Elina's in Chicago's West Town is hands-down one of the best Italian-American spots I've ever experienced--easily deserving every single one of those 5 stars! From the moment we stepped inside, the vibe was perfect: intimate, cozy, and effortlessly stylish with warm wood tones, leather seating, and just the right amount of Sinatra playing overhead. It feels special without being stuffy--ideal for a date night, celebration, or just treating yourself. The food is outstanding and hits all the right notes for classic, comforting Italian done with real care and skill. We started with the Italian chopped salad (crisp, fresh, and addictive), then dove into the legendary vodka rigatoni--creamy, perfectly balanced, with that ideal kick--and the chicken parmesan, which was crispy, cheesy, and ridiculously satisfying. Portions are generous enough to share (or not!), and everything tasted homemade in the best way. Service was warm, attentive, and knowledgeable without hovering. Our server made great recommendations and kept the evening flowing smoothly. The whole team made us feel genuinely welcome. If you're craving top-notch red-sauce Italian in a buzzy yet intimate setting, Elina's is a must. We're already planning our return--highly recommend reserving ahead, as this gem fills up fast! 5/5 stars all around. Worth every penny and more. read more

Elina feels like home in the best possible way--like my mom's Italian cooking, but elevated and polished. From the moment you sit down, they bring out the freshest, thinnest salami--silky, delicate, and impossible to stop eating. The Caesar salad was absolute perfection, with just the right hint of tang that kept every bite bright and balanced. The rigatoni alla vodka was cooked perfectly al dente, coated in a rich, comforting sauce that hits every note you want. And the chicken parm? Pounded thin, beautifully crisp, and cooked flawlessly--no heaviness, just pure Italian comfort done right. Warm, soulful, and executed with precision. Elina isn't just a meal--it's a feeling. This is Italian food that reminds you why you fell in love with it in the first place. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Reserved a table for 2 but was offered whatever seating was left at the bar Despite that our server was really nice and took good care of us The vibes are dark, moody, new school Italian spot that is cosplaying an older spot lol Calamari is usually my test for a great Italian spot but this one was not my fav. The batter is reminiscent of tempura but it was not giving what it needed to and I wish there was more squid than shrimp. The sauces that came with it were good though What saved this meal was the vodka pasta and the eggplant parm The vodka pasta had the most perfect al dente texture that I still think of The eggplant parm was a great new take on an old school classic with lasagna like layers and a crispy bottom Order family style and try a little bit of everything read more

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Came here again to celebrate my sister's birthday. We had a really good time! Honestly the vodka pasta is incredible and great as is but the truffle pasta just wasn't good, it almost tasted like plastic? That being said, our waiter did everything to make sure we were satisfied from bringing over salt pepper spices and cheese to help the taste of the truffle pasta to giving us limoncello shots and a free dessert for the birthday girl. Service is always great here and the ambiance was perfect for the holidays. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best dining experience I had in Chicago! Managed to book a spot at the bar for NYE dinner. The restaurant was beautifully decorated for the holiday. Amazing cocktail menu AND they have blue cheese olives for dirty martinis the complimentary bread service was a lovely treat-- both breads were tasty and my boyfriend and I devoured the salami. We split the rigatoni vodka and chicken parm. One of the best vodka sauces I've had in my life- loved the extra crunch with the breadcrumbs. The chicken parm was so tender and we adored the sauce. Service was impeccable! Everyone was so attentive. I hope to come back some day! read more

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Amazing food and service. I think this is the most underrated restaurant in the city-- how is everyone not talking about it? Our server was wonderful and made the dining experience extremely memorable. We enjoyed the baked clams to start and then shared the vodka rigatoni and the angel hair scampi. The scampi was one of the best things I've ever tasted and I'd go back again and again for it. Also, our waiter brought out free cannolis at the end of the meal which was the cherry on top of an already amazing dining experience! The restaurant is small and getting a reservation requires planning but it isn't impossible! Definitely worth it. read more

