Grant Central Pizza & Pasta

The Scene
The entrance to this enchanting brick building juts out to the street, inviting the whole neighborhood in. Look for plenty of Grant Park locals at this friendly, no-frills eatery.

The Food
Low-priced but high-quality pizza, pasta and calzones are the draw. Garlic bread arrives in three-tower combinations, each accented with different spices. Wood-burning flavor marks the crispy thin-crust pizza, which has bubbles inside the crust (a sign of great pizza). Strips of breaded eggplant in eggplant parmigiana retain their crispiness even under layers of marinara and mozzarella cheese. This and several other dishes come with a half-order of fresh, chewy linguini. Take it with creamy marinara, a zesty red sauce toned down with cream and white wine. House salad has more vegetables than lettuce, but it's fresh, served with a tangy, homemade vinaigrette.