This place is a great family owned Chicago tradition localed in the heart of River North. The two brothers who take turns overseeing the business are the best. The clientele is very local and the staff all know your name. The best part is the food is fantastic. Any of their chicken breast entrees are the best in Chicago. I am a regular and keep coming back. read more

Kari's Rating 8/10 TLDR: -Large portions -Cash advantage/Card fee ($2.50) -Pricy for what it is Came with my parents around 5:45pm on a Saturday. There was a long string of tables on the patio and we were informed that there would be a surprise party starting at seven, but they said we were able to sit outside if we were able to leave at about 645 which we agreed. The only reason we came here is because we have my dog with me and this is one of my favorite river north patio dinners. The servers help set up a little table receipts for three people, and a fourth for my dachshund-where she got her own little bowl of water. We ordered the chicken Parmesan, a mostaccioli with meat sauce, and a linguine with clams and a nice light red sauce. I thought the portions were rather large for the pasta and I'm really lucky that I have lunch tomorrow! This is one of my favorite places to come in summer because it's relatively casual, the service is always good and I personally really like the meat sauce that they use on their various types of pastas. I think this restaurant has a family feel whenever I come in and they're always very attentive and the servers are very sweet. The only reason I didn't give it a 9 is because I'm really surprised that noodles would be so expensive. I know it's River North, but for 3 mostly noodle dishes with a few clams and a piece of chicken I'm shocked it was $70 without tip. We only got water too. read more

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This is a cool place to walk by and has a nice old school look inside. The owners are visible and working and the staff are all very nice. Food comes out quickly once you order but seems hit or miss on quality. Vince's salad and the chicken parmigiana were highlights that I'd recommend. Neither pasta, their respective sauces, or the meatballs impressed me. They seemed very generic, almost to the point of coming from a can. You'd hope for better when going out to eat vs staying home. read more

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I had the Italian beef with fries. The food was, ok, I ate it, but it wasn't great. The atmosphere was like an old folks home, very dreary. Service was average, except one point. They gave me a small glass of water. I asked for a larger glass, the guy was like, it's OK, it's ok. Maybe he didn't understand me. The waitresses was nice and she brought me a bigger glass later. I wouldn't go back. read more

Had to wait 11 years for our second visit, but so worth it! My sister and I enjoyed an incredible evening. Club Lago checked all the boxes. Outstanding service, warm friendly old school vibes and absolutely delicious food! We will definitely not wait so long for the next visit. read more

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If you're mentally ill and have nowhere else to go, come here! Seriously I didn't even think of my debilitating ailments while I was enjoying the delicious house dressing and wine on my platter. My friends were doing a clam slam across the table followed by a sampling of meats. Nice to see them proud of their choices for a change. Perfect environment to disclose being an iPad user. And I wasn't even put off by the waitress at all (rare)! Mental illness = cured! read more

There is a saying in Chicago - The biggest act of love here, is dropping off or picking up someone at O'Hare airport! That being said, I took my wife to O'Hare tonight as she is spending one month in California. With that great gesture (on my part), I can now go to every restaurants she would NEVER set foot in. So, my first "Old School", classic, long established and traditional restaurant I chose to start off this treasured month is Club Lago here in the North Side section of Chicago. Everything about Club Lago worked for me. It had the feeling of a Bamontes (established in 1900) in Brooklyn, NY, a menu like Dan Tanas (established in 1967) in West Hollywood and the atmosphere of a Tommaso Ristorante Italiano (established in 1935) in San Francisco. All super "red sauce" places and all doing what they have been doing for decades. With Bar Flies in place at the bar and Tchotchkes everywhere on the walls and shelves, I ordered: * An Executive salad - that had ingredients that shouldn't have worked together? I mean anchovies and blue cheese? Really? Come on! But, this salad worked in every way possible. It was absolutely delicious. I would come back here just for this dish - I totally Loved this salad! * Veal Parmigiana - that rivaled Dan Tana's at a quarter of the price. I wolfed this beautiful dish down and really enjoyed it * This Veal came with a Pene Pasta that I devoured * A very good Stemmari Nero D'Avola from Sicily that had a plum flavor - delightful I'm on a one month pilgrimage here in Chicago trying to find these vintage establishments that attract and captivate me. I'm off to a good start! read more

