I liked this place as soon as I walked in! The ambience is great! We sat at the bar and had lovely service and our server was so kind to help answer a few questions from us first timers. We settled on a wine we wanted to enjoy (and did), loved the little gem Caesar salad, and ate every bit of our pasta. I will say, I want to go back and try more pastas. The ones that felt familiar to us have a twist and I'm not sure in a way that I loved. They're well made and I'm sure are other people's favorite dishes. But you know when you go somewhere and you end up finding something you love but would never normally order? I think that's the case for me here. I'm excited to come back and explore more of their offerings...including dessert. read more

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In searching for a restaurant to go to prior to seeing a play at Steppenwolf, I was lucky enough to stumble upon Denucci's. Located in the space that was formally Four Farthings, this cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant was such a great find and we were lucky enough to find parking in this busy Lincoln Park neighborhood. The interior of Denucci's consists of tables, cozy booths, and a beautiful bar. I was obviously late to the game in finding this restaurant because it was bustling with what looked like locals with a mixture of young and old patrons. We had incredible service between the waiter and the supplementary wait staff. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and gave great recommendations. One of which was he had worked at many restaurants, but had never been at one like Denucci's where they used a piccata sauce on the Bronzino. Two people in our party had it and said it was delightful. With the appetizers, the bruschetta had a nice twist with pesto spread as well as the standard bruschetta topping. My friend got the house salad that was meant for one, but definitely could've served two. All the food was timed perfectly, giving us plenty of time to enjoy our food and get out in time to attend our play. For our main course, I shared eggplant Parmesan, and a special of the day: Robiola Agnolotti al Tartufo a stuffed pasta with truffle butter, parmigiano reggiano and autumn black truffle. I really loved the eggplant which is my go to it most Italian restaurants and the pasta truffle was absolutely delicious especially if you're a truffle fan. We ended with delicious desserts and we thought the price of the gelato was very reasonable. I had affogato and our friends absolutely adored the amaretto tiramisu. I would say that yes the prices were expensive, but probably no more expensive than other restaurants these days and it was just a delightful meal in every way. Great atmosphere, excellent food service, neighborhood appeal and ambience. Definitely a place I'll return to. read more

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It's giving the Jon and Vinny's of Chicago vibe wise with better portion sizes and about similar prices. I still have never tried pizza at either place though. Anyways, I did like it and would go back and try more if I had to eat out at an Italian place since I avoid them. All of the food was genuinely solid though and I have no complaints. I personally really liked my kale salad with chicken and their homemade gelatos are served in frozen cups, which is not pictured, but nice! read more

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Exploring Chicago on a culinary food weekend. DeNucci's is an neighborhood Italian dining destination, reservations are a must. The place is hopping with a great wait staff and scrumptious entrees passing by our table. We ordered the garlic knots, a pepperoni pizza appetizer, spicy crab campanelle and tagliatelle bolognese. The vibe here is high energy and very lively. The garlic knots were inhaled with a light, buttery, garlickly and delicious gravy. Our pepperoni pizza was piping hot, savory and quickly consumed. The crab pasta was light, flavorful and a delicious combination. The bolognese was stacked with meat, great homemade pasta and a good flavor. Denucci's was a nice, high energy and relaxing experience. The food was good, service was spot-on and packed with locals, all enjoying a fine meal. For a nice evening out, lively environment and good food, get over to DeNucci's. read more

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Service was wonderful, nice clean restaurant. We had appetizers and the octopus (grilled) was outstanding, garlic knots we delicious, artichokes were also a must order (tender) and arancini was delightful. My husband did order the special that night which was tonnarelli all'amatriciana which was very salty and we left 3/4 of it. Over all it was a lovely restaurant and evening. Yes I would return. read more

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I feel like it's been a challenge to find Italian restaurants open for lunch on the weekends, so I was happy to realize that Denucci's was. I ordered the Spaghetti Limone ($21). It was good. My husband had the Mushroom White Pizza ($28). They also charge a 3% surcharge. Solid Italian restaurant I would return to. read more

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First restaurant I've been to in Chicago and it didn't disappoint. Our server, Nick, was so kind, gave great recommendations, and was attentive to us. We started with the caesar salad and garlic rolls, which were great. Split the bolognese tagliatelle and the frutti di mare (their Friday special). Some of the best pasta I've ever had!! The seafood pasta was so perfect, the sauce was velvety, perfectly salted and had the right amount of acid. The scallops were so buttery and cooked perfectly. The desserts were great too, my especially the pistachio blondie sundae. Ambience, music, and small details of the restaurant were amazing . Would honestly eat here every night of our trip. read more

