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After walking for hours becoming familiar with Chicago, I stopped at Acanto for a cocktail. I ordered a special Spritz that was so refreshing. The restaurant is beautiful and would be great for a date night. I sat outside in the semi enclosed area to enjoy my cocktail. I did feel undressed ( most people were in business casual attire).
I had a lovely experience dining solo at Acanto. The lobster capellini was decadent, rich, and absolutely delicious... easily the highlight of the meal. Service moved at a slower pace than I'm accustomed to, but it never felt frustrating. In fact, it seemed to fit the atmosphere, and the staff were friendly, welcoming, and accommodating throughout. The location is what truly set this spot apart for me. I chose it simply because it was adjacent to the Chicago Athletic Club, but then the tree-lined views overlooking Millennium Park create a beautiful backdrop that makes lingering over a meal feel relaxed and intentional. A wonderful spot to enjoy a relaxed lunch or dinner while people watching.
Met a few friends for dinner , salads here usually top notch but our iceberg lettuce had some sand which was disappointing. But the hostess was very gracious to replace it with another salad. I love the ambience and service. Rest of the food was delicious, will be back
My wife and I had a really good experience at Acanto. Mirela was our server and she did a wonderful job. We started with the beef carpaccio which was on point, then the gem salad followed by the truffled gnocchi and my wife had the radiatori. Both were so very good. The tiramisu was dripping with espresso. Thank you for a wonderful anniversary!
Upscale, classic, warm old world style Italian restaurant off Michigan avenue. Indoor ambiance GIVES off a cozy wine lounge appeal with its crimson wood style and soft lighting. The outdoor space is also plentiful with heated seating that makes the snowfall dinner such a romantic experience. The food was also very good. Here's what we tried. 1. Fusilli: Squid ink fusilli pasta with generous amount of seafood assortment including lobster, scallops, and shrimp. Seasoned to perfection with chili, tomatoes, and garlic. 2. Filet mignon: perfect cut filet cooked to a medium rare with sis of parsnip pree, shallots, and bone marrow butter. Superb 3. Roasted pistachio and Amaretto Coppa: roasted pistachio gelato with amaretto cherries, an crushed amaretto. Love it! Paired it with mint tea. Overall perfect winter night out. Can't wait to come back during the warmer months to enjoy the park scenery along with dinner
The Great: -The tiramisu is excellent, perfect balance of flavors -Bruschetta is a MUST The Good: -Extensive wine list -Great service The Not so Great: -I don't think they season their meat. I couldn't finish the rigatoni because it literally tasted like a pound of ground beef. Meatball were the same way - no flavor
Acanto was the venue for our work holiday party. Honestly I really wanted our venue to be a steakhouse, so management was breaking years of tradition coming to an Italian restaurant. It was a set menu so could t really venture off and get what I wanted. For appetizers we had the salad - looked like a garden salad with flakes of cheese on top. It was tasty and flavorful and I devoured it all. Next came the house bread which paired nicely with the oil. The bread was delicious - I think i had 3 slices! For the main course. I went with the salmon. Hands down one of the best salmons I've had in a while. What made it amazing was the mushrooms that topped it off with a truffle sauce on top. The taste was a burst of flavor in your mouth. I greatly enjoyed the salmon and highly recommend. Dessert was the tiramisu. It was nice and fluffy and the texture was great. I was pleasantly surprised. Servers were great and very attentive. I would surely come back and taste their pasta. Because if their salmon was to die for, I can just imagine how the pasta would taste like!
We were out in Iowa and decided to make a quick day trip to Chicago. After shopping and walking around, we decided to check out Acanto because their menu looked delicious. Didn't realize it would turn out to be such a great experience. It was a perfect fall day in Chicago! We walked up after making a reservation and the host helped us to get seated right away. We had the option of sitting inside or outside and were so glad to have chosen outside. Their patio looks out into a park across the street and the views and vibes were amazing! The server was friendly and made some great recommendations. We started out with the burrata. It was fresh and light! We asked for some bread to go with it and were brought out the most warm and delicious pieces of foccacia. Next we got a calamari fritti. It was lightly breaded, crisp and perfectly fried. For our entree, we shared the bolognese. Wow!! It was rich in flavor and just such a comforting dish. Lastly, we wrapped with a warm olive oil with berry sauce a la mode. It was the best way to end a meal. If you're looking for a great place to eat with an amazing ambiance to match, this is the spot. If the weather is nice, highly recommend sitting outside.
Wonderful service by Marela I think it was. Forgive me if I'm wrong about her name. Very good food and romantic ambiance. The wine list by the glass was fantastic as well and they have a wine class on Wednesdays as well.
