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MEATBALL PERFECTION

Mama T.-that's what everyone calls her-is the guiding force behind the food that pours out of the kitchen of this popular, pretty little restaurant at 1329 W. Chicago Ave. near Noble Street.

Mama T.-her first name is Grace-is 77 years old. When son John decided to open his first restaurant called “ Jim N’ Johnnys’ ” she had been "retired" in Florida for several years.

She makes 60 pounds of meatballs a week, 10 pounds of meatloaf, three large pans of lasagna, three or four ricotta cheese cheesecakes and about 25 of those stuffed artichokes. And her recipes for red sauce, eggplant Parmesan, ravioli and other classic Italian dishes are used the kitchen staff.

She's at the restaurant at 7 a.m. almost every day. She figures she made 70,000 meatballs last year. But that's not particularly surprising for a woman who canned about 150 jars of tomato sauce from 15 bushels of tomatoes every August when she lived in Oak Park.

She finishes her part of the cooking around 11 a.m. every day, talks with the other kitchen help and then goes home or does errands. On weekend nights, she returns to the restaurant to talk to people and answer the phone.

"I like saying hello to people, and so many people now have been here before that I feel like I know them."

The irony about Mama T.'s winning ways with Italian food is that she's 100 percent Irish. She was raised on a farm in Iowa, but "I moved to Chicago when I was 18 and married this Italian fellow I met at the Aragon ballroom-I loved to dance, still do-and his mother was a super cook. I loved all the flavors in Italian cooking, and I learned from her.

By Barbara Sullivan , Chicago Tribune
Mar 18, 1993 at 12:00 am

Since 1995
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Welcome to the Tarantinos. From the moment guests step inside , they are welcomed like family. In 2020, Tarantinos celebrates its 25th anniversary. Ever since it first opened, this Lincoln Park favorite has been dedicated to creating an elegant, comfortable atmosphere, providing friendly service, and serving high-quality, contemporary American and Italian cuisine - largely inspired by family recipes from Owner John Tarantino's mother. House specialties include housemate Black Linguini with shrimp, mussels, and spicy marinara; Rigatoni with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, prosciutto, peas, and cream; and Cowboy Steak, a bone-in rib eye with wine-butter sauce. Anything served with the housemate marinara sauce is particularly representative of Tarantino's Italian roots. "My mother was an awesome cook. We would can bushels of tomatoes every September for her homemade marinara sauce," Tarantino recalls. "The idea of families sharing food is a basic instant for me." Tarantino's maintains a warm, family-owned feel, welcoming parents with children, couples on a romantic date, and individuals dining at the bar. Summer brings a delightful setting in our sidewalk patio.

Dear Friends, Neighbors, Family and Customers

As we mark our 30th anniversary (February 14th, 1995), we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and partnership over the past three decades. Your commitment to our business has been instrumental in our journey to success, and we are truly honored to have you as a valued customer.
Looking back, we are proud of the milestones we’ve achieved together, from our humble beginnings to the thriving community we’ve built today. Your trust in our products and Services has allowed us to continuously innovate and adapt to evolving needs, always striving to provide the highest quality experience.
This anniversary is not just a celebration of our longevity, but also a testament to the strong relationships we’ve fostered with our customers like you.
We would like to Thank our staff for your hard work, dedication to realizing our collective dream. I am truly proud of what we have to accomplish together.
Thank you once again for being a part of our story.
Sincerely,

The space

Tarantino’s is available to rent out for special occasions (excluding Friday $ Saturday nights). Our restaurant seats 80 people. We offer either a buffet or a sit down dinner. Please give us a call or email for pricing, menu options and availability. Parties at Tarantino's have included: Wedding Receptions, Graduations, Showers, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Corporate Hospitality and Holiday Events.