Tag Archives: ambiance

Experience the Familia that is Mia Francesca

You know you’re a success when you’re rocking 16 locations in Chicagoland. Such is the story of Mia Francesca, not your average run of the mill Italiano eatery.

With name recognition by all Chicagoans, one would think the restaurant had been thriving for the past century. Au contraire, only having been open since 1992, Chef Scott Harris opened the original location on N. Clark Street and hence created a sensation. Not that he came out of nowhere, mind you. Chef Scott Harris was no stranger to finePicture 21 cuisine having worked in The 95th, Ambria, Cucina Cucina, Harry’s Café, Sole Mio, Trattoria L’Angelo di Roma and Petthany’s in St. Croix.

But it was his rustic Italian comfort food, homemade pastas and sauces, delicate but pungent salads and cozy Euro-style ambiance that gained him name-status fame and the “Critics Choice – Rookie of the Year” award by Chicago Magazine.

From his first opening to the next 15, all corners of Chicago and its food-loving suburbs called for Mia Francesca locations of their own, and Harris delivered. He stuck to the same rustic Italian menus and paired with more notable chefs to make each restaurant stand on its own. What you can count on at any of its locations is a casual atmosphere with the cuisine of a restaurant charging triple what you’ll find at Mia Francesca- mamma mia!

Ravaging The Food World Like An Animal

With pig ears onAnimal Pic the menu and bacon chocolate for dessert, it’s no wonder this place is called Animal. The absurd combinations may have customers questioning, but it all turns to delight when they find themselves licking the bowl clean.

Powerhouse chefs Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook took their friendship out of the culinary classroom and onto one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles. The two chefs who have taken the culinary world by storm delivering dishes full of ethnic flare and out of this world creations.  Eaters will vouch that everything is good on the menu and you truthfully cannot go wrong.

What makes this dining experience unlike the rest is that you find yourself in a trendy location with terrific food. Unlike happening spots with not so happening food, the ambiance and food go hand and hand and make this dining trip worth venturing to again.