Bella Bacinos – Scratch Italian Kitchen Flourishing in Chicago
By Samantha Schoville
Bella Bacinos had the feeling of an old Chicago establishment—one that obviously has all the Chicago trademarks behind it—family, loyal employees, hard work, and love. The restaurant first became famous for its deep-dish pizza in Lincoln Park but has since established multiple locations over 30 years, each one featuring an area of American-Italian cuisine; the Diversey Park location offers al fresco dining, the La Grange location focuses on a comprehensive wine list, and the Upper Wacker location vibes with Italian Bistro. It was the Italian Bistro style that called our names.
On a Wednesday night, around 5:30, we entered Bella Bacinos, which was abuzz with out-of-towners and travelers (being near iconic Michigan Avenue can support this theory). We started with glasses of Chardonnay and Riesling – perfect for a summer day!
With the wine working in our system, it was time to get down to the menu. Strong suits of the Bella Bacinos menu included their Thin-Crust Pizza, the famous “Pizza Cup” (a bite sized serving of deep-dish pizza), and various pastas. We decided on the Poached Pear and Gorgonzola Salad and the Margherita Classico Pizza. The manager of 20 years, Jon, surprised us with an Appetizer of Basil-Tomato Focaccia dipped in EVOO and Balsamic Vinaigrette. Still warm from the oven, we were sold.
Our Poached Pear Salad arrived, which was a perfect blend of creamy, strong cheese and sweet pears with peppery greens. Next came the Margherita Classico on a perfect, crispy, thin crust! I could not deny that Bella Bacinos had nailed the traditional style of pizza that so often gets confused in America. Again, we were treated like royalty with a surprise of Slow-Roasted Ribs. The ribs were slathered in a Bourbon Beer Sauce that broke the meat down to the most tender of all BBQ goodness. We ate them without abandon, then realized how full our bellies really were! And yet, we still made room for dessert.
For dessert, we were brought a slice of Flourless Chocolate Cake (dense, but not too dense; sweet, but not too sweet), Tiramisu (you have to when you choose Italian), and Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies (classically delicious). Everything is scratch at Bella Bacinos, by the way, which was apparent in the integrity of the food. We happily tasted and nibbled at our sugary treats until our bellies could take no more.
The pluses of Bella Bacinos on Wacker is that it is real food made by real people. You can tell that there is love and thought behind their dishes. The Bacinos have effectively expressed their passion for food through, well, the food! I highly suggest you stop in at Bella Bacinos if you’re traveling through Chicago, but I even more highly suggest you make a reservation if you live in or near the city but have never been. What are you waiting for?
Bella Bacinos is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday & Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. (10 p.m. on Sunday). Again, their four locations are Upper Wacker, Lincoln Park, Diversey Park and La Grange.