Top Best Italian Restaurants in Bruce Lake

"The glorious cityscape-river view from the outdoor deck at Gibson’s Italia is worth the price of admission. The setting sun reflected in the downtown skyscraper windows is truly breathtaking. So kick back with your Market Oysters with San Giacomo mignonette sauce, your Spaghettini & Charred Octopus with cherry tomatoes and Calabrian chili oil, or even a Wagyu Tomahawk Steak with Black Truffle Butter."

"Curved silver booths and vibrant artwork on the walls greet diners at this River West Italian eatery. It’s the sibling restaurant of Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse, a Chicago icon and c..."

"Located in the Fulton Market District, Formento’s is an authentic Italian restaurant that serves traditional and classic Italian dishes alongside new Italian-American favorites. Inspired by the age-old tradition of an Italian ‘Sunday-supper gathering,’ Chef/Partner Tony Quartaro has created a menu that takes diners into the heart of an Italian Cucina – think porcini bruschetta and Nona’s meatballs for lunch and wood-fired zucchini and pesto Giovanni for dinner. Desserts include handmade gelato and chocolate cake, while a world-class wine menu features over 600 varietals from around the world, ensuring guests will find the perfect accompaniment to the cuisine."

"925 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607 Situated in Chicago’s West Loop, Formento’s dons a classic look complete with white interiors and leather boots combined with an intimate kitchen filled with Italian American staples. The aromatic scents that fill the air near Formento’s attract many diners who find this spot becomes a new favorite."

"More snow globe dining, this time at the Italian spot along Randolph Street. As at sister restaurant The Bristol, the enclosed dining spaces seat four and come equipped with heater, ionizer and Bluetooth speaker. Reservations required."

"Chef Joe Flamm serves what he calls “Adriatic drinking food” at Rose Mary, which is the cuisine we didn’t know we needed until right now. Croatian and Italian influences abound in dishes like tortellini djuvec, which mingles the pasta shape you know with the Balkan rice dish you may not. As for that drinking we mentioned: take your pick from a trio of spritzes, spirit-free cocktails, or a cold, refreshing Italian or Croatian beer."

"Joe Flamm’s dream is finally here, as the the former Spiaggia chef and Top Chef winner opened his first restaurant alongside the owners of flashy West Loop steakhouse BLVD. Flamm merges his prowess of handmade Italian pastas with Croatian techniques blending Old and New Worlds to creating something unique. Reservations are recommended because this might the most difficult table in town."

"AshburnAs much as we enjoy the occasional deep dish excursion, us urbanites know that real Chicago pizza means square cut, cracker thin tavern-style. And there’s no better place to rev your authentic pizza engine than Vito & Nick’s, a South Side institution that’s been perfecting the crunchy, fully-loaded style since 1923. The crust hits the spot, for sure, but it’s the toppings, a broad expanse of meats, veggies, and palate-scorching giardiniera stretching all the way to the flawlessly blackened edge, that slyly steal the show.How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating and take-out."

"For many South Siders, Vito & Nick’s is the epitome of Chicago with its crispy thin-crust pizza (known as tavern-style or “party cut”). Frosty mugs of beer make the square-cut slices taste better in a dining room that looks like a classic ‘70s-style basement. They’ve been around for 100 years, and they don’t skimp on the toppings."

"A South Side institution, the old school Vito & Nick's restaurant has specialized in thin crust pizza for nearly a century. It's been featured on Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," among other shows. Recommended for Family Friendly because: It's a South Side institution, known for the best thin crust pizza in Chicago."

"We can bet that some of your favorite Italian dishes are Roman: Cacio e Pepe studded with black pepper and Pecorino Romano cheese; Bucatini all'Amatriciana starring spicy pork cheek ragu; and eggy Carbonara. You can get exceptional versions of all as well as other Roman delights like crispy Jewish style fried baby artichokes, stuffed rice croquettes (Suppli) and an array of different meatballs at Bar Roma. Chef Fred Ramos (Printer's Row, Gioco, Angelina) steers the gondola at the Andersonville charmer that features a tavern style bar/lounge and an open kitchen dining room."

"Roman-style cuisine with terrifically varied meatballs A relative newcomer to the Italian dining scene, this Andersonville restaurant has become something of a mecca for meatballs. While the Roman-style, hand-rolled pastas and wood-fired pizzas here are simply delicious, people keep coming back for the balls, or "polpette" on the menu. Get yourself an Italian-inspired craft cocktail and dive into whatever meatballs strike your fancy: braised beef cheek, veal sweetbread, spicy pork belly, chicken and pistachio, and lamb merguez-style sliders."

"According to Eater, one of the best places for Italian cuisine fans to dine is at Bar Roma. Although this is a bright and modern restaurant, it is set within a historic building that is more than a century old. The specialty at Bar Roma is polpette, and this dish is available in beef, pork, chicken, and ‘impossible meat’ varieties."

"In 2002, Sweet Mandy B’s opened its doors to sprinkle some magic into the community. This nostalgic cake shop in Chicago features old fashioned vibes and pastel colors. From Adult Cakes and Holiday Cakes to Special Occasion Cakes and a never ending selection of cupcakes, there’s something for everyone at Mandy B’s!"

