Cafe Bionda in the South Loop has my heart. It's my go-to for those nights when I want delicious Italian comfort food that feels like a warm hug. Their pastas and sauces are unmatched, and everything tastes so fresh, it's like a little taste of Italy right here in Chicago. The vibe is perfect--cozy with just the right amount of buzz, making it ideal for anything from a casual dinner to a night out with friends. Plus, the staff is always welcoming, adding to that feeling that you're part of the Cafe Bionda family. read more

See all

Phenomenal restaurant with great food. Didn't have to wait for seating which is hard to come by in Chicago. Atmosphere was cozy and dark. The chicken Parmesan with fettuccini Alfredo came out so hot and fresh. Such generous portions. They also didn't skimp on the tiramisu read more

Cafe Bionda - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

My roommate told me that cafe bionda was mentioned on block club chicago as recently re-opened so we decided to go to celebrate finishing finals! First of all, love the decor and movie posters, and setting, we sat right under a marlin, very old-man-and-the-sea of us! Honestly I was pleasantly surprised by the portion size bc I feel like Italian food can be very expensive for a small portion of food sometimes but this portion was very hearty! I don't usually struggle to finish my food, but I felt very full after this meal! My roommate got the braciole which is like this stuffed flank steak over pasta in a red sauce, it was yummy and the meat was very tender. I got the orecchiette and the rapini in it was SO GOOD. The flavor is very sausage heavy if that's your thing! The dish well-salted which is I think a good thing! The space is intimate and charming. I do agree with the other reviews that the lights could be turned up in the entire restaurant so if you're cafe bionda and reading this review I would HIGHLY CONSIDER this suggestion read more

See all

Food excellent manager Stephen and Bartender Alex try to steal from you than blame it on you Got tab I put my card in my friend put cash in got bill back nothing subtracted from tab then when I confront them it's my fault Who tips on first time the bill goes over unless all cash no one read more

This place was amazing! We wanted to come for the happy hour which was advertised in my reservation at 6 but was not true when we arrived so double check if that's your plan. Otherwise, food was delicious- we got the whipped ricotta, spicy shrimp, sopresatta pizza and spicy chicken. The sauces were incredible and everything tasted fresh, paired with a nice glass of cab. Cute Italian vibe, we will be back! read more

Cafe Bionda - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I got the chance to stop by and try their new lunch menu! Weds- Fri from 12pm-4pm, they have their authentic Italian options available. You can tell the ravioli and pizza are homemade! The calamari was good as well. There is also a full bar available and they have a pretty extensive wine menu. Stop by to get some authentic Italian cuisine and enjoy! Tell 'em Bri from Planes and Plates sent you. read more

Got carryout from here for the first time and I can say I wasn't diassapointed. I came in from the back and was a bit confused but there were employees nice enough to tell me how to get to the front to pick up my order. Customer service was good. The ambience was nice and romantic with lighting dimly light. There is plenty searing and a nice bar area. I ordered the rigatoni and it was pretty tasty and very fresh. I look forward to going back to dine in soon. read more

I've eaten here twice recently for the Godfather dinner and a happy hour. The food for the dinner was outstanding, and since I don't eat meat, they accommodated me by giving me 2 of the fish dishes. The happy hour food was tasty and reasonably priced. Service was excellent. read more

Amazing entrees, the short rib ravioli was one of the best dishes we ordered that night! The cacio e Pepe was good minus the bitterness, possibly from the truffles? The dessert? God awful, worst tiramisu I've ever had in my life. read more

Honestly their happy hour can't be beat. $7 Prosecco and $10 fried calamari (full serving!). The bartender was fantastic. I highly recommend! Five stars. read more

Cafe Bionda - Fried Calamari - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Thought the restaurant, art, candlesticks were all really cute. I explained to the waitress that I have to eat gluten free and shellfish free. I ordered a Caesar salad and asked for the croutons on the side (so others at the table could add them if they wanted) and croutons were in the salad. The waitress told me my only food options were the chicken or salmon....i later saw a comment from another diner that the restaurant has GF pasta! We were also celebrating my daughter's birthday and told them that and no offer was made to let me order a dessert with a candle or nothing. I really wanted to love this place - but I'm not sure now if I will be back. read more

Came to Cafe Bionda as the after party/reception to the 8/9/25 White Sox "Married in a Minute" Igyarto wedding and it was great! Easy to get to, ample parking, great atmosphere, and the food was incredible. Can't wait to come back. read more

Their website and phone say they open at 3 pm daily. Showed up a little after 3 today and the place was dark and closed. Before Covid the place was great. Friendly family atmosphere. Since the new proprietor took over- it's not the same and not worth it read more

