Bovaconti Coffee combines Italian cafe vibe, locally-sourced coffee and a nod to Fountain Square history
About three years ago, Justin Jones’ love of hospitality and coffee led him to open Georgia Street Grind in downtown Indianapolis. Then, after finding success with what he calls his “proof of concept” at that location, he decided to turn his attention to bringing a new kind of coffee shop to the city: a neighborhood gathering place, inspired by cla...
Portillo’s, popular Chicago-style Italian beef restaurant, opening first Michigan location
Some Michiganders will no longer have to make the drive to Illinois or Indiana to get their Portillo’s fix. The restaurant chain, known for its popular Chicago-style food, has just announced it will open its first Michigan restaurant. The location of the restaurant will be at Hall Road in Sterling Heights, although it will be a while before it open...
Mina brings aperitivo-style plates to Crossroads Collective
Despite the hardship of the COVID-19 pandemic, creativity continues to blossom in the food and beverage industry, bringing new concepts throughout the city and to places like the East Side's Crossroads Collective, 2238 N. Farwell Ave. Earlier this month, we announced that Thum was bringing the fresh flavors of Lao cuisine to the popular food hall....
Couple met in Milwaukee, spent decades at Michelin-starred Spiaggia, now have a project in Nashville
When Tony and Cathy Mantuano met at Milwaukee’s Nantucket Shores, he was a student at UWM working in the kitchen. She worked front of the house. Food and wine brought them together, but their relationship is the foundation for everything they do. For 35 years, Tony, the founding chef at Michelin-starred Spiaggia, kept Italian dining in the spotlig...
La Fontanella On Oakley Street Closing As Owners Retire After 3 Decades: ‘It Feels Like It’s My Baby’
La Fontanella’s owners are retiring and closing the restaurant’s doors for good after decades of serving authentic Italian cuisine on Oakley Street. For 34 years, husband-and-wife team Gianfranco “Franco” and Maria Gamberale served fresh, traditional Italian dishes like chicken Vesuvio, eggplant Parmigiana and lasagna Bolognese. From the broths to...
Vai’s offers Italian food — both traditional and unusual
“Sharing life over plates” — that’s the motto at Vai’s in Naperville. It’s on the backs of the servers’ shirts and hung on the wall inside. Co-owner Sandy Georganas explains it as coming together over food, over a meal: “Everything about it is inviting, nothing is pretentious.” “We like really good food. We like Italian food,” said co-owner A...
Prima Cucina Italiana Will Open Next Week Downtown
Prima Cucina Italiana will become the newest entry in the downtown dining scene when it opens Monday, June 29, after months of renovation and preparation. According to chef-operator Josh Santangelo, the restaurant at 103 W. Federal St. will feature regional cooking from all over Italy with an emphasis on the cooking of Rome. “It will be Italy Itali...
Nando Milano’s Chef shares about his Italian roots and what’s popular on the menu
Nando Milano is a downtown Champaign staple offering classic Italian dishes. The menu has antipasti (appetizers), insalate (salads), contorni (sides), primi piatti (pasta), secondi piatti (meat and seafood dishes), and dolci (desserts) in addition to family-style specials. I spoke with Nando Milano's Chef Alessio Vullo about where he's from, where...
Patrons mourn closure of Chicago Heights restaurant Carlo Lorenzetti’s, ‘an institution in town’
Patrons remember Carlo Lorenzetti’s restaurant along Lincoln Highway in Chicago Heights as a place to gather and celebrate special occasions with great food and atmosphere. The Italian-American cuisine highlighted a fancy aura and recalled a bygone era of the south suburbs in their post-World War II heyday. “It’s like stepping back in time,” an onl...
Danny Raskin: Detroit’s Italian Gem
Giovanni’s Ristorante celebrates its 52nd year. Much has been written about an Italian restaurant that has weathered many years in becoming an institution of such culinary goodness as Giovanni’s Ristorante, now honoring its 52nd year anniversary. That it is many times considered as one of the finest Italian dining eateries of all such ethnic instit...
Frankie’s feeds the need at local hospital
Frank Conforti of Frankie’s Deli in Oakbrook Terrace and Dr. Tim Fendon of Good Advocate Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove have been friends since childhood. When coronavirus patients began pouring into the hospital’s emergency room, Conforti didn’t hesitate to lend a hand. “The day it started, Tim called me and said, ‘Hey, we’re all working 16-h...
Enzo’s Italian beef roll becoming legendary during the coronavirus pandemic
Rave reviews on a Facebook page started to encourage people to support La Grange area restaurants during the coronavirus pandemic have resulted in Enzo’s Pizza in Countryside doing more business over the past couple of months than ever before. And one menu item in particular — the Italian beef roll — is becoming legendary among the nearly 5,800 mem...