'Buon Appetito': Chicago's Top Italian Restaurants for Pasta, Pizza and Amore

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Piccolo Sogno

Item: Piccolo Sogno
Author: Jacky Runice

Cuisine: European, Italian

Price Range: $$$

10Best Says

Piccolo Sogno, Italian for "little dream," is just that. The first restaurant of partners Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo is still satisfying diners after 10 years on the competitive Chicago dining scene. The menu is studded with hand-made seasonal rustic Italian dishes and an impressive all-Italian wine list checks in at over 400 varieties. The River West eatery, with its serene interior and shaded patio, provides an intimate refuge from the noisy city streets. Lucky you - it's open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner seven days a week. The menu is full of incredible dishes from an earthy Ribolitta (twice cooked Tuscan bread and vegetable soup) to ethereal pasta like toasted flour ribbon pasta tossed with mixed mushrooms, herbs and Parmesan. Locals rave about the whole Branzino sided with braised fennel and wood-fired pizzas.

Address:

464 N Halsted
Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0077

Hours:

Lunch:: Monday; -; Friday:; 11:30am; -; 2:30pm; Dinner:; Monday; -; Thursday:; 5:30pm; -; 10:30pm,; Friday; &
Saturday:: 5:30pm; -; 11:00pm,; Sunday:; 5:30pm; -; 10:00pm

Website:

piccolosognorestaurant.com

EXPERT TIPS BY: Jacky Runice
Chicago Local Expert

Italian: "Parking is free at lunch and $10 at dinner which is a bargain. Or take a taxi to River West - you won't be disappointed."

Best for Italian Because: Piccolo Sogno is an excellent Italian restaurant lauded for its fresh rustic fare, outstanding service and one of the most enchanting patios in Chicago.

Lunch Menu
- Insalate
  
  Caprese
  
  oven dried tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, olive oil ($10.00)
  
  Autunno
  
  arugula, roasted grapes, local squash, toasted walnuts, capriole goat cheese ($10.00)
  
  Spinaci
  
  baby spinach, belgium endive, candied pecans, gorgonzola dop, balsamic dressing ($10.00)
  
  Cavolo Nero
  
  tuscan kale, radishes, croutons tossed in lemon parmesan dressing ($9.00)
  
  Insalata Di Barbabietole
  
  mixed beets, shaved fennel, imported buffalo ricotta, local greens, citrus oil ($10.00)
  
  Mista
  
  local greens, tomatoes, house vinaigrette, fennel flavored grissini ($7.00)
- Antipasti
  
  Burrata Con Culatello
  
  pugliese, hand-stuffed mozzarella, artisan style prosciutto ($13.00)
  
  Cecina Fritta
  
  chick pea flour fries with parmesan, rosemary ($8.00)
  
  Prosciutto Di Parma
  
  prosciutto di parma, fall melon ($15.00)
  
  Frittura Di Calamari
  
  fried calamari served in a paper artichoke ($10.00)
  
  Cozze All' Arrabbiata
  
  prince edward island mussels stewed in a spicy tomato sauce, garlic crostini ($12.00)
  
  La Ribolitta "Da Delfina"
  
  twice cooked bread and vegetable soup in the style of da delfina in artimino, italy ($9.00)
- Paste
  
  Lasagna Tipica Di Bologna
  
  traditional lasagna of bologna with green pasta sheets layered with béchamel and bolognese sauce ($15.00)
  
  Spaghetti Neri "Frutti Di Mare"
  
  string cut black spaghetti, mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, san marzano tomatoes, red pepper flakes ($19.00)
  
  Ravioli "Piccolo Sogno"
  
  four cheese ravioli, pine nuts, butter, marsala glaze, parmesan shavings ($16.00)
  
  Stracci Di Farro
  
  farro flour pasta triangles, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic, truffle oil ($15.00)
  
  Gnocchi
  
  rosemary and potato dumplings, oven dried tomatoes, braised chicken, leeks, and parmesan ($17.00)
  
  Paglia E Fieno Con Vitello
  
  "straw and hay" green and white ribbon noodles, veal ragu ($17.00)
- Panini
  
  Prosciutto E Mozzarella
  
  parma ham, mozzarella, arugula, fresh tomatoes ($13.00)
  
  Pollo E Fontina
  
  grilled chicken breast, imported fontina cheese, pine nut basil pesto, oven dried tomatoes ($11.00)
  
  Tonno Della Nonna
  
  tony's grandmother's olive oil poached tuna salad with red onion and parsley ($12.00)
  
  Porchetta
  
  shaved roasted roman style pork, arugula, dijon mustard ($11.00)
  
  Prosciutto Arrosto E Zucchini
  
  roasted prosciutto cotto, sliced roasted zucchini, oven dry tomato paste, parmesan ($12.00)
- Pizza
  
  Margherita
  
  tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil ($13.00)
  
  Bianca Con Rucula
  
  mozzarella, arugula, olive oil, reggiano curls ($14.00)
  
