[[HIGHLIGHT]]Antico is an cozy, old school Italian set in the neighborhood of Bucktown that absolutely needs to go on your list![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came for a family dinner with 4 adults and 2 children. While there is no set children's menu, the kids dined on buttered noodles and Italian sodas. Zoey, our phenomenal waitress, helped recommend excellent wine and food options. We split most of the dishes on the menu, and we were blown away. The pastas are amazing, and the scallops were to die for. I can't wait to return! read more

Our friends are regulars at Antico and we joined them on a Friday night for an early dinner. It was easy to find street parking nearby and we were pleasantly surprised that there are fresh veggies/herbs in front of the restaurant. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior is small and cozy which also meant that it filled up quickly as the night went on.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]There is also a patio in the back but it was raining when we came.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The AC was on full blast but they were kind enough to turn it off when they realized we were chilly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We shared the fritto misto of cuttlefish and shrimp with fried lemon which was crispy and delicious. All of their primi dishes can be upgraded to an entrée portion. I had the daily risotto which happened to be duck and upgraded it to an entrée portion to share with my child. It was just enough food for the two of us (she also filled up on bread beforehand). Hubby had the browned butter and sage gnocchi as an entrée size which was smaller than expected and he polished off any leftovers from the table after finishing his meal. I enjoyed the gnocchi more than my dish even though risotto is one of my favorite Italian dishes. There was bone in my risotto and the flavor was just okay. The gnocchi had a good chew and the brown butter and sage went perfectly in this dish. We shared a panna cotta with Nebbiolo reduction for dessert. The texture was good but the sauce tasted slightly artificial. Overall, service was good and enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. read more

I wanted so bad to be good because I pass by at least twice per week for years and never tried before, but it was in my list. I'd say food presentation, besides the "risotto" is good but most of the dishes were lack of flavor. However, antipasti are great and I'd be back for them. Food 7/10 Nice service. Server was great and let us know that it was half price bottle wine that day (Tuesday or Wednesday). [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is cozy and great for a date night or to catch up with friends with a slightly more elegant vibe than a bar.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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We have lived in the neighborhood for a few years now and have always wanted to try Antico. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The AC on the back patio was out so we ate in the dining room.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The staff were super sweet and very knowledgeable with their wines. We mostly ordered from their seasonal menu which included the scallops, duck risotto, buffala, and lasagna and shared between the family. The scallops were the best I've had, and they were seasoned to literal perfection. The braised short ribs were also very good. The buffala was refreshing with tomato. The brown butter gnocchi was so pillowy and light. The lasagna was unlike any lasagna I've had before but it was SO GOOD. I paired my pistachio gelato with the torta di cioccolato and the flavors together were delicious. If you are ever in the Bucktown neighborhood, I highly recommend! read more

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Went the evening of 7.2.26. Walked in with high hopes, left with unwavering disappointment. Seems as though they're afraid of flavor. Terrible meal. Won't be going back, don't waste your time, there are many superior options. read more

I was blown away by all the food and incredible service. We came for our anniversary and the staff was incredibly kind. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is very romantic inside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the 1. Prosciutto 2. Butter Sage Gnocchi 3. Ribeye 4. Short rib. All the food was incredible but the ribeye and gnocchi truly blew me away. The ribeye was very tender and wonderfully charred. It came with bone marrow which was so delicious and unique. The gnocchi melted in your mouth. And to top it all off, my hibiscus spritz was one of the best cocktails I've had. I love this neighborhood gem and will definitely return. read more