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If you've ever wondered what it's like to time travel to 1974 and hate every minute of it -- this is your spot. The booths are so old and uncomfortable they could probably tell you stories from the Nixon era. The "tortellini with meat sauce" tasted like Chef Boyardee straight from the can -- minus the nostalgia. Honestly, save yourself the money and grab the real thing at the grocery store. We asked for top-shelf vodka and got something that tasted like it had been filtered through a garden hose. Our server moved at glacial speed, had zero personality, and thought it was totally fine to take my wallet to the back to check my ID. Sure, why not? The whole place screams revamp me, from the sticky tables to the sad lighting. Low quality, low effort, low expectations -- and somehow they still missed the mark. read more

This restaurant had one of the best sauces I've had yet to try. Both dishes were got had fantastic sauces! Would go back just to try them again. Each meat dish is served with a side of pasta and sauce of your choice. This comes on a separate plate than the meat dish (presumably so the sauces don't mix). However, I was underwhelmed with the meat sauce. It just didn't stand a chance against the amazing flavor of the sauce on the meat. If I went back I would probably order a plate of plain noodles and dip them in the sauce for the meat. The restaurant itself is quite eclectic. If you get end up sitting near the bar take time to par-ooze all the fun decorations. The waitstaff was also incredibly nice. They were a little slow to get to us after we'd sat, but after that our waitress was very energetic and could tell she had pride in the food they served. read more

Club Lago - Bracioline All Agro Evening - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cool old school environment and great Italian/American style food. The veal parm was thin, crispy with a delicious flavorful sauce and just the right amount of cheese. 10/10 veal parm. The orange roughy was surprisingly delicious, fresh with a nice lemon seasoning and the side of spinach works well for healthy eaters. I was surprised to love this meal (as a foodie with too high standards!). This place is definitely slept on. read more

How have I never come upon this cute old school Italian spot? Went for a casual dinner after yoga and it was a super casual crowd. Service was fast and friendly and she gave me my pasta recommendation, which I loved. If you only get one thing, get the Italian scampi. Our server said it was her fave dish and it did NOT disappoint! The shrimps are huge and breaded so lightly and the flavor was amazing. The sauce was also so good, I scooped it with a spoon. My friend got the linguine and clams was which was also delish. The lemon Italian ice was nice I was told and the espresso gelato was soft, creamy and decadent. It might have been the smallest and lightest touch espresso martini I've ever had. Will definitely be back for either pasta and to try others, taking off one star bc I thought the portions were pretty small and the espresso martinis were light and also small. read more

Club Lago - Linguine with Clam Sauce Evening, Italian Scampi Italiano Evening - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Classic, old-school place with really nice waiter and front staff. The pastas were all stellar and the cannoli was amazing. Great for a low key relaxing meal. read more

Club Lago - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Please note that this review is for food only as I had it delivered. I do plan to go in person and will see if this pushes it up to 5 stars. In the meantime, here are my thoughts. Was delivered in a timely manner. Food was packed well - no spillage. We ordered garlic bread, the Chicken Marsala, and the Chicken Parmesan. It came with butter and plain bread and each entree had a beef Mostaccioli side. The entrees, garlic bread, and regular bread were really good. However, the Mostaccioli sides were pretty inedible - maybe the sauce wasn't quite right? But that doesn't really matter since we didn't order and it just came with the meal. Only complaints: -Portions were rather small -Pricier to order versus the prices they've posted on their menu on the outside of the restaurant read more

Went with a large party. Very happy with the experience. Great staff, great food and great service!

