void — Restaurant in Jefferson Township

We dined at void tonight, a whimsical interpretation of Italian that reminded me of the Childhood menu at Next. I couldn’t help but be charmed. Before we went, I didn’t want to like it. I didn’t plan to like it, because the name of the restaurant is unappealing to me and I looked over the menu online and nothing struck my fancy, but once our first course, Shrimp Scampi Toast, hit the table and I realized it was a riff on Chinese-American shrimp toast that was brilliantly executed and topped with perfectly cooked prawns and scampi butter, I was smitten. I don’t know how the shrimp mousseline gets into the center of the bread or how the bread heals around it to obscure the tampering, but it sure is a fun texture and it’s delicious. Then the most popular dish arrived, Spaghetti-Uh-O’s, a fictional brand satirizing the iconic canned mush from childhood, except this version is al dente, rich, and contains little meatballs any nonna would be proud of. Another fun dish is the Chicken Marsala, which is actually Korean fried chicken drenched in maitake marsala served in a paper bag with a little squeeze bottle of buttermilk dressing. We also enjoyed branzino, a menu item seemingly without a gimmick, which was cooked to perfection and plated beautifully with a crisp salad of fennel, frisée, and Frenched green beans. Service was exceptional, and the wine list featured a wine we’ve been meaning to try (Occhipinti SP68 Sicilia Rosso IGT 2020 Frappato – Nero d’Avola, Sicily) since we caught the purveyor’s guest spot on Stanley Tucci’s show about Italy. The only misstep is that the Handkerchief Pasta came out not at all warm, but it was delicious in spite of being served at room temperature.

void Avondale 2937 N Milwaukee...

Last night I finally got to Void, on Milwaukee Ave. Immediately after entering the vibe was so unique, and welcoming, from our delightful server Joy with a wonderful dry southern charm, to the comfy dining areas.

First up we tried the Focaccia with Black Truffle Salami, which was such an elegant appetizer, served with apricot jam and honey garlic butter, with no overpowering flavors, and not too heavy.

Next we had three entrees, one being the famous Spaghetti Uh-Ohs, which was tasty specifically the meatballs, rich in flavor, served from a can to highlight the gag, which was fun!

Next we had Fried Chicken Marsala. Which was quite possibly the best fried chicken I have ever had. Served with a homemade creamy Italian dressing if you want a little added smooth creamy flavor. The rich crispy salty sweet crust from the fried exterior, mixed with the tender soft rich chicken flavor, paired so perfectly with the creamy Italian, it was a divine flavor sensation. Plus one of my favorite presentations "From the Bag" as it were, to boot!!

Last we tried the Eggplant Parm, which was also spectacular. The Eggplant was so rich in flavor it tasted as if I'm it were an Impossible patty almost, with the perfect mozzarella crust, and a very crisp exterior to bite into the smooth easily bitable interior, crossed so perfectly with the sweet red sauce, and the light Parmasan flaking on the outside, a near perfect Eggplant Parmesan execution.

I highly recommend Void, a delightful establishment, with great personality, and wonderfully executed dishes, served with a smile and presented...

The place: really interesting decor- like walking into a converted church, or a place that bought out a church yard sale with mosaic tiles on the cold case, the last supper on a massive mural taking up most of one wall, vintage lamp, all thoughtfully curated to create a modern, yet familiar vibe. Service was excellent. We never had empty water glasses, and though I didn't get an alcoholic drink (dry January), when we ordered the tiramisu which was soaked in fernet, our server wanted to make sure alcohol in that form was okay. One thing to note - the tables at the benches are REALLY close together. I'm not an exceptionally large person, but with a puffy coat in the winter, squeezing in between the tables was a bit of a feat. Those seats are definitely not for everyone.

The taste: focaccia - the fermented garlic honey butter - an amazing conception. Rich, balanced, on top of the bitter and sour notes of the focaccia, was a great way to kick off the meal. The carrot dish was well-portioned, and the pickled turnips made the dish especially interesting. The carrots had a depth of flavor that I'll be thinking about for a while. The scallops. Oh the scallops. Cooked to perfection, swimming in a sea of rich, cheesy risotto. The onions added an acidic break you needed. Lasagna - solid. Hefty. Rich. A well-executed piece of lasagna, though we may not order it the next time we end up here.

My face: satisfied smile. $150 pre-tip for the dishes above plus a couple alcoholic drinks and a Diet Coke. Reservations at 6, out at...