  Diavolo
  
  spicy tomato sauce, artisan salami, imported buffalo mozzarella ($16.00)
  
  D'oro
  
  tomato sauce, pesto, mozzarella, crispy italian ham ($16.00)
  
  Funghi
  
  mixed mushroom, herbs, fresh mozzarella and white truffle oil ($15.00)
- Secondi
  
  Anatra E Spinaci
  
  wood roasted, shredded duck with mushrooms and aged balsamic, tossed with baby spinach ($16.00)
  
  Battuta Di Pollo
  
  grilled, flattened chicken breast, mixed greens, grapes, pine nuts, capriole farm goat cheese ($15.00)
  
  Salmone
  
  grilled loch duart salmon, roasted root vegetables, farro,garlic suted spinach,lemon and anchovy reduction ($23.00)
  
  Griglia Mista
  
  grilled calamari, shrimp and octopus, tossed with orange, fennel, tomatoes, olives, potatoes, arugula and lemon oil ($11.00)
  
  Coniglio All' Agro
  
  slow stewed rabbit with white wine, rosemary, lemon, sautéed black cabbage and semolina pudding ($22.00)
  
  Maiale Alla Milanese
  
  flattened breaded pork loin, arugula, mozzarella and tomato salad ($18.00)
  
  Scaloppine Di Vitello
  
  flattened veal medallions with mushrooms and marsala, sautéed spinach and local squash flan ($22.00)
Dinner Menu
- Insalata
  
  Caprese
  
  oven dried plum tomatoes, basil, imported buffalo mozzarella from campania ($15.00)
  
  Autunno
  
  arugula, roasted grapes, local squash, toasted walnuts, capriole goat cheese ($10.00)
  
  Cavolo Nero
  
  tuscan kale, radishes, croutons tossed in lemon parmesan dressing ($10.00)
  
  Spinaci
  
  baby spinach, belgium endive, candied pecans, gorgonzola dop, balsamic dressing ($11.00)
  
  Barbabietole
  
  mixed local beets, shaved fennel, imported buffalo ricotta, greens, citrus infused oil ($10.00)
  
  Mista
  
  field greens, house vinaigrette, fennel flavored grissini ($7.00)
- Antipasti
  
  Ribolitta
  
  twice cooked tuscan bread and vegetable soup ($10.00)
  
  Prosciutto Di Parma
  
  prosciutto di parma, fall melon ($16.00)
  
  Salsicce Di Cervo
  
  house made venison sausage, stewed cannelinni beans ($12.00)
  
  Cecina Fritta
  
  chick pea flour fries with parmesan ($8.00)
  
  Cannelloni
  
  pasta wrapped spinach, mushrooms and buffalo milk ricotta, tomato sauce, béchamel ($10.00)
  
  Burrata Con Culatello
  
  pugliese, hand-stuffed mozzarella, artisan style prosciutto ($15.00)
  
  Griglia Mista
  
  grilled calamari, shrimp, octopus, arugula, lemon and caper infused olive oil ($16.00)
  
  Frittura Di Calamari
  
  fried calamari, lemon ($12.00)
- Paste
  
  Ravioli "Piccolo Sogno"
  
  four cheese ravioli, pine nuts, butter, marsala glaze, parmesan curls ($17.00)
  
  Spaghetti Neri "Frutti Di Mare"
  
  string cut black spaghetti, mussels, clams, shrimp, calamari, san marzano tomatoes, red pepper flakes ($21.00)
  
  Stracci Di Farro
  
  farro flour pasta triangles, mushrooms, asparagus, garlic, truffle oil ($16.00)
  
  Fettucine Di Castagna
  
  chestnut flavored ribbon pasta, ragu of mixed mushrooms, herbs, garlic and parmesan ($18.00)
  
  Paglia E Fieno Con Vitello
  
  "straw and hay" green and white ribbon pasta, veal ragu ($19.00)
  
  Gnocchi
  
  rosemary and potato dumplings, oven dried tomatoes, braised chicken, leeks, and parmesan ($18.00)
  
  Pappardelle Con Cinghiale
  
  wide flat pasta, spiced wild boar ragu ($19.00)
  
  Cappellacci Di Zucca
  
  local squash, amaretto cookies and ricotta stuffed pasta, brown butter sage, walnuts ($17.00)
- Pizza
  
  Margherita
  
  tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil ($14.00)
  
  Bianca Con Rucula
  
  mozzarella, arugula, olive oil, reggiano curls ($15.00)
  
  D'oro
  
  tomato sauce, pesto, mozzarella, crispy italian ham ($17.00)
  
  Diavolo
  
  spicy tomato sauce, artisan salami, imported buffalo mozzarella ($17.00)
  
  Funghi
  
  mixed mushrooms, herbs, fresh mozzarella and white truffle oil ($16.00)
- Secondi
  
