Chicago is full of fantastic places to eat. In our melting pot, you can find any kind of food that your heart desires and any kind of family run specialty store to help you make that perfect ethnic dish.

I am a fan of Italian food. Ok, I may be a little biased since my father is an Italian immigrant. It should be no surprise that I spend a lot of my time roaming Chicago in the pursuit of the most perfect, rich flavored Italian dishes.

Most of the time finding these types of Italian food means having to shell out a ton of money, but not this time. I have found some of the best tasting and moderately priced Italian restaurant whose menus may make your head spin.

Here are my top three:

Mia Francesca

Offering entrees that rarely ever go over $25.00, Mia Francesca offers rich flavors in a romantic, cozy setting. Often visited by stars when they are in town, Mia Francesca’s is one of 19 Francesca’s in the Chicago-land area.

Their menu changes every two weeks or so, but one constant on their menu that I must have every time I visit is their carpaccio.

-If you have never had this sliced raw sirloin appetizer with various toppings including parmesan cheese and arugula, I suggest stepping out of the box and giving it a try. It is truly a unique dish that I find myself craving…

3311 North Clark Street, Chicago (773) 281-3310

Pasta Palazzo

Talk about fast Italian food at amazing prices! Pasta Palazzo takes amazing Italian food to simpliticy. The restaurant itself is one room. You can watch the chefs prepare your food while sitting at the bar or enjoy some bread and oil at one of their bar-style seating areas.

The menu, which features nothing over $10 is filled with fantastic options but there are two options, an appetizer and a entree that stand out from the rest. Their Grilled Calamari with a Lemon-Herb Vinagrette is mouth watering and always fresh.

I can’t go there without having their farfalle pomodoro formaggio. Which has bowtie pasta with fresh tomatoes, basil, goat cheese and pine nuts. If you enjoy spicy food, they can modify for you.

1966 N. Halsted, Chicago (773) 248-1400

Topo Gigio

Topo Gigio was a mouse and the star of an Italian puppet show from the 60’s. Who knew that a restaurant inspired by that little mouse could garner so much attention from local and national celebrities.

A romantic Old Town location makes it hard to get seating. Make sure to call ahead for reservations. With rich Italian flavors, Topo Gigio sticks to the classics that have worked for years.

The menu is a tad bit pricer than the other two listed options, dishes peak around $25. I recommend the campanelle alla norma, which is campanelle pasta with eggplant and aged ricotta in an arrabiata sauce. It is on the spicy side, but it is fantastic.

1516 North Wells, Chicago (312) 266-9355