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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Eric our server was so good. Knows the menu really well, can steer you in the right direction based on appetite and has a knack of showing up just when it matters most. Petros the manager of the restaurant was also so kind and generous in acknowledging a birthday at the table. All the courses were great but the pistachio Gelato is to die for. Thankfully they now sell it to go. We took a few pints home. Thank you for an amazing time. read more

Joe Flamm doesn't miss. The ambiance is the buzzing, the food was amazing and the service was superb. The stars of the night were the scallop crudo, Rabbit Ravioli and Pork Chop. I'd got back again and again. Five Stars. read more

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I am a loyal Joe Flamm fan, but I was mildly underwhelmed by Il Carciofo. While the restaurant has an excellent ambience, beautiful bar, and open kitchen to give you a true restaurant experience, the food was not my favorite. Many of the items we ordered were extremely salty, heavy, and rich. I couldn't have more than a few bites of each dish. I'm hoping this was just an off night and would be willing to try it again! read more

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Thoroughly impressed with Il Carciofo from start to finish. I had a reservation and we were greeted and sat with Mariah's section. She was fabulous-had great recommendations and we ordered the carciofo, supplia and the pane. Everything was great-the pane was the surprise star. Really fluffy, the sweet garlic flavor was fantastic. I ordered the MEZZE RIGATONI ALLA AMATRICIANA minus guanciale as my main and it was really delicious-sweet, a touch spicy, cheesy. My fiance got the anolini made vegetarian and it was superb. Dessert should not be skipped-their gelato is out of this world. Highly recommend. Wonderful ambiance and service was 5/5. read more

highlights of the meal were definitely the lamb ribs and gnocchetti. the lamb ribs were tender and had a fantastic sweet wine glaze poured over (almost 糖醋排骨vibes?? minus the tang) i'm not the biggest fan of gnocchetti because it's usually a little too "soft" or "mushy" to me, but the one at il carciofo was really well-made and cooked! pillowy and not gummy at all. and the asparagus + morels combination added both freshness and umami-ness to the pecorino-based sauce. last but definitely not least - the pistachio gelato and coconut sorbetti were both DELICIOUS. truly must-gets at the restaurant. the pistachio gelato has a toastiness to it and tasted so different from the others i've tried in the city. and the coconut sorbetti was so light and fluffy, it felt like i was eating a cloud maybe the move from now on is just to walk-in at a popular restaurant, sit at the bar, and munch on dessert lowlights were the artichokes - nothing special (and kinda pricey...?) and felt a little over-fried to me... rigatoni alla carbonara was pretty standard and nothing to rave about (needed more of a pepper kick imo but what do i know ‍) read more

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I was in Chicago for the weekend for a conference and decided to get dinner with a friend here on a Thursday night! It was pretty busy, but we had reservations beforehand so we were seated right away. The interior was very nice and cozy! The service was great and I appreciated the server taking care of us and switching our plates for every dish. I did not expect this restaurant to be a dish sharing type of place, but I loved being able to try a few different things! We got the ZUCCA E FORMAGGI which was super good! I never thought I would like pumpkin on pizza but it was my favorite course of the night. I also shared the MEZZE RIGATONI ALLA AMATRICIANA with my friend as I am a big fan of vodka pasta. It was good, don't get me wrong! But it was not what I was expecting. The sauce wasn't super creamy like I thought it was going to be and there was an overwhelming peppery taste. I don't think I would order this dish again but I can see how some people would like this one. Overall it was a nice experience and I loved being able to try a new place in Chicago! read more

Il Carciofo - ZUCCA E FORMAGGI - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Come for the carciofo app alone. Was fantastic. One of the best since Rome. The pasta carbonara was also solid. Done perfectly - and felt like it was in Rome as well. Solid place and even better staff read more

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Great Pizza ,pasta, ,and salad -nice drink menu. Clean and tastefully decorated dining room. read more

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

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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

Food was good, artichoke appetizer was very good.wife had ravioli and thought they were delicious. I had carbonara which was very good. Service was good. The down side is it was pricey but i guess that is the cost of the west loop. read more

