La Grotta Ravinia

Chefs Antonio Abizanda and Michael Connolly anchor their upscale Northern Italian cuisine on authentic Old World flavors and fresh ingredients, landing La Grotta Ravinia and its big brother La Grotta Ristorante Italiano repeated DiRoNA and AAA Four Diamond accolades. The epicurean duo man the eatery’s open kitchen, where they modernize traditional family recipes with globally inspired twists and bionic garnishes. Seafood, veal, and new york strip steak crown mounds of homemade pasta flooded with such adornments as san marzano tomato sauce and fresh chilies. The rich flavors of Italian and domestic wines complement bites, swathing palates in vinos approved by Sergio Favalli, La Grotta Ristorante Italiano's co-owner and a native Italian winemaker.

Panoramic vistas of an idyllic outdoor garden—located just beyond the dining room’s floor-to-ceiling windows—surround patrons, who can pause from folding pristine linens into origami napkins to gaze into the waterfalls and bridges that criss-cross the lush natural environs.