Heart, healthy and pizza are not words usually appearing in the same sentence. Yet, here they are. Bella Bacino's claims to have "America's First Heart-Healthy Pizza," applying the title to its Spinach Supreme and Broccoli Bacino's pizzas ($7.10 for a small stuffed pizza and up to $23.75 for an extra-large). Both are a blend of cheese, spices and the vegetables named. I am neither doctor nor nutritionist, so I can neither support nor refute this claim. However, I do know stuffed pizza makes you feel, well, stuffed, which is why you eat stuffed pizza. For your heart, you play Nintendo Wii.
If you're not looking for stuffed pizza, Bella Bacino's offers a selection of typical Italian fare. Appetizers range from $6 to $16, including steamed mussels ($10.95) and a sampling of Italian summer sausages and cheeses ($9.95-$15.95). Salads are $7-$10, paninis are $8-$9 and entrees range from $14 to $30. Thin-crust pizzas, with much the same ingredients as the stuffed but flatter, obviously, range from $8.95 for a small cheese to $21.95 for an extra large Bacino's Special with Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, green peppers and onions. If your day's plan includes shopping on Michigan Avenue or a business meeting in the Loop, the location is ideal for lunch or dinner. When it's warm, sidewalk seating is available.
You can make reservations and place orders online at the Bacino's website. No studies have yet shown if this convenience is heart-healthy.
Average cost: $21-$30
Centerstage Reviewer: A.J. Weiss