THE PIZZA WASN'T PIZZA AND THE SPAGHETTI WASN'T SPAGHETTI It was a very hot afternoon day and we had been walking a long time. Came to an Italian restaurant at 1045 West Fulton Street named Il Carciofo. Went inside - loud music - had no reservation - was seated at a two-seat table right next to the kitchen where staff were continuously going in and out. Very noisy and distracting. I ordered a pizza with extra cheese and mushrooms. Waiter said, "Sorry, no substitutions, no add-ons" It was a 'order it as it or not' situation. Pizza ingredients/toppings were: Capricciosa, Puntrella, artichoke, Maitake, Olive. PRICE: $24 and not bigger than a dinner plate! That is NOT pizza! So I went with what I thought would be a sure bet: Spaghetti. But it wasn't Spaghetti. As served, it was a pile of long, pale, off white thick noodles with an alfredo-like creamy sauce. That is not Spaghetti! Real Spaghetti has red tomato sauce! The ball of this Spaghetti was no bigger than a round scoop of ice cream. Price? $27.00! We did not order any drinks AND..........the waiter never came back to check on us! Not even once though he passed by us multiple times going in and out of the Kitchen. We had to go get the Greeter to get the bill. Never, NEVER EVER GOING BACK! Who would? read more

Il Carciofo is a Roman Italian restaurant in west loop serving modern Italian small plates to share with the table. In my opinion, it's most similar to Avec and Monteverde (all modern Italian small plates with similar menus, atmospheres, and prices) Looking at the menu, some are familiar favorites. Others are truly creative twists on those favorites. We had 8 dishes. All 8 were executed well and consistency is important. However, while most of the dishes were good, only one was exceptional, and a few were simply "not good." In the exceptional category we have: - The Gelato Desert (pistachio and chocolate flavors). Easily the best thing we had that day. In the good category we have: - Suppli Ragu (Most similar to a big arancini) - Caraciofo Allá Giudia (Fried artichoke) - Tagliatelle (Tagliatelle pasta with oxtail) - Carbonara (Carbonara pasta with bits of cured meat) - Patate Lardo (potatoes) In the "not good" category we have: - Pizza Rosso - Our table hated this. It tasted like a cheap flat bread with a bit of tomato sauce and no toppings. - Dry aged NY Strip - Perfectly cooked. But there's a light sweet sauce on the steak. It was not "bad." But honestly, nobody wanted a sweet NY strip Regarding atmosphere, the space is beautiful and just a bit relaxed. However, we did get placed at a terrible table off to the side and away from the main dining room. Service was wonderful. Our waitress was present, and attentive. Overall, we enjoyed ourselves. But while I compare it to Avec and Monteverde, it's simply not as good. We liked most of the food. But at no point did anyone say, "I wish I had more of that!" We would certainly go back, but given how competitive the city is, it's unlikely that we will. read more

The place: we had 4:30 reservations, along with a handful of others, but by 5:15 the expansive space was packed. Seeing the massive pizza oven and all the activity around the open kitchen makes dining here exciting. Some tables are v close together, but enough space to slide in and out. Service was excellent. We never had an empty water glass. They replaced our plates in between multiple courses. The taste: we shared the swordfish crudo (I could have used more Cara Cara segments, but overall was pleasant, balanced, a lovely dish), the Roman artichoke - I wish I could eat the center over and over again. The fried pieces, of course, were delightful, but the heart was simply scrumptious. The lamb fell off the bone and we could not get enough of the glaze. We shared the cacio e Pepe (too salty for me, so not my favorite) and the pesto gnocchetti - this was a nicely sized dish with green pillows of pesto-dusted bite sizes of yum. To keep with the green, we ended the meal with a hearty portion of pistachio gelato. My face: appreciative smile. $150 pre-tip for dinner for two, three drinks total. Prefer this to Rose Mary, but to each their own. Nicely done, Chef Flamm. read more

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The artichokes are a must!! Amazing. The gnocchi in pesto tasted very fresh with a very unique basil taste. The service was fantastic - would definitely have another date night here! read more

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Without realizing that we'd accidentally stumbled into this new hot spot just two months after they opened their doors to the fulton market, we found ourselves lucky enough to snag a 7pm reservation. granted, this was a sunday evening and I wouldn't expect to have been so lucky 24 hours earlier. Il Carciofo (or, The Artichoke) is boldly proclaiming not just Italian, but Roman cuisine. In Roman style, all plates can be shared -- and should be, if only for the excuse to try what your dining companions ordered, too! The dining room offers views into their open kitchen, where you can observe their kitchen staff's calm demeanor and orchestration. Though we managed our reservation easily, the dining room filled up around us before we even received our appetizers (like I said, we got lucky!) We started with the namesake dish - artichoke with lemon & parm, steamed to tenderness on the inside and fried to crispy perfection on the outside. Followed this with the boscaiola pizza, a hearty helping of maitake, mozzarella, & fennel sausage, which looks descriptively akin to a Detroit style pan pizza but gets its size from the toppings rather than an overwhelming amount of cheese. We also tried the carbonara -- I personally found the guanciale a bit salty but the delicate egg & pecorino romano sauce offered a creamy balance. Their dessert menu includes an assortment of pastries which looked exceptional being delivered to nearby tables, but we opted for a the pistachio gelato which was arguably the best pistachio flavored treat i've ever had (read: nutty, not artificial!) The size of the scoop was intimidating until we took our first bite -- then we feared there wasn't enough for two! The pace of service was perhaps slower than I was prepared for, but makes sense. Though you could attribute this to their newness, I think it's more likely the made to order dishes. In other words, come prepared for a leisurely and decadent experience! read more