"This Lincoln Park shop is sure to charm anyone with a cupcake tooth. The adorable old-fashioned charmer sells pies, cookies, and other sweet baked treats, but the cupcakes and cakes are perhaps the best in Chicago, coming in traditional flavors and creative seasonal varieties worthy of regular visits."

"Yes, this is slightly biased because it’s my favorite bakery in the country, but I promise this is by far the best bakery in Chicago. All of your baked good dreams are fulfilled here. There is not a single bad item on the menu."

"This Michael Mina-run brasserie may be inside the luxe Waldorf Astoria hotel, but that doesn’t make it a stuffy affair. Just keep an eye out for the “Chariot de Rosé”—a roving bar cart of rosé hand-picked by the somms. Diners are a mix of done-up travelers and foodies looking for a quiet, civilized meal (though they’re as amped as twenty-somethings at a taco truck to tuck into Michael Mina's classic French preparations)."

"If you're going to create a space reminiscent of a particular time, place and spirit, 1920's Paris would be it. Margeaux Brasserie is Chef Michael Mina's "moveable feast" to double metaphor Hemingway's ode to the city of the 20's. The restaurant's traditional brasserie fare is enlivened by Midwestern ingredients and bonhomie."

"Celebrity chef Michael Mina made his Chicago debut over the summer inside the Waldorf Astoria. His sultry brasserie combines 1920s glam with traditional fare for lavish dining experience. Nibble on duck wings à l'orange and escargots à la bordelaise or indulge in a pristine shellfish tower."

"Edgewater & Rogers ParkSpecializing in decadent custards, thick-as-thieves concretes, and sensational sundaes,Lickity Split is a veritable shrine to the sweet tooth. But it's their take on a banana split which stands in a league all its own. The ripened star of the show is topped with both vanilla and chocolate frozen custard before undergoing an onslaught of chocolate sauce, pineapples, strawberries, peanuts, and whipped cream.A dessert classic preserved for a new generation, whoever said, “They don’t make ‘em like they used to,” never got the scoop on this spot."

"A post shared by Lickity Split Chicago (@lickitysplitchi) on Dec 28, 2018 at 11:11am PST. This old time ice cream shop in Melbourne serves coffee, locally sourced pastry, retro candy, and frozen custard. People with a sweet tooth should definitely come here to grab a creamy and delicious cupcake or a scoop of their favorite ice cream."

"All Loyola students know that this is the place to get your ice cream fix when school starts. While their custard is amazing on their own, you have to try one of their concretes."

"Strollers are aplenty along Southport Avenue so it's no surprise that Crosby's Kitchen is a haven for tikes in this Lakeview neighborhood brimming with young families. The best part is that it's not just friendly for the young ones, it's also great for older kids and adults dining sans kids, complete with a wine menu. Order yourself a Bloody Mary and the table some monkey bread to start and choose from a kid's menu or the regular menu for brunch, lunch or dinner."

"This restaurant was designed with kids in mind, namely the daughter, Crosby, of one of the owners. Her influence served them well — extra-wide doors accommodate strollers, and there’s a sink in the dining room, so kids can wash up. The kids’ menu is pretty standard, but adds a few different dishes like the chicken leg that comes straight off their signature rotisserie."

"This family-friendly diner offers Midwestern-inspired comfort food that’s sure to please. The staff are very accommodating to children and work hard to make sure they have a good time. You can’t go wrong with their dinner menu, and definitely give brunch a try—no one can get enough of their signature monkey bread!"

"The Grand Lux Café is an upmarket chain that serves a wide-ranging menu of internationally inspired cuisine in elegant and relaxed surroundings. Created by the founders of The Cheesecake Factory®, the Grand Lux Café was inspired by the quaint trattorias of Italy, the stylish bistros of France, and the grand cafes and pastry shops of Vienna. Blending the grandeur and luxury of European cafés with the spirit of an all-American restaurant, the upscale-casual eatery features a lavish interior design with marble floors and tabletops, sumptuous fabrics and textures, intricate mosaics, and handblown glass fixtures and offers guests a unique dining experience for breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

"Situated perfectly on the strip of the Magnificent Mile, the cafe overlooks Michigan Ave. From the cafe, especially during nighttime, the view from the outside looking in is just as grand as the view from the inside looking out."

"Poke is making some serious waves in Chicago, and much of it started with this seafood-centric company that has opened four locations in just one year. Credit that success to crazy fresh fish, affordable price points and as many toppings as you can fit into the "little" or "big" bowls, priced at just $7.50 and $9.50, respectively. Ahi tuna poke bowl | Photo: Aloha Pokē Co."

"Located within sister steakhouse Swift & Sons, Cold Storage aims its harpoon at seafood and its efforts result in towers of shellfish with oysters, scallop ceviche, clams, mussels, shrimp, and lobster. The space feels a bit like one of the old ice storage rooms that populated the Fulton Market neighborhood up to just a few decades ago. Chef Chris Pandel steers this light-filled ship that offers a compact yet nonetheless alluring menu."

"The cool decor and big TVs make it an enjoyable spot for everyone, so don’t be intimidated by it’s sister restaurant next door, Swift & Sons. #SpoonTip: Don’t be scared off by the eight scoop description. Order the Narwhal Sundae."

"Then a visit to Cold Storage Seafood at West Fulton Market is on the agenda. Oysters on the half shell, chowder and mussels are crowd favorites. With its industrial d..."