Bar Roma Fred Ramos Bar Roma
5101 N. Clark St. (Carmen Ave.)
Chicago, IL 60640
773-942-7572
Map
Cuisine: Italian
Old-world Italian marries old-world Chicago in this rustic, industrial-inspired eatery in the heart of Andersonville.
Openings: Dinner Wed.-Sun.

Features

Bar Roma, Chicago, IL


Bar Roma Restaurant Review:


Chef Fred Ramos (Angelina Ristorante, Gioco) shines a spotlight on meatballs --- served five ways, including beef cheeks and pork belly versions --- while tending to classics such as antipasti, both hot and cold. Try the Insalate di Mare, bursting with lemony flavor through shrimp, octopus, calamari and celery. Main dishes summon Roman flavors. Pan-seared Branzino Scottato, a pan-seared sea bass, makes for simple elegance with a side of creamy polenta. Colder nights call for the hearty Abbacchio A Scottadito, lamb chops fired to tenderness over wood and plated with gnocchi. For dessert, consider the crema bruciata, a chocolate hazelnut custard with Frangelico cream, and cannoli with ricotta, dark chocolate, pistachios and tart cherry. Sample from a dozen regional Italian wines via a generous by-the-glass list, which includes a splurge-worthy full-bodied 2010 Molino Barolo. Casual and intimate, the eatery satisfies multiple experiences, from the solo diner grabbing dinner after work at the bar (it has its own menu) to groups sharing appetizers at communal tables and the couples seeking a quiet night in a separate dining room. Little design touches make a great impact, whether it’s the grand leather banquette or the penny tile and wood flooring made to look like Roman ruins.