Sea bass filleted table-side. Definitely recommend to anyone in Chicago

I hold them to a much higher standard than I would an 'ordinary' Italian restaurant, given the prices and presentation. OK here we go: Overall it was good but some glaring, non-authetic faux pas were: 1) the waiter pronounced "bruschetta" as "brushetta". Hello, this is not Olive Garden. I corrected him (it is pronounced "brusketta") and this pezzo di merda insisted on continuing to call it "brushetta". Fortunately I was not paying for the meal or I would have cut several bucks off his tip just for being a cazzo about it. 2) I was also offered grated cheese on my seafood dish. I'm willing to forgive this a little, as perhaps the clientele doesn't know any better. But you NEVER put cheese on your seafood. Not if it is authentic Italian food. 3) What the menu sold as "pappardelle al cinghiale" was NOT wild boar sauce; it was surely made with short ribs. I effing know my cinghiale and that sauce was not made with boar meat. A more honest menu would have added the word 'style' somewhere. Ok it wasn't all bad. The antipasto was excellent, all of it. I liked my black squid ink pasta. My steak was good. The espresso was very good (many American Italian-style restaurants fall down on the espresso when the rest of the meal is acceptable). The wine choices were very good, though I'm not from Chicago so paying nearly $20 for a glass of wine that's not even a reserve gave me a bit of sticker shock. Would I return? Probably not at these prices. When I go to an expensive Italian restaurant that puts on airs like being the authentic thing, it better be authentic. By that standard, Coco Pazzo is hit-and-miss. If you don't mind dropping a few bucks in a nice joint and don't particularly care how authentic it is, then... sure why not. read more

Went here for restaurant week. Great food. Service took over 2 hours. It's Restaurant Week, guys. If you can't handle the volume, don't participate. Not even an apology or acknowledgement from the waiter. $200 better spent elsewhere. Shame. Liked this place. read more

This has been our go-to special occasion restaurant for over a decade. They have exquisite Italian food, brick oven pizzas and the best chateaubrion steak for two in the entire city (rivals the best steak houses). The service is impeccable and they have a very fine wine list. read more

I was just here for dinner a week ago. It is definitely one of my favorite haunts. I just love the food, the sausage rigatoni is to die for! Great service, and a cool lofty feel about the place. You also may get lucky and spot a celebrity there, Jennifer Anniston and Vince Vaughn just ate there!!! If thats not a ringing endorsement! read more

Went here for restaurant week on a sat. night. Ambiance is ok, I was expecting something a little more quiet. I must say the dishes came out pretty fast and the staff were very attentative. I got the spicy octopus for appetizer(very good) and the monkfish for my entree. It was ok, not bad not great. The veggies surrounding the fish were good though. My wife got the risotto which was pretty good. I know I went for restaurant week, but I don't think our food was worth $32 each. It wasn't unique as another reviewer pointed out. So I doubt I will return or really talk this place up. Try it out for yourself, but don't walk in with high expectations. read more

Good food but a little expensive. The service as certainly good too. The waiter paid very careful and thoughtful instruction to our request and needs. There is a bit of an older crowd there so it is definitely not a fun joint but the food is good and that is most important. They serve strong drinks and have a good wine list as well. The portions are small but if you are looking for big portions you should go Maggianos or something this is a classy joint. The whole fish and pasta is recommended and the bread service is nice. I would avoid the Rib eye. It is fatty and tiny for its price. For steak in the area go next door to Gene and Georgetti. read more

This dining experience was such a disappointment from the time we sat down. It was quite embarrassing to watch not only the waiter but the manager blatantly neglect certain tables. Our waiter seemed to have no time for us, constantly rushing us to order or any questions we had was simply a nuisance. I had an empty glass of wine for over half the meal and was never asked for a second one. He would disappeared for 20 minutes at a time nowhere to be found. When our food came we wanted cheese for the pasta however we couldn't find our server, or any server at that point, and then after 5 minutes we finally grabbed a bus boy to help us. Overall, poor service from the waiter, but the real tragedy was watching the manager. The manager walked to every table around us spending half an hour (not exaggerating) each talking and laughing, and then as he come to our table we smile and look at him and he awkwardly makes eye contact says hello and walks away. Now, are we spending as much as the table of ten or the table of two who bought three bottles of wine, no, but to not even ask how is everything, or hows your night been...not a good way to save face. We easily could have spent 50% more on wine or dessert, but we just wanted to get out of there before I blew up, which isn't something you want to do on an anniversary date. The worst part of it all, the food was actually really good! The antipasti and both pastas we ordered were delicious. Even though the food was so good, I would be hard pressed to go back. Could this have been a fluke, just a poor night for service, yes. However, when you are a restaurant like Coco Pazzo there isn't room for poor service like this. read more

