South Side Eats: Bertucci's Corner

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Aug 18, 2008 4:30PM

Check out the red-and-black checkered floors, the ceramic mugs hanging over head and that beautiful looking bar.

Another view of the interior, this time capturing vintage photographs as old as the restaurant itself. The 1060s TWA poster is a nice touch.

We fawn every time we see an antique back bar still in great condition

To tie us over until the procession passed we ordered some appetizers. Here is a salami and provolone antipasto dish.

Fried mini ravioli. Damn good.

Roasted tomato served with mozzarella and liberal use of basil-infused olive oil. the roasted tomatoes were a nice touch.

While waiting for the Procession of St. Rocco to pass yesterday, we began to feel pangs of hunger. Rather than pray to the Patron Saint of Pestilence, we asked for a menu at Bertucci's Corner. The corner itself is known as "Bertucci's Corner;" the family has been a longtime presence in Chinatown and many members of the family are also members of the Order of St. Rocco.

This place is one of the best known restaurants in the Chinatown-Bridgeport corridor and with good reason. It's comfortable and virtually unchanged since the doors first opened in 1935. It's one of those restaurants like Twin Anchors that just feels like you're walking into a museum to eat. The focus here is on standard Italian comfort food, which they do with no frills, no fuss.

Bertucci's Corner, 300 W. 24th St., 312-225-2848.