Antico - Braised Short Ribs - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Antico needs to be on your radar, it's a neighborhood gem. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Wonderful service, a great atmosphere (we sat by the fire in the covered garden on this visit) and lovely food.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We rarely go out for Italian food as we often make it at home but we make an exception for Antico. We ate with friends on this occasion and between us we shared the scallops (wonderful), pate (lovely), tagliatelle (lovely), risotto (delicious), short ribs and rib eye (both were perfect). The elderflower martini was very tasty and we thoroughly enjoyed our wine. Highly recommended ! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Overall the experience was phenomenal - we went on a Wednesday night so it was fairly empty, but the restaurant itself was lovely[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]], the servers were very kind, attentive and knowledgeable and not a single dish was anything less than delicious. One of our attendees was vegetarian and the waitress walked through great options for him as well as ways they could modify existing meals to fit his needs. We were there for a set meal as part of an event so we had one plate from each course and each one was incredibly flavorful and better than the last. Absolutely will be back. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]very fun environment we opted to sit outside[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] a must get if they still have them when you go is the scallops. There was only two, but I was begging for more. We got the mushroom pasta and we got the gnocchi. Both were very good and the pastas were cooked perfectly. We were one of the first ones in the restaurant when they opened so the service was top-notch and there was parking around, which is something we can't say as a commonality around Chicago. read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Antico was a great old school Italian vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] While the pasta was good, the gnocchi- it was very expensive. The dishes on the menu for $20 were for "small portions", while the "entree" portion was $40. The entree portion appeared to be a normal size and was smaller than expected. The menu did not mention this either. The service was great however. Not sure we will return! read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Such a great experience here at Antico! It's an assuming restaurant from the outside but truly such a hidden gem.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I think they have a super cute outdoor patio open in summer/spring too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food here - chef's kiss. We came here on a whim with no expectations and were pleasantly surprised. We got the brown butter gnocchi, fig butter crostini, and rib eye. We also got their hibiscus spritz, espresso martini, and dirty martini. Brown butter gnocchi: 8.5/10. The gnocchi were so pillowy and fresh. The browned butter and crispy leaves were delicious with it, I just personally like it more saucy, or cream or tomato-based besides butter. Fig crostini: 10/10. Delicious. Came with fig butter, prosciutto, and melon. Absolutely delectable I could have 10 of these. Rib eye: 10/10. LAWDDD HELP ME. This was one of the best steaks I've ever had. Sooo juicy and flavorful. Cocktails: all 10/10. The service was superb- we had a server who was relatively new and he was GREAT! So attentive, gave us a great rundown of the menu, and overall just very friendly. Totally recommend this place for some fantastic Italian cuisine! read more

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The gnocchi was delicious best I've ever had ! Will be back. Our waitress was great and wine was delicious

The service and people are what Makes this place standout to me. Def could use a veg secondi but otherwise perfect read more

Everything was delicious but the mushrooms, short rib, scallops and smoked duck risotto stole the show. We had chocolate and lemon cake for dessert- absolutely amazing. Service was great. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance was perfect![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

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Tonight I went into Antigo just for a glass of wine close to when they were closing. The servers were so kind to me, Isabella and Rae (?). They don't really have a bar because they do dinner service (which looks amazing by the way), but they still were open to accommodating me in a back room with a fireplace when they were closing. That is so kind! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambience looked really nice too. It's small, but quaint, and based off their menu and the intentionality of how they explained it, it looks like a really great restaurant to dine at![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Antico - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great place on all levels. [[HIGHLIGHT]]One of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Chicago.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is cozy and Nora and staff were professional, knowledgeable and fun.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The food was delicious and savory on all levels. I like salt and the dishes seemed very salt heavy, so if you can't handle a lot of salt- let the staff know. We had a large party and we all tried each other's food. Salads were fresh and interesting, wine list was vast, meat was cooked to perfection and everything seemed to melt in your mouth. Grazie Antico! read more

Antico - Spare rib with polenta. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Cute restaurant, good pasta, apps and wine.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I do feel like some of the items on the menu were overpriced. $16 for affogato seems a bit much. But overall good experience just prepare your credit card read more

Antico - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Just enjoyed a wonderful and delicious dinner at this terrific neighborhood spot. Flavors were inventive and layered and portions were generous without being overwhelming. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great energy and buzz inside, but not rowdy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was warm and attentive. Happy to have found this spot, we'll be back soon! read more

The food at Antico was good and the service was great, but the prices didn't match the experience. Portions were small for how expensive everything was. I was offered to have my pasta dish "upgraded" to entree size which was just double the price and still not enough for leftovers or feeling full. The cocktails were especially disappointing - $18 for something that felt pretty basic and lacked presentation. Overall, it was fine, but not enough to make me want to go back. read more

We love antico. The food and service are always fantastic. [[HIGHLIGHT]]And the patio is fun year round.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

Yummmmm! Welcome to the neighborhood! Outstanding service, ambiance and food. We just moved to Bucktown and for our last date night without a child, we tried this place for dinner and it was incredible. We did not make a reservation and it looks like you should. They have limited hours and everyone knows it. No issue, they sat us inside but lots of people came in and were taken to the patio which we cannot wait to try. Service was outstanding. The hostess and waitress made you feel at home. And it was obvious this is normal because the number of regulars that cycled in and received hugs was incredible. Waitress recommended the scallops which were not on the menu and forever I want these scallops! They were buttery, herby, so tender. And she told us to save some Of the bread for dipping and oh man was that the move. Looking for just. Small meal, the pappadelle with wild mushroom was outstanding. Fresh pasta and ingredients was obvious. Lasagna had bechamel which is always great and portion was enough to make you happy but not go into a coma. It did have sausage or some type of meat that wasn't my favorite but my husband was in love. The pasta was super fresh too. We would have loved dessert or to try one of the secondi items but that is for next time. Ambiance is dim so pix don't do it justice. Simply wonderful and worth the price! Keep up the great work. We are looking forward to getting on the regular hug list! read more

