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    Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio

    3.7 (157 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 10:30 PM

    Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio Photos

    Business Info

    GIOIA RISTORANTE E PASTIFICIO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

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    Rigatoni
    Vita P.

    Pleasantly surprised with my visit at Gioia! Had dinner with a group of friends on a Thursday, plenty of parking on Randolph (lucky) but they do have $15 valet. We started the evening with a couple of drinks at the bar, nice selection and full bar service with some elegant cocktails. We started with the Burrata and Polpette which were good. The Burrata wasn't anything out of this world, but a nice starter. The polpette were very good. I enjoyed my dish which was the linguine allo scoglio and my husband had the Rigatoni. Both dishes were excellent! I was discouraged to read reviews about poor service prior to coming, but have to admit, our service was excellent. I'm picky on Italian food! But was surprised to enjoy Gioia and would recommend coming. Anytime you hear people speaking Italian tells you the Italians only flock to real places - which was definitely happening here.

    Meatball
    Laurina Y.

    Came here for dinner with friends and shared some pastas! I really enjoyed the linguine with tomato sauce and seafood, it had a little kick to it which was really nice! The location is a little bit out of west loop so the restaurant wasn't super crowded but the environment was really nice!

    Rachelle L.

    Sorely disappointed by the experience here at Gioia. Came here with a large group of gals to celebrate a friends birthday, and the service was actually some of the worst I have ever experienced. It's hard to really encapsulate how disrespected we felt- it was everything from how the waitstaff spoke to us in a commanding and condescending tone to how all the other tables around us received bread service but we were left ignored and waiting for them to take our order for I kid you not, about an hour. Even when we tried to politely get their attention, we were rudely dismissed. Yet, after the food arrived, the staff was rushing us and trying to take our plates alway before we could finish eating. The only reason they're getting 2 stars instead of 1 is because the ambience of the restaurant is nice and the food was fine- but I would highly recommend taking your business elsewhere at any of the other great establishments in West Loop. Will never be back here again. Food: 3.5/5 Service: 0/5 Price: 3/5 Ambience: 4/5

    Bucatini cacio e pepe, gnocchi, carciofi
    Clara S.

    It's really tough to stand out as an Italian restaurant in west loop with all the competition; however, I did enjoy my dinner here with no real complaints. The restaurant has a simple classic, elegant ambiance and filled up by the time we were done with dinner on this Saturday night. Complementary bread was a plus, and service was good. My Chianti went well with our meal - we started off with the side of potatoes, which turned out to be chips. It was a surprise to us, and the chips were rich and salty. We also had the carciofi salad, which was excellent and light. The gnocchi was nothing special, but the bucatini cacio e Pepe was delicious. Overall it was a good experience, but it's tough for this restaurant to stand out amongst so many great restaurants in the area.

    Carciofi
    Steve B.

    My girlfriend and I decided to give Gioia Chicago a try and I will say it was really good! We tried then: Carciofi, Linguine, and the La Parmigiana. Every dish was amazing! I would say my Personal favorite was the Linguine as you could have the sauce at the bottom of the plate with some bread and it kept making you want more!

    Arancina
    Mike B.

    Excellent Italian food at this upscale spot on Randolph Street's Restaurant Row. It's a square room, bar to the left, tables to the right as well as sidewalk seating when weather permits. Decor is sleek and modern, sound nicely muted for easy conversation. We were seated quickly, our reservation honored to the minute. Our server, Brandi, did a great job. Explained the menu, encouraged a couple of suggestions, and kept the meal moving at just the right pace. Thank you! Fresh bread and olive oil for dipping is served immediately while waiting for wine to be poured. Started with Arancina. A delicious baseball-sized ball of saffron rice, laced with taleggio is deep fried to golden brown. It's served atop a pool of pea-based sauce swirled with apple saba and garnished with pea shoots. The saffron makes it unique. The caramelized tart of the saba mixed with the sweetness of the peas are the perfect foil for the rice. An excellent start! On to the main course - Pici Toscana. Pici is best described as fat spaghetti. It's thick, hand-rolled and made without eggs which creates a unique taste and texture. It's served under a ladleful of outstanding ragu. As much meat as sauce, this is hearty and rich, earthy from a splash of chianti and delicious. I totally asked for an extra slice of bread to make sure I scooped up every last bit. Delicious! Shout out to the Branzino alla griglia. The branzino is served as a fillet, seared perfectly on the grill. Light, flaky, flavorful and perfectly seasoned. Another winner. Dinner for 4 was $209, including wine. Considering the quality of the food, service and atmosphere, very reasonable. Recommended!

