Alla Vita was great! Glad we went with 4 people because we got to try more dishes. They also have an extensive wine selection. We started with three apps. The octopus surprised me because octopus can be hit or miss for me, but they did it really well! The table bread was also pretty good and cheesy. The Caesar was just fine. Nothing special but not bad (which is good coming from me since I'm not usually big on kale). Of course all of the pastas were yummy. The fusilloni was definitely my favorite from the noodle shape to the sausage and cheese. The ricotta dumplings were suuuuuper cheesy which I really liked (though I could see why others wouldn't) and had a melt in your mouth softness. The rigatoni was tasty, but kinda just tasted like a normal red sauce so would probably try something more interesting next time. We really enjoyed the chicken parm, too. Not as good as the pastas, but definitely tasty and the basil was a good touch. We finished with the guava cheesecake sundae. I really liked the little bits of cake, but the ice cream itself was a little lacking for me. Still a nice sweet treat to finish the meal!! We had the perfect amount of food overall for 4 people! read more

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Alla vita is a high-end restaurant in the West Loop. The decor inside is beautiful, and there are lovely flowers right outside as well. Everyone we met was very nice and helpful. We ordered the ricotta dumplings which were delicious, cheesy, and melt in your mouth. The aranchini had a lot more flavor than I was expecting. The potatoes were just okay. We split a mushroom pizza, but I wasn't particularly fond of the crust. They gave us a birthday dessert of some sort of thick ice cream, which was kind of a confusing texture. The kitchen was a little backed up so it took a while to get our food, but the manager did come and personally apologize. read more

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It was very flavorful, dish sizes were kinda small for the price. Usually if it's good I have enough to take home something for 1 more meal. Not here. The place is a little crammed inside, but good service. I think they have cameras lol because everytime I was running out of water or when I was done with my food the servers came around FAST AF. I had the tagliatelle , a beef shank ragu with parmesan and oregano. There was a hearty helping of shredded beef in there, noodles are homemade and dense with flavor. But again, serving size I chowed down on this pretty fast and even upon presentation I'm like "that's it?!" Just because serving sizes I don't think I'd come here again. Flavor and experience can make up for it, vibes lol. But still not enough for me read more

Wanted to love this place soooo badly but we were a little disappointed. Ambiance and decor are amazing, it's so beautiful and lively inside but there was no AC and we were burningggg up. Had to use the menu to fan ourselves, other patrons were doing it as well. The fritto misto was ok, the breading tasted like it was old or had been sitting out. Not as crispy as we'd hope. To be honest felt like frozen calamari quality. The Alla Vita chopped was pretty standard, kinda reminded me of Olive Garden salad lol. The stars of the meal were the tagliatelle and cappelletti pasta. Both were super flavorful and pasta cooked well. The bone-in ribeye was a little on the sweeter side, definitely lacked a crust and salt. I'd pass on the steak IMO. Our biggest qualm was the timing of the dishes coming out. The pasta came out 30-35 minutes after the appetizer and salad which is fine, but the steak coming out 15 minutes after the pasta kinda ruined it. We'd love to eat the entrees (steak and pasta) together, and not finish our pasta first or let it go cold then eat steak alone.. ya know? We had ordered crispy potatoes but cancelled due to the wait. Ended the night with mango passion fruit sorbet with a prosecco float. Big mistake on the prosecco float haha it was so tarte and bitter, would def recommend trying the sorbet alone! Overall, glad we finally got to try this place. Focus more on the pastas and skip the steak. Very beautiful inside. read more

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Dinner date here for a last night in the city. Area is quiet not really bustling on a Sunday night, also didn't see any places to walk to for a night cap. But the place itself is really good. Our waiter recommended me the scarpinocc. I added a pic here, to be honest visually I didn't think I was gonna like it but it was so good. Biting into the pasta the cheese was creamy the perfect texture and the added taste of sweet corn was just so yummy. I'm still thinking about this pasta! Def recommend that dish if you like a cheese and mushroom pasta. read more

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The restaurant is so cute inside, nice decor and ambiance. Our server was very nice and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was 10/10, NO complaints at all! Will return! read more

