Giacomo’s favorite restaurant

Jim and Nancy do not disclose the fact that they will review a restaurant before they attend, ensuring their reviews are unbiased and uninfluenced by their position with the Sun Day.

If you are a regular reader of this column, you know that we sometimes have a habit of overdoing things. Since we live on a corner lot, we feel it’s our duty to honor Chevy Chase in the movie “Christmas Vacation” by filling up our yard with every imaginable blinking, flashing, and twinkling light decorations. They can take the shape of snowmen, Santa Claus, or elf figures. This is a four-day process which includes taking anti-inflammatory medications, drinking a half bottle of Fireball Whiskey, and smoking several Cuban cigars by our fireplace. We are not mentioning the various lively discussions usually ending with Nancy telling me where I can put these Christmas decorations. It was all worth the effort in the end when we went out at night in our jammies to admire our handiwork.

Our joy was short lived when overnight 50 mph winds blew in like a springtime tornado and wreaked a path of destruction. Time to start all over again…

What better way to console our aching bodies and frazzled nerves than with some good old fashioned homemade Italian comfort food. The Italian version of my name, Jim, is Giacomo. There is a restaurant in Des Plaines called Giacomo’s Ristorante Italiano that Nancy and I both love, and she suggested going there to treat ourselves after all our hard work.

The restaurant was a residential home, now converted into a homey restaurant with a dining area and a small banquet room. This restaurant is handicap accessible and reservations are a must for a Saturday night.

Upon arriving, our waitress brought over a basket of warm bread to our table. This was served with a blend of grated cheese and spices along with olive oil for dipping. The cheese blend is very delicious and also very addicting. We noshed on this while we looked over the menu.

We started off our evening with the Antipasto Italiano for Two ($12.95). This consisted of salami, prosciutto, capicola, fresh mozzarella cheese, olives, imported Italian cheese, roasted red peppers, and homemade giardiniera. This platter was just average; the menu description was better than the final product.

The waitress told us the specials for the evening and one caught Jim’s ear. He decided to try the Veal Deanna ($28.95). This was a breaded veal cutlet topped with mushrooms, green and red peppers, mozzarella cheese, and marinara sauce. This was a totally different and delicious spin on an Italian classic. All entrees come with either soup or salad, and Jim went with the minestrone soup. The entrée also came with a side of mostaccioli with marinara sauce.

Tonight, Nancy had the Braciole ($26.95) which was rolled beef stuffed with Italian seasonings, salami, prosciutto, capicola, and mozzarella cheese, all topped with a rich red wine tomato sauce with green and red peppers. Her entrée also came with a side of mostaccioli with marinara sauce. She said this was the best braciole she has ever had. She chose a salad with creamy garlic dressing, of course. She had to get her garlic fix somewhere.

No dessert for us tonight, and honestly, our appetites were not up to snuff. We were too tired from working on those #%$! holiday decorations. We did, however, take home doggie bags for the next day.

The price for our comforting night out was $83.65, having all the lights work, priceless…

If you want good authentic homemade Italian food, try this restaurant, you’ll like it! We have never been disappointed yet.

Jim’s take: The minestrone soup was delicious, but it was served in the world’s tiniest cup.

Nancy’s take: I don’t know how they can roll those thin slices of beef into perfection. The entrée just melts in your mouth.

Have comments or restaurant suggestions for the Dining Duo? Send them an email at thediningduo@gmail.com.

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