Mystery Diner rides again: Barra DeMarco brings rich Italian fare to Oswego

Welcome to 2021 and welcome to what is a new year of Mystery Diner fare in Kendall County.

So let’s get started with a new restaurant in Oswego, Barra DeMarco. Located on Route 71 near the intersection with Washington Street, Barra DeMarco is tucked into a small shopping center along the highway with an area to dine outside when the weather gets nicer.

Recently, we decided to order dinner as carry-out (We’re not quite ready in our house to dine indoors, but it is offered at Barra DeMarco), and were vastly pleased with the outcome.

Together, we ordered an appetizer of garlic knots, chicken marsala, veal parmesan and a customized pizza.

While the menu for Barra DeMarco advertised four knots in an order, we got a lot more than that, and we’re not complaining at all, because they were delicious. Lightly breaded, flavorful and not too doughy or thick, the knots were demolished in a matter of minutes, along with the marinara sauce they came with.

Our meals were each met with similar praise, with portions that were large enough to be filling, but not too overwhelming as to leave leftovers.

The chicken marsala was rich without being too much, and incredibly flavorful. The chicken was cooked to perfection, and there were plenty of mushrooms to make me happy. There was plenty of sauce without dripping - basically it was an incredibly well-balanced and delicious dish.

The veal parmesan was lightly breaded and cooked just right, with two servings sitting on a bed of spaghetti in a rich and flavorful sauce. This was later finished as a leftover, but was so delicious that nobody minded.

Highlights of the pizza included the sauce, rich and robust and a bit sweet, and there were plenty of toppings on the pizza which were another highlight. One point that the individual in our party who ordered the pizza wanted to make was that a 14-inch pizza, the size ordered, was maybe more fitting for two people to eat and there were leftovers available. A 12-inch may help for those looking to eat a pizza by themselves.

It’s a new year in Kendall County, and a year of new opportunities and hope. There’s a lot to look forward to, including new restaurants like Barra DeMarco, offering rich and flavorful Italian fare at a reasonable price.

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Barra DeMarco opened recently along Route 71 in Oswego, offering indoor dining and carry-out. (Mystery Diner)

IF YOU GO:

Address: 4571 Route 71, Oswego

Hours: Monday: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Tuesday: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Wednesday: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Thursday: 4:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Friday: 4:00 PM - 1:00 AM

Saturday: 11:00 AM - 1:00 AM

Sunday: 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Phone: (630) 636-9231

Website: No website, but there is a Facebook page.

• The Mystery Diner is a newsroom employee at Record Newspapers. The diner’s identity is not revealed to restaurant staff before or during the meal. If the Mystery Diner cannot recommend the establishment, we will not publish a review.