One Great Dish: Gio's Café and Deli's Baked Cavatelli

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Dec 9, 2011 9:45PM

Chuck Sudo/Chicagoist

This weather calls for stick-to-your-ribs comfort food and, for us, few places are as consistent as Gio's Café and Deli, only a four-block walk from Chicagoist's Bridgeport headquarters. Namesake Giovanni Liuzzo stepped aside from the day-to-day operations over a year ago, but the restaurant still has an amazing chef in Victor Quezada, who's worked with Liuzzo and partner Ignacio Bautista since their days in the Rosebud organization.

We tweeted out the above photo of Gio's baked cavatelli and posted it to our facebook page a couple of weeks back, which resulted in a litany of "OMG" and "How should I defile myself to get to that cavatelli" replies. Made with homemade marinara sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses and baked to bubbling perfection, it takes us back to our own childhood favorites. The meatballs, also homemade, are extra. You'll want to save some for leftovers, but you won't be able.

Gio's Café and Deli is located at 2724 S. Lowe Ave.