Piccolo Sogno

464 N. Halsted 312-421-0077

by Ari Bendersky



One of the hardest things to accept when summer fades in Chicago is the inability to dine al fresco. Piccolo Sogno, which former Coco Pazzo Chef Tony Priolo opened in the old Thyme space in late July, has one of the most idyllic patios in the city. But the outdoor enclosure is just one of the things that makes Piccolo Sogno the “little dream” it is. The bright, classically decorated space is further enhanced with the full view of the working kitchen. We started off with the antipasto (salty prosciutto, roasted vegetables and Pecorino; $14). A burrata con culatello ($13), which was unfortunately served cold, and a super thin and crisp bianca con rucala (mozzerella, arugula, lemon oil and Reggiano curls) pizza came next. The insalata di pesche ($8), a peach salad with goat cheese and baby arugula, was an incredibly fresh between-course palate cleanser. By the time our meals finally came out (timing from the kitchen still needed some fine tuning), we required more refreshing, as we had also finished the great bottle of Amarone. A glass of Sangiovese perfectly synced with my brasato ($21), a red wine-braised beef roast. It had a lot of flavor but was a hint dry and the semolina cake beneath it was a touch rubbery. The highlight: the pesce intero, a wood-fired, incredibly flavorful and buttery whole Dorado (market price), which was filleted tableside. The desserts ($8) shine: Caramelized pineapple atop vanilla gelato, and the saffron-dusted vanilla bean panna cotta, were the perfect cap to the meal.