Excellent northern Italian fare. I enjoyed a arugula fennel salad to start and a pear martini. My main course was the lamb chops with potatoe gratin. This reminded me of my childhood and my grandmothers cooking. Dessert was the flourless chocolate cake and lemon cello. Very very good. This place is was awesome and the staff very friendly and knowledgeable of the food. read more

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Folks @ Antico were very accommodating when we had to change our NYE reservation several times. When we arrived (early), they had our table ready. We really enjoyed the experience at Antico, from the friendly and incredibly knowledgeable waitress, to the quick delivery of our food, to the wine selection, all the way through dessert. The most important part of the experience - the food - was seriously fantastic. We loved the gnocchi (a reco from the couple who exited Antico as we arrived). We had their special: Pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter sauce. They cooked the sage leaves, to make them crispy, a tad sweet, and so yummy! The chestnut soup was warming and perfect for a cold evening. Not too thick and filling. The scallops were perfectly cooked as well. The entrées - short ribs that fell off the bone, pork ragout with perfect flavoring, and lamb chops - all were tasted, and promptly shared with the entire table. We devoured everything quickly but made sure to savor every bite. For the price, atmosphere, and food, I highly recommend Antico. read more

I came alone on a Saturday night (Saturday night turn up giiirl) and sat at the bar. It's a bit awkwardly high (or I am short) but the servers did not make me feel odd for sitting there. They seemed a bit short staffed -- like they could use one more person - but they moved quickly, efficiently and were apologetic for any wait. They also did not rush me when ordering or asking questions. Ambiance is casual but sexy...like you eat here and have a pricey dinner and get wine wasted, but then you go home and have really awesome sex. There were people here with young children but surprisingly they were all well behaved and unobtrusive. FOOD - to start the bread focaccia hybrid thingy was BANGIN'. Then I had the roasted beet salad which was delicious, but not the craziest amazing thing because I THEN had the rib eye. BRUH. I am eating it as I type this review and concede that it may be the best piece of meat I've ever had in my life (don't tell my mother). I CAN'T EVEN. I love this place!!! If it were a wee bit less expensive I'd probably be all up in it every weekend. Definitely bringing my parents here when they visit! read more

I went to Antico with my boyfriend last night for dinner...love love love! The inside of the restaurant is pretty tiny...a couple small tables. Definitely very intimate. Their patio was open, so we decided to sit outside because it was a beautiful day. Maggie, our server, was very attentive and knowledgeable about all the menu items. In addition to that, she was super friendly and we loved her energy. We ordered: -truffled duck and chicken liver crostini - pretty good...lots of truffled duck and chicken liver...not enough crostini -egg yolk risotto - so amazing...was gone in seconds! -gnocchi - i believe this is one of their specialties...super delicious...there are many great comments about the gnocchi on foursquare which is what made me order it I can't remember what my boyfriend ordered, but that was YUMMO as well. I definitely recommend checking out this restaurant. This was actually my second time visiting it, and the experience was just as good as the first. They take reservations, so make one ASAP! read more

I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5, rounded up to 4 for the service. Fig butter crostini with prosciutto and cantaloupe (4.5/5): Definitely the standout of the night. The fig butter was light and fragrant, elevating the typical crostini into something refreshingly unique. I did find the prosciutto a bit too salty, even with the sweetness of the cantaloupe, but overall, I loved this appetizer. Paparadelle with pork ragu (3/5): A solid dish with a pork based meat sauce; however, the flavors were pretty standard and lacked the special aspect that would have made it worth writing home about. Pan fried pork chop (4/5): I loved the red wine reduction--mixed with the sage, it complemented the richness of the pork chop with the perfect amount of acidity. The pork itself was cooked very well--juicy and not too dry. Panna cotta with a red wine caramel sauce (3.5/5): While the panna cotta had a nice, thick consistency, I wasn't a huge fan of the sauce--it was a little too sweet for my tastes. Overall, all the food was well executed, the service was fantastic, and the ambiance was nice; however, the flavors themselves lacked the amazing factor that would've made this a solid four or five star establishment. read more