Alla Vita - Funfetti Celebration - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Such a cute lunch and dinner spot! My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary for lunch. We made reservations and were seated immediately. Make sure you get a reservation because it can definitely get really crowded during lunch and dinner hours. The interior is also so cute! They also have a really good lunch deal where you get an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for $30, which is so worth it. We decided to do one of the lunch specials, so we got the arancini, rigatoni, and mango passionfruit sorbet. We also ordered the calamari and octopus. You definitely have to try the octopus! It's the perfect combination of roasted flavor and saltiness. The calamari was also loaded with seafood. Our server was so sweet and kept checking in on us throughout our meal. I would definitely recommend coming here for a date night, lunch with friends, or honestly just whenever you're craving some good food. Give it a try! read more

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The pasta and the service was really great! It's a perfect place to grab lunch. Portions are not huge if you are hungry. read more

Alla Vita - KALE AND BRUSSELS SPROUTS CAESAR - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I heard many good things about this place so decided to treat myself during my trip. I got a reservation by doing open table notifications. I got the ricotta dumplings and the black lotus both were good. For the portion size it felt too pricey. I also ordered the pistachio gelato and it was huge and she also brought out another gelato for me which was nice but too much. Regret even getting the pistachio to begin with. Felt a bit rushed to pay and get out in the end maybe she thought I was done I don't know but it did not feel pleasant. I don't think I'd return honestly. I had a better experience as a solo diner elsewhere. read more

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Amazing food and one of the best Italian meals I've had in Chicago in a while! They have a great $30 three course weekday lunch special where you can choose from a variety of 3 different appetizers, entrees and desserts! I ordered the Aranchini (10/10 -one of the best I've ever had) -The rigatoni (8.5/10 -great texture and flavor) -The sorbet (8.5/10 -rich dense fruit flavor). Also got the mushroom and truffle pizza which was good but not the best I've ever had (7/10). All in all, an excellent choice for Italian and I would definitely come back, especially for the lunch special! read more

Alla Vita - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had a really wonderful lunch on the patio of Alla Vita! The food was all delicious, our server was attentive and the manager stopped by as well. The Bluefin Tuna Crudo was incredibly fresh and they don't skimp on the olive oil! The arancini were a little sweeter than others that I've had but I still loved it all the same. The tagliatelle was great as well ( a taddd salty) but I'm a salty girl so it works for me! The all known and popular chicken parm is not available at lunch but you can get the chicken parm sandwich which does not disappoint! Great spot for a great meal! read more

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DoorDashed and got the kale Caesar and rigatoni, and both totally hit the spot. The kale Caesar was divine. Red onions, toasted breadcrumbs, Parmesan all tied together with the lovely dressing. Great textures, flavors, every bite was delish. The rigatoni is good too. The Calabrian chilies give it that subtle kick that makes it. Could've used a touch more flavor overall but that might just be a personal preference thing. Solid delivery experience, would order again. read more

Alla Vita - Rigatoni Kale Caesar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Excellent meal at Alla Vita with service for 11. Pre set menu was delicious and accommodating for various allergies and dietary preferences. The house curated cocktails were fun and well received across the board. The pizza and arancini were the stand out dishes for me. Our server was delightful and very kind. read more

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Went here for the $30 lunch special! Our service was amazing, the food was flavorful, and the drinks were great. We also got birthday cake ice cream, mango Passionfruit sorbet, and tiramisu. All of them were 10/10. You couldn't go wrong with any of the pastas or appetizers. They were all delicious. Will be back again!! read more

Alla Vita - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I left this place dreaming of the rigatoni. This alone should be 5 stars. Any place that has a dish this good deserves top accolades. And get this... I don't really love pasta. True story. The pizza was absolutely super and the branzino off the charts. That puts the pasta in perspective - all the dishes were just mind blowing. I feel this is a great place for groups - it's loud - but not intolerable. You can still laugh and talk, hear everyone without feeling you are disturbing anyone. read more