    Tiramisu and crème brûlée
    Sarah J.

    This review is for my two trips here -- My mother in law was visiting 2 months ago, and we were wanting to try an upscale Italian. So we came over here and enjoyed the experience. The wine selections were great and at the time, we had both table side pastas for mains and had the burrata, fried calamari, and meat balls as appetizers. We were in a food coma by the end of our meal. Since we had such a great first experience, when some friends wanted to try a place in the west loop, we suggested to go here for dinner! I didn't get pictures of the appetizer but we ordered the cheese and meat board, as we figured it would be good for sharing. It was fine, but since I have had the other appetizers, I would have enjoyed other choices more. For mains my husband and I got the cacio e Pepe tableside and the casoncelli. This time I think the cacio e Pepe should have had more cheese so when I return I might make that little request but the brown butter sauce of the casoncelli had a lot of flavor. If you like the richness of the sauce, it's great. My husband is a tomato sauce fan so he would have preferred if we chose the linguini - I guess we will do this next time. The desserts were heaven just like the first time. The place is gorgeous - super modern, comfy and seductive all rolled into one ambiance. The staff were a pleasure - they knew when to chime in with recommendations without being pushy. Great experiences both times, will return.

    Casoncelli Alla Bergamasca
    Ashley S.

    The food was absolutely amazing. The steak was cooked perfectly, the pasta was more savory than sweet and was delicious. I don't like fennel and it does have a heavy fennel flavor but not enough to ruin the dish for me. The server was prompt and friendly. My only complaint, and outside of the restaurants control, there was a table of ladies who seemed to have a bit of wine and were talking over one another and screaming laughing, at 7:30pm. Not that I haven't been that person but gosh it was loud. Would recommend and visit again!

    Branzino alla Griglia
    Andre W.

    I love this place! Gioia means Italian joy and its become my go to for great Italian and it helps that its in walking distance of my residence. I have been here a few times...at the bar as well as seated at a table for dinner. There is a guy that works here named Edgar and he is always helpful and knowledgeable about whats good on the menu, so if you get him as a server, consider yourself lucky. He has great recommendations! The vibe here is cool as its a classic looking joint. Outdoor seating is available for the warmer temps as well. They have a nice selection of wine and their bartenders can always make you a very delicious drink such as a negroni, old fashioned, manhattan, etc.. Appetizers here are great! I highly recommend the Polipo: Roasted octopus, olive oil, potato puree, grape tomotoes, escarole and red wine sauce. The grilled calamari is very good as well. When it comes to the entree, I definitely love the Bucatini Cacio e pepe. The simplest dish, but very good! The Risotto is very good as well. The champion dish (shareable for 2) is the Gioia Nei Paccheri which comes with fresh tomato sauce and 22 month aged parmigiano. They make this amazing dish for you right by your table...you will love it! Desserts look pretty goo don the menu, but I've only tried the Millefoglie which is a puff pastry napoleon with vanilla cream mousse, strawberry tartar, pistachio gelato...its very good! As mentioned earlier, I love this place and will go at any time for any occasion. I've been solo at the bar, dining with a friend/s and gone on dates here.

    Cacio e Pepe
    Cat H.

    Gioia is one of my favorite places to dine in the West Loop! The food is absolutely amazing, and the cocktails are some of the best in the neighborhood! The atmosphere is intimate and friendly, and the staff makes every dining experience so enjoyable!

    Interior
    Susan K.

    Our waiter, Edger, was exceptional! The food was amazing. The ambiance was great but did not say Italian at all. The Fritto was amazing; an awesome lightly breaded combo of calamari & shrimp. My old fashioned was excellent w/ real maraschino cherries. The Nebbiolo was perfect & we asked for a 1/2 glass & they happily obliged. The panna cotta was amazing w/ caramel drizzle & fresh blueberries & strawberries!

    Lisa M.

    Food is decently good. Staff was very friendly and took care of us. However some etiquette training required. Fork belongs on left and knife on right. Atmosphere is beautiful and romantic.

