Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Cafe Bionda

    3.7 (523 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pizza
    Closed 4:00 pm - 11:00 PM

    Order Cafe Bionda Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Bionda Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE BIONDA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Bionda

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Pilar G.

    Classic Italian spot in the South Loop! We came here for the tiramisu martinis and had a wonderful dinner as well. The tiramisu martini was STRONG but delicious!! To eat, we had the whipped ricotta for an appetizer and then shared a pasta special as well as some ravioli. Normally I don't get dessert, but the olive oil cake here is a must! It might be my favorite part of the meal. We made a reservation which I don't think is necessary always but is definitely recommended. I really love the classic feel to this place and the ambiance of a classic Italian restaurant without too much floof.

    Susan W.

    We've been back twice in the last month and have had such wonderful experiences. The first was later than most places serve and after picking up airport guests from the West Coast (their regular dinner time) and we loved the late night service. The fresh garlic knots and excellent house red made us happy to be back. The pastas are still very good and it's such a nice friendly space. We also came for happy hour recently and the bar service was really exceptional-friendly and attentive and so kind. Pizza was very good and we loved the crust. And a repeat sampling of the house red made for a great night. We've now decided this is in regular rotation for us. Thank you for the great experiences!

    Fettucine Chicken Alfredo
    Clarissa C.

    We went during their happy hour! Our waiter had the kindest smile!! I'd recommend not sitting at the high tables perpendicular from the front entrance when the sun is bright out, because the windows reflect it weirdly and I had a hard time seeing my friend who was sitting across from me. Sadly I didn't end up getting their $10 apps. Good prices for the drinks though! I got the spicy vodka chicken pasta, which came with two parm crusted chicken cutlets that were nicely thin and breaded. The sauce had a bit of spice, but I felt the pasta needed more sauce to coat it. It also didn't taste nearly as creamy as I'd hoped. Still really enjoyed it though, and there were zero leftovers! My friend got the fettucine Alfredo chicken, which also came with the same crusted chicken cutlets on top, with a bed of thin fettucine with alfredo sauce. The sauce had a rich creaminess that coated the spaghetti so well.

    Shizar H.

    Very good Italian food in the neighborhood. Everything from the appetizers to the entrees were very delicious. The different options for espresso martinis were also great. Nice spot for a date night. Only knock is that they said they had a complimentary dessert for it being a birthday and still charged for it.

    Meatballs
    L L.

    We stopped in for their happy hour menu while in the neighborhood (no reservation) at 4:00 pm. They have amazing appetizers for $10 at happy hour. We ordered six appetizers - Meatballs, Arancini, Mushrooms, Stuffed Banana Peppers, Grilled Calamari, and Whipped Ricotta Cheese (with hot honey). They were deliciously filling and we were too full to order an entree. The rose wine on their happy hour menu was very good. Service was excellent. The restaurant is well designed with a huge bar area wrapping around the entire right side and complimented by high top tables. The separate left side is partitioned off and has regular dining tables. It is well decorated with romantic ambience for a great date spot. I will return soon to try their entrees.

    Whipped Ricotta
    Angel A.

    There are few things in this world more welcoming than a warm Italian restaurant with delicious food. So what better way to open restaurant week than at Cafe Bionda. My girlfriend and I got different dishes all around and shared, so we could have a wide sampling of dishes. App's: arancini and whipped ricotta. Mains: braised beef ravioli and chicken parm on spicy vodka rigatoni. Dessert: pistachio tiramisu and olive oil cake. All around, the food was absolutely phenomenal. I would absolutely recommend the vodka rigatoni. I've had a lot of vodka sauce in my time, but never one so delicious as this. Buttery, rich, and a hint of spice from the Calabrian chilis. The chef even came out to speak with us! He told me his secret is to not add so much tomato and let the ingredients do their magic. Bionda is a gorgeous little Italian eatery tucked away in south loop. I would certainly recommend everyone try it out during this year's restaurant week.

    A bowl of creamy pasta, likely fettuccine or linguine, is presented in a blue ceramic dish. The pasta is coated in a white sauce and garnished with thin black truffle shavings and black pepper. The setting suggests a dining environment, possibly at an Italian restaurant known for pasta dishes.
    Naoko S.

    Amazing food. Beyond expectations. We ordered whipped ricotta + hot honey which was very tasty. Also I had tableside truffle cacio e pepe which was actually not heavy and very tasty you must try. Crepe Brulee was created beautifully and tasty. Service is attentive and they watered us very quickly. The ambience is out of date. The ambience style itself is fine. You want to update like balthzar in our city(new york) . Also they have a promotion from apps inkind for the first timer for the apps - if you spend 150, they can give us 50 off. I could not spend 150 for 2 people, so we will need to go back with more empty stomach next time! Highly recommended.

