Jaclyn C was our server and Thomas came over to help with an allergy and really went above and beyond. We sat at the chef station and it was really cool watching them make the food. Everything was delicious and I would highly recommend all of the above. They were amazing with my allergies and super attentive. read more

Stopped here for a Sunday night dinner while staying in the Chicago area. The menu looked good for the most part so we booked it. There were plenty of reservations so I figured the place had a variety of seating options and was large. Both were the case. Large place with clean designs and dark accents, Things started out with weird energy from the hostess station when we checked in. There were two girls there - one smaller and darker hair who was nice and friendly, and the other a blondish haired girl who gave off some incredible "what are you doing here" energy asking if we had a reservation. She genuinely looked disappointed when I said we did and gave our name. Really weird. Anyway - we were sat at our table and an army of guys came and switched out glasses, gave refills, and plates etc. However, our waitress was there for the ordering, then at the very end. A manager type came to get our refills which took forever and in one instance came all the way from the bar dropped off by the bartender (it was an iced tea) We started with one of the four pizzas that had little to no normalcy in terms of ingredients. We ordered the mortadella which came with fennel sausage, (over the top name for broccoli rabe), and cheese. Main issue with this was the broccoli rabe on it also included the stalks. Had to pick those off bc they were inedible. For my entree I ordered the rigatoni carbonara which was outstanding - really liked the silky consistency of the sauce- a lot of times carbonara sauces get gritty and separate. This place did it right. The [bacon] was crispy yet tender. For dessert, I got the pistachio cream cake. It was ok. Overall, it was ok. The entree saved things, if I were to return I would hope to see our waitress more, not have to wait for a refill to come all way from the front of the house by the bartender, and to not have the hostess treat me like I didn't belong immediately walking in the door. I would seriously recommend relocating that person to another department in the business. read more

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Our server was excellent, the wine was delicious, and the food was incredible. All three antipasti we got were really really good. My favorite was the lamb ribs (abbacchio alla scottadito). The flavor was delicious, the sticky, honey-like sauce was great, and they were tender with a nice crisp. The artichoke (carciofo alla giudia) was the next best and super unexpected, though I guess it should've been expected given the name of the restaurant. Really well cooked. And the feet suppli (ragu) was also really tasty, though I didn't really taste too much beef but the rice and cheese and crispy outside were great. The pastas/pizzas were split. The gnocchetti with mushrooms was my favorite. It was creamy and a good amount of mushrooms. The carbonara was pretty good. The guanciale was the best part, with the rest of the sauce leaving a little something to be desired. The boscaiola pizza wasn't my favorite. I didn't really taste much sausage and the crunchy veggies were a little overpowering for me. The veal (vitello) was excellent. The prosciutto added the right amount of salty and and there was a bunch of sauce. The pork (maiale) wasn't my favorite. I thought the belly portion was kind of chewy - it stuck in my teeth - and I'm not the biggest fan of a really bell peppery salsa verde. We got the asparagus die which was creamy and mushroomy and I really liked! We finished with a tiramisu which was really big and great! read more

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If only on food, its a five star but unfortunately its not how it goes. I liked all my items - cacio e pepe and the dessert as well as the flat bread to start but the staff had some weird concept of sharing tables - to the point there was no consistency as well as large gaps because of it. The whole thing where your soda doesnt show up until after your done your meal is kind of crazy. If its a cocktail, I get it - I guess. But it was a diet coke. Nice, clean spacious place - could have room for improvement as well as a few more menu items making this place better. read more

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First time at a Roman style restaurant and WOW! This place is amazing. Food ranked in recommendation order: 1. Fried artichoke is a MUST! I took a bite and said "wow" out loud- they are insane. I am not an artichoke lover normally, and ordered upon a friends recommendation. Do not leave without trying these. 2. Gnocchetti: Perfectly done! I am not a mushroom lover and the way they are prepared added a bit of crunch to the dish- SO good. Light and fluffy. 3. Prosciutto do Parma: Bread is fresh, hot and flaky is the best way, mozzarella delicious and good portion of prosciutto- this is a favorite dish of mine and I love how they did it. 4. Spicy Rigatoni: A unique spicy kick! Our table loved this one. Service: Excellent, felt like friends. We arrived early at 4:45pm after work, be sure to make a reservation as it was full by dinner time. Perfect location for dinner with coworkers, girls night or date night. read more

