Verucchi's Ristorante — Restaurant in Spring Valley

Make a reservation for peak dining times to avoid a wait, and experience fine dining in an old Italian supper club atmosphere. For $11-13, you will get probably the best fried chicken you've ever had (my Southern belle mother concurs), specifically the Family Style Fried Chicken, with a side of delicious spaghetti and tortellini in meat sauce, salad, potato choice, and fresh warn Italian bread bread. Yes, you will have leftovers, though you may have to arm-wrestle your spouse for them in the morning. This is where comfort food meets fine dining in the Illinois Valley. Everything on the menu is good- my husband loves the fried cod and fries and the chicken picatta (I snitch his side Parmesan pasta leftovers every time). Guaranteed someone will have a birthday, and you'll be invited to sing along to the delightfully campy Dean Martin style birthday song diners know and love. The tables on the periphery are prime real estate to see and be seen - locals always see someone you know on a date or taking the familia for dinner, and visitors should come here to get the true flavor of the food-loving ethnic melting pot that is the Illinois Valley. All ages enjoy dining here, and the wait staff is experienced and efficient, so trust them and let them guide you. They'll let you taste a sauce if you aren't sure or they'll take something back if you aren't happy- they want you to enjoy your evening. Don't get cranky if it's prime time Saturday and the fried chicken takes awhile- some nights, they're catering huge parties and sending out carry outs of fried chicken by the carton-load, because everyone loves the chicken and you can't rush fried chicken perfection. Order another fabulous appetizer and a cocktail, and enjoy the night. If you're in a hurry, the wait staff can tell you whether fried chicken will delay you based on the kitchen volume, or which dishes are fast but few people come here to dine and dash- you drink, you laugh, you enjoy conversation with people, and you stuff your face. FYI, anything with red sauce will be wow, and put down your calorie tracker, and let them broil some cheese on top. You won't be sorry. This place does serve baugna caulda, the super rich garlicky fondue that you hear about but rarely see at gatherings anymore in the...

This was my first visit to Verucchi's after hearing quite a bit about it. I went on a Tuesday evening, about 5:30 and was seated right away. I had a glass of wine which was good for a house wine. Started with Calamari, which is always tricky in small town midwest. I was surprised that it was crispy and tender, quite good. The special was Veal Parmesan, which came with a salad and a side of spaghetti with meat sauce. I don't know why area restaurants equate "dinner salad" with "iceberg lettuce tossed in a small bowl." It's generally the first impression you get of the food, and it's treated like it's something to fill time while the meal is prepared. How much would it take to add some color, some croutons. Anyway, a fail. So the main course comes and I am warned that the plate on which rests the veal is extremely hot. Which means the special was prepared long in advance and put in a blast furnace to finish. I must have been tired, because I did not read that the veal was "ground". Had I noticed, I would have ordered virtually anything else. Veal Parmesan should be crispy breaded veal cutlets, this was like a burger with wet breadcrumbs (not the breadcrumbs fault, they had been sitting on a veal patty for hours). The cheese topping was literally burned black around the edges of the scorching hot plate. The meat sauce on the spaghetti was nice.

Service was fair. The server was rushed, did not know if the calamari was fresh or if it was crispy because she "had never had it. but people seem to like it."

Like most restaurants in the area, I think the philosophy is that customers will be happy if you give them enough food to take home in a box. In fact, there was a server walking around with a stack of boxes, going from table to table.

I will give it another try one day, and next time I will make sure the main ingredient...

Verucchi’s Ristorante 600 n Greenwood St. Spring Valley IL 61362

Verucchi’s is as old school as it gets. The restaurant and the restaurants location which is in a residential neighborhood, the interior and just the overall feel of the place is definitely genuine. The dining room is spacious and clean. The ambience is right on and of course a little Sinatra in the background to help set the mood. So far everything is check, check, double check.

I was out with a small group and we started off by ordering a bottle of wine, some Ruffino Chianti of course “Saluti”. What good Italian restaurant review is complete without throwin in some Italiano! After some small talk and wine we ordered our entrees. I chose Mamma’s Pasta which is described (direct from the menu): Fettuccini, mushrooms, red onions, walnuts and peas tossed in a fresh lemon black pepper rosemary cream sauce topped with a grilled chicken breast. This dish is very unique and uniquely delicious. The moment it hits your taste buds it takes your brain a second to process the flavor and then you will love it. I am not aware of a similar dish available elsewhere and I highly recommend this dish if you have the opportunity to eat at Verucchi’s. Everyone I was with enjoyed their meal and we all had a really good time. The only drawback was the time and the service was a bit shaky. I see Italian Restaurants as being a cut above most other genres in that the ambience, food and service should be a cut above. Leaving tables cluttered with plates and dirty napkins is unacceptable and I think that is something that should be tightened up.

According To The Big Food Jerk.

I will look past the service and say I love Verucchi’s and I hope to go back again. Yes I recommend them and if you’ve been there or not go again or go for the first time....