Bartucc Italian Restaurant Opens in Dunning View Full Caption

DUNNING — Gino Bartucci is hoping for a Little Italy on Harlem Avenue revival, and there's no one more qualified to start it.

The 30-year-old River North resident was born in Dunning — in the apartment above his newest restaurant venture, "BarTucci."

His parents, both born and raised in Italy, built the building at 3426 N. Harlem Ave. in 1980, which also housed Bartucci's father's first business, deli Gino's Italian Imports, and currently houses Pasta Fresh, also in the family.

The elder Gino Bartucci also came up with the idea for Little Italy on Harlem Avenue.

"Harlem was — still is — a very Italian community," Bartucci said. "My dad, being a very prominent business owner on Harlem Avenue and having a lot of customers that are in the Italian community, wanted to start a business association between all of the Harlem Avenue Italian businesses and unify people."

"We're hopefully starting a revival of it," he said.

The restaurant, a fine-dining establishment offering fresh, homemade Italian food, opened Dec. 19.

Bartucci and business partner Neal Sage, 29, who have been friends since meeting in middle school in suburban Park Ridge, both have experience working for many hotels and restaurants downtown, from the Dana Hotel to Next Restaurant.

"We’re trying to bring Downtown-level service to the Northwest Side, which you don't find a lot of places," said Sage, who lives in Lakeview.

The restaurant is also a different take on standard American-Italian fare.

"Our food is a little lighter, a litter fresher," Sage said.

Chef Fiorenza Tasinato, also born and raised in Italy, helps bring the authentic Italian countryside dishes to life. Fiorenza worked as a chef for his family's businesses years ago, Bartucci said, and she returns to Little Italy on Harlem from corporate work for the new venture.

Italian restaurant BarTucci opened at 3426 N. Harlem. Ave. in Dunning in late December. View Full Caption BarTucci

"I grew up knowing and loving her food," he said. "To have the opportunity to be able to hire her and mix her traditions and her knowledge of food with some of my more modern tastes and knowledge was a very great collaborative experience."

The menu, which can accommodate gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan diets, ranges from the classic dish Brasciole alla Barese ($15), beef over homemade cavatelli pasta and tomato sauce, to Casarecce alla Barbabietola ($12), a vegetarian dish with homemade pasta, fresh beet sauce and crumbled goat cheese.

The restaurant is BYOB, seats about 35, and is open for dinner every day. Reservations aren't required, but are accepted. In the summer, the business will offer covered patio seating.

The decor itself contains some history, as well, with photos lining the wall of the family, such as elder Gino Bartucci with former Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne.

Also on the wall is a glass box into which patrons are supposed to drop their wine corks after dining.

Next to it is written, "Tieni il ricordo, e lascia il tappo," which roughly translates to, "Take your memories, leave your cork."

A few weeks into business, the box isn't hurting for donations.

"People enjoy the overall atmosphere and service when they come in here," Bartucci said. "They feel comfortable, they usually want to bring a couple bottles of wine and stay a little longer than just the meal might provide, and that's a great sign."

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