    Gluten free Orecchiette
    Ellen L.

    The best neighborhood spot! Their food and drinks are so great every time and they have the most welcoming environment! Great for gluten free as well. Definitely recommend!

    Table side pasta
    Lexi M.

    We had dinner here since it was close to the convention center and what a great pick! They had an amazing happy hour menu that we were just in time for. They had $10 appetizers and great prices for wine, beer and even some fancy cocktails. Their food menu was great and even had table side Alfredo pasta which we got to see not too far away. Food was great and the company was awesome.

    Spicy Vodka Chicken
    Meg S.

    I'm genuinely confused about some of these reviews because they definitely need to be higher! We came here for my 30th birthday, and we experienced such amazing food and service. We were sat at our designated time, we're always checked in on, and the food was phenomenal. My friends kept saying how much they'd love to come back since they live in Chicago. I got the vodka pasta and added chicken to it. Absolutely obsessed with it. Will definitely be back!

    Side Caesar - A Caesar salad featuring chopped romaine lettuce, croutons, and a topping of chopped raw meat, presented on a white plate. The salad is placed on a wooden table with a glass of water and a wine glass visible in the background.
    Dan V.

    Nice Italian option close to McCormick Place. Quick meal at the bar with nice service and good food including piping hot pasta. Nice glass of wine, side Caesar, and really enjoyed the Gorgonzola gnocchi. I don't know that I've ever seen that combo. The Gorgonzola was rich, the sauce really creamy, and add in some pecan bits for a little crunch with the well cooked pasta.

    Short Rib Ravioli - A plate of ravioli pasta with a brown sauce, garnished with cheese shavings and fresh sage leaves, is placed on a white table. In the background, there is a pizza with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil, along with a glass of water, a fork, and a knife. The setting appears to be in a restaurant dining area, with a person partially visible in the background.
    Emily M.

    Very good and quick service. I was a little bummed they didn't have bread or olive oil to go with our meal. We were seated immediately on a Thursday night, even though they had at least two big parties, so it was awesome we got in so fast. I really enjoyed my caprese salad--the presentation was authentic and pretty. I would try the cacio e pepe next time, but the short rib ravioli was also very good.

    Kay P.

    Cafe Bionda is such a cozy italian spot in South Loop - They have delicious appetizers, drinks, and desserts. The cacio e pepe table side in a cheese wheel is a must try - So good with the shaved truffle on top. We also had the honey burrata pizza which was incredible! The flavors were perfect and the crust was light and crispy. The whipped ricotta with the toast was the best appetizer, and for dessert we had the tiramisu martini and the pink cocktail which were also delicious. Everything was great and the service was very friendly.

    Truffle pasta

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nick B.

    Nick B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nick B.

    Nick B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of L L.
    34
    949
    4699

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lexi M.
    627
    1328
    6612

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Emily M.
    16
    110
    634

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rianna Y.
    19
    52
    162

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Elle L.
    0
    26
    13

    10 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lakeisha H.
    14
    113
    165

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Nick B.

    Nick B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Joe P.

    Joe P.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of P P.
    43
    79
    30

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Management T.

    Management T.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Cafe Bionda

    You might also consider

    Lou Malnati's Pizzeria - Deep Dish Malnati Chicago Classic

    Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

    (7.9k reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    Regarding pizza, this place is no better than Pizza Hut. If you like that, you'll LOVE this place.read more

    Obviously when I found out we were going to Chicago, I knew I absolutely had to try deep dish. And…read moreI also knew I wanted to go to a Lou Malnati's location, since that's the chain I'd heard about the most. We showed up without a reservation on a very busy evening, so it was almost an hour of waiting before we were shown to spots at the bar, which suited me just fine because I'm always okay to sit at the bar. I felt like a cocktail and the Chicago-Style Bloody Mary ("Tito's Handmade Vodka, house tomato mix, pearl onion, tomato, Sport Pepper, pickle spear, celery salt rim") sounded quite tasty. And indeed it was. The balance of flavors was nicely done and the alcohol level was perfect. (I should also mention I'd been waiting for my chance to try the infamous Malort liquor, so when I spotted it on the shelf, I asked our super friendly and helpful bartender for a shot. She gave me a little smirk when I asked for it, which I thought was amusing, and then offered up a generous pour. It was...interesting. I'm glad I tried it but it's not something I need to ever drink again.) The star attraction, of course, was the deep dish. We opted for the Malnati Chicago Classic ("Made with Lou's lean sausage, some extra mozzarella cheese and vine-ripened tomato sauce on Buttercrust") and it was phenomenal. It was so cheesy and delicious, and that sausage was top-notch. I enjoyed the heck out of it, and I can safely say it even exceeded my already-high expectations. I'm so glad we hung around for Lou Malnati's. It was totally worth the wait.