Elina's - Clams - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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They are amazing! From their positive attitude, their friendly atmosphere, and kind accommodations! My friends and I were on a girls trip and they made it feel so welcoming to be in Chicago! We are so grateful for their kindness and superior service!! Would recommend to anyone going to the area! read more

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I had an amazing time at Elina's. This is my friend's favorite restaurant so I was very excited to try it and it did not disappoint. The restaurant is fairly small so a reservation is a must (bar seating is reservations) nevertheless we were able to get a resy pretty quickly. The staff is incredibly friendly and food comes out very quickly which is a huge plus. My limencello drink was fine - I should have tried something from the wine menu, so I'll do that next time. The food was incredible. The vodka pasta was absolutely amazing and a must try. We also got the Caesar salad which was very very good. The clams were a bit of a miss so I would recommend skipping those. They bread crumbs on top were seeping in oil/very greasy. I'm excited to go back. We got 2 drinks, two appetizers and one entree and the the total was about $120 read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Reserved a table for 2 but ended up getting seated at the bar (the restaurant is very intimate and cozy). The food was delicious, namely the rigatoni alla vodka which I would revisit solely for. Table bread and chicken parm were nice as well, but would skip on the caesar salad. read more

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Great spot! Very cute vibes, our waiter was very friendly and everything came out quickly! They recommend 3-4 dishes per two ppl, but the portion sizes are massive and I would not recommend that unless you want tons of leftovers. We definitely overspent and over ordered sadly. To start we got calamari, baked clams and a Caesar. The clams and calamari were wonderful. The clams are huge and came with 9. They had so much flavor! The Caesar was a miss for me. It was fine but something was a bit off with the Caesar dressing. For my main I got the vodka rigatoni. The portion size is huge. It was good, some pieces were over cooked and hard but overall it was good. Nothing crazy, standard vodka pasta. If you're in the mood for Italian and big portions this is a great spot! read more

Elina's - Vodka rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We saw lots of recommendations for this spot on TikTok and made reservations on a Tuesday at 4:30pm, right when they open. Upon arrival, there were already three parties waiting in front of us. Once open, they sat us quickly and brought out some appetizers. These included two different versions of bread, salami, and pickled eggplant. The server suggested 3-5 plates for a part of two so we ordered the Caesar salad & two pastas. The croutons in the salad were the perfect combination of crispy and fluffy and the powdery Parmesan on top ensured a perfect bite each time. The scampi had a strong crab flavor and the vodka pasta was irresistibly creamy. We reached a point of fullness but struggled to stop ourselves from taking more bites. We ended up with leftovers that were just as delicious the next day. read more

Elina's - Cesar salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had arrived to our reservation quite early and were sat in the backyard outdoors setting with summer sitting. while waiting for rest of the party to arrive we ordered drinks and Mozzarella En Carozza We ordered egg plant parmesan, and rigatoni with vodka for dinner and it was amazing. Parmesan was breaded very well, one of the best I have had. read more

Elina's - Eggplant parmesan - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was a fantastic Italian restaurant. I loved how the inside looked and it was the perfect mood for a December evening. The food came out really fast for how busy it was! Before I talk about the food, I want to commend our waiter. He was very accommodating with our dietary restrictions as vegetarians and some nut allergies. He was very friendly overall, and I hope he sees this! It's a shame I can't remember his name. To start, the appetizers, the garlic and pizza bread and the chopped salad without salami, were soo delicious. As the main course, the rigatoni alla vodka was amazing. 10/10 recommend getting. My group also got the truffle based pasta that was on the menu for 12/24, but it was too truffle-y for us, so that same waiter added some Parmesan, salt, and pepper flakes to improve the taste for us! It made the dish much better. For dessert, we got some tiramisu and it was amazing! A bit boozy but still tasty. I'd recommend going family style so you can try as many items on the menu! I'd love to come back here again! read more

