Old School Italian

Can anyone recommend an "old school Italian" place that is not Sabatino's? Without getting into definitions of what the term means, let's just stipulate that it means "a place like Sabatino's." Looking for options. Thanks!

Old school Italian, how about Ristorante Agostino:

http://www.agostinogustofino.com/

http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=4619&hilit=agostino#p34019

2817 North Harlem Avenue Chicago, IL 60707-1638
(773) 745-6464

I would agree about the comments that they are more known for fish, but I enjoyed a few items from the menu.

That actually looks perfect, sicilianos--but they're closed Mondays, and a Monday is when it looks like we'll be in the market for this. (I forgot to say that.) Thanks for the reco, though...filing it away for future use. Any others?

Bruna's may fit the bill. I haven't been there in ages, but it was pretty OK once upon a time.
http://www.brunasristorante.com/

Brunas Ristorante
2424 S Oakley Ave
(at 24th St)
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 254-5550

Riddlemay,

One more shot at this one, a smaller place but still good food.

http://www.dalucianos.com/

8343 West Grand Avenue River Grove, Illinois 60171
(708) 453-1000

A bit more casual than Sabatino's or Ristorante Agostino, but very good. Mentioned at a minimum on LTH here http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=33281&p=394478&hilit=da+luciano%27s#p394478.

Rosebud on Taylor. Complete with the Sinatra pix.

Bertucci's Corner
300 W. 24th Street
Solid as arock

sicilianos wrote:Riddlemay,

One more shot at this one, a smaller place but still good food.

http://www.dalucianos.com/

8343 West Grand Avenue River Grove, Illinois 60171
(708) 453-1000

A bit more casual than Sabatino's or Ristorante Agostino, but very good. Mentioned at a minimum on LTH here http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=33281&p=394478&hilit=da+luciano%27s#p394478.

I'm always getting flyers from this place for delivery, I'm going to have to try it now.
Thanks!

I actually asked this exact same question a couple of years ago! Glad you brought it up again...

My two cents:

La Villa...3632 N. Pulaski....very near Sabatinos.....great old bar...Cheesy accordian player to boot in the bar...cheap, cheap drinks too! Great food....amazingly friendly staff (see profile on Check Please site). And sacrilege of sacrileges...there are times we actually prefer this to Sabatinos.....some times...

Ambrogio...6706 W. Belmont....a real hole in the wall locals place....a little scruffy, but perfectly fine....you really feel like you've discovered something nobody outside the neighborhood knows about..

The Playroom...7958 W. Belmont....not really old, but feels like it....again, real locals kind of place.....you expect Paulie Walnuts to pop through the door at any second....again, very nice, very Italian staff...bonus.....free sausage and peppers and ribs during the Bears games

Colletti's...5707 N. Central. Will food blow you away...no...but it's pretty darn decent (linguine with clams are great)..pizza certainly good as well...eat at the bar and watch the old timers sing Karaoke on weekends. Again, lovely service...

Again, none of the above approaches Sabatinos in terms of overal food quality (and in terms of some of the amusingly borderline personality disorders of some of the wait staff....and I say that with all affection)....but they are nice options not far away when you crave that old Chicago Italian-American vibe.

Ambrogio is great but it's in a different class I think.
riddlemay asked for something like Sabatino's but not Sabatino's.
From what I understand Sabatino's is waiters in Tuxes, dark wood, strolling musicians, and big booths kind of old school.
Ambrogio is your grandmother's basement kind of old school. Don't get me wrong I love the place (we had my daughters Confirmation party there) but fancy it ain't.

Yes...Grandmother's basement is spot on! Glad you like it too....

They really seemed surprised when we came in....kind of a "how in the world did you find US" vibe.....very sweet though.....and we actually were conversing with people at other tables...just like at Grandma's!

Major time warp!

Wonderful responses!

Addressing zoid's point (and in case it further refines the search): I don't need the tuxes, or the strolling musicians--but the big booths and/or red leather banquettes, along with lowish lighting and linen tablecloths, is what I have in mind.

Via Veneto is too modern to be classic Old School in appearance, but it definitely gives off that family-run, traditional feeling. There are several big booths, the lighting is lower as the evening progresses and the white linen tablecloths add to the touch.

The menu has the classics, as well as a broad range of creative dishes. They are particularly good with seafood and the pasta dishes come with several excellent sauces. The family and staff add to the Old School atmosphere.

Via Veneto
6340 N. Lincoln
Chicago, IL 60659
773.267.0888

http://www.viavenetochicago.com

I second the post about La Villa on Pulaski. I like Sabatino's but I actually think the food at La VIlla tastes even better.

If you want another suggestion that is in that league also you may want to try Al's in Cicero. Solid pasta as well.

Al's Italian Restaurant
6050 W. Cermak Road
708-656-1060

And while you won't find strolling musicians or anything too fancy there is another decent (not mind blowing but a great value) old school joint I sometimes go to for my husband when we want an inexpensive date night. That is Di Vita's on Belmont and Milwaukee.

