Tufano's Vernon Park Tap
Italian restaurant · Little Italy
1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607
![Tufano's Vernon Park Tap by Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap [Official Photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62561410/tufano_s_vernon_park_tap.0.0.jpeg "Tufano's Vernon Park Tap by Tufano’s Vernon Park Tap [Official Photo]")
Highlights
Classic Italian fare with chalkboard menus and family vibes
Classic Italian fare with chalkboard menus and family vibes
"Tufano’s has no menus (everything is just on a chalkboard), and it’s full of regulars, so you may be concerned you’ve stumbled into someone’s family reunion instead of a restaurant. Honestly, since everyone at this place knows each other, you probably have. Not much seems to have changed here since 1930, and that’s why we like it. We come for the friendly neighborhood atmosphere, plus fantastic dishes like the stuffed shells or sausage and peppers. And unlike your last family party, everyone here is very nice and the only reason you’ll see the police is that they come here to eat." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"Not much seems to have changed here since it opened in 1930—Tufano’s still doesn’t have menus (everything is just on a chalkboard). But it’s full of regulars, so you may be concerned you’ve stumbled into someone’s family get-together instead of a casual Italian restaurant. Honestly, since everyone seems to know each other, you’ve probably done both. People still come for the neighborhood atmosphere, plus dishes like stuffed shells or sausage and peppers. And unlike your judgmental family members, everyone here is very nice, whether they know you already or not." - veda kilaru, john ringor, adrian kane
"It doesn’t get more old school than this mom-and-pop Italian joint. Owned and operated by the DiBuono family since 1930, Tufano’s (America’s Classics, 2008) hasn’t changed a bit over the years. It’s cash-only, the menu is posted on chalkboards on the wall, and regulars drop in often for hearty Italian red sauce dishes and classics such as house-made eggplant Parm and lemon chicken. For its enduring spirit, the restaurant was feted by the James Beard Foundation in 2008." - Naomi Waxman
"Guests don’t have to be regulars to feel like family at this longtime neighborhood joint. Owned by the DiBuono family since 1931, little has changed at Tufano’s over the decades. Stop in for hearty red sauce dishes and favorites like eggplant parm and lemon chicken Vesuvio. Other old-school touches include chalkboard menus and a cash-only policy. The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant as one of “America’s Classics” in 2008." - Ashok Selvam
"Tufano’s has no menus (everything is just on a chalkboard), and it’s full of regulars, so you may be concerned you’ve stumbled into someone’s family get-together instead of a restaurant. Honestly, since everyone seems to know each other, you’ve probably done both. Not much seems to have changed here in 95 years, and people still come for the neighborhood atmosphere, plus signature dishes like the stuffed shells or sausage and peppers. And unlike your judgmental family members, everyone here is very nice, whether they know you already or not." - adrian kane
