Really posh atmosphere which was a little off putting for me. Food was pretty pricey for the quality. I feel like it would be best to go there at night to hang out at the bar and drink with your friends. read more

I honestly don't know why this place gets some bad reviews -- every time we have come here it has been spot on, in both food and service. But now, with the new menu created by Chef Stephen Wambach, this place has risen above it's previous reputation as a classic Italian place into something much more interesting and unique. Yes, you can still get the meatballs, don't fret, but the new flavor profiles are simply outstanding. We started with a cocktail (Sweet Flower of Mine) which my wife loved, and then our waiter Andrew took a lot of time and care choosing our menu and pairing an excellent wine to go with our meal. Service is important in a dining city like Chicago and Andrew and the rest of the staff are top notch. Food highlights included the Red Prawn Palermo, the Bucatini and the Halibut Piccatta -- all delicious, with delicate and unique flavors that really wowed us. This lighter touch and use of wood grilling has added interesting and unique flavors from Chef Wambach and his team...really well done! We love this place because it never disappoints, but now it has risen a level higher as far as food and service...it may not be as packed as some of the other more trendy places in the area, but if you want a delicious meal and superb service, give Formento's a try. You won't be disappointed. read more

Visited Formento's for the third time last night. The ambiance is upscale, the service is incredible and the wine selection is nice. I really want to love this place, but the food is underwhelming. I started with a fresh vegetable salad, it was light and refreshing. Followed by the brick chicken - it was chicken, nothing special about it. And ended with the chocolate cake. read more

Appetizers and entrees we're good if not overpriced. If you order wine, make sure you double check the year of the bottles they give you - we ordered two different ones and they tried to give us the wrong year. The pasta course was undercooked (beyond al dente - doughy and hard). Disappointing for the price. read more

My boyfriend and I are from Boston. We went here for my birthday dinner (we didn't tell them it was my birthday). Our waiter was amazing and explained the menu and specials to us, making sure to take note of the different flavors of every dish. The service was fast but not too fast, so we could still have a relaxed meal and talk, we were not rushed at all. Drinks were delicious, and the food even better. When we got the bill the waiter took it back and said he had to fix the price, then gave it back to us and the manager paid for our dessert and wrote "Welcome to Chicago!". Such a nice place, would definitely recommend to anyone for a nice meal. read more

Amazing food with a definite Italian home cooking feel. They have many rooms so the place feels smaller then it is, definitely will get a little more privacy. The clams casino were good but small dish. I hear the shrimp scampi and calamari fritti is amazing so would try that instead. We had the quail saltimbocca and the half chicken parm. I personally judge an Italian place by their chicken parm and they hit this one out of the park. I personally didn't love the quail but Mikey liked it. Quail is too gamey to me. read more

Was impressed by the sleek decor and ambience when we first walked in. Our server was very friendly and attentive throughout the evening. I was with 3 other people and we ordered the red peppers and crab and artichoke dip to start. We were not blown away by either dish and were actually a little disappointed. However, we all enjoyed our pasta dishes. Best carbonara and vodka sauce pastas I've had in a long time. Our server recommended the Gorgonzola mashed potatoes so I had to try them. They were tasty but had to be eaten with a spoon because they were extremely soupy. Not what I was expecting. We skipped on dessert but the selection looked amazing. We were glad we went but probably won't be a repeat since it was pretty expensive for what you get and you can find good italian meals elsewhere. read more

I have no complaints. From the decor, ambiance, service, to the food...everything is top notch. The restaurant staff are very welcoming, courteous, and friendly. Nonna's Meatballs are a must have. Do not leave without trying them! These are literally the best meatballs in the history of meatballs! They are full of flavor and oh so tender. They melt in your mouth without being mushy. The scallops were perfectly cooked. The lemon caper sauce brought in a perfect balance of acidity to the rich butteriness of the scallops. The farfalle, chicken Parmesan, and lamb chops shouldn't be overlooked either. I don't know how I saved room to taste the tiramisu and the chocolate cake, but I'm glad I did. They were such a delight. Every dish is thoughtfully prepared and perfectly executed. This is one of my new favorites. Don't forget the limoncello shot...it's homemade. read more

We had once again a wonderfully fresh and delicious meal. We like the lounge because it's cozy and intimate. The service is excellent and attentive. Jolene helped us tonight. Tony Q. stopped by and was gracious and excited to see us again from a recent cooking class he lead. The eggplant was terrific and chocolate cake is to die for. We'll be back soon. read more

From the first moment I was well greeted by staff and ambiance alike. I've been to many fine dining establishments but never have I been so warmed by mahogany & linen, marble & glass. A quick tour of the property and a handshake with an owner is all you need to realize you've made the right choice for an evening with friends. With a wine list to please & even impress, every palate is happy. And then the chef; my lord is he talented. Chicago class has a new threshold, Fermento's. Rejoice! White tables, red sauces. Jubilee! read more