Di Vita's
3753 W Belmont
773-558-5868

Di Vita's has been there since the 50s and the looks and decor are pretty old school neighborhood on the inside. The used to have a full bar but now only do BYOB.

A place I really like is Abruzzo's in Melrose Park

Abruzzo's Italian Restaraunt & Lounge
1509 W. Division St. Melrose Park, IL.
http://www.abruzzos.net/

We ate at il vicinato western and 24th on Sunday night. Really loved the old school feel. The food was pretty good. I guess they are known for their ravioli, which we didn't order. The meatballs were very good as was my veal. The "gravy" is certainly old schooland may be an acquired taste. I enjoyed it maybe more for the atmosphere.

I'll also say Agostino's.

Another place I like for Bella Notte http://www.bellanottechicago.com/ 1374 W. Grand, Chicago IL

The portions at Bella Notte are huge, the drinks are large also. You get the classics done in ways I remember from my youth. I try to get there once a year for chicken vesuvio.

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap.

Decent red sauce ravioli, better than decent lemon chicken and potatoes.

1073 West Vernon Park Place
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-3393

Habibi wrote:Tufano's Vernon Park Tap.

Decent red sauce ravioli, better than decent lemon chicken and potatoes.

1073 West Vernon Park Place
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-3393

I thought about them too, but they are closed on Monday.

If I'm down south, I will always default to Bruna's, but on the north side, I've recently found that Calo Ristorante on N. Clark is really good. Thin crust pizza and grilled calamari on spinach were standouts last visit. It's certainly an 'old-school' place that has been recently remodeled.

Calo Ristorante
5343 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60640-2121
(773) 271-7782

Italian Village-Cantina room. Located on Monroe between Clark and Dearborn in the Loop across from First National Plaza.

There are a couple I like when looking for a good old red sauce place. Both have longevity, and recipies handed down for generations.

Real old school in a Norridge strip mall. Try anything "al Basilico".

Basilico Restaurante
4701 N Cumberland Ave
Norridge, IL 60706
(708) 452-6400
www.basilico.net


Zalute, another classic spot, across the street (on the Rosemont side) from the new casino in Des Plaines. Try the sausage and peppers.

Cafe Zalute
9501 Devon Ave
Rosemont, IL 60018
(847) 685-0206
www.zalute.com

AngrySarah wrote:Another place I like for Bella Notte http://www.bellanottechicago.com/ 1374 W. Grand, Chicago IL

The portions at Bella Notte are huge, the drinks are large also. You get the classics done in ways I remember from my youth. I try to get there once a year for chicken vesuvio.

I'll second Bella Notte as well. The 8-finger cavatelli, the stuffed bone-in filet, sausage and peppers, and calamari are great here, too.

Interesting side note, while Belle Notte feels very Old School, it hasn't been there that long. And while the food is very good American-Italian, the owners are Mexican by heritage. When discussing this once with one of the owners, he mentioned that the family had all worked in the kitchen at Gianotti's in Norridge, and they decided to open a restaurant that focused on what they knew. As he put it "all restaurant food in America is Mexican food." They do a great job.

Yes...I second Cafe Zalute! Forgot about them....

ParkLaBrea wrote:Yes...I second Cafe Zalute! Forgot about them....

Is that the (relatively) new place that went in to what used to be a rib restaurant?

for me it's
GRECO'S in willow springs,il on archer
sausage and vinager peppers are tops.

You know Steve, I'm not sure....we've been aware of it for about 2-3 years...it's situated in an office building across the street from the new Casino....not sure how long it has been there though..

Always hopping on Saturday nights too... fun live music....

We ended up going to a place no one has mentioned--La Luce (1393 W. Lake, at Loomis). It was just what we wanted: well-mixed martinis, good chianti, well-above-average fried calamari, flavorful white bean and sausage soup, and, for me, an entree of Veal Luce--thinly sliced veal with prosciutto and melted fontina cheese on top. Everyone else was equally happy with their entrees. Nicely diverse clientele in terms of age. Relaxed, professional service. I love the old corner-bar-storefront feel at La Luce; had been there for lunch several times, but never dinner. Although it hasn't been around forever (only since 1993), it feels like it has. For those looking for that kind of experience, I recommend it.

Thanks for all the guidance (even though we ended up someplace else); I've stored it away for future reference. And since I'm obviously not the only one looking for recommendations in the category, every post was valuable to someone else in addition to me.

Well howdy-ho Riddlemay......La Luce sounds great....and photos I found look awesome...

Amazing that I am always on the prowl for these type of place....and here that is right under my nose...been by that corner a million times and never noticed!

ParkLaBrea wrote:Well howdy-ho Riddlemay......La Luce sounds great....and photos I found look awesome...

Amazing that I am always on the prowl for these type of place....and here that is right under my nose...been by that corner a million times and never noticed!

La Luce can be great most of the time. When my office was in the West Loop, I'd go there for dinner after work or before a game at the UC a few times/month. Now that I'm not down there all that much any more, it's fallen off my radar for no good reason.