90 Years Strong: Bruna's Ristorante on Oakley Is a Living Landmark Little Italy Should Celebrate This Summer

By Socialhood News · Il/Chicago/University Village Little Italy · June 27, 2026

While Taylor Street rightly commands the spotlight in University Village Little Italy, the neighborhood's Oakley/Western corridor is quietly home to one of Chicago's most extraordinary dining milestones — and it deserves a standing ovation. Bruna's Ristorante at 2424 S. Oakley Ave. has been serving the Near West Side for a remarkable 90 years, making it one of the longest-running Italian restaurants in the entire city. With its dim lighting, classic murals, and a menu anchored by fried calamari, whitefish, and linguini frutti di mare overflowing with shrimp, scallops, mussels, and clams, Bruna's is less a restaurant than a time capsule — a living room for generations of families who've celebrated their biggest moments at these tables.

The 90-year mark is the kind of milestone that doesn't happen by accident. It happens because a place becomes genuinely woven into the fabric of a neighborhood, earning the loyalty of grandchildren whose grandparents first pulled up a chair decades ago. In a summer when Little Italy is already buzzing with festivals, reopenings, and new energy on Taylor Street, Bruna's quiet longevity on Oakley is a powerful reminder that this neighborhood's soul runs deep — and wide.

Have you visited Bruna's recently, or do you have a memory from the Oakley corridor worth sharing? Drop it in the comments and tag @SocialhoodChicago with #LittleItalyChicago — let's give this 90-year legend the neighborhood love it deserves!

Sources:
1. https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g35805-d27931209-Reviews-Little_Italy_university_Village-Chicago_Illinois.html
2. https://www.choosechicago.com/neighborhoods/little-italy-university-village/