Went here for a happy hour, stayed here for the vibes! Bartender Jenny was incredible she's so personable and sweet! Food was exceptional. Elliot the manager catered to our every need and exceptional service all around! Definitely will be coming back read more

Cafe Bionda - Burrata and honey pizza - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Delicious dishes. See pictures! Parking is free in the back lot. There's a back entrance as well. Very convenient. Otherwise, there is metered street parking too. read more

See all

Fantastic find! If you are looking for a Italian Restaurant and in South Loop- Cafe Bionda is a fantastic find! The staff was wonderful and their Happy Hour food delicious! Calamari was fried to perfection - crunchy and not oily at all. You can't go wrong with it! Bionda Pizza Margherita was one delicious! Perfect amount of cheese and sauce!! LOVED IT! Tiramisu - this was my top #1 item! So creamy and flavorful!! The drinks were great but my absolute favorite was Limoncello Martini! read more

See all

Some of the best food I've ever had! Meatballs were a great start, Truffle pasta was 10/10, & service was even better. Captain Guy is the man! Highly recommend read more

Very much a TikTok hype restaurant, I was underwhelmed after our visit during our vacation. The hostess and server were nice enough. Not super friendly or personable. The food was ok, a little bland (beef ravioli and skirt steak). The tiramisu martini was TERRIBLE! I would skip this one if on the fence because I feel we could've gotten better food elsewhere especially for the price point. read more

Prior to COVID, this was a great place to get my porkchop. They finally reopened. Unfortunately, the porkchop wasn't as good as I remembered it. Perfectly cooked on the outside but raw in the center. My partner chose the brick chicken with no salt and sauce on the side. It's a perfect healthy request but I thought that was a bad idea. And it was. Without the sauce, the chicken was dried and I couldn't taste the marinade. The sauce was okay. It needed salt and more garlic. The potatoes needed more rosemary. read more

Cafe Bionda - Brick chicken with sauce on side was so freaking dried - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The food was safe but some were misses like the lamb; it was a bit too gamy and tough. The dessert was a bit odd textured. But overall, still 4 stars. Tables were nice and large and I also appreciated the free parking in the rear. read more

See all

Great Italian spot on near south side of Chicago. It's a great option for very friendly service and fresh pasta.

Excellent service by a lovely Irish Colleen in a lovely setting. We did a family style and shared our entrees. The brick chicken was the best we ever had and not to mention the short rib ravioli was exceptional. Restaurant is reasonably priced with free parking in the back. Give it a try. read more

Very good food! I had the vodka pasta. Everyone else liked their food. The bruschetta appetizer was amazing ! Good atmosphere as well!

this place deserves a higher rating! i came here for a yelp event and was not disappointed. everything i tried was great and seemed very authentic. however, i think the highlights were the ragu ravioli and the stuffed mushrooms. the chef came out and personally greeted each table. he was such a sweetheart! the staff also replenished the food multiple times and even gave all the guests to-go containers for the leftovers. impeccable service! read more

Loved this classic Italian restaurant that serves old world staples as well as newer creations. It's a cozy space with friendly staff. We had fried calamari which my daughter said was delicious then followed up with penne Alla Vodka. The chef is from Naples and serves authentic Italian food read more

Cafe Bionda - Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I had the Vodka Rigatoni and it was soooo delish. Lovely vibes. Lovely cocktails. Great service. I wish I could go back but I don't live in Chicago. LOVE. read more

Traditional style and ambiance. Measured portions and nice presentation. Scallops cooked perfectly. Tortellini Alfredo exquisite. The flavors are all there on their own and sauces compliment well. Great deserts and a pretty good Italian Old Fashioned. Wish I had more time to try other dishes. A little pricey. read more

Cafe Bionda - Old Fashioned - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Honestly save yourself. The vibe wasn't it and the service wasn't much better. The food was cold and our server never checked on us once. Only came over to bring our drinks, take our order, and bring us our check (after we waited 35 minutes to find her). We asked for our steak to be cooked Medium, but it was fully straight rare but we couldn't do anything about it because our waitress was no where to be found. I was really excited to try this place but it didn't live up to the expectations at all and I won't be back. read more