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Been wanting to visit for a while and so glad we did. Delicious wine and food, and welcoming atmosphere. Im a big fan of this chef and this restaurant felt similar in quality to the others but ceberated Roman food. The artichoke and lamb really stood out at favorites although everything was thoroughly enjoyed. I am looking forward to visiting for happy hour or Gelato over the summer. read more

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Exquisite flavors! Innovative drinks and a delicious assortment of Roman dishes. They were very considerate of my friend's food allergies and even provided several different menus to accommodate dietary restrictions. We ordered the CARCIOFO ALLA GIUDIA, which surprised us all as none of us were huge artichoke fans to start, but these were a fried delicacy and fan favorite at our take. We also ordered the PANE BIANCO, RIGATONI ALLA CARBONARA, MEZZE RIGATONI ALLA AMATRICIANA, STRAWBERRY GELATO, PISTACHIO GELATO, and TIRAMISU. All decadent and delicious. They even brought out a free COCONUT GELATO as the wait time for one of our pastas took longer than expected. Service was very kind and attentive. Dim lit ambiance with a slightly more upscale Italian vibe. Would highly recommend coming here for a date night or girls night out! read more

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Excellent! Another great addition by Joe Flamm! Beautiful ambiance and detailed delicious food. We started off with the suppli pesto and ABBACCHIO ALLA SCOTTADITO which were excellent. Everything looked excellent as it hit our table. The artichoke appetizer is a fan favorite which we did not have but saw often ordered. We shared the spaghetti with wild boar and rigatoni alla carbonara both great dishes and common. We finished off with pistachio gelato which was fresh and homemade paired beautifully with MARITOZZI and polished off with their dessert Lambrusco. We enjoyed a table visit from Joe Flamm himself. Service was attentive yet thoughtful by our server in addition to all staff. Beautiful evening and great dining experience! Highly recommend in the west loop. read more

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Had been hearing of this place and had to give it a try! For how large the place is I was glad it wasn't too loud like some other places in the area. The apps were the highlight, and the artichoke were worth the hype - absolutely amazing. Our next favorite were the arancini. The carbonara was not my favorite, didn't have much flavor or anything too special. The arrabbiata however was to die for. read more

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My husband and I dined in for our anniversary/baby moon celebration and were treated like royalty. We sat at the chef's counter which was fun to see how everything is prepared. Thermometers were used every single time meat was cooked. Quality control is a priority here and it shows. The entire staff made us feel welcomed and at home. Since I'm pregnant I'm staying away from anything cooked with alcohol. Our server took the extra time to see what my options were and brought over a new menu with items that were not cooked with alcohol. ABOVE AND BEYOND right there and I truly appreciated it. The atmosphere is simple and elegant. It's very cozy and warm. I highly recommend getting here for an earlier dinner if possible. By 6pm the place was PAAAACKED. The food here is divine. They are on the pricier side given the smaller portions, however, the quality is top notch. We started with the Carciofi alla giudia which was full of flavor, crispy, and a must try at least once. Next we had the Pizza capricciosa and we both enjoyed it and would order this again. We tried 2 pastas: Spaghetti cacio e pepe and Anolini. GOODNESS! I'm a big fan of Joe Flamm's pastas and both equally brought their A+++ game. I wanted a veggie so we also had the Brocolini e cavoliore. LOOOOOVE! Safe to say this mama to be left with a happy food (and baby) belly =). read more

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It has become my life mission to find good carbonara anywhere in the US I visit ever since going to Italy. And to my surprise it was almost always a fake version without guanciale or weird added peas. But recently visited Il Carciofo and omg let me tell you, carbonara was on point!! The guanciale was perfectly cooked, nice and crunchy while the pasta was also perfectly made, al dente, and honestly that's also hard to come by. Not only did I get 1 plate but I went for seconds right before closing and the chef was so kind enough to whip it up last minute and it came out just as fire . Anyways, totally recommend if your looking for an authentic carbonara dish! The rest of my family also loved their dishes but we all mainly went for the carbonara. read more

