We had an 8 p.m. reservation last Saturday, and when we arrived at 8 they told us that they were running 15 minutes behind. No big deal - we grabbed some wine at the incredibly cramped bar and went to wait outside, since there's no extra space indoors. AN HOUR later, we were finally seated with minimal apologies. I don't mind waiting for a table, but I do mind waiting an hour when I've made a reservation. The food, however, was worth waiting for. My husband and I shared the special octopus salad - very good but agressively dressed and the octopus was used sparingly. Our table shared the gnocchi (super light and delicious) and the tagliatelle bolognese. I had the risotto milanese, which was very good. My husband and his friend each had a lamb dish - really outstanding and probably the best lamb any of us has every had. Our fourth friend had the short ribs, which were also outstanding. Not being able to resist desert, my husband and I shared a slice of chocolate torte that was very rich. Our espressos, unfortuntaley, were very bitter and virtually undrinkable. The waitress even made a point of coming over to see how the coffee was - apparently they pride themselves on their coffee. She apologized when I told her how awful it was, and offered to send out new ones, but at that point we had kind of given up on the idea of espresso. I think that this restaurant will be successful based on the outstanding quality of their food, but they have some MAJOR kinks in service to iron out. I really felt like they should have at least comp'd us on the wine that we drank while we were waiting on our reservation - sometimes an apology just doesn't cut it. As wonderful as the food was, I would hesitate to revisit Antico based on the service. UPDATE: A few days after we dined there, I received a call from someone at Antico sincerely apologizing for the wait. They offered to either buy us a bottle of wine on our next visit or send a gift card. I haven't had a chance to get back to them, but will definitely take them up on the offer. Again this was a fantastic place, and this was such a nice and much-appreciated gesture. I'm a fan. read more

After passing this cute neighborhood restaurant many times, last night we finally gave it a try. And we really enjoyed our night out. The restaurant is quiet (for us a big plus), the waiters are very very friendly and patient and the food was very good. We had a fennel apple salad and calamari as starters, and for our mains we chose the catch of the day (salmon) and gnocchi. Everything tasted very good. We weren't sure about the wines and we could try a few before choosing the great Soave white wine. The Italian donuts were very tasty as well. Will definitely go back here, although the restaurant is a bit pricy. read more

Never heard from anyone. After the owner said he would reach out to see what happened. Poor follow through.

Antico is a nice, intimate spot with tasty food. It can get pricey and the menu isn't huge, but everything that I have tried has been (at least) good. I particularly enjoy the scallops and gnocchi. Service here has always been excellent. One thing that cracks me up is when the server lists "the specials" - honestly, it seems like almost EVERYTHING is a special, every single time that I've gone here. They have a cute outdoor area in the back. I live only a couple of blocks away, so I may go here more out of convenience than anything else, but Antico certainly isn't a bad option to have in the neighborhood. read more

YUM! Went here with my boyfriend this week and LOVED it all! Beet Salad is so delicious and the house made pastas are so yummy! Will definitely be back! Might be our favorite date spot!! read more

I came here the weekend before Valentine's Day with my boyfriend. The menu looked a little pricey but also super delicious so we decided to splurge.. we both were very happy that we did! We got the calamari, lasagna and the pappardelle pasta with mushrooms, all of which were so unbelievably amazing! We also purchased a bottle of wine which was recommended by our waitress, that was also great! Our service was incredible, our waitress was super responsive and knowledgeable. I will definitely be back here, especially when they open the patio, it looks super cute out there! read more

Great food. Small portions. Great wine. Great service. Like tbe settings inside and out. Gnocchi is great and almost exactly like a tavala......wouldn't be surprised if they are the same......go....expensive. dont drop stars if it says its expensive and then is. Not happy when the inexpensive wines always seem to be out but the expensive ones are always available read more