Probably the worst food I have had in a very long time. The baked clams are clearly not fresh and can tell were frozen. I can get that at Costco and make it myself if that's what I wanted. The pasta is meh. There are so many other sports in river north that you can go to and get a good plate of pasta. I kind of felt like I was getting served leftovers. I wish this wasn't the case but I think they need to make a few changes in the food and what they have on the menu. It's better to be amazing at one thing than to be okay at five things. This could be such a nice neighborhood spot. read more

Loved my dinner here last night. Amazing food, classic Italian-American fare in a classic setting that almost feels like it hasn't changed since the restaurant was founded (in the best way possible). The service was excellent. I would recommend above all the Pizza bread, the Chicken Parmigiana and the Veal Bracioline as well. read more

I went with friends on a Friday evening and was a bit nervous seeing how empty it was, but that quickly turned to surprise as soon as the food came out. We ordered fried calamari for the table and I got the chicken parm - both delicious! BUT. My friends both got the carbonara and were kind enough to let me try a bite and let me tell you we could rave about it enough. It's been weeks and we're still raving about it. I highly recommend! read more

Club Lago - Chicken Parmigiana Evening - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Literally walked into this bar by chance, looking for directions. The entire bar help was so helpful that we decided to stay for a drink. As the inviting atmosphere increased we ordered an entree. We ordered the classic spaghetti and meatballs - The food came out quick! It was serviced with toast, crackers and chili flakes. Decent price for a decent meal from decent staff. read more

Genuine neighborhood Italian restaurant run by the fourth generation of a Chicago family on the corner of Orleans and Superior in a charming brick building that I believe is the original location. Everyone we met was welcoming and charming in distinctly different ways that I found delightful. Our waitress was helpful, enthusiastic, quirky, and kind. Her personality absolutely enhanced our experience. And the food! Traditional veal parm was yum and the special, which was a lemon chicken dish with a name I can't recall, was surprising and delicious. Nice wine options as well. If I lived here, this place would be my local. read more

You can tell this place has deep roots in Chicago! There must have been about 10 things on the menu I wanted to try. I ended up with the carbonara and boy was it DELICIOUS. The portion was huge and I got through about half before I had to tap out entirely. From decoration to service to menu items, this place feels classic in the best way possible. I highly recommend! - AT read more

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Pasta was just ok. We got takeout but it was still hot! Fried Calamari came with shrimp cocktail sauce and fresh lemons! read more

Club Lago - Linguine alla Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Terrible food, almost inedible we were sick all night. Baked Clams tasted rotten and carbonara was straight homogenized cream. Service took forever and wasn't the most friendly. Bill came and seemed to be charged 1.5x. History of the place is cool, but it needs a revamp, please do not go here, it'll ruin your night and bank account for bad food read more

So disappointing. Business lunch was literally ruined by our rude waitress. I am surprised that this is going on at a Chicago staple. The food was only ok. The sauce was bland. read more

I feel like a regular when I come to Club Lago, despite not living anywhere near Chicago. The first time we ended up here after lunch at Mr. Beef (also recommend-it is right down the street) and had a chill time enjoying some afternoon cocktails. You can tell It is family owned and how the employees enjoy working here amid their interactions with each other and the customers. several regulars stopped in while we were there, which is always a good sign to me. they had some fun and unique beers to try and of course limoncello. The second time we came, i was preggo and the owner/manager was able to recommend this great n/a beer. We also tried the bomb meatballs and garlic bread. We will be back next time we are around to try a full entree for lunch as we keep teasing ourselves with the smells as we sit and enjoy our drinks. read more

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this was a pleasant experience. The inside looks like an old school Italian restaurant, food is good and reasonable, staff was very kind. If we lived closer, we would eat there very often. Highly recommend. I had chicken Parmesan and my daughter had Alfredo with broccoli read more