  Polletto Alla Griglia
  
  flattened grilled cornish hen, rapini, lemon ($20.00)
  
  Coniglio All' Agro
  
  slow stewed rabbit with white wine, rosemary, lemon, semolina pudding ($25.00)
  
  Rosticciana
  
  braised beef short ribs, squash puree, fall greens, red wine and aromatic vegetables ($27.00)
  
  Anatra Arrosto
  
  half roasted duck, tuscan kale, fennel sausage, roasted cauliflower puree ($26.00)
  
  "Sapore" Di Mare
  
  assorted shellfish and fish stew, garlic rubbed toast ($26.00)
  
  Maiale "Al Latte"
  
  milk braised pork shank, roasted brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes, milk gravy ($27.00)
  
  Salmone
  
  grilled loch duart salmon, roasted root vegetables, farro, swiss chard, toasted garlic, lemon and anchovy reduction ($26.00)
  
  Bistecca Alla Griglia
  
  grilled 16 oz. rib eye, arugula, onion and tomato salad ($32.00)
- Contorni
  
  Olive Miste
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Polenta Con Farro
  
  ($5.00)
  
  Patate Al Rosmarino
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Asparagi Alla Griglia
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Rapini
  
  ($6.00)
  
  Broccolini
  
  ($6.00)
Wine Menu
- Veneto /Trentino/alto Adige
  
  N. V. Prosecco Brut Doc, Voveti
  
  ($9.00)
  
  N. V. Prosecco Doc, Canella (Split)
  
  ($11.00)
  
  N. V. Brut Rose Doc, St. Margherita
  
  ($10.00)
  
  N. V. Bellavista Cuvée Brut Docg, Franciacorta
  
  ($15.00)
- Northern Italy Friuli/Alto Adige
  
  2009 Riesling Doc, Torresella
  
  ($8.00)
  
  2010 Sauvignon Blanc Doc, Borgo Conventi
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2010 Pinot Bianco Doc, Jermann
  
  ($12.00)
- Veneto/Piemonte
  
  2011 Soave Classico Doc, Pieropan
  
  ($9.00)
  
  2011 Gavi Del Comune Di Gavi Docg, Batasiolo
  
  ($9.00)
  
  2011 Arneis "Blange" Langhe Doc, Ceretto
  
  ($10.00)
- Marche
  
  2010 Offida Pecorino Doc, Cocci Grifone
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2010 Verdicchio Classico Doc, Bucci
  
  ($10.00)
- Campania/Sardegna
  
  2011 Vermentino "Solais" Doc, Cantina Santadi
  
  ($8.00)
  
  2010 Falanghina Falerno Bianco Doc, Villa Matilde
  
  ($10.00)
- Abruzzo
  
  2011 Cerasuolo D' Abruzzo Rose Doc, "Il Feuduccio"
  
  ($9.00)
- Lombardia/Friuli/Veneto
  
  2009 Pinot Nero, Pratello
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2009 Blau&blau Igt, Jermann
  
  ($15.00)
  
  2009 "Red Angel on the Moonlight" (Pinot Noir) Igt Venezia Giulia, Jermann
  
  ($16.00)
  
  2010 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Doc, "Tommasi"
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2007 Amarone Della Valpolicella "Capitel De' Roari" Righetti
  
  ($20.00)
- Piemonte
  
  2010 Barbera D'asti Superiore Doc, Michele Chiarlo
  
  ($8.00)
  
  2008 Barolo Docg, Querciola
  
  ($16.00)
  
  2011 Nebbiolo/Barbera Igt, Paolo Scavino
  
  ($10.00)
- Toscana/Umbria/Abruzzo
  
  2008 Sangiovese Toscana Roso Igt, "Villa Antinori" Antinori
  
  ($12.00)
  
  2009 Chianti Colli Fiorentini Docg, Lanciola
  
  ($9.00)
  
  2009 Chianti Classico Docg, "Peppoli" Antinori
  
  ($11.00)
  
  2008 Chianti Rúfina Riserva "Nipozzano" Docg, Frescobaldi
  
  ($12.00)
  
  2011 Morellino Di Scansano "Bellamarsilia" Docg, Poggio Argentiera
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2010 Il Bruciato Bolgheri Doc, Guido Al Tasso
  
  ($18.00)
  
  2008 Montepulciano D'abruzzo Doc, "Uno" Collefrisio
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2009 Montefalco Rosso Doc, Arnaldo Caprai
  
  ($12.00)
  
  2009 Ruffino Igt, (Sangiovese/Cabernet/Merlot) "Modus"
  
  ($13.00)
  
  2005 Vino Nobile Di Montepulciano Riserva Docg "Lodola Nuova"ruffino
  
  ($18.00)
- Puglia Sicilia
  
  2008 Primitivo Salento " Briaco' " Igt, Rocca Dei Mori
  
  ($10.00)
  
  2008 "Tancredi" (Nero D'avola/Cabernet) Donnafugata
  
  ($15.00)

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