Cafe Bionda has a nice busy makes you feel special atmosphere. We had wine at the bar until we were seated which was only about 20 minutes. Wine selection was good had a couple basic reds a chianti and the Ruffino. Both nice. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. Enjoyed the Bionda salad and mussels In white wine. The basket of bread and marinara were great. We had the Zuppa de Mare and the stuffed shells. The Zuppa de was great with lots of different sea food treats and linguine, plenty to take home. The shells were very gooey and cheesy, ricotta seemed processed not fresh, a little too rich for me but took them home for my family. Had the chocolate lava cake with salted Carmel gelato. It was very good but needed more gelato! Overall a nice dinner and atmosphere but not cheap! $150 for 2 plus tip,( 3 glasses with of wine). Still would go again for the atmosphere and would try something else and tell them go light on the cheese. read more

Cafe Bionda - Mussels in white wine with lots of juice for dipping bread, yum yum! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A group of 6 of us walked in here around 8:30 pm crossing our fingers they would be able to accommodate us...amazingly after a cheerful smile and a quick 5 minute wait, we were seated! Staff was extremely efficient and pleasant...and the reviews are right on...portions are incredible. I opted for the rigatoni alla vodka and was not disappointed. Great atmosphere and nice neighborhood location in South Loop. If you are in the vicinity of McCormick Center and looking for Italian, check them out! read more

Really gooooooooood food. Order here at least once a week, and everything is always consistent. Prices are also reasonable.

The one major flaw is the acoustics...on a Saturday night with the windows open to the street, I could not hear my bf sitting across from me. I know it is difficult to hear in many of the restaurants in the city due to the fact that space is limited and tables are often on top of each other, but seriously, this is the worst. We could not have a conversation...and yelling across the table became annoying. Perhaps the fact that we waited over 1.5 hours for our dinner exacerbated our frustration, but we are not planning a return visit. The food seemed rather average to me...I liked the feel of the space and the decor, but it was just too loud...and who the hell thought that big flat screen above the bar was a good idea? There are too many great restaurants in this city to bother with this one. read more

I've eaten here several times. The calamari is actually very good. We tried this based on the positive Yelp reviews and weren't dissapointed. I had the homemade potroast with nana's gravy. That was really, really good and I could have eaten the whole thing, but forced myself to hold back....whoa Nelly!! My hubby had the chicken in a lemon sauce over pasta...I later had his leftovers and it was also very good. Very lemony. I will eat here again for sure in the future. Ok to bring kids during the lunch hour. read more

If you're looking for great Italian food this is the place to go. The vodka rigatoni is delicious and the mussels are a must order. They have a parking lot which is rare in the south loop so it's easy to park during the week and the street parking is also pretty easy on weekends. read more

Great neighborhood drink spot. The food is delicious, service is great and the drinks are spot on.

A solid Italian restaurant in an easy-to-get-to South Loop location. There's definitely an emphasis on their sausage. Multiple entrees feature it. The whole boneless chicken is the best-selling menu item. Some unique offerings include a cold broccoli salad with black olives and fresh lemon. Calamari is offered three ways: grilled, fried or Calabrese. Limited al fresco dining. Definitely worth a try. read more

Linguine with baby clams is very delicious. It's my go-to. Unfortunately the other day, I decided to dine in and tried their parmesan chicken. I have never been more disappointed with this dish. It had a weird, old, stale texture and odor. I had a bite and just left it. I will stick to thw linguine from now on. As for service, we had a woman server who was incredibly pushy. We didnt't want wine. Or appetizers. After she.saw that we were only there for entrees, she didn't pay us much attention. We had to flag down the busser to refill our water. When the waitress dropped off the check, she didn't say anything, no thank you, nothing. So I got terrible food and service. Great. I will stick to carry out and linguine from now on. read more

Nana's Gravy and a Lemon Drop Martini! One of my favorite places to eat! I live in the neighborhood and I have had dinner at the bar by myself and gone with groups. Very Authentic Italian and just steps away from home! read more

The best Italian food I have ever eaten and the service was perfect! Nana's gravy with the pot roast melts in your mouth.

