Jim grew up on the northwest side of Chicago and went to St. John Bosco Church. In case you didn’t know, this is the patron saint of chocolate syrup (Bosco syrup can still be purchased at Woodman’s grocers). This neighborhood consisted primarily of people from Italian descent (his was one of the few German families in the area). As a result, he loves Italian food, so when we heard about Cucina Bella, we just had to give it a try.
The restaurant is easy to find because when you get a few blocks away, the smell of garlic permeates the air. Nancy was like a bloodhound on a hunting trip, with her nose in the air sniffing, while I tried to find a parking spot. It’s in downtown Algonquin surrounded by several beautiful historic homes dating back to the late 1800’s.
When entering the restaurant, you’re reminded of an old Chicago loft, from the hardwood floors to the brick walls to the exposed piping on the ceiling. It has a fairly large dining area with a visible kitchen. You can even belly up to their bar for an “Italian Kiss” (the best drink in the house), while waiting for your table.
Once seated, our waitress Lisa made an olive oil and parmesan cheese dip to accompany the warm, crusty Italian bread, which was oh so good. For our appetizer, we ordered the fried calamari ($10), and it was, in our opinion, the best we have ever eaten. If not prepared properly, calamari can be akin to eating rubber bands. This, however, melted in your mouth.
Let’s move on to our entrees. Jim ordered the veal saltimbocca ($21), which is four slices of veal wrapped in prosciutto, baked in sherry wine, and topped with mozzarella. With it came a side of penne pasta with marinara sauce.
Nancy ordered the braciola ($19). If you are not familiar with this dish, it is a marinated flank steak stuffed with Italian herbs, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, raisins, and bread crumbs and served over linguine and topped with meat sauce.
Our dinners came with either soup or salad; I had the pasta fagioli and Nancy had the salad.
To end our evening on a sweet note, we chose to share a dessert of tiramisu ($5), yum….
To sum it all up, my braciola was the size of a Nerf football sitting on a mountain of pasta. Half of Jim’s platter of veal will be nuked in the microwave on Tuesday for lunch. The portions are definitely huge, including the calamari appetizer. The atmosphere is cozy and the service was excellent. Mangia!
Our total bill for this “festa Italiana” was $68.60.
FYI: Cucina Bella is handicapped-accessible and reservations are strongly suggested.
He said/she said:
Jim’s take: Veal saltimbocca is not served in too many Italian restaurants and this recipe is the best. The cheese is browned and bubbly and the sauce has a flavor you will not forget. Trust me and try it.
Nancy’s meal was so large that I even got a lunch out of it. It was tender and tasty, and the raisins gave it a touch of sweetness.
Nancy’s take: I’ve had braciola at other restaurants but this is by far the best I’ve had and the most tender. I fell in love with their calamari – I couldn’t stop eating it. The deal of the night was the enormous slice of tiramisu that we easily shared. Jim offered a taste of his dish to me, and I refuse to eat veal, so yes, I can “refuse the food that is served,” ha!
Cucina Bella
220 S. Main Street
Algonquin 60102
(847)458-2504
www.cucinabellaalgonquin.com
Directions: Take 47 north to Algonquin, east to Main Street, South on Main and follow your nose!
Estimated Travel Time: 22 minutes
Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com!
