La Madia

A couple weeks ago I had a group of friends in town to have a little celebration known as a bachelorette party. Yep, I’m getting married in two weeks. Wow! The foodie that I am, of course I wanted to have a great dinner to celebrate and say goodbye to my last few weeks as a (technically) single woman (let’s be real – “single” was a word I quit using long ago). When you have 10 people all going to dinner, though, the options start to limit themselves quickly. Different budgets, different palates – it’s hard to find the perfect restaurant that everyone will like.

Fortunately, La Madia aims to please. The almost ridiculously reasonable prices despite the downtown location, quality food, and crowd-pleasing menu made them an obvious choice. Who doesn’t love pizza? And while Chicago is known for pizza, La Madia’s pies are a far cry from the greasy, fatty deep dish pizza that we usually rep’ in this city. The crispy thin crusts and unique, almost exotic combinations of flavors, not to mention the cute, modern interior and wood-burning oven that is visible from the dining room all make this place a pizza destination in its own right.

We ordered an outstanding array of food, and while the pizzas were excellent, the appetizers stole the show. The special of the evening – squash blossoms stuffed with ricotta cheese and an array of herbs served with a side of La Madia’s classic pizza sauce – was easily the crowd favorite.  Other starters included the Oven-Roasted, Prosciutto-Wrapped Medjool Dates Filled with Gorgonzola Dolce and Oven-Roasted Globe Artichokes, a personal favorite and something I order every time I go to La Madia.

My advice is to be adventurous with your pizza order. Forget the pepperoni and try something new because La Madia is sure to do it right and you’ll be sure to gobble it down.

La Madia
59 W. Grand Ave.
Chicago, IL

312.239.0400

http://www.dinelamadia.com/