Excellent local spot that's off the off the beaten trail. Stopped in for an early dinner and we were greeted by friendly staff who were helpful when it came to some food allergies. We started with prosciutto & fig butter crostini, house salad and melt in your mouth caprese salad. The braised pork shoulder with white beans was the star of the night and was on their specials menu. We were too stuffed for desert since the bread they serve when you arrive is just too good to pass up! read more

A perfect neighborhood restaurant. Everything I've eaten there over two dinners has been excellent, excellent service, great space (both inside and the outdoor patio in back), and reasonable price for the quality. Entrees can get expensive -- in the $30-$40 range -- but can be split, and there are good number of tasty wines in the $30 range. read more

Went here during the week for dinner with my wife. Had appetizers, some pasta - all were good. But gnocchi with sage and brown butter - superb!!!! May not sound as good to some when reading a menu, but its worth it to come here just for this!!! Wow! As far as service - I thought it was just OK. Place was full and only two waiters and a bartender (all very nice though). This place has a neighborhood feel to it, quiet, casual, more of a cold weekday type thing with the significant other and/or a friend or two for a great conversation and food as I see it. read more

This is just down the street from us so we've been there a few times and have always had a great experience. Last time we took friends of ours and they also really loved it. Everything tastes so fresh and perfectly done. read more

Super nice servers. We tried the gnocci, scallops, and lasagne. Everything was cooked perfectly. I found everything a little more pricier than I expected, but the food is worth it. read more

The food was great, and the service was even better. The waiter was very knowledgable and friendly. The only thing more I could ask for was larger pasta portions. read more

It is always a welcome addition to the Chicago restaurant scene when another small, neighborhood restaurant doing food from heart and soul opens... Antico is tiny. 10 4-top tables, and 2 booths. A tiny bar with no space for waiting. There is a very welcoming patio bench and table setup out front. Right now though, one would need a brolly and mac out there braving the elements. The menu is small, but there are specials galore. On this visit, we felt lucky having our table waiting when we walked in 10 minutes earlier than our booking time. Seafood specials galore. To start, we decided on the Cuttlefish Fritti, and a special of Chitarra with Octopus. The fried cuttlefish, and specially the fried lemon slices, hinted at promises of sunnier days. I found it a tad over-salted though, and the breading too thick. The pasta, on the other hand, was perfect. Soft textured, with a nice bite. Small slices of octopus punctuated by garlicky oil. We were sharing the starters. When the food runner came, he plopped down one dish each in front of us. We waited a bit to get someone's attention to get plates. 3 quarters of the way through the starters, the silverware for our entrees were laid down. A few moments later, our entrees came. The entrees: Lamb Loin Chops with Parmigiano Gratin, and a special of Veal Chop Milanese. The lamb was very well seasoned. There were minor temperature differences between the 2 chops, but that's nothing major. The gratin was one of the most delicious potato dishes I've had. The texture and flavor was just spot on. All night, you could hear pounding coming from the kitchen for the Milanese. A minor annoyance when I was rewarded with a giant flat piece of fried meat larger than the dinner plate. The large bone attached added to the Flintstone mood. A whole mess of arugula and grape tomatoes covered most of the meat. This was heaven on a platter. It reminded me of a similar dish I've had in Florence called Orecchia di Elefante (yes, elephant ears!). The traditional breading was crispy and flavorful. The subtly sweet dressing on the salad was a nice tie-in and counterpoint to the meat. A variety of dessert items sounded enticing. But given this was Black Saturday, what would have been more appropriate than a plate of Zeppole? 4 large pieces of nicely fried dough sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar. For $3! These days, there are single doughnuts that cost just as much, and you have to stand in line for 2 hours to get it. Why 3 stars? Antico is a good neighborhood place serving genuinely authentic Italian food. There were a few pacing and service kinks that hopefully can be ironed out in due time. I don't live in the area, but this is one of those places where I wish I do. read more

