Via Carducci

Sister to the popular Via Carducci in Lincoln Park, this spot is just as packed as the neighboring eateries on Division, with crowds pouring in to dig in to red-sauce favorites. Some dishes miss, like paper-thin eggplant overloaded with goat cheese and marinara and a caprese salad made with some not-so-summery-looking tomatoes. But others are right on the mark: linguine frutti di mar has a garlicky bite and is studded with plump shrimp, clams, mussels and calamari; meatballs and thin-crust pizza would do any nonni proud.