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    Il Carciofo

    4.1 (138 reviews)
    Closed 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Il Carciofo Photos

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    IL CARCIOFO ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Il Carciofo

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    Very fresh and good
    Rosie V.

    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.

    Carbonara
    Lizzette P.

    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.

    Ciara W.

    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!

    Vince H.

    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.

    Alexandra A.

    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 =).

    Rigatoni
    Christine K.

    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.

    Natasha B.

    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.

    Spaghetti with wild boar ragu
    Sky W.

    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

    Pizza
    Krystian C.

    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.

    Annette B.

    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!

    Dessert
    Emily T.

    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.

    MEZZE RIGATONI ALLA AMATRICIANA
    Cassie T.

    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!

    Kate S.

    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!

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    1 month ago

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

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    Page 1 of 4

    Ask the Community - Il Carciofo

    Are the ingredients imported from Rome ? Including the pasta flour?

    IDK.

    Do they have gluten free options?

    Yes -- I reached out and they emailed me back this (as of 2/17/25): Antipasti- Prosciutto and… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Gilt Bar - Chicken parmigiana

    Gilt Bar

    (2.4k reviews)

    $$$

    River North, Near North Side

    exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

    Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is…read morestunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal.

    GoodFunk - Behind the bar

    GoodFunk

    (40 reviews)

    The Loop

    We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

    My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

    Arbella - Whipped feta was sooooo good!

    Arbella

    (695 reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

    Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

    Chicago Winery - Enjoy a wine & cheese plate in our restaurant, LIVA

    Chicago Winery

    (65 reviews)

    Near North Side

    I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

    Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

    Obelix - Duck Carnitas Danish, Horchata Croissant, Coconut & Pineapple Danish

    Obelix

    (263 reviews)

    $$$$

    River North, Near North Side

    We shared: 1. Salade Lyonnaise "Canard" - frisee, escarole,…read moreduck confit, duck egg, duck-fat croutons 2. Poulet Roti - Harrison's Farm Chicken Breast, Potato Pave, Tomato Farcie, Tuscan Kale, Sauce Obelix 3. Souffle - spiced molasses, date toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream 4. Cote De Boeuf - 14 oz USDA prime ribeye, French fries, sauce au poivre 5. Roasted Mushrooms 6. Black Truffle Gougere - choux pastry, comte, truffle Mornay, perigord truffle 7. Huitre Chaude - belle du jour oyster, tarragon-horseradish rouille, lemon Not gonna break down everything we ordered but to simplify, will name my favorites and only dish that disappointed. The duck salad and roast chicken are perfectly executed, shareable, and must-gets. The only disappointment, the Prime ribeye, sad to say, altho clearly medium rare in my photos, was a little tough and chewy. Fries were also dry. Service was professional and competent. Regularly checked on us, updated us on food arrival, and cleaned our table. Ambience was classy and relaxing.

    We visited Obelix for the first time on a recent weeknight. Highlights were an interesting menu and…read morecustomer focused staff. VIBE: The dining room had a cozy country brasserie feel, with medium wood tones prevailing. It was not full, so conversational noise was only moderate. SERVICE: The host noted my reservation request for a seating accommodation and honored it - bonus points for that. Our server was attentive and comp'd us for a dessert that did not delight us. Food came at a leisurely pace, which suited us. FOOD: The menu had contemporary takes on French standards. We're not foie gras fans, but there were witty dishes for those who are. A Basque octopus appetizer was clever and flavorful, if a bit salty. Roast chicken was also notably salty, and it lacked the roasty character we expect from this bistro standard. Poached monkfish was tender and tangy, but also a bit salty. The couple of wines we had were interesting, especially an excellent dry sparkling rose, which was quite dry and refreshing. For dessert, a souffle was just meh. The ambiance and hospitality were notable. The food was inventive and generally OK (except for the saltiness). We're not sure we'll return.

    Il Carciofo - italian - Updated May 2026

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