A welcome addition to the neighborhood indeed. We sat on the patio, so can't really comment much about the atmosphere except it felt great to be eating outside. Our server was very helpful and attentive especially with the wine selection as she was knowledgeable and helped us make a perfect choice. As for food we started with a couple of the salads (the beet and the fennel). Both were very good but the beet was my favorite. For mains we had the gnocchi (with sage and copious amounts of oil) and the pesce which happened to be salmon. The gnocchi was great but they might have gone a little overboard on the oil. The salmon was good as well, but I think the gnocchi stole the show. For dessert we finished with the doughnuts which were decent but seemed to be missing some kind of sauce (I would have preferred chocolate... read more

Antico made such an impression that I am inclined to claim it as the most pleasurable dining experience I've ever had. I've done a lot of traveling...A LOT of dining out. From the comfortable back garden to the EXTREMELY accommodating and friendly service. The pasta! ...the steak!...the apps! the desserts! The smile and friendly perfectly timed service from "Nadia." I have found my new favorite restaurant in Chicago. I hope I'll be able to get a reservation when I need one... ;cause I'll be back...OFTEN!! read more

Pleasant surprise. Absolutely will be back. Lots of attention to detail. Best Italian meal I had in a while. Highly recco/ hidden gem.

Great restaurant with good food and service. The interior is nice and the outdoor patio is great. It's a little pricey, but it's worth it. I highly recommend Antico. read more

We went on a Sunday night and the restaurant was quiet- maybe one or two couples. The Short rib appetizer was just okay but the Fig-mozzarella salad was delicious. Lamb chops were good but the Risotto special was watery and just okay. Sides: sauteed greens- excellent, sweet potato soufflé contained big chunks of cooked egg and gooey egg--not good. Gelato was very tasty. Wine list- All the Amarone wines listed were unavailable, despite being listed as as a braising ingredient for the ribs. Hmmmm. The service was awesome though and the ambiance was romantic. We would give the restaurant one more shot. read more

Wednesday winter night was improved by the delightful service and sublime food. Three of our 4 person party had small plates of pasta while the 4th enjoyed half a roasted chicken. Highlights the wait person is the wife of the chef so her descriptions of the food was spot on/ she was willing to make a special salad fir one of us who has issues with arugula; he got spinach and kale salad/ I had the best potatoes if my life thin sliced baked with butter and lemon topped with parmigiana/ the music is at just the right volume. Understand they also have a patio for whenever we thaw out read more

We came here for a nice winter meal and had a great experience. The servers were prompt, friendly, casual, and enthusiastic about the food. The wine list was full of good options for every menu item. The food itself was divine; warming, comforting and delicious. The brown butter sage gnocchi and the chicken liver crostini were probably my favorites, though I'd try any main with their polenta under it. I've only been here once so far, but I can't wait to go back when the weather and produce changes. Of the nicer options in our neighborhood, this quickly became a favorite. read more

Weve been going to Antico about once a month since it opened last spring. We dine early with our infant and are able to have a great meal in a great atmosphere that is kid friendly. The food is always great and the service is fantastic. Nadiya has been our waitress each time and she is friendly and great at her job. A wonderful option in the neighborhood. read more

Such a great restaurant! I've been here many times, and even had a couple birthdays here. The food is incredible! The pastas are homemade and melt in your mouth. I highly recommend the butter sage gnocchi (it's always on the menu). I've tried almost all the main dishes, and they are all wonderful as well. Even though the restaurant is a bit small, I've always felt like the quality and service have been top notch. I will be back again and again. read more

I don't normally give out 5 stars, but this is a close. My fiance and I came here for a romantic dinner. This cute little restaurant is off the beaten path and a great place for a date. The service was attentive and the food was amazing. All homemade pastas and scrumptious everything. We had an app, two pastas and a chocolate cake to finish it off - amazing. We will definitely be coming back! read more

Very intimate and delicious food!! The waitress was very helpful and the chef even came out to explain some ingredients to us! Top notch service. The half price bottles of wine on Tuesdays is a plus! read more

