Cucina Paradiso

Offers

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• Monday - 1/2 off all wine bottles

  Must purchase 2 entrees, pastas or pizza. Not valid with any other promotions.
  Expires: 10/31/2010

• Tuesday - $3 appetizers at the bar

  Must be purchased at the bar. Not valid with any other promotions.
  Expires: 10/31/2010

• Wednesday - $5 Signature martinis at the bar

  Must purchase an appetizer along with martini. must be purchased at the bar. Not valid with any other promotions.
  Expires: 10/31/2010

• Thursday - 20% off all carry-out orders

  
  Expires: 10/31/2010

Nick and Anthony Gambino grew up in the food business. Their father was the deep-dish-wheeling owner of Nancy's Stuffed Pizza in Chicago. While heavy-duty pizza may be in their blood, don't expect to find that Chicago favorite at Cucina Paradiso. Expect thin crust. Expect gourmet. Expect Pear Pizza, a flatbread pie dressed in blue cheese, red onions and sliced fruit.

Four to five items a week change in Cucina’s finely edited menu. The brothers’ goal is to keep their regulars' mouths watering. There are some house favorites, though, like the tangy Rustic Salad with strawberries and the surprisingly sweet Chicken Pistachio Skewers. Pasta comes in two portion sizes. Cucina also caters, whether at you’re home or at such notable destinations as the Cheney Mansion, the 19th Century Club, Pleasant Home and many venues in Chicago.

A restored and rebuilt Cucina Paradiso has been open a little more than a year after a fire in which the Gambinos lost almost everything in their restaurant. Showers of support from customers, fellow restaurateurs and village firefighters left the brothers with a whole new appreciation for Oak Park. "It brought tears to our eyes how wonderful people were," says Nick.

One place to toast community good will is the Cucina bar, specials and specialties are the norm. But wine and cocktails aren’t the only treats there. The ceiling is incredible. If Cirque du Soleil were to design a bar, this would be it. Watch the billowing puffs of fabric and see what happens.

On your birthday:

The candleholder is white chocolate mousse in a dark chocolate shell.