After calling the Hubbard location to check if we could still order food on Friday October 5th at 9:30pm, we were told that we could still order food and that the Kitchen would close at 10:30pm. So, we arrived at 9:50pm on Friday October 5th and were then told upon entering by a man in a suit at the front reception desk that the kitchen was close and we "had to get our order in in 5 minutes if we wanted to stay." After being told this, we felt very rushed and unwelcome the entire meal. I would not return to Coco Pazzo. Additionally, the food is solid but nothing special and the prices are quite high. read more

Excellent food and Danny was an excellent server! Great wine selection thoroughly enjoyable for couples or large groups!

Let me just speak to the pastas. I would give the rest of the meal 4 stars, but the papardelle with rabbit and the farfalle with pesto, tomato, and sausage were worth a special trip! The flavors were amazing! We have eaten many excellent meals and, sorrowfully, far too many lackluster ones. The food at Coco Pazzo was the culinary highlight of our trip to Chicago. A special nod to our server Maurice, who defied the lower expectations in some of the other reviews. He was cheerful, knowledgeable, and attentive. Well done, CP! read more

The service was great but the food was not that good and a bit over priced. I want to like it but it made us a bit Ill after we left.

Fantastic! My company had our annual holiday party at Coco Pazzo this afternoon, and it was a great experience. The restaurant definitely aims to please, and provided us with excellent food and service. They really went above and beyond, letting us bring in a special cake for dessert and even allowing us to linger long after lunch service had passed. The party was 10 people in all, and our waiters kept our water glasses topped off, and kept the wine flowing. Our food arrived in a timely manner, with the perfect spacing between courses. There was a slight lag in time between when our cake was brought to the table and when we were asked for our coffee order, but that could have been due to timing, as other tables were being closed out around that point in the afternoon. Overall, I was happy with my meal, and my lunch companions also seemed quite pleased. I had the Finocchio e Arancia (a salad of shaved fennel, blood orange, pomegranate seeds, pecorino & lemon oil) minus the pecorino, and it was a surprisingly wonderful blend of tangy and savory. The pomegranate seeds provided surprising interludes of sweetness. For my main course, the Verdure in Cartoccio could not have been a better choice. Everyone else at the table had pasta, beautifully presented, however, the presentation and opening of my parchment-wrapped steamed vegetables was the real show stopper. Not to mention that the dish, steamed in olive oil and accented with fennel, rosemary, and sea salt, was unbelievably fresh. I found myself almost purring with happiness between bites. I also had a bite of the Polenta con Funghi (not as good as Bistro Campagne's polenta, unfortunately), and an incredibly well-made double espresso. I look forward to going back. If the service, food, and atmosphere of today are any indication, it seems Coco Pazzo would definitely be a 5-star experience with fewer dining companions and a little bit more personalized service than was possible today. read more

A fantastic place to grab lunch or dinner. They have the most wonderful antipasto bar and a lengthy wine selection. The wait staff is friendly and the service was above and beyond. Must try the mussels and the risotto of the day. I'll definitely return! read more

Solid Italian food. Great pasta dishes. Thinking about this restaurant brings me back to my days in Chicago where I would eat here until I'm 2 lbs heavier, laugh with friends, eat and gain 2 more pounds, drink with friends, gain 5 more pounds, and feel like a giant ball of yarn. read more

Oh my goodness this was delicious! My friend, a lover of all things Italian, chose this to celebrate her birthday, because she said it was the only place that had Black ink squid pasta. Even in Italy, it's rare, supposedly. So, the 5 of us ladies went and most of us enjoyed our food immensely. I had the pasta with rabbit...yes...adventurous but ah well worth it. The Black ink squid did not disappoint my friends. I tried my friend's Gnocci and it was light and infused with herbs...really delicious. Only one of us didn't like our entree...she ordered some type of fish. The deserts were also divine. I just couldn't share mine. It was expensive, but so so well worth it. It's been a long time since I've been to a decent Italian place. read more

I just have to say that: this place is the real thing. Al dente to perfection, great staff and ambiance. Sublime dessert. Zero complains.

