Chicago | Hidden Italian Gem in the Heart of Downtown 🍝

✨ Restaurant Vibe This is the kind of place where you instantly feel the warm Italian charm 🍷. From the decor to the service, it exudes the coziness and elegance of a classic Italian restaurant. Opened for over twenty years, it’s a local favorite, and you’ll always see a line outside. Highly recommend booking in advance to avoid waiting! 📅 🍽️ Menu Recommendations: 1️⃣ Grilled Seafood Platter ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This appetizer is incredibly impressive! Perfectly grilled scallops 🦑, squid 🦑, octopus 🦑, and shrimp 🦐, each with a hint of charcoal aroma, served with olive oil and Italian balsamic vinegar. It’s fresh, healthy, and a must for seafood lovers! ✅ 2️⃣ Lobster Pasta (Special) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A delicious lobster pasta 🦞! The whole lobster is super luxurious, and every bite of the pasta is soaked in the slightly spicy Fra Diavolo sauce. The sweet and tangy flavor pairs perfectly with the tender lobster meat. Super satisfying! 🦐 3️⃣ Black Squid Ink Pasta ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The black pasta is visually stunning. The squid ink noodles combined with creamy rose sauce create a unique, mellow flavor. The shrimp, crab meat 🦀, and scallops are plump and full of flavor. Highly recommend it for those who love crab and creamy tastes! 🦀 4️⃣ Signature Seafood Risotto ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ You can choose between tomato sauce or squid ink seasoning for this seafood risotto 🍲. I went with the squid ink, which was very fresh. The rice is perfectly cooked, and every spoonful is filled with shrimp, shellfish, and squid. Great value! 🦑 5️⃣ Grilled Sea Bass ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The sea bass 🐟 is grilled to perfection—crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Paired with white wine 🥂 and tomatoes 🍅, it’s light and refreshing with a rich texture. It was the special of the day! 🍳 6️⃣ Quattro Stagioni Pizza ⭐️⭐️⭐️ A traditional Italian Quattro Stagioni pizza with classic toppings: artichokes, mushrooms, black olives 🫒, and ham. The thin-crust pizza is crispy 🍕, with plenty of cheese pull 🧀, perfect for sharing! The chef makes it right in front of you. 7️⃣ Almond Ice Cream Mousse ⭐️⭐️⭐️ For dessert, I chose the almond ice cream mousse 🍰. It has an incredibly smooth texture, like ice cream! Paired with blueberries 🫐 and cherry sauce 🍒, the sweet and tangy flavors balance the rich almond taste. The sugar crisp on top resembles candied hawthorn 🍖. 💰 Average Cost: Around $50 per person 📍 Volare #ItalianCuisine #GlobalEatingSquad #HandmadePizza #Seafood #Lobster #Pasta #Chicago #ChicagoFood #UniversityOfChicago #Pizza