Etta Bucktown

"Not only does Etta have great food, but it also has a great rooftop patio. This place serves delicious housemade pastas and pizzas, plus other dishes (like vegetables and pork shoulder) made in a wood-fired hearth. Come here for dinner with co-workers that (until recently) have only existed as squares on Zoom, a casual date night, or catching up with friends." - adrian kane, veda kilaru

"Etta is a restaurant in Wicker Park from the same people behind Maple & Ash, but instead of $120 filets and $180 seafood towers, you can get an excellent cacio e pepe for $22 and a sausage-giardiniera pizza for $23. If it ever gets serious, then you can go to their sister restaurant and spend $220 on caviar." - josh barnett, adrian kane

"This (one-time) sister restaurant of Maple and Ash is in Bucktown, and just like your sibling who moved to Portland after college, Etta is trendy but a little more laid-back. The space is airy and very family-friendly (you’ll see high chairs, and no “f*cks” on the menu here). The food is excellent, and on Thanksgiving, they’re having turkey with sides (like a fennel sausage stuffing) and a caramelized apple sundae for dessert. The meal: Four-course prix fixe, $85 per person, $25 for kids 12 and under" - adrian kane, veda kilaru

"We’ve been to enough group dinners to appreciate it when a place has food that appeals to everyone. That’s the case with Etta, which has a long menu full of delicious pastas, pizzas, roasted meats, and vegetables. And while this spot is indeed perfect for going out with eight picky friends who all want to order different things, the food tastes so good that we’re happy to just come by ourselves and leave our friends at home." - adrian kane

"You don’t want to celebrate your birthday in a neighborhood where someone could get run over by a party trolley, but you still want a spot where you and your friends can catch a bit of a party vibe. Etta, in Wicker Park, is a useful workaround. The busy space has a lot of round tables and booths that are perfect for groups of all sizes, and you have the option to guzzle drinks from a porrón if you choose. Plus, the menu has delicious housemade pastas and pizza, plus other wood-fired dishes like vegetables and pork shank." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen