That Pasta Place, a family-owned restaurant on Route 83 north of Route 120 in Grayslake, is set in what was once a home. It still feels that way when you walk in. Seated at a table you feel as if you were in a dining room waiting for mom to deliver plates of spaghetti and meatballs. 

Four of us dined there recently, and the waiter made us feel right at home – giving us time to decide what we wanted and explaining to us patiently about the specials several times before we ordered. 

When asked to name the best dishes, he told us the specials are always the best; otherwise consider Parpadella alla Frank, he suggested.