    Michelle C.

    We decided to try Gioia after hearing good things about it and I'm very glad we did! After ordering our food, our waiter frequently passed bread to our table! We paired the bread with our appetizers, the burrata and salmone affumicato. As a cheese and salmon lover, I have nothing to complain about the great start to the dinner.  We also ordered the gioia nei paccheri, which is freshly prepared by the table side! The server gave us aprons for this dish and it's obligatory for us to put them on for the full experience.  In the end, we ordered a tiramisu ghiacciato and happily fell into a food coma

    Rigatoni and Filetto

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    Food was interesting and tasty. Service excellent! It was a tad noisy though. We got excellent referrals from our server.

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    Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio

    Is there a happy hour?

    We do not have a happy hour at this time, we open daily at 5pm! We do have weekly specials that we share on social media though @gioiachicago

    What's the parking situation here? Is there complimentary valet?

    Valet is $15. You can get lucky on Randolph with metered parking.

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    King of Cups - Old Fashion

    King of Cups

    4.4(131 reviews)
    2.7 miLincoln Park

    The best way I can describe King of Cups is to say this place is a VIBE. The theme is all-in on…read moreMedieval, from the lighting to chandeliers, candles, mirrors, chairs, drapes, and even changing digital paintings. It is definitely unique, creative, and a massive differentiator from any other cocktail bar I've been to. Now, let's talk cocktails! The creativity of the interior extends into the menu. Unlike some places that just make variations of existing classics (except for items specifically so named, like the Old Fashioned or Espresso Martini), all of their cocktails are unique and interesting. Time for a punch card? I ordered the Maximillian the Imposter. While I'm not typically a fan of banana (except for banana bread), I thought I'd step out of my comfort zone, and I wanted to try something 'flaming'. Flaming it was! The preparation of the drink involved a surprising amount of fire. I initially thought this was just for show, but no, this translated into a noticeable smoky flavor. Beyond that, the drink was strong, not overly sweet, and an all-around delight. There was one bartender on the night I was here, and while it was busy, I was still able to get my drink in a reasonable amount of time. I also feel as though they have reasonable prices, especially considering the quality and the market rates. King of Cups gets busy, and for good reason: they are an all-around phenomenal place, from the drinks to the vibe, and everything in between. If you're someone who likes a seat rather than fighting through a crowd, get a reservation! See you there!

    What a nice, moody, intimate bar. I came here for happy hour and was pleasantly surprised at how…read moreit's an actual discounted happy hour menu! You know it is these days - most places just knock a dollar off and call it a day. This one is legit! I'd say you should make a reservation for prime time to ensure you'll have a seat. However when it's early no big deal to just pop by. I enjoyed the plum Moscow mule (not too sweet!) and the espresso martini. Both are on draft which made me nervous from past experiences at other places. However, these were great and I LOVED their espresso martini. The bartender was kind and the vibes were off the charts. Check this place out next time you're in Lincoln Park!

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    King of Cups - Bar and seating

    Bar and seating

    King of Cups - Espresso martini

    Espresso martini

    King of Cups - Plum Moscow mule

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    Plum Moscow mule

    Geja's Cafe

    Geja's Cafe

    3.9(1.7k reviews)
    2.5 miLincoln Park
    $$$

    A dimly lit, cramped, dark, and friendly space rests a fondue restaurant made for a night out with…read morefriends, date night, or just a desire for melted cheese. A guitarist sits somewhere against a brick wall and plays music lightly but energetically. Service is friendly from start to finish and smiles are on everyone's faces. The menu is pretty easy to understand. You can get a three-course meal, or you can get each entree à la carte. You have two fondue candles in front of you, one for the cheese and dessert, and the other for the oil. We chose the three-course meal, and it was delightful. We started with the cheese appetizer. You get a basket of bread and fruit and we chose the seasonal cheese to dip. The oil for our meat was then left to heat, and we received a massive platter of veggies and meats for our main course. We chose the option for all selections of meat and seafood. After trying all the meats, I would opt for the lobster and shrimp. You can also substitute the oil for a broth. I would like to try the broth for next time. In one of the shakers, Gejas makes their own meat spice mix. It's recommended to put on the meats and even the desserts. It's a mix of tangy and savory and was a great compliment to the meal. We then chose the seasonal dessert, a white chocolate with vanilla cookies. Fruit, marshmallows, and churros to dip. We were so full by the time dessert came, but we enjoyed a few bites and took it home. The three-course meal, with five types of meat, came with about 10 pieces of meat. It doesn't look like a lot of food, but it truly is, with the apps, veggies, etc, your stomach will be full when you walk out of here. They also start the entire course with a mixed salad (so technically it's a four-course meal). It was very fairly priced, as well. Initially looking at the prices, you may think it's expensive, but it truly is a value with the amount of food they serve. This was rated as most romatic restaurant in Chicago. Its ambiance gives you the romantic feel, the guitarist adds to the atmosphere, and the staff is professional and friendly. This really was a great place and we enjoyed our time and meal.

