Alright- it's time for me to bring out my ultimate nerd credits. I first learned of this restaurant on a cold December night watching WTTW, where they did a "Check Please!" segment on Nella Pizza e Pasta. Some of you may realize Nella used to have a pizzeria she had set up in Lincoln Park, but that closed so they can focus solely on their location in Hyde Park. Given I have been away for med school these past couple years, I made plans for my next trip home to try the restaurant and see it for myself. I went on Easter Sunday with my sister and had a stellar drink called the lampone, which was prosecco with raspberry puree. It was superb. We both loved the food- I had a seafood dish that was literally a giant spread of all different kinds of seafood. Between the food, drinks, and service, I was so pleased that I decided to come back once more when I was home for my birthday (Memorial Day Weekend) and I had two old friends come with me to try it. This time, they got the lampone, I got a citrus drink (Aranciata Rossa from menu), and all were enjoyed. I ended up getting lobster ravioli, which was not only amazing since Nella hand makes the ravioli, but also the seafood they sourced was amazingly delicious. Price was very fair, if anything I would say cheap for some great ravioli. Of course, I finished off my amazing dinner by over-indulging with some gelato. It doesn't even need to be said, but to confirm- it was delicious. We all agreed the portions, the food, and the experience we shared makes this restaurant a great one for all of us to come back to, even though none of us live in Hyde Park (friends are in West Town). Doesn't matter where you live in the city- you should give this place a try. The staff are very kind and accommodating, the food is absolutely stellar, and the atmosphere inside and on the patio is beautiful. Added bonus that you're right on 55th by U of C's campus; so if you're like me, you can take a nice walk after dinner! University of Chicago has a breathtaking campus, and it was the perfect place to enjoy a sunny day after I finished eating with a walk. For me personally, I especially value the love and passion Nella has to share the Italian culture and cuisine through her restaurant. If you have Italian friends, you know this feeling where you feel at home, somewhere comfortable with the hospitality and enjoying the food that somebody toiled over to make just right. You get that feeling when you're with people and enjoying the food here. Nella really made something great and special in Hyde Park. You absolutely should come for the pizza, the pasta, the drinks, and stay a bit longer to enjoy the experience with your friends and family. I was so happy I came here, and have been recommending it to anybody who will listen! read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - If you find my review, I had this on Easter Sunday. It was a seafood dish that was superb. I unfortunately forgot what it was on the menu. - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This restaurant happens to be down the block from my friend's new job at U of C. Husband and I met my friend and her husband for dinner here tonight. The restaurant was large with high ceilings and lots of windows. Looked very new and trendy (not surprising since it's located on the campus of U of C, so I'm sure it's popular with college students). The menu is more extensive than I expected and everything each of us ordered was delicious. Prices were reasonable. Service was generally good and the bread brought to the table with olive oil and parmesan was also good. I don't live anywhere near this restaurant but if I did I'd go back! read more

See all

Food was outstanding, staff was attentive and quick. The place was clean, and nicely decorated. Great place to have dinner!

Great food, service and atmosphere! I have been to Naples several times and Nella's is in the traditional Napolitano style. Well lit ( that's not by accident everything in Naples tends to be bright ). Franco the owner was gracious with his time and made sure we were comfortable and our food/service was great! It was! We had capresella and calamari to start. Very well done especially the calamari ( not spongy or rubbery just well cooked ). Then we moved on to risotto (cheese) and salmon and chicken. All prepared perfectly! A lot of flavor without being overwhelming. Just the right amount of spice! We had a side of meatballs! They were amazing! I'm a tough judge of meatballs too! All in all it was a warm, inviting environment. Highly recommend !! read more

Best Italian restaurant in Chicago! Homemade pasta and gnocchi were perfect and as good as the restaurants that I went to in Italy. The desserts were the icing on the cake. Try pouring a fresh shot of expresso over homemade ice cream and you will be blown away! read more

