MIA FRANCESCA / CHICAGO

Mia Francesca features the zesty, earthy cuisine of Rome and the surrounding areas of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. It was one of the first restaurants in Chicago to encourage the lively art of dining with a contemporary, casually sophisticated trattoria ambiance, simple, rustic cooking, friendly service and fair prices.

The space, which was originally a candy store, was renovated in 1992 with painstaking attention devoted to preserving as many of the original fixtures as possible. Sleek lines are softened by warm woods; the well-lit dining rooms reflect the animation of the diners; striking black and white photographs of rural Italian life by Paul Elledge line the walls to create a comfortable, decidedly urban setting.

Waiting for a table at the beautiful antique bar is part of the charm of Mia Francesca. The plush upstairs dining room and lounge can be reserved for private events, as can the more intimate coachhouse tucked away behind the restaurant. The coachhouse is the perfect place to sit down with some friends and a bottle of wine while waiting for your table. In the summer, al fresco dining is also available on a charming cobblestone terrace.