Club Lago - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My wife insisted on "real" Italian before we left town, so we booked Club Lago, which has been around nearly seventy-five years and once hosted a Robert De Niro shoot. When we arrived, the dining room was empty. At the bar, however, the Monday crowd had already advanced to boilermakers. "Sit wherever," said the host, thereby revealing our reservation as necessary as mittens in the summer. Hard to dislike the place. The staff was kind, the patrons clearly there often enough to receive mail. The food was fine in the way your friend's mother's Sunday gravy is fine: ladled, plentiful, unconcerned with Monteverde comparisons. If there's a complaint, my glass of red had been open long enough to qualify as balsamic vinegar, but it did its job of being wet. Worth a bite, especially if you like local color and unfussy pasta. Just do not go expecting a culinary revelation or a crowd that is not already on a first-name basis with the bartender. read more

Step into a true Italian generationally owned family restaurant. Arrived for lunch and met the owners, Guido and Giancarlo, who are so welcoming and down to earth. Felt like i was at the dinner table with them. Old school decor with affordable and delicious food! Liz was amazing and will definitely be back. Came on a friend's recommendation! Sit at the bar read more

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I was in the neighborhood after having lunch with my daughter. On the way to the Brown Line, I walked by Club Lago, a place I have been meaning to try after hearing rave reviews from my friends. Walked inside and was promptly greeted by the owner and server. Both made me feel welcome and treated me like a long time customer. Enjoyed some calamari and Old Style Beer. Food was excellent. Spent the next hour chatting with the owner who told me about the history of this family owned gem Old School Italian restaurant. I will definitely be back. Thanks again for a great afternoon and escape from the cold weather. read more

Wonderful guys, Guido and Giancarlo and they love fucked up comics! Their food is great and I've been to Italy. read more

Club Lago - The front! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We really enjoyed our dinner here. Plentiful old style Italian food. We started with tasty cocktails (Negroni) and wine. We got appetizers of fried calamari - delicious! And cesar salad. Mains were shrimp scalopini and breaded veal. Both were excellent and well served. Our only problem was the noisy bar. But the customers were having a nice time and the vibe was fine. Service was excellent. read more

I love this place for their spaghetti and meat sauce. It tastes identical to the way my dad made it growing up, I always come back to have it. Though recently I've been diagnosed with celiac and can no longer enjoy. Please get gluten free pasta! I miss coming back:') read more

Don't miss this place in River North! Classic old school Italian spot. Super casual but yet everything you need! Went on a Friday after work and was able to get in and out in an hour. If you like calamari- theirs is one of the best! Lightly battered and the cocktail sauce has a nice sweet taste! Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken & Broccoli added and the shrimp scampi pasta was what the waitress recommended and it didn't disappoint! The scampi sauce was super unique and much better than any one i've had. As a garlic lover, I loved the extra garlic they made it with! The dirty martinis with blue cheese olives were made right. Looking forward to making this a go to quick Italian dinner spot. You can tell it's family owned and they welcome you like family! read more

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Club Lago has a lot of history in Chicago. I've driven past it a hundred times and finally tried it tonight. I was conflicted on how many stars to give this place. Some things really stood out, some average, and some disappointing things as well. To start, the dining area is spacious and getting a table for 4 was smooth. The tables are provided with bread and butter, but it was cold and tough, so I didn't care for it. Service is strangely both fast and slow. My table had to flag down our waitress to order, which took about 10 minutes to do so. However, once we put in our orders the food came out very quickly. I would say it took longer to get our waitress to put in our orders. Mixed reviews for the house salad with grilled chicken. The chicken was incredibly juicy, but the rest of the salad was okay. However, the house made Italian sauce really pulled everything together for me and made the salad enjoyable. I tried the cheese tortellini with vodka sauce and this was delicious! It was so so good. Everything else was average. The onion rings were not crispy and lacked flavor, but they started to grow on me as I ate more. However, definitely not "best in the city". The chicken Parmesan was loved by the table and they even ordered a second plate. The establishment was very clean and full of history. read more