Had the most incredible dinner! They recently updated their menu. I liked it before, but love it now. Every single dish was outstanding. Some of the highlights included the tortellini and the paccheri pasta with blue crab. But, the clams and the crispy vegetables are a must try, as well. Can't wait to go back!! read more

Formento's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in for Valentine's Day dinner and had a great time. Too many times restaurants forget that they are in the business of Customer Service, but Formento's is definitely not one of those places. The service from our drink at the bar to our waitress at dinner was fantastic. Linda was our server and she went above and beyond walking us through the wine list and menu. She recommended an excellent chianti and made sure it fit within our desired price range. She was very knowledgeable about the menu and was able to explain in detail what made their "specials" worth it. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because of the value. The food was good, but I thought it was pricey for being pasta (yes, I realize it's in the west loop). Overall, I'll be back for the good food and excellent service. read more

Went here for restaurant week and the food was great. Our waiter did an awesome job helping us decide what to get and whether the wine pairing was worth it or not. Definitely recommend. The paccheri was incredible! read more

absolutely loved dining here, wonderful space, attentive staff and the food was delicious. we enjoyed every dish, looking forward to visiting again! read more

I went to Formento's with a few friends several weeks ago. It certainly isn't cheap but the food is very good. We started with a spicy calamari appetizer which we loved and set things off on the right foot. I then got prosciutto wrapped pork which was absolutely great. I'd absolutely recommend coming for a meal. read more

This is my favorite Italian in town! Amazing food, perfect service, great location. Everyone was extremely friendly and attentive. We even got a free dessert at the end which was again super delicious. read more

Came here with the family just three days after it opened and everything was perfect! We ordered a ton of appetizers to share, the meatballs were a favorite. The bread they put on the table was delicious. We ordered the gorgonzola mashed potatoes = amazing, the eggplant, chicken parmesan, pasta dishes and more. Everyone was very happy with the service and their meals. Can't wait to go back, thankfully it's only three blocks from my condo! read more

I've been to Formento's 3 times now. My experience has improved at each visit. I took my mom for her birthday and she said it was the nicest restaurant she ever visited. We love the cocktails! classic cocktails are so refreshing. We love the Relish tray, canesestri with Sunday gravy, meatballs and chicken parm! I'm planning on having my next company dinner here. Enjoy! read more

This is my first review. Let me start off by thanking our server, James. He did a wonderful job. His recommendations were on point, his service great, and he was the only individual at the establishment that offered any form of apology for the zoo that we witnessed that evening. He offered to comp us an appetizer, which we greatly appreciated. We arrived for our reservation at 9:30 approximately five minutes early. We were informed upon arrival that they had just started to seat the 9:00 tables and we could have a seat at the bar. We proceeded to drink at the bar and received a number of informal text messages from the hostess regarding the delay and offering to seat us in the lounge. Where was the personal service? We could see this team of individuals behind the podium and none took the effort to personally speak with us. It was 10:15 before we were seated. No one offered us a complimentary drink or appetizer while at the bar. Congratulations to Formento's for being so slammed but personable service is part of the package. Additionally, to add insult to injury, when we entered the main dining room, there was a table of festival goers wearing neon-tank tops and shorts. Was that our 9:00 seating? It is absurd that you do not know how to handle overflow and allow such improperly attired individuals to replace real reservations. If we had arrived 30 minutes late in similar attire, you would not have held our table nor seated us. The zoo was just beginning. We were seated next to a large table that was thoroughly enjoying their evening to the point of loudly heckling the table described above. Additionally, at one point, one of the couples were visibly grinding no further than 10 inches from our table and appetizers. No one spoke with them or apologized to us for their behavior, even as they bent over our table while chugging champagne from the bottle, demanding that we order the meatballs. It was 11 before we started to eat. The meals were very good. James' recommendations were on point. For desert, we ordered donuts and grasshoppers. The drinks arrived separated. No quality control at the end of the evening. We thanked James for his one comp and his service. We were surprised that management was not hitting the floor to apologize for anything that transpired above.while the food was very good, the majority of the experience left something to be desired. read more

This place was so much better than I expected. It is a modern take on a classic Italian restaurant. The food and service were excellent. I had the squash cavatelli and my husband had the sea bass - both were great but the sea bass was the best. We had meatballs and shrimp for appetizers and split the chocolate cake. I can't think of a single thing that I would change about our experience. read more

