RESTAURANT REVIEW – TOPO GIGIO RISTORANTE

Located in the heart of Old Town is Topo Gigio Ristorante at 1516 N. Wells Street. Topo Gigio has been around for 25 years and serves Tuscan-Style Italian Cooking. They’ve earned top honors from locals and visitors throughout their tenure. They also boast an outdoor garden and patio that are great in the summer months. The dining room is always kept toasty warm in the cold winter months which makes the enjoyment of their food that much more comfortable. Speaking of which, let’s get to the food.

There are some favorites on the menu that you must try at any given time if you are an Italian food fan. First, I have to mention the Conchiglie all Sarda. It’s seashell pasta in tomato-cream sauce with sausage, peas and pecorino cheese. I’m not quite sure what they do to make this so amazing but it’s a must for anyone who has not been here. The sauce is flavorful and perfect for dipping your bread. And, of course, all the pasta made here is a piece of heaven not to mention the bread which comes out heated.

One of my favorite surprises is the Risotto Milanese. It’s al dente cooked risotto with slices of filet mignon, cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and rosemary. Some folks have said it’s not their favorite, but when eating made from scratch traditional Italian, I have to admit, mine was quite yummy. Even though I didn’t get the substitution, I was curious of both the chicken and vegetable options.

The wine list is pretty good, but if you have a favorite you want to bring from home, there is a corkage fee you can pay instead. We did both and were thankful for the recommendations from our server. From what I’ve experienced, my service has been good to exceptional on many occasions. They are not open late night- closing every night by 10:30pm or earlier on Sunday. It’s recommended that you make reservations especially on the weekends so you don’t have to wait a long time.  The food is reasonably priced from $11-30 per person without drinks.

CATHY MALLERS & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO