Oak Park’s Little Gem, IL Vicolo

Il Vicolo was an unexpected lunch destination for us. A colleague and I needed to find a spot between downtown Chicago and Naperville to meet up for business and for a fun gabfest catch-ups. Luckily she found this place and opted to try it out.

What we found was a charming little gem in the neighborhood that serves the most delicious italian cuisine. I couldn’t decide between the Linguini e Vongole, linguini with fresh clams in white sauce or the Taglioni Fruitte De Mare, homemade thin pasta sautéed with clams, mussels, shrimp, calamari, fresh tomatoes with white clam sauce. The waiter suggested the latter and my mouth feasted like never before.

Il Vicolo’s owner, Vito walked around and greeted guests like family with a friendly smile and strong Italian accent. Listening to him alone almost creates the ambiance of a true Italian kitchen. He took the time to sit and tell us tales of his family, kids, grandkids, and proudly showed us pictures on his phone. The restaurant is only one year old but it felt like we’ve been going there for years. I can’t wait to bring my husband and kids there to check it out.