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Their meat sauce with mushroom is to die for!!! The capallini quality was subpar and portion was kinda small for the price. But that sauce was magic and amplified everything else. It's no surprise they've been around since the 50s. We dined on the patio and felt really safe since there weren't any tables around us. Service was top notch. The aperol spirits was light and refreshing. I couldn't taste the alcohol but the drink still tasted great. My husband ordered the veal sassi. I'm not a big meat eater but the sauce was legit! Friend got the fried calamari and had positive things to say. It's been a day and I'm still thinking about the meat & mushroom sauce. I can't believe this was my first time dining here despite living in the neighborhood for 4 years. Can't wait to come back for more of that sauce! As for enforcing COVID guidelines, I think they ask you to wear a mask walking around inside. Didn't take my temperature. Had paper menus. read more

A no frills old school italian sports bar with classic italian dishes. It's been around forever and tucked away in a quieter part of river north, but I'm glad I finally tried it. The sidewalk seating is cute, but we sat in the vintage interior. My house Chianti was very well priced for a glass of red in the area and went nicely with my meal. My friend and I split a large house salad, which was classic and fresh but not as large as I expected. I also got the pasta Francois, which wasn't what I expected either - a classic red sauce linguine with a few broccoli pieces. Nothing special but not bad either. I just wish there were descriptions on the menu so as to help with deciding what to order! I tried my friend's chicken Marsala too, and this was tender and sweet. read more

Club Lago - Pasta Francois - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was amazing ! As well as the customer service. I came before closing time and they didn't rush, everything about this place is great! read more

Club Lago - cappuccino was amazing - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This restaurant has been here for a very long time and I got a green noodle pasta with tomato and mushroom sauce. The green noodle recipe has been at this restaurant since the 1950s which I thought was very cool. It is made out of spinach, but you don't really taste that. I did order meatballs and they might've seem to forget that's OK though the sauce was good. The waiter was very friendly and knowledgeable of the recipe. The ambience was very old and family vibes. We also got the cannolis and that was very tasty. read more

This place is a joke. Go to google. Try and leave a honest review and see how the owner respond to you if it's not a good one. Food was OK definitely over priced for quality and quantity. Do not recommend. Go somewhere else that actually values you. Tried to leave a review regarding the bartender being confrontational and unnecessarily rude. The owner(who was the bartender) replied, that my Google review stating my reply was "garbage" & proceeded to tell me that I needed to "be taught". Insinuating that I do not have manners nor understand how to be in public because I let my child used the phone in the restaurant for 1 minute. The restaurant and bar is divided into two areas. The bar is right when you come in and the restaurant is the back half of the building roughly 30 feet between us and the loud bar patrons. We were the only dine in customers in there for the entire duration of our meal. My son ate all his food and as we were waiting for the check, I gave him my phone to keep him occupied while we waited. The bartender came up and asked if I needed headphones, I told him no thank you multiple times. He was very pushy kept asking & demanding that I take the headphones and wouldn't leave, even when I turned the volume down more, when I asked him if the phone was too loud he said yes. I turned off the phone we asked for the check paid and left. I would have understood if there was other customers around us or the bar wasn't loud. But that wasn't the case. This restaurant states that it is kid friendly, and from reading my review and several others I can guarantee it is not. My kid was well-behaved the whole time and that's why he was using the phone while we waited for the check. If your kids are not well behaved, if you have loud or crying, obnoxious kids or even kids with autism, I would definitely not take them here you will not be welcomed. This would have just been a review on the experience at the restaurant, but once the owner decided to reply so snidely I had to include that as well. read more

Club Lago - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I'm there often. No foo foo stuff just good, honest comfort food. A place where I feel like family. Try the manicotti, it's like my mother's. The meat sauce! The chicken Marsala. The soups! I could go on. Love the Nardini brothers and the staff. On a different note, customer phone guy from yesterday hasn't realized he was the problem. No one wants to hear about your car repair or any other crap in your life blasting on a phone WHILE THEY'RE EATING. read more

Took my son there today. Been going there since 1977. Great food, vibe, service and fairly priced. Well done Club Lago. - Luke