Il Carciofo - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here for a group event dinner so we had a room near the back of the restaurant. I heard this is *the* place to eat and a hot spot in the Fulton Market area so I was pretty excited. I'm also a huge Italian food fan (top 3 fav!) so I was really looking forward to the meal. Overall, I would rate this a 3.5 stars based on my experience eating a prix fixe menu. I really enjoyed the fried artichoke starter which was deliciously crispy and paired well with the pecorino romano cheese. The rigatoni was decent but nothing to write home about and I felt like the sauce was missing an umami flavor. Sea bream isn't my favorite fish and their version was decent but I still would have preferred a differnt version. I was most looking forward to the dry aged bone-in strip and wasn't super wow'd by it. Maybe they were too heavy handed with the salt that day but I didn't feel like the beefy flavors came through enough and the meat was kind of chewy. I know this place gets raving reviews so maybe I came on an off night. However, the service was impecccable and the servers took great care of us despite that we were a larger party in a very busy establishment. read more

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This place was absolutely amazing. Service was lovely, Joe Flamm does not disappoint. Best carbonara I have had. The bone in strip with honey and black pepper was sooooo flavorful. Will def be back. read more

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Overall, a solid option for Italian (specifically Roman) food in Chicago. I came on a Thursday night and the place was still very busy. My friend and I started off with some drinks, and I liked my Lambrusco Spritz. Then we ordered a bunch of food to share. Abbacchio alla Scottadito - I'm usually not a fan of lamb, but this was not that gamey. It was too sweet for me though. Boscaiola pizza - Nice texture on the bread and the flavor combination is great, but way too salty. Rigatoni alla Carbonara - I was worried this would be too salty after trying the pizza, but it was pleasantly not so. Texture of the rigatoni was great and I really loved the little bits of guanciale. Spaghetti with wild boar ragu - This was okay. Tasted good but nothing particularly memorable. For dessert, we got some corn and blueberry gelato which sounds weird but the flavor combination really works. I did find the gelato to be a bit on the icy side, however. Our server was very nice and checked in with us regularly throughout the dinner. I think that the food is not really worth the prices charged, though this is West Loop and that's just the norm here. Food: 4/5 Price: 3.75/5 Service: 4.25/5 Ambiance: 4.25/5 Overall: 4/5 read more

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I appreciated the server walking us through the menu and providing his recommendations! We sat near the bar which was fun as we got to see the chefs preparing pizzas. Food came out in a staggered fashion which kept it all piping fresh. read more

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Everything here was so delicious! The artichoke was the star of the show. I loved my drink, pasta, pizza, and amazing pistachio gelato. Highly recommended! read more

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Love the ambiance, it's nice but not toooo upscale/fancy. Came on a Wednesday night and it was packedddd and pretty loud. The tables are a bit close together, perhaps not the best place if you're looking for something quiet and intimate. Beautiful decor. Great service! We ordered the prosciutto di parma, fiori di zucca fritti, abbacchio alla scottadito, caprese pizza, rigatoni alla carbonara, mezze rigatoni alla amatriciana and fagioli piattoni. Favorites are the fiori di zucca fritti (fried squash blossoms), abbacchio alla scottadito (lamb) and the rigatoni alla carbonara. The pasta has a very nice chew to it, perhaps a smidge too al dente but still delicious. I've never had fagioli piattoni dish (flat green beans) before I wasn't sure what to expect, it had a nice spice to it but overall a bit mushy and one-note so I'd probably skip that. The caprese pizza was a bit of a let down, it had a nice crust but the tomatoes were too watery. Glad I finally got to try! read more

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Food, Service was amazing and the ambience is very Chicago Fulton Market. Greta for a business dinner and or good time with friends

