A Chicago Institution turns 80!

Ben Soldinger, NBC5 Street Team (video)

80 years ago in 1927 Calvin Coolidge was President, commercial transatlantic telephone service was inaugurated, Babe Ruth became the highest paid player in Major League history ($70,000 per year – he ended up hitting 60 Home Runs that year), there weren’t many automobiles on the road, and television hadn’t been invented yet.

In Chicago, an institution was born. The Italian Village restaurant (71 W. Monroe St: 312-332-7005) came to the scene founded by an Italian immigrant named Alfredo Capitanini who had never been in the restaurant business before.

80 years later, the third generation of the Capitanini family is still at large and in charge of every aspect of the operations. This is a very important distinguishment for our Chicago that most other cities cannot claim to have.

---

Slideshow: Italian Village

---

Not only is the Italian Village Chicago’s longest standing restaurant, it has expanded to three restaurants in all (Vivere and The Cantina), is nationally renowned for its spectacular wine list, and was also the first recipe of Chicken Vesuvio!

If it’s been a while since you’ve visited or if you have yet to stop by for the first time, go enjoy a memorable evening of fine cuisine and Chicago history.

Ben’s Blog Archives:

Tavern On Rush

Chicago – ‘Home of the Blues?’

PARLOR Restaurant

Wednesday Nights at Sushi Samba

Quiet Comfort Lounges

Guns N Roses

The Perfect Casual Italian Restaurant

About these ads