    We came to Geja's to celebrate our anniversary and it certainly lived up to the hype. We were…read morelucky enough to have a table off the side by the window so it maintained the intimate feel without feeling cramped by other tables. Food-wise, it was very fun to cook everything ourselves. I do think the appetizers were my favorite part because I do just love fruits and cheeses, but everything was great. They were also very accommodating of celiac. Overall, we had a wonderful anniversary celebrating at Geja's.

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    Geja's Cafe
    Geja's Cafe
    Geja's Cafe

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    Gemini - Avocado Toast + Lincoln Park Turkey Club

    Gemini

    4.0(763 reviews)
    2.6 miLincoln Park
    $$

    It's Summer Time Chi season in Lincoln Park. Extensive patio at Gemini is super inviting. Jacob our…read moreserver was exceptional in his engagement & making reco's on drinks and food. Even though half my party was late, I never felt rushed. The FKG mocktail was sweet and flavorful. The Spritzer was a good alcoholic next drink. Truffle Parm fries were a table fav. Burrata was smaller than I expected for $18. Enjoyed my beet salad with salmon. Will def be back and highly recommend!

    I've eaten at Gemini over the years and have been able to sample a lot of what's on offer. I've had…read moremost of the specials but will usually get either the swordfish or the steak frites. Those are typically very good which is why I come back. The burger though. Why is it such a consistent disappointment? It's small, has the pancetta (a nice rubbery disc of salt) and just seems like kind of an afterthought to the otherwise well-considered menu. I've been eating it on occasion for 10+ years here always with the hope that it has improved. I would love to see a do-over on the burger. It would be great to have a place in the neighborhood that consistently delivered. As it stands, it's a distant second to RJ Grunt's, Small Cheval and not even in the same realm as Armitage Alehouse's burger. Really hoping I get to come back and revise this review to rave about how much better it got. The staff is always very nice and attentive as well. From host stand to bartenders, waitstaff and everyone clearing and setting, always a very nice group that seems like they take pride in their work, which is much appreciated.

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    Gemini - Nice view inside restaurant

    Nice view inside restaurant

    Gemini - Burrata crostini

    Burrata crostini

    Gemini - Brussel sprouts

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    Brussel sprouts

    Le Mistral - Inside the building - Le mistral is all the way down on the right side

    Le Mistral

    4.8(13 reviews)
    2.9 miLincoln Park

    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

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    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral - Inside

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    Inside

    Esme

    Esme

    4.1(153 reviews)
    2.8 miLincoln Park
    $$$$
    Fine dining
    Private events

    Esmé, consistently One of Our Favorites in Chicago…read more We went to Esmé last night on a Monday and were pleasantly surprised to see both an event happening in the bar and a solid number of diners in the dining room. Not many Michelin starred restaurants can pull that off on a Monday, but Esmé always seems to have energy. This place has become one of our most reliable favorites. They change the menu a few times a year in conjunction with rotating local artists, and the restaurant itself feels more like a refined art gallery than a traditional dining room with white walls, clean lines, simple and elegant. Last night was no exception to their usual excellence. The experience is really anchored by Chris Gerber, a longtime Chicago hospitality pro, and his team. They are flawless. This is true hospitality in every sense of the word. They usually keep two signature dishes, and for good reason. The caviar supplement sounds odd on paper, but in your mouth it is absolute perfection. The cod sounds simple, but it is anything but, rich, decadent, and always one of the highlights. Everything new on this menu was also outstanding. Every course had beautifully balanced sauces that made sense with the dish, and the presentations were creative without being gimmicky or over the top. The plating always ties in with the featured artist in a way that feels thoughtful, not forced. One tip. Be careful when choosing your beverage pairing. We did not read closely enough and ended up with the more inventive pairing that included cocktails and a beer. It was fun, but afterward we wished we had gone with the higher end wine pairing instead. Bottom line. Esmé remains one of the most consistent Michelin starred experiences in Chicago. It is not just very good. It is reliably excellent every single time.