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Awesome neighborhood Italian spot! Had some visitors from out of town and were craving some pasta. After not being able to secure a reservation at our usual go to, Yelp led us to Antico! Great find. We put in reservations the day before for dinner and no issues phoning in and securing a table. Street parking surrounding is free (yay) and had no issues finding a spot. Staff I have to say was great and accommodating. My little one is very into waving these days, and each staff member that passed by made a point to say hello. We had some pescatarians in our group and our waiter had some great options and alternatives to choose from that weren't on the menu. Interior I would describe as cute and cozy. Would definitely make a great low key date spot. Indoor dining is available, however the back patio seemed to be where all the action was as during our visit only there was only one other table seated inside with us. As far as food goes, this definitely isn't a large portion leave you feeling groggy Italian but smaller sharable lighter bites. For food, we did some pan seared scallops, frito misto, asparagus risotto, tagliatelle bolognese, pappardelle with sauteed mushrooms, gnocchi, and braised short rib with saffron polenta. Honestly everything was great and pasta is for sure fresh made. If I had to nit pick, I wish the tagliatelle had a bit more weight to it as it seemed overly delicate. Aside from that flavors were all great. If I had to pick must haves, frito misto (loved the fried lemons) and tagliatelle bolognese. To finish, we did also do some of their in house made gelato (chocolate, hazenut, vanilla, and lemon). Lemon came out a bit icy, but of all 4 options hazenut was the most interesting. Anyways, definitely see another visit here sometime in the near future. 'Til next time, cheers! read more

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The food was great, but unfortunately with one nice server and one snooty server. We were left outside as they had forgotten to seat us. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance was really noisy until the 'loud group' left and we could continued to dine and converse.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Antico is a lovely little restaurant I've been eyeing for many years, and I finally tried it for a special dinner. I couldn't quite give them five stars due to some minor disappointments, but overall it's a great restaurant that I would visit again to try some different dishes. I placed a carryout order by phone with a very nice staff member in the late afternoon for an early evening pickup. (Side note: I'd advise calling the restaurant for reservations or any questions; I tried using the email form on their website to ask a question about takeout, and no one responded.) I arrived at the pickup time, and my food was hot and ready. I ordered the fritto misto, a special scallop appetizer, and pappardelle with pork ragu. A square of homemade focaccia was included, which was a nice touch. All dishes were very well prepared. The scallops were perfectly seared and seasoned with a delicious sauce, but I was disappointed that only two came in the order (note: it was just the scallops and sauce with no accompaniments). I easily would have doubled my order if I knew, since they were so good. The pappardelle noodles themselves were spectacular, but I wish I'd opted for the mushroom ragu instead of pork. I didn't realize the pork would be smoky - but this is just my own taste because it's obvious it was cooked and seasoned very, very well. If you enjoy smoky meats, you will probably love it. Overall, I would come back to try some other things because clearly the cooking going on at Antico is top notch. I'm glad to see they are still going strong after all these years (and recent tough times) and look forward to being a customer again. read more

Antico - Pappardelle with pork ragu, scallop, fritto misto and focaccia - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Reposting to link pictures. Antico is one of the few Italian restaurants I crave. I'm going to use a Yelp cliché and say, "I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet". I've been several times and tried most of the menu which stays fairly consistent. I was an exchange student in high school spending a few months in Italy. The authentic flavors immediately took me back. I don't know if this is Southern or Northern cuisine, but the chef is back there cooking with love. I particularly love their simple marinara. I always request and extra side to slather up with focaccia. Perfection... There's a nice wine list if you're interested in pairings. Service is always on point. The dessert menu is limited, but I don't care for Italian desserts like tiramisu anyway. I hope all my pictures link, because my review probably isn't doing Antico justice. If not, find them on your own and give this place a try. Let me know what you think. read more

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Really cute, intimate neighborhood spot. Service was 10/10! The staff was helpful, friendly and extremely attentive. The was really unimpressed by the cocktails, so I'd recommend sticking to the wine. The food was so delicious. I ordered a ribeye and ragu pasta to split with one other person. The ribeye was massive and cooked perfectly to medium rare. Crostini we're delicious. I'll definitely be back! read more