I waited 2.5 years to come to Nella, due to the pandemic. My mom ordered a pasta dish, forgot which one, but it came wrapped in foil in the shape of a swan. She loved it! It was a seafood pasta. I got a salad which was delicious. The service was attentive and we were very happy. read more

Really awful service, sexist & homophobic wait staff. Don't come here if you are a queer couple, have queer friends, or don't have a token man to speak / order for you, as apparently women are annoying distractions to the waiters here. We were seated outside staring into the sun and the glare off the side of the building, asked to move several times with no success. Had to ask for salt, pepper, bread, and oil to be brought to the table and didn't get a single water refill..? Mentioned our frustration to the waiter toward the end of the meal and he said "Ok. So just the check then?" while walking away, and then sarcastically "Happy birthday!" as we left, obviously upset. Felt like being there and making basic requests was an inconvenience to them, were fully ignored compared to other tables. Really horrible experience at an expensive restaurant on what we had hoped would be a celebratory night. Won't be coming back -- we can make under-salted food, be rude to each other, hate women, and stare into the sun at home for a lot less money :) read more

Delicious! Phenomenal service and the waiter was attentive to my kids who were tired from a long day and we're just ready to eat! read more

I've been a waiter back in the day for a few years. Table to my left placed order, food delivered, ate and left and we were sat at same time. Table to right sat 20 min later and food delivered and finished while my wife and I still waiting for our dinner. Total wait time to receive dinner 50 min. I travel a lot and I give everyone the benefit without a doubt. What was the tipping point, my wife ordered a pizza and I pasta. I received my pasta 10 min after pizza was delivered. What do you think? Waiter waiting on tables all over. Still left a tip. Is it just me? Food was good service was bad read more

Food was amazing! We had Massimo as our server but I'll call him a friend. Excellent service, the best of the best. We're really happy

Everything was amazing! The service, food, drinks. Súper recommended. I'll be back for sure . Massimo the best of the best

Great food, even better service. Best cappuccino in Hyde park. Thank you Massimo!!!!!

I loved everything about Nella! The atmosphere was warm and inviting and the food and cocktails were great. This was the perfect pre-race dinner location. If I lived in the Chicago area I would definitely be back! read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Pre dinner cocktail - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Legit the best, most authentic Neapolitan pizza since our trip to Naples, Italy. Highly recommend. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Margherita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My favorite place on Earth. Heaven. What a blessing to uchicago students. Without Nella I won't survive :)) read more

See all

This is my favorite place to eat in Hyde Park. HP doesn't have the greatest reputation for quality restaurants, but there have been a number of restaurants that have opened recently/within the past year that I enjoy. The service is always very fast and friendly. They're always refilling water, checking in, and making sure your food is to your liking. I've tried a variety of pizzas, and you can't go wrong if you choose one with toppings you like. My favorite is the bianco nero that comes with black truffle, buffalo mozzarella, zucchini, mushrooms, and truffle oil. While it is on the pricier side, I always take half to eat for a second meal. The handmade pastas are also delicious. I would recommend the pappardelle with mussels. I also like the ravioli al tartufo and contadina risotto. I've never had a bad meal at Nella. If you're craving Italian in Hyde Park, come here! read more

Despite its local reputation as a "nice" restaurant, Nella struggles with quality control. I've had good and average meals here; my most recent one was subpar. I ordered the calamarata to match a companion's red wine. The dish's entire flavor was drowned out by spicy pepper flakes: my taste buds thought they were down the street at Harold's Chicken! But what was probably most disappointing was that when the waiter asked me at the end of my meal what I'd thought, upon hearing my comment about the heat, openly scoffed and told me that "that's just how the chef makes it." My only possible takeaway from this conversation was that the chef is uninterested in his diners' views. At this point, I have given Nella plenty of chances. I will not be back. read more

This place has a great ambience (complete with Italian accented waitstaff) a cool decor & excellent pizza. We ordered Organica, Amalfi pizzas and Ravioli with truffles. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Bar - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is yummy. The fish dinner is fantastic. The drinks are great. The restaurant is really nice looking. The outdoor patio is nice. The service is great. Love it here read more

