If Tony Soprano lived in Chicago...
...he would eat most of his dinners on Oakley Ave in Little Village. Between 24th St. and 24th Pl. there are four of the most authentic and delicious Italian restaurants in Chicago. Over the years I have eaten at all of them, La Fontenella (2414 S Oakley), Ignotz (2421 S Oakley), Bacchanalia (2413 S Oakley), and my favorite, Bruna's (2424 S Oakley), where I had dinner last Sunday. They all feature basic Italian fare done very well and excellent wine. But even more than the quality food and drink is the relaxed old-school ambiance of the area. This enclave is set in a residential neighborhood with classic Chicago-style bungalows. Little Village used to be an Italian neighborhood, now it is predominently Mexican but this transition has done nothing to diminsh the Old World charm of these restaurants.
One block away on Western Avenue is Il Vincinato (2435 S Western), which I haven't been to but friends tell me it is also quite good.
A slice of Chicago you cannot find anywhere else in the city. Very highly recommended.
