Coda di Volpe

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Bringing Southern Italy to the Southport Corridor

Coda di Volpe takes its name from the white grape indigenous to Italy's Campania region — a fitting tribute for a restaurant that has made it its mission to spotlight the lesser-explored flavors of Southern Italy in a Chicago neighborhood known for its tight-knit character. The name translates literally to "tail of the fox," and there's something quietly clever about the whole operation: a neighborhood spot with serious culinary credentials worn lightly.

The restaurant is the first collaboration between hospitality veterans Billy Lawless of Gage Hospitality Group and Ryan O'Donnell of Ballyhoo Hospitality. Executive Chef Jacob Saben leads the kitchen, while Head Pizzaiolo Salvatore Lo Cascio tends the Stefano Ferrara wood-fire oven — the heart of the operation.

The Pizza, the Pasta, the Cave

The pizzas here are VPN-certified Neapolitan, served the traditional way with authentic pizza shears. That certification matters: it signals strict adherence to Neapolitan standards, from DOP San Marzano tomatoes to DOP fior di latte. The program has earned a place on the 50 Top Pizza USA list two years running, landing at #44 in 2025 — recognition that puts Coda di Volpe among the most respected pizzerias in the country. Gambero Rosso has also taken note, awarding the restaurant a slice in its 2026 guide.

Beyond pizza, the menu is built around seasonally evolving handmade pastas and an extensive in-house curing program. The salumi cave produces house-cured meats served as part of the CDV Salumi board alongside condimenti and cheese. Pasta dishes lean into Southern Italian tradition — bucatini with Sicilian siccagno tomato, rigatoni with pork spalla and saffron, or casarecce with tuna sott'olio and pistachio pesto from Pantelleria. The Foxhole Focaccia, including Sal's Special with stracciatella and puntarelle pugliesi, rounds out the bread program.

The beverage list has earned both a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence and recognition from World of Fine Wine — a strong complement to a menu this rooted in regional Italian identity.

A Neighborhood Restaurant with National Recognition

Coda di Volpe has been an active participant in the Southport Corridor community since opening, joining farmer's markets and supporting civic initiatives across the city. That local commitment sits alongside Michelin recommendation and a growing national profile — a combination that keeps the room feeling like a genuine neighborhood restaurant rather than a destination performing for critics.