I think this is a great addition to the neighborhood and once they iron out the kinks, I think it will be a fantastic restaurant! Honestly, from everything that's advertised outside, I expected this to be a fast casual lunch space. I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a casual, quirkily decorated sit-down restaurant. They even had my favorite drink, lemoncocco! I went with my boyfriend and we both ordered our own pizza. To be honest, I'm glad we did because the pizzas are extremely thin. I got the Amalfi pizza. It had artichokes and roasted tomatoes on it, and it did taste good, I just wish it was more substantial. Finally, and this is what took that extra star off for me, is that the waiter charged both of us $17 for our pizzas when the lunch menu said they were $12 and $14 each. I almost feel like I should have said something but the waiter was so stressed that I didn't want to add to it. All in all though, I would return! It was a pleasant lunch with pleasant atmosphere and okay service. read more

See all

Asked for an outdoor patio table on a mild evening. I was told that the patio was available although all other patrons (about 5 tables) were dining indoors. Server did not come after we were seated for more than 10 minutes despite us making eye contact a couple of times. We left for another reataurant instead of waiting further. Shame that the reataurant isnt taking outdoor dining seriously despite having a magnificent patio. I used to be a relatively frequent customer but am probably not coming back. read more

This is my favorite pizza place so far. The balance of sauce and cheese and well fermentation of the crust makes for a great combination. I spent seven years in Italia Naples and Sicilia and this the closest we have come to enjoy in the Chicago Metro Area. The owners seems to want their patrons to have a good experience and it shows. We really enjoyed ourselves. read more

We had an amazing meal at Nella! It's a beautiful restaurant that feels bright and cheery inside despite the classic Chicago winter outside. We ordered the antipasto plate as an appetizer which was HUGE and had a fragrant selection of charcuterie, cheese, and olives. It could definitely be shared among 3-4 people and we ended up boxing some of it to take home. Our entrees were also excellent. The funghi e salsiccia pizza seas baked to perfection and the ingredients were very fresh and flavorful. The pizza dough was amazing too. The gnocchi del mare impressed us with a great bouncy texture, amazing sauce, and lots of seafood. We had the semifreddo for dessert and it was the best way to end the meal. Looking forward to the next time I can come back! read more

See all

Excellent food and fast, polite service at a location that was clean and welcoming. I enjoyed my lunch here and look forward to returning for the best carbonara I've ever had. Highly recommend! read more

It's was ok. Not sure if I caught them in a bad time, but it seemed like the servers were in a hurry. The food was ok, but the portions are extremely small compared to other Italian restaurants. I paid roughly $16 for a meal and received like 8 bites of pasta. I know pasta doesn't cost much guys, wouldn't hurt your bottom line to make it a proper meal (not to mention it feels like they can get away with serving less due to little competition). read more

Personally, when I think of great restaurants in Chicago, I really don't think of Hyde Park. But with places like Nella, I'm willing to admit that maybe I was wrong. The name of the game is Neapolitan style pizza. I went with the classic Margherita and was not disappointed: it had bright and sharp tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and basil, a wet and dripping middle surrounded by a fluffy, chewy crust. Plus, to my delight, the pizza was generously sized and reasonably priced. My only wish would be more basil, please! I also split an arugula salad with my dining companion, which was simply dressed with lemon, olive oil, and freshly shaved Parmesan. He got a mushroom and zucchini truffle pizza, which it an awesome alternative if you don't like red sauce as much. Service was a bit slow, but we weren't in a hurry so I didn't mind. The busboy was really nice and friendly though, so props to him! (If management cares to identify him and pass on the compliment, we visited on Saturday 3/9 for lunch.) read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Margherita pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

delicious pizza and pasta, oven is from Naples and the pizza is as good as pizza in Naples. The ravioli is the best of the pastas. Casual ish fancy ambiance. You wouldn't be out of place in jeans and a T-shirt nor would you be out of place in a dress and heels. read more

