Macello Ristorante & Pizzeria – Puglia in Chicago West Loop
By Patricia Ruiz
Amid the bustle of Chicago’s West Loop, a lively, rustic restaurant with a cozy patio brings to mind the old world charm of Italy. At Macello Ristorante & Pizzeria, diners can enjoy the traditional cuisine of the Puglia region, inspired by the experiences of the restaurant’s two owners.
Upon entering Macello Ristorante & Pizzeria, we were welcomed by a quaint delicatessen, stocked with traditional Italian cheeses and flanked with cured meats and other regional specialties. The main dining room was large and inviting, and exposed brick and ceiling beams contrasted with brightly colored fiberglass lanterns. Opposite an industrial inflected bar, a long wall was lined with shelves of glistening wine bottles. Outside, on a small patio, brick walls were decorated with vintage photos and Peroni ad art.
With more than half of the offerings coming from the Italian restaurant’s wood burning oven, there were so many traditional goodies to choose from! Appetizers included the Prosciutto Melone, a classic pairing of cured meat and ripe, thinly sliced cantaloupe.
Named after the restaurant’s origins, the Pizza Pugliese is an excellent choice, topped with creamy Burrata and thinly sliced Mortadella. The sweetness of the cheese and the slight saltiness of the salume made for a delicate topping on the blistered and slightly charred crust. Other pizza options included the classic Pizza Margherita and Pizza Bianca. The Pizza Macello also took advantage of the popular Burrata, pairing it with Cerignola olives and Barese sausage.
Entrée options were varied, with chops, steaks and seafood taking front and center. Traditional pasta was on the menu, as well. The servings were huge! The Macello waitstaff gladly split orders between two diners. On the night of our visit, a special Zuppa di Pesce was available. The deeply flavorful broth was treated to some of the restaurant’s delectable Gamberoni, or jumbo African prawns, as well as Mussels and Calamari. Grilled pieces of intensely garlicky bread soaked up the bright red broth.
The pasta, made in house, was a delight. We chose from orecchiette, cavatelli, trofiette, laganelle and spaghettini, and each was available with several choices of accompaniments. The Orecchiette with Braciole Beef was rich and meaty, with fork-tender rolled sirloin. A quick mentionable: Macello often offers special Risotto, along with its two regular menu offerings.
The desserts at Macello were large and decadent. The Tartufo, a cocoa-covered scoop of Hazelnut Ice Cream, was a distinctly Italian end to a fabulous dinner. On the night of our visit, the Panna Cotta was light and orange-inflected, basking in a pool of sweet caramel sauce. Ask your server for the night’s offerings, as they are bound to change.
Macello Ristorante & Pizzeria is open seven days a week for dinner starting at 5 p.m. (3 p.m. on Sundays) and serves lunch Tuesday through Friday starting at 11:30 AM. Free street parking is plentiful, and Macello offers complimentary valet during lunch!
[…] Click Here for Specialty Risotto! […]