Elegant interior with a refined, comfortable atmosphere--this place clearly aims for a polished Italian dining experience, and it mostly delivers. Service stood out right away. Attentive, professional, and genuinely accommodating throughout the meal. The appetizers and salads were well-executed--fresh, nicely balanced, and a strong start. The pasta, however, came out unexpectedly spicy--far beyond what you'd expect from a traditional Italian profile. I had to send it back, but the staff handled it seamlessly and replaced it with a milder version without any hesitation. That level of responsiveness says a lot about their service standards. For mains, the pork leaned a bit dry, which was disappointing given the otherwise solid execution across the menu. Overall, a good experience. Not flawless, but the excellent service and strong starters make it worth considering--especially if they fine-tune consistency on the mains. read more

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Loved everything about this place! Service was fantastic with great recommendations for antipasti and wine. I had lasagna for my entree and it was truly the best I have ever had. An affogato for dessert was the perfect ending. read more

So I've been coming to Chicago for many years and I've eaten all over the city. This place doesn't get five stars because of Michelin, Coco Pazzo gets five stars because it's the overall total package. Large round tables that seat 12 which are great for groups, Jack has been greeting at the front door for years... They always make us feel at home. The food is always fresh perfect and taste like it's from Nonnas kitchen, the service is unparalleled, and the value is there. If I picked one restaurant to come back to for all Chicago, this would be it. Can't wait for my next visit! read more

Cocoo Pazoo is absolutely fantastic! Every dish is beautifully plated and bursting with flavor. You can tell that great care and attention goes into every meal, making the dining experience feel special from start to finish. The service is warm, attentive, and welcoming, which makes the experience even better. I highly recommend Cocoo Pazoo to anyone looking for outstanding food and exceptional service. I'll definitely be back! read more

Sooo Coco Pazzo was a beautiful upscale, low lit dinner spot with a really tasteful vibe. There was a bit of a hiccup with our first server, as we didn't get much attention, but once I mentioned it to the manager, they handled it right away and switched our server with care. I always enjoy an open kitchen, and it was nice being able to peek in on the cooking. The pasta was so flavorful and definitely a highlight. I also loved that they offer tableside fish deboning, it's such a fun touch to watch. Overall, I'd recommend this as a great Italian spot for a nice dinner out. read more

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This place was so delicious we went Thursday and Saturday. Watching the chef direct his crew was like watching ballet. It was so cute when he was squeezing past a cook he threw him a kiss. That restaurant ran like a well oiled machine. The huge wood post with curtains draped through the restaurant was unique. Each table felt cozy. But really everything we ate was delicious and flavorful. We were only in Chicago for four nights and we ate there twice read more

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Been awhile since I've dined here. With Bavettes slammed, opted for Italian. Ate at the bar. The restaurant was busy with marathoners filling up on pasta, the place was buzzing. Decent service at the bar, even though our server/bartender seemed like he'd prefer to be elsewhere. On to the food. Salad was delicious. Entree of veal saltimbucco was outstanding. Tender, delicious, with polenta that had such a subtle texture and flavor. Overall, a solid dining experience. read more

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Amazing service from Roberto! Very professional and kind Big 5 stars indeed! I will come back with my friends and family read more

This is such a consistent restaurant with great service and a delicious menu. It also has tables spaced for conversations and not having to shout plus the curtains dampen the noise. Jennifer was a terrific server with good suggestions and attentiveness. Before the meal started they brought out stuzzichini as a started, small Italian finger food and delicious bread. I had the crudo to start which was terrific. I should have taken a picture. The pappardelle rabbit ragu was perfect. You don't see rabbit on many menus. Everyone enjoyed their meals, which I didn't track because mine was so good! It's a tough neighborhood to park and they have a very reasonable valet service. read more

For high end dining, you definitely get what you pay for here. The Rigatoni Alla Buttera was divine! Exceptional drinks and attentive service. Peroni was ice cold and the espresso was just as it should be. Carpaccio appetizer was delicious. And service was fantastic. Overall a great experience. Atmosphere is kind of uptight so 4 stars on that because I love a place that knows what they are without overdoing it. Would absolutely visit again, sit at the bar and try a pizza from their wood fired oven. read more

