From Italy with Love: Bacchanalia and Other Hidden Dining Gems in Chicago’s Heart of Italy

As you step inside Bacchanalia Ristorante in Chicago’s Heart of Italy neighborhood, you will be aptly greeted by the words, “la dolce vita,” or “the sweet life.”  Because that is exactly what you will find on these charming blocks just 15 minutes southwest of downtown Chicago.  A handful of decades-old, family-run, predominantly Tuscan restaurants grace the 2400 block of South Oakley Avenue, just a few blocks south of Taylor Street -- Little Italy’s main drag.

Bacchanalia has been serving up tasty Old World Italian dishes since 1979 and takes its name from Bacchus, Roman God of wine and ‘festive intoxication.’  The mirrored dining room and vintage wall hangings conjure up images of classic Scorsese films, and the food does not disappoint!    

Try the highly-touted chicken vesuvio, baked with potatoes and sauteed in a fresh garlic and wine sauce, or sample the Italian style fried chicken.  Enjoy breads from local Italian bakeries; fresh pastas, such as the tantalizing manicotti; and daily fish specials.  Top it all of with an espresso and piece of tiramisu.  The bar up front is a fun spot to enjoy a drink – the limoncello martini is a specialty – and admire the large mural of Bacchus.

Location: 2413 South Oakley Ave., Chicago.  Click here for more details.

Others neighborhood haunts try include: La Fontanella, Ignotz Ristorante, Bruna’s Ristorante, Il Vicinato and more.  And, don’t miss the annual Festa Pasta Vino -- Heart of Italy’s food and wine festival in June that is one of Chicago’s largest celebrations of Italian culture!