Colorful Roscoe Village favorite serves great baked sandwiches and fresh-made sides.

The Scene
With its brightly painted, beat-up chairs and patterned tables, sunny Costello's overflows on weekends with sandwich-lovin' young Roscoe Villagers. Order at the counter from one of the friendly employees, then score one of the handful of tables. During warmer weather, additional seating is available at sidewalk tables and at a back patio.

The Food
It's no idle boast when Costello's claims to make ''Chicago's finest oven-baked sandwiches.'' For proof, order the Costello, a spicy, zesty classic piled high with mortadella, hot capicola and provolone with marinated artichokes, tomato, black olives, roasted red pepper and lettuce, then baked till crisp. Pepper turkey packs a wallop, and Italian meatball is tender and cheesy. Don't miss the house-made Costello sides, like sweet corn pasta salad, mustard-mayo potato salad and red-skin mashed potatoes (a small size is more than enough for most appetites). Sandwiches are also available ''un-baked.'' Several vegetarian options (baked caprese, for example) round out the menu.