🇮🇹 A Cozy, Hand-Illustrated Gem of an Italian Restaurant in Chicago

This longtime Chicago eatery feels like a scene straight out of a movie. The walls are covered with vintage photos of celebrities, each one tinted with the warm patina of time. 📍 721 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60654 Closed Mondays | Opens 4/5 PM on weekdays Even during the quietest days of the pandemic, the air at La Scarola was always filled with the comforting scent of garlic and olive oil. A plate of sizzling grilled calamari would arrive at the table, making all worries melt away instantly 🦑💛. That warm, lively, and heartfelt atmosphere made everything feel safe and welcoming. What I remember most is their hand-drawn menu — playful and charming strokes that seemed to tell a story of deliciousness with every line ✍️🍝. Their seafood pasta is unforgettable — clams that open just right, their briny juice soaking into every strand of pasta, each bite tasting like the sea 🌊. The thinly pounded chicken breast comes out golden and crispy, tender and juicy inside. That satisfying crunch as you cut into it is pure therapy 😌🍴. 📸 Halfway through our meal, a kind gentleman from the staff came over to say hello, and we ended up taking a photo together — though I still don’t know if he was the owner or not 😄. Looking back now, that pandemic period was strange yet oddly freeing… and honestly, it came with a lot of really good food 🥹❤️. #Foodie #LifeInTheUS #Chicago #ItalianFood #ChicagoEats #CozyVibes #ChicagoLife