CHIReview
Caro Mio
The Chicago restaurant scene is currently run a bit like Richard J. Daley’s Chicago political machine of the 1960’s, or, if you want to get real historical, Boss Tweed's stranglehold on New York City circa 1868. Similar to the power yielded by the aforementioned gentlemen, you’ll notice that a majority of the big name restaurants in Chicago tend to be owned and run by the same people and hospitality groups. There’s nothing wrong with it, because they crank out well-oiled establishments, but sometimes it’s refreshing to know about a neighborhood gem like Caro Mio in Ravenswood.
The cute little BYOB Italian place near the Damen and Montrose brown line stops is no secret to the people of this ‘hood, which is evident by the crowd on any given night. We can't say the basic Italian food is spectacular, but it's good enough for families, strollers, couples on dates, and decent size groups to be seen littered throughout the candlelit room - you probably fit somewhere in there too. Bring your own wine, beer, or liquor, and get comfy with Italian comfort food.
Caro Mio is great for heaping portions of pasta in the company of people you like to hang with, in similar fashion to places like La Scarola or Briciola. But Ravenswood always seems to have a real family-friendly feel, and Caro Mio is no different. That’s not to say you can’t do a group dinner here and get a little loose, but maybe be cognizant of your surroundings.
You should find yourself wanting to linger, talk, and relax no matter who you are with. And you’ll have enough food to keep you going for a while because the entrees are rather huge. Feel free to split one main entree plus an appetizer or two amongst two people. If you order selfie entrees, don't feel ashamed to take food home. In fact, you should maybe be ashamed if you finish it all. Our advice is to stick to the homemade pastas, and at the end of your meal, we think there will be some solace knowing Caro Mio is a local family run joint.