I can't rave enough about Chef Fred Ramos, Julia, and Andre! Bar Roma is an authentic and welcoming Italian experience. Quality food, quality drinks, and great staff. More importantly, Bar Roma values community - it feels upscale and cozy all at the same time. I am part of an LLC and the team at Bar Roma was beyond accommodating when we needed to cater a company event. The food was so good we have now brought several important donors here as a thank you. Be sure to check out Chef Ramos' cookbook! Amazing authentic Italian cooking and mark my words: the meatballs are to die for. But so is everything else! And don't get me started about the tiramisu... I'm somewhat a connoisseur and cannot recommend enough. I'm getting hungry just writing about this place! read more

Bar Roma Click to open side panel for more information is a popular Andersonville destination known for its specialized focus on Roman-inspired cuisine, particularly its house-made pastas and signature meatballs. Reviewers often highlight the restaurant's ability to balance a polished, upscale feel with a welcoming neighborhood vibe, making it equally suitable for a romantic date or a lively group dinner. read more

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The service, the wine, the carbs. Bar Roma--dead center in Andersonville--is the very definition of comfort.

We had a pleasant dining experience overall. Our party of two arrived for our evening reservation and were seated promptly upon arrival, which is always appreciated. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a nice balance of casual and upscale vibes. To start, we shared the calamari and the watermelon goat cheese salad. The calamari was perfectly crispy and well-seasoned, with a dipping sauce that complemented it nicely. The watermelon salad was refreshing and light, with the goat cheese adding a creamy tang that paired beautifully with the sweetness of the fruit. Definitely a highlight of the meal. As always, the complimentary bread and olive oil were a welcome touch -- the bread was fresh, and the olive oil was high-quality and flavorful. For my main course, I went with the eggplant Parmesan. While the flavors were generally good -- the marinara sauce was rich and well-seasoned, and the cheese was nicely melted -- I was disappointed that the eggplant itself was undercooked. It was noticeably firm and hard in the center, which took away from the overall enjoyment of the dish. I'm a big fan of eggplant when it's done well, but unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. Service was friendly and attentive throughout the night, and I appreciated the staff checking in on us without being overbearing. I'd definitely come back to try some of the other entrees, but I'll probably skip the eggplant next time. read more

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Heard great things about this place and decided to give it a try. Beautiful rustic interior with big windows and lots of light, very friendly staff. We missed the happy hour and didn't get to try that, but loved the regular menu! I ordered the sangiovese with cacio e pepe, and my friend got spaghetti and polpette. Everything was very good. I definitely want to come back and try the happy hour. read more

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I hate to leave a bad review, especially to a place that has treated me so well in the past. Unfortunately, I had a very unfortunate experience recently at a former-favorite spot, Bar Roma. I saw they were having a special anniversary dinner recently, and I wanted to check it out! It was a three course meal and you had a couple options for each. I thought this would be something fun and celebratory, that Bar Roma was happy to be celebrating! I was looking forward to a nice, relaxing experience, and a delicious meal. This was not the case. To start, we had JUST sat down, haven't even fully taken off our coats yet, and who we assumed was our server came over and just started telling us the food specials of the evening. It was so strange. She also didn't even mention the anniversary dinner. And then she walked away. That 100% was the service for the rest of the night. All the courses were completely rushed as if the kitchen was just pumping them out and/or they were sitting, plated, under a heater, just waited to be served. We were in an out in under an hour. The restaurant was 1/2 empty. It was all so disappointing. One of the courses I got was completely burnt, so I didn't eat it, and I showed the server, but nothing was said or offered. At the end as we were walking out, we walked right past our server who said nothing. I jokingly said "OKAY BYE THANKS HAVE A GREAT NIGHT!" Very odd experience. Not eager to return. Very disappointing. read more

While exploring Andersonville with friends, we stumbled upon Bar Roma, a cozy Italian corner spot that immediately drew us in with its inviting ambiance. The warm decor and friendly buzz made it feel like the perfect place to unwind for happy hour. The generous wine pours were a welcome surprise. I chose the Bucatini all'Amatriciana off the happy hour menu. Such a treat with a spicy Berkshire pork cheek ragù, topped with pecorino. The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the rich, flavorful sauce had just the right amount of heat and I loved the dense crouton it was served with. The place was busy but the service was attentive and everything was served quickly. Whether you're in the mood for a comfy-luxe happy hour or a hearty Italian meal, Bar Roma is a charming spot I highly recommend! read more