Update-part III: So we decided to utilize the generous gift certificate sent to us by the restaurant manager to make up for our negative first experience. We were hoping for a better experience, especially since we were hosting another couple (close friends of ours visiting Chicago) and invited them to join us. I have to say, I was very impressed! The food was delicious, the service was great, and the ambiance was superb. Our first experience may have been an off day, but the second time around was delightful! Even our friends truly enjoyed the evening. I have a lot of respect for their amazing customer service and I highly recommend this place! read more

Came here for my birthday dinner and absolutely loved it. Started with the famous meatballs and calamari which were outstanding. Used the extra tomato sauce from the meatballs to dip the bread into. I ordered the butcher steak which was perfectly seasoned and charred. The reduction they make it in was delicious. My mom got the Caramelle pasta which was amazing and my boyfriend got the rigatoni which was a solid choice. My side order of asparagus was hearty and delicious with a lemony-butter type sauce. For dessert, they brought me one of the best chocolate cakes I've eaten. It had hazelnuts which made it taste like Nutella over a chewy brownie-type cake. Our waiter was outstanding and made us feel so welcome, even took a group picture for us in a designated area once we got up because table pictures are awkward. Overall great experience and I will definitely be back! read more

Made quick reservation via opentable. Arrived 10 minutes early and hostess was friendly and quickly seated my family of 4 with 2 kids under 11. Gabriel our waiter greeted us in a welcoming and enthusiastic manner. He asked questions to garner information so that he may suggest appetizers, and entree selections. He explained everything is cooked from scratch and our meal would take a bit to create. Our appetizers arrived and kitchen included an additional appetizer no charge. The Kale salad was fresh, citrusy and very light. The Calamari cooked to perfection crisp and crunchy batter and calamari cooked to excellent consistency. It was not chewy or rubbery. Our entrees arrived and shortly there after my family was all smiles butcher steak cooked to prefect medium rare consistency. Bucatini to die for and kids rigatoni with meatballs and sausage so dreamy. We asked for a dessert suggestion and decided on chocolate cake. It was so creamy, airy, crunchy and spongy goodness. Overall hands best Italian food since we dined in Italy. Will definitely visit again. Restaurant was clean and very efficiently coordinated to give the best dining experience! read more

I have not had such phenomenal service at a restaurant in a long time. And the food was delicious! Our server, LINDA& our busser, MARIO were both awesome! This place knows the importance of excellent customer service! I will definitely come back next time I am in Chicago! read more

I had heard great reviews about this place and took my Mom while visiting from out of town. From the moment we walked in the door the service was terrible. The food was great but the service ruined the overall experience - a very big let down. I wouldn't recommend for the price. read more

Wait time exceeded 45 mins despite reservation! Highly unprofessional staff! Huge disappointment...would not recommend!

First step into Formento's had me relaxed and energetic by the vibrant and beautiful Italian decor. The wine prices were very fair and the waitstaff was friendly and remarkable! The dinner served us large portions and the carrot cake was good (but not exceptional). Overall, I had a great experience and will be back read more

Technically, this is a 3.7 overall..but since there are not 1/2 stars... Ratings: 1-5 (5 being best) Atmosphere:4 Service:3.6 Food:3.7 Value:3.5 Favorite things tonight: Being with all great friends Meatballs were great! Enjoying a great Thursday night with friends! Round table!! The table arrangement Pasta was outstanding Best chicken ever Meatballs! Homemade pastas The company Close to home! Free street parking Good conversation Great to see everyone again The chocolate cake looks lovely The coffee smells great Liked the big booth Seeing everyone Bus team was awesome-water always full and table clean with fresh plates and flatware Being in the greatest city in the world with my best friends Chicken and cauliflower-fantastic. Service-exceptional and extremely responsive. Coffee-superb. Company was wonderful Tom and Eric leaving me chocolate snacks on their ballots-yum Least favorite thing tonight: JB & Kelli not being here Heat (hot flashes) Pastas were OK-good not terribly memorable No Becks Potatoes were too dry Had high hope for the cauliflower, but not so good The Becks were absent again Waitress was so so-not a overly hospitable-maybe we were too much It's a shame that the inventor of this never shows up Cauliflower was a miss Was there a coat check? The green spumoni is a bit scary-probably tastes good though Kelli and Jeff not being here Missed the Becks Overall assessment Good, not great. Not the best service (waitress) Appreciate the manager coming by and being so attentive Would come back because it's in the hood. Cute place! Great food overall Better Italian in Chicago for the price Love the atmosphere Great pasta Love the Super Tuscan vino! Beautiful restaurant Would come back-would not run back though Love the table Great job, Jolene! Very good-love the fresh pasta Would definitely recommend and return. read more