Oh my god. A friend suggested this, and I trekked all the way from Edgewater for this experience and boy am I glad I did. Idk how I missed this, and I'm sure it's on everyone's radar. But if not, MAKE IT. First off, the place is gorgeous. Beautiful bar area, lovely restaurant, perfect for a date night or special occasion. We ordered the mushroom pizza, and then the ricotta dumplings? I believe that's what they were called. And oh my Goodness. Both items were two of the best things I've eat in a while. I LOVE pizza, and this one was FABULOUS. Full of flavor, crispy crust, just excellent. And a great size too!! Perfect to share (or not, it's that good :) Those dumplings were little puffs of happiness and the sauce was just DIVINE. (Dip your pizza crust in it after:) Service was excellent, our server was extremely polite, and took care of us without being overbearing or disappearing. Really lovely time and HIGHLY RECCOMENDED read more

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I hosted a business lunch at Alla Vita today! Gorgeous restaurant! We all opted for their new $30 coursed lunch menu! This is a great lunch option and has amazing portion sizes! I got the arancini, vodka pasta and strawberry lemonade sorbetto! All of the food was perfect cooked but the arrancinj really stood out as a must order dish! The service left something to be desired! I wish our waiter came by more, I had to flag someone else down so we could pay and leave and overall it took 2 hours for us to have lunch based on the food coming out! If recommend for dinner service but it's a great option for lunch if you want good food read more

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Visited recently for our wedding anniversary. We had to wait about 20-25 minutes despite having a reservation. The ambiance was quite festive. Our server (Mauricio?) was excellent - friendly, helpful, attentive. We started with the arancini - it was such an exquisite indulgence. And then ordered two pastas to share - the vegetarian lasagna and the paccheri. Both were delicious and rich. We barely had room left for dessert so will have to return to try more items. All their dishes are made fresh in-house using Italian '00' flour (for those who are sensitive to gluten in U.S. flour). read more

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Perfect lunch. We sat at the bar and were served by a lovely, attentive bartender. The pasta and pizza crust were fantastic. The salad was an interesting mix of flavors and textures. read more

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(Kari's Rating 9.5/10) Came here for a girlfriend's birthday and had eight people, we ordered two breads for the table that was very crispy, soft, well seasoned, and a little sweet from the honey drizzle. Six of us ordered the tagliatelle and the meat literally melted in your mouth. The cheese was very emulsified into the sauce, and the broccolini was crispy with a hint of lemon. Service was very quick. The ambience is quite relaxing. The bottles of wine kept pouring- overall a very good vibe. Would also come here for a date night. The ricotta dumplings were very soft almost like a light cacio r Pepe and very pillowy. First was relatively fair for two bottles of wine and two appetizers and an entrée. 9/10 over all. read more

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This place is always packed during lunch, BUT for a good reason. I came here recently to celebrate my cousin's birthday and it was the perfect spot for a casual yet satisfying meal. Despite how busy it gets, the food consistently delivers and keeps me coming back. I ordered the Italian sandwich and it was amazing. Packed with flavorful meats, fresh toppings, and served on great bread. It's the kind of sandwich that reminds you that simple ingredients done well can be just as good as fine dining but for a fraction of the price. This has become one of my go-to places for solid Italian food in the city. Whether I'm stopping by for a quick lunch or sitting down for dinner, I know I can count on a consistently good meal. The menu offers a great variety, the portions are generous, and the quality has remained dependable every time I've visited. Even if they're busy, the service is still really good. The ambiance here is on another level. Overall, fantastic option for both lunch and dinner. read more

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Alla Vita delivered a really lovely overall experience, especially when it came to service. Our server Stephanie was fantastic, and the support staff was attentive, professional, and kept the meal running smoothly from start to finish. That level of hospitality stood out and made the evening feel special. The food was good overall, though a few dishes did not quite live up to the high expectations we had by the restaurant's reputation. The whipped ricotta was a highlight and absolutely delicious. The fritto misto was also enjoyable and well seasoned. The pasta dishes we tried, the tagliatelle and rigatoni, were a bit saltier than expected, and the table bread did not stand out as much as we had hoped. Even so, the quality and care are clearly there, and the excellent service goes a long way. I am glad we went and would be open to returning to try other dishes in the future. read more

