NT_041819

30 | April 18, 2019 | The Northbrook tower dining out
northbrooktower.com
Trattoria Oliverii mixes tradition with fresh spin on Italian classics
Eric DeGrechie
Managing Editor
Spring can be a challenging
time of year for
local residents as the
weather seems to change
every day, even by the
hour at times.
Katie Keefe and Ali
Clark, owners of Northbrook’s
Trattoria Oliverii,
are especially excited for
better weather to roll into
town.
“We’re ready to put our
patio out,” said Clark,
adding that eight tables
with 24 seats total will
soon be available for
seating on the sidewalk
located in front of the restaurant.
“We need to stop
getting teased every day.”
Keefe, a native of
Northbrook, and Clark
bought Trattoria Oliverii
in November of last
year. Keefe has worked at
the downtown establishment
since it opened in
1991. Keefe and Clark are
cousins.
While some of Trattoria
Oliverii’s signature dishes
have remained intact
from years past, the current
owners have also put
their own spin on things at
1358 Shermer Road.
“We gave the menus a
facelift. We’ve changed
up the lunch menus, too,”
Clark said. “The specials
have improved tremendously.
We’re giving our
chef all the leeway to be
creative.”
Clark said they’ve also
worked on expanding the
wine list by bringing in
some fresh selections.
Last month, Trattoria Oliverii
introduced new options
on its daily special
menu with the goal to
incentivise customers to
return frequently.
Trattoria Oliverii is a
popular spot for families
with a kids menu recently
added.
“We encourage people
to bring their kids in.
We’re located right near
the train station, so kids
love to watch the trains,”
Clark said. “Bring your
families and if you want
to come by a little later at
night on the weekends, it’s
a great date night spot.”
Recently, several 22nd
Century Media editors
made a visit to Trattoria
Oliverii to talk with the
owners, try some dishes
and take in the entire
culinary experience.
Clark described the cuisine
as being mostly from
the Central and Northern
parts of Italy, specifically
the Abruzzo region, east
of Rome.
First up, we sampled the
Trattoria Oliverii
1358 Shermer Road,
Northbrook
(847) 559-8785
www.oliveriis.com
11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday
11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday
4-10 p.m. Saturday
4-8:30 p.m. Sunday
Bruschetta Romana ($7)
on the antipasti menu featuring
chopped tomatoes,
fresh mozzarella, garlic,
and parmigiana, served on
Italian bread. The bruschetta
is topped with extra
virgin olive oil. After taking
our first few bites, we
knew instantly we were in
for a good meal.
All entrees include a
choice of soup or salad.
We tried the minestrone
soup. The Italian soup
was chock-full of hearty
vegetables and included
some pasta.
Next, we were brought
out a dish of the Pasta
Prosciutto ($18), featuring
rolled pasta, ham, basil,
cheese and a tomato
cream sauce.
“It’s definitely one of
our best sellers, people
love it,” Clark said. “Anything
with our vodka tomato
cream sauce, or Russo
sauce, is what we’re
well known for.”
The Pasta Prosciutto ($18), featuring rolled pasta, ham, basil, cheese and a tomato
creme sauce, is said to be a favorite among customers at the restaurant. Photos by
Michael Wojtychiw/22nd Century Media
Pizza is another go-to
at Trattoria Oliverii. The
Oliverii Special ($22 for
a large pie) is made with
cheese, sausage, pepperoni,
bacon, mushrooms,
onions, green peppers and
black olives.
Another popular pizza
is the Guido’s Special
($18.50 for a large) featuring
cheese, tomato,
onions, garlic and hot
giardiniera.
Seafood, like everything
on the menu according
to Clark, is fresh and
ordered locally. We tried
the Lemon Sole ($14)
made with a fillet of sole,
fresh tomato, white wine
and a side of capellini, or
thin pasta like spaghetti.
Last, but certainly not
least, we were served
housemade tiramisu ($8).
The coffee-flavored dessert
tantalized our taste
buds and we were still
raving about the dish days
after our visit.
Catering is available
at Trattoria Oliverii and
there is a carry-out pickup
window near the back
of the restaurant. The
latter is a popular option
for many travelers when
they disembark from their
trains across the street.
Private dining is also
available.
“The fact that this restaurant
has been open
for 30 years really helps.
The location is fantastic,”
Clark said. “People
have been coming here
for a long time and now
their kids are coming
here. We’re seeing generations
of families from
Northbrook come in,
which is fun.”
The Oliverii Special pizza ($22 for a large pie) is made
with cheese, sausage, pepperoni, bacon, mushrooms,
onions, green peppers and black olives.
Trattoria Oliverri’s Bruschetta Romana ($7) features
chopped tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, garlic, and parmigiana,
served on Italian bread with extra virgin olive oil.
The tiramisu ($8) is lady finger cookies soaked with
espresso, topped with mascarpone cheese and
chocolate.