Romantic Italian restaurant located near Millennium Park. Phenomenal homemade pasta dishes. Highly recommend starting with the cauliflower appetizer, and either the sea scallops or duck bolognese with homemade pasta. End the night with affogato in the shape of a rose. The service was also attentive without being overbearing. Great place to eat after attending the Symphony (as it is just steps away).
Probably the best Italian food we've found in Chicago so far. Fresh pasta homemade every day and amazing quality and flavor. I had Orecchiette di Grano Arso and it was just perfect. Very well balanced and perfectly spicy. Hostess was able to accommodate us even without a reservation and the server Kassie was extremely friendly. We got an outside seat, and they offer inside and bar seats as well, which accommodates small and large groups. Amazing place to spend some time with very good food.
Stopped in for a late lunch and was excited to find happy hour from 2-5 which included a decent variety of food and drinks. I had an aperol spritz, along with the panino prosciutto which was amazing. It came with a side salad - I'd definitely order it all again. The place itself is a darker eloquent wine bar with plenty of seating.
We originally wanted to go to Cindys Rooftop, but after seeing the wait we wandered out to find the next closest option--and I'm SO GLAD we did! Acanto ended up being a really cozy and delicious surprise, with super fast and geniune service. Our table got the arancini, lobster ravioli, gnocchi, and the duck ragu. I didn't try the ragu but everthing else was top tier! Arancini: super cheesy, crispy, and that sauce WOW Ravioli: tasty, but a little one note. The lemon drop sauce on top really brightened it up but needed more of it Gnocchi: like a down pillow Our server let us know that they have rotating menu items to highlight one region of italy at a time, which I thought was really cool. When we visited it was Umbria, hence the duck ragu. Keep an eye out for those specials when you visit!
4 years ago
As a Chicagoan, I rarely go to tourist spots. But. I am so glad I went here. My expectations were not too high. I'm thinking another maggianos type of place. Nope. First off, the service was top notch. It was warm and welcoming. The atmosphere was chill but energetic. I think this would be a great date night spot. The wine list was extensive. The moscato was so good. Definitely get the beet salad. The pasta is made fresh. The bread melts in your mouth. I wanted dessert but we ran out of time. I need to go back. Like asap. read more
Reservations recommended, as they're very busy on the weekend. The food is delicious, with the dark chocolate torte being the start of our meal. The bruschetta was also exceptional. It's a little disappointing that the entrees were the least impressive part of the meal, but not to the point of feeling "not worth it." They just didn't feel "impressive" enough to be worth the wait and price. All in all, satisfying and generally worth it. Great ambience and service. read more
2 years ago
1 year ago
If I give an Italian place 5 stars, it's safe to say the meatballs are amazing. SOOOO GOOD. A must try!! YES.. this place is really known for their wine. Sure, the wine was great.. but the damn meatballs are amazeballs. Pork, veal, and beef, cooked and seasoned to perfection. The pasta was goot... I had the rigatoni bolognese, but it would have been just OK pasta without the meatball. CRAZY GOOD. Also got the cheese and salami platter as well as the arancini. Both are also a must try! read more
Let's start with the gnocchi because it is the single greatest pasta I've ever tasted. The meatball bucatini was delicious and so was the lobster fusilli but wow the gnocchi was TO DIE FOR. Our server was so sweet and kind. The food was 10/10. We needed to make our reservation 6 weeks in advance and there was one time slot for us so if you're planning a trip to Chicago plan ahead but it was so worth it. Incredible food. read more
Wow. Look Italian is-- Italian, in Chicago it's over saturated and kind of all blends together for me, but this place was something else. From drinks to appetizers, to dinner & dessert everything was fantastic. Our server was great, very helpful, and anticipated all of our needs- don't remember what their name was but they were tall and red headed I believe so do with that what you will managers. Lol My husband had the old fashioned and he loved it. We did the fritto misto (fried shrimp) and they were delicious- fried perfect and the sauce was so good. We shared the fish of the day and the butternut cappelletti (the pasta was mind blowing). For dessert we had the tiramisu- this is by faaarrr the best tiramisu we have EVER had... omg you have to try it. The restaurant itself is rather small but super cozy and the real candle sticks on the tables were a really nice, warm touch. Highly recommend this place.. we will definitely be back! read more
1 year ago
4 years ago
I came here with my mom very last minute for my birthday. The food was Devine! Much better than expected and honestly prices were not all that bad for the quality of the food. Our waitress I believe her name was Allison was so friendly and took great care of us. I still haven't shut up about the desert we got, it tasted like a glorified ferrero roche. You won't regret trying this place out. read more
4 years ago
