Capri Express Pizza & Pasta, Burr Ridge

As the casual arm of Capri Ristorante & Catering, Capri Express eschews the white tablecloths of its five sister eateries in favor of a sleek black lunch counter and speedy service. Though the atmosphere is laid-back, the chefs infuse dishes with full-service flavor, loading thin-crust, traditional, and Sicilian-style pizza pies with quality ingredients such as italian beef. Veal cutlet paninis and pepper-and-egg sandwiches attack noontime hunger, and dinner favorites include signatures such as eggplant parmigiana with fresh mozzarella. For a homey touch, the pasta alla mama tosses fresh tomatoes, basil, and sausage over linguini, much like real mothers do with the baseball cards they're tired of storing in the basement.