This list is not all-inclusive.



Italian



Amalfi Ristorante

298 Glen Ellyn Road, Bloomingdale, 630- 893-9222

Off the beaten track, this is a favorite spot among the locals, serving classical Italian food in an intimate atmosphere. For entrees choose from dishes such as pasta cavatelli baked with ricotta and mozzarella; veal saltimbocca with prosciutto and melted mozzarella; and Zuppa de pesce, an Italian seafood stew served over linguine. $$

Dinner Tues.-Sun.



Angelo's Ristorante & Banquets

247 N. York St., Elmhurst, 630-833-2400

Southern Italian cuisine and hospitality reign at this long-time family-owned restaurant. Enjoy wood oven pizza or a number of grill items such as rack of lamb, in addition to chicken Vesuvio and different pastas paired with a variety of house-made sauces. Dinners served family style are also an option. $$ Lunch buffet Mon.-Fri.; dinner daily.



Antico Posto

118 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-586-9200

Hidden away from Oakbrook Center's main thoroughfare of stores, this Italian eatery ensconces guests within a cozy atmosphere and offers a variety of hand-stretched brick oven pizzas, steaks, poultry and seafood. Savor lasagna noodles mixed with sweet fennel sausage and goat cheese in a spicy sauce or roasted pork tenderloin with cavatelli. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

Naperville Crossings, 2752 Showplace Drive, Naperville, 630-428-8500

Biaggi's serves up plentiful portions of Italian entrees in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Diners choose from house-made and imported pastas, pizzas, strombolis, steaks, pizzas, and seafood. Select entrees such as filet mignon and shrimp oreganata, ziti pasta in a lobster cream sauce, and Mediterranean triggerfish. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Brio Italian Tuscan Grille

330 Yorktown Center, Lombard, 630-424-1515

Reminiscent of a Tuscan country villa in décor and flavor, this spacious yet cozy eatery celebrates "La Dolce Vita" — the good life. For lunch choose a blackened shrimp and chorizo flatbread or Romano crusted chicken salad. Specialty dinner entrees include such things as seared shrimp risotto and artichoke crusted beef medallions. $$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. and Sun.



Buca di beppo

90 Yorktown Road, Lombard, 630-932-7673

Combining hearty food portions with flair and fun is a mainstay at this Italian eatery. Many dishes are served family style and include such favorites as chopped antipasto salad, chicken limone, eggplant Parmigiana and ravioli with meat sauce. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Cafe Buonaro's

300 E. Fifth Ave., Naperville, 630-717-0006

With the Naperville's historic Fifth Avenue Station as its home, this Italian café provides well-known favorites such as manicotti, veal Parmigiana, and fresh mussels and pasta in a red or white sauce. The cafe's house specialty is Chicken Marley — sauteed breaded chicken breast in a butter and white wine served with pasta. $$ Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner Mon.-Sat.



Capri Ristorante

Burr Ridge, Downers Grove, Hoffman Estates; www.capriristorante.com

This family-owned restaurant group was first started by "Mama Capri" in 1985. The restaurants focus on authentic Italian comfort food served in welcoming surroundings. Specialties of the house include handmade square noodles tossed with sausage and vodka sauce. There are plenty of seafood dishes to choose from including Chilean sea bass stuffed with crab, spinach and roasted red peppers. $$$ Dinner daily



Carlucci Downers Grove

1801 Butterfield Road, 630-512-0990

Carlucci's present its Tuscan-inspired menu in a welcoming atmosphere taken right from the region with stone, warm woods and a large outdoor piazza replete with fountain. Choose from items prepared in the wood burning oven, grill or rotisserie such as herb roasted chicken or grilled veal skirt steak. Indulge your love of pasta with the Linguini Bobonato Con Parmigiano spooled tableside inside a fresh wheel of Parmesan cheese with Prosciutto di Parma and fresh basil. $$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. and Sun.