I took this month's Dinnher club to Hyde Park for Italian. Hype Park definitely continues to change and I had no idea this place existed. I made a large group reservation over the phone and when we arrived we had a nice section ready with our server, Massimo, waiting for us. Massimo was good... he was attentive, cheerful and helpful throughout. He was also a great photographer! It was extremely bright inside... a clean, modern ambiance. It didn't have a warm and cozy feel like I would expect from a traditional family-owned Italian restaurant which was surprising to me at first. What mattered more though was whether the food and service was actually good! The menu looked amazing and there were a number of specials to choose from as well. We ordered a variety of bruschettas, calamari, shrimp and salad to start, and a few of us shared a delicious bottle of prosecco. I split the SARRACINO pasta with black truffle and mussels and the PESCATORA seafood risotto. I could pretend like I didn't scrape my plate clean but that would be a lie! I enjoyed every bite of it. The only thing I didn't like was the chardonnay. I had to send it back. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food as well... pastas, pizza, salmon, and the dessert too of course! The prices were reasonable and well worth it in my opinion. read more

See all

Delicious Italian food with great outdoor patio. They have a diverse menu. The pizzas are especially good

Ordered the Margherita pizza for delivery. It arrived quickly and was cooked well but the sauce was quite watery and lacked flavor. For the price, it didn't seem like good value since it only fed two of us and we were hungry again soon after. It wasn't a horrible experience but I probably wouldn't order this dish again. read more

I was starving and this place came to the rescue. I was worried the pizza might take awhile to make but it took a total of maybe 5 minutes between ordering and getting my pizza. They cook the pizza in a 900 degree brick oven so it is extremely fast. I got the cavani pizza, which was full of various kinds of meat. It was okay, definitely not the best pizza I've ever had nor the worst. I think it could have used more sauce and the cheese could have been spread out more evenly. It was also quite heavy on the sausage compared to the other meats so the balance of the pizza overall was off. The bread was very chewy, if you enjoy that, and had a nice burnt flavor. I still think the flavor was decent enough for me to come back and try some other pizzas. I do think it is quite expensive for the size though. It is a very small pizza with a thin crust that cost $20 not including tax. It definitely didn't fill me up and left me still hungry so if you are looking for something cheaper and more fulfilling then I wouldn't go here. Otherwise it is a decent place for specialty pizza. read more

See all

UGH. I'm about four months late on posting this review but never have I ever felt so disrespected at a restaurant before. Okay, I understand that Nella tries to be an upscale Italian restaurant but... You're on a college campus. Essentially, I wanted to give Nella a second chance after they ruined their first chance. Ngl, the food was better this time (not the bread) and I think it's because we knew what to order this time (the truffle risotto is the way to go!) BUT the service... was straight up so rude. Firstly, we weren't really greeted at all when we walked in which is fine because they were busy. BUT throughout the entire dinner, I felt as if the waiters and the owner didn't care about me and my bf at all because the amount of time they spent at our table versus other tables (with adults eating there) was noticeably different. I felt as if they were not careful of their service to me because I was a "college student" even though both my bf and i ordered two main dishes. It wasn't as if we were even trying to be cheap! (NOT the mention their dishes are ridiculously expensive). Wow, anyways, Nella NEEDS to reorient itself to treating everyone who walks through the door equally with respect (not just people who look rich). read more

If you want the authentic wood burning taste of pizza.. this is the place for you! Loved every bite of my ortolana pizza. I also ate the ravioli al tartufo and the porcini mushroom in it was the best! The service was excellent. Can't wait to come back. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Ravioli al Tartufo | Black truffle, porcini mushroom, and cream sauce. - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Nella is super solid modern Italian in Hyde Park. It is admittedly on the pricey side, but the pastas are definitely a step up. I got a pappardelle dish with braised lamb which was fantastic. Al dente pappardelle with deliciously savory lamb ragu. I will definitely be checking this place out again. They have good lunch portions and specials as well. read more

