Coco Pazzo Cafe was recommended to me. It was perfect. And across the street from my hotel. Bonus! I love Italian food, especially Tuscan, and Coco Pazzo Cafe was done up in a traditional rustic Tuscan motif. The effect was very homey. From their site: “Coco Pazzo Restaurants are Chicago’s authority on Tuscan inspired Italian dining.” I believe them.

I started with a glass of wine at the bar while I waited for a table. The wait was just long enough for me to order a glass and have a sip. Once I was at a table, a basket of sliced baguette and foccacia arrived to entertain me as I perused the menu and listened to the specials, which sounded too good to ignore.

For an appetizer I decided on bruschetta: Tomato & Basil and Mushroom & Arugala. The bread was sliced thin and grilled to the perfect crispness. The tomatoes were sweet and the basil vibrantly fresh. The mushrooms were nicely sautéed and earthy, topped with a thin slice of cheese and some loose arugala.

The bruschetta arrived so quickly, that the party at the table next to me asked if I were a known restaurant critic and was being pampered. Not yet anyway. Aside: they had been waiting since before I arrived, but they were a party of eight so you expect it to take longer to have everything ready to go together. They later said that they were unanimously impressed with their food.

Next up was the pasta course. I opted for risotto. I love risotto. A lot. Really. I love eating it, and I love making it. The risotto is a daily thing here, and today’s was wild mushroom. The flavor was great, the texture not quite so great. Personally, I think I make a better risotto … but only slightly. I have two complaints: 1) it could have been cooked slightly longer to make the rice a bit more tender, and 2) it needed more parmesan. The flavor was, as I said, great. Earthy mushroom and rich butter. It’s just that it could have been a bit better. That said, I’d try it again.

I chose the special entrée of the day: Roasted Sea Bass. This was roasted, skin on, to a beautiful brown. The flesh tender and moist … perfectly done. This was served on a bed of white beans with sautéed spinach and cherry tomatoes. Everything was just fabulous. The textures and flavors were bang-on.

Now, what Italian meal is complete without some dessert? I am an unabashed Tiramisu slut. It was on the menu, as well as Panna Cotta. Both were compelling, and I found myself wishing for a dinner companion so that we could get both and share. I asked whether the desserts were made from scratch in house and was assured that they were. Ok, Tiramisu it was, than. Very nicely done, rich with perfect texture. A scatter of fresh blueberries and a large, sweet strawberry completed the presentation.

I was impressed. So much that I’ve recommended it to Chad, my foodie friend. So much that I hammered out this post as soon as I got back to my hotel room. So much that it will be a go to place for Italian food once we get moved here. You should give it a try if you like rustic Italian food. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.