Selected this south loop spot because we liked the sister restaurant on the north side. We also wanted to dine al fresco on one of the few perfect summer evenings. The outdoor seating in front is noisy with frequent el sounds. As for the food, I don't know what all the fuss is about. The recommended Nana's Gravy is nothing more than overcooked penne in a red sauce with fatty chunks of beef. The stuffed shells were oozing with a heavy salty ricotta. Portions are large but not appetizing enough to take home. Server was two busy being funny to do a check back on our entrees. With so many excellent Italian restaurants, this one should be skipped. read more

Living in the South Loop near South Side, my wife and I are trying all of the restaurants in our new neighborhood. Having gone to Giocco, we found their food aight, but way over priced. Since I have a lust for good spaghetti and meatballs, I am always on the prowl for a good red sauce restaurant. With my wife having the mussels and me having the spaghetti and meatballs, we really enjoyed this place. The house Chianti is pretty good, just buttery enough, but who can't resist when they start you out with bread that comes with marinara and mozzarella. Typically, we don't hit up dessert, but we had to try a canoli -- was almost perfect with the right amount of sugar, but not too much. Definitely try this place out, it is well worth it! read more

The food is excellent! My only issue is the slow service. If you are not in a hurry, the place is great;especially for a date. But, if you plan on going for a lunch break, be sure you have a two hour lunch break. read more

This place is horrible. From the service to the air quality to the food its all bad. Everything was either over oiled or overcooked. Ventilation was non existent and everyone at the establishment was in denial of the situation. Bad table, bad service. Overall my worst dining experience in the city. Even if it was free i would not return. read more

this place still has one of the best grilled calamari dishes i have tried! there is a bit of a bite to in, not too spicy so i wouldn't NOT recommend it to someone if they didn't like spicy food. In fact, its the perfect amount of heat and flavor. The meatball salad is one of my favorites, the trick is to ask the server to toss the lettuce and meatballs together, the pairing of the marinara sauce and Italian dressing is superb!! I tried 3 different pasta dishes all of which were very satisfying, the portions are HUGE.....they make their own pasta, i don't know this for fact but based on how fresh the pasta was it had to be homemade. i took a star off because we were sitting in the corner and it got so bloody hot that it felt like a sauna read more

My husband and I went here after getting the recommendation from a local bartender/chef that we came into contact with. Thought we'd check it out and have an authentic Italian meal while in Chicago. Booking the reservation was easy on Open Table. The place was a bit noisy. Not sure if it was the location that we were sat. It's an open kitchen which is cool to me. The complimentary bread and marinara sauce was astounding!!!! You could really taste the freshness and that it was homemade. I could just make a meal of that! :) We had the calamari calabrese. It was really tasty. Very spicy! We like that! It would have been good with a dipping sauce maybe. Also it was slightly over cooked (very close to rubbery). Due to reviews of portion size we split an entree (I had gastric bypass 1 1/2 years ago). We got the rigatoni alla vodka. We added crumbled sausage which was super hearty and delicious. Tiramisu for dessert was really good. I've had better but this still did the trick. :) The half bottles of wine was a nice touch and came out to about 3 glasses...so a savings. :) The server was nice. Not overly friendly. Some of the staff seemed stiff. Overall I would go back to this place. Really yummy! read more

Cafe Bionda - Bread and marinara - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I used to love this restaurant, it used to be my favorite. I won't be going back. I've always been able to over look that the service is not exceptionally warm because the food has been so great. Now, it seems the food has become less of a focus for the restaurant too. My prior review raved about the calamari. I brought my friend in for this dish in particular, and we found several pieces of what seemed like plastic in our calamari. We were later told by our waitress that it was 'inner membrane' from the squid not being cleaned out properly. But that it was 'completely digestible'. I was so nauseous at the idea that I couldn't even enjoy me entree. No apologies, no manager came to visit the table, and at the end of the evening I had to remind the waitress to take the calamari off the bill as she said she would. Just disappointing. read more

I went there at 8:30 pm on a Friday night, we made reservations but our table wasn't quite ready so we waited at the bar. The bar was nice, we had a round of drinks and all were great. When we got to our table, Guy was our server and he was absolutely amazing. We ended up ordering a ton of food and sharing everything....we had mussels, salad, meatballs, a pasta dish, and our favorite, the New York strip. All of it was amazing, so much to choose from on the menu so I would recommend ordering a few plates and sharing. If he is working, I would request Guy as your server...he will give you his honest opinions and makes sure you have everything you need! read more

Excellent food and service. Rigatoni alla vodka with sausage is great Also really like scallop special on Friday nights along with Bionda salad. Quick service great cocktails read more