    PIZZ'AMICI - Pepperoni and hot honey pizza

    PIZZ'AMICI

    (115 reviews)

    West Loop, Near West Side, West Town

    Recently this place has been bought up by my friends and I had no idea! It's still so popular that…read moreyou have to be on top of getting reservations and it is difficult because it's a small space. After coming and being biased towards pizza I can see why it is constantly packed! Overall one of my favorite thin crust in the city. Amazing crunch and ingredients were tasty. You choose what to add to your pie and In terms of my favorite of the 3 I got were sausage + mushroom, hot honey + pepperoni, and italian beef. 9.2/10

    It's only mid-March in 2026 and I've been coast to coast on my pizza excursion…read more In New York in January I had Speedy Romeo and Impasto both in Clinton Hill Brooklyn and both were fantastic. Los Angeles I had Gjelina in Venice Beach and Pizzeria Sei in West Los Angeles and (again) both were excellent. Chicago this year I've had Dimi Dimi in Lincoln Park and tonight Pizz'Amici in Fulton Market and both outstanding. But if I had to pick a winner (so far) my 2026 champion is a tie: Both Chicago joints were crushing this wood fire favorite hands down. Pizz'Amici is this small, crowded, loud and incredibly popular parlor making some of the best pies around. There cracker thin, old school pizzas are sublime. We ordered their 14" pizza with onions and sausage and we enjoyed the hell out of this pie. It was flavorful and snappy! The staff here were at the ready for any thing you needed - pronto. I've been "around the block" a few times and I know when some foods are special. Tonight Pizz'Amici got my attention big time and it's way up on my "Go To" list, which is pretty damn exclusive list!

    Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern - Large Pizza    The biggest

    Michael's Original Pizzeria & Tavern

    (975 reviews)

    $$

    Uptown

    My FAVORITE pizza spot in the city. Tons of TVs so they're guaranteed to have on your game. I've…read morenever had to wait long either in person or for carry out. Their apps are honestly slept on!! Their buffalo wings deserve their own spotlight - huge, perfect spice, and it's making my mouth water just thinking about it! This time around we ordered the fried zucchini and while these were just as freaking good, don't let the vegetable in the name deter you away! Their classic thin crust pizza has that nice cracker crust and always leaves me wanting more. I've never had a bad time when I visited Michael's and I usually bring all my family or friends visiting from out of town to try the REAL pizza of Chicago!

    I came here to watch the epic Smackdown Bears vs. Packers game, and it was packed to the gills with…read moresuch vibrant energy on a Saturday night. I love that vibe. Found my party and immediately ordered a pint of beer. We ordered some hot wings (the first ones they brought out were cold), and they were decent. We also ordered a supreme pizza, and I thought it was okay--unfortunately nothing to write home about. I found it a bit bland and just missing flavor. The onion rings, though, were absolutely fantastic. Service was top notch, and we were so well taken care of. I honestly can't imagine how they handled so many customers that night--kudos to the team. And the bathrooms were super clean, which I always appreciate. I'd definitely go back for a pint and to watch the game.

    Robert's Pizza and Dough - timmccoyphoto

    Robert's Pizza and Dough

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    I love Robert's! The crust is perfection: airy with a little crunch. I've been here multiple over…read morethe course of several years (since they first opened), and I've loved every pizza. My favorite topping is caramelized onion! I haven't been there for brunch yet, but those pizzas also look delicious. Pizzas are fairly priced, ingredients are super fresh, great ratios of all pizza components, and they're consistently made well without variability. I can always count on a good pizza from Robert's! The location is also excellent. I love dining on the patio when the weather is nice and enjoying that Chicago River view. Note when dining in on the patio that it can get pretty crowded with a long wait time. Takeout has always been speedy! Tip: if you have leftover pizza, make sure you heat it up in the microwave a bit to make the crust soft again!

