Celebration at Maggiano's Little Italy

When you go out to dinner for a celebration, you can't go wrong with comforting Italian food. So, last week after we proudly watched my nephew graduate from the police academy before embarking on his new career as a law enforcement officer, we took a little drive to Maggiano's Little Italy in Oak Brook.

If you have a hearty appetite, the family-style is the way to go for a group of four or more. However, everyone in our party had something different in mind and we went with a few appetizers: calamari, bruschetta and stuffed mushroom. Totally top notch - such a good way to start the meal.

I opted for the lighter take on the fettuccine with chicken and asparagus. Several of their menu items are offered as Lighter Take versions. They do a great job of staying close to the original dish and not sacrificing flavor in reducing the calories in the dish by a nice amount. This was also one of the menu items that allowed you to choose an entree to also take home to enjoy the next day, which is a fabulous deal.

(my nephew opted for mussels, which he quite enjoyed.)