The Village

The Village Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: It may be a Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m., and this Italian institution could be bustling with hungry diners who have taken a steep flight of stairs up for a chance to savor its red-sauce classics. The Village hasn't changed much since 1927, which is why people keep coming back. With its hand-painted murals resembling --- what else --- a Tuscan village, string lights and nooks aplenty, this restaurant also might be at home in Vegas or Disney World, and yet here we are, in the heart of the Loop.

Food & Drinks: The Village is one of those restaurants that crosses generations. That said, it plays well to large groups thanks to its heaping portions of pasta and teams of servers roaming about to keep timing impeccable. House signatures are popular for a reason; the tender chicken Parmigiana paired with a side of mostaccioli and cheesy lasagna are best sellers. Heaping osso buco is a perfect cold-night treat. Tiramisu is fluffy and not overly sweet. If ever there was a wine program, this would be it: Italian Village boast more than 30,000 wine bottles in its cellar, including its first private wine label Castello di Monsanto, “Monrosso,” Chianti DOCG 2015.