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Stopped into DeNuccis after a long walk around the Lincoln Park area to get a late lunch. It was a beautiful day so we took a seat on their patio, which was super cute. We started off with their spritz pitcher, which was delicious. Then opted for a Caesar salad before diving into our pastas, which was a fresh way to start our meal. We tried the Lumache Arrabbiata, their take on a Spicy vodka pasta. I really enjoyed this and it is quite a large portion. We also got the spaghetti limone, tastes almost like buttered noodles with lemon - yum! Everything was delicious. Paired with great service, we would definitely return again. read more

DeNuccis - Lumache Arrabbiata - New American Near Me - Lincoln Park, Illinois

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A beautiful space in Lincoln park. The food was delicious and service great. I recommend you try this out and recommend you try their pizza. read more

DeNuccis may be the best Italian Restaurant in Chicago. Not only is the service great, but their food hits the mark every single time. We tried their Lobster Angolotti this time, and it was so delicious! The lobster cream sauce is to die for, and the pasta was a perfect al dente. They don't skimp on the lobster meat. I also loved their Amaretto Tiramisu. It was creamy, soft, and balanced. Overall, highly recommend DeNuccis and will definitely be coming back every Chicago visit. read more

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We had such a great experience here! The cocktails were excellent--creative, balanced, and just what you want to kick off a night out. For food, we tried the white mushroom pizza, tonarelli with gold pomodoro and a Caesar salad, and everything was absolutely delicious. Fresh ingredients, great flavor, and generous portions. We were able to share these between 3 people and we had leftovers. We sat outside and loved the atmosphere--cozy with heat lamps that kept it comfortable, even when it got chilly. The staff couldn't have been friendlier or more attentive, which made the night even better. We peeked inside too, and the interior looked really cool--definitely a spot I'd come back to for both the vibe and the food. Highly recommend if you're looking for Italian in Chicago with great food, drinks, and ambiance! read more

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Good pasta, mediocre service. I came with a friend on a Wednesday night and I have to give DeNuccis credit they do a great job of keeping tables full! I arrived about 10 mins early for my reservation and was told to wait at the bar for my table. While at the bar, the bartender completely ignored me never asking if I wanted anything while waiting. The busser did give me a glass of water right before my friend texted me that he had been seated already. It seems weird the hostess didn't notify me that the table was ready while waiting at the bar, or, tell my friend I was already there. Our waiter was fine but also seemed somewhat disengaged and not overly friendly. We ordered saccheti al pesto, eggplant Parmesan (both were amazing) and the tartufo white pizza (lowkey sucked- pizza here can probably be skipped). Come for the pasta and mains. Pizza can be skipped. Service wasn't good but the pasta made up for it. Four stars but I could have easily given three but the restaurant seemed clean and I really enjoyed most of the items! Not worth making an effort to book a reservation but if you get a table it's worth a stop. read more

This is a great neighborhood spot for a celebration or simple dinner out. The food is good with options for everyone and the restaurant itself is welcoming. We tried both the grilled and fried calamari, mozzarella sticks, chopped salad, margarita pizza, gluten free pesto pomodorini pizza, and tonnarelli with tomato pomodoro sauce. They were very accommodating towards my gluten allergy. The gluten free pizza crust is very fluffy and soft. Almost more of a focaccia than a pizza crust, but delicious nonetheless. They also offer gluten free spaghetti and penne if you want a pasta dish. I loved the chopped salad! Simple but with a very flavorful dressing and chunks of provolone cheese. My family loved all of the appetizers but did mention that they thought the grilled calamari had much more flavor than the fried version. They did regret not ordering the truffle mushroom arancini. Our server was lovely and very helpful in both answering all our questions and providing recommendations. It did seem like the bar was a bit backed up as our drinks took longer than one would expect for a Wednesday evening, but not terribly offensive. Overall, I will definitely be back and look forward to trying some of the other menu items! read more

DeNuccis - Gluten Free Pesto Pomodorini Pizza with Pepperoni - New American Near Me - Lincoln Park, Illinois

I will start off by saying that the cacio pepe arancini & lobster risotto were my favs! The risotto was a Saturday night dinner special & it was delish with big pieces of lobster in it! The artichokes were good, but probably wouldn't reorder (the ciccio mio ones are way better). They were busy and the service was not great, we waited about 15 minutes to even be greeted by a server & had to ask for a water carafe. I would come back to try their pizza & patio and was overall a good experience! read more

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We love Denucci's. The pastas are excellent--some are fresh and handmade, and the others are just as delicious. We've tried a mix of both and haven't been disappointed yet. We still need to come back to try the pizza, which is clearly popular. We've hosted friends here before and have also gone just the two of us, and it works well for both. The atmosphere strikes a great balance: fancy-casual indoors, or more relaxed if you opt for outdoor dining. It's almost always busy, so definitely call ahead if you're coming with a larger group. The staff is consistently great--friendly, fun, and impressively calm despite the constant buzz. At our last dinner, our waiter even doubled as an amateur photographer for our group, which made the night feel extra special. Overall, a great experience every time and a spot we keep coming back to. read more