Clara's Pasta di Casa

6740 S. Route 53, Woodridge, 630-968-8899

What Clara learned at her mother's knee, none other than Mama Celeste of restaurant and prepared foods fame, was authentic Italian cooking infused with fresh ingredients, especially the pastas and sauces. Try the ravioli filled with cheese or meat and topped with a choice of sauce from marinara to Alfredo. The classic baked lasagna is the most popular dish on the menu. $$ Lunch and dinner Tues.-Sun.



Francesca's

Elmhurst, Naperville; www.miafrancesca.com

Mia Francesca branched out from the city to open sister restaurants in several counties including three in DuPage: Francesca's Amici in Elmhurst and two in Naperville — La Sorella di Francesca and Francesca's Passaggio. All locations offer an easy going and inviting trattoria atmosphere and the contemporary flavors of Rome and surrounding regions. Start off with a thinly sliced beef carpaccio. Main attractions include fresh made pastas or the signature pollo arrosto alla romano — roasted half chicken with garlic and herbs. $$ Lunch Mon.-Fri.; dinner daily



Gatto's

5123 Main St., Downers Grove, 630-515-6400

With two locations in the south suburbs, this eatery added a third spot in downtown Downers Grove serving an extensive menu of Italian favorites. Choose from a varied assortment of pastas and sauces, including a spicy arabiatta. bowtie pasta. Meat entrees include veal limone, pork chop Vesuvio and New York strip steak. $$ Dinner daily; lunch Sat.



Giuliano's

40 Village Place, Hinsdale, 630-734-1500

Located in a cozy alleyway, Giuliano's specializes in providing families pizzas, pastas and entrees that will please every family member. Entrees include linguini with broccoli and shrimp, a grilled, seasoned tilapia and cavatelli with Italian sausage. $ Dinner Tues.-Sun.



Gratto Italian Tapas Bar

433 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, 630-793-9758

This sister restaurant to the Geneva Gratto offers hot and cold small plates including fried or grilled calamari, baked goat cheese, scallops di luna, bruschetta, and mussels marinara. Salads join the menu with such options as roasted red pepper caprese or asparagus with tomato, basil and lemon. $$ Dinner only Tues.-Sun.



Grotto

Oak Brook Promenade, 3011 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, 630-571-5700,

Grotto presents fine Italian dining inside its massive modern brick restaurant or outside on its large patio. Diners select pastas such as capellini with shrimp in a marinara sauce, farfalle with proscuitto in a creamy tomato basil sauce and orecchetti with chicken in a pesto sauce. Specialties include veal osso buco and chicken piccata. $$$ Lunch and dinner daily; brunch and dinner Sun.



Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse

Westin Hotel

70 Yorktown Center, Lombard, 630-953-3400

This classic steakhouse speaks with an Italian accent offering a menu of favorites from both traditions. Steaks include all popular cuts including two filet mignon sizes. Chops run the food chain from veal and lamb to pork. Italian favorites include Harry's Chicken Vesuvio — classically prepared roasted half chicken with garlic, white wine, roasted potatoes and peas. $$$ Lunch and dinner daily



Il Poggiolo

8 E. First St., Hinsdale, 630-734-9400

Meaning "the balcony" in Italian, Il Poggiolo presents fine Italian dining under its red and white striped canopy. Settling in vibrant red upholstered chairs and rich wood furniture, guests find handmade spaghetti with a meat ragu, goat cheese ravioli and filet medallions with a red wine reduction. $$$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat.; dinner Sun.



Il Sogno

100 N. Hale St., Wheaton, 630-682-5900

Take the stairs (or the elevator) and find a charming rustic spot in the center of downtown Wheaton serving up hearty Italian fare.

Begin with antipasti of misto alla griglia — grilled octopus, calamari and shrimp topped with an olive oil, lemon and balsamic drizzle. The namesake vitello Il Sogno is veal topped with prosciutto, roasted red peppers, smoked mozzarella in a white wine sauce. $$ Lunch and dinner Wed.-Fri.; Dinner only Mon., Tues., Sat. and Sun.



