Italian Restaurants in Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington is a great destination in the Midwest for outdoor explorers. It is home to such attractions as the Constitution Trail, which is ideal for hiking, rollerblading and cycling. Bloomington is also home to one of the nation's largest and most famous indoor climbing gyms, Upper Limits. Some of the city's most popular eating establishments happen to be Italian restaurants, many of whose reputations extend beyond the merely local.

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano's all-wood exterior and pristine white tablecloths offer an enchanting ambience. Their dishes provide a simple, yet tasty American interpretation of classical Italian cuisine, with such specialties as fried calamari, chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and meatballs and pork Osso Buco ranking high. What's more, if you have a massive appetite, Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano is a good choice, as the portions here are huge. For the little ones, there is an extensive kids' menu. This makes Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano a viable option for family travelers.

Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
1501 N Veterans Pkwy
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 661-8322
biaggis.com

Olive Garden

It might be a nationwide chain, but Olive Garden cooks up some of the best Italian food in the Bloomington area. Try the stuffed chicken Marsala, steak Gorgonzola Alfredo, or Parmesan crusted tilapia. They also have a variety of beef specialties on the menu. Even the appetizers at Olive Garden are tasty and far more inventive than what you'd find at your average trattoria; go for the lasagna fritta and/or the Sicilian scampi (massive shrimps sautéed in virgin olive oil along with white wine, lemon and garlic.) If you have room for dessert, there is nothing like the Olive Garden's famous lemon cream cake.

Olive Garden
1701 E Empire St
Bloomington, IL 61704
(309) 663-7375
olivegarden.com

Lucca Grill

The Baldini brothers established the Lucca Grill back in 1936. Their chosen name was meant to pay homage to their hometown in Italy. The restaurant has been passed down over succeeding generations, but the tradition of friendly service and good home-style Italian cooking endures to this day. Popular dishes include fried ravioli, Lucca's Famous Chicken Livers, Pizza Lucca Supreme (not recommended for vegetarians!), baked ziti, chicken Parmesan, macaroni and cheese and pasta Primavera. You can also order your meal to go. In addition, Lucca Grill offers daily lunch specials for $6.75.

Lucca Grill
116 E. Market St.
Bloomington, Illinois 61701
(309) 828-7521
luccagrill.com

Resources

Article Written By Zach Feral

Zach Feral has been writing and editing professionally since 2003. He has a B.A. in philosophy from the New School for Social Research in New York and pursued postgraduate studies at the Open University in the U.K. His writing has appeared in numerous international publications, including "Dazed & Confused," "Artforum" and "Think Again."

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