Gazette Chicago ? Stay in the neighborhood and enjoy a special ...

By Marie Balice Ward

Spend time with that special someone during the Valentine?s Day holiday. Whether on February 14 or a date close to it, local restaurants, bars, and food establishments are ready to make your romantic get-together one to remember.

DELICIOUS BAKED GOODS

Bake for Me! 4305 S. Halsted St. (773) 624-9900, 321 N Clark St. (River North), (312) 644-7750, www.bakeforme.com. Both Bake for Me! shops feature festive cakes, wedding cakes, fancy tortes, pastries, and assorted cookie trays. Specialty cookies and sweets are prepared for Valentine?s Day and for other holidays. Cakes for children are very popular items on Saturdays at Bake for Me! Other specialties include logo and photo cookies, fresh strawberry chocolate
mousses, and carrot and German chocolate cakes. A special cake is featured every month for office birthdays and other occasions. Visit the Bake for Me! expanded website for details about the monthly specials. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Shops are closed on Sunday.

Ferrara Bakery, 2210 W. Taylor St., (312) 666-2200, www.ferrarabakery.com. Ferrara?s signature cannoli cake, along with a wide variety of party cakes, cookies, as well as its candies, biscotti, and pastries, have been a family tradition for more than 100 years. Wedding cakes and sweet tables are also among Ferrara?s many specialties. On weekdays, Ferrara serves a full menu for dining in or carryout. Among its wide selections are a variety of pasta dishes, entrees such as chicken Marsala and soups, pizza, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches. In addition, Ferrara features an espresso bar daily. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Sat. 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

BARS AND LOUNGES

260 Sports Bar & Grill, 260 W. 26th St., (312) 706-8100, www.260sportsbar.com. With its twenty 50-in. and one 154-in. televisions, 260 Sports Bar & Grill features a classic and retro sports memorabilia d?cor. It offers daily specials for both food and drink, as well as game day specials for Chicago teams. The menu for 260 Sports Bar & Grill features unique, upscale selections as appetizers; soups and sandwiches; as well as a selection of desserts. Among its appetizers are French onion and tomato basil bisque soups, Maryland crab cakes, spinach and artichoke dip, and several other selections. Sandwiches include Italian meat panini, Portobello mushroom panini, the 260 triple-stack burger, a blackened prime rib sandwich, prosciutto, a roasted pepper and feta burger, a beef tenderloinmelt, a fried chicken torta, and other burger and chicken sandwiches. A tostada salad complements others including a Caesar and a house salad with an option of grilled tenderloin or chicken added, and seven different dressings. Daily specials include food and drink combinations such as chicken wraps (buffalo, blackened, or plain) with Heineken pints, well cocktails or UV-You Call It?each for $3. Its full bar offers 16 draft beer selections and over twenty bottled beer selections. Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 3 p.m. to 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and Sun. 11 a.m. to midnight.

BeviAmo, 1358 W. Taylor St., (312) 455-8255, follow us on Facebook. BeviAmo (Italian for ?let?s drink?) is a full service bar. It offers an extensive variety of wines from all over the world by the glass and bottle. BeviAmo recently carefully selected four California wines for the new draft wine system that is already proving to be quite popular. Also served at BeviAmo are many versions of martinis as well as beer, scotch, whiskey, and craft cocktails. Performances with live piano/guitar and vocals with John Sabal are featured on Friday nights. Every Saturday, there is a very well-regarded three-to- four piece jazz band. There are also guest DJs on various nights. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 5:30 p.m. to 2 a.m., Sat. 5:30 p.m. to 3 a.m., and Sun. 6 p.m. to 2 a.m.

DINING

Bruna?s Ristorante, 2424 S. Oakley Ave. (773) 254-5550, www.brunasristorante.
com. Since 1933, Bruna?s Ristorante has served fine Italian cuisine including a variety of pasta dishes and meat and fish entrees. Some of the most time-honored selections include veal scaloppini, mussels marinar,a and penne a la puttanesca. Bruna?s also offers specials daily. Its extensive wine list includes imports of personally-selected Chianti and vino nobile di Montepulciano. The most popular dessert is Bruna?s own tiramisu. Other highly-regarded dessert specials include chocolate mousse cake andwild berry tart. Gelato also is available, with pistachio being one of the top favorites. Reservations are accepted. Carryout is available. Valet parking is offered every day except on Mon. Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sun. 1 to 10 p.m.

BuffaloWings & Rings is a great place to watch a sporting event while enjoying a Valentine?s Day outing.

Buffalo Wings & Rings (BWR), 3434 S. Halsted St., (773) 579-9464, www. bwrbridgeport.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter as @bwrchicago. Now in its fourth year, BWR is featuring a brand new menu with 30 new items including salads, wraps and grilled wings. A regular participant in the Chicago Wing Fest, BWR placed second place in the hot wings category in 2011 and first place in the 2010BBQ division. BWRwas recently featured in Red Eye newspaper?s ?Best Wings in Chicago? article having won second place for best wings. BWR has entered the 13th annual Chicago Wing Fest competition again. This year itwill be held on Feb. 26 (check www.wingfest.net). BWR?s daily food specials are available on Mon., Tues. and Wed. Children (10 or younger) eat free on Mon. when accompanied by a paid adult, 59 cent wings (traditional or boneless) on Tues. and 99 cent tenders on Wed. BWR has been honored by being named as an ?Official Blackhawks Bar? and ?Official Bulls Bar? by these Chicago teams. Both teams list BWR on their websites and BWR is the venue for sponsored parties for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks. Daily BWR drink specials include ?U Call It? rum drinks for $3.50 on Mon. as well as $7 pitchers of domestic beer, $3 ?U Call It? well drinks onWed., $2 domestic pints, $3.50 Three Olives vodka and $4.50 Three Olives bombs on Thurs. BloodyMary specials on Sat. and Sun. to name but a few. BWR provides delivery, carry out and catering. Winter hours: Sun. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to midnight, Fri. 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Sat. 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Chicago Curry House, 899 S. Plymouth Ct., (312) 362-9999, fax (312) 362-0799, www.curryhouseonline.com. Chicago Curry House offers Indian and Nepalese selections that are natural, low fat, and authentic. Selections include chicken, lamb, seafood, and vegetables. Tandoori dishes are low in cholesterol. The tandoori is a clay oven for baking bread (naan) and vegetables and roasting lamb, chicken, and seafood with charcoal at about 600 degrees. Among favorite appetizers are momo, a vegetable platter, tandoori peskush (a platter of samplings of tandoori specialties), and samosa (cone-shaped pastry stuffed with meat). Dinners under $18 are a great value and include chicken tikka masala, tandoori lamb, tandoori prawns, and more. Chicago Curry House also offers a variety of breads, including cheese naan. There also is an extensive dessert menu. The atmosphere is romantic, complemented with soft music and attentive service. Hours: Luncheon buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.Dinner from 3 to 10 p.m.

Connie?s Pizza, 2373 S. Archer Ave., (312) CONNIES, fax (312) 842-5274, www.conniespizza.com. Follow Connie?s on Facebook and Twitter for coupons, specials, events, and more?proving the restaurant?s slogan that ?Pizza is just the beginning!? at Connie?s Pizza. There is a wide selection of pizzas, entrees, salads, and sandwiches. The restaurant has specialized in Italian cuisine since 1963. Connie?s also offers catering for social gatherings including weddings, corporate luncheons, or dinners of any size, provided by its off-site full staff of catering experts. Pickup, delivery, and dine-in accommodations also are available. Connie?s Pizza has a private dining area thatwill accommodate groups of any size. Free parking is available. Connie?s Pizza also provides shuttle service to/from sporting events and conventions. Hours: Tues. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 11 a.m. to midnight, Sun. and Mon. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Damenzo?s Pizza, 2324 W. Taylor St., (312) 421-1142. Pizzas of all shapes and sizes?thin, thick, and stuffed, starting with single servings to oversized pies for families and parties ? are available at Damenzo?s with an extensive selection of toppings. Damenzo?s also serves Italian entrees such as pasta choices including manicotti and linguini with clam sauce. Damenzo?s also serves an extensive selection of sandwiches on ciabatta, panini, or focaccia bread. Daily specials such as all-you-can eat pizza and a variety of side dishes also are offered at Damenzo?s. Catering and carryout are available. Hours: Sun. through Thurs. 10 a.m. to midnight, Fri. and Sat. 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

Celebrate Valentine?s Day at Francesca?s on Taylor and enjoy Italian rustic cooking from Rome, Tuscany, and other regions.

Francesca?s on Taylor, 1400 W. Taylor St., (312) 829-2828, fax (312) 829-2831, www.miafrancesca.com. Follow on Facebook and Twitter. The earthy and zesty flavors of Rome, Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio come together for extensive, delicious meals for lunch, dinner, and special events. Francesca?s menu also includes gluten-free selections. There are children?s menus, special request menus, and standard family style lunch and dinner menus. The atmosphere at Francesca?s on Taylor is a lively, contemporary, and casually sophisticated trattoria style. The dining experience is further enhanced by Francesca?s good, rustic cooking, friendly service, and fair prices. The restaurant was described by Anne Spiselman of Crain?s Chicago Business, who noted ?a rolled-mesh ceiling, warm woods, and geometric light fixtures give the room a rather clubby look, brightened during the day by light coming in through the windows facing the street?.? Chicago Magazine noted that Francesca?s ?Brings a new kind of ?abbondanza? to an old Italian neighborhood.?

Francesca?s on Taylor also is frequently favorably featured on online reviews and blogs. Special events areas provide seating for groups of 10 to 200. Special request reservations can be made at (888) 937-9009. Lunch hours: Mon. through Sat. 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dinner hours: Sun. and Mon. 4 to 9 p.m., Tues. through Thurs. 4 to 10 p.m., and Fri. and Sat. 4 to 11 p.m. Franco?s Ristorante, 300 W. 31st St., (312) 225-9566. Located just north of U.S. Cellular Field, Franco?s is known as ?the small place with the big taste.? Open since 1989, it offers fine multi-regional Italian cuisine. Franco?s lunch menu, which includes sandwiches, offers great values. Franco?s prides itself for its made to-order pastas, gnocchi, linguini with clams, and fettuccine with chicken and mushrooms, as well as a variety of fish and meat selections and daily specials. The 40-seat eatery also has an excellent wine list in addition to a full bar. Catering and carryout are available at Franco?s. Hours: Tues. through Thurs. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fri. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat. 3 to 10 p.m. Closed on Sun. and Mon.

Gemellato Ristorante, 258 W. 26th St., (312) 706-8081. Gemellato features classical and contemporary Italian cuisine with an extensive wine selection, set in a d?cor inspired by Italy and wineries. Among Gemellato?s ?primi? (first dishes) are Tuscan steamed mussels, bruschetta, grilled Italian sausage and peppers, grilled shrimp diablo, and others. Its substantial salads include an antipasto plate (assorted Italian meats, cheeses, fruit, vegetables, and salad), Caesar, and tomato caprese. Pastas range from linguine di mare (seafood) in a white sauce, chicken pesto farfalle (bowtie), shells with broccoli and garlic shrimp, fusilli di bufala (corkscrew pasta with fresh mozzarella cheese), spaghetti carbonara, and other delectable selections. ?Secondi? (main entrees) include veal scaloppini, grilled salmon, chicken picatta, shrimp scampi, and veal chops, again with several other selections. The sides range from potatoes prepared in different styles, saut?ed spinach, broccoli rabe (Italian broccoli), and pasta selections. Desserts include cheese cake, grilled rum cake, tiramisu, and profiteroles. Seating is available for parties of two up to large family gatherings, with kids welcome. Gemellato features a full bar. It also offers dine-in, carry out, and catering. Private parties and reservations accepted. Hours for Gemellato Ristorante are: Wed., Thurs., and Sun., 4 to 9 p.m., and Fri. and Sat. 4 to 10 p.m.

Gio?s Caf? & Deli, 2724 S. Lowe Ave., (Bridgeport), (312) 225-6368, www.gioscafe.com. Gio?s was created in April 2001 by Giovanni Liuzzo (Gio), Ignacio Bautista (Nacho) and V?ctor Quezada. Gio?s features homemade Italian foods with a Sicilian touch. An informal place, Gio?s creates an atmosphere of being transported to Grandma?s kitchen. Every dish is made to order and customers can add any ingredient, creating a dish to their own touch. Gio?s Caf? & Deli?s goal is to use quality ingredients even with the simplest dish. The team?s vast experience ? acquired by being part of other successful Italian restaurants ? contributes to Gio?s Caf? & Deli?s success. Gio, Nacho, and Victor have been working together since 1992, having very loyal customers who always enjoy dining at Gio?s because they can create their own dish. Gio?s Caf? & Deli also offers a great variety of unique Italian products like imported cheeses, oils, meats, fresh pasta, fresh sausage, sauces and lots of different goods. Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fri. and Sat. now open 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sun., only open for private parties and catering.

Holiday Neighborhood Grill & Bar is a great place to celebrate the warmth of Valentine?s Day.

Holiday Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 740 W. Randolph St. (at Halsted St.), (312) 207-0924, web site with downloadable menu and featured daily specials: www.holidaygrillandbar.com. Holiday Neighborhood Grill & Bar has been a neighborhood eatery for more than 30 years. Near the United Center for convenient dining before and after events, Holiday Grill is known for its great portions at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, at affordable prices. Holiday also has a fully stocked bar, TVs for Bulls and Blackhawks games, a jukebox, and free Wi-Fi. Carry out is available. Hours: Mon. through Fri. 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sat. 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pompei, 1531 W. Taylor St., (312) 421-5179, www.pompei-USA.com. Pompei has an additional location that features table service at 8801 W. 143rd St. in Orland Park, IL, (708) 403-8900. Pompei on Taylor St. is a bustling 225-seat eatery that also accommodates groups of up to 90 people in its Stanza di Pompei party room, or 60 people in the brand new Jut?s party area that features a retractable roof. Popular among the extensive selections at Pompei are its pizza with various toppings. Among the favorites is Pompei?s ?pizza strudel? ? an original creation. Other popular items include pastas, salads, daily specials, and fresh bread. Homemade desserts, cappuccino, and espresso are also served at Pompei. For the holidays, there are always specials that are prepared once a year. Pompei is appreciated for its express catering that is available by delivery or for pickup. Hours: Mon. through Sat. 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sun. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sweet Maple Caf?, 1339 W. Taylor St., (312) 243-8908, sweetmaplecafe.com, facebook.com/sweetmaplecafechicago. A 1940s style eatery, Sweet Maple Caf? features breakfast and lunch during the week, and brunch specials on the weekends. Sweet Maple uses deliciously creative recipes for pancakes and French toast, homemade biscuits, muffins, and egg dishes, among other delectable selections. Lunch fare includes homemade soups and sandwiches such as turkey with homemade potato chips. Weekend brunch items include salmon cakes and fried pork chops. Hours: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

Tapas Valencia, 1530 S. State St. (312) 842-4444, www.tapasvalencia.com. Tapas Valencia is the sister restaurant of the popular Meson Sabika, located in Naperville, IL. Tapas Valencia moved to Chicago?s South Loop area in 2009. Guests are greeted by a high-energy atmosphere, with walls adorned in multi-coloredmosaic artwork reminiscent of the art of the great Spanish artists Joan Miro and Antoni Gaud?. While dining, guests will find that each item on the menu offers a taste of Spain. Whether enjoying hot or cold tapas, an entr?e, or vintage wine, there is always a pleasant combination of exceptional food, friendly service and unique atmosphere. Hours: Mon. through Thurs. 4 to 10 p.m., Fri. 4 to 11 p.m., Sat. 5 to 11 p.m., and Sun. brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and dinner 4 to 9 p.m.

Source: http://www.gazettechicago.com/index/2012/02/stay-in-the-neighborhood-and-enjoy-a-special-valentine%E2%80%99s-day/

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