I don't care what anybody says, DeNuccis' spicy rigatoni is Top 3, not 3!!! The sauce was soooo rich and flavorful, with the right amount of kick. Thank you to my server for recommending a wine pairing and suggesting the crumbled sausage as a protein add for the pasta because it elevated the dish phenomenally! The ambience inside is dim and not too noisy, which makes it perfect for a date night, special celebration, or just a weekday decompress. DeNuccis is now a staple for future Chicago trips. Overall 10/10!! read more

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finally got around to trying DeNucci's and had a really lovely time. To start, the restaurant itself is so darling and cozy. Perfect for this time of year when the weather is getting chilly. They also had it decked out for the holiday which made it nice and festive. the service was great and our server helped answer any of our questions regarding the menu. everyone was happy with their meals. We ordered the garlic knots, a Caesar salad, the vodka pasta, orecchiette, tonnarelli and the lobster risotto. They also comped us a birthday dessert which was a nice touch! The pistachio blondie Sunday was super yummy. read more

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Honestly some of THE best Italian food I've had in Chicago. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was flavorful, the interior was beautiful, and the staff was great. We tried the: - Lumache Arrabbiata - Tagliatelle Bolognese - Italian Lemonade - Lemon Sorbet I definitely recommend the Lumache, it has a nice heat but isn't overpowering. The bolognese was very flavorful too. Wouldn't go wrong with either. read more

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DeNuccis was recommended to me by my uber driver on my first day visiting the city this past week. It was the best recommendation we could have received and the highlight of our trip! We ordered the warm garlic knots which were fluffy and flavorful. The cacio e pepe arancini were a delicious combination of crispy and creamy, we would have put that sauce on anything. The lumache alla vodka was absolutely delicious and had the perfect amount of spice. The spicy crab campanelle was our favorite main, it had the perfect crab to sauce to pasta ratio and the flavor was absolutely divine. We wrapped up our meal with the tiramisu and pistachio blondie and let me say that we were talking about the pistachio blondie over the next few days. We also enjoyed a few different cocktails throughout the night that were really tasty. The vibe, decor, and music perfect for a night out. The service was amazing! Our server, Ricky, had the best recommendations from start to finish and his attentiveness and fun and outgoing attitude made our dinner experience one to remember. We were absolutely thrilled to end our last night in Chicago with dinner at Denuccis and will absolutely be back for more! read more

Visited Chicago over the weekend and this place came highly recommended. I really wanted to try the rigatoni, which was no longer in the menu. Disappointing. However, what was not disappointing was that spicy pepperoni pizza. Probably top 3 pizza I've ever had! We also added caramelized onions for a little razzle dazzle. The sangria was yummy as well. The service was great. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. And I loved the design and decor in this place. Very clean and not terribly loud. I would recommend to anyone looking for a good meal. read more

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Simply superb! Delicious Chicken Piccata and Lasagna special. Superb service by Title - attentive, accurate, friendly and not overbearing. Delightful ambiance - can't wait to go back and sit at the bar! The lemon pasta is perfect - especially now, during the summer. Comfortable, can be casual but not out of place if dressed up. They really hit it out of the park! Completely recommend. read more

My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 6/50 Month tried: January Favorite dish: chicken parm, spaghetti limone, salted caramel budino Came for lunch during restaurant week and I'm STILL talking about it. I neeeed to get back here for dinner soon. The RW lunch menu was AMAZING. It was so much food and full portions. We all had a lot of trouble deciding what to get. I had bruschetta, chicken parm, and salted caramel budino. The chicken parm was TWO chicken breasts, both perfectly fried, with lots of sauce. It does not come with pasta. My friend had spaghetti limone which was divine - very very citrusy though. Then the salted caramel budino!!!! Can I come back just for this??? Yum yum yum. Like I said, I haven't stopped thinking about DeNuccis and I want to come back and try everything! read more

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First time in, Adorable old school vibe interior. Full bar, tv to watch games in corner. Looked like mostly booths inside and outdoor seating. Make a reservation, I heard the wait times as I was sitting at the bar. We had garlic knots (more like garlic rolls), meatballs and grilled artichokes. Meatballs were good sized, the other two on the smaller side and all tasty. We shared the tavern (aka thin crust) pizza and it was delicious. Crispy, chewing crust with just the right amount of char. Martini was good at the bar and a bottle of red at the table. Great neighborhood place and we didn't even make it to their pastas or mains. Next time! read more