Antico - Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my all time favorite restaurants! Their outdoor dining space is the best! You are surrounded by herb planters and tomato plants that are used by the chef daily! You can't visit Antico without ordering the gnocchi. It is the best I've ever tasted! My favorite is the gnocchi in brown butter with crispy sage, but you can also get them with bolognese and one other way. Wednesday is half priced wine day...we didn't even know so that was an added bonus when we got our check! We had the scallops, the short ribs, and the veal Milanese, and all three were fabulous. Make sure you try the Parmigiano Gratin potatoes as they are killer! We had no room for dessert after dinner, but the desserts that were coming out looked wonderful! Ask to be seated in Nora's section...she is the best!! read more

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Went here for out anniversary and didn't disappoint. Beautiful patio. Had the scallops on special, the polenta was delicious. Boyfriend had the short rib with polenta and it was juicy and flavorful. Great wine list and service. We were too full for dessert but saw around and they were amazing. Also good place for family style dinner and you get to try more dishes. read more

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Antico is a prime example of why I rarely go to Italian restaurants. I went with a small birthday party on a very quiet week night; we six were the only patrons. We ordered most of the entrees - they were all pitifully small and flavorless. Chicken & Duck Pate: $15 for an ice cream scoop of pate on a bed of arugula (that's an odd pairing) with 4 "crostini." Low in flavor; the pate turned into liquid within 20 minutes. Risotto: made with basic white rice (not Arborio), not cooked using broth; it was just wet, flavorless rice. $16 for under 200 g of rice. Short Ribs & Polenta: the short ribs were overcooked to the point of being mushy and I'm very certain Adobo seasoning was sprinkled on it right before serving to give it a semblance of flavor. $36; and polenta is one of the cheapest foods in the world (it's just cornmeal). Marinated Lamb over Potatoes Gratin: Lamb was oversalted and tough; very difficult to cut (overcooked). The potatoes gratin were mushy and had no flavor; seemed as though they were quickly boiled together & had cheese dusted on them. Gnocchi: whoever taught Antico how to make gnocchi doesn't know how to make gnocchi. The gnocchi were basically hollow potato puffs; the red sauce was noticeably salty and the brown butter sauce tasted bland. Pappardelle: tiny portion, the pork ragu was pungent and tasted old. The sautéed mushroom serving had good mushrooms but that dish was basically oily pappardelle with mushrooms. $18 for about .4 a lb of pasta. Veal Rib Chop Milanese: not a true Milanese (veal prepared "al Milanese" is always a cutlet, not on the shank like we were served). This chop was not coated with breadcrumbs and lightly pan-fried like the traditional recipe. The Antico veal rib chop was coated in batter and deep-fried. Difficult to cut; tasted like deep fryer oil. $40 for one little veal chop. For dessert we ordered the $12 plate of zeppole/bomoboloni which were 4 shapeless lumps of dough that were deep fried. The "torta di limone" was exactly that: American mass-produced, store bought lemon sheet cake with artificial lemon flavoring & yellow food coloring plus inedible icing. Wines were average quality & overpriced. Most of the non-pasta dishes had copious amounts of arugula on the side to distract from the small portion of cooked food. Antico is billed as a "Northern Italian Restaurant." I'm of Northern Italian descent (Piemonte) and very little on the menu was authentic Italian, let alone Northern Italian. Just another expensive "Italian-Inspired" restaurant that caters to basic upper-middle class urbanites. read more

This restaurant is amazing. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Every from atmosphere, service, and bread to dessert!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] How is this place not more renowned? My entire party was wowed. read more

I've come here the last two years on my birthday. The food is exceptional. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The atmosphere is perfect and moody[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the staff are top notch. Love it. read more

Great spot hidden in a residential neighborhood just off Armitage. The food is excellent. Not a large menu, but a wide range of choices, and everything we have ordered in the last two years has been great. The staff is attentive and friendly. Great teamwork. The place is cozy and has a wonderful back patio that is covered (and heated when it's cold). Really lovely. Their seared scallops, mushroom polenta, and homemade pasta are always can't miss choices. They grow some of their fruits and herbs onsit, and you can really taste the difference, so fresh. Very good wine list. Highly recommended. read more

