Daniel Lambert and Anthony DiBlasamo take incredible pride in their Italian heritage, and they certainly show it at their restaurant Caponie’s Trattoria. Black and white photos of relatives, ancestors, and family events cover the main wall, providing an intimate and traditional look into Italian culture. Another wall plays on the stereotypes associated with the ethnicity, bearing posters and photographs of popular Italian-American icons, including Tony Soprano, Al Capone, and the cast of Goodfellas.
And while the decor will certainly grab your attention, it’s the food that will keep you coming back again and again. Patrons will drive far out of their way just to come here, looking for some of the best pizza Chicago has to offer. The owners brag about the “largest wood-burning oven in the city,” but whether that’s true or not, folks can’t get enough of what comes out of it: thin-crust, deep dish, and stuffed pizza. Specialties include the Margherita Napoletana (paper-thin crust topped with hand-crushed plum tomatoes, garlic, basil, and mozzarella cheese), the Quattro Formaggi (tomato-less with romano, fontina, mozzarella, and ricotta cheeses), and the Pizza alla Caponies (roasted red peppers, grilled eggplant, grilled zucchini, and portabella mushrooms).
Caponie’s also dishes out great appetizers like caprese (fresh mozzarella and sliced plum tomatoes sprinkled with salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and extra virgin olive oil) and toasted ravioli. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, there’s also a selection of pasta dinners and salads, all served in large portions, great for when your friends steal a bite off your plate. Finish everything off with one of the sinful desserts: fried dough, homemade tiramisu, nutella sandwich, homemade cheesecake, cannoli, or homemade gelato.
Cin cin!
Mon: 5:00 p.m. – 12 midnight
Tues – Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 12 midnight
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 77, 90