118C H A P T E R 7 . W H E R E TO D I N ET H E I TA L I A N V I L L A G EAlong with The Berghoff (see listing above), the Italian Village ranks as a downtown dining landmark. Open since 1927, the building houses three separate Italian restaurants, each with its own menu and unique ambience, and all three are popular for pre- and posttheater meals. They also share an exemplary wine cellar and fresh produce grown in a family garden. Since each restaurant in the Italian Village is distinct, they are listed separately below. La Cantina Enoteca Value ITALIAN/SEAFOOD La Cantina, the most casual of the three restaurants in the Italian Village, makes the most of its basement location by creating the feel of a wine cellar. Focusing on seafood, La Cantina offers at least five fresh varieties every day. Specialties include a fish soup appetizer, macaroni with scallops and shrimp in a garlic-pesto cream sauce, and seafood-filled ravioli. There also a small selection of nonseafood items (your basic pasta favorites and some beef and veal dishes). The dinner menu offers a big-time bargain: A la carte dishes (most under $20) include a salad, and for $2 more you also get soup, dessert, and coffee.71 W. Monroe St. (between Clark and Dearborn sts.). & 312/332-7005. www.italianvillage-chicago.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $11�23 lunch, $12�27 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon揟hurs 11:30am�:30pm and 5-11pm; Fri 11:30am�:30pm and 5pm-midnight; Sat 5pm搈idnight. Subway/El: Red or Blue line to Monroe.The Village Upstairs in the Italian Village is Finds SOUTHERN ITALIAN The Village, with its charming interpretation of alfresco dining in a small Italian town, complete with a midnight-blue ceiling, twinkling tars,�and banquettes tucked into private, cavelike little rooms. It the kind of pan-Chicago place where you might see one man in a tux and another in shorts. The massive menu includes some time-warp appetizers (oysters Rockefeller, shrimp de jonghe) and all the oldtime, hearty southern Italian standards. This is old-school Italian: eggplant parmigiana, a heavy spaghetti alla carbonara that would send your cardiologist into fits, veal scaloppine, and even calves�liver. The food is good rather than great, but what sets The Village apart is the bordering-on-corny faux-Italian atmosphere. The service, too, is outstanding, from the Italian maitre d�who flirts with all the ladies, to the ancient waiters who manage somehow to keep up with the nonstop flow. The staff are pros at handling pretheater dining.71 W. Monroe St. (between Clark and Dearborn sts.). & 312/332-7005. www.italianvillage-chicago.com. Reservations recommended (accepted for parties of 3 or more). Main courses (including salad) $8�20 lunch, $10�30 dinner.AE, DISC, MC,V. Mon揟hurs 11am搈idnight; Fri揝at 11am�am; Sun noon搈idnight. Subway/ El: Red or Blue line to Monroe.Vivere REGIONAL ITALIAN On the main floor of the Italian Village is Vivere, the Italian Village take on gourmet cookingnd eye-catching design. The bold interior, with rich burgundies, textured walls, spiraling bronze sculptures, and fragmented mosaic floors, makes dinner a theatrical experience. No spaghetti and meatballs here; the pasta dishes feature upscale ingredients, from the pappardelle with braised duck to the agnolottini filled with pheasant. Fresh fish is always on the menu (a recent entree selection was salmon with spiced carrot broth), along with a good selection of meats and game. Grilled venison medallions are served with foie gras ravioli, while roasted duck is accompanied by a potato terrine and sauted spinach.71 W. Monroe St. (between Clark and Dearborn sts.). & 312/332-7005. www.italianvillage-chicago.com. Reservations recommended. Main courses $11-$22 lunch, $12�33 dinner. AE, DC, DISC, MC, V. Mon揟hurs 11:30am�2:30pm and 5�0pm; Fri 11:30am�:30pm and 5�1pm; Sat 5�1pm. Subway/El: Red or Blue line to Monroe.
