a day ago
Tour Lincoln Park's New Red-Sauce Italian Restaurant
is the Associate Editor for Eater's Midwest region, and has been covering Chicago's dining scene for over a decade.
A fresh splash of red sauce has arrived in Lincoln Park with the debut of Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian. The Italian American restaurant is now open at 1112 W. Armitage Avenue, giving the neighborhood a new option for pastas, pizzas, and more.
Corner Restaurant Group's latest project takes over the former space of Tarantino's, a family-run Italian spot that closed this past March after a 30-year-run. The hospitality group operates local restaurants including Urbanbelly, Chef Bill Kim's Ramen Bar inside Time Out Market Chicago, and The Table at Crate, and also oversees Michael Jordan's Steak House locations across the country.
Dimmi Dimmi brings Italian dining back to the corner of Armitage and Seminary Avenues.
Dimmi Dimmi executive chef Matt Eckfeld, who was previously with New York-based Major Food Group and had stints at Italian hot spots like Carbone, Contessa, and ZZ's Club, has crafted a menu that nods to classic red-sauce joints while adding modern twists. Carpaccio is presented Italian beef-style — thin slices of rare beef are layered with giardiniera, beef jus aioli, and Parmesan, and served with sesame sourdough. Hamachi crudo gets a bit of a kick through almond chili crisp. And raviolo 'saltimbocca' is stuffed with guanciale, topped with prosciutto, and finished in white wine butter sauce.
The pizzas are unmistakably Chicago, served tavern-style with classics like pepperoni and sausage alongside creative combos such as vodka sauce with sweet onions or mushrooms with garlic cream. The focaccia is another highlight. Pastry chef Casey Doody serves the bubbling hot bread straight out of the oven in a cast iron skillet, accompanied by optional dips like buffalo ricotta with honey and eggplant caponata. Her Italian desserts include tiramisu and affogato, plus a rich and decadent buttermilk chocolate cake.
The carpaccio is prepared in the style of Italian beef.
On the beverage front, expect cocktails such as a barrel-aged negroni, hazelnut espresso martini, and selection of spritzes, as well as nonalcoholic concoctions. There are also pours of amaro and grappa for a post-meal digestif.
Eckfeld and the team hope Dimmi Dimmi becomes a neighborhood staple, where guests can gather over family-style meals and great food — and that journey has just begun. Check out more photos of the food and drinks below.
Dimmi Dimmi Corner Italian, 1112 W. Armitage Avenue. Open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Chicken parm's on the menu.
The focaccia is served piping hot.
Chocolate cake provides a sweet ending.
Sip on dirty and hazelnut espresso martinis and more.
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