    My rating of a 3 is specifically for the Restaurant Week menu though I'll say it definitely didn't…read moreinspire me to come back. I really wanted to like it; this was a nine-year anniversary dinner. Service was really attentive and friendly and I did appreciate that they brought out specific utensils for me as a left-handed person, never saw that before! The restaurant felt a bit bare and sterile, I think I was maybe expecting a little more decor on the table for a Michelin star restaurant. To echo several of the reviews below, the salad was awkward to share and scanty, the soup was good but the bread served with it felt like an afterthought, the sturgeon wasn't anything special though the sauce was quite good, and we are pretty sure the cut of beef was not wagyu or if it was it was not cooked the right way. The beef was the most disappointing part, I couldn't even chew through all of it. The add-ons were the best part - pasta was great and our dessert was delicious. But the rest of the meal was unfortunately mediocre. Hoping that others have a different experience with the regular menu!

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    Esme
    Esme
    Esme

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    Willow Room - Arugula salad over avocado toast with poached eggs.

    Willow Room

    4.2(428 reviews)
    2.1 miLincoln Park, DePaul
    $$

    Chicago Restaurant week. I reviewed various dining options in search of a good place for dinner…read more Reddit gave me some ideas. I'd never been to Willow Room and liked that they had a four course dinner menu, with items I liked. I was able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15pm. PARKING Parking on Halsted on a Saturday night can be a nightmare, and it did take a minute to find street parking. North of the 1800 block is busier because there are several restaurants within a two block radius. Side streets are permit parking after 6pm. Meters on Halsted are $2.50/hr. ATMOSPHERE Willow Room was pretty packed. We had a reservation for 8:15pm and my party of two was seated right away. The restaurant features a full bar, dim lighting and is nice and roomy. They have banquette seating around the perimeter, in addition to tables in the middle. SERVICE Our server, who was very nice and accommodating during our dining experience, came by and gave us our menu's. I had already decided on the RW menu and after review, my friend was interested in the Beef Wellington (not on RW menu). Our server informed us that normally the whole table had to order off of the RW menu if one person does, but said she would check with the kitchen since this was the last day of RW. Luckily, we were able to proceed with ordering from different menu's. FOOD I ordered a raspberry Cosmopolitan. I'm a Riesling/Moscato girlie, but I tasted the Riesling and didn't like it. RW dinner was priced at $60. I ordered: First Course: Caesar Salad (Typical salad, was good) Second Course: Mussels (Tasted fine, came with a baguette) Third Course: Short Rib (Could've been slightly more tender and better seasoned. I've definitely had better. Wouldn't order again.) Fourth Course: Orange Ricotta Donuts (Donuts were very good. Three were served, a few more would have been more filling.) My friend ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and: Truffle Fries (Fries were very tasty. I would order again if I went back.) Beef Wellington (The breading was buttery and very good. The beef could've been more seasoned. I wouldn't order.) Key Lime Pie (Was not sweet and had no taste. When our server came back and saw it was uneaten, she offered to take it off the bill. It should be removed from the menu altogether.) The busboys and server were very attentive. Our water glasses were always filled. OVERALL The atmosphere was nice, our server was great. Of all the food we ordered, I would order the truffle fries and Cosmopolitan again. I did leave full and did take my leftover Short Rib to go. Main dishes needed more seasoning. I would dine here again and try a different menu (brunch/lunch), or Happy Hour if they offer it.

    The Willow Room is in a great location and has plenty of indoor seating for large and small groups…read morealike. Service is always quick and friendly and the portion sizes here are perfect (not oversized or underwhelming). The drink menu is a little limited and expensive but you're paying for the nice atmosphere. There are a few seats outdoors but there isn't much of a view so it's actually preferable indoors here.

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    Willow Room
    Willow Room
    Willow Room - French 75

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    French 75

    Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio - italian - Updated May 2026

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