Had family visiting and considering the bitterly cold weather, I was feeling in the mood for some…read moreItalian comfort food. I happen to live close by, and it has been on my list for a while. Extremely glad I made the short trip. Tortello has a casual feel: you order up front before you are seated. I ordered the cacio e pepe, plus foccacia with honey and ricotta as an appetizer. The latter was an excellent combination of flavors and textures, the savory and crunchiness of the bread with the soft creaminess and (not overwhelming) sweetness of the cheese and honey. The cacio e pepe had a high bar to clear as a result, but did so handsomely. The pasta had a pleasant bite, and the pepper and cheese were excellent. In short, a great experience. I look forward to coming here when it isn't 5 degrees outside!

Warm familial atmosphere, fresh pasta, deep flavors, and an adorable storefront where people take…read moreparta making classes. There's a light casual feel because you order at the counter, but table service is still on point and prices match the white table clothes. I've walked past many times wanting to stop for dinner but they're often packed. It's first come first serve. So we lucked out with an impromptu dinner on a cold rainy evening. The heaters were on in their outdoor patio so we sat outside which can be quite romantic if you don't mind the squeeze. I most enjoyed the seasonal duck pasta (Pappardelle all'Anatra) and the focaccia with ricotta and honey; although their classic Tagliattelle Tina (popular dish denoted with a heart on the menu) was hearty and rich. Truth be told, we selected our dishes based on what we could not so easily recreate at home. And we were not disappointed!

RUN DON'T WALK HERE! First of all the decor is very cute inside and our food was PHENOMENAL! My…read morehusband got eggs potatoes bacon and the sour dough and loved it all. I had the egg sandwich and will be dreaming about it until I come back and get it again. I got a simple salad and it was delicious. They locally source their ingredients and you can tell. They also bake their own bread and it's divine! Such great food! *we made an open table reservation for 8:45 and it opens at 9. They are also closed Monday and Tuesday but everyone there is so nice*

Super cute brunch place with great service and delicious food! I went here today for brunch with a…read morefriend. Paid parking right outside the restaurant was easy to find at 10am on a Sunday. Our server was super sweet and answered all of our questions about the menu. We both got lattes, which tasted great. My friend ordered the root vegetable hash and I went with the monte cristo. Both were delicious but the star of the show was the rosemary roasted potatoes! Service was prompt and they also had lots of sweets/treats to choose from. Will definitely be back!

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025!…read more Restaurant: 47/50 Month tried: August Favorite dish: Arrabbiata Waiitttt I was so pleasantly surprised by Pasta Fasta (now PastaFi)! I was expecting fast food pasta, but instead got flavorful sauces, lots of customization options, and well-cooked pasta. The Arrabbiata was restaurant-quality and actually had a kick. We added chicken to it and it was good chicken, no rubbery chewiness like chicken pastas tend to get. I also had a creamy pesto sauce that was very good. Service took about 60 seconds and I was in and out very quickly. This is an amazing option for a quick pick up in LP!

This review is for take-out service. I had never heard of Pasta Fasta until The Queen decided to…read moreorder dinner for everyone. This was her choice and I have to say it was a good one. The menu gives you options on the size: small, medium and large. The pasta arrived in these cute take-out boxes that resembled those like Chinese take-out. Good solid construction to prevent leakage and they hold up well the next day to microwave and eat from the box, if that is your thing. I didn't hold out hope of the meal being anything other than something solid to eat, and since I was not paying or having cook, I rolled with it. I ordered the Spinach Ricotta Cheese with lemon and heavy cream. The Doctor and The Queen got the Bolognese. For my order, I added chicken to it. The size of the box is deceiving: when I poured the contents out of the box and into a bowl, there was a lot of pasta! So much that I could not finish it all and had some leftovers for breakfast the next day. The flavors were really good and the pasta and chicken were well done. The sauce was very good as well. I would definitely do this again. I tried some of The Doctor's Bolognese and that was also a nice. I like that they also have add-ons to the pasta orders so you can dress up your dish, like extra cheese, sauce, broccoli, sunflower seeds, cherry tomatoes and olives. For a quick and easy, but delish take out pasta meal, Pasta Fasta is the place to go to.

I've been coming to Angelina's since the original owner in the mid 1980s when they first opened…read more Chicago never had such a beautiful style restaurant that you would see in Venice or New York City. I actually loved this restaurant so much and the food was always so good that I named my daughter Angelina after the original owner's grandmother and the reason why he named this restaurant Angelina's. You will see her portrait on the right side of the dining room.. They always have wonderful pasta and salad dishes being a vegetarian. It's very easy to please my pallet.. over the years and since my friend has now passed away, there have been some changes in the restaurant. I'm happy that they're still open. Going on 40 years now. I look forward to going back and dining my next visit back home. The ambience is beautiful. I've always had a good Downey experience with the food.

Cacio e Pepe served cold, lack of cheesy creaminess and flavor…read more Servers spoke too fast and difficult to understand Servers grabby -- taking things on our table without tirst asking permission Staff kept opening door bringing in freezing air because they thought it was smoky -- it wasn't -- and they didn't seem to factor customer satisfaction into their decision making Nice red win selection was the only redeeming quality

I love this spot! Amazing food, and great portions food a good price. My standouts are chicken…read moreparm and spaghetti bolognese. Love the bruschetta and the mozzarella sticks also. Please keep the consistency and price the same for all of us lovers.

