Yesterday, Sherif and I serendipitously got a call from a couple of friends from the suburbs who were hanging out in downtown Chicago as we happened to be right in the same area! We were all starving at that point in time, and our friends suggested a place nearby called Volare (Volare Ristorante Italiano). Sherif had eaten there once before a while back and he liked it. This time we got to sit outside! (on a covered terrace). Now that the weather is finally getting nice, the city is coming alive and people are starting to be out and about. Certainly, a lot more people are riding the horse-drawn carriages that tour the downtown area (that somehow continue to do tours in the middle of winter! Which I find really surprising).

One of the most exciting parts for me and for Sherif is when restaurants start to open up sidewalk or terrace seating. It makes for a very lively and festive environment. There’s nothing like eating outside. It has something of a European or South American feel to it, no? Volare was a fun spot to go with a group of friends, but it would also work for a  fun first date. This picture (and all the subsequent ones) were taken with our point-and-shoot camera, because we didn’t have the DSLR handy. This one was a bit rushed too, because everyone was waiting for me! :-/

Sherif and I often like to order two different things and we split them both between us. This is one of the perks of married life – we get to sample a wider variety of foods

This time, we ordered an arugula-based salad, with fresh mozzarella (which was delicious), prosciutto, tomatoes, and one of my absolute favorite veggies – avocado! (This salad was one of the specials yesterday). The salad was light and yummy. It had mild refreshing feel. The combination of arugula, fresh mozzarella, prosciutto and avocado made a lot of sense!

For a main dish, we ordered the seafood risotto, which was dyed with squid ink, and was charcoal black. It was called Risotto Volare (after the restaurant name). This really stood out on the menu, because we wanted something quintessentially Italian, that was also a specialty of that restaurant, and we were both really craving some seafood – I guess we hadn’t had that kind of mixed seafood in a while. It had calamari, octopus, shrimp, sea scallops, clams and mussels.

It was a lot like a Spanish seafood paella, but it was also reminiscent of the authentic Italian mixed seafood and pasta dishes, though the sauce was probably a bit different. This really complemented the salad: the risotto was hearty and spicy, and definitely very filling. Sherif and I weren’t sure if we’d have to order something else later, but between the salad and the risotto, we were almost stuffed. It was definitely a satisfying meal.

Check out how dark that risotto looks! I’d never had squid ink risotto before, so it was a first, and I was very pleased with the flavor, though it left dark residue on our teeth for just a few minutes before it faded out – so don’t try it on a first date! (It did fade out though within a few minutes after we stopped eating, talked, drank water, etc.). Apparently (and I had to look this up), squid and octopus carry ink in a sac in their bodies, which they expel into the water as a mechanism to confuse and distract their predators so they can have more time to escape!

So, if you’re ever in the Streeterville area of Chicago, be sure to check out Volare! Here’s a well-written review from the Chicago Sun-Times.

Here is an updated picture (taken after this date to Volare on a day we were out exploring the city!):

What are some of your favorite restaurants or neighborhoods with outdoor seating in your area (and if you know any in Chicago, we’d love some recommendations!) Also, we are always looking for authentic Italian restaurants anywhere in the U.S. (we’ve been to a few really good ones in Philadelphia, Washington DC, and NYC).

Buona sera!

You may also like:

Unwritten DreamsAnniversary Food: The Swiss Bakery (Springfield, VA) & Taxim (Chicago)Virginia is for Lovers ;-)Chicago Green Festival 2010