Time Out Market Chicago, home to the city’s best restaurants and chefs, is welcoming another stellar concept to the family starting on February 17.
Stefani’s Bottega Italiana will bring its lineup of Roman-style pizzas, pastas and schiacciata sandwiches to Fulton Market. The Gladstone Park restaurant is known for its seasonally-driven, made-from-scratch Italian specialties and is a part of Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants, the group behind beloved spots like Tavern on Rush, Tuscany and Stefani Prime.
Though Stefani’s Bottega Italiana debuted in 2024, its origins go back much further. When owner Phil Stefani opened his first restaurant in the ‘80s, he decided all of the pastas would be made in house using machines imported from Italy. As the Stefani empire expanded, the company found itself looking for a space that not only produced fresh pasta for all of its eateries, but also the public as well. Thus, Stefani’s Bottega Italiana was born.
First, let’s talk about the incredible handmade pastas. The flour used is flown in from Italy and the sauces are classic recipes that the Stefani group has built its reputation on. There’s the Tagliatella Bolognese, a marriage of long, flat ribbon noodles and a meat-based sauce. Also on offer will be the Mezzaluna Cipriani, a signature dish that dates back to the original Stefani concept. It stars ravioli filled with ricotta, parmigiano and pecorino cheese in a tomato vodka sauce.
Just as delicious are the Roman-style pizzas. For those who are unfamiliar, these thin, round pies are airy and crispy. They’re also healthier than a regular pizza because of the lightness of the dough, which is fermented for 48 to 72 hours. At the Market, you won’t have to worry about being too full after finishing one—they’ll be served as personal pizzas. Options include Margherita, Spicy Soppressata and a sauceless Funghi e Tartufo featuring sauteed spinach, mushrooms and truffle oil.
“My focus is always giving Chicago something different that they can’t get anywhere else,” says Stefani managing partner Anthony Stefani. “I know that people will love it.”
If you’re in the mood for a hearty sandwich, Stefani’s Bottega Italiana has some good ones. Served between schiacciata, a thin Tuscan flatbread, the sandwiches are packed with a variety of ingredients, from the traditional caprese (tomato, mozzarella, basil, pesto aioli) to the Bottega (prosciutto, spicy soppressata, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion, Italian vinaigrette, spicy mayo, giardiniera).
While the Stefani group has decades of experience running restaurants, this will be its first foray into an environment like Time Out Market Chicago. Nonetheless, Anthony Stefani is excited for the new venture.
“What we want is just to be able to showcase what we’ve been about for 40+ years. We have had a very loyal following … I think the Market allows us the opportunity to introduce the younger generation to Stefani’s Italian brand.”