The Real Chicago

Top Menu

  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

Main Menu

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login
  • Home
  • E-newsletter
  • Contact

logo

Header Banner

The Real Chicago

  • Home
  • The Big City Blog
  • General Features
  • Around Town
    • First Look – Reviews
    • Hidden Gems
    • Inside Scoop
  • Eat. Drink. Shop.
    • Good Eats
    • Signature Dishes
    • A Round of Drinks
    • Shop Around the Corner
  • The Local Angle
    • Chicago Insider
    • The Local Corner
    • My Chicago
  • Interviews
  • Forum
  • Chicago’s hidden gems: Kiss Kiss Cabaret, Unabridged Bookstore, Lulu Belle’s Pancake House and TNT at The Annoyance

  • New on the scene: Recapping recent restaurant and bar openings in Chicago

  • The Big City Blog: A Chicago summer bucket list

  • Outdoor drinking: A guide to some of our favorite beer gardens and rooftops in Chicago

  • A day at the museum: Exploring the iconic Field Museum in Chicago

Good Eats
Home›Good Eats›Good Eats at Sapori Trattoria: Classic Italian cuisine in a friendly, cozy Lincoln Park setting

Good Eats at Sapori Trattoria: Classic Italian cuisine in a friendly, cozy Lincoln Park setting

By TheRealChicagoOnline
July 31, 2017
1260
0
Share:

By Trent Modglin

Where it’s at: 2701 N. Halsted in Lincoln Park. www.SaporiTrattoria.net

The scene: Sapori Trattoria offers a warm, welcoming environment from start to finish, with a hostess greeting you at the door, white string lights, exposed brick, various pieces of art adorning the walls and a decent chance owner/chef Anthony Barbanente will make the rounds to greet patrons. There are additional rooms in the back of the main dining area, as well as a newly renovated second floor perfect for large groups, rehearsal dinners, etc.

“The truth is, we are the neighborhood restaurant,” says Barbanente. “We’ve had relationships with multiple generations, so it’s fun to watch the parents and now their kids coming in on dates or living in the city themselves.

“We’re not corporate. I hire real people, and real people make for comfortable, natural interactions. My servers have a natural charm for life that you can’t train.”

You’ll find old, reliable dishes as well as an assortment of new, innovative options to satisfy whatever level of food journey you’re on that night.

Food and drink: One of the aspects I’ve always admired about Sapori is that a lot of the menu is made up of staple items — favorites they don’t alter. But Chef Anthony and his staff also collaborate on seasonal dishes that can either be a brand-new creation or part of a regular rotation. In other words, you’ll find your old, reliable dishes as well as an assortment of new, innovative options to satisfy whatever level of food journey you’re on that night.

For appetizers, we targeted the fried calamari with red sauce, like we do most anywhere (you know, for comparison sake), and it didn’t disappoint. It got pretty quiet at the table for a few minutes, and the reason was our friends were devouring the crostini di avocado, which consists of crusty Italian bread topped with fresh chopped avocado, provolone, parmesan, tomato, olive oil and a touch of citrus.

I’ve enjoyed the lobster ravioli here in the past, and I found myself drawn to it again despite a bevy of other tempting options. Handmade pasta stuffed with fresh lobster and seafood and topped with a creamy pink sauce, it’s just too difficult to ignore.

Our group was also blown away by the cappellacci di zucca, or pasta stuffed with pumpkin in a burnt butter sauce with butternut squash, sage and pine nuts (vegetarian approved!); the rich and scrumptious bucatini carbonara, consisting of tube pasta tossed with pancetta, egg yolk, cream, onion and smoked bacon with a smattering of grana padano cheese; and the famous lasagna di Antonio, a hearty meat lasagna made with beef Bolognese sauce and a blend of fresh mozzarella, provolone, parmesan and ricotta. All in all, each dish is a focus on simple, traditional, comforting flavors.

The wine list (bottles start at just $26) is superb, ranging from regional Italian reds and whites to international and American favorites and a special reserve collection if you’re celebrating something special. Several beer varieties are also available.

What caught our eye: It was slammed the night we were in, with a large group dominating the back room and another private party upstairs, in addition to a regular Friday-night crowd, and yet at no time did the staff seem flustered.

It’s also obvious that this is an establishment that has earned the respect of the neighborhood, as evidenced by the number of regulars in the dining room. Lots of hugs and handshakes between the staff and customers, as well as between tables of patrons.

We’ll be back because: To put things simply, the food is phenomenal. And consistent. True made-from-scratch Italian specialties. The staff is so warm and affable, it almost creates an environment where you feel like it’s an extension of Chef Anthony’s own home. We also need to sit outside on the cozy patio with hanging lights once or twice before the summer comes to a close.

“We want you to have a night out where you can be comfortable, be part of the scene in Lincoln Park, yet not have all the pretense of being near a downtown restaurant,” Barbanente tells me. “The chefs are proud to make the dishes for you, exactly how you want it. And you’re going to leave feeling appreciated and respected.”

TagsAnthony BarbanenteChicago Italian restaurantsLincoln ParkSapori TrattoriaThe Real Chicago
Previous Article

Shop Around the Corner: Story time, hand-written ...

Next Article

A dog’s world: Nine pet-friendly places in ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

TheRealChicagoOnline

Related articles More from author

  • First Look - Reviews

    First Look review: Stephen Hanthorn’s “The Best Magic Show” combines magic and improv for a fun Friday night out

    October 18, 2017
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • The Big City Blog

    The Big City Blog: Chicago Botanic Garden and Lincoln Park Conservatory provide a much-needed escape from winter

    January 17, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • Shop Around the Corner

    Shop Around the Corner: Ten Thousand Villages stocks handmade items from 38 developing nations

    May 8, 2014
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • We Ask, They Answer

    We Ask, They Answer: Q&A with comedian and “Cash Cab” star Ben Bailey

    May 4, 2013
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    Chicago’s craft beer explosion: Quality breweries are suddenly the norm on the north side

    October 26, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline
  • General Features

    The tastes of summer: We’ve got a few favorite spots to eat and drink outdoors in Chicago

    July 3, 2016
    By TheRealChicagoOnline

You might be interested

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    Chicago’s claim to fame: Tours for pizza and The Devil in the White City

  • Around TownHidden Gems

    Chicago’s hidden gems: Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, Margie’s Candies and the Town Hall Pub

  • Around TownGeneral Features

    An ode to good beer: The welcome influx of Chicago craft breweries

Originally launched in 2006, The Real Chicago — as a glossy entertainment magazine, website and email newsletter — has consistently provided the very best insider information, features and reviews to help both tourists and active locals get the most out of exploring the greatest city on Earth.
© Copyright The Real Chicago. All rights reserved.