Southland Savvy
The Traversos say there are two great places for a family to sit down for a meal -- your dining room and theirs. That was clearly true on the evening of our meal, as we shared the room with three family gatherings, large groups spanning generations seated around tables pushed together for the occasion.
We passed by a couple of chain restaurants, parking lots full, to ease into a table at Traverso's in Orland Park. Some people don't know what they're missing.
Our meal meal kicked off, literally, with an appetizer of buffalo wings with blue cheese and ranch dressing and a few stalks of celery. Extra saucy and tangy with just a kick of hotness, these wings rival those you'll find in any hot wing specialty chain. And every piece offered plenty of meat. No shriveled up, over-fried wings here.
A crusty loaf of hot bread came to the table alongside a simple, crispy dinner salad. Traverso's doesn't skimp on the dressing, either.
For the main course, we dined on chicken parmigiana and shells with Italian sausage. The breaded chicken breast, a surprising three-quarters-of-an inch thick, was juicy through and through. Known for its hand-made pastas, Traverso's pasta and savory sausage proved all-too filling.
The Traversos have been doing this for 35 years. They know how to send you away happy and full. We didn't even have room for dessert. You could've rolled us out the front door.
We've had their pizza in the past, which features a sweet sauce and a chewy thin crust. A loaded pie and frosty mugs of beer make for a great Friday night chow down.
On Mondays, through spring. Traverso's offers two-for-one pasta dishes, and Tuesday features half-price pizza.
Traverso's
3 out of 4 stars
15601 S. Harlem Ave.
Orland Park
(708) 532-2220
Check out more Traverso's reviews via Google.
You can reach Dennis Robaugh at dennis@southlandsavvy.com