Bar Roma - Tavern area during happy hour - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here at 5pm on a Sunday with a group for a friend's birthday. They gave him some gelato with a little candle in it, it was cute! The hostess and servers were all very nice. I wasn't super hungry, so a few of us split a few different dishes. Everything we ate was really good! And I don't know if it was because it was happy hour, or if it was a daily special, but bottles of wine were all half off-- talk about a deal! It was very nice inside, kind of romantic. I want to come back here for date night, not with a group. But any which way, it's a great spot for any occasion. read more

Fantastic food. Nice wines. Great Sunday happy hour options. The food runners are absolutely the best at remembering restaurant patrons and extending cordial greetings. The two Felipe's should be promoted to server!! read more

I love a good Italian spot! This was our first time at Bar Roma. Four of us went and my friend made a reservation in advance which I think is a good move, even for a weeknight. I was between two wines and took our server's suggestion for the Super Tuscan. It was fantastic! It came in a carafe with a small (seemingly for water) glass. Call me bougie but I like to use the big wine glasses. Makes me feel fancy. Upon requesting it she brought me one. Much better! I ordered the tortellini with butternut squash and Italian sausage. I wasn't expecting it to be sliced (vs crumbled) but really enjoyed it! The flavors were really great together. We also split the mixed greens salad (starts with an M). I thought that was delicious! Our table enjoyed a few cocktails including the old fashioned and a spicy drink that was extra spicy that day. The table bread was really soft and fresh. My friend had the chocolate bread pudding for dessert and said she liked it. Overall a pretty good experience. read more

Bar Roma - Bread pudding - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

What a special spot! I was craving Italian, which I normally make at home, but it was such a pretty evening we decided to try a new-to-us spot near by. Bar Roma is located on a sunny corner in Andersonville, and we were easily able to find paid parking nearby. We arrived before the dinner rush and were able to grab a table on the cute patio! I sipped on a lemon San Pellegrino, but my husband took advantage of the happy hour menu and ordered the old fashioned, which look so pretty and he confirmed it was delicious. Happy hour also had some appetizers available, so we ordered the bruschetta per our wonderful servers recommendation. This is totally different from the classic bruschetta, the wood grilled bread is topped with saffron whipped ricotta, asparagus, and pea tendrils. It was so fresh, flavorful, and tasty! I decided to order the black peppercorn cavatelli pasta for my main dish. All the pasta is homemade, and paired with the ricotta cheese, chicken sausage, prosciutto, peas, and parmesan cheese cream. So much flavor! I loved every bite. My husband got the spaghetti and meatballs and dare I say it, this might have been even better than mine?! The meatballs were out of this world. On top of the excellent food, the service was impeccable! Our server checked on us frequently, and the bussers were constantly refreshing our water and clearing dishes. I can't wait to come back! read more

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Went for a wonderful dinner with my husband back in June and we had a great time! I love that Bar Roma has seasonal menus where you can always try something different. The ambiance is nice, but relaxed. It's a great date night location in Andersonville and it is reasonably priced. read more

Bar Roma - Ravioli - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My friend and I live near Bar Roma, so we were excited to finally check it out. While we had a decent experience, we weren't particularly impressed with the service or our drinks. Portions are huge and the squid ink pasta was loaded with seafood, but the pasta wasn't the best I've had in Chicago. Would recommend if you live in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way to dine here. read more

Bar Roma - Fettuccine Isabella - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

sysco town usa population this place. jk but some dishes had a very transparently frozen taste and cmon guys i can taste the rao's sauce... the tortellini is good but all red sauce dishes a little rainforest cafe-esque read more

Good food and service! I ordered the burrata platter and it came with some kind of meat under the burrata that I wasn't expecting.