We were seated right away as soon as we arrived for our 6:30 pm reservation. The restaurant wait staff is attentive. Our waiter was Ivan and he was simpático. Kiran, the manager, also stopped by the table and asked how everything was. We had chianti, which was very light but good. The cabernet we ordered afterwards was a better choice for our preference for full-bodied wines. The plate portions are a good size for 2 to share. We shared a Caesar salad, the rigatoni vodka and the half-chicken parmesan. The rigatoni had a very pleasant spiciness and the chicken was deboned and breaded with excellent seasoning. The only thing was the tomato sauce on the chicken was perhaps piled a bit too heavily, but it could be easily scooped off. We were too full to consider the dessert list so we skipped that. Espresso and macchiato at the end were good. read more

I was really excited to try Formento's, as The Bristol remains one of my favorite restaurants in the city, and Italian fare is a personal favorite. I was disappointed on many levels. The service for our 4-top was rather curt, and not horribly friendly, from hostess to server. The food was....ok. The garlic bread was the stand out, and the carrot cake was great. The pasta dishes were completely unremarkable, and for the price, incredibly small portions. Not worth another trip. read more

Delicioussssss! Loved this place. My husband, my son and I had a great time. The tiramisu was awesome! My Carrot cake was really good too. the pasta is home made and so as the bread. read more

I really wanted to like this place. My friend highly recommended it, and I trust his palate and expectations in service. I thought I would give it a try. We know good food, value and experience-this wasn't it. We tried Formento's for a going away party. The waitress was very impersonal and I felt like she was annoyed by us. Strictly business, and didn't seem interested in taking our food order. For drinks she disappeared for what seemed like way too long, twice. Never asked about us getting anything started. I had to just tell her we wanted to order. We ordered the meatballs. They were very tasty. Sadly, probably the best thing we ate. Calamari was pathetic. It no flavor, couldn't of been fresh. The focaccia I had was hard. Pasta wasn't cooked properly on my end with the Rigatoni. Portions were small, not like they need to be 'Murican huge, but enough to be satisfying. Tiramisu was very good, but it was pretty one-note. Pretty standard. This was everything Italian food isn't supposed to be. Our dinner was fun, we had great conversation and we covered the gamut, but one thing I noticed, no one talked about the food. No one said "this is delicious." That speaks volumes. And to me, when I got the bill, was a huge disappointment. I was going to give this place 3 stars, but I expect more from a place of this caliber, definitely more than some meatballs. I sent my friends off to a new land with a poor meal. Embarrassing. read more

This place was fantastic! My husband and I ate dinner here on 8/27 and were very pleased. We ordered the meatballs and caprese salad for appetizers. The meatballs came with 3 in the order, and they were tasty. The caprese salad was split, so we each got our own, and was AMAZING. Everything was fresh and the cheese was to die for. Bread with giardiniera was also brought to the table which was excellent. For our entrees, I ordered the orecchiette & sausage dish and my husband ordered the canestri with sunday gravy. We both got 1/2 portions since we doubled up on the appetizers and still had plenty of food. Overall a great experience and delicious food, we will definitely be back! read more

Great looking restaurant; unfortunately mediocre food & service. Huge disappointment!

Not impressed by the food or our waiter. The whole experience was underwhelming. The pasta is supposed to be homemade, which I do believe it was. However it wasn't as fresh tasting as you would expect fresh pasta to be. read more

We had a wonderful time last night for a pre-Valentine's Day dinner. Everything we ordered was delish and authentic. The chicken parm was gigantic and the canestri and rigatoni with vodka sauce were perfectly al-dente and seasoned. The arancini was a little dry for my taste, but overall everything was done very well. Our server, John, was friendly and knowledgeable. The atmosphere felt old-world upscale Italian with lots of exposed brick and dim lighting. We noticed that despite the "dressy attire" Yelp comment, there were many people in Hawks jerseys. A great night! read more

Came here with a group, and honestly they did a really nice job. I wish I had ordered the lamb chop instead of the pasta, but the service was great. The staff was friendly, and our waiter did a really nice job. He was personable and had a great sense of humor and entertained our stupid butts with a good attitude. Everyone deservers a night off, and this was a nice break for our group. Not cheap, but I would return :) read more

Place is awesome. Great food, nice ambiance and great staff. Huge wine selection and extremely knowledgeable Sommelier to help u pick that perfect bottle. read more

Where do I begin? My friends and I went out for my birthday. The evening started out with my friend calling about the reservation and was put on a long hold then hung up on. - service was horrific. Super slow to refill drinks including water. - our soup and salad came in two blocks of 15 minutes apart. - our waiter did not chill the wine or come very often to the table - entrees arrived lukewarm to cold -$10.00 cake cutting fee and no sparkler candle as others had. - I ordered coffee and it never arrived - background music was very loud, upsetting overtone of bass , not relaxing at all - wait staff seemed disorganized - good was bland. Wedding soup was very bland. read more

Great Italian dinner! Try the Quail Saltimbocca, it was terrific. Great service and atmosphere. I will definitely return.