Elina's - Rigatoni alla Vodka & truffle pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and great service! I think this may be a bit overhyped but everything was really good. The rigatoni was really tasty but the bolognese lacked a bit of seasoning. Caesar was fantastic and bread service was as well (more restaurants should absolutely do this!). Our server was really fast and attentive. Tables are incredibly close together inside - we were basically eating on top of another couple. Would definitely recommend the patio instead. read more

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Really cozy little Italian spot in west town! It's hard to get a reservation but you should have luck walking in and grabbing a seat at the bar. Really loved the vodka rigatoni and the Caesar salad, but the clams casino were a bit salty and there were small bits of shell mixed in with the breading which made it scary to chew, so would maybe skip this one. The bread service with pickled eggplant and salami was also delightful! Will definitely be back to try more on the menu. Food: 4/5 Ambience: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 4.5/5 read more

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This is hands down my fav Italian restaurant in the city. You can't go wrong with ordering anything on the menu but my favorite is the vodka rigatoni. The vibes are intimate and cozy perfect for a date night or a GNO. I highly recommend. read more

Elina's - Vodka rigatoni and meatball - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Vodka pasta was to die for, but pretty let down by all other options. We ordered 3 entrees. The chicken parm was very dry and sub par. The sweet sausage dish could've been made at home. Vibes are good not great. Overall not great bang for your buck. Would only go back for the vodka rigatoni. read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends were ravinggg about Elina's and it did not disappoint! For a table of 5, we got: fritto misto, eggplant agrodolce, baked clams casino, Caesar salad, rigatoni alla vodka x2, penne bolognese, cherry pepper ribs and shrimp scampi. They also gave complimentary bread, pickled eggplants and salami. Holy cow, everything was sooo good and the portions were all pretty generous so we had SO much leftover lol. My favorites would be the baked clams casino, cherry pepper ribs and rigatoni alla vodka. The clams were sooo flavorful and had great texture, the cherry pepper ribs were tender and delicious as hell. There was a burst of liquid in every bite of the rigatoni alla vodka lol idk how to describe it but I've never had pasta like that before and it was A1 hahaha. The ambiance is moody, fun, a little more on the casual side than fancy. I love everything about Elina's!! The service was also fantastic, very friendly and attentive. The food came out at different times in a very organized way. I would 1000% recommend trying it out and for SURE get the cherry pepper ribs out of everything haha read more

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I've passed by this cute Italian spot so many times and finally went last week with a friend. The space is intimate and cute with Italian American crooners like Frank Sinatra in the background. It was very much a girls' night and date night kind of spot. My friend and I split the meatballs, caesar salad, and rigatoni a la vodka. All were phenomenal! I'm typically not a huge caesar salad person, but this one was really good! Service was spot on too. Great spot! read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When we first took a bite of their rigatoni, we were ~ amazed ~ !! It was one of those moments when you have no expectations, and the dish just exceeds everything! Besides the pasta, everything else was great. This restaurant is perfect for a get together with friends. What we ordered: - Chopped salad: So tangy, so good! I loved how everything was so crunchy, and the finely chopped bacon was amazing. Mixing everything together was fun, and I kept going back for seconds. - Rigatoni alla vodka: As mentioned, SO GOOD. - Fries: A must have with the salad - Scallops: These were good, but everything else stood out a bit more. - Meatballs: Also tasty! At this point, we realized we might have over-ordered a bit 10/10 experience read more

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Such a cute neighborhood spot with dishes big enough to share! For 4, we got the Cesar salad, eggplant agrodolce, and 2 vodka rigatonis (obviously). Wish the Cesar had slightly less dressing + more croutons but was delicious! The eggplant agrodolce was so light even though it was fried and the sauce was so good, definitely don't overlook it! And last but not least the vodka rigatoni was some of the best I've had in Chicago, piping hot when it came out, so creamy, and love the little bit of texture from the breadcrumbs (it's not actually spicy!) Will definitely be coming back to this neighborhood joint! read more