Went here for my mom's birthday and I thought it was very good overall! It's a Roman style restaurant with small plates sharing. We tried the kale salad, two pizzas, the carbonara, the spaghetti Ragu, the broccoli and the delicate squash. We also shared two desserts and some cocktails. The service was very friendly and timely. The actual restaurant feels slightly more casual than some of the other nicer west loop restaurants but I liked it because it didn't feel as over the top. I love the pizzas and they have some really fun, unique flavors like pumpkin. All the pastas are homemade, and the open kitchen concept is one of my favorites. In my opinion, the pasta were decent, but the pizza, traditional desserts and vegetables were really the star of the shows. Overall, a nice addition to the area, and I felt that all of the dishes really reflected a sense of attention to detail. read more

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We were excited to try out Il Carciofo! What a beautiful space with so many plants! It can be noisy inside, as it was completely full when we went. We had a group of 5 and had a round table which was perfect for ordering multiple dishes and sharing, which we were happy to do. Service was prompt and well done. The food was good. I will say some of the pastas were aggressively al dente (as my friend said) and probably would have been better with another 45 seconds of cooking. Favorites were the artichoke (of course), and the ravioli. For dessert, don't pass up the gianduja and pistachio gelatos. Have a bite of each at the same time, delicious! read more

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We had a wonderful dinner at Il Carciofo while visiting Chicago. While there are so many restaurants to try while visiting this great city, Il Carciofo was highly recommended. We started with their signature dish, the Carciofo alla guida. This simple yet flavorful artichoke set the mood for the rest of our meal. It was crispy and nicely seasoned. Next we had the Abbacchio alla Scottadito which was hands down the best dish of the night. These little lamb ribs were delicious, covered in a sticky glaze. We moved on to the Rigatoni alla Carbonara. This dish was velvety, creamy, and peppery. For our main course we had the Manzo Aprugineo. This giant NY Strip was perfect for sharing. We both really enjoyed the seasoning and the hint of sweetness the honey added. Gelato seemed like the right way to end the evening. We split a giant scoop of pistachio gelato which was absolutely delicious. read more

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5 stars, hands down, one of the most memorable food experiences in Chicago. The artichoke dish was superb and the clam pasta was sooo good. The handmade pastas are definitely the star, just wish we had come earlier in the day to see it in action. Joe Flamm, you the man! read more

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Yum! Inside is gorgeous and the outdoor area is fabulous. Big fan of all pastas by Joe Flamm and it didn't disappoint. Everything is on the pricier side, but that's just Fulton. Great wine menu - all Italian wines. They also have great non alcoholic wines too. Great service and everything came out great. There wasn't anything I would say was a stand out, BUT it was a pleasant experience. read more

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Saw Il Carciofo pop up on my Instagram feed as one of THE restaurants to visit and must-try in 2025, and it didn't disappoint! It opened back in December 2024, and it has been slowly gaining a following through word of mouth and the power of social media. I ordered the Carciofo alla Guidia which the server tells me is a crowd favorite for the antipasti. I'm not a super fan of artichokes but I love this dish more than the Rigatoni alla Carbonara I ordered. The pecorino romano complemented the toasted artichokes, and if you douse it with lemon, it's perfect! Apparently-- this is a staple in Rome! The carbonara was maybe a 3.5/5.. it was good but I don't know the guanciale was cut too thick and overcooked for my liking? However, they gave me a glass of Riesling on the house to pair with my pasta dish so that definitely was a nice gesture! I was seated by the chef's counter so I was able to see all the action by the pizza, pasta area. I came around 4 and they open at 4:30pm for dinner service so it wasn't as packed but I assume it would be with all the patio seating they have especially when summer comes around. Ambiance is great inside, a little bit dim but still bustling with activity and life. It's in West Loop/Fulton Market so you can easily get to it with the Pink Line and walk a few minutes to get there. Will come back for the Cacio e Pepe and try their sister restaurant, Rose Mary as well! read more