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Came to Alla Vita on a weekday to try their lunch service. The restaurant gets really busy so definitely recommend making a reservation ahead of time. The restaurant is very cozy and tastefully decorated. We tried their pre-fixe lunch menu which is an excellent deal- a salad/starter, lunch size entree, and dessert for $25. I tried the apple and squash salad which was very fresh and refreshing. The rigatoni is the best i've had in Chicago, very authentic Italian!! The tiramisu was equally fresh and tasty, just the right amount of sweet and moist!!! My friend loved their cinnamon apple gelato as well. Despite the restaurant being packed, the service was fast. Definitely coming back to try their other pastas and drinks. read more

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Absolutely will be back. Food was amazing and service was as well. My partner LOVED it for her birthday party and already wants to come back for next years party. We loved the decorations inside to bring movement to the evening, very very cool vibe. Try the kale salad and the vodka sauce and realize why they get perfect marks all the time. read more

Huge Fan of Alla Vita!! The ambiance was so elegant and I enjoyed the food thoroughly. Service was quick and efficient! Will definitely go back again! read more

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Fantastic ambiance, amazing service, and good food. We chose Alla Vita to celebrate a birthday, they give you a special menu with"Happy Birthday" on it and a Funfetti gelato which was cute. I will highlight that a lot of the dishes were a tad too salty. We had: - Arancini - Wood Fired Meatballs - Wood Fired Table Bread - Fusolloni - Chicken Parmigiana - Broccolini - Tiramisu - Pistachio Gelato - Funfetti Celebration Gelato - Prickly in Pink (drink) I think my favorite was taking the bread and dipping it in the sauce from the meatballs. You get a well balanced rounded flavor of the salty/sweet from the bread and sweet/savory from the meatball. The standout desert was the pistachio gelato, highly recommend. Again, it felt like they seasoned everything, but didn't always connect that the two parts of the dish were to be eaten together so when you took a whole bite it was too salty. read more

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If you are in Chicago for absolutely any reason - EAT here! From service to food to ambience there is literally no place comparable. Let's start with service because this can make or break a place. The hostess's are helpful and attentive. We were coming from the norther suburbs and hit traffic. They were kind to help us with reservations and helped alleviate the stress. Now let's talk about Joe. Joe we love You! We've never in our life received service like we did with Joe. Backstory: We were driving over a bridge when it sounded like it was going crash and it caused panic. I'm terrified of bridges. Anyways, when we arrived to the restaurant I was feeling anxious but once Joe found out she said her best cure was ice water. Let me tell you - it worked. It knocked the panic out of me. But it was the thought, care and attentiveness that made it feel like we were dining in our family members house. The only negative was trying to compare dinner the next night to our experience at Alla Vita with Joe - UNCOMPARIBLE! Now onto the food, let my rave continue ! We started with the Kale Ceasar which was so delicious - salty, crunchy and refreshing. Then we got an order of butter noodles with marinara on the side which turned into the best meal of the night. Let's just say we drenched the noodles in the marinara because the sauce was so perfect. Honestly, we loved our daughter's butter noodles that we ordered a second to share lol. And the I got the squash special which was so yummy and so filing. My husband got it yesterday chicken Parmesan which was so big he needed to share but he was stuck with a table of vegetarians. Honestly, we're already planning a trip back to the city just to eat here. Okay let's ends with ambiance - if you want to have a cozy, festive and warm dinner go here. They definitely understand how to decorate in a way that you feel like you're at home. Everything felt so cozy. They have like 7-10 trees. So whatever you are doing stop looking anywhere else and go HERE. The best staff, food and ambiance you will find in the city. And this comes from precious city dwellers. read more

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Alla Vita was amazing. The space is bright, colorful, and lively. Service was super friendly and quick. The food leans classic Italian but done really well--the pastas are fresh, flavorful, and clearly the highlight. We also loved the meatballs and the cocktails were solid too. I ordered the Rigatoni, Tagliatelle, Meatballs, and got the Funfetti for our anniversary celebration! read more

