La Storia

La Storia Review - Gold Coast - Chicago - The Infatuation

"You’re dating someone and they’re great —nice, polite, even parent-approved. But eventually you get bored and break it off. Then, after going out with someone who never remembers your birthday, won’t let you pick what to watch on Netflix, and keeps checking their phone (who exactly is texting them?) in the middle of the movie, you realize how special that “boring” person actually was. That’s La Storia—an Italian restaurant in the Gold Coast that isn’t flashy (or perfect), but has qualities you can count on, including some decent food that you should start appreciating. La Storia’s menu is classic Italian, and, like your ex’s weekly phone call to Mom, the food is thoughtful and consistent. Take the roasted cauliflower, for example. Sure, it sounds about as fun as a trip to Target, but with its buttery sauce and spicy Calabrian chilies, it actually turns out to be great. Then there are the pastas. Unlike the credit card debt your new significant other is hiding, they won’t shock you. But they’re made extremely well. The rigatoni in particular is delicious, with crispy lamb sausage in a rich garlic sauce. On the other hand, a few dishes are as disappointing as finding out that your date’s favorite show is The Big Bang Theory. We’re thinking of the pizzas, specifically—with their dense crust and lifeless sauce, they really just shouldn’t be on the menu. Go for a pasta, meat, or fish main instead. photo credit: Sandy Noto While some of the other restaurants in the Gold Coast drive a Porsche, La Storia will pick you up in a Volvo. It’s in a fancy remodeled old house that still feels like a home, with a fireplace in the bar and a courtyard patio decorated with twinkly lights. The main dining room is slightly below street level, giving it a quiet, somewhat secluded feeling, and the servers are friendly and accommodating. All in all, like a car with heated seats and good music, this is the kind of place it’s easy and enjoyable to linger in. In the endless hunt for excitement, it’s easy to ignore what’s dependable—even when it’s really good. But after being disappointed by what else is out there, you start to miss having something you can rely on. Luckily you can always go to La Storia for good food in a classy, welcoming environment. Plus, your parents will love it—they always knew you two were meant to be together. Food Rundown photo credit: Sandy Noto Wagyu Carpaccio A generous serving of sliced wagyu, with garlic aioli, fried capers, arugula, and grilled bread. This is excellent and ideal for sharing. photo credit: Sandy Noto Roasted Cauliflower Before you skip over this dull-sounding appetizer, know that it deserves a place on the table. It’s lightly coated in a creamy sauce, and has a bit of spice from the Calabrian chilies. Meatballs You’re not going to be blown away by these meatballs. But they’re a tasty blend of pork and veal, and the tomato sauce they’re served with is very good. If you want meatballs, they’ll get the job done. photo credit: Sandy Noto Gnocchi Tender and fluffy, with a light truffle sauce. A must-order. photo credit: Sandy Noto Lasagna This delicate lasagna comes rolled in a spiral, with parmesan and an outstanding bolognese. It tastes like someone’s family recipe. photo credit: Sandy Noto Rigatoni Perfectly cooked pasta with crispy lamb sausage and a garlicky sauce. The good news is that this is really good. The bad news is that you might worry you’ve hit a pasta peak, and things will only go downhill from here. Spaghetti Each component of this is delicious separately, but it doesn’t work as a whole. The tomato sauce is really thick, overwhelming the pasta itself. And if you add meatballs, the pasta will be lost forever in a sea of heavy sauce and meat. photo credit: Sandy Noto Diavolo Pizza Pizza is a crowd-pleaser, so we understand why they’d put it on the menu. But unfortunately, the pies at La Storia would fit in better at a bowling alley. Skip them and order another pasta instead. photo credit: Sandy Noto Chicken Milanese This is a really well-made dish. The chicken is juicy, the breading is crispy, and the addition of chicken liver mousse is balanced out perfectly by the lemony arugula salad. Whole Roasted Branzino The branzino is one of the more creative dishes on the menu. At first it seems very straightforward - but then you get to the tasty mushroom and scallop mousse inside. We’re glad it has secret a wild side." - Adrian Kane