchanged for 40 years. "If you would have told me I will be serving my Italian-American fare in 2017 when I opened in 1977, I may not have believed you,” said Amy Ferrante-Gollwitzer, owner of Ferrante’s Restaurant and Signature Cateri...