Stop and smell the roses with a trip to Melrose Park, a darling town with a strong Italian-American heritage, especially apparent at Scudiero’s Italian Bakery & Deli, a family-run favorite that’s been serving delicious, freshly made cannoli and other Italian classics since 1954. It’s the kind of place that’ll make you feel like Tony Soprano. Be sure to take your picture holding the famous Scudiero’s bread bag; the founder’s son-in-law started taking pictures of customers holding the bread bag, with shots of everyday customers to big name celebrities, including Frank Sinatra.
Old Blue Eyes didn’t only go to Scudiero’s while in Melrose Park. He also dined at Tom’s Steakhouse, the beloved classic steakhouse that’s been attracting Chicagoans and foodies alike since it opened in 1952. Tom’s Steakhouse is one of many excellent places to eat in Melrose Park. From classic diners and upscale cafes, such as Harlo Grill and Sugar Milk Cafe, to the Latin American fare at Sabe a Zulia and cajun seafood at Crab Du Jour, Melrose Park’s restaurant scene is as diverse and welcoming as the town itself.
It’s no wonder the Taste of Melrose Park is second only to Taste of Chicago in attendance and variety of food. Each year, about 100,000 people attend the event, which features live music played on multiple stages, so you can get down while you chow down. There’s also HispanoFest, a yearly celebration of Melrose Park’s Hispanic community and has games, rides, food, music and more. Melrose Park is also home to one of the most unique celebrations in all of Chicagoland: the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. For well over 100 years, the Melrose Park community has celebrated this Catholic feast day by dressing in white and yellow and parading down the street carrying a large, golden statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
A trip to Melrose Park is always a trip worth taking.