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Wow! Very impressed with my first visit to Alla Vita. One of my favorite restaurant ambiance's, fantastic food, and great service. The $25 lunch is a good deal and all of our dishes were decent portions and extremely tasty. Farm Apple and Squash Salad: 4/5 Arancini: 4.5/5 Paccheri: 4.5/5 Rigatoni: 4.5/5 Pistachio Stracciatella: 5/5 Spiced pear: 5/5 (if something could taste like fall, this is it!!!) read more

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SOLID That's what my cousin from New York City called it. I call it "excellence." I had guests from out of state and decided to take them to dinner. I'm so glad I took them out to this spot. With the great reviews I read about and the looks of it, I was sure this was the spot I needed to be. With a great location in the heart of Chicago, it was walking distance to the famous riverwalk. The inside of the restaurant has beautiful warm aesthetics and not to mention a beautifully designed ceiling decor. Now as far as the food goes, they have an amazing authentic menu. From the beautifully tasteful calamari, to the delicious mushroom pizza, the chef had us eager to try our entrees. I had the chicken parmigiana. The chicken breast was well cooked and Parmesan sauce was beyond delicious. My wife had another dish that was made with hand made pasta and she loved it. Portions are well worth the money spent. It was a pricey dinner but well worth it. The waiters and servers are very friendly and knowledgeable with the menu. They catered to our expectations and gave us a wonderful experience. read more

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This place was phenomenal! I was lucky enough to snag a table for one on a Friday night and had great service. I ordered based of the suggestions and got the table bread and ricotta dumplings. It was so good, I finished everything myself which is unusual for me. I'll be thinking about this place for a while and will need to visit next time I'm in town. The inside is very trendy and decorated beautifully and they have a variety of seating options. It's also close to a bus stop so I was able to take a bus very easily from Grant Park to the restaurant and back. read more

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Loved the food! Atmosphere was so nice too. Me and 4 other friends came here before going back to school and we definitely recommend! Service was on point and the server answered all my questions! read more

Alla Vita - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really cute spot for a hang out in the city! All the apps and main dishes were delicious and service was prompt and attentive. My friends and I shared the arancini and the burrata. The bread that came with the burrata had a nice chew and there were fruits and olives paired with the burrata that was refreshing and light. I got the tagliatelle which was chewy and the pieces of meat were flavorful and tender. Food came out surprisingly fast and overall, it was about $70 for one cocktail, sharing 2 apps, and one pasta dish. Restaurant itself was really beautiful and colorful. I would recommend getting a reservation as the restaurant does get packed and it's popular for dinner. We came on a Thursday at 4:30 pm and there was a line waiting for the restaurant to open. read more

Alla Vita - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time at Alla vita after 2+ years. Wood fired meat balls haven't changed one bit. Haha I got lucky this time that I found a table inside the restaurant instead of patio (last visit). Loved the ambiance but it was too loud inside not sure whether it's because of the table nearby but the patio experience was little better even with outside noise. :)) We took sometime to place our order but Staffs were great. What I've ordered this time, Fredo Sangiovese (Red wine) Wood fired meatballs (Appetizer) Tagliatelle (pasta) Really loved the red wine I tried, meatballs we ordered for our table was great too. Everyone liked it. Tagliatelle was delicioussssss! My friends loved their Rigatoni pasta and Toretellini too! Looking forward to coming back here again! read more

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What a happening place! We headed to alla vita for a Tuesday lunch, and were insanely lucky to grab a 1230 lunch reservation the day of (shoutout chase sapphire for that) because it was absolutely booked up. When we arrived, we were welcomed in and had to wait a few moments until someone led us to our table, but not too long. We had a kiddo with us, and so we had a lovely table away from all the business folk, tucked away. All of the adults (3 of us) chose the pri fixe menu; an excellent choice! The gazpacho was heavenly, the pasta and sauce, superb! And of course, who doesn't love gelato? We also got a margherita pizza for the kiddo and she ate just about half of it, it was so delish! The cocktail menu was expansive and the service at the table prompt and professional. The vibes were way cool, very modern and cozy, absolutely loved the decor. When we departed, we didn't have anyone say anything, but with how busy they were, I'm not surprised. Def a great spot, would love to try dinner here next! read more