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Coming from NYC it's hard to impress me with Italian but Elina's sure did. Came here on a reco from a friend and loved everything about the service, vibes and food. Definitely snag the meatballs if any are available (they make a limited batch each day!) and the rigatoni, bolognese and Caesar are all fantastic. I'd skip the broccoli next time though. That wasn't for me. read more

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It took me a some time to finally get over and try this trendy and popular Italian restaurant. There are a number of great Italian restaurants in this area of West Town, but this spot stands out as modern and upscale. First the food was excellent, for the most part. I was part of a part of four person group and we ordered Caeser salad, chicken parmesan, penne bolognese, penne alla vodka and fritto misto (fried calamari). Dished are smaller and meant to be shared. The restaurant also provided table bread consisting of focaccia bread and garlic bread. Both breads were great, but the focaccia really stood out. The dressing on the Caesar salad was the perfect balance of creaminess and anchovy taste, and I'm stating this as a person who hates anchovies. Both pasta dishes were great, but the rigatoni Alla vodka really stood out. The chicken parmesan had a good flavor from the sauce, but it I was disappointed by the thinness and dryness of the chicken. Second, the atmosphere was great. It's a small restaurant with a low key vibe. Third, the service was impressive. Our waiter was very nice, had good recommendations and was personable. Fourth, and one disappointing, aspect was the inability to get a good reservation time. Given the schedules of the people in our group, we had to go on the night that did, but the only reservations available were 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm. 5:30 pm didn't work for anyone so had to take the super late reservation. Overall, this is a must visit Chicago Italian restaurant. I just hope you can get a better time for your reservation. read more

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Ok, as they say in London, "I'm getting my Arse kicked and I'm exhausted writing 5 Star reviews. It seems like everywhere I go in Chicago, I'm getting inundated by magnificent and delicious food. It is unrelenting but amazing at the same time; and here I go again: Elina's Restaurant is about as good as anyplace I've been to in years. Being an impossible reservation to get, you have to bite the bullet and walk in as a single at 5:45 p.m., grab a bar stool so you can at least see what all of the ear splitting fuss is about; and I did! This place is small but comfortable. The bar is center stage for this restaurant with several tables against a wall and a couple of tables mid-floor. The menu reads (almost) Italian, but there was a lot of eclectic dishes that were not. Spoiler alert: If two of you go here, order one starter and one entree. If four go just double that. The portions are HUGE. So huge, that I could only eat half of my two dishes, and will have the second half of last nights dinner - tonight! My bartender / waiter was very, nice, very well versed in spirits and the food being offered. He walked me through the menu and I confidently ordered my dinner: Their Caesar salad which could have fed four people was absolutely amazing. It came with a terrific bread basket, some salami on the side and some marinated eggplant. That could have been my dinner and I would have been happy going home. But, what I ordered next was my culinary coup de grâce (crusher - in a very good way) - The Cherry Pepper Ribs! Now I've eaten almost every iteration of what a pork rib can be, Ala: Vietnamese Caramelized Ribs, Habanero Ribs, Sticky Asian Ribs, Memphis Ribs, Kansas City Ribs, Sweet Tea Ribs (and this list goes on and on), but never heard of or had Cherry Pepper Ribs; and man were they good. So good, that I would come back here just for these. Elina's is "The Mirror Image" of just how good the Chicago culinary scene has become. I feel lucky and proud to be living here! read more

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Everything is amazing!! My wife and I love this place so much! When ever we have a celebration or even a night out this is our go to spot!