Great restaurant. A couple of coworkers took me here to lunch and it was a great experience. From the menu, I immediately got the impression that these people know what they are doing (I am European and do know authentic Italian food quite well). I was assured that my first impression was right by the delicious and refreshing "Insalata Caprese" and by every bite of the "Rigattoni Burrata" that I enjoyed. Kudos Coco Pazzo! read more

We've never had such a terrible experience! It took forever for our waiter to come and greet us. After we ordered our drinks it took about 20 minutes to get them. I think we may have seen our waiter twice that evening. The food was not so good. The waiters and manager seemed more focused on a group sitting next to us. I would never consider this a top tier restaurant... read more

My husband, business colleges and I attended lunch on Monday. The food and service were impeccable and prompt, making this the perfect business lunch spot. Our server Eric, was knowledgeable and walked us through the menu, I had the rigatoni and the artichokes salad which was the perfect lunch. The manager Rachel checked on our table often and chatted with us, which made us feel important. I highly recommend! read more

This is an authentic slice of upscale Italian dining. From the moment you walk in the door and behold their wondrous display of antipasto, your senses are enveloped in a lush, fragrant ambiance. The food is excellent across the board and reflects well the nuances of Italian food as Italians enjoy it. The service is excellent. read more

I have to admit that Coco Pazzo was my one of the best restaurants in the city, before I got terrible experience on my celebration day... My husband and I just got registered in the county office and went to Coco Pazzo for our special day. The seat they served was a small inside table, although we had a reservation. However I saw there were a couple empty seats besides the window... When we ordered, we had appetizers, beef thin slice, and oven tomato with cheese, duck pasta, pizza, and a dessert. Everything was decent, and I really liked the appetizers. Both of us vomited after we left the restaurant, like two-three hours later. We didn't have any food after the lunch (we went there for lunch), so what we thought about was food we had at lunch time. Even though they serve good food, this shouldn't really happen for customers . We do not have any allergy on the food we had on the day, so something they served was wrong... We felt that our special day was so screwed up and we went to bed earlier on the day.... what a sad memory for our special day.... read more

Classy place. Snooty looking fellow diners. We did not have an appetizer because nothing appealed to me. I enjoyed the complimentary bread sticks and bread. The olive oil served with it was the best I have ever tasted! Who knew olive oil could taste so good? We were served 2 mini complimentary mushroom appetizers as well. Tasty. I had artichoke ravioli for my meal. Authentic Italian! Small portion yet perfectly done. I do not like always leaving a restaurant overly stuffed so I cannot complain about the tiny portion. Besides, that left room for dessert! I HIGHLY enjoyed my mini pecan pie. Very unique, not overly sweet. This place is a winner. read more

We were a party of 8 visiting on a Friday night. Our meal service was atrociously slow. Not our waiters fault--he kept apologizing. I think 5 of our party ordered the Branzino. We suspected they had to go out to catch the fish. Took over 1-1/2 hours for our meals to be served from the time we ordered. The restaurant was busy but not full. My wife ordered the Rigatoni dish. The pasta was significantly undercooked. Pretty poor for a "good" Italian restaurant. I had the Branzino. It was nice, but nothing special. All in all, a very disappointing evening that cost me a lot of money. I definitely would not return. read more

Solid Italian food, but there are better options in Chicago. The pasta was good, the halibut was average. Nothing too exciting about this restaurant. read more

First time back in 25 years as I don't travel to Chicago often but this is a must stop. From the cordial greeting to the appreciative "good night" everything was spot on! Pre-dinner cocktail (perfect), pizza from brick oven (better than anything we had earlier in the week), wine recommendations were great and the entrees were outstanding. What a great night!!! Highly recommend. Hope to make it back soon. read more

Best service was the bartender. Our server was ok - a lot of older, stuffy clientele. Food was better than average Italian but a bit pricey for the portion sizes and for basic pasta dishes. Ambiance is nice - read more

Fantastic lunch. Had the cheese and mushroom pizza. Great service, and very delicious. Their bread selection before the meal is great. I haven't been for dinner, but would definitely return given the experience we had for lunch. Service staff is quite attentive, and prompt. read more

I really love the food at Coco Pazzo. The mushroom risotto, the rigotoni, and the panna cotta are among my favorites. The first time I came to Coco Pazzo, it was an intimate dinner with two of my closest friends. We had great food, caught up on life, and it was an amazing time. However, I would definitely not recommend coming here for a larger party. Recently I organized a reunion dinner for 20 people. After I made the reservation, the manager contacted me and suggested fixing up a custom three-course menu for $65 a person. It was a bit pricey but wasn't bad and we decided to go for it. The manager responded quickly to my emails and was open to answering all questions that I had. Everything up until the actual moment that we arrived at the restaurant was fine. The food itself was good and my friends and I did have a good time, but the whole night, the manager was honestly pretty rude. Although they had informed me over the phone about separating our party into two round tables, some of my friends really wanted the tables to be combined in some way because we were all supposed to be spending time with one another. However, the manager only curtly informed us over and over that they couldn't do that because the tables couldn't fit that many people and if we combined the tables, it would waste floor space in which other customers could be dining. At the end of our dinner, I had to speak to him really quickly about the $500 deposit that the restaurant asked me to put down for the reservation. The manager again seemed kind of snappy and very distracted. I understand that the restaurant was busy and we were dining at the peak of their rush, but really, he could have been a little more courteous. He appeared very focused on the other customers and making sure he could fill the restaurant to maximum capacity. I'd go back, but only with a few friends next time. read more

