Disappointing Food, Especially for a City Known for Its Incredible Cuisine…read more
I really wanted to enjoy this restaurant, and I don't particularly enjoy leaving negative reviews, especially for what appears to be a family-owned establishment. However, Chicago has such an incredible reputation for its food, and I feel it's important to share an honest experience, particularly for visitors who come here with high expectations. I would hate for someone to leave this restaurant thinking this is representative of the amazing food Chicago has to offer.
I'll start with the positives. The prices were reasonable, especially considering the generous portion sizes. However, when evaluating the food based on quality, flavor, and overall execution, I unfortunately have to give it a thumbs down.
The Appetizer: Italian Beef Garlic Cheese Bread
We started with the Italian beef garlic cheese bread, which sounded absolutely delicious on the menu. Unfortunately, it was incredibly underwhelming.
The bread lacked flavor, wasn't particularly crispy, and had very little giardiniera. Given that it was topped with Italian beef, I was expecting something reminiscent of a delicious, crispy garlic bread infused with the savory flavors of au jus, complemented by the heat and tanginess of giardiniera.
Instead, the dish was surprisingly bland. It came with a creamy sauce that was decent on its own, but I didn't feel the sweetness complemented the dish particularly well. Perhaps if the bread had more seasoning, spice, or depth of flavor, the sauce would have worked better. I actually ended up adding crushed red pepper just to give it some much-needed heat and flavor.
The Main Courses: Chicken Parmesan Sandwich & State Street Tortellini
For our entrées, I ordered the chicken Parmesan sandwich, while my husband chose the State Street tortellini.
The tortellini was okay and certainly the better of the two dishes, but it wasn't anything particularly memorable. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't something I would go out of my way to recommend, especially to someone visiting Chicago and looking for a great dining experience.
Unfortunately, my chicken Parmesan sandwich was another story.
I absolutely love chicken Parmesan, so I genuinely thought this would be a safe and delicious choice. I couldn't have been more disappointed. The chicken was bland, extremely dry, and tough in certain areas. Honestly, it tasted as though it had been sitting around for a while rather than being freshly prepared.
It was so dry that I eventually requested additional marinara sauce just to make the sandwich more enjoyable. To the restaurant's credit, the marinara was actually quite good. Unfortunately, that was about the only redeeming quality of the sandwich.
The Atmosphere & Staff
This is where I genuinely feel conflicted about leaving this review.
The restaurant has the feel of a nice, family-owned establishment, and I truly believe there is probably a history of wonderful family recipes and pride behind the business.
The older staff members, in particular, were incredibly kind, attentive, and hardworking. Their dedication was noticeable, and I honestly wouldn't have been surprised to learn they were the owners. They seemed genuinely invested in the restaurant and the people dining there, which I appreciated.
Unfortunately, that level of care didn't seem to translate to what was coming out of the kitchen.
I can't say whether this restaurant has simply lost some of its former charm, whether the quality has declined over time, or whether the kitchen just wasn't putting the same care and attention into the food that the front-of-house staff was putting into their service. Whatever the reason, the food simply didn't live up to expectations.
My Overall Impression
I don't believe a restaurant needs to be expensive or fancy to serve incredible food. In fact, some of Chicago's best meals come from small, unassuming, family-owned establishments that have perfected their recipes over generations.
That's what I was hoping to find here.
Unfortunately, generous portions and reasonable prices don't make up for food that lacks flavor, freshness, and proper preparation.
I genuinely hope the owners take a closer look at what's happening in their kitchen because the restaurant seems to have the potential to be something special. The hardworking staff certainly deserves to be supported by food that reflects the same level of care they put into their service.
Would I return or recommend it to someone visiting Chicago? Unfortunately, no. There are simply too many incredible places to eat in this city to settle for a mediocre experience.