Da Luciano's (River Grove, IL)

Have you ever been at a restaurant where someone at neighboring table started up a conversation?

This happens to us gf folks more than most, I suppose. Something about the shared suffering of weird eating requirements binds us together.

Have you ever been at a restaurant where the person at the neighboring table started up a conversation that went like this:

"My daughter flies in tomorrow. Whenever she comes in town we leave the airport and drive straight here."

What could possibly be that delicious?

Homemade gf ravioli, for one.

Homemade gf lasagna, for another.

And the cream puffs? Ohhhh, the cream puffs. Those get their own post, tomorrow.

Da Luciano's is a family-owned Italian restaurant on the outskirts of Chicago. The owners have seven children, four of them diagnosed with Celiac disease. Rather than let this diagnosis take the wind out of their family's sails, they built a second kitchen on their restaurant and went to work learning how to cook delicious gf Italian food.

When we were seated our waitress asked, "Regular or gluten free menu?" When we asked for the gf version, she smiled.

"Me too," she said.

This is my happy "Soon-I'll-be-eating-fried-cheese" face.

We ordered appetizers of garlic bread and breaded mozzarella, which were both very affordable and incredibly tasty. As we snacked on them, the restaurant began to fill up. We had gotten there right when it opened at 4pm on Sunday evening, and soon every single table was full.

"Do you have a reservation?" the hostess began asking. When people sadly shook their heads "no," they were told that there would be a long wait. If you're visiting here (and seriously, you should visit this restaurant RIGHT NOW) - make a reservation!

This was by far the best gf dining experience I have had. The food was amazing, the prices affordable, and the scene very Italian-Chicago. It also offers frozen gf options to go, so we headed home with a carton of butter cookies and a lasagna for later.

If you don't live close to Chicago but still want to taste Da Luciano's gf goodness, they have an online store here where you can purchase pastas, cookies, and other amazingness.

If you are within a day's drive of Chicago, this is a must. I ate there two days ago, and my mouth is still watering...

Trust me. Just do it. Go now.