Best Italian Restaurants in Evanston, Illinois

Evanston, Illinois is the first suburb north of Chicago along Lake Michigan, a part of the esteemed "North Shore" known for its fine cuisine. As Evanston is relatively peaceful and one of only two suburbs integrated into the "El" system (via the Purple line), many travelers find the 75,000-strong city an ideal location to stay.

As many of these wayward denizens (or even local residents) might be looking for quality Italian, I gladly present a guide to the best Italian restaurants in the suburb.

The Best Place for Date or High Cuisine Clientele: Those looking for either a romantic night out or a place for the expensive-minded food sophisticate in the group need to look no further than Campagnola (815 Chicago Avenue). It's a bit south from the downtown Evanston area, but it's worth it if you're looking for something higher-class. While falling slightly short of a true jacket-required eatery, the prices are slightly steep yet worth every penny. The menu is about what you would expect, but what sets Campagnola apart is the ingredients. As of my last visit, they used only organic foods of the highest quality, and even someone with a mild palate can taste the difference. The staff is outstanding, very pleasant and accommodating, unlike many similar places. Despite the magazine-like environs, it has a home-like quality that makes patrons feel welcome. As such, it's an outstanding choice for a date or high-profile dinner. Open for dinner, 7 days a week.

The Most Authentic: The most authentic Italian in Evanston is found at either Trattoria Trullo (1700 Central, open nights Tue-Sun) or Trattoria D.O.C. (706 Main, noon-nights every day). In fact, in many ways the two restaurants are similar, striving for authenticity and having similar prices (think around 16 dollars an entree). Yet, their differences come in their specialties. At the former, the highest marks consistently go to its risotto, gnocchi, and seafood dishes. The latter is known more for its diversity of tastes and pizza. It's extensive menu boasts of easily 30 unique pizzas and a plethora of fresh pastas, vegetarian options, and more standard-but-authentic Italian fare. Both of these locations go well beyond what you would expect from a typical Italian restaurant and therefore come as highly recommended. To show they are both serious about authenticity, I've heard a rumor that Trattoria Trullo has a special dish if you speak Italian. Not to be outdone, "D.O.C." was chosen as the name because those initials on Italian wine signify it is the real thing (standing for "Denominazione de Origine Controllata"). I wish I spoke Italian so I could have the desert and understand what that means! I would also recommend Va Pensiero (1566 Oak) as another outstanding option for real Italian cuisine, know for its extensive Italian wine list and its outstanding veal and lamb dishes.

The Best Bargain: If you're in downtown Evanston and are looking for a place that is quick, reasonably-priced, quality Italian food (though nowhere near the league of the other three mentioned so far), your best bet is Trattoria Demi (1571 Sherman). A cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the middle of several other hole-in-the-wall restaurants, Trattoria Demi offers a wide selection of common Italian fare at great prices. Trattoria Demi apparently means "half restaurant" and that seems to fit it perfectly. The atmosphere, decor, and service are unremarkable, and you are not going to taste anything that you'll remember two weeks later, but it's a fantastic place to go if you're just looking for good Italian at a good price. Could not recommend a better place if you are looking for a great low-key night out with quality Italian food. The rigatoni dishes seem to be the best bets, and the bread is usually delicious. Great for lunch if you're a businessperson on the go. Open lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

Best Cheap Italian/Best Take-Out: If you want take-out-or-dine-in standardized and cheap Italian food that still tastes great and will fill you up, check out Dave's Italian Kitchen (1635 Chicago) if you're in Evanston. The portions are huge and filling, so if you want something that is very casual and will fill you up, look no further. Like many other standard Italian restaurants, the best bets are the chicken dishes (especially the Chicken Parmesan, which is better than any variation I have had at the Olive Garden). Open 4 p.m. to nights, seven days a week.

Best Pizza: The best non-chain pizza in Evanston can be found Panino's Pizzeria (1704 Central). While also a full-blown bargain Italian restaurant with pasta, subs, calzones, etc., Panino's is known for their pizzas. While not as unique as, say, Trattoria D.O.C., their gourmet pizzas are pretty darned good. They offer a thin-crust that is better than Giordono's version and a thick crust that trumps Lou Malnatti's. Prices range from $5-$18, the pizza prices being quite reasonable for what you get. Open for lunch on Tue-Fri, Dinner seven days a week.

Evanston also has three standard Chicago chain pizzerias: Giordano's (500 Davis St.), Carmen's Pizza (1012 Church) and Lou Malnatti's (1850 Sherman). If you've never had quality Chicago-style pizza before and you're visiting Evanston, it'll be well-worth your while to stop at any one of those places. Each of the four are unique in their own right, but the price and the ambiance is about the same in each: very casual, expect to pay a little more and wait some extra time for the stuffed. I recommend the places in the order that I put them, with Giordano's being the best bet if you want great Chicago-style pizza. Gigio's (1001 Davis) is also a notable pizza place, although not as good as the other three if you want real Chicago-style. There are also a Papa Johns and a Dominos, but unless you're addicted to one of those, go for an experience and eat at one of the other four.

One to Avoid: Gio (1631 Chicago) should be avoided in my opinion. How do I put this? It's the type of restaurant that the food will always taste acceptable, but there's no character or soul. It is just a bland, expensive, stereotypical upscale Italian place, boring and mediocre, and I've heard of major service problems. There's nothing really unique or memorable about it; just stale and overpriced. If you want the real deal, fresh ingredients, and a memorable occasion, go to one of the Trattoria's or Campagnola.

The Best If You Want to Drive A Bit: If you want the best all-around Italian food in every respect (decor, atmosphere, price, etc.), and are okay with driving a little ways, my highest recommendation goes to Graziano's (5960 W. Touhy, Chicago). It's on the northern tip of Chicago (just across the city line and to the west a bit), but well within driving distance and in my opinion worth going to. The decor makes it look like a chain restaurant, but it's locally-owned and -operated. The portions are gigantic and if you order an entree you will never leave hungry. The atmosphere can become a little loud, but it's hardly deafening. The menu is sizeable and can meet a variety of needs. There are authentic Italian dishes, standard Italian fare, American options such as Pork Chops and Ribeyes, and even low-carb options. Do not go here if you want the best pizza in town, as their pizza is nothing to write home about, but this place is worth it if you want a quality Italian place that will fill you up with good quality at a good price.