We had a wonderful meal here and ordered a ton of food. Dined at another Italian restaurant the day after, and that confirmed to us that Alla Vita is a 5 star meal. TDLR: Get the Fusilloni and Squash Sacchetti, those were our favorites. Food (4.5/5) - Whipped Ricotta $12: really good. Comes with a bunch of chip like things that you can spread the ricotta on. - Fritto Misto $25: very good, comes with shrimp in it and lemon-calabrian chili aioli which is perfect to dip in - Tagliatelle $26 - beef shank ragu and tastes different than the fusilloni. It was good. - Fusilloni $26 - best entree we ordered and comes with sausage ragu. Showstopper, everyone at our table agreed. Will get this next time as my main. - Squash Sacchetti $26 - second best entree we ordered, very unique pasta since it's little baggies. Has brown butter, sage, stracchino fonduta, apple saba and hazelnut. Will also get this next time we go. Not a huge portion, so if you are super hungry you may need an app as well. - Ricotta Dumplings $24: cacio e pepe ricotta dumplings. Seemed like many people were ordering this, but this was my least favorite of all. The portion was very small. See pics. - Tiramisu $17 - good, but I thought this was expensive. Wasn't super unique to get me to pay $17 again. Service (5/5) Service was excellent. Our water glasses were never half empty. Appetizers came out fast. We had a bit of a wait in between those and the entrees but we were in no rush. Dessert came out fast. We celebrated a birthday at this dinner and they called us ahead to confirm the name and we were surprised with happy birthday written on the menu of the person whose birthday it was. Ambiance (5/5) Very nice inside. read more

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The best! Excellent ambiance and great service. One of our favorites! We enjoyed the entrees and desserts . Make a reservation!

The atmosphere is more laid back than your typical italian restaurant in Chicago, and the menu melds traditional with new american cuisine. we set out to try as much as possible, so we started with a round of cocktails and some apps. the frito misto was amazingly light and the calamari and shrimp were excellently cooked - not at all rubbery like you often find with fried seafood. we also tried the alla vita chopped salad - you'd think i'm picking something simple to call one of my favorite items we tried, but this was truly an awesome salad, with the best red wine vinaigrette i have ever had. next, we shared the fennel sausage pizza and rigatoni. every bite of pizza was plentiful with flavor and toppings. don't be scared of the broccolini topping -- it's the perfect compliment to the smokey sausage. the rigatoni is beautifully hand rolled and was soaked in the lightest and most buttery vodka sauce imaginable. allá vita has been around for a couple years now, and it definitely holds up! read more

Incredible food, service, and the restaurant is beautiful. My group loved the kale Caesar salad and it was perfectly crispy and perfectly dressed. The fresh rigatoni was also amazing and we scraped our plates clean! Highly recommend visiting for a wonderful meal! read more

Alla Vita is a Chicago icon for a reason! Aside from its gorgeous interior, they're serving up some seriously delicious Italian food. I stopped by with a friend for the $25 three course lunch special, which is truly one of the best deals in town. We started with the spring pea salad and arancini- I would absolutely recommend both! The salad was loaded with a variety of roasted and fresh veggies with the most delicious mint-basil dressing. The arancini was also exceptionally cheesy and crispy. For mains, we ordered the rigatoni alla vodka and the chicken panino. Buttery, perfectly al dente, and rich with a kick, the rigatoni is a must-order. My friend enjoyed his panino as well, though it was not pressed like one would typically expect. The house-made potato chips were extremely crispy and fresh as well. We ended with the pistachio gelato and strawberry basil sorbet. The gelato was bursting with pistachio flavor and you could see the super fine grounds. Truly one of the best I've had. The sorbet was super refreshing with a nice flavor balance. Throughout the meal, the staff were friendly and extremely attentive. A+ meal and experience- will absolutely be back and can't recommend highly enough! read more

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