Wow. I can't believe I waited so long to check this place out with my husband. I run by here all the time and see the fresh noodles being rolled out in the window. I am so glad I finally had dinner here. The vibe is cozy and romantic and is such an ideal spot for date night. The food is amazing (LOVE their chicken) and their noodles are delicious. We had some of everything and loved every last bite. Service was impeccable, food and wine suggestions were great, and we left happy and a little bit more in love (ha!). Can't wait to go back! read more

I went to Italy earlier this year and I swear the food at Antico was just as good, if not better, than the food I had in Italy. For $55 we could choose an antipasti, a primi, a secondi, and a dessert. I started with their butternut squash soup which so good I needed more bread to soak up the remnants on my bowl. Then my three friends and I tried one another's pasta dishes; gnocchi, risotto, and the tagliatelle bolognese - all were great! For my meal selection I chose the Short Rib. OMG! Talk about falling of the bone delicious! Thankfully, unlike Italy, I was able to take home my left overs and enjoy them the next day. Unfortunately, the chocolate cake I had for dessert never made it home because it was just too good to stop eating. The food here was fantastic and the service was exceptional. I can't wait to take my husband here cause I know it will blow him away. read more

This place is amazing. I was recommended by a friend who is a regular. We tried the four course meal, and everything was amazing. The food is flavorful, and the portions are decent sized. Large wine selection, and the wine that I've tried was amazing. The service is some of the best that I've had in a long time. They're very attentive and full of recommendations. Definitely recommend trying this place! read more

First of all, great service and interesting cocktails. Definitely a "fancy Italian restaurant" feel if you're trying to impress a date. The food tastes great on the first few bites, but ultimately it is far too rich and heavy for an entire meal. They're very proud of the fact that they make the pasta every day from scratch, but I couldn't tell a difference. I've had better Italian food for less in Chicago. Maybe we just had a bad experience on a late weeknight. Hope you like butter! read more

WOW. I will try to limit my posting so I don't write a book about how fantastic this place is. I know the reviews are good, and I just live down the street, but couldn't believe this small one-upon a time house, could be one of the best Italian places in Chicago. Went here on a Friday night and didn't have to wait for a table, it did get much busier, but still probably no longer than a 20 minute wait on a weekend evening for dinner. We wanted to get a bottle of wine and asked the server for a recommendation, long story short, this server was one of the BEST servers I've encountered, and that's saying a lot, and I'm a tough critic. Instead of rambling about wines, he did a small wine tasting for us from light to full-bodied reds that he felt were good wines. Each tasting came with the correctly paired, and new glass. Once we chose, he opened a fresh bottle and again had us taste that to make sure we still enjoyed it and that specific bottle was good- again correct wine glass pairing. The way he described the items on the menu, starting with the appetizers and working his way down the menu, was poetic and mouthwatering. The food, also excellent. I can't say enough about this place and am so thrilled to have it in my neighborhood. Nice job Antico. Nice job. read more

We love this neighborhood spot for a quality, quiet Italian meal. My husband and I agree that this is our favorite restaurant in the city. The staff is super friendly and help each other out so you are always taken care of quickly. Each time we visited, we did the four course meal, which is a lot of food, but such a huge bang for your buck. Pick any appetizer, any house made pasta, most any entree, and any dessert. Everything is so good, it's worth being gluttonous :) Appetizer favorites are the scallops, figs, or any pate available. All of the pastas are so simple and high quality (probably a highlight of the meal). Entrees we usually get the lamp chops - yes, lamb chops can be done right anywhere and everywhere, including your own home, but these are really top notch and sometimes come with bone marrow! For dessert, I always opt for the panna cotta - so refreshing! read more