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Another great Joe Flamm restaurant- pasta dishes were fresh and delicious. Portions are great for single serving and also small enough to order a couple of different pastas to try a bunch. Their ravioli was filled with ricotta and spinach and perfectly seasoned. Gnocchi pesto was pillowy and fresh. A great new Italian spot with an open kitchen and you can see the team hard work! 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!

Finally got a reservation and it did not disappoint. Service was friendly, ambiance was nice - larger restaurant than it seems, and the food was great. We absolutely loved the mortadella pizza/panini. The mix of stracciatella, pistachio pesto, mortadella, and focaccia bread was divine. Also, the lamb was another highlight dish for us. It's always packed here any time I walk by, (even the bar) so I would highly recommend a reservation in advance. read more

The food is 4/5, the atmosphere is 1/5. The service is 10/5. Outstanding waitress. The menu is simple but needed the waitress to explain. Great cocktails and wine list. Very pricey read more

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Enjoyed getting to dine on opening night! It was busy and bustling! Hot take: Rose Mary reigns supreme. HOWEVER, the namesake dish of artichoke is delicious and I'd go back to try the flatbreads which we skipped this visit. All in all, good food but smaller portions that didn't pack a punch. read more

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Maybe my favorite Joe Flamm project! The lamb was fall-off-the-bone tender with a crunch on the outside. The pesto was smooth and balanced and the gnocchi had a nice chew while still being light. The carbonara was homey and comforting. The star was the pizza (that crust!) followed by the pistachio gelato (salty and toasty and sweet). read more

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Il Carciofo in Chicago's West Loop is the kind of place that feels special the second you walk in. The restaurant is beautiful, warm, and just has that polished vibe without feeling stiff. Service was amazing from start to finish, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely friendly. The grilled artichoke was out of this freaking world and easily the star of the table. We also got the Abbacchio Alla Scottadito and it was incredible, perfectly done and ridiculously satisfying. Everything came out at a great pace and the staff made it feel like they actually cared that you were having a great night. This is the type of spot you want to bring people when you're trying to impress without trying too hard. Chef Flamm has done it again. read more

The food and water bussers were amazing and so attentive! Our waiter was less attentive- we had to flag him down for every cocktail and it took a long time. Artichokes were fine but not anything I'd order again. The pasta that everyone raved about unfortunately came out undercooked for us and very salty. The halibut was overcooked and also salty. The pizza was the true star of the meal- the crust was pillowy and crispy, not greasy, with a perfect ratio of toppings that melded together in perfect harmony. Would come back just for their pizzas and the espresso martini. Pistachio gelato was generous for the portion and much appreciated for a complimentary bday celebration. May come back to give the pastas another chance. read more

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Went for my fiancé's birthday. Got the suppli ragu, sausage pizza and lamb pasta. All were delicious with amazing service. read more

Il Carciofo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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West loop's newest cozy Roman style pizza and pasta place far exceeded our expectations! The hospitality we experienced by the bar servers far surpassed any restaurant in the area, we had a lovely time. We ordered the vegetarian options of two pastas, and the fried artichoke. The best part was the pistachio gelato! There is a 4% restaurant surcharge added to all bills. read more

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We booked the Chef's Tasting with wine pairing and it was a truly fun and delicious experience. Plenty of food was served and they even gave us two little pastries to bring home for the next day. Not stuffy and very much fun. read more

I really wanted to love it as I'm a fan of Rosemary however it missed on all aspects tonight. Out of the 9 items our party ordered, 3 were good. Common themes were slow service and cold food. The dry aged steak was funky (even for dry aged), the cacio e Pepe was dry, and the beets were a miss overall. The suppli with short ribs were great, as was the crudo and wine selections. Theme was wonderful, beautiful space but won't be returning. read more

I have been here a handful of times and am never disappointed. Service is fantastic! All the pasta dishes are delicious - you will want to eat slow and savor every single bite. Steaks are cooked perfectly and are so flavorful. They have a new addition to the menu- a beet salad which is so good. A must try!! read more

