CheekyChicago

Upon entering the Italian restaurant Scoozi! on Saturday night, I was immediately struck by two things: One, this restaurant seems to endlessly expand. It’s a perfect square – if the square went on forever – and it was packed. Two, the wine collection (for which they have won quite a few awards). Dark mahogany wooden lattices hang overhead and dimly lit tables give the cozy ambience of being, perhaps, in a wine cellar. At any given time, Scoozi has 150 (yes. One hundred fifty.) wine selections to choose from. By the kitchen, the restaurant as a structure seems to be held up by rows… and rows… and more rows of wine bottles.

But, there’s more to this place than just wine (even though the Napa Merlot I had was deliciously full bodied). To start, they serve olive oil and parmesan cheese with just one piece of warm, freshly baked bread (I’ll admit, this is a pretty smart idea). Next onto caprese – homemade fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and basil with a touch of balsamic vinegar. From there, the Winter Salad – an enticing mix of mesculn greens with arugula, sprinkles of gorgonzola cheese, candied walnuts, apples, and dried cranberries.

As if the appetizers weren’t delectable enough, the entrées were just as, if not more, deserving of praise. The rigatoni with smoked chicken, spinach, mushrooms and parmesan cream sauce was both rich and dainty – despite being a pasta dish. My date, on the other hand, went all out and ordered the filet mignon – and the garlic mashed potatoes served on the side were a nice compliment. The meat was tender and cooked perfectly. Both meals were amazing, but of course, dessert was a must.

We ordered coffee and went through the dessert list. Scoozi has a variety of gelato flavors – chocolate, pistachio and cinnamon, to name a few – but I couldn’t decide between getting just that, or getting a bit more of something else. So, I combined my choices and got a dessert I cannot pronounce – profiteroles – but oh my God was it to die for. Nestled inside homemade puff pastry is vanilla bean gelato, which is covered in both chocolate and caramel sauces. A sweet, sweet ending to a remarkable dining experience.