I basically moved to Chicago to be closer to this restaurant! Ha! The service (especially Nora!) and the food are beyond excellent. The scallops are TDF! read more

I was very excited to try this newish spot as I am a big fan of A Tavola. The prices here make me consider it a special occasion place though the vibe is very welcoming and fairly casual. It was an anniversary celebration so we came with plans for a leisurely evening and while the service was excellent I did feel a bit rushed. We ordered an appetizer, two first course pastas, split an entree and split a dessert and yet we still had wine left in our bottle by the end of the meal. I think that the service was almost too good - they brought out all of our courses in quick succession. The restaurant wasn't full and it was still early in the night so I am not sure why there was such a rush to get the food out. I would have preferred at bit of a breather between courses to sit and enjoy. Perhaps this is just a kink that they still need to work out. I know that this place isn't Maggiano's and the portions are intentionally modest but it is another thing to be stingy. We split the fish special (which was outstanding) that came with spring asparagus and 'potatoes'. It was nicely divided onto two plates with a nice size piece of fish and about 6 asparagus and one half of one red potato on each plate. Yes, that's right. One half of one red potato. The potato was perfect but it would have been nice to have the entire potato. I mean how much does a bag of potatoes cost? $3? It just looked pretty ridiculous on our plate. The food otherwise was divino: the gnocchi with sage is drool worthy, the pasta is perfect, the mushrooms and onions cooked in butter over polenta could not be any more delicious. The desserts were inventive and decadent. I loved the fact that there were many reasonably priced bottles of wine to choose from. I will definitely be back during the day to try their pastries and house roasted coffee. I will also be back for dinner but I'll probably tell them that we aren't in a rush in hopes for a more leisurely meal. read more

Fantastic Italian Gem in Bucktown. It must be repeated, the gnochi is out of control. The dishes tend to be on the small side. A filling meal requires three courses. The first course and pasta dishes are top notch. The entrees were very good, but not the star of the show. read more

Patient, attentive service. Perfectly rolled pappardelle, pillowy gnocchi with brown butter and crispy sage, expertly-prepared scallops. Flexibility to adjust dishes to meet dietary needs, and ability to distance tables due to COVID -- overall a fantastic dining experience and a neighborhood place to which we'll return. read more

I know... pasta is indulgent, safe, and overdone. In addition, gnocchi is the "fair food" of pasta, so it's really at the bottom of my list. But when I find a place that boasts about their homemade pasta, I'll splurge. The waiter suggested I try the sage buttered gnocchi... mmmmmm. I have to admit it enlightened me. I am officially a pasta lover and a gnocchi obsessor. I don't think they should call it gnocchi, it's deceiving!!! Maybe "little puffs of heaven" would work better. read more

First, food is great. Delicious. However plenty of restaurants seem to be able to serve good food AND a respectable level of service. Food: everything is good but love braised lamb and gnocchi. Service issues: first, Peter, do you always make people wait for 20 minutes and then attempt to take food and drink orders concurrently? Not good. Second, we asked you about spirits. You told us a few choices on the BOTTOM SHELF. You're aware your tip is based on the bill size, ya? We had to ask for what we wanted. Start with the top shelf. Don't insult me. We won't be back. Good Italian food is easy to find and you're a dime a dozen. read more

Amazing. Sat outside and for a little I forgot I was in Chicago. Fresh vegetables, herbs and fruit growing all around. The food and drinks were excellent. Highly recommend the sage and butter gnocchi, short rib and finally the prosciutto crostini was divine. read more

Antico - Braised Short Ribs - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great experience here, from two very discriminating diners. We had two appetizers, two pastas split a main course a bottle of wine and a few smooches Everything was fantastic! read more

