Bella Bacino's (also here) is not much to look at. It is attached to the Club Quarters at 75 East Wacker, along the river in Chicago. And yet, it is dandy. I am not a big fan of going Italian when I travel -- but I got totally into this place. I have eaten there a lot lately -- and I can recommend it. I have had thin (very) pizzas, thick pan pizzas, pasta with mushrooms, and breakfast. And it was all good. I have eaten inside, outside and in my room after taking things out. And, while it is not food I would drive across the country to eat, it is very very good. I especially like the mushroom ragout on penne -- as it is very mushroom-y, by which I mean earthy tasting. The thin crust pizza I tried was a four cheese, one of which was gorgonzola. Mmmmm. I also like the fact that they send warm chocolate chip cookies along with room service -- and that their tiramisu is quite light and tasty. The salad I had most often (ok, the one I got in a rut and ate all the time) involves pears, blue cheese, and walnuts. The fact that the food is very good is perhaps most obvious on Friday and Saturday night when it is packed -- really really packed. Likely the location helps.
The ambience is -- well, it is what it is. When you sit outside, there is a lot of nearby traffic, which is the down side. The view of Chicago's sky line, though, is dandy and the people who walk by are invariably entertaining. Inside, there is a bar, where they make a reasonable but not terrific cosmopolitan. And then behind that, there are functional tables and booths. Apparently, there is more space in the basement, though I have not eaten there.
Here are yelp reviews. And, of course, urban spoon:
