Pizza Rustica - Chicago
"People always ask why our name includes ‘pizza’, when we offer so much more. The answer is, because that’s how it all began back in 2005: pizza, plus a few blackboard specials, in a tiny storefront across the street from our current location. As more and more people began to discover Stefano's exceptional culinary talents, we discovered we needed a lot more space. We've since grown into the restaurant we are today. While our pizza remains truly outstanding, we still enjoy it when, due to 'pizza' in our name, people discover us for some of the city's best seafood, steak-house quality steaks, lamb, pork, veal, fish, chicken, and amazing pasta dishes.
Along with Stefano's inspired, creative, authentic food, his wife, Juliana, offers a wonderful selection of world-class craft brews, exquisite wines, premium spirits, and original cocktails. She also features exciting off-menu Bar Blackboard features, as well as hosts a variety of highly regarded beer and wine events.
The space is beautiful, warm and inviting with a very cool neighborhood vibe due to their well established neighborhood presence and the constant stream of loyal regulars. "Our customers are more like friends, entering our home for a dinner party. The atmosphere here is very comfortable whether you're here for a romantic evening, out with friends, or meeting new people at the bar. Every single thing we do, every single decision we make, is based on what we would want and how we would like to be treated when we go out."
While Stefano attributes the success of the restaurant to his wife, she says it's Stefano's cooking that is the heart and soul of it all and the reason people return again and again and again.
The space is beautiful, warm and inviting with a very cool neighborhood vibe due to their well established neighborhood presence and the constant stream of loyal regulars. "Our customers are more like friends, entering our home for a dinner party. The atmosphere here is very comfortable whether you're here for a romantic evening, out with friends, or meeting new people at the bar. Every single thing we do, every single decision we make, is based on what we would want and how we would like to be treated when we go out."
While Stefano attributes the success of the restaurant to his wife, she says it's Stefano's cooking that is the heart and soul of it all and the reason people return again and again and again.
