I went to Stagioni a few nights before dining at Cucina Vitale and I was very pleasantly surprised to find that Cucina Vitale's food was superior. The complimentary starter of fresh baked bread with olive oil, hummus (I think), and olives was excellent - the bread was soft inside and the crust had a pleasant crunch. The Linguini Branchio was very tasty as was the handmade ravioli. We brought our own bottles of wine and had an excellent dinner.
We liked our dinner so much we came back for brunch. I wasn't expecting much from an Italian place, but I live nearby so figured why not! Brunch was great! The frittatas were huge, the bacon was crispy, and the fresh squeezed OJ was tasty (especially with the champagne we brought with us). The bananarama waffle was delicious, but it is very, very sweet. Our table of 6 shared the waffle and it was a nice contrast to the hearty frittatas and other savory foods.
I'd definitely recommend Cucina Vitale for dinner or brunch. Hands down one of the best restaurants in South Side.