Another incredible restaurant by Joe Flamm! The ambiance/vibe was casual but still very nice and perfect for a date night. Service was attentive. I really appreciated our server explaining to us what some of the less common Roman/italian dishes are. Food and drinks: -we all loved the basil daisy. It was refreshing and not sweet. -suppli ragu 9/10 -crudo 8/10 -puntarella 9.5/10 (very acidic so if that's not your thing, you may not like this) -carbonara 7/10 (was too salty for my taste) -amatriciana 10/10 (the guanciale bits really elevated and brought the dish together) -pesto 9.75/10 (gives monteverde's pesto a run for their money) -aglio a olio 10/10 (light, fresh. Very unexpected dish we all LOVED) read more

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I liked it. Mostly good service, nice people. They made a mistake on one of my dishes (bone in it when there shouldn't have been) so they gave it to us for free. Food was good, I think the artichokes may have been the best dish. Will try the pizzas next time too. Pastas were fine, nothing special honestly though. Wanted to love the pastas more. Some feedback for improvement: Don't think waiters should be asking us what we are having next (food wise). They ask after every dish. It's a little off-putting. I understand they want to give the right silverware but they should know without asking us. Shouldn't have to answer a question after every course. Definitely should improve this so they don't constantly interrupt our conversation. Also, bussers were way too eager to take plates and would start to grab before my GF was done. Should be improved. But good food. We went second day ever that is was open I think. So I know they'll work kinks out because ownership is good. read more

Food and service were amazing. They say small plates to share but it seems like normal portions for appetizers, and mains. The deserts were very large and great for sharing. read more

You know, I thought this place was alright. I came into the meal pretty excited but walked away disappointed. The bread in the appetizer and the panini/pizza was fantastic, no denying that. However, the rest of the experience left much to be desired. I found the carbonara to be quite honestly disgusting, which was surprising given its rave reviews. It was far too salty and yolky, and reminded me of the taste of Kraft Mac n cheese when you put too much milk in the sauce. I know that sounds nuts, but believe me, if you try you will get it. The service was honestly impeccable from the bussers, however the waitress I found to be shockingly pushy that we didn't order enough food despite obviously getting plenty and taking a lot home. I get upselling is important but for me personally it crossed a line. I thought though the ambiance was nice but a bit tacky, and the drinks were solid. I can't imagine coming back here to spend 160 dollars for two (one drink each) again, but it is possible we didn't order the best stuff and other items have a lot more to deliver - like the bread! read more

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Learnt many new words for delicious Italian food: suppli = croquettes from risotto rice, agnolotti =stuffed ravioli. All the items we tried was great and perfect home made aldente pasta! Inside of the restaurant was quiet and busy and laud, we enjoyed our table on the patio as it was a bit calmer vibe. The service was fast and our waiter helped us with the menu. Definitely will be back to try Casio e pepe! read more

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I've eat Italian food all over the world and love the classics. Simple food made with great ingredients. This was not that. We ordered: Fried Artichokes: terrible. Worst artichokes that I've ever eaten. The absolute thinnest slice off the top of the artichoke then fried until black. Smothered with lemon and cheese. Literally zero artichoke flavor. Tasted like fried leaves and lemon. Fried squash blossoms: too much batter (greasy), too much cheese, too much HONEY!!! (WTF) Tasted like a honey doughnut. Gross for an appetizer. Spaghetti Vongole: WTF...seriously inedible. I tried ONE tiny clam alone and it burned my throat. Waaay too much garlic and some other spice. Tried just the pasta alone and it was burningly terrible. Is anyone in the kitchen trying this before it goes out?! Vongole is usually delicate flavors. This was an explosion of overpoweringly strong flavors...inedible. MAIALE AL FORNO: pork belly: just aight...nothing special. Crackling a little burnt trying to crisp it. Disappointing. Pork loin was huge cooked perfectly but the salsa verde is good but seriously overwhelming. If you eat a slice with the salsa there's zero pork flavor coz it's overwhelmed by the salsa. I recommend that you give this place a pass and go somewhere that serves simple classic Italian dishes. I had to take my wife to another restaurant afterwards because she literally ate nothing. I was shocked. First time I've ever had to do that read more

Absolutely amazing experience! The food was divine. Went for a special dinner before a concert at Salt Shed. Reservation was for 5:30 and we got there a little early and they were able to swat us right away. Street parking is plentiful and easy to find. The restaurant only opened a couple weeks ago, but everything flowed so well you wouldn't know it. Everything was absolutely delicious. Loved ordering the entire meal at once and letting them set the pace. You can tell they have an incredible system, as we were never without a dish or a drink. The service was impeccable. Our server was Reina and she was wonderful, answering questions and offering advice. The space is absolutely gorgeous and would be perfect for an event. The open kitchen was cool and next time we hope to sit and be able to watch the magic as they prepare the dishes. Can't wait for our next visit. You will not be disappointed. read more

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