Review of "Graziano's"

Ah, the advantage of having parents that love your child is that they watch your child while you and the wife enjoy a night out. Tonight that meant a trip to "Graziano's". "Graziano's" is located at 5960 W. Touhy in Niles. Now we've frequented this place for some time but I'll try to narrow the review to tonight's experience.

Upon pulling up you notice a large parking lot and interesting and "artsy" banners along the outside of the building. Once inside you find out that this is a big restaurant. It's also a pretty loud place, so probably not an ideal choice for a first date. The inside is also adorned with some funky and cool art that definitely holds your attention even if the person your with doesn't. Service here is efficient but not very personal. The place is simply too big and loud for it to be any other way.

Time to order, we start off with the bruschetta and the house salad. My wife orders bow tie pasta with vodka sauce and I order the chicken marsala. Now, they are known for their brick oven pizza which is very good with a unique crisp and chewy crust. But tonight wasn't about pizza. The bruschetta comes and it's two toasted pieces of Italian bread topped with plum tomatoes, red onion, and shaved parmesan cheese. Tasty with lot's of balsamic flavor throughout. Next is the salad and this is something everyone should get here. Their salad dressing might be the tastiest I've ever had. It is a creamy Italian/garlic hybrid that is simply delicious. It's so good in fact that I've purchased some to take home in the past.

Dinner arrives and my wife's pasta is al dente with a lovely tomato and vodka flavor. While I would have added some chicken to it, my wife enjoys it as is. Next is my marsala and I have to admit that I am impressed. Two large chicken breasts swimming in a lovely pool of mushrooms and marsala wine sauce. The sauce is a little thicker than some, probably some added flour with the wine but still pretty tasty. The chicken is done nicely but not as tender as it could have been. Still overall nicely done.

Have to end with some dessert. We opt for the blueberry crostada. Warm blueberry filling sits inside a warm outer crust and is topped with some vanilla ice cream. Think of it like a calzone of sorts. The dessert is very tasty and can be best described as "comforting".

Overall "Graziano's" offers good food, good prices, good parking, and decent service. Hold off bringing a date here until after you've gotten to know each other better since you might have to talk slightly louder during busier times. Rating ** and 1/2 out of ****.