Eater Inside

Tour Animale, An Escape From Ordinary Fast Casual From Osteria Langhe

This isn't normal counter service

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Jun 9, 2016, 2:45pm CDT

Photography by Marc Much | Via All Animale coverage [ECHI]

Ashok Selvam is the editor of Eater Chicago and a native Chicagoan armed with more than two decades of award-winning journalism. Now covering the world of restaurants and food, his nut graphs are super nutty.

Can co-owners chef Cameron Grant and Aldo Zaninotto, the team behind Osteria Langhe, make counter service cool? That's one of the goals with Animale, their quaint Italian restaurant on Western Avenue. Animale debuted on Wednesday, serving Grant's popular pastas and items most would never see in a fast-casual spot.

The insides are rustic with mismatched chairs and chalkboards detailing the restaurant's menu. There's plenty of stools, including seating where diners can watch all the action in the kitchen. Take a look in the photos that follow.