A hearty congratulations is in order for two Italian restaurants in the first-ever tie for Patch’s 2012 Readers’ Choice award.

Cuzzin’s Café, 1881 E. Oakton St., and Via Roma, 686 Lee St., both drew support from readers with poll votes, ratings and reviews, and comments on the article, which, when we added it all up, came out evenly matched.

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Early in the contest, readers requested Cuzzin’s to be added to the list, and the restaurant, which features authentic Italian cuisine, including pasta, homemade soups, stuffed meatballs and pork chops. Cuzzin’s led the pack in poll votes, garnering 52 percent of the total.

Maureen Insolia wrote in the comments, “Cuzzin’s would be my vote.”

Via Roma placed second in votes with 19 percent, and also scored two ratings and reviews on its directory listing. Both restaurants drew comments on the article.

Via Roma features homemade pizza, pasta and filled pasta chicken parmesan.

Christy Piszkiewicz gave Via Roma a glowing, five-star rating, and wrote in her review, “I loved this great find!! The pasta was homemade, the sauces were not just tomato and salt but great herbs and spices and the people were like family I would recommend this restaurant to ALL! 
When my daughter's Italian in-laws come into town I can't wait to take them here!”

To learn more about the winners, visit Cuzzin’s Café’s website and Via Roma’s website.

Tune in next week when we ask readers to vote for the best tax preparer. Please tell us which tax preparers in Des Plaines you think are the best in the comments below, and we’ll include them in the contest.

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