Not that impressed with this one. Granted, I've only been once, but the food I had did not make a positive impression. Quite the opposite - after only a few bites of my gummy, heavy, mostly flavorless pasta, I was done. $30 something bucks down the drain. Kind of sad because I was really hungry after a day business travel and remembered seeing this place when I was next door and thought, "that place looks good." I don't remember what the name of the dish was ( I tried to look it up on the online menu but didn't see it posted), but it was a pasta with a mix of meats (update: found my receipt- the dish was called Papadelle). The portion was HUGE which would have been a good thing if the food was tasty. Since it was not, it was just a huge dish of uneaten pasta and meat. I felt bad leaving it, so I just feigned being full and had my waiter wrap it to go. Sadly it went straight to the trash once I got out of the restaurant's line of vision. The server was not attentive..did not come back to check to see if I wanted to order anything else (I didn't, but still), didn't ask how I was enjoying my food (I wasn't), etc. The guy who refilled my water and removed plates from the table should have been the waiter as he was far more attentive. Maybe if I know someone personally who goes and recommends it, I'll try it again, but right now I'm not convinced. Hopefully, I just caught a bad dish on an off day, but until I'm convinced otherwise, I'll spend my dollars elsewhere. (Oh..the bottled pomegranate iced-tea was good, though!) read more

The wait staff are friendly, the atmosphere is relaxed. The Rigatoni Bolognese is Perfection.

I've only been here once, but I cannot wait to go again. Atmosphere: Classy, but not overly formal. This is a nice place to take a date, maybe have a business luncheon, or to have dinner with a group of friends. Service: Our server seemed almost a little nervous, but overall he and the rest of the staff were very hospitable. No complaints. Food: Excellent. Ridiculously huge portions. (My leftover lasagna lasted me for several meals at home.) I can't recall the menu exactly, but I believe there is more of a southern Italian influence, rather than northern. (i.e. Heavier on pasta dishes using tomato sauces, rather than pollenta and risotto with cream/butter sauces). Price: Moderate, but considering the quality and quantity - it's really down right cheap. My lasagna was $16, but would have easily fed two or maybe three people. The antipasto salad split two ways was practically a meal in itself. read more

I had the Rigatoni Genovese with spicy sausage and it was delicious. The portions were huge ... I have more than enough for at least one more meal. I'll definitely be back again! read more

From the bread/red sauce to Mimi's stuffed shells, and all the way down to the affordable wine list options, I am a HUGE fan of this restaurant. My fingertips tingle whenever someone tells me that he/she has never been here because it means I get to share such a wonderful neighborhood spot with them. The portions are huge, the food is delish, and the servers are friendly (and knowledgable). It really is a charming restaurant with fantastic food. And I'm with Dom G. - all I can think of is their vodka sauce after writing this!!! If you love down-home Italian, or if you live in the South Loop, please check it out! Otherwise, you run the risk of our paths crossing and me dragging you there;) read more

I am a huge fan of Italian food, easily once I week I have to have some Italian. I have tried francescas on taylor st along with many others but I think Bionda is the best Italian food in the city. Meatball salad is the best I have ever had, nanas gravy which is slow roasted pot roast over rigatoni is amazing and chicken parm is the best bar none. Great staff and clientele, read more

Cafe Bionda was very good. I didn't get a chance to try too many things, but what I had was yummy. I'm a sucker for baked clams and Bionda's did not disappoint. The sauce was so delicious that I was actually eating it with a spoon. The only thing I didn't like was that the clams were a little small. We didn't have dessert this trip, but the gelato that other customers were getting looked creamy and scrumptious. I'll definitely try that next time. read more

Recently dined at cafe bionda. Their staff is friendly and we were seated swiftly during the dinner rush with no reservations. Staff, family style portions, lots to pick from on the menu = 5 star. 3 stars for quality of food. I ordered a whole crispy chicken, the flavors were there but it wasnt crispy. Im not a fan of soggy skin. And honestly they could have done without dousing it in sauce, it was too much. But I mean its an italian restaurant so I guess thats how a lot of entrees are done. The portions are large, enough for two people per entree, so pricing on the menu is very fair. Decor is just normal nothing special, however their bathrooms look newly renovated. Lots of street parking (pay to park) which is a HUGE plus. I would LOVE to see a homemade pasta on the menu, maybe they have it and I skipped over it, but I feel like it would be a great dish if they dont. read more

Love this place! Great staff good eats! One of the negatives you smell like a kitchen for days. Baked clams could use a good washing too soooo gritty. Other than that best Italian restaurant in the south loop! read more

