D’amato’s Bakery
1124 W Grand Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: West Loop

D’amato’s Bakery.

Anna and I couldn’t help but stop in D’amato’s Bakery after visiting Bari today.  D’amato’s is a very authentic Italian bakery that has been in business for many years, which is evident from their monstrous mechanical cash register that surprisingly still works.  When we walked inside D’amato’s, we were treated with a welcoming aroma that included fresh-baked bread, pizza, and cookies.  Everything smelled and looked amazing.  However, Anna and I opted for an assortment of Italian cookies that were only $6.  My favorite cookie was the U-shaped butter cookie that was dipped in chocolate and filled with cream.  It was the perfect treat after devouring my sandwich from Bari.  This bakery is very old school and charming, a winning combination that has definitely won both of us over.

-Rob

An assortment of cookies from D’amato’s.

Bari Foods
1120 W Grand Ave., Chicago, IL‎
Neighborhood: West Loop

Bari Foods.

I’ve tried many amazing sandwiches in my life, but the Italian sub I had from Bari this weekend may go down in history as one of the best I’ve ever eaten.  Rob and I had been wanting to go to Bari Foods in the West Loop for the past year or so (I’ve never been and he went once about six years ago) and we finally decided to go this weekend.  When you walk in, there are several narrow aisles with various Italian grocery essentials, all of which lead to the back of the store where the deli counter resides.  Besides the 9” Italian sub that Rob and I both got ($4.75 each, so cheap!), there are many other sandwiches to choose from, as well as salads, bread, and choice meat cuts.  After we left Bari, we decided to stop at D’amato’s Bakery next door, which Rob will discuss in part two of this entry.  Once we got home and tore into our sandwiches, I realized that my initial reservations about not being able to eat a 9” sandwich were fleeting and before I knew it, the entire sandwich was gone.  With their fresh ingredients, crispy Italian bread, and excellent cold cuts, there’s a reason Bari is a trusted name when it comes to Italian delicacies in Chicago.

-Anna

The deli counter aka where the sandwich magic happens.

It tastes even better than it looks, trust us.