Delicious antipasti. If there are any specific items you would like to be included be sure to tell server as not everything that is on the front table will be presented unless you ask. Linguine with clams was a bit oily but still delicious. Very impressed with freshness and quality of ingredients. read more

Hands down one of the best meals of I have had this year....I had the spacci which is their "irregular" pasta but it was cooked with a delicious white wine sauce with perfect seasoning. The service was a little slow but very traditional italian which I really appreciated, read more

Probably the best Italian restaurant so far in downtown Chicago. Started with the daily special antipasto which consisted of grilled veggies, cheeses and cured meats - could have been heavier on the cheeses (only 1 kind although it was delicious). I got the artichoke/arugula salad which was wonderful. Then I had the sea bass which was ridiculously fresh and prepared for you (de-boned) right at your tableside like all decent Italian places do. They have a pretty good wine list and their dessert selection is great. The service was fine but I thought our waitress could have been friendlier. read more

i mean...this italian restaurant is the real deal. i don't know why i haven't written a review before this, because i love coco pazzo and always have an amazing dinner/experience. the wait staff does a wonderful job and the food is so delicious and fresh; i always do the happy dance when i eat here. you should def. go to coco pazzo. it's super delicious! read more

3.5 stars. Not my favorite Italian place but I've dined here twice, once about five years ago and once a couple months ago. I'm sure my palate has matured since five years ago, but the food was still pretty solid a couple months ago. read more

I've been here twice, once for my birthday, once for an anniversary. This is solid high end Italian food. Is it a little stuffy for my tastes? Maybe. It's definitely an older crowd. Still, if its a special occasion and you want a quieter, more elegant scene, this is a great choice. read more

I had the Pork Tenderloin wrapped in bacon with a glass of Chardonnay. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. That pork sure was tender and juicy. The quality and taste of the food is magnificent. I was also looking at other people's dishes and it look just as appetizing. The waiters and waitresses did their job and were fast-pace and polite and very attentative... but it was missing that personable, genuine friendliness. I was eating by myself and would often try to joke around or spark small chat while they were serving me... but it was all very cold and left the restaurant rather lonely and unsatisfied other than my belly being full of good food. Other than that... if you don't care about the service so much and just want good food, then COME HERE! The prices can be a little steep, so this isn't a good place to go if you're trying to save the bills. read more

This place was wonderful and romantic. I was in town for restaurant week and I highly recommend it to anyone out for an elegant setting and delicious dinner! read more

Came in to enjoy some wine and boy what a selection! I was meeting a friend for happy hour and arrived rather early, as in about 20-30mins before they opened but that didn't seem to phase the bartender one bit. He was VERY warm and welcoming and gave his input when I asked his opinion about the wine selection; he also gave a very nice pour which was appreciated as the wine was SCRUMPTIOUS. Upon my friend arriving we decided to peruse the menu and as we looked, the bartender offered us a samply to enjoy. NICE TOUCH! We ended up ordering a pizza which was pretty tasty, it may have been a special but if there is a pizza option you are considering, I'd highly recommend it. We also enjoyed a tasty dessert plate with a variety of selections, courtesy of another friend who worked there and every bite we had was DELIGHTFUL so I'd also recommend saving room for dessert. Buon Appetito! read more

I have been here twice, my other visit was to the Coco Pazzo cafe on St Clair St. I liked the cafe and my sister wanted to book this for my bachelorette party dinner with family. It was very good experience, we enjoyed ourselves alot and the food was awesome. The people there very nice. The only downside of my whole experience was that the service was wayyy tooo slow. We almost waited an hour for our food to arrive. Apart from that it was an awesome experience. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants an Italian fine dining experience, good for date nights too. :) read more

First visit in years -- formerly one of our favorite Tuscan restaurants in the US. Sister / cousin of former Coco Pazzo locations / Le Madri (RIP) in NYC. Good: Same lovely upscale, serene venue. Bad: Perhaps we just hit an off night -- Sunday in March 2019 -- but food quality, presentation, and service was at best fair, a far cry from its glory days two decades ago. First course was meh; risotto tasteless; main course fish dish was over-cooked and not fresh. Dessert was forgettable. Given other (positive) recent reviews, need to revisit the next time we are in Chicago -- if feeling adventurous. We miss the old Coco Pazzo. read more