Food quest: Taylor Street

Lately, the crowds strolling Little Italy's main drag, Taylor Street, are just as likely to be in search of a craft cocktail as clams casino. In the past few years, the street has welcomed fresh faces such as lively restaurant and wine bar Davanti Enoteca, punk gastropub Three Aces and charming small-plates spot Urban Union. But if you've experienced only the new kids on the block, it's time for a history lesson: Many of the area's culinary legends have existed for decades and helped establish the neighborhood as an Italian mecca. This half-mile stretch of Taylor Street provides a crash course.

By Kate Bernot, RedEye

August 7, 2012