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This restaurant could be great, but it just appeared to be understaffed on the restaurant floor this Saturday night. Our poor waiter was running around like a chicken with his head cut off. Once we ordered he became scarce as his # of tables increased. We couldn't tell exactly but he had at least 12 tables some with pretty large parties. Anyway onto to food critique. Food: The restaurant delivers a small spinach and cheese between flatbread delighter upon seating , not a lot of flavor on this. Also received some focaccia bread and bread sticks with some olive oil for dipping. Would have been better if they had added a little salt and pepper to the oil or ideally some balsamic vinegar. We started with the special duck ragu with a pappardelle style pasta. This was delicious!!! Would have been great with some Parmesan but we couldn't make eye contact to flag anyone down, by the time one of the waitstaff noticed we hadn't gotten the parm we were 3/4 of the way through the course. We also ordered the Branzino. Very excited as many reviews had raved and we saw a couple other parties have this filleted table side while we were there. Unlike the others we saw, ours was delivered on the cart but sat there getting cold until another female waiter from the section next to us noticed and came over and started the filleting process. Unfortunately it seemed her 1st time as there was quite a few bones left behind and a fair amount of the fish was left on the original serving platter and never made it to our plates. It also took her awhile. So basically it was relatively cold by the time it made it to our table. Also would have benefitted from a little bit of salt and pepper with the lemon that was provided but again we could not flag anyone down to provide this. There was also a fairly long wait between our 1st and 2nd courses of 32 minutes. I'm not one to complain especially when you see someone struggling as our waiter was this evening, however with tip this is a $162 meal. It should be properly and timely served, right? If you are dining here I would suggest sitting at the bar. It seemed that those diners were getting consistent service and timely delivery of food. Also perhaps come early before the dining room fills up and they are under duress. And ask for pepper and salt at the beginning so that if needed it will be there for u. Maybe Parmesan as well. Ambiance of restaurant is lovely and has a good vibe and feel. read more

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Great service wonderful food. When I was inpatient for three months at Shirley Ryan, it was my go to for a good dinner out. Also had a huge birthday luncheon there, it could not have worked out better. read more

This establishment has a very old-fashioned/rustic esthetic, and I quite enjoyed it. The service was nice and it didn't take long for them to take our order. There are two complementary dishes, a bread and olive oil plate and a spinach and cheese baked dish. Each was created very well, but the spinach dish didn't have as much flavor as I would have liked,but it was a nice addition. We got the beet salad to share, so they split it into two plates, which was nice. It was refreshing, and the mixture of dressing, fruit, cheese, and salad was pretty good. The truffle fries were next, and they were probably the best version of this dish I have ever had. It seems they fried the potatoes with rosemary stems and shallots, which added a delicious flavor blend. Finally, the bolognese was my main dish. It was simplistic but fresh and had a very tomato heavy flavor profile. It was good, but I wish it had a little more intricacy to its flavor. I would probably try another dish next time. Overall, I recommend this Italian restaurant for some delicious food and great service. There seems to be a lot of potentially great menu items to check out. read more

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Great food, service, and ambience. Obviously very popular. Loved the carciofini salad and the Arrabiata pasta with eggplant- never had that before and loved it. And unlike so many places, the Arrabiata here was actually pretty zingy--which is what I'm looking for! Had a very sweet waitress who took great care of my friend and I. I'd definitely go again! read more

Coco Pazzo - Arugula salad w/ artichoke- carciofini - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The restaurant is celebrating its 30th year. With my partner, a long time ago, had memorable meals at Coco on a number of occasions . Partner was otherwise engaged, so after the One-Of-A-Kind show, this time it was daughter and me giving it a go. How was it? Basically, it was all great: service, soup, appetizer, pizza, and pasta. The soup was lentil with prosciutto - small lentils mixed with bits of prosciutto - a slight added ingredient that delighted. The appetizer was a combination of several bean varieties; mixed with a light dressing - lively on what was a cold day. One test of a restaurant is their pizza. We went with Pizza Diavola which featured spicy sausage. Neapolitan in style, the sausage was perfect with its rich tomato sauce. Rigatoni alla Buttera featured fennel sausage. Another artful creation. All of this was perfectly timed by the waitstaff. One had the feeling they were determined to present an extraordinary enjoyable meal. And they did. PS - to start, a small compliment of an appetizer came - great too, nice gesture. And the bread along with breadsticks was, surprise, also great as well. read more