DeNuccis - Cold martini - New American Near Me - Lincoln Park, Illinois

Everything was amazing, the ambience, the hostess, the food and our waiter, Ricky! It was my birthday and they actually printed happy birthday on our menus.Got complimentary tiramisu which was incredible. read more

DeNuccis - Our cannolis and tiramasu, yum! - New American Near Me - Lincoln Park, Illinois

7 of us ate outside last evening. It was a bit chilly, but we dressed for that. The food was excellent. My wife got the Branzini Piccata and loved it. I got the 16" anchovy pizza. It was first rate! Crust was great and this was the first time I ever got an anchovy pizza, and the flavor was throughout, not just at the anchovies. Yum! The 3 kids got 3 different pasta dishes and seemed to love them. Another adult got a gluten free chicken dish and I forgot the last item. Appetizers were good. Calamari, garlic knots, and bruschetta. read more

We visited Chicago and booked a dinner reservation at DeNucci's in Lincoln Park. I had googled to find a place that has a kids' menu and decent choices for a kid, nice atmosphere for the adults and good food. I kept ending up with DeNuccis. WE ALL LOVED IT! 10/10! It's so cute situated on the corner in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. There's indoor and patio seating. The inside is quaint and versatile (family dinner, date night, girls night out, anything). Service was impeccable. Our server was very helpful in steering us in the right direction. We started with the meatballs and red sauce appetizer. It comes 4 per serving. Those were some of the best meatballs I've had and the sauce was delicious. I get picky about meatballs and can be turned off by the meat but I left wishing I had just one more meatball! I had the tonnarelli with sun gold pomodoro. It was light but filling. It really was so delicious. The pasta was so fresh. My husband and niece both had the tagliatelle Bolognese. They also raved about it and the meat sauce was fantastic. My daughter got the pizza and it is served on a board with a bowl of fruit. We finished off the meal with gelato. The server recommended the pistachio. We had both chocolate and pistachio. The pistachio steals the show. We almost went back for a 2nd time during our short trip to Chicago but decided we will wait and book next time we return! We will definitely be going back. read more

Gluten free friends listen up, their gluten free pizza is amazing. It's fluffy with crispy edges and loaded with fresh toppings. They can make a ton of dishes GF as well but the pizza is a must order cannot skip. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. A group of about 10 of us went for a birthday and the service was great and food was fantastic. Would definitely love to go back. read more

This place surprised me! First of all super cute inside and lots of patio space. We walked in and luckily were able to get a table but it was packed. We had the 4 finger cavatelli al ragu which surprised me in how much I ended up liking it. We also had the pesto pomodorini pizza which was good. It was a bit greasy but that's okay. And we also had a caesar salad. It could have maybe used a bit more dressing but otherwise it was good. read more

I wish I could give this place 10 stars! From the service to the food - we were blown away. The garlic knots 10/10 We went on a Tuesday and my husband got the lasagna special. I'm not joking when I say it was the best lasagna we've ever had. I got the vodka special and we also had one of the best margarita pizzas ever. Seriously so so good! Worth the bus ride or train or boat. However you get there just go! read more

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Had early dinner here based on Yelp recommendation. They have typical family style eating, my mom and I shared the pasta and branzino. The branzino was light and refreshing and the vodka pasta was also good but salty to our taste. If you don't love salty foods maybe ask for light salt in the pasta. Also loved the espresso martini. read more

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Came in on a Saturday night without a reservation and it was packed! We quickly were able to sit at the bar and order our dinner there. Definitely recommend a reservation! The pasta was all freshly made and so so good. They even had gluten free pasta ! The garlic knots were pretty good but I was hoping for outstanding! The pasta alla vodka was great but it does have a little kick of spice! It was a cozy little spot. read more

Five stars all around for DeNucci's! This place is nestled in the heart of Lincoln Park and is an excellent add to the dining scene in the area. We've had the opportunity to dine on the patio (perfectly situated off the main thoroughfare of Lincoln for a relaxed meal) and the quaint interior which has an excellent mix of vintage and modern vibes. The food is excellent - we've tried a number of the starters with the calamari being the stand out. On our most recent visit, I had the Cacio e Pepe and my wife, the bolognese pastas as mains. Both were fresh and full of flavor. The star of the meal though was the tiramisu. Light, sweet and perfect after a big meal. Service has always been excellent and attentive. Will be back many more times. read more

DeNuccis - Bolognese - New American Near Me - Lincoln Park, Illinois

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Came here last night for my daughter's 21st birthday and let me tell you this place did not disappoint. The service was superior. The food was amazing. It was packed and I could tell why because the food was absolutely delicious. I honestly cannot tell you what was better the service or the food because they were both top-notch. If you're ever in the neighborhood, you need to try this restaurant, u will love it like we did . Thank you for making my daughter's 21st birthday so special. We'll see you again soon. read more