Tony Mantuano's Chicago

Growing up, with all the time he spent working at his family's butcher shop and tending their lush garden at home, Tony Mantuano fell in love with food at an early age. This appreciation for good ingredients has only grown throughout Tony's career, and is front and center at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Spiaggia, which he opened 35 years ago in Chicago.

Between running his restaurant and mentoring young chefs—many of whom, such as Missy Robbins and Sarah Grueneberg, have gained renown in their own right—Tony is a busy guy. We were lucky enough to get a chance to chat with him about his life in and out of the kitchen. Below, you'll learn what he does on his days off, and, perhaps more importantly, where he eats.

Tony’s Day-Off Philosophy

“我的哲学是只是忘记about everything, and try to remember what it was like when you used to be able just to hang, and not worry about the pressures of running six restaurants. Not that my life is 99% stress, but there is stress with running a business. There's always a constant struggle.... I try not to pick up my cell phone and look at it. It’s really trying to get away, trying to forget about things. If you don't do that, the day will just fly by, so you need to make every moment count. Surrounding yourself with friends and family is number one, because they will make you laugh, and they will make everything seem a little more balanced. And if I can manage an extra hour of sleep in the morning, too, that's always nice."

How Tony Makes the Most of His Days Off

"There’s no normal. My son lives in New York, so maybe he’ll come out here for a couple of days. A lot of my siblings live about an hour north, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and my brother is in the wine business. We'll go up there and spend time with them as well. Sometimes we’ll take a quick trip to New York, or we might just be relaxing with friends on our patio in our condominium in Old Town, Chicago. We have a great patio with a grill and a pizza oven, and do a lot of entertaining there.

"We keep it really simple; it’s not like restaurant food at all. It’s just grilled chicken or grilled vegetables. Depending on the season, we have a lot of pepper plants on our patio, so we grill those, too. My wife is a wine expert and makes wine lists, and so there are always interesting wines. Everyone is gathered around the grill and relaxing."

Tony's Favorite Places to Eat in Chicago

The Glunz Tavern

"We live in a part of town called Old Town, so there is actually a tavern right next to us that's been around, though they closed for a bit during Prohibition, since, like, 1888. It’s called The Glunz Tavern. They have great wines and really simple food. It has all kinds of memorabilia. They make a soft pretzel in-house, and they have a great burger.

"But they are really known for their wines. Their wine list is always super interesting. They have a retail store, The House of Glunz, that's massive. Barbara Glunz and Christopher, her son, have an encyclopedic knowledge of wines that is really fascinating to tap into. We go there much more for the conversation than anything, to be honest."

The Purple Pig

"Even though I'm a silent partner in The Purple Pig, I really enjoy what Jimmy Bannos Jr. is cooking there. Again, it's one of those wine bars that have morphed into more than that. They’ve got an incredible wine list, and lots of communal seating, where you become friends with everyone there by the end of the meal. My favorite dish is, he takes chicken thighs, skewers them, and sears the hell out of 'em, then serves them with homemade tzatziki and roasted potatoes. It’s so good, and so simple—crispy, bold, clean, and delicious."

The Publican

”是一个典型的保罗·卡亨餐厅The Publican that we go to a lot. It’s a place that you go to for oysters and beer. We always just get a bunch of oysters and beer. It’s super fun. It’s, again, sort of a communal atmosphere, with a beer hall–like setting. Even though I’m a fine-dining chef, I love the rustic places, and the places that make you forget about what you’re doing."

GT Fish and Oyster

"For a casual night out, we love to dine at the bar at GT Fish & Oyster. The oysters are always amazingly fresh, and it's so fun to watch them being shucked to order. The seafood towers are top-notch, which is true for all the seafood here. As for drinks, GT has a great wine list and a selection of vintage Italian amari. Plus, the service is friendly and personable, which is absolutely a reflection of Chef Giuseppe Tentori, a longtime great chef in the Chicago area."

Duck Inn

"Another longtime great Chicago chef is Kevin Hickey, who heads up the kitchen at this historic location in Bridgeport. My favorite menu selections are the signature rotisserie duck and the Duck Inn Dog, which is made with beef and duck and stuffed in natural casing for that perfect snap. Of course, it has Chicago-style toppings, which means no ketchup, ever! The best seat in the house is definitely the table off the kitchen, but the backyard patio is also incredible and inviting in the summer."

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