We went to Acanto for a birthday celebration date and had a wonderful night! The space is small and cozy and we forgot that we were right on Michigan Avenue as soon as we sat down. The staff fit the atmosphere with how friendly and accommodating they were! We started with the bruschetta and the Arancini and both were excellent but the true star was the pasta. We had the risotto special and the butternut cappelletti for our mains - both used unique flavor combinations for mind blowing results Our only regret is that we didn't save enough space for everything on the menu. We'll definitely be coming back and would recommend it anyone looking for a cozy spot in the loop! read more
We love Acanto and I was so excited to take out of towner's here! To start, they have an extensive wine list and a perfectly creamy and balanced espresso martini. The arancini and bread service are a must - fritto misto is a little skimpy for the price but tastes delicious! Lobster fusilli and agnolotti were delicious. The highlight of the table was surely the bucatini and meatballs; such an amazing take on a classic. Simple yet so good. Last, Acanto has a great tiramisu and chocolate cake. Everyone enjoyed and we had a great night! Love visiting whenever we get a chance :) read more
5 years ago
Recommended by the Blackstone, an Autograph Hotel Collection, 5 blocks walk here. The outdoor was packed which was a good sign. The indoor dining room is dim, dark, looking old a little dated. They need to polish the dining room a little more abs a little more light would be nice! We couldn't read the menu and could barely see our food how it looks or plated!? Almost as they are anti-IGers :-) No corkage fee allowed, small wine list and cocktails. Margherita Pizza was a little sad, not enough tomato sauce and it wasn't cheesy enough.... We were disappointed! Maybe it was an off night. Rigatoni Bolognese, on the other hand was good. Catalpa Farms lamb ragout, parmesan cheese. The Cappelletti sweet corn, heirloom tomato, summer savory broth, parmigiano reggiano, was light and solid. Service was efficient. Nice plates! read more
Located across from the Millennium Park, I really enjoyed dinner here while in town. Made a reservation via open table app, they had a few open tables when I arrived. They have extensive wine menu here and a quite few selections for wine by the glass. Mostly Italian wine and a few from around the world. I tried their squid ink pasta and I was quite surprised of nice texture, al dente. Nice flavor, this pasta made me want to try another dish they have here cacio e Pepe. Too bad I was in town for only a short time to come back here. read more
We tried their appetizer with fried shrimp- it was amazing! Also tried the bolognese but it was okay. The restaurant has a nice vibe inside and have a small outdoor patio. Our waitress was not too friendly that night but assuming the heat has gotten to her. Overall it was a nice chill experience and would love to visit and try something else! read more
Walked in here after a lovely concert in grant park. The hostess was nice enough to grant me a table outside on a balmy summer evening. The atmosphere was superb, the staff was impeccable, and the food exceeded all expectations!! You couldn't ask for a better location, I truly enjoyed my experience and look forward to coming back. Highly recommended!! read more
3 years ago
Beautiful evening date! We walked from our hotel and were able to make last minute reservations and were immediately seated and served. The patio seating was gorgeous and much quieter than inside. We ordered the Short Rod Rigatoni and the Meatball Bucatini with a glass of Red Wine (let the server share what paired well) and enjoyed every bite of it! The noodles are thick and heavy, not what I typically think of but loved it! read more
Came here with colleagues and good thing we made a reservation because they had to turn people away at the door. We were seated right away at a cozy candlelit corner booth. The ambiance of the overall indoor area is intimate and warm. Perfect also for date night or any celebrations. They also have outdoor seating overlooking millennium park. Food: I ordered their seafood pasta. The others in my party ordered the meatball pasta and prime rib. They all said it was delicious. My seafood pasta was also very good. Service: attentive, friendly and courteous. Was able to pay and leave fairly quickly. Overall, highly recommend trying if you are in town. read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
Outstanding from start to finish. Warm greeting and friendly atmosphere. Waitstaff 2nd to none and food is exceptional with just the right portions. read more
Chicago, Il, Had a great lunch here. Interesting that Italian restaurants seldom offer good ol spaghetti and meatballs anymore. When our waiter said he could do that I went for it. The dish was great, sauce nice and tomatoey and the pasta cooked perfectly. The meatballs were veal, not what my grandma used to made but delicious none the less. The meatball salad was amazing, featuring some kind of flattened roasted peppers which were truly something special. Our waiter was very helpful, especially considering spaghetti and meatballs are not a menu item. The peach semifreddo was something all lovers of good desserts need to try. read more
4 years ago