Such a vibey spot - even the branding is nice! The rigatoni alla vodka and fusilli alla norma were both good - definitely recommend. Even the croutons in the Caesar salad were on point. Inside is dark and intimate, but I honestly loved hanging out on the patio. Chill vibes and tasty pasta. read more

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Garlic bread and focaccia bread were a 4/5. The star of the show was the rigatoni alla vodka 5/5 which had the absolute perfect sauce just heavy enough with the perfect amount of spice. The angel hair scampi was delicious with a perfect balance of lemon and crab 4/5. The eggplant parmesan was also excellent 4/5. Will be returning and definitely on our top 10 in Chicago Italian restaurants. Service was great and awesome old school vibe read more

Elina's - Garlic and focaccia - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I thought Elina's was overall good, but I don't think it's very special. I do appreciate the free bread which seems like something that is rare to come by these days. Although the bread is basically gooey white bread that you could buy at Jewel. On top of that, we ordered the typical order the caesar salad, rigatoni, and the chicken parmesan. I wasn't crazy about the dressing of the caesar itself, but I loved that it the lettuce was drenched in dressing. The chicken Parmesan looked better than it tasted. I did like the crispy ends, but I think it could have been a hotter (in temp) and the sauce was too sweet for my liking. The rigatoni was the star of the show, but it isn't enough to get me to return to Elinas. Lastly -- I just want to give Elinas a shoutout for their tableware. I love the mismatch plates. read more

Rigatoni alla vodka? Stellar! Bread? Amazing. Service? Brutal. To sum it up: we were given "five minutes to order." Yes , this is quoted. Verbatim. That's when we unknowingly clocked in for our timed dining experience. Our server ran the table like a drill sergeant, right down to instructing me where to place the menu on their tiny table. And when I say tiny, I mean cozy in the "you'll be sharing body heat with strangers" kind of way. The booth situation requires the table to be fully evacuated just to let someone slide in. Sure, it's a cute space, but be prepared to sit directly on top of your neighbors and absolutely do NOT plan on enjoying a bottle of wine... or honestly even a glass. TJ will either have you chug it or kindly (not kindly) escort you out once your time is up. "The next reservation for this table is already here." Yes. Kicked out. Literally. Such a shame. read more

My friends took me here for a special occasion and we sat on the back patio. The staff were attentive and helpful with food and wine recommendations. Delicious food and generous portions. Loved the tiramisu, it was probably the best I've ever had. read more

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So yum!!! Now my favorite vodka pasta in the city! Came to this super cute restaurant for dinner and the service and environment were all great. Got the vodka pasta, baked clams and chicken parm and lovedddd the vodka pasta! Chicken parm was a bit tough though , might try another dish next time. read more

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Visited Elian's for the first time for a Saturday night dinner. My party of 3 booked a reservation ahead of time for 8 pm. Upon entrance, the venue is really classy and dimly lit. There's good music that's not too loud, and it's great ambiance for a nice date. Our table wasn't ready until 8:15 pm and the staff were very nice and gave us a round of sparkling wine on the house (so nice!). The food overall was really solid. We started with the Caesar salad which was so good. It came with house-made croutons that were delicious and was paired with fresh bread. We got the red table wine which paired nicely with our chicken parm, vodka pasta, and their meatball special. All 3 entrees were really delicious, especially the vodka pasta! We ended the night with their tiramisu which was fantastic (very strong espresso & great depth of flavor). Would recommend, had a wonderful time! read more

Elina's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time at Elina's, and I loved it!!!! The ambiance was cozy and intimate. I was initially worried about how close the two-tops were to each other, but it didn't seem to take away from the experience. The food portions are large - so plan to share!! Our server was exceptionally friendly and helped us navigate the menu to create the perfect dinner for 2! I highly recommend the rigatoni alla vodka and the meatballs! I luckily got to enjoy the leftovers the next day. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Honestly normally I'm an Italian cuisine hater but this was good and would return! Pasta was so good and chicken parm!! read more

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Love at first bite This little romantic Italian spot on Grand is everything I want in an Italian restaurant. Reservations are a must unless you try to get a bar seat right when they open. The Cesar salad, rigatoni vodka, and sirloin steak limone were absolutely divine. Can't wait to go back and try others. read more

