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Best Italian Food in Chicago

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Ballo
445 N Dearborn St Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 832-7700
Ballo serves THE BEST meatballs in the world. If you do not get at least one order of Mama's Meatballs with traditional Sunday Salad, we might have to put you on Sneaky probation. Seriously, even the Vegans need to take ten minutes off, they are that magical. Aside from the meatballs, there are some other tasty Italian dishes that deserve honorable mentions like the famed Brick Chicken, Veal Saltimbocca and Linguine tossed with an array of fresh seafood in a light marinara sauce. Don’t forget the Chianti! Hours: Mon 12am-2am, 5pm-2am; Tue-Fri 5pm-2am; Sat 5pm-3am; Sun 5pm-12am.
Frankie’s Scaloppine
900 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 266-2500
Don’t let your Gucci and Bloomingdale bags weigh you down while shopping in 900 North - take a break and enjoy a relaxing lunch at the new Lettuce Entertain You restaurant Frankie’s Scalopinne. From premium views over the Magnificent Mile to the old-school Chicken Milanese, lightly fried with a touch of lemon, you can do no wrong. The kitchen has taken Italian classics and ensured quality and freshness, so the next time you’re shopping, don’t let the prospect of a tighter waistband scare you off; Frankie’s Scalopinne is worth every inch. Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-8:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-10pm; Sun 12pm-8pm
Piccolo Sogno
464 N. Halsted St. Chicago, IL 60622-7687
(312) 421-0077
Cocco Pazzo has now moved westward with longtime executive chef Tony Priolo opening Piccolo Sogno in mid July. Priolo’s training in Tuscany and his wine specialist’s training in Naples has led to a menu with a wide range of Italian cuisine. Diners can enjoy homemade straw and hay ribbon pasta with veal ragu while basking in the newly rehabbed space that includes Venetian plastered walls and a cool, (literally) marble bar. The incredible outdoor space with great city views is getting a new floor and a retractable canopy helping to make Piccolo Sogno live up to its name, “Little Dream.” Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-10:30pm; Sat 5pm-11pm;Sun 5pm-9:30pm
Merlo
2638 N. Lincoln Avenue Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 529-0747
Deliziosa! If it’s authentic Italian fare that you desire then look no further than Merlo Ristorante, where classic Bolognese cooking is the norm. Modeled after a salon from the Emilia-Romagna villa, this chic Lincoln Park restaurant offers homemade pasta alongside buffalo mozzarella imported from Italy. For a more traditional dish, spoil your taste buds with fried shrimp, scallops and calamari with artichokes and zucchini or lasagna with Bolognese ragu. Dieters, beware! Considered the best Italian in the city, Merlo naturally houses some of the town’s richest chocolate gelato. Hours: Open Sun-Thurs 5:30-9 pm. Fri-Sat 5:30-10 pm
La Scarola
721 W Grand Ave Chicago, IN 60610
(312) 243-1740
Many claim this unpretentious Italian restaurant to have one of the best Italian menus in the city. Sneaky seconds that! Aside from the Wall of Fame, which pays homage to it’s celebrity visitors like Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, David Schwimmer and Jerry Springer, the food is amazing. You can always count on La Scarola to deliver on authentic Italian food for a reasonable price. It gets packed pretty much every night, so if you’re heading there for a romantic date night, call ahead. Hours: Mon-Fri 11am-3pm, 5pm-11pm; Sat 4pm-11pm; Sun 4pm-10pm
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