Nuova Italia

32 E. Lake St., Addison, 630-832-2131

An eclectic menu is presented in a welcoming atmosphere replete with wood burning oven. Specialties of the house include osso buco, veal shanks braised with vegetables and white wine; rigatoni boscaiola, pasta with crumbled sausage, onion, wild mushrooms in a tomato and cream sauce; and wood burning pizzas, such as the four stagione — seasons — with tomato, mozzarella, mushrooms, ham, artichokes and olives. $$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri; dinner Sat. and Sun.



Roberto's Ristorante & Pizzeria

483 Spring Road, Elmhurst, 630-279-8486

Warm decor and a white tablecloth dining room welcomes diners for Italian specialties served against the backdrop of Roberto's charming Prairie Path location. The restaurant is known for its various veal, chicken, seafood and pasta dishes, including such things as veal saltimbocca and zuppa di pesce — shrimp, calamari, clams, mussels, scallops, crab Legs, baby lobster tail, tomato sauce over a bed of linguine. $$ Dinner served daily.



Tuscany

1415 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, 630-990-1993

Take a break from Oak Brook's shopping excursions and dine on fine Italian cuisine. Share a cheese, tomato and basil wood-fired pizza and then proceed to main entrees of a pan-seared chicken breast topped with prosciutto and fontinella cheese or a pepper-crusted filet with caramelized onions and crispy potatoes. Pastas include a seafood spaghetti and a veal ravioli in a four-cheese sauce. $$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat.



Villaggio

1242 W. Lake St., Roselle, 630-671-9000

This family-owned trattoria presents Italian specialties from the north to the south. For an appetizer, choose from two carpaccios — beef and salmon. Capellini fra diavolo is angel hair pasta sauteed with jumbo shrimp, chopped tomato, garlic and basil in a spicy tomato sauce. There are a number of meat, chicken, fish and risottos to choose from as well. $$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. and Sun.



Volare

1919 S. Meyers Road, Oakbrook Terrace, 630-495-0200

Diners flock to Volare for its fresh house-made capellini, fettucine, rigatoni and other pastas and succulent meat dishes in a relaxing fine dining atmosphere. Choose penne in a crab leg or shrimp Alfredo sauce, or a meat lasagna. House specialties include chicken risotto and broiled whitefish in a lemon white wine sauce. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Mexican/Latin/South American



De Campana/La Campana

Bensenville, Bloomingdale; www.campanarestaurants.com

De Campana in Bensenville started things rolling for these Mexican eateries. Get all your favorite foods here or in the Bloomingdale location enjoying such items as tamales and chili con queso to start and then choose from tacos, enchiladas, burritos or a house specialty — carne asada. $



Front Street Cantina, Front Street Cocina

Naperville, Wheaton; www.frontstreetcantina.com

Two friends — salsa fans and Mexican cuisine admirers — developed this local chain with additional outlets in Geneva, Lemont and Plainfield. The focus is on authentic Mexican dishes with a Tex touch and signature margaritas. Diners find tasty familiar entrees such as fajitas, shrimp ranchero, steak enchiladas, and tamales. Hungrier appetites can dig into the many combination platters or taco variations such as a spicy steak version with verde sauce. $ Lunch and dinner daily



La Magdalena

La Hacienda De Los Fernandez

Besa Mi Taco

Addison, Naperville, Itasca; www.fernandezfoods.com

This is a family-owned chain of Mexican eateries under the Fernandez Food Group. All locations have the same attention to authentic detail in décor and food. Enchiladas verdes is corn tortillas dipped in a green tomatillo sauce, rolled and filled with a choice of cheese, chicken or beef then covered with melted Mexican cheese. Or try guisado de Puerco — pieces of pork tenderloin in a Mexican stew. $ Lunch and dinner daily



Tango

5 W. Jackson Ave., Naperville, 630-848-1818

This Argentinean restaurant is known for its famous 2-foot long skirt steak, Spanish tapas and Italian pastas. Diners can also enjoy the rooftop patio. Tempting choices include grilled filet mignon medallions, seafood penne, a rib eye in a four-pepper cream sauce, and a pan-seared Atlantic salmon in an orange basil sauce. $$ Lunch and dinner daily; brunch Sun.



