If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that a hearty plate of pasta is always a good choice. Heavy with Italian tradition, Chicago is home to some of the country’s best red sauce restaurants. From timeless classics, such as spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Vesuvio, to contemporary offerings featuring fancy ingredients like truffles, there’s a lot of variety to be had. Some spots have histories that span decades while others are relative newcomers. But the one thing they all have in common: cooking that’ll make Nonna proud. In addition to phenomenal Italian restaurants, Chicago also offers a plethora of spots that focus primarily on pizza, pasta, and Italian beef.
Six eateries have made their exits from the Italian food map, not a reflection of their worthiness, but rather to give diners an opportunity to focus on some of the most talked-about spots around these days, as well as pay homage to the stalwarts that have kept the scene alive for generations. Here are some of Chicago’s most stellar options for Italian.
— Additional reporting by Detroit-based editor Serena Maria Daniels
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