Coco Pazzo - An early Sunday evening, about to start a great meal adventure - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was in Chicago for a business trip, and went to this restaurant on the recommendation of a colleague. There were 11 of us total, but the absolutely impeccable service matched the entirely delectable meal, from apps to dessert. This restaurant is top notch, and will definitely be on repeat for any Chicago trips! JOB WELL DONE read more

Coco Pazzo is a very good Tuscan style restaurant. Tables are large, that are not too close together. Service started slow, but regained it's footing. Enjoyed a couple of apps, salads and split the large steak . Wine was also not crazy priced read more

My medical school friends and I came here on one of the biggest days of our lives--residency match day! After a successful match, all of us were excited to have a nice dinner and spend the evening together. I booked this place for my friends and our guests on Friday for a total of 9 people at 8:30pm. We like Italian and it seemed to accommodate larger groups, so why not? We walked in right on time for our reservation. They said we'd be seated shortly. However, we had to wait 45 MINUTES for our table. We were told to congregate in the crowded area by the door that people used to enter/exit. I've never had to wait that long anywhere. We decided to approach them, and apparently it was because the party at our table would not leave. They seemed unapologetic about it and ignored us every time we asked. They could have made other arrangements or have us sit at the bar or something. When we were finally seated, they just gave us extra bread as an "apology". It was delicious bread, but I think they could've at least gotten us a bottle of wine or something for that long wait... The drinks were fine--nothing special. I ordered the rigatoni dish, and it was not good at all. The sauce was mediocre at best. The sausage tasted old, and I think I felt it the next day. It came out to almost $60 per person which was a complete ripoff. I'm disappointed that a very important evening did not go at all as planned. Will not be returning. read more

They were able to accommodate a party of 10 on short notice on a Saturday night. Excellent food, attentive service! Will be back again for sure! read more

Food was excellent and was not overly priced. Service was very friendly and attentive. read more

Coco Pazzo - Negroni Sbagliato - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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love this place! staff is great and the food is better. it's an institution and if he haven't been here in a while you should check it back out. read more

Coco Pazzo - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really nice restaurant for a special occasion or semi casual dining in River North. Their pasta is all hand made and the prices aren't as bad as I originally thought! Reservations are also suggested. This traditionally modern Italian restaurant has been a Chicago staple for many years. The atmosphere is great for friends, business dinners, or a date. The portions are perfect. Not extremely large, but not small either. You certainly get your money's worth. I ordered the Taglioni Neri which has squid ink. There was a medley of seafood, and they were not stingy with it. Cocktails here were also delish. I wasn't sure about the flavoring of a drink, so they had me try a taste of one of the ingredients, which resulted in me ordering and enjoying it! This is a great place to try different Italian creations. I do suggest it. Keep in mind the El is right above it, so sitting outside might be loud. But hey, it's Chicago. read more

Coco Pazzo - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I visited this restaurant with a large group after a meeting. They accommodated our group well the nice large table and they were able to accommodate separate checks, which was lovely. However, I have to say the food was definitely underwhelming. I got the soup of the day, which had lentils and "aromatic vegetables" along with some type of meat but the meat was cut so small I barely noticed them and there was nothing special about the vegetables the soup was warm and tasty but definitely underwhelming as one of the specials. The waiter recommended I get a side because the soup was small, but when the soup came out it was more than enough for a small meal and the truffle fries were also disappointing. When in town for a meeting and trying to visit all the great spots, I would pass on this location if I came back again. The ambiance was great and wasn't too loud, but food left a great deal to be desired. read more

This place is a Chicago tradition and it is Italian food at its very finest. I've eaten here many many times over the years and am stunned it's taken me so long to say something about them. It's reliably EXCELLENT. The menu is varied and there are always a few specials. I had the stuffed chicken breast last night and it was fantastic. I've had their pastas in the past and really they cannot be outdone in Chicago. The lentil soup was a wonderful start and the chocolate cake a must. It's worth mentioning that it's delightfully quiet so that you can talk to your guests. The loft space is so elegant and the dark blue velvet drapes and high ceilings add a lovely element of rustic sophistication. When you walk in you are transported back to Italy with a vegetable spread... I just love it. Great wine and cocktails list, service attentive, delicious bread to start the meal.. The owner Jack Weiss is always on site watching over things and talking to patrons to assure they are having the experience they deserve, and as usual he was there last night. If this place isn't on your list put it there. read more

Everything here is great! Service, food and ambiance. The cocktail and menu options are excellent. It's a great place for a birthday or date night. read more

Coco Pazzo - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Service, ambiance, food, attention to our food allergies -- impeccable and delicious!!

