Tufano's Vernon Park Tap Celebrates Nearly 100 Years of Family-Owned Italian Dining

The historic Chicago restaurant has been serving homemade Italian classics since 1930.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:25pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a repeated image of a single Italian food item, such as a plate of pasta or a cannoli, rendered in a bold, neon color palette that captures the celebratory spirit of Tufano's long history.Tufano's Vernon Park Tap has been serving up classic Italian dishes to Chicagoans for nearly a century, cementing its place as a beloved neighborhood institution.Chicago Today

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, a family-owned Italian restaurant in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood, has been serving homemade pasta, chicken, and other Italian specialties since it first opened its doors in 1930. The restaurant, which is still run by the descendants of founders Teresa Tufano and Joseph DiBuono, was awarded the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award in 2008 and has been featured on Guy Fieri's 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'.

Why it matters

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap represents a rare example of a family-owned, multi-generational restaurant that has managed to thrive in Chicago's competitive dining landscape for nearly a century. The restaurant's longevity and continued commitment to traditional Italian recipes and hospitality speak to the enduring appeal of authentic, community-driven dining experiences.

The details

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap first opened in 1930 at its current location on West Vernon Park Place in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood. Over the decades, multiple generations of the Tufano and DiBuono families have been involved in the restaurant's operations, with Joe DiBuono, grandson of founders Teresa Tufano and Joseph DiBuono, taking over as the head of the business in 1980. The restaurant's menu features classic Italian starters like stuffed artichokes and grilled calamari, as well as signature entrees such as chicken or veal picante, marsala, vesuvio, and parmigiana, along with a variety of pasta dishes and homemade desserts like tiramisu and cannoli.

  • Tufano's Vernon Park Tap first opened in 1930.
  • The restaurant was awarded the James Beard Foundation's America's Classics award in 2008.
  • Joe DiBuono, grandson of the founders, has been the head of the business since 1980.

The players

Teresa Tufano

One of the founders of Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, along with her husband Joseph DiBuono.

Joseph DiBuono

One of the founders of Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, along with his wife Teresa Tufano.

Joe DiBuono

The current head of Tufano's Vernon Park Tap, and the grandson of founders Teresa Tufano and Joseph DiBuono.

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The takeaway

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap's nearly century-long history and continued commitment to traditional Italian recipes and hospitality demonstrate the enduring appeal of authentic, community-driven dining experiences in a city like Chicago, where family-owned restaurants have struggled to survive the test of time.