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We enjoyed every dish we had! My favorites were the artichoke (carciofo alla guidia - their namesake) and the mezze rigatoni alla amatriciani (their only pasta in red sauce). We'd get these every time! The artichoke was unique and had nice flavor and texture. The red pasta had really great depth of flavor, a little heat, a little smokey. There was a lot going on, definitely more complex than a typical red sauce, it must've been from the guanciale. I could've eaten the whole plate by myself. Everything else was solid and very enjoyable. The gnocchetti was soft and pillowy, delicate brown butter flavor. The spaghetti vongole with clams were good. The spaghetti itself was a hefty pasta, cooked perfectly - really nice. We got a side of the funghi e formaggi - the chestnuts were my favorite part of that. The tiramisu had good flavor (they didn't skimp on the cocoa), but the cookie was dry and crispy throughout, which was weird. I really liked the Basil Daisy cocktail, it was very approachable and light, but not too sweet. Our server was very friendly and helpful. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal. Everything was delicious, generally safe, but still a little interesting. I'd definitely come back! read more

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We didn't have the best time here but we really wanted to. We checked in and when asked for allergies/dietary restrictions, we mentioned a walnut allergy and vegetarian. For some reason, it threw off the hostesses and they gave us menus that said vegan? And then they asked a couple more times and gave us just 1 tree-nut friendly menu and took us to our seats. Weird but okay. But after that it seemed off to a good start when our waitress Katelyn brought over a complimentary pour of champagne and as soon as she realized we didn't have a 2nd menu, she grabbed one immediately and went over everything with us including what was vegetarian friendly etc. We were able to get in our whole order and were excited to dig in. First came the artichokes which were way better than what we were expecting. Then came the rossa pizza which wasn't bad but nothing amazing. Unfortunately after that, we didn't get our pastas for 40 min. Katelyn recognized it and checked on the pasta for us but who knows what happened. We finally got the cacio e Pepe but while we were serving ourselves, a server pushed the dish away causing it to spill on the table when he came to bring over the other pasta dish. I would have cared more but honestly the pasta wasn't very good. It was dry and just tasted funky in general. At least the gnocchi was decent and wasn't spilled. Katelyn tried to offer us a free dessert to make up for the wait but by this time, we were ready to just leave. I don't blame her but it was a weird experience with okay food. There are a lot of other good Italian places we will frequent instead. read more

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Ambiance - dim, great for dates and small groups Service - check in host was super friendly, our server explained the whole menu and offered us suggestions, didn't feel like dinner was rushed, food came out in timely manner Food - fantastic, there wasn't one thing I didn't like; highly recommend the carciofo alla giudia read more

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I finally had the chance to hit this Roman Italian spot. The atmosphere hits that sweet spot between cozy and elegant the kind of place where you immediately feel like you're in for a good meal. Our waiter knew everything about the menu and was extremely helpful with solid recommendations. Every dish that came out looking and smelly like it wouldn't last for a picture. Each pasta was clearly made in-house and cooked perfectly, the sauces were rich, and you could taste how fresh everything was. It was really hard to pic a fav but the anolini and gnocchetti were the top two. It was a great experience and a good addition to west loop read more

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George Carlin once said, "The artichoke is a vegetable with a heart." Il Carciofo means artichoke and George was right about the vegetable and the restaurant! We sat at the chef's table and had a terrific night. The Carciofo alla Giudia was the perfect start--crispy fried artichoke leaves with a salty hit of pecorino romano. The Abbacchio alla Scottadito (lamb ribs) were tender and full of flavor. I admit I picked up the bone to clean it off. For sides, the Zucchina with hazelnut gremolata and the Broccoli e Cavolfiore with bagna cauda and parmigiano were excellent, both bringing more character than your average vegetables. For our main, we had the Pesce Orata served with marinated artichokes and puntarelle. The exec sous chef mentioned they source the puntarelle directly from Italy preserved in jars which is something you rarely see in the U.S. and made the dish stand out. Dessert was a tiramisu studded with little chocolate chips, an unexpected twist that worked. One of the best parts: their wine list which you have to ask for. It's affordable and has very good bottles that pair perfectly with the food. And they have a whole section on natural wines which is a hidden treasure. Our wine a was lively and balanced Trebianno. Service was easygoing but attentive, and being at the chef's table made the whole evening feel more connected to the kitchen. Il Carciofo is doing something special, and I'd go back read more

