L'Appetito--renewing an old acquaintance

I've always been a fan, but my normal routes no longer take me by there, so I haven't been in for over a year at least. Recently found myself heading up Michigan Ave. on a bus, miraculously ahead of schedule, and impulsively jumped out as we got to that stop.

Really, for the North Mich. address, the prices for most things are incredibly reasonable. I had just been to Bari a few days before, and the sub-prices are perfectly comperable, as is the quality, imho.

Where your avg. olive "bar" is at $10/lb. or more at Whole F. or TI, they are much less here, and priced by variety, rather than across the board. They don't have quite the range of the larger stores (Bari's cerignola were gorgeous and delicious), but what's there is as good and cheaper.

Their antipasto salad comprised artichoke hearts, ginormous marinated mushrooms, olives and red pepper. No bulking it out with celery chunks as filler. Came in at $7.50/lb or less.

They've always had D'amato bread and some others. This time my eye was caught by a huge loaf---more like 2 large rounds fused together looking rather like a pair of Botero buttocks. Must have weight 2.5 lbs. In a bag. No label of any kind. $2.99. It turned out to be marvelously crusty/tough/chewy on the outside and med. dense crumb inside. And with all the 'artisan' breads around for $4 per lb. loaf, it seemed like the bargain of the century.

Took home a pound of mixed cookies. These are the same mixed butter cookies (style-wise) that you see in most bakeries: sandwich cookies, thumbprints, nut crescents. But at $10/lb. they're several dollars cheaper than Swedish Bakery, Sel Marie, and the like, and I think they stack up well in comparison.

Finally, the deli case held a Canadian-made "porchetta" that I had never seen before. Pricey at $12.99/lb. but I love it. Salty, flavorful, firm, moist. As with prosciutto, a few thin slices go a long way. I can't vouch for it's Roman authenticity because it's been 14 years since I tasted real Roman porchetta. But it's darn good on its own terms.

Things you can get elsewhere (various cheeses, dried pasta, oil) are no bargain. But the things that are theirs alone seem to me a great value. Service was prompt, cheerful, and expert.

L'Appetito
875 N Michigan Av, 30 E. Huron
Chicago, IL

I'm a fan of L'Appetito as well, for good sandwiches at lunch time. It's a healthy walk from my office but I'm always glad when we decide to make the trip (to the Huron location).

I don't usually purchase packaged products, but last time I was there I had to know whether these cookies all had different faces or if that was just packaging:


The answer is "yes, they have a variety of faces" and they are pretty tasty chocolate/hazelnut cookies to boot.


L'Appetito
30 E Huron St # 1
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 787-9881
http://lappetito.com‎

Love, love, LOVE Mimicaos - Marketplace on Oakton has them occasionally and I often buy them out. Their website touts them as a "breakfast cookie" hereby giving me permission to eat them immediately upon rising.

I was just thinking that I should post about them in the chocolate-wafer-cookie thread...

I agree with mrbarolo that this place is a diamond-in-the-rough along this stretch of Boul Mich. If I'm on Michigan Ave. shopping solo and needing lunch, 10 out of 10 times I'll end up at L'Apetito. Between the sandwiches, the pizza and the arancini, I always have a hard time choosing what to have for lunch -- but I always end up full and spending less than I'd expect to in these parts.

I work in the Hancock building. L'Appetito is very convenient, of course, but the quality is definitely high. I like that I can get a half a sub for around $3. That with a side of their village salad and I'm happy. Add an arancini and I'm in heaven (and completely stuffed!)

L'Appetito has been mentioned several times before:

Best Chicago Sandwich?
A Study in Relative Value: Streeterville Lunch
Recs for Near North
Cheap Eats on the Mag Mile

When I lived in that area, I used to frequent L'appetito pretty frequently. For some reason, I always preferred the food at the location on Huron. I think they are both mostly the same, but the clientele may be different. And I think once I thought some of the sandwiches were named different things (or maybe I was just a bit nutty that day.) Anyway, highly recommended in either location,

Like The GP, I also work in the Hancock. I go to L'Appetito almost every day. Great subs. Mild Giardinaire, Oil and vinegar (Not Salad Dressing!), It's a stellar place.

Bravo.

TC

TCouch wrote:Like The GP, I also work in the Hancock. I go to L'Appetito almost every day. Great subs. Mild Giardinaire, Oil and vinegar (Not Salad Dressing!), It's a stellar place.

Bravo.

TC

Years ago I worked near L'Appetito, and I still recommend it as one of the best places on/near Michigan Ave. if you want a terrific lunch at a casual place that's not a chain/fast-food restaurant.

A few things I love from there (though I'm not sure if they still sell all of them):
* They make a terrific cup of coffee, using Illy beans, I believe
* Foot-long sesame-coated breadsticks, about 1.5" to 2" in diameter...these were hard/dry breadsticks, and really tasty. I'd keep a few in my office to munch on when I didn't have a chance to get out for food
* Biscotti...I think theirs is a single-baked version that's chewy but not crisp. Very tasty.
* All of their amaretti cookies are great

I visit Chicago several times a year, and generally stay at the Drake Hotel. In tems of convenience and quality of offerings, L'Appetito has been a favorite spot of mine to grab an easy lunch or dinner to take back to the hotel.

However, the best service they offer is uncorking a bottle of wine for me to take back to the hotel. That alone will keep me coming back!

Café L’Appetito has opened the second floor of Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s Feinberg Pavilion. The Italian restaurant had a location at the John Hancock Center, but was forced out.

https://chicago.eater.com/2017/12/22/16 ... inter-2018

Sister-brother team Licia Accardo and Tony Spatara plan to open another Cafe L’Appetito location in late January or early February 2020 at 1258 W. Jackson Boulevard

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/10/1/208 ... ood-report

Dave148 wrote:

Sister-brother team Licia Accardo and Tony Spatara plan to open another Cafe L’Appetito location in late January or early February 2020 at 1258 W. Jackson Boulevard

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/10/1/208 ... ood-report

I used to love the Italian wedding soup at the L'Appetito that was in the Hancock building. The new location is a long walk from my current office but might be worth it.

Owners of Italian-style mini-chain Cafe L’Appetito announced the closure of their location at 3332 N. Broadway

https://chicago.eater.com/2020/1/14/210 ... sures-2020