Chicago: Spiaggia (June 2003)

My spouse and I dined for lunch at Spiaggia in mid-June 2003 with several family members as part of a graduation luncheon celebration. With sweeping views of Lake Michigan, Spiaggia ushers in the next era of dining. Spirited Italian cuisine, prized wines, imaginative cocktails and a world-class model of hospitality define the next generation of this iconic restaurant experience. Spiaggia celebrates Sprezzatura, the Italian term for nonchalant elegance. Spiaggia sets the standard for creative Italian cuisine, earning four-star reviews, international praise and numerous awards, including a 2014 nomination for Outstanding Restaurant from the James Beard Foundation. With Chef-partner Tony Mantuano and Executive Chef Chris Marchino at the helm, Spiaggia takes guests on a culinary journey. It begins with a sense of Italy’s heritage and its finest ingredients, which then guide menus crafted with verve and imagination. Each visit is an occasion, marking a milestone or simply celebrating the everyday. The experience is always an evening to be remembered. As the only four-star Italian restaurant in Chicago, Spiaggia has become synonymous with celebrations. It was a vision realized 30 years ago when owner Larry Levy founded Spiaggia to be the crown jewel at 980 N. Michigan Ave. Over the years, Spiaggia has become a “must dine” destination for locals and visitors alike. The Hollywood elite, the biggest marquee musicians and the most renowned luminaries, from presidents to international leaders, have dined at Spiaggia. But it’s most indelible mark has been the founding premise—honoring the craft of modern Italian dining. The cuisine, innovative yet mindful of tradition, an equally splendid wine list and precise service have paved the way for numerous accolades and a dedicated following from one generation to the next. Celebrating its third decade, Spiaggia continues to evolve and modernize. The views of Lake Michigan still provide a setting unlike any other. In 2014, a complete redesign of the dining room and bar and the addition of the Spiaggia lounge united Spiaggia’s storied past with its modern present. James Beard Award winner Tony Mantuano is an influential culinary force, a chef who has been on the ground floor of defining true Italian cuisine in the United States. In addition to his role as chef-partner at Spiaggia, Mantuano is the chef-partner at River Roast, situated on the Chicago River; Bar Toma, an Italian neighborhood pizzeria and bar; Terzo Piano, a Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at The Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago; and he is the owner of Mangia Trattoria, a classic Italian restaurant in his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Mantuano is a recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Midwest and the Chicago Tribune’s Good Eating Award, which honors achievement in the food and restaurant industry. Outside of the kitchen, Mantuano is often recognized for his participation on Season Two of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters. His other projects include cookbook collaborations with Cathy Mantuano, a wine expert and former manager of Spiaggia. The husband and wife team authored “The Spiaggia Cookbook” and “Wine Bar Food.”