Little Italy / University Village Restaurants

By 1927, Italians in Chicago owned more than 250 restaurants. Their innovations -- such as deep-dish pizza and mass-produced gyros -- still influence the Little Italy dining scene today. There are at least three theories about who invented the iconic Italian beef sandwich. Or course, you won't care who originated it when you’re sinking your teeth into one that’s dripping with hot gravy. Don’t even think of leaving town without savoring the intense flavor of a dry-aged rib eye. Order traditional Chicken Vesuvio for a pleasing pop of garlic, and if you’ve always wanted to cry, "Opa!" in a crowded restaurant, ask for saganaki cheese flambeed tableside. Do you still have room for dessert? Try a local brownie. The original was invented right here by Bertha Palmer, who whipped up the first batch for the Chicago World's Fair in 1893.