Enjoy a Gift certificate for $100 at Balena offering seasonal Italian-inspired dishes, including handmade pastas & pizza, plus a lengthy wine list.

In just a few short years Balena has become a fixture on the Chicago dining scene, and not just because of its neon light installations that manage to blend seamlessly with the elegance of the soaring, exposed beam ceilings and leather-topped bar.

Speaking of that bar, it's where they'll be making you a spot-on cocktail from their amaro-heavy menu (conveniently ranked from 1 to 10 on bitterness level).

Now that you've had your aperitivo, it's time to eat. May we recommend ALL the pasta? Everything's made in-house, even the dried stuff, meaning everything from a simple spaghetti cacio e pepe to the ocean-rich squid inked tagliolini nero with crab, sea urchin, and chili is stunning. As are the pizzas. But try to leave yourself room for an affogato with fluffy cinnamon-sugar donuts.

Balena is located at1633 N. Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60614