Great dinner at Bar Roma on a Saturday evening , we arrived 15 minutes early and were seated promptly. We had a Sardinian wine - Cannonau and maiale to start. For entrees - the tonno del Mediterraneo and lasagna bolognese. No desert- maybe next time. The service the staff provided was smooth and considerate in the lively, comfortable dinning room. This restaurant experience was a plus. read more

We had delicious food, from the fresh peach salad, cheese burrata, grilled octopus, fried calamari, to lasagna, squid ink fettuccine, spinach and roasted vegetables. Desserts did not disappoint with tiramisu and lemon sorbet. read more

Bar Roma - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We loved Bar Roma! The service was quick and attentive, and then food was even better! Had an espresso martini too, which was 10/10! read more

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We enjoyed our dinner at Bar Roma ! It was a lively atomsphere. Close seating . with great service and food. I will never forget the bread pudding dessert and I will be back for more. read more

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Good food, service and ambiance. But I am kinda bummed, as I think they changed their tiramisu. I asked the waitress but she didn't know if they had. The tiramisu here was amazing! It had a 3/4" thick piece of what tasted like a mixture of chocolate/coffee ice cream on top of the tiramisu. It was the best end to a great dinner and we ordered it every single time. This time it was just everyday tiramisu, so I don't know what happened, but it's not what I was expecting. ‍ This pic is of what the tiramisu used to look like with the wonderful rich topping. Total bummer. read more

Bar Roma - Tiramisu - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was absolutely amazing and worth the price! The squid ink pasta/fettuccini Isabella had such a refreshing yet rich seafood flavor, reminding me of a good seafood broil condensed in pasta form, garnished with juicy shrimps, scallops, and mussels that are cooked to a tender perfection. The Yachtin in capri cocktail tasted like an elegant summery lemon drop. Will definitely come back to try more food! The atmosphere and service were amazing too! read more

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I loved every part of Bar Roma! We made a reservation for a Sunday evening dinner, since we anticipated that it would be busy. We were seated right away and we got bread with olive oil and parmesan. The olive oil was so good. There was a special for 50% off bottles of wine, so we got a bottle of Chardonnay. It was a great deal! For starters, we ordered the Fritto Misto to share. I feel like we got a good mix of calamari, smelt, and shrimp, though I would have preferred some more shrimp. The fried pieces of rosemary were an excellent touch. I didn't expect to like fried rosemary. For my entree, I got the Fettucini Isabella. I'm always on a search for pastas with squid ink. This one came with so much seafood - I loved every part of it. We were so tempted by the dessert menu and gave in and ordered the lava cake. I'd highly recommend. We also tasted our friend's order of the bread pudding, which was also very good. I'd love to come back here! read more

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After seeing a wonderful play downtown, we decided to come and have dinner at Bar Roma, and we are so very happy we did. We ran into an old friend there Tom and we met the manager Jorge who was super sweet. Although I have been there a couple of times, I really enjoyed the drinks, food, and ambiance today. I would definitely visit soon and bring friends with us. Thanks Tom and Jorge for your hospitality and my compliments to the chef and bartender for the delicious foods and drinks. A must place to visit. read more

Excellent service, food was superb, cocktails snd wine selection were great !! Overall 5-Stars all around. read more

Had a really nice experience here! It's a lovely rustic Italian restaurant with great indoor and outdoor seating. Making a reservation is a must for bigger groups as it's very busy! Drinks were great! Not super strong but nice and refreshing. I liked the Thyme off. The conplimentary bread and olive oil was a really nice touch! The bread was so warm and soft. Food was tasty and nice flavors all around. Not super mindblowing though so not sure I would be back vs trying a new restaurant but that's only because there are so many great Italian places in Chicago to try. This definitely satisfied the craving of being back in Europe. Portions are fair - not super large but not small. Appetizers were very good too. read more

Bar Roma - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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If a meal starts with warm bread and olive oil for dipping, I'm sold! Bar Roma has an amazing space for this restaurant. They have the bar area where they serve happy hour, and a more elegant dining room in the back. We opted for the bar area and ordered some happy hour drinks. The happy hour drink was a type of wine spritz that was delicious! We also ordered the happy hour olive plate, which was a hit! For the entree I was excited to see a pasta dish that incorporated butternut squash. It was a ravioli filled with butternut squash, served with sausage and a sage butter. The pasta quite literally tasted like fall and was delightful. All of the food we ordered was delicious! read more

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Bar Roma is an Andersonville gem. Delicious food, great ambiance, friendly and relaxed. If you like standard Italian, be prepared for much much better. Chef Fred Ramos has improved on the classics in all the best ways. Grant, our server, was super helpful. We started with the barbabietole, suppli, and some polpette (balls) - all with spectacular multilayered flavors. The suppli (rissoto croquettes) are delightfully crispy with great seasoning. The butternut squash tortellini and the papardelle with the fantastic oxtail ragu were lovely. We wrapped it up with the cioccolatismo and tiramisu were an amazing finish. Definitely worth the trek from anywhere in Chicagoland for an outstanding dining experience all around. read more