This place is a pass. I ordered the brocolini, short rib ravioli, and the Chicken marsalla. Cheesecake factory quality or Sisco foods quality. Nothing to brag about. I went thru at least 30 Italian restaurants today to make a reservation. What stood out was the short rib ravioli. The ravioli was too thick. I have made pasta by hand and with a machine. I would say using a machine the dough was a three on the thickness. It should be a 1. They lost the quality trying to mass produce them. I choked on it. Asked for it to replaced and only ate half of four ravioli for 30 dollars. They kept it on the bill. The chicken marsala was standard, basic. I did like the mashed potatoes. The brocollini also decent. The replacement for the ravioli was also cheesecake factory. Chicken parmesan. Luckily my husband will eat it. The drinks were not strong considering they were martinis. I asked for titos. Could have been Tonka. Avoid this place at all cost. This is a spot for people who can't cook and who lack taste buds. Also we never received straws which were requested or bread service which should be complimentary for an Italian place. Will be disputing with out credit carrier if overcharged. read more

My favorite dish has returned--the Lobster Fettuccini!!! I was so excited when the staff informed me and I was not disappointed. The presentation was exceptional and the taste was superb. Thank you for bringing back one of my favorites and I look forward to new lobster dishes in the weeks ahead. Service is always second to none. Thank you for listening! read more

It literally was a few hours before the New Year Eve event to get started we received a email saying it was canceled no explanation why hair done nails dress etc how unprofessional we're literally talking about New Year Eve they stated they was going to refund us immediately of course that's without a doubt. So far no refund I had to go through my bank for a dispute I have the email from the owner and the response from the owner which is mysteriously gone luckily i screenshot it for my bank horrible horrible experience read more

Service was exceptional & portions were huge. Loved the chocolate almond cake! We arrived at just the right time as the restaurant started to get very busy for dinner! read more

See all

Came here for a quick lunch break and I ended up having had so much fun with the bartender Marcy and the food was rly delicious. I'd like to come back for a late night vibe. read more

My wife gave me a 70th surprise birthday at this restaurant. My daughter is getting married in April and we will have her rehearsal dinner there in April. I don't need to say anymore. They were excellent. The food and service was excellent .My son also had his rehearsal dinner at this restaurant. I need to say nothing else. read more

We hosted a work celebration event for 18 and it was perfect! They recommended a buffet style meal which had a little something for everyone (salad, vegetarian options, seafood, pasta etc) and our team raved about the food. The buffet format was a great way to feed 18 people efficiently. We were set up on the other side of the bar so it was nice to have our own space. Our server was very friendly and attentive and the manager also stopped by a few times to check in and thank us for coming in. I would definitely recommend this restaurant as the food and service was excellent. read more

First time here. Immediately greeted with a warm welcome, everyone was so nice. The food was amazing, and the place was packed! With how busy it was, it really made me think this was the place to be. I was able to snag a bar seat and enjoy the bears game. Food took some time, but that was obvious with the number of people there. Didn't bother me much as the bartender gave such good service and kept the drinks flowing. When my dinner came out, it was unreal. I will definitely be returning! read more

Not the same Cafe Bionda. Food is not good! Calamari is rubbery and chewy now, chicken vesuvio was horrible . So sad was neighborhood staple, not anymore! read more

If I could give this place a Michelin Star, I would. I think their food is amazing every time I dine here - which is often. They never miss! The service is always top notch, I feel like family when I come in. I love how many different spaces there are, from more upscale dining seats, to a large island bar, casual high tops, and even a secret dining room. This location is a staple in the neighborhood and I am so happy that they have reopened! read more

Service here is excellent and the have free parking, although limited. Food is generally good to outstanding. I dined here quite a few times before the closed for the pandemic and always thought it was top notch. Why only 4 stars? They charged us $2 to add ice to a drink. That's just annoying. Is there an ice shortage in Chicago? I must have missed that newsflash. Add $2 to the drink price and call it a day. It seems like both the food and drink menus were somewhat smaller than I remember but there are ample choices and a selection of specials. I had a Carbonara pasta dish that was excellent. Homemade noodles, bacon and a soft boiled egg. Very nice presentation, perfectly cooked and very tasty. The other diners seemed happy with their pasta selections as well but less happy than I was. We also had a fried calamari appetizer which was fine but unremarkable. I seem to remember it being served with a pepper, banana or cherry maybe and missed that. Lastly, we had a window seat which worked great since we had a pair of 7 year old boys with us. The window amused them and the table spacing and general din of the restaurant drowned them out enough to avoid annoying other diners but was still quiet enough for adult conversation. The boys both had the children's chicken tender dinner. They enjoyed it and the portion was huge, they could have easily shared it. read more

I would get 4 orders of the mushrooms all to myself if I could. So good!! The pasta dishes were also fantastic with large portion sizes. Service was A+ too! Would definitely return! read more

Cafe Bionda - Mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all