Pazzi Di Pizza in Elmhurst charms patrons crazy for Italian: Mystery Diner

ELMHURST – Technically, Italian food can be had at home by combining contents of a few boxes and jars or by using a takeout menu for your closest pizza joint. Sometimes, that's enough to scratch the itch. Other times, you need something made with time, nuance and a whole lot of love.

Elmhurst's Pazzi Di Pizza aims to capture the tenderness of an old Italian mother's touch, and manages to deliver a tasty homage.

There are a lot of ways to do Italian food, with many of them being a far cry from the glorious culinary heritage that inspired it all. If you aren't feeling up to painstakingly crafting your own all-day-to-prepare marinara sauce, Pazzi Di Pizza has got you covered, and throws in an attentive waitstaff and great ambiance to boot.

Celebrating one of the specialties, the restaurant's name translates to Crazy for Pizza, but the menu embraces all sorts of Italian treats – from salads and sandwiches to a variety of pasta and chicken dishes. A full bar is part of the mix.

First things first: The location has a great patio in the heart of downtown Elmhurst. The indoor dining room is inviting – wood-fired pizza oven and all – but if weather and space permit, take your meals outside as I did for both my visits.

After enjoying some of the soft, chewy table bread alongside some delightful olive oil, I progressed to an appetizer of arancini on my first visit.

Fried rice balls molded around a cheese core is a deeply personal favorite of mine – and how could they not be? When done correctly, a gooey center of cheese is encased with rich tomato flavor in properly cooked rice with a nice crisp exterior.

Pazzi Di Pizza's version is one of the better ones I've had outside Italy, particularly the perfectly crunchy breaded crust. A key part of the equation is to add a touch of the tomato sauce that is served on the side.

For my main dish, I chose to try another personal favorite: baked ziti. Pazzi Di Pizza pulled off its version extremely well, especially in bites that included bits of both sausage and feta. The combination made for a wonderful blend of complex savory spices and tangy creaminess that really carried the dish. I think there was a missed opportunity to have a bit more oven-baked crustiness on it for a change of flavor and texture, but that's my own preference.

On my second visit, I gave the namesake, wood-fired pizza a try. I got the time-tested combination of prosciutto and arugula, which came together beautifully, and was deftly balanced with creamy, melty mozzarella and parmigiana. Despite featuring two dairy products, it managed to remain light and refreshing. The oven-fired crust was the ideal thickness to hold up to the toppings without being too crunchy.

Pazzi Di Pizza offers a wide variety of tasty, authentic dishes that should satisfy anyone looking for a comfortable, welcoming place to get a big plate of pasta or Neapolitan-style pizza for the pie purist.

The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at Suburban Life Media. The diner's identity is not revealed to the restaurant staff before or during the meal. Only positive dining experiences will result in published reviews.