Riccardo Trattoria — A More Affordable Truffle Experience 🍝

I’ve written about Boka’s luxurious truffle dinner, but Chicago also has more budget-friendly spots for winter truffles — like Riccardo Trattoria. 🥩 Veal scallopini with porcini and white truffle — tender, thin-cut veal soaked in rich mushroom and truffle aroma. 🥩 White truffle risotto — cooked softer than typical, almost like a creamy, truffle-infused rice porridge. 🥩 Grilled squid with vegetable salad — the squid was slightly bitter, but the salad was fresh and bright. 🥩 Baked eggplant and zucchini in tomato sauce, topped with melty cheese — comforting and nostalgic. 🥩 Two red sauce pastas: ▪️ Meat ragù fettuccine ▪️ Short rib and porcini pappardelle Both were perfectly al dente and flavorful — the pappardelle won with its extra mushroom depth. 🥩 Ricotta cheesecake with grapes — texture between New York-style and Japanese soufflé cheesecake. So good! 🥩 Tiramisu — classic and solid. 🥩 Chocolate lava cake — oozy, warm, and decadent. Also tried the passionfruit panna cotta — lightly tart and refreshing. ⚠️ Truffle dishes cost extra, but it’s much more affordable than fine-dining truffle menus. With 79 years of history (including their original location in Italy), Riccardo Trattoria is a true family-style Italian gem. Highly recommended — I’ll be back again and again. Riccardo Trattoria: 2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614 #ChicagoEats #TruffleSeason #RiccardoTrattoria #ItalianComfort #AffordableLuxury