A great taste of Rome in Hoffman Estates
When out of Rome, do as Romans would do: Serve authentic Italian fare in an intimate cafe that bespeaks Old World at every inch.
Owner and chef Vittorio DiBenedetto, born and bred in Rome, moved to Chicago in 1995 and has been bringing Italian food to the masses ever since. He opened Chicago's Tuscany and Tavern on Rush, and in January, Ti Amo Café Italiano in Hoffman Estates. The cafe sits on busy Golf Road, just south of Higgins Road, a good spot for attracting famished Woodfield Mall shoppers.
Small wooden tables covered with white tablecloths and heavy dark drapery evoke European sensibilities. The restaurant is small and cozy, a place where the emphasis is on escaping the stresses of the outside world. "Mambo Italiano" plays gently on the stereo, lifting the dreary coating off an overcast Saturday afternoon. A waiter/busboy immediately pounces on our table, offering oil and cheese to accompany our fresh loaf of sliced bread.
Things are starting off on the right foot.
The menu lives up to the warm and cozy undertones of the ambiance. A well-chosen selection of antipasti, pastas, sandwiches, salads and secondi (second courses) lean on fresh cuts of meats like chicken, veal, steak, along with some seafood and melanzane Parmigiano for veggie lovers. The Bistecca Di Manzo, a 12-ounce grilled Black Angus strip, off the dinner menu represents the top of the heap at $25.95. But most pasta dishes land at the under-$16 range.
We opt for the bruschetta, a solid Italian starter. Slices of grilled bread arrive, topped with fresh tomatoes, strong notes of basil, olive oil and fresh, silken mozzarella cheese. This hit warms us up for the bounty of uncompromised, top-quality ingredients to come.
Penne arrabbiata wows in terms of expertly executed subtlety. This sauce is the real deal - high-quality tomatoes, red hot pepper flakes, olive oil and big bits of basil. The lush but not overwhelming presence of basil impresses.
Chicken Marsala, prepared with Marsala wine from the town of the same name in Sicily, also doesn't cut corners. The entree offers a tender and juicy breast covered with sauteed fresh mushrooms, along with fresh squash and zucchini cooked just right.
We share these two entrees among us, having trouble deciding which is better.
Salads provide the appropriate finish to an Italian meal. The mista is a mix of romaine, mesculin and Italian dressing that refreshes, while the caprese provides after-dinner luxury: the perfect balance of fresh, mozzarella, tomatoes and basil. Like eating fresh from the garden.
Two waiters attend faithfully and promptly to our table. DiBenedetto makes the rounds, asking all his guests how they enjoyed their meals. "Grazie," he says warmly to praise, making me feel like I've been magically transported to Italy.
For dessert, the waitress lists the Italian standards: tiramisu, chocolate lava cake and gelato. When she mentions homemade cannoli, the deal is sealed. What better way to end a true-to-form Italian meal than with a little Sicilian treat?
The artfully prepared dessert contains fluffy clouds of ricotta cheese and pistachio oozing out of its flute, delicately flaky when my fork crushes into its shell exterior.
Although the busboy forgets my tea, we don't care. It's been a lovely lunch. How often do you feel as if you've been whisked away to Italy without getting on a plane?
• Restaurant reviews are based on one anonymous visit. The Daily Herald does not publish reviews of restaurants it cannot recommend.
Ti Amo Café Italiano
1001 W. Golf Road, Hoffman Estates, (847) 519-0601, tiamoitaliano.com
Cuisine: Italian
Setting: Casual café with fine dining accents
Price range: Appetizers $3.95 to $12.95; sandwiches and salads $3.95 to $11.95; entrees $8.95 to $25.95; desserts $4.95 to $6.95; wine $6 to $10 by the glass (less-expensive "tasting" glasses available), $20 to $150 by the bottle
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 2 p.m. Saturday for lunch; 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday for dinner
Accepts: Reservations, major credit cards
Also: Full bar; free parking