| Rosebud Boasts Stone Fired Pizza and Authentic Italian Fare | | Print | |
| Restaurant Reviews - Reviews: Chicago and Suburbs |
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Sausage Panadina Pizza Photo Credit: Sarah Adamson
Rosebud Restaurant Review The Scoop- Total Dining Experience: ★★★ ½ out of 4 We’ll go back, due to the food, service, atmosphere, attention to details, ease of parking and fun factor. Favorite item we tried − ‘Priest Stranglers’. Don’t you just love spreading the word about a great movie, book or restaurant? I know I do. In fact, that’s just part of my nature. Rosebud restaurant in Naperville recently reopened this past February after a 14 year stint on the corner of Main St. and Chicago Ave. and they’re doing so many things right over there, I just had to write about it! They’ve actually moved down a block and are now on the corner of Chicago Ave. and Washington St. Having heard the recent buzz regarding their ‘new’ pizza oven, I decided to check it out for myself. My dining partner, another pizza connoisseur who got me hooked on Mama Leona’s in Chicago a few years ago, and I stopped in last Sunday afternoon, March 27. The place was packed for 2:00 pm, typically a slow time as far as restaurants go. Adam, our waiter, was a lot of fun from the get-go. He was very patient, as I asked a million questions about everything, and as usual, it took me forever to decide upon even what I wanted to drink. We did order the Sausage Panadina Pizza, along with a half bottle of wine, as well as the ‘Priest Stranglers’ and Chocolate Mouse Cake, but only after much discussion and debate. Whew − it was all worth the banter because everything tasted spectacular! Yum Factor − Details of the items we tried. Sausage Panadina Pizza – Beautiful presentation, the photo says ‘a thousand’ words. Loved the crispy, thin crust and the fennel seasoning of the 100% pork sausage. The cheese was the real deal, no fillers here, and the sauce was a combination of fresh tomatoes, paprika and chili flavoring. It had the perfect ratio of sauce to cheese. $13 ‘Priest Stranglers’ – Our waiter wasn’t sure where the name came from, but the entree is a combination of tiger-eye shrimp, asiago cheese, lobster butter, crushed chilies and strozzapreti pasta, Alfredo sauce (4 parts) mixed with tomato sauce (1 part). Outstanding flavor as one bite brought me back to Rome, Italy. The entire dish was bursting with authentic Italian flavor, from the butterflied ‘huge’ succulent (cooked to perfection) shrimp, to the spicy (medium hot) pink sauce. The dish does have a spicy kick to it − that was just fine by me. My only regret, that I didn’t reheat the leftover dish on the stove instead of in the microwave. It needs the same care when reheating over a flame with careful stirring. $23 Chocolate Mousse Cake – The presentation was lovely, looked almost like a glossy photo. It was sprinkled with coco powder with a ring of white chocolate and raspberry flavoring on the plate. (I once asked renowned Chicago dessert chef Gale Gand what she considers to be her favorite dessert combination. She told me anything that has the combination of raspberries and chocolate.) The outside chocolate icing was made with distinctive Godiva chocolate. Surprisingly, it was creamy in texture. The cake was moist and the mousse − ahh − the mousse was my favorite part (melt in your mouth, savory, heavenly flavor). $8 Backstage Notes: My first experience with Rosebud restaurant was when I dined at the original one on Taylor St. in Chicago in the early ‘80s. It was my favorite restaurant in those days, and I have special memories of bringing my family there after an afternoon of Chicago sightseeing. I remember the singing owner (he sang, "Bella Notte" or “This is the Night” from “Lady and the Tramp” table-side) and the fun-loving waiters. But what I remember most are the huge portions, amazing food and family friendly atmosphere. My memories also bring me back 14 years ago when the freshly red painted letters ‘Rosebud’ first appeared on the brick building next to the Brand Bobosky’s law office in my hometown of Naperville. I’m happy Rosebud has found a new home. I wish them well, and hope they have many years of success for generations to come. Original article can be seen here Sarah Adamson © March 28, 2011 |