Came here on a Friday night at 8 PM with the family as my cousin picked the spot and it was definitely a nice ambiance for our little family gathering. To be honest, I came in with not much expectations food wise due to my GF, dairy free, and no red meat or pork lifestyle but I was surprisingly amazed with the great service. When I told the waitress of my list, she offered the option of a simple GF pasta with cherry tomatoes and spinach, with light olive oil and garlic. It was the perfect meal for a night out, enjoying the company of our family. As the evening went on the noise level lessened which was much appreciated to be able to have our conversations. All in all, even though I can't eat what is on the menu. I very much appreciated that tasty GF pasta they made :) read more

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Love the atmosphere here. Really amazing happy hour, happy hour food was delicious. Generous amount of olives, was confused by the hard piece of bread with everything- could've done without it. I would've appreciated more of the starter bread which was soft. Service was prompt but we were alerted that we had to leave within a certain time, which was fine except we had already been waiting for the check for a while which could have prevented the worry about us leaving at a certain time. read more

Olive oil with Parmesan and fresh baked Bread. My favorite Italian Baked Pork chop on top of an Italian sausage on top of a bed of Polenta . Buacinie de Pepe, Shellie's ground pork balled deep fried will Season breadcrumbs Great neighborhood eatery read more

We've been to Bar Roma many times. Everything we've tried has been wonderful. My personal fav is whatever lasagna they happen to have on the menu! read more

Server rushed us through our meal. Food was bland and badly in need of some salt! Eggplant was nearly raw. Restaurant was not busy and now I know why. Would never go back. read more

My family came here for a celebration. We had a table for four adults. The restaurant was vibrant with scents of food around our table and people seemed to be enjoying themselves as well just as we did. You made our celebration memorable because each of us had a delicious meal and we want to return. read more

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Lovely spot in Andersonville with good ambient, it is very busy on a Friday night The food is amazing here! For the appetizers, really liked the grande burrata, the fresh mozzarella is amazing! The Antipasto misto is great too, the cured meat and cheese selections are great. The asparago is great too, loved the grill asparagus, very tasty. For the pasta, my favorite is the Fettuccine Isabella, the squid ink fettuccine is cooked al dente, and the sauce and the seafood compliment it really well. The lasagna is pretty good too The seared sea bass is really good! loved the crispy skin. My favorite is the mare e monti, the grilled octopus is very chewy and the tenderloin is cooked just right The blackberry gelato is pretty amazing too! read more

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The food was a little too salty (hence the 4) , but it's not the end of the world! The meatballs we had was delicious though!!! Our waitress was amazing very nice and attentive! And the ambiance of the place was great! Wide open windows and they had outdoor seating read more

Bar Roma - Chicken - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great atmosphere and specials! Sunday is half off bottles of wine and happy hour in the bar area only. I wasn't overly impressed with the pastas especially considering the price (over $22). The short rib ravioli was decent. The dessert was delicious though! I'd be back for drinks and dessert. read more

Bar Roma - Chocolate Lava Cake - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First the service was excellent. I ordered the veal and my wife got the trout. Both were great. The bread putting was out of this world. Next time we are in town we will have to go back! read more

We visited the restaurant bar on Saturday evening when they had a Halloween costume night. It was cool to see costumed customers and staff. Only one disappointment was staff. We had dinner with cocktails and deserts around 9 pm and finished a water bottle which was served per table. She never replaced by a new bottle or served another glass of water after she took the empty bottle away. I did feel she wanted to get off work asap. Their tiramisu was so good though. read more

Bar Roma - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The spicy pork meat balls, the bread pudding, and the pork chop sausage made me get the best sleep of my life. Thank you for a wonderful evening and wonderful service. Cute spot! Tables had plenty of room from each other. read more

I'd give a 3.5 star rating if I could but am rounding down because the existing rating is 4.5. Nice outdoor seating area. Decent but not special food. Ravioli di spinaci - 3.5/5. Creamy sauce, pasta a bit thick. The sage is very powerful if you get a bite. Parmegiana di melanzane - 3/5. Eggplant parm. Nothing particular distinctive about the sauce. Most interesting parts were slightly burned pieces for texture. read more