Zarella, you had me at sunday salad!

There’s nothing like a summer in the city — Chicago, that is. I’d rather be here than any place in the world for these three months of the year. It’s the light at the end of a very dark and cold winter. Although, global warming is a thing, and Chicago only got just under a foot of snow for the entire winter. I can no longer tell my non-Chicago friends that I successfully triumphed over a Chicago winter because that really has no weight anymore. I mean, New Orleans got 10 inches of snow! But, we are here. Despite everything that could have gotten in our way, we made it to the end of June, and then the beginning of July, and I got something for you.

There’s a restaurant I had my eye on for a while. New restaurants appear all the time in Chicago, but this one spoke to me like none other before. Basic Italian. Such a new concept! I was so excited when my for-you page on TikTok (wow, we still have Tiktok!) was stocked with videos from Zarella. I saw the Sunday salad, the crispiest and skinniest crust ever, and the most delectable coconut soft-serve that looked like art. I wanted it. I needed it. But, I couldn’t have it for weeks because Zarella was packed all night, every night. After months of eyeing Zarella, I asked my mother if she could make a reservation. She got one three weeks later on a Monday at 6:15pm. So, if my review convinces you to try it, get your reservation ASAP. Here we go!

Located in River North, Zarella sits at the corner of Grand and Wells. Its forest green exterior is hard to miss, and its warm and inviting interior is casual yet sophisticated. I was surprised to see two TVs hung where the wall meets the ceiling like we were in a bar. A baseball game was on. Despite Zarella’s reach and attraction, it felt like a neighborhood restaurant for locals only. 

If there’s one thing about a Sunday-night Josephson family dinner, it’s that it involves a mixed greens salad with a bold vinaigrette. It’s usually my favorite part of the meal. But, now it’s been ruined by Zarella’s version of a Sunday salad, topped with salami, ditalini (little pasta), veggies, and dressing. Don’t forget the load of parmesan. Their salad is based with little gem, serving for a crunchy and fresh bite. The dressing was light but powerful, and savory but slightly fruity. The ditalini was a fun addition, too! Definitely one of the best Italian-style salads in Chicago. 

We came very close to skipping out on the mozzarella sticks, but after doom-scrolling on TikTok about Zarella, I forced my Jewish family to indulge on the cheesiest thing on the menu. I was told by dozens of random wanna-be influencers (ok wait that might be me) that this was the best appetizer. These mozzarella sticks had a crunchy exterior, and the cheese inside was surprisingly light and delightful. And that cheese pull! It probably was a foot, but don’t be grossed out; I could tell the cheese was high quality and made for the perfect bite. I dipped it in the pomodoro sauce, and it was even better. 

Moving into our main courses, we were first served the Radiatore Alla Vodka pasta. If you read my review on Carbone, you would know I am not a fan whatsoever of Vodka pasta. Like Zarella changed my perspective on Sunday salad, boy did it change my view on vodka pasta. I cannot even put into words how delicious this was. The pasta shape was filled with twists and turns, holding the sauce perfectly. Literally the best thing I had all night, and I could have probably eaten the whole plate by myself if it wasn’t for the three foodies sitting with me. 

Zarella is really known for its tavern style pizza. We didn’t try it, but I recommend skipping out on the artisanal style slice because it definitely cannot come as close to how awesome the tavern pizza was. 

While we could have opted for a plain cheese, I pushed my family to order the Soppressata & Mortadella pizza topped with arugula and calabrian chili honey. The crust was skinny, perfectly cooked, and delicious. I loved the light toppings that were packed with flavor. I bet their cheese is one of the best in the city. There truly is a reason Zarella is being labeled as a top pizza restaurant in Chicago. Definitely worth the hype.

Last in our main courses was the chicken picatta. I bet my mom right now is wondering what I’m going to say about it because she knows I really don’t like chicken picatta. Especially when I get the chicken ick. But, like Zarella suprised me with the vodka pasta, they suprised me with this one too. The lemon flavor was fresh, and the chicken was amazing quality! I’m still probably going to hate chicken picatta though because I won’t find one like this one anywhere else.

My sweet tooth really kicked when I saw a coconut soft serve on the menu. And a brown butter cake topped with pineapple. The desserts were not a miss. Look at them!!! I don’t even need to tell you they were delicious for you to know. 

So, if it isn’t obvious already, it’s clear you haven’t been paying attention. This place is amazing, and offers something for everyone – local or tourist. The food and ambiance is so Chicago in a way that not many restaurants in this city have mastered. Zarella is such a wonderful spot. Go Zarella go!