I've been living in wicker park/bucktown for 5+ years now and always seen this place but never actually made it in. Boy, have I been missing out! This is a neighborhood gem with the most friendly and personably wait staff. My friend and I came in on a Tuesday at 6pm and no one was in the restaurant yet so we had no issue getting a seat - which we did in their lovely garden patio area. We both went with the 4 course option where we could get one of anything under each course of the menu (Antipasta, Primi, Secondi, Dolci). My friend and I split all our items and for the appetizer we got their special which was pan seared scallops 10/10 possibly best thing there - perfectly cooked. We also got seasonal special which was a fig caprese which paired well with their house focaccia. For our Primi we split the Brown Butter & Sage Gnocchi and their special that night which was a lasagna in bolognese. Both were well portioned and delicious. For our Secondi we got the Marinated Lamb Loin Chops and the Salmon. The Lamb was great and well seasoned - honestly tasted basically like a steak. The Salmon has a nice crust and also perfectly cooked with a Greek salad type dressing on top super light and refreshing. For dessert we split a chocolate tart and Italian donuts. We were stuffed at that point but still found room for their generous portion sizes. We both were in agreement that the quality of the food and service is very much up there with every other nice Italian spot in Chicago that we were surprised this place isn't packed every night. Truly a hidden gem - very much recommend making this a destination for your next Italian dinner! read more

We really enjoyed eating in the enclosed outside space behind the restaurant, great atmosphere and great food. I had the short rib, it was excellent and my son in law the gnocchi with brown butter and sage- both memorable Appetizers were pate and cuttlefish misto fritto Great find near my daughters new home read more

Antico - Braised Short Ribs - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

For a few years I have walked the stretch of Armitage Avenue and while passing Leavitt Street, I've only thought of Antico as being what looked like a cute little spot. So I decided to stop in one evening to see what offerings they had on their menu. Starting with the focaccia, it's nice getting something other than Italian bread, and the focaccia is soft enough for dipping in olive oil. I ordered mushrooms over polenta, which was really nice and I was able to use the focaccia on what was left. The lasagna had a creamy texture that I have come to prefer. Instead of a stacked lasagna, it was probably just a single layer. The bechamel sauce and parmesan and a hint of nutmeg in the Bolognese sauce really made the lasagna pop. The pork Milanese topped with an arugula and tomato salad was filling and I finished off enough and had the remainder packed for take-away. Oh, I went all out and had a pairing of wine with each dish. A complete winner. The service was outstanding. It was good that I arrived before the 7:00 PM dinner crowd because the restaurant did pack out quickly. I had skimmed the menu, but let my server handle the ordering and the wine pairing. There isn't an extensive menu, but what they do with the items on what they have is good enough. read more

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Delicious food, awesome service and an overall lovely feel to this restaurant!! we sat outside in the "garden" area which was well heated even in the early spring. the menu was broken into antipasti, primi, sec undo and dulce, each course was fabulous especcially the scallop special and the branzini, pastas were also super fresh! read more

Yummy dishes that are thoughtfully plated. Many items are grown in their in house garden.

Husband and I know the Owner and decided to have a week night date this past summer. Although it doesn't look very busy from the outside, let me tell you, it's poppin' in the back patio area. It's a covered patio with fans and live plants growing throughout the space. Can't even tell you're wedged between two buildings in the neighborhood! Food was excellent and service was delightful. Love the Italian authenticity as well, reminded us of our honeymoon in Italy! read more

Fine Italian dining with the low-key unpretentious atmosphere of a neighborhood standby. We had the four course combination which is ALOT of food. Prices are high but ok for a special occasion. Servers were friendly. Dress code casual. read more

Went to this restaurant a few nights ago. We were 7 people and sat on the patio. It was a great atmosphere. Sid and Jessica, my family come here often. The servers went out of their way to serve us. We tasted many many items. Here goes...diver scallops..incredible. Truffled duck and chicken liver pate..served too cold, but fabulous flavor. Saffron polenta with wild mushrooms..some liked, some didn't, but cooked well...the right consistency. Fig caprese with fresh mozzarella tasty but need more fig for the right proportions in a single bite. Gnocchi sage and brown butter...so good we ordered a second one. Pork Raghu pappardelle was excellent and flavorful. Homemade lasagna with bolognese and bechemal....could have been a main course...out of this world. We had two risotto; blueberry and oak smoked duck. Both were tasty but we felt blueberry would be a great dessert. Pork Milanese was a very large portion and good. Grilled rib eye was cooked to perfection. Bone marrow is my favorite anywhere. The marinated grilled lamb loin was one of the stars on the table. We had zeppole and a pasta Choi cake with lady fingers. Both were good. I would recommend this restaurant. read more

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