It's All About la Famiglia at Rosal's

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

There are three things that can make a restaurant shine. Great food, excellent service and a good vibe. Although many restaurants may have those characteristics, there are very few that truly exhibit an instant homey feel. The neighborhood spot Rosal's is all about food and family. Walking into this family owned restaurant instantly makes customers want to stay for a while.

Rosal's, located in Chicago's "Little Italy" neighborhood is named after the dream of Roseanne and Salvatore Perry, hence Rosal's. The 19 year old Italian restaurant is about wonderful Sicilian food served in abundant portions. The menu is extensive and is sectioned by Antipasti, Pasta & House Favorites, Vitello, Pesce, Pollo, and Carne dishes. All of the dishes that came out of the kitchen looked absolutely scrumptious, but there are few favorites that may help to narrow the selection process. The "Grilled Calamari" is a must start with dish. The "Eggplant Parmigiano" and "Shrimp Alla Anival" are pasta entrees that are very popular among regulars. Meat dishes such as the "Veal Steppanjohnno", "Chicken Scallopini with Prosciutto" and "Grilled Pork Chops" will satisfy any hearty appetite. The bread on the table is warm when you sit down and the olive oil sprinkled with parmesan dipping sauce is perfecto! The waitstaff will encourage substituting sauces or adding meatballs that will help make the perfect meal. Don't expect a prententious environment, but an intimate, cozy and family atmosphere that saw many tables chatting with one another.

The desserts are tradtional with "Tiramasu" and "Cannoli" on the menu, but the "Peanut Butter Pie" could do the trick as well. The prices are very reasonable and bottles of wine are very affordable. Rosal's is located at 1154 W. Taylor Street. For more information log onto www.rosals.com. For more dining options and an inside look into Chicago's newest and hottest restaurants watch Fete Select TV on www.efete.net.

Labels: cheap dining, chicago dining, chicago restaurants, dc crenshaw, fete select tv, italian food, italian wine, little italy, neighborhood restaurants, rosal's italian cucina

Good Eats For Cheap

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Finding a good place to watch the big game can sometimes be a challenge. The challenge is finding a place that has a good crowd, plenty of televisions, but most importantly great food and drinks. Chicago has a lot of those places to choose from, but if you just head a little north of downtown, O'Donovan's Pub & Restaurant is the place to be.

O'Donovan's, located in the North Center neighborhood, can attract a large crowd. However, the venue is spacious enough for everyone to get a table or a seat. The food tastes much better than the average pub in town and the cocktail specials are just what you're looking for in this economy. Their menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, paninis, wraps, soups, salads and a variety of appetizers. But they also have hearty entrees such as "Prime Rib", "BBQ Baby Back Ribs", "Brick Chicken" and "Chicken Marsala". The mashed, baked and au gratin potato side dishes alone will have you salivating. O'Donovan's has weekly drink specials. Depending on the day, you can enjoy five dollar martinis, five dollar champagne cocktails, or half off a bottle of wine. There is also a thirty cent wing and two dollar burger and fries night. Their Sunday brunch features an all you can eat buffet for $13.95 that includes an omelette and waffle station. O'Donovan's Easter brunch will increase to $15.95 per adult and $7.95 per kid.

A nice touch that also adds a little entertainment to O'Donovan's is Al James the magician. Al provides 'table-side" magic for guests that includes card, coin and rope tricks. He creates images with balloons for kids, which makes the restaurant family friendly. O'Donovan's outside cafe and beer garden makes it the perfect hangout place during the summer months, which keeps north-siders coming back again and again.

O"Donovan's is located at 2100 W. Irving Park Road. For more information or to make brunch reservations call (773) 478-2100 or log onto www.odonovansbar.com. For more restuarant reviews and to get an inside look at the newest and best Chicago restaurants, watch Fete Select TV on www.efete.net.

Labels: cheap dining, chicago dining, chicago restaurants, cocktails, dc crenshaw, fete select tv, irving park road, o'donovan's pub, sports bars