Very disappointed! We asked the sommelier for a full bodied bottle of wine and got something that was a little darker than pink! My husband ordered the pasta with clams and got a bolognese sauce! I ordered the fish special which was striped bass. It was so fishy I could hardly eat it! All in all, very expensive and not worth it. One last detail, we waited for a long time just to be waited on. We were told at least three times, we will be right with you! read more

Ambiance: comfortable Italian feel. Service: attentive, friendly, professional Martini: watery Wines: great Bread: yummy Roasted broccoli starter: bland, mushy Mediterranean whole sea bass: AMAZING! read more

Ordered medium rare steak and came out well done. We sent it back. It came back rare. And we sent it back again. And the third time it came out medium and we took it. The manager came and gas lit us saying it was medium rare the first time. My girlfriend ordered coffee and the cream was curdled. As compensation we got two tiny cookies. read more

Went last night for dinner with friends and family as it was the last night before my daughter leaves to college. We had a great meal, the service was excellent and the recommendations by our waitress were perfect. I highly recommend coco Pazzo. Very authentic Italian food. read more

Good service, and tasty food. I recommend the peach Bellini drink and the penne all arrabiata. My friend had the spaghetti alle vongole and said it was cooked really well. Wish we had room to try the dessert after, but we were very filled from the bread and entrees! read more

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One of my favorite places to go for Italian food when I visit Chicago. I love everything about this restaurant. The food, the service, the ambience everything. read more

I got the Tagliolini Neri - a seafood dish. It was great. The chef also brought out an appetizer, which was greatly appreciated, and quite tasty. read more

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Service was wonderful, food was delicious. The rustic atmosphere is reminiscent of a Tuscan trattoria. It's a little pricey, but very tasty! read more

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Service is very attentive, but not overbearing. Nice environment. Not crowded, but not totally empty on a Thursday when I went. Good selection of daily specials. Disappointed in the lamb shank, but I'd come back to try another dish. read more

Dinner at Coco Pazzo is consistently a solid choice for excellent Italian Tuscan cooking and our favorite Italian spot in the city. The service is perfect-knowledgeable, professional and always attentive never annoying, management frequently surveys the room and ensures all is going smoothly. Sophisticated comfortable environment that is conversation friendly. Beautiful elevated open kitchen behind a sparkling bar. Raised built in wood burning oven adds to the ambiance and produces great food. Consider one of their excellent pizzas as a starter-we cant avoid doing this every time we come. Food and drink are a level above. This fantastic restaurant makes other spots with forgetable "tasting menus" and nothing but "sharing plates" seem foolish. read more

Excellent food and excellent service. Ambiance is perfect for an upscale Italian restaurant. There were 10 of us so we shared several dishes including the pizza and Caprese. Everything was delicious! Will definitely recommend! read more

To start off, the entree foods were solid. I had the tagliatelle and it was pretty good. However, the service was not great. My waiter over poured my drink where it spilled on the tablecloth. The cocktails that my friends got were definitely sub-par. The ambiance in the restaurant was a little busy. Our waiter seemed like he was doing a lot of tables at once. Overall, a decent spot but they could use some improvement. read more

Note: I came here for Thanksgiving dinner, so my experience might not be the norm. Instead of getting the Thanksgiving course, my sister and I ordered a la carte from their usual menu. We started with Polpo Arrosto (wood-roasted octopus) and Barbabietole (beet salad); overall, these appetizers tasted fine, but we were shocked by how small the Barbabietole was. $14 for six small pieces of beet and a sprinkle of greens? That's a no from me. For our main course, we shared two pastas: the Spaghetti Alle Vongole wasn't memorable, but the Pappardelle al Cinghiale was phenomenal. This was my first time having wild boar meat, and I loved the way they balanced its natural sweetness with warm spices. If you don't know what to get, trust me and order the Pappardelle al Cinghiale. All in all, the food and service were decent but disappointing considering the price. Will I be returning? Probably not. But on the off chance you do see me here again, know that I only came for the Pappardelle al Cinghiale! read more

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When we visit Chicago this is a usually on the radar. Good all around. Pastas are always great and my wife loved the seafood stew. read more

Coco Pazzo - Pasta dish with rabbit. - Tuscan Near Me - Chicago, Illinois