Antico is a very promising up and comer in Bucktown -- a neighborhood lacking in solid Italian fare. We dropped in and found the room cozy but crowded. The server was very slow getting to us but the owner jumped in and took care of us. I was heartbroken that they had run out of short-ribs, but our substitutions were quite good. Gnocchi with burnt butter and sage, a delightful chilled salad of asparagus tips and fava beans, and rib eye with marrow bone. All were quite good but I was disappointed at the lack of bone marrow with my steak. As a huge fan of marrow bone, I would like to see that as a free-standing app on the menu. The staff was warm and accommodating and I plan on returning soon! read more

The best Italian food in Chicago could be found in this little gem of a restaurant. I was visiting my cousins and they said that this was the most authentic Italian food they've ever had outside of Italy. The noodles are made in-house, and you know the food is amazing when you forget to take pictures (also would have felt pretty out of place taking pictures of everything) We started out with two appetizers, the fried calamari and fig butter crostini with prosciutto. The calamari were perfectly crisp and the crostini had the perfect balance of saltiness from the prosciutto and richness from the butter. There were a lot of specials that they were offering, but three of us ended up ordering the gnocchi with brown butter and sage while one ordered the pappardelle with pork ragu for our main entrees and oh my goodness, I never knew that gnocchi could be so amazing. I felt like I was biting into pillows of clouds, and each piece had a generous coating of brown butter which was the perfect complement to the crispy sage. We finished off with vanilla bean gelato with toasted nuts as well as a mascarpone cheesecake (one of their specials). The gelato was alright and it paled in comparison to everything else we've had that night to be honest, but the cheesecake was everything you could wish for. I'd also like to add that the waiter was very accommodating. He added an additional crostini to the appetizer since there were four of us who were dining and gave each of us a serving and a half of pasta since the portions are usually smaller. In addition, we ordered a serving of pappardelle to-go for my cousin-in-law who was babysitting so we could have a girl's night out. The fantastic service was the cherry on top to this delicious meal. read more

Good stuff. We started with the sauteed mushrooms on saffron polenta and the arugula salad - both were good, though the citrus vinaigrette on the arugula salad was too strong. (I couldn't taste the arugula itself very much.) We both had pasta specials, which were great. Root vegetable gnocchi for me and he had a pork-sauce pasta. Excellent, and just the right size. We split a pork chop in wine reduction (the sage leaves were SO GOOD) and staggered away without room for dessert. read more

Fabulous. The staff is friendly, fun, and attentive. Our waitress, Maggie, was pretty much our pal by the end of the night. Her recommendations were spot on, but if they hadn't have been, she assured us that she would be happy to bring us something else. While we didn't personally interact with the other server, she had the whole place laughing when she screamed out of nowhere-twice. Apparently a Woman at one of her tables had the hiccups, and she was trying to scare them out of her. Who does that? Awesome people do that! I can't remember the name of the dessert we had, but if you ask for "that dish that looks like flan but is actually delicious", they'll hook you up. ;) This place has every right to be pretentious and snooty, but it's really anything but. I highly recommend Antico to anyone who loves good food but hates the stuffy vibe at most higher end restaurants. Peace! read more

Stopped in here for cup of coffee and a couple pastries with the gf. The croissant was very well done, a good crust and light and flaky inside. The chocolate croissant was very good as well. The muffin was a little dry but still with good flavor. The coffee is house roasted and well done even if it is a little lighter of a roast than I normally prefer. I wish I could do half stars as this place is a 3.5 but as this is in the neighborhood it will have chances to raise the score later. read more

We've dined at Antico few times , little Italian gem in neighborhood. All those times we went with same group of people, which consists of 5 couples . Those dinners always take place on Friday evenings, when the restaurant is completely booked. The kitchen and waiters always manage to be in sync, to bring the food on time for the entire party of 10 and never make any mistakes. Great service and team work! Food - home made pasta to die for it. And when it comes to their gnocchi with butter and sage, I melt before it melts in my mouth ( and for the record, I never eat gnocchi in other places). Their seared scallops are outstanding , made to perfection. And then comes Panna Cotta with some pink reduction . What a divine and sexy way to begin a weekend. You can also add some port wine to complete the perfection . So why only 4*? Because 1 couple wanted prix fixe menu and we were told that entire party has to do prix fixe or nobody can do it. Seriously? Husband and I we watch what we eat and how much we eat, neither of us can eat 4 dishes, we barely can split 4 dishes. So we were forced to pay for food that we physically could not consume . And, no, we never take leftovers home. Not sure about other people, but our last visit was ruined, and we felt like we had too much of Antico. read more

Antico's food and service deserve a 5. It was an incredible meal. But it gets a 4 overall because it is kind of pricey for the portions that you get. My husband and I shared everything. We started with fig caprese salad. The juicy fig went nicely with subtle buffala mozzarella. Then we had fried cuttlefish, sort of like calamari. They had 2 fried lemon slices, which were very interesting. Our pasta dish was homemade gnocchi with bolognese. The bolognese was rich and flavorful. On the side, we had kale and cabbage salad. For dessert, we shared vanilla bean gelato with toasted hazelnuts on top. Yum! The pasta is made from scratch, and many herbs are hand grown and picked from the garden in the back. We sat outside, in a romantic walled patio with herbs growing all around. We had a great time, and a delicious meal. The price to portion ratio keeps it at a 4. An hour later, we needed a light snack. I'm sure that if you order a heavier meat dish, you're more full. But the food was great. read more

My boyfriend and I have been to Antico twice. It's been absolutely amazing both times. The first time we went was for new year's eve. We weren't sure what to expect but our waitress was so friendly and knowledgeable that we had no trouble ordering. They have an amazing wine list and our super-awesome waitress was able to recommend something that we both would like. The food is almost indescribable. They make all of the pastas in house and they they also braise (or smoke?) all of the meat on their fire pit in back. Honestly, I'm not sure what they do to it, but it tastes absolutely amazing. Each time we leave Antico, we both are fairly drunk off of good wine and we rave about how great our meal was. Definitely a good date place and has a nice atmosphere that's fairly casual. read more

The server knew a lot about the menu and described everything in detail. The place has a good atmosphere and is decorated nicely. Arugula salad with asparagus was very refreshing as an appetizer. My food (pork tenderloin with arugula salad) was good, but not great so not worth the price. read more

Best gnocchi in Chicago. Refined, tasty italian food without the oversized portion sizes. Good wine list and recommendations. A little bucktown gem. read more

I seriously cannot have a better review this place is wonderful from the atmosphere,food to the staff. It seemed to me that they pride themselves in having their staff know/ taste how good their food is. Because it is amazing my Boyfriend and I found this place on yelp with great reviews ! And I am only happy to add more stars to this amazing place. PETER was our server and very knowledgeable in not only the food but able to pick out a perfect wine for us. Don't write Many reviews but this place is amazing especially for those who have still yet to find it's amazingness read more

My wife and cannot get enough --- and our friends and family agree. It's our favorite Italian in the city and reminds us the most of the high quality, fresh Italian you find in Italy itself. Tuesday's have half priced wine and the late spring to early fall will find a crowded back patio that is great for an early dinner. Some favorites: - scallops: some of the best we have ever had. Always cooked to perfection with just the right mix of lemon and spice -gnocchi: even people that don't traditionally like gnocchi should give it a shot. It's so fresh it melts in your mouth. My wife prefers the pomodoro, but myself and several others swear by the brown butter sage -short rib entree: slides right off the bone. Excellent. -bone in ribeye (w bone marrow): incredible flavor. Very nice cut they get daily from a butchery. -pork Milanese: so simple and so good. Love the fresh arugula and lemon accompanying it. -chocolate flourless cake: neither of us are huge chocolate people, but drool for this. We will continue bringing friends and family here for a while! read more

Started with a fresh squeezed grapefruit martini which was very refreshing and hit the spot after a long day. Next, we had the special salad of the day, which was shaved asparagus, shaved parmesan with a fresh lemon vinaigrette. Delish! For my entree, I had the gnocchi with the brown butter and crispy sage. The gnocchi was soft little pillows and just melted in my mouth. The sage was crispy and perfectly complimented the brown butter sauce. I will definitely be back to order the gnocchi again! It will be a tough decision figure out f I am willing to try something new or stick to what was so good before . . . I should also add that I was there with a friend who had a small toddler. The staff didn't seem annoyed that we brought a small child into the restaurant and instead they were very accommodating to ensure he was happy. read more

Great food, great service, lovely atmosphere, not loud, not crowded, neighborhood gem!! I have to say the squash gnocchi with brown butter sage sauce was the most delectable thing I've had in a while! The scallops were yummy and the fennel salad was delicious. We were not rushed and were able to comfortably linger over dinner and wine. I will be back! read more

Pasta, arugula salad, everything with fig divine. Wine also excellent. Strawberry rhubarb with vanilla gelato yum! read more

Outstanding!! A friend and myself came here for an early dinner after both wanting to try Antico for a year and it was amazing. We split a well-priced bottle of Pinot Noir and started with the fig caprese salad (which they kindly split into a fig half and a tomato half, for my non-fig loving amiga). Then came the scallops, gnocchi pomodoro and greens. All of these were beautifully presented and well-paced. The food itself was delicious and the service was great:..we both commented that we can't wait to go back. Our total bill was just shy of $100, which we thought to be an amazing value for the quality options, service, ambiance and overall experience. The employee pride here is so evident...every staff-member we interacted with was amazing. We will be back! read more

I have been enjoying Antico since it first opened. The other night, none of the regular wait staff was there, there were three very nice young men instead of the usual women who were they're 3 weeks ago and the service was spotty These three people waited on our table, it was not a great situation, and we had a very hard time getting the check. Unfortunately the four of us agreed some of the food was over-salted. The worst and disappointing was my mushroom Tagliatelle I have ordered quite a bit and was disappointed that the pasta was overdone and mushrooms did not have quite the richness in flavor. read more

Delicious, homemade pasta; Great service and warm atmosphere. The type of place you want to patronize and support. My only super picky critique would be that its wine list features no French or American reds (at least none that I saw...). It was fun to drink outside my usual wines, though! They also have a lovely patio for the summer months. read more

The restaurant and outdoor patio are both charming spaces so I was excited to eat here when we arrived. However, the service was really disappointing. Quite honestly it seemed like he was waiting on the entire patio, and it was a busy night. As a result there were long waits in-between courses and sloppy service. The server talked us into ordering double of all appetizers to accommodate our group which wasn't necessary. We had to ask repeatedly for more water and lemons, wine and menus in between courses. We had a larger group and everyone's food arrived slowly, mine was last and was about 10 minutes after the first dish arrived. On top of that it was ordered wrong. The waiter made me feel like I should just eat it. When my meal finally arrived correctly I found a bug in it. The servers reaction was "well your sitting outside". But the bug wasn't on top of my food, it was sautéed into it. I stopped eating after that. Finally when our bill arrived, there were a lot of items on it that we didn't order. And I'm some cases, when the server recommended upgrading the pasta's to a dinner portion, he failed to share it was double the cost. I gave the restaurant 3 stars as they have a great atmosphere and, bugs aside, the food was good. But the service was just really disappointing. I am guessing based on all of the positive reviews that the bug was an anomaly. read more

I love everything here and will go back every chance I get. Great wine, great food, amazing ribeye, wonderful service, and great atmosphere. We've had salad, calamari, gnocchi, tagliatelle, ribeye, and the shank. All wonderful. I'm so glad this place is close to home. read more

Delicious food and great service! Very knowledgeable wait staff that is very friendly. John was a lot of fun for my sister and I! Good times. read more