Nellis pizza and pasta is an excellent place to take the family. Each time that we have gone here we have received excellent service and very large portions. Their seafood is fresh and the pasta is too. You can actually see them make your pizza with the positioning of the mirror that they have and all of the ingredients that they place on the pizza are at as fresh as well. Also, while there, don't forget the risotto. The drinks are decent and pair nicely with the appetizers that they offer. I suggest the meatballs as an appetizer. When the patio is open the place is a golden nugget. read more

This was my second time here but definitely my last time. They have many things going very well but some of the wrongs are in my opinion unforgivable. First the things they have going well. It's a pleasant sight to see in our neighborhood bustling with really great food. Have had their pizza which is really great (Coal Fire is still my favorite). They are able to do al dente pasta which is fabulous as many places can't pull that off well. These guys do an amazing job on that. I notice more and more places charge an extra "neat" fee for whiskeys straight up if you're having it straight. Very ungenerous pour though I noticed on my first visit. Went there for the second time last night with another couple. We were served by a server called "Colacello." Great guy. The women will fall in love with him due to his strong Italian accent. Part of the menu seems to change every now and then with specials. Last night too, there was a menu with a page full of specials. No pricing next to them though (Learned from experience last night something to watch out for in the future.) Everytime we would try to order something with a little specification, Colacello would "recommend" something off of the unpriced menu. Fantastic actually as he's trying to maximize the bill here. I would hire him on the spot for my place if I ever have one and polish him up a bit. Two members of our group were vegetarians. So we ordered a pasta and requested extra veggies. Four different kinds of veggies indeed and the pasta did come with the veggies but literally with a few pieces of each veggie. I mean really like three to four pieces of each. (On the final bill, we were charged $2 per veggie amounting to a total of $8. Now I'm really not a stickler as I love good food but I sure don't like throwing my money around either. Now came the bill. What didn't sit well with me the automatic gratuity in the amount of 20%. Here's why I have an issue with this: a. We were only 4 people (almost all restaurants add automatic gratuity after a certain number of people are in the party but at the low end it's usually 5 people.) b. While there, I tried seeing the menu, the special menu, the website on my phone (and also now online) to see any mention of this. NADA. Nowhere. c. Here's the thing that really pisses me off. I happened to call the restaurant out of curiosity to see when they add the "auto gratuity." I was told if it's a party of 8 or greater, that is when they add it. So no mention of this anywhere; I was erroneously charged a 20% tip (I usually tip between 15 to 20 anyway and when the service has been exceptionally good I've gone as high as 25 but I like to decide how much). Just plain bad business (or if the server had the authority to add it himself? Not sure.) They're getting 3 stars from me for their food but I'll never step foot here again to be ripped off again. read more

Food is pretty good, if overpriced. Not outstanding. The salad with arugula and pear was good. I had a slight feeling that the workers didn't really enjoy their time there anymore read more

I'm so happy this place reopened in Hyde Park after closing its Lincoln Park location! Still with the same creamy, amazing lobster risotto of course. :) Growing up in Hyde Park, I was always longing for some more Italian options so I'm excited this is here now when I go back and visit! Other menu highlights besides the risotto: the Cavani pizza- thin pizza with a spicy assortment of meats and the spaghetti carbonara. You can watch them cook the pizza and stick it in their oven, which is pretty cool. The only thing we had a slight problem with was the service/food times. Our food was pretty slow to come out and the table next to us ordered coffee, which took about 15 minutes to get to them. I ordered the spaghetti and my husband ordered the pizza and the spaghetti got to our table a good 5 minutes before his pizza did. That being said, we weren't in a rush and I'm a slow eater anyway so giving me a few extra minutes wasn't a big deal to us and I'm sure the kitchen times will get better with time. Will definitely be coming back the next time we're in Hyde Park! read more

I was just served food that was borderline inedible... Honestly? This was disrespectfully bad. I ordered a (neapolitan) pizza... and it had a tomato base with no distinguishable flavor besides salt. I don't use this word lightly...but it was disgusting. This was the first time in my life that I wanted to just spit out what I was chewing. My best guess is a pride-less chef accidentally dropped a bunch of salt into the tomