Gruppo di Amici, Chicago

Rogers Park residents Lori Alderete and Phaedra Divras wanted to create an eatery where people could come together, socialize, and enjoy Roman-style Italian food. In 2006, they opened Gruppo di Amici, appropriately selecting a name that loosely translates to "circle of friends." From the fresh buffalo mozzarella found within the seared risotto cakes to the menu's thoughtfully suggested wine pairings, the duo—along with chef Hilario Irineo—has taken the utmost care with every detail. And their enthusiasm has caught the attention of major news media, including the New York Times. When Jeff Ruby added the eatery to Chicago magazine's list of the 25 Best Pizzas in Chicago in 2010, he described the thin-crust funghi e formaggi pizza—which, like all the restaurant's pies, is baked in a wood-fired oven—as "a crackery disk swarmed with wispy sautéed mushrooms and goat cheese as soft and supple as the crust was brittle."

Alderete and Divras also designed the dining space to be welcoming and communal. Swathes of fabric overhead recall the ambiance of an elegant Roman banquet, and an outdoor patio invites friends to gather, sip wine, and build ladyfinger replicas of the Colosseum.