THE BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN CHICAGO
Just because a spot has a bar with regulars doesn’t make it “just like Cheers,” and saying so is usually wishful thinking and obnoxious. But Mart Antony’s might actually qualify. It’s an out-of-the-way spot on the border of West Town and the West Loop and looks like a typical neighborhood corner tavern. But, it’s also a fantastic Italian restaurant. The owner, servers, and bartenders are all warm and welcoming and will chat with you even if it’s your first time there. On any given night, it’s full of friends getting together after work and couples on casual dates, and you’ll realize that this restaurant is their “place.” Get the clams for an appetizer, and the braciole or lasagna.
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Red sauce Italian restaurants like Mart Anthony’s were once much more prevalent around Chicago. They feature similar cuisine and vibe — laid-back, dim-lit dining rooms with large portions of pasta. Mart Anthony’s isn’t a cocktail lounge like Club Lucky or Club Lago or a tourist attraction like Italian Village. It’s a solid and unpretentious family-run spot with a good bar for hanging out with friends.
16 BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANTS IN CHICAGO RIGHT NOW
You know a place is legit when you walk inside and everyone seems to know each other—and you know it’s even better when you hear folks at the host stand asking for their “usual table.” Mart Anthony’s dishes are infused with warmth courtesy of family recipes delivered straight from Sicily. Start with an order of Baked Clams then move onto the Tortellino Romano, a cheesy pasta dish swimming in a light creamy red sauce with mushrooms and prosciutto. After a few glasses of red wine and a belly full of pasta, you might even recognize a familiar face or two.
