Excursion: Enoteca Roma

A recent trip to Chicago found us enjoying a late night snack at the comfortable and cozy Enoteca Roma, a restaurant and wine bar on W. Division Street. Apparently modeled after similar establishments in proprietor Letizia Sorano's hometown of Rome, Italy, Enoteca Roma was the perfect place to relax and recharge after a long drive to the city. We ordered a couple of flights of Italian or (Italian-like) reds, which were much appreciated, but the real star of the evening was the Bruschetta. Simple, yes, but truly fantastic. Always tantalized by variety, I loved that ordering Bruschetta at Enoteca Roma involves choosing four different varieties. Even more, I loved that, with over ten regionally inspired varieties to choose from, it was still hard to decide! We ordered Calabria (goat cheese, roasted red peppers), Vinnie (carmelized onion, Gorgonzola cheese), Piedmonte (brie, green apples, honey), and Roma (tomato, garlic, basil). The mouthwatering spread arrived on a large cutting board, looking absolutely irresistable, and the crunchy rustic italian bread was the perfect platter for four harmonious sweet and savory toppings. At this point, I have to admit that the Piedmonte's reputation preceded it, and it did not disappoint. But the big surprise was definitely the Roma, clearly the best of the bunch, in my opinion. The blend of just the three simple, fresh ingredients of sweet tomato, tangy garlic, and bright basil was just perfect! If you are in the neighborhood, Enoteca Roma is definitely worth a stop.