Zia’s Trattoria
6699 N. Northwest Highway in Edison Park
773-775-0808
ZiasChicago.com

The scene: This classic Italian restaurant has been a staple of the Edison Park dining scene for more than two decades. Exposed brick walls, rustic wood floors and accents, low lighting and an open kitchen in back all add to the undeniable charm and warmth of the restaurant.

The brains: Joe Calabrese, the owner and executive chef (and Park Ridge resident), got his training at the prestigious Culinary Institute of America and honed his skills at esteemed Chicago dining destinations like Spiaggia, Ambria and the Park Hyatt before opening Zia’s in 1997. He credits his culinary journeys throughout the Italian regions of Tuscany and Liguria as the inspiration behind Zia’s.

The cast-iron skillet of jumbo shrimp that arrives at the table bubbling in a sauce of tomato, garlic, capers, kalamata olives and chili flakes with a few pieces of garlic crostini, is a wonderful, slightly spicy way to start any meal

The duomo: Looking for a safe night out for dinner during the pandemic? Zia’s has a 4,000-square-foot tent that’s ventilated and toasty, even on the chilliest of days, and tables are safely spaced out to enjoy time with family or friends.

Photo by Nikki Allen Creative

The menu: Loaded with Italian classics and inventive creations, you’re sure to leave happy and full. For an appetizer, we tried the gamberi diavolo, a cast-iron skillet of jumbo shrimp that arrives at the table bubbling in a sauce of tomato, garlic, capers, kalamata olives and chili flakes with a few pieces of garlic crostini. It’s a wonderful, slightly spicy way to start any meal.

The rigatoni piedmontese was another favorite because of its mild blend of flavors. It’s a generous plate of rigatoni mixed with tender chicken, peas, herbs, white wine, garlic and parmesan.

What about classic lasagna, chicken limone with roasted potatoes, homemade butternut squash-stuffed ravioli with toasted hazelnuts, sauteed veal cutlets in a white wine sauce with goat cheese and angel hair pasta? Yes, it’s all here. And more.

A variety of tasty appetizers, salads and flatbread pizzas are available as well. The fried calamari and avocado salad, in particular, are dynamite.

Zia’s has a 4,000-square-foot tent that’s ventilated and toasty, even on the chilliest of days, and tables are safely spaced out to enjoy time with family or friends.

More fun: Tuesdays, which happen to be half-price bottles of wine, are also movie nights inside “the duomo,” and Santa makes visits Wednesday evenings leading up to Christmas.

Don’t forget: Weekend brunch runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and curbside pickup, free delivery are also available.

Photo by Nikki Allen Creative