(Kari's Rating 8.5/10)…read more The pasta bowl is a great dine in and carry-out. My friend and I came in to grab a bite on Thursday evening and I noticed most of their orders were for carryout so they definitely were still busy as it was freezing outside. They sat us at a small table in the very front under the heater, which was really appreciated considering it was negative degrees outside. All of the pasta options were so different and our server knew all of them by heart, including the noodle shapes which I was really impressed about. She was able to recite off the specials without looking at anything either. Server was extremely attentive and the ambience was casual stop in. We ended up ordering the butternut squash pasta with pancetta as well as the vodka rigatoni, and we added some chicken. The vodka rigatoni was not very spicy, but there was just enough sauce to cover all the noodles, but you didn't need anything, but they gave you a piece of bread to stop up the rest if that's for you. The butternut squash absolutely took the cake. It was savory, it was a little bit sweet, it was not greasy from the pancetta, but very well seasoned. I don't live very close to this place, but I actually would come out of my way for it. Thank you for having us!

I've now visited Sapori Trattoria three times, and the consistency is what keeps me coming back…read more The cocktails are well-balanced and visually appealing, perfect for a relaxed but elevated night out. The burrata platter was a standout--fresh, rich, and easily one of those dishes that quiets the entire table. Both the Pennette Cardinale and Spaghetti Barese were executed perfectly--flavorful, well-portioned, and satisfying without being heavy. Dessert sealed the experience: a cannoli-cheesecake combination that was both creative and indulgent. Overall, Sapori Trattoria delivers a consistently high-quality dining experience with a warm, intimate atmosphere. Ideal for date nights or girls' nights.

Was craving Italian food and this had been on my list of places to try. We came here for dinner…read moreFriday night around 4:30pm and almost nobody was there. We were sat in a tiny room, which was nice to have the area to ourselves at first. When we left around 6pm, there was a line going out the door! It was happy hour for $12 select glasses of wine. For food, we ordered the burrata platter and grilled broccolini. I ordered the gnocchi, which came in a creamy pesto sauce with chicken and sun-dried tomatoes. The sauce was delicious and tasted fresh. I may have filled up on the free bread and the burrata platter we ordered because I couldn't finish it even though I wanted to because it was so good! They give you a lot of food. The ambiance is romantic and perfect for date nights. The front of the restaurant is more casual with a bar and some high-top seating.

Came here with family for a post-Thanksgiving meal before everybody left town. Since they wanted to…read moreget on the road around 7pm we came at 5pm. There was nobody in the restaurant, and we were seated and served immediately. There's a lot of tables and such cute decor, but I imagine it gets busy on a popular night so I'd recommend making a reservation. We ordered a bottle of wine, and so many pasta dishes (that I cannot remember the names of). I tried a bite of everything and they were all delicious! The wine that our server recommended was sweet, but went perfectly with what we had. We also got a Caesar salad which was interesting... it was fresh but not quite what I was expecting. Probably wouldn't order it next time, but would definitely come back for the pastas. At the end of the meal we also got a couple of desserts to split. The Tiramisu was delicious, and the Profiteroles (?) with pistachio gelato were AMAZING. I would definitely get these again and recommend ordering if you go.

Quaint trattoria type eatery…read more.. Menu selections were varied and appealing. Food was ample and well presented. Ambiance was appealing but noise level was high and table spacing made it difficult to hear and be heard. If you want a good meal this is your place.. If you want a place to have a private, intimate and perhaps romantic conversation this may not be your place...

In an area packed with casual food spots, Figo is spicing things up! It's upscale but not…read morepretentious- perfect for meeting up with friends when you want to feel a little fancy without going through hoops getting ready. The staff was super attentive and kind, checking on us frequently. My friend and I stopped by for happy hour, and this should absolutely make it onto the list of the best in town. They have delicious wine, cocktails, and bites for nearly half of the regular price. I opted for the happy hour prosecco to drink, which was light-bodied and not too sweet. We split the meatballs and dates for bites and both were outstanding. I was super impressed with how tender the meatballs were, and they did not skimp on the flavorful marinara and cheese! The dates, which were topped with a white wine cheese sauce, were mouth-wateringly delicious and a must order. There was also complimentary focaccia with olive oil, which was greatly appreciated. With sea salt on top and a crispy exterior, I could easily have eaten a whole loaf. The only note I have is that the portions are small, so if you don't come during happy hour the prices are a bit steep for what you get. Will 100% be back soon to try more of the menu and highly recommend making the trek over here!

Very cute spot right off the Belmont stop. We were able to take advantage of happy hour deals and…read moresat right at the bar. However, the bartender was not very nice, and we saw her stick her hand in someone's glass to get something out before serving it... Other than that though the hh glass of red, complementary bread with olive oil, and hh Brussels were all great!

Our top neighborhood stop for higher end Italian cuisine with an immaculate date night ambiance…read more Just down the street from where I live on the edge of Buena Park and Wrigleyville North sits PR Italian Bistro, where you will experience fine service coupled with a wide range of ethnic eats, not just involving pasta. Wine/beer options to order from with a couple of unfamiliar Italian beer brands listed. Wines are usually excellent according to my partner. A great neighborhood gem

Super cute little Italian place. The inside is pretty small and the tables are very close together,…read morebut the front patio was lovely. We loved the focaccia and the Caesar salad. I got the Paccheri Campanello which was pretty tasty. The noodles were al dente and the sauce was nice and creamy.