I could go on about this place! We are visiting Chicago and found this place on Yelp. The food was DELICIOUS and our waitress was AMAZING!!!!! She was so nice and we had a few laughs. The menu is seasonal so I did go in expecting to order something else, but I ended up getting the risotto on the special menu and it was amazing. The ambiance in the restaurant is beautiful and decorations are very thoughtful. Overall, if I lived in this area I would be a regular. The prices are a bit high for casual dinner but the portions are big enough to share. YUM! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I'd give this place a solid 3.5, but I'll let the dessert and great location round it up to 4. It's right along Michigan Avenue and close to the Art Institute, but in spite being in the midst of lots of tourist attractions, it's not too bad! The drinks were interesting, tasty, and a good bang for your buck. The linguine nero was the main reason I'm docking points. It was surprisingly bland - underseasoned and not enough depth of flavor, in spite the njuda. The sauce was also very liquidy so it just fell off the pasta - a binder like some cheese would have helped. The squid ink in the linguine was also very subtle - I was hoping it would add more umami, but it didn't really. The seafood was big and tasty, though! My fiancé's lamb rigatoni was great - meaty, delicious, fantastic balance of flavors. Wish I had ordered that! The tiramisu was bomb. It had a bit of cinnamon or almost biscoff flavor, which added such nuance to it. So so delicious, maybe the best tiramisu I ever had. The panna cotta was also very good - creamy and sour (though the coulis at a bottom was almost a bit too sour! Overall a decent place to stop if you're in the area. Though don't waste the money on the linguine nero! read more
3 years ago
Server Alex was very attentive, great service, food, drink was really good. Had to stop by a second time before leaving Chicago. Would def recommend! read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I went here for lunch with former work colleagues during restaurant week. I would not call this a weekday lunch destination. Service was slow and the whole lunch took about two hours. Service was also a little strange. The servers should probably know not to refer to adult women as "honey," for example. The food that I had was disappointing. On the restaurant week menu, one could order several items as a starter and several items as an entree. The portions were ridiculously small. The point of restaurant week is to draw people in with slightly lower prices than usual, but serving people tiny portions defeats the purpose. The tiny orange salad basically tasted like a mixture of vinegar and orange juice poured over cabbage (mostly red cabbage). The striped bass was good, but consisted of maybe 4-6 ounces of fish. It also needed some salt and there was none on the table (why? Just let people season their food how they want). I brought the dessert home to my wife and she said that it was essentially a doughnut, and a fairly good one. I didn't make a note of what it is identified as in the menu. I left here about as hungry as when I arrived. read more
8 years ago
Came for happy hour around 4 on a Thursday after attempting to ice skate on a nice-ish January afternoon. Ice skate line was too long so decided on wine instead. We sat at the bar where they have a great happy hour. They did offer to sit us at a table for just happy hour as well which runs from 230-530 m-f. Specials included 8 dollar wine (5 choices), 5 dollar beer (2 choices), and 10 dollar pizza (4 choices). I had the only red wine choice, cute date had a golden beer, and we shared a mushroom pizza. Wine was good, beer was as expected and pizza was much larger than I anticipated for happy hour. Don't worry, we ate it all. I would guess it was 10-12 inches. Overall great spot for happy hour. Dinner menu looked delish as well but at a much higher price point. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
The best meal I had in Chicago, exceptional service, and the food is delicious and perfect! read more
4 years ago
2 years ago
The food and wine were amazing. Wonderful happy hour menu as well. Location can't be beat. Beautiful ambiance. The octopus was the best I've had! read more
2 years ago
Great restaurant. Wish we had indoor seating but you needed a reservation. Food and ambience was nice. read more
2 years ago
4 years ago
I did a Yelp search to find this place, thank you users! It was such a great experience. The service was stellar. Our bartender Ken was informative and friendly. The cost of the dood was $20-$30 a plate. We selected the Short Rib Rigatoni and the Veal Osso Bucco which were AMAZING! The veal dish had a bit of sticker shock but SO worth it. The wine was suburb. Definitely worth a visit! read more
4 years ago
You know you're going to have a great meal and refined service when dinning at The Gage Group restaurants. Such is the case at Acanto. We made reservations for 4 on Friday evening. The space is cozy and warm. The sommelier approached our table right after our server to make recommendations from the ample Italian wine list. We really enjoyed the Pesce del Giorno which on this date was grilled Branzino. Our table also had the lobster pasta and chicken piccata. All very delicious. A bottle of bubbly with meal and Tiramisu with Cappuccinos to wrap up a fantastic meal. Wish I would have taken some photos of the food. Great presentation. Highly recommended. read more
More info about Acanto
18 S Michigan Ave
Chicago, IL 60603
The Loop
Directions
(312) 578-0763
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https://www.acantochicago.com
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Ask the Community - Acanto
Can I make a reservation for 2 on 12/19?
We made our reservations on the Open Table app.
Do they allow dogs outside?
As most city restaurants with outdoor patio, I'm sure they do.
Any Gluten free/vegan options?
Hi Lynne- Thanks for your interest in Acanto! We do offer some gluten free pastas and we often have other gluten free dishes or dishes that can be modified if needed to be gluten free.…
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