    Our first girl dinner of our Chicago trip was Robert's Pizza and Dough…read more My friend had found their restaurant online and so we were all really excited to check it out. It was maybe a 15 minute walk from our hotel which isn't anything at all but it is by the water so it's pretty cold. When we arrived we were able to get seats without reservations which was nice. Between 6 girls we order calamari and meatballs to share along with the Cali Itali pizza and Carne. Umm the food was so delicious, the meatballs had so much flavor and really huge definitely a good little share. Then the calamari was perfect, not oily and super crunchy, I haven't had good calamari in forever so this hit the spot. Our pizzas were perfect, the dough had good flavor and the toppings were just the right amount. It's not Chicago's tavern style or deep dish but this was by far the best pizza we had all trip. Note, the bathroom is down a spooky hall but it was really nice. The people here were so friendly and the food is superb. I bet during Summertime this place is just beautiful to eat outside! Ugh, I cannot wait to come back!

    Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna

    Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna

    (230 reviews)

    River North, Near North Side

    Yum, yum, and YUM!!!!…read more Went here with a larger group for a surprise birthday dinner and it didn't disappoint! We had a little bit of a wait before we were able to be seated, but not too bad. We were seated in the basement level of the restaurant, which had a small bar and intimate, dark lighting. The decor is very fun, patterned, and glitzy. Our server was super kind and attentive -- wish I remembered her name! We got a wide variety of menu items, but the stand outs for me were the meatballs, mozzarella sticks (some of the best I've ever had!!!), kale cesar salad, radiatore alla vodka pasta, tiramisu, and brown butter cake. The pizzas we ordered were all good, but I wished we tried the other style crust as I think I would've liked it more than tavern style. Wished the ricotta gnocchi, while it had a great texture, had more of a basil flavor. The green river sodas were a fun touch, as I don't see that often in the city!!! Definitely a great spot for a group outing such as a birthday, or a casual dinner. Would love to try lunch here, as well as the cocktail menu. Can't wait to come back!!!

    We had a great experience at Zarella's. The decor and ambiance really stood out beautiful…read morewallpaper, light fixtures, and artwork that made the space feel warm and inviting. Our server was extremely nice and added to the overall positive experience. For food we ordered a tavern-style spicy vodka pizza with pepperoni, and it was very good. The thin, cracker crust had great texture and the flavors were spot on. Overall a really enjoyable visit and a place we'd definitely come back to.

    Sharpie’s Pizza and Cocktails - P.E.S.T.O.

    Sharpie’s Pizza and Cocktails

    (33 reviews)

    Noble Square, West Town

    Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish. To start…read moreoff our server, Eli was so nice so knowledgeable helping us run through the menu He took incredible care of us throughout the night! That's at the tone for what became unforgettable night. Had the space debri salad which is basically a Greek salad with potatoes and I think in Italian vinaigrette Soooooooooooo for it!!! So delicious After getting it, my buddy had to get one too haha One of us had the moonwalk cheese, we go out for a lot of pizza together, and he said it was he thought his favorite of anywhere. Another one of our crew got the pepperoni pile up loved. And I got the sweet and salty space candy pizza With bacon, pineapple, pickled red onion, goat cheese, sambal. Genius, the goat cheese, instead of ricotta was the move for this pizza! All the flavors worked in perfect harmony.Nothing short of amazing. Cozy spot, super cool atmosphere, couple of old school arcade games like ninja Turtles let's goooo We had so much fun. The drinks were absolutely excellent as well. Oh my God cannot forget this drink program. Galactic gift basket and Jedi mind trick sooo fire. Speaking of perfect harmony, everything at sharpies coexist in a lovely harmony from the all the staff, to the vibe/ambiance and absolutely killer pizza and food. WILL BE BACK! Check em out! If ya know ya know

    We did dine in last weekend at Sharpies. It's a small place but charming space-themed interior. The…read moreserver was great but there was a VERY loud trio at the bar literally yelling and laughing through our whole dinner which unfortunately affected the ambiance. For food - we ordered the blooming onion (forget what they call it), the wings, and two pizzas. My husband tried a gin cocktail and beer, both which he enjoyed. Onion 4/5 - tasty and good dipping sauce Wings 5/5 - crispiest wing I have ever had and they might be my favorite in Chicago... hot honey was delicious. Carmalized onion 3.5/5 - this was very tasty, perfect crispy edges and fluffy center. The flavor was good but could have used some acid to break up the richness Vodka meat pizza 4/5 - very tasty. I think the vodka sauce could be fine tuned but overall really enjoyed. We had pizza a lot lately so skipped the classics but if we come back I'd probably try the pepperoni and/or sausage.

    Cafe Bionda - italian - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...