GOOD food and service. We were cramped in on Wednesday night with last reservation. Although, we were seated at the bar with uncomfortable seats. Therefore, I rushed my dinner. Facing the bar you feel like your in grandmas kitchen in Italy. We enjoyed the chopped salad which was accompanied by complimentary bread(I wish it was warm) and beets. The salad was dressed perfectly not drenched. Then immediately came out our rigatoni and chicken parm. The rigatoni was not saucy more on the thick side which is good for me. The chicken parm was not saucy and had a good crunch around the edges. -sorry for the poor photo quality. read more

Elina's - Chopped salad w/ beets and salami on the side - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The restaurant is very cute and cozy. Great for a date night or an intimate meal. My partner and I did not get a reservation but we arrived once it was open and sat at the bar. The service was still attentive and pleasing. The food was delicious! I would go back and reorder the vodka pasta with chicken Parmesan. The food was enough for my partner and I. The Aperol spritz was made perfectly! Definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

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Old-school Italian, but small and candlelit--not your red sauce factory vibe. The rigatoni vodka? Best I've had in the city. Period. It's creamy, spicy, and somehow still light. The veal parm comes out looking unassuming but melts in your mouth--crispy, cheesy, not overloaded. They start you with garlic bread and crudités, and I weirdly loved both. Pro tip: you can BYOB. Bring a bottle of Barolo and thank me later. The space is tiny, so definitely reserve. Service was also really good which was amazing and the waiter was super quick read more

Went here to celebrate my 4 year anniversary. I saw this online and heard this was the "Chicago Carbone" and we really like the Carbone in Vegas so we thought to give it a try. The Ambiance was nice, it is pretty dark in there though as the restaurant has dim lighting for a more intimate or romantic vibe. But I would say the restaurant is super small, so reservations add up quick, so i recommend trying to get one in advance and not a day or 2 before just so you get a spot at your preferred time. We were seated a little late about 10-15 minutes. But for drinks, my fiancé got the Italian Mojito which she loved and finished. I on the other hand went with the Rosita(tequila,Campan,Vermouth,Orange), it was very strong...which is good for some people and depending on the night you're having. But it wasn't my favorite drink, and drank half, but everyone's drink preferences may be different. Our Appetizers, we got the Caesar salad with the garlic bread croutons. I thought it was good but not amazing, I still think Carbones is way better...I think it needed more cheese. The croutons weren't the crunchiest which we were both expecting , overall decent salad if you like Caesar it's good. Entrees we got the Chicken Parm 7.5/10 Cherry pepper ribs 8.5/10 honestly one of the best ribs I've had in a while, they were fall off the bone, the flavor was good. That was my favorite thing we ate. And of course we got the Rigatoni Alla Vodka. I would give it a 8/10 it was really good, the pasta was cooked perfectly, I just wish the sauce had more of a spicy ness to it. Service was decent, and pretty attentive, our food came out pretty quick. Restrooms...there's only one restroom I believe for both genders so you do have to wait if someone is in there...kinda a funny looking bathrooms it's really long to get the the toilet from the sink lol. Overall we had a great dinner , a unique restaurant and I heard it's only about 3-4 years old. I've been seeing more off this place on social media. Glad we gave it a try! read more

Holy cow. This place is worth it. Worth it all. I feel often times I walk away feeling underwhelmed. I literally cannot express how delicious this meal was. We started with the baked clams which I will say weren't the star but were great. You get all complimentary bread with your meal which is great. We were served a very shareable portion of the shrimp scampi and the rigatoni. And we almost couldn't finish. Oh I almost forgot we got the italian mojito and it was perfect. The ambiance is awesome so cute and cozy. The service was fine. Not show stopping by any means but definitely nothing to complain about. Parking was fairly easy as well. I will be trying to convince my fiancé to take me here weekly 10 out of 5 stars read more

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