Middle Eastern



Naf Naf Grill

Freedom Commons, 1739 Freedom Drive, Naperville, 630-904-7200

Naf Naf specializes in fresh baked pitas, falafels, shawarmas and open-flamed kebabs. Items include beef tenderloin kebab, Israeli cucumber salad, and baba ghanoush topped with falafel. $ Lunch and dinner daily



Reza's Restaurant

40 North Tower Road, Oak Brook, 630-424-9900

Reza's offers its guests an array of appetizing Persian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean-inspired dishes cooked on a flaming grill. The large menu delights both meat-eaters and vegetarians with entrees of ground chicken and beef kebabs, a lamb shank stew, a garlicky char broiled shrimp and scallops combination, and lamb loin chops. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Seafood



Catch 35

35 S. Washington St., Naperville, 630-717-3500

Sleek designs welcome seafood lovers and those who like premium cut steaks. Entrees take on an Asian influence with the hot and spicy Sriracha buffalo shrimp and Hawaiian ginger scallion-sauced Chilean sea bass. Other selections include haddock fish and chips and a Block Island swordfish done seared with a chive crust, a chimichurri sauce or a chipotle sauce. $$$ Lunch Tues.-Fri.; dinner daily



Chinn's 34th Street Fishery

3011 W. Ogden Ave., Lisle, 630- 637-1777

Chinn's receives fresh seafood flown in daily to place on customers' plates. The extensive menu contains items such as Louisiana blue crab claw, Hawaiian ahi tuna, peel and eat garlic shrimp, and sauteed jumbo sea scallops. Grab a Chinn's Mai Tai to enjoy with a meal. $$ Lunch Mon.-Sat.; dinner daily



Holy Mackeral

Westin Hotel

70 Yorktown Center, Lombard, 630-953-3444

Playing on the Harry Caray theme, this sister restaurant is just steps away in the Westin and concentrates on fresh interpretations of fish house classics such as Parmesan-crusted lemon sole, live Maine lobster and Cioppino — fish stew. It's also open for breakfast and lunch offering salads and sandwiches and an array of omelets. $$ Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily



Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House

55 S. Main St., Naperville, 630-548-3764

Fish and seafood lovers receive the upscale treatment within Hugo's cream-colored walls decorated with seaworthy decor. Menu choices include king crab stuffed shrimp, mesquite grilled swordfish, jumbo lump crab cake, and pan-sauteed frog legs topped with garlic butter. Hugo's has the same Black Angus steaks as its sibling, Gibsons. $$$

Lunch and dinner daily



McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant

Oak Brook Promenade, 3001 Butterfield Road, Oak Brook, 630-571-3700

The daily changing menu here features raw bar items and sushi, fish that can be either grilled or cedar planked and aged steaks. Signature items include pretzel-crusted whitefish, Maine lobster and prime top sirloin. $$$ Lunch and dinner daily; brunch Sun.



Parkers' Restaurant & Bar

1000 31st Street, Downers Grove, 630-960-5700

Enjoy Small plates including such things as cold water Oysters Rockefeller and seared crab cakes. Fish selections range from Lake Superior Whitefish Wellington to a New England lobster roll and bouillabaisse. "From the farmer" dishes include red wine braised short rib. $$$ Lunch and dinner Mon.-Fri.; dinner Sat. and Sun.



Reel Club

272 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, 630-368-9400

Dive into the depths of this contemporary place that concentrates on fresh and ecologically sound seafood and fish selections. Cast your net for choices such as crispy flounder with a miso glaze, roasted sushi grade sea scallops and lobster, crab and shrimp linguine. $$ Lunch and dinner daily



Spanish/Tapas



Macarena Tapas

618 S. Route 59, Naperville, 630-420-8995