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Pretty decent Italian food in this new Fulton Market/West Loop joint that. I agree with my old friend Mary T when she says the space does not remind you of an Italian place, but its definitely a very attractive ambiance. You can visibly see the kitchen from any position in the restaurant which is cool. Had an early Thursday evening reservation so the place had a good amount of patrons but wasnt packed. They originally seated us near the back of the restaurant next to another table with loud ass girls. We looked around and saw so many tables open with no one next to them and we asked if we could be re-seated. The seating person looked a bit bewildered and had us walk back to the front only to walk to the very back of the restaurant and pass quite a few empty tables in the front and mid section of the establishment...strange. We werent next to anyone loud as hell so we just said f it lol. We did get to see the party space through the glass thats in the back...cool space. Our server Enrico was very good and made up for the goofiness that was seatgate lol. Very attentive and good about walking us through the menu. He let us know its an order all at once situation so its better to go through the whole menu and figure what we want. We started with the Carciofo alla Guida which is deep fried artichoke and the Abbacchio alla Scottadito (lamb chops)...both were good but those lamb chops were nice as hell. We then got 2 pasta dishes...both heavily recommended by Enrico. Rigatoni alla Carbonara and Tagliatelle Sugo de Coda...both were very delicious. Washed ot all down with Pinot Noir and Rosso e Bianco (blend of red and white vermouth). Dessert was awesome as we got the Pistachio Gelato...was full but this was so good, I couldn't stop eating it. They seemingly have a nice bar scene here...may have to check it out to avoid more seating weirdness lol. Good fro group, dates or solo bar mission. Trendy joint...I feel it will be here for awhile. read more

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Everything amazing but small dishes. The only thing we didn't enjoy was the dessert. read more

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The food and the whole team were amazing. Sitting at the Chef's Counter was a blast interacting with the chefs. Alejandro(?) served us, and his wine knowledge and taste were impeccable. This was our second visit (first at the counter), and we are looking forward to future visits. The pace of the meal was perfect, portions were excellent. There is nothing I can think of that would make it better. It was an incredible evening. Many thanks to the whole team. read more

Food was excellent but service was not good at all. We got sat and waited about ten minutes to be greeted. We then ordered a bottle of wine, it took another 12 minutes for that. We were celebrating my friend's milestone birthday, which we said, and no candle was brought out with the dessert we order (and paid for). Places don't need to give complimentary desserts I guess, but it's touches like a candle that could have elevated the evening. For that reason, I would not recommended for birthdays, as they don't acknowledge them. read more

We ordered: 1. Calamari Al Forno E Pomodoro - oregano, pane bianco 2. Carciofo Alla Giudia - pecorino romano 3. Boscaiola Pizza - maitake, mozzarella, fennel sausage 4. Rigatoni alla Carbonara - slagel eggs, guanciale, pecorino romano, black pepper 5. Tagliatelle - sugo de coda, oxtails, tomato, parmigiano reggiano vacche rosse 6. Vitello Saltimbocca - sage, prosciutto 7. Gianduja Gelato & Coconut Sorbet Calamari had a deep squid flavor and the pane bianco was baked and seasoned perfectly. The namesake artichoke was also tasty. Crispy petals were crispy while the body was meaty and not overcooked. This restaurant knows how to bake bread because the pizza was also perfect. So fluffy and crispy and flavorful. I was very impressed with the carbonara. Cooked to all dente and balanced in flavor - not terribly rich or cheesy. Oxtail and sauce in Tagliatelle was also excellent. The hazelnut gelato and coconut gelato are some of the best gelato/sorbet I've ever had and top desserts in the city. Friend liked his house mocktail. Only miss was veal. I didn't like how much butter was in the sauce and the meat roll was dry and lacked flavor. Service was very good. It's a huge space, a lot of tables for small to large groups. read more

