Off 216th Street in Matteson, there is a soothing, serene world filled with the aroma of fresh garlic, rosemary and basil.
Inside Ciao, located in a 100-year-old landmark tavern, is a thigh-high table with a basket of Italian bread, an Italian recipe book, bottle of red wine and glass on a table draped with a cloth that bears the green, white and red of the Italian flag. This sets the stage for the experience that awaits just past the 25-foot, solid wood bar. A huge, hanging blackboard announces the menu.
”The only thing that changes on the menu is the special of the day, which we don`t know until one of our cooks tells us,” said J. D. Hilliard, who co-owns the restaurant with Mike Galderio.
Menu choices include chicken Vesuvio ($11.95), a lightly seasoned chicken breast marinated in wine, garlic, basil and rosemary, coated with a hint of bread crumbs, served with baked potato slices and marinated artichokes. The linguini in red marinara ($6.50) presents homemade pasta served with a giant meatball in a creamy garlicky red sauce. The bruchetta ($3.50) is baked bread with tomato, onion, garlic, rosemary, basil and olive oil.
And there`s more at Ciao, which opened in May. Appetizers range from fried ravioli ($3.50) to sliced tomatoes and onions ($3.50); soup ($1.50 a bowl); antipasto ($2.25); various types of linguini ($6.50); sandwiches ranging from meatball ($4.50), Italian sub ($4.50), Italian beef and sausage
($4.50); pizza ($10 for a medium and $13 for a large); and pastas consisting of lasagna ($7.50), gnocchi ($7.50), manicotti ($8.95) and stuffed shells ($8.95).
”We`re lucky to have cooks-two women and one man-who love to cook for large groups of people,” said Hilliard. ”They put a lot of love into each meal and the customers, including the owners and staff, appreciate them for it.”
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Ciao, 3613 W. 216th St., Matteson, is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. Closed Monday. Call 708-481-6510.