It's hard to find an Italian spot that has something unique. There are so many good Tratorrias around, but Cafe Bionda surprises with interesting sauces and preparations. We really enjoyed the chicken parm, a pretty basic dish, because of that sauce. Great service. A place where the staff and ownership shows pride in what they do. read more

Experience was horrible!! Arrived at the restaurant tonight. The host looked at me right in my face. However, it took him approximately 3-4 minutes to acknowledge my presence. Then he spoke to me as if I was a second class citizen. I live in the immediate area and frequent many restaurants there. Never was treated in this manner. This place was not customer friendly. I must say I don't think I will go there again. If I could, I would've given them zero stars. Not a fan. read more

One of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The food is always great and the service is amazing. We've had Guy as our waiter on more than one visit and his service is impeccable. The chicken saltimboca is my go to order. Definitely a must try. read more

Very nice Italian restaraunt in the South Loop. We've lived in the area for 4 years, but only visited this place for the first time a few weeks ago with my wife and another couple. Its located next door to Soggy Paws, our dog groomer. We were pleasantly surprised by the food and atmosphere. The Italian was authentic and delicious. Potions were perfect. Service was quick and friendly. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and cozy. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for casual chic italian in the neighborhood. read more

The people who gave Cafe Bionda more than one star must have eaten at a different place than I did. We live in the neighborhood and are always looking for a walk-to spot. We read the recent Sun Times review, and with hopeful expectations gave it a try last night. I ordered the lamp shank special. My husband had Chicken Marsala. We had four drinks between us, a shared veggie side, and a shared gelato dessert. The bill was $112 without tip. That's a reasonable price if the food was good. It wasn't. The portions were huge (family size, seriously), but swimming in fake-tasting, too salty gravy. We had a few bites and left the rest. The gelato was completely tasteless. It reminded me of Junkit, if any of you readers are old enough to remember that stuff from our kindergarten years. It was also noisy (but no less so than other South Loop places such as Zapatista) and crowded. I was pushed in at an awkward angle against a wall and my husband had an seat that everyone who passed (the waiters frequently) brushed by. We did have opportunities to complain (the waiter asked after we'd taken our first bites and the manager stopped by at the end of the meal). But the fact that we left our food almost untouched wasn't questioned. We knew we were never coming back, and we knew we'd have a chance to warn others via Yelp, so we avoided raising our blood-pressures by complaining. Stay away, that's my advice. read more

My steak was properly cooked and the waiter was polite and helpful. The decor is sophisticated but there always a wait to be seated. I would certainly not object to returning but have no burning desire to do so. read more

I've never been to the south loop location but the one on Milwaukee was pretty good before it closed down. Good food, good service. The only thing I did not like about the place was TV screens with sports channels. Seemed like they could not decide whether they wanted to be a fancy Italian restaurant or a cheap sports bar. read more

Good Italian. Too many Italian joints simply serving up pasta and gravy these days to watch their bottom lines...not this place...meat & seafood is still served! The Italian sausage is pretty good..(if you like it hot, they can spice it up)...not a big fan of Nanna's Gravy (but apparently it has a lot of fans)...but, the BIG reason I visit here is for the calamari (I order it grilled but you can get it fried) -- they are the biggest pieces of calamari I have found in Chicago. ....a glass of their house chianti with an order of the grilled calamari with red sauce at the bar and it's all good. read more

Went there twice and both time it was for their spaghetti meatball... Spicy and tasty !! I will definitely go back as sooon i'll go to Chicago ! The only reason i put 3 stars i because of the price. But i guess it's a bit like in NYC... read more

A dependable neighborhood favorite - I love going to this place when I am working a show at McCormick place. It's dark and intimate, great for a date OR groups - friends family, whoever - It's a crowd pleaser. Delicious time and time again. I always go for the chicken parm because it comes out the size of a small pizza and I will eat it for days. That may sound odd but it is one of the best leftovers I've ever had. The asparagus are like tree trunks - juicy and garlicky, mmmm.... I wish I was there right now! read more

Loved that we got a same-day reservation on a Friday night and were seated immediately. However, I was not thrilled that we were in a rather non-descript backroom. (Next time I'll insist on a table upfront.) We got over that with very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful waitstaff and a nice wine list! The calamari was good, the arugula salad delightful and the pork chops with banana peppers "return visit" worthy! Tiramisu completely unnecessary, sharable, creamy and perfect. All in all yummy and well-priced. Go and enjoy! read more