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Loved!! Snagged a reservation in December for a Saturday in January and am very pleased with my experience at Il Carciofo. Favs were the carbonara (literally amazing) and my iconic espresso martini for its unique flavor twist to a typical one. I didn't love the calamari but everything else I tried was top tier. I'd love to go back and try the artichoke app everyone raves about and another pasta dish or two. Also s/o to the bartenders who were so kind, attentive, and helpful. read more

Il Carciofo - espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went on night 5 and I think they're still working out their menu and service... I'd say overall food was 3.5 but rounding up bc I adore joes other spots and know that we're still in early days, good service by Stephanie and the decor and spot is lovely! - suppli pesto - play on an arancini and was deep fried and delish. Shoutout to Stephanie for recommending that we order this, no regrets! - artichoke - given the restaurant namesake, I was not impressed with the artichoke and prob wouldn't order it again - rigatoni carbonara - super salty between the guanciale and the overall seasoning. Don't get me wrong, I ate every bite but I also drank a lot of water - ravioli - good flavor and chew - pesce - halibut cooked nicely, the clams and mussels were nice but would love more given the price point and that it was sold as a stew. Much more elevated play on a stew - zeppoli - the amarena cherry on this is DIVINE Drinks: - espresso martini - nice flavor - Romano - liked this - Americano - did not like the flavor profile here Place was packed for a Monday night as expected for chef Joe. I'll definitely come back to try other menu items and see how they refine menu and service. But so fun to be part of early start. read more

Il Carciofo - Pesce - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The atmosphere here is very pretty (though a bit loud) but thoughtfully set up for the shared dish nature of the menu. I went with a group of five so we were able to try many items. My favorites included the carciofo alla giudia (fried artichoke), capesante crudo (scallop crudo with apricot, radish, and a delicious chilli crisp), and the pesce spada (swordfish). We almost didn't order the fagiolo piattoni (Romano beans in a tomato sauce with sausage) but they ended up being one of the highlights for everyone. I am gluten free so did not get to try any of the pizza or pasta but the rest of my group really enjoyed them. The abbacchio alla scottadito (lamb ribs) had a good flavor but were a bit too fatty for my liking. The prices were more expensive than expected. I did enjoy certain dishes a lot but I'm not sure they would be enough to bring me back again. The service was good and our waiter did a lovely job explaining the menu to us. Overall, I'm glad I got to try this place out but don't see it becoming a regular spot for me. read more

We love Rose Mary & so we're excited when we heard Chef Joe was opening another restaurant. A disclaimer is that my current 2 favorite Italian restaurants are Avvio (for the chicken parm) and Monteverde. With so many Italian restaurants in the city, you have to be next level to stand out and sadly, Il Carciofo does not. Everything we ate was fine (prosciutto, artichoke, mortadella panini, tagliatelle, and vanilla gelato - but nothing stood out. And for us, the artichoke felt a little overrated. It was greasy. The service was fine & the space is open and feels welcoming. But, this is not somewhere we'd go out of our way to go to again (especially so close to Monteverde). If someone else was super excited I'd try it again. read more

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I read that it was next to impossible to nab a reservation, but I was able to walk in at 5 on a Monday at the bar. That said, there didn't seem to be many open seats, so it's well worth making a reservation. I believe the Rosso pizza is the most popular pizza, but I got the Boscaiola, a mozzarella pizza with fennel sausage and mushroom. It was excellent! I didn't notice a flavor difference between this pizza and another, well-made fennel sausage and mushroom pizza, but it's an exceptional pizza for a reasonable price. I highly recommend. I also got the Carciofo Alla Giudia, a signature appetizer and, according to Wikipedia, "is among the best-known dishes of Roman Jewish cuisine!" Definitely the best artichokes I've ever had. It was so tender. It was the perfect mix of salty and fatty. The flavor reminded me a lot of Lay's potato chips. I got the mango sorbet for dessert. It was creamy and has just the right amount of tang. They make the sorbet in-house! The portion was almost too generous--but I can't complain about that. However, I didn't like that they added a 4% surcharge, which didn't seem to be mentioned on the menu. Taking a star off for that. read more

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5 stars- excellent service, food and cocktails. The artichokes are my favorite item on the menu. We will be back!