Not only fantastic food, but over the top friendly staff. Guaranteed that at least one person will say "that was the best...I've had"

Wow! Wow! Wow! I live in the neighborhood and I would have never found this place unless I walked by. A hidden gem of Bucktown, Antico is one of my top 3 favorite restaurants. The braised short rib was exquisite. It's so easy for a chef to take this dish for granted and ruin it, but Antico takes special pride in its food. Mmm...and the risotto is perfect. It's a very small place. Each time I went without a reservation and had to wait in the tiny 3 seat bar, so Indefinitely recommend calling ahead for reservations. But trust me, any wait is well worth it! read more

Amazing service, everything made in-house and was super delicious. Highly recommend the sage and brown butter gnocchi. Really, any of the pastas are top-notch. Atmosphere is cozy and relaxing, not too noisy. Outstanding service though. Five-star. read more

Fabulous! Service amazing, food delicious, super cozy atmosphere. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great food and exceptional service. Can't wait to go back. Halibut was amazing and the lasagna was delicious.

I had the most memorable experience at Antico. It was a perfection: the food, the music, décor, and, my company. I could feel the love that went in to making the food, and in to everything around us. We especially loved scallops and the gnocchi. Can't wait to go back. read more

Great food in a quaint neighborhood setting. Our server was casual but prompt and fully deserving of a good tip. We were given a gift certificate and I'm so glad it was for Antico. It's one of those places I run or walk past all the time, but had never been to. The food was amazing. It was the best gnocchi I've ever had. Little pillows of heaven in a heaven sauce topped with heaven. read more

I have no idea how there are not lines around the corner to get into this restaurant. My wife & I had one of the best meals in recent memory and the overall experience is truly special. The back patio is the place to be on a great summer night, the staff is awesome and the food insane. read more

This is real deal Italian food. Get the gnocchi with sage!

Great ambiance, but the food was far from impressive. My boyfriend and I had picked this spot because it looked cute, menu looked tasty, and seemed like a cozy date spot. The service was good and the waitress forewarned us that the plates were small. They don't exactly advertise being a four course menu type place but aside from the small, price dishes, the food was bland. My gnocchi had no chew and was really small and the duck risotto tasted as if they just jumped chicken stock in risotto rice and added duck with no seasoning. I asked the waitress if people normally order a bunch of dishes for the whole table to share and she said yes. Even if this is what people do, I can't imagine they are full by the end let alone satisfied. $70 later we left and ordered a pizza elsewhere. Had the food been very good we would have been more satisfied, but we felt that $15 for a small amount of mushy gnocchi and $16 for 1/4 cup of risotto with a little duck in it was a bit dramatic. read more

Antico - Our receipt - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a great date night! The space is cozy and contemporary. I was surprised when we entered as I expected it to be more of an Italian bistro rather than something so modern and sleek. It was really well done. The good stuff didn't stop with the decor. The service was impeccable. Every server was very friendly and we were never rushed even though we were taking our sweet time enjoying our evening. The food was also really impressive. The smoked duck risotto was the best risotto we'd probably ever had. The ribeye was great, too, as was the mushroom pappardelle. The pastas are all made daily in-house and it shows -- absolutely perfect. We will definitely be back! read more

You will not be disappointed by the food, service or the wine list. We had the rib-eye for two. Presented to us and then finished and slice. Served at table with a side of bone marrow. Also had the salad special. Very good. read more

This place is amazing. Walked in the door and felt like an invited friend. Service was perfect and all suggestions were appreciated... Was staying nearby and was so happy to find this local gem. Thank you! read more

We love this place! The food is fantastic and the service is always friendly, consistent and efficient. This is our go-to neighborhood joint for out-of-town company, special occasions or almost any other "we want a special meal but don't want to drive." The gnocchi is delicious, particularly with sage/brown butter. read more

Excellent food, great specials, nice space. A little noisy. Great addition to Bucktown dining!