Restaurant review-Rosebud Rosetta Italian: A classic Italian steakhouse ascends to new heights
Rosebud Rosetta Italian
1 S. Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL.
3123841900
Rosebudrestaurants.com
Photo: Rosebud Rosetta owner Alex Dana and his Famous Square Pasta
By Dwight Casimere
Pre-theater dining is a breeze at Rosebud Rosetta Italian restaurant. The elegant emporium setting with its well-spaced tables an opulent booths is a bit of Taylor Street Italian heaven in the heart of the Loop. It’s classic home-style Italian elevated to new heights.
One thing that stands out at Rosebud Rosetta Restaurant is the massive portions and the high quality of the ingredients. One reason is that a corporation does not own Rosebud Rosetta. One man, Alex Dana, who remains at the helm to this day, founded it.
Alex Dana and the Dana family have been in operation for 50 years. The Rosebud name began in Chicago’s Little Italy on the near southwest side, and the tradition of serving classic Italian ‘Ma Familia’ has continued unchanged in his other incarnations around the city and suburbs. Rosebud Rosetta nestled amid the Loop’s towering banking institutions and regally appointed theatres is no exception.
Service is swift and courteous and the lengthy menu has something for every taste. The crunchy house made Italian bread slathered in olive oil is a great way to start, but don’t get to carried away. There’s a vast selections of dishes to plow through at Rosebud Rosetta, and the portions are HUGE.
Among the salads the classic steakhouse Wedge Salad has been given the royal treatment with the addition of thick, crispy bacon and a lovely creamy blue cheese dressing. The humongous Caesar Salad (with or without anchovies) was the star of primi piati courses.
Although the restaurant prides itself on its Prime Aged Steaks, those who lean more toward the lighter sight or vegetarian dishes, there are many delicious selections in that department. The famous Eggplant Stack is a Rosebud Original and is not to be missed. The baked clams are an absolute must at the start of every meal at Rosebud Rosetta. The first time I ever had Caprese Salad was at Rosebud. When I had it again in Italy, frankly the Rosebud version was better!
Did I mention Calamari Fritti? It’s impossible to start a Rosebud meal without it.
The Cauliflower Au Gratin stands alone as a terrific substitute for a meat dish or as a side dish. Grilled asparagus is another great way to round out a meal.
There are no cutting corners at Rosebud Rosetta. All of the classic Italian dishes are made from pastas that are made right at the restaurant. The Ravioli’s and his perfectly shaped signature Square Noodles are hand cut to order.
Steaks are always a sure bet at Rosetta, but don’t miss an opportunity to explore the many expertly prepared Italian dishes. Chicken Vesuvius with its thick tender cuts of chicken breast, lemony sauce and copious helpings of creamy spinach is one of the standout entrees.
It’s not often that you see Veal on restaurant menus anymore. Rosetta has an abundance of the classic favorites straight from Little Italy. The Veal Marsala was prepared as authentically as if it was straight from the heart of Tuscany. A large platter arrived covered with tender, thin slices of premium quality veal ladled with semi-sweet Marsala sauce and a hearty intermingling of fresh field mushrooms. Enjoyed with a glass of Chianti Classico, the dish brought back memories of meals I’d had in Montecucco. There was enough to take home for a leisurely lunch the next day with my favorite bottle of Barolo.
The desserts are almost worth a trip by themselves. Again, portions are big, so you may want to share. The homemade Gelatos are terrific. I had the Neapolitan ice cream, which was my grandmother’s favorite growing up. She cooked for an Italian family in Hyde Park, so there was many Italian specialties on the Casimere table growing up. The Neapolitan at Rosebud Rosetta was bursting with fresh whole bean Vanilla and red berry fruit flavor and the pistachio layer was brimming with freshly crushed nuts, making the point that the ice cream was hand churned.
Rosebud Rosetta is literally around the corner from the CIBC
Theatre and a stone’s throw from all of the other Broadway In Chicago theatres and a short walk to the Goodman. With the swift service and rapid-fire service of steaming plates from the kitchen straight to your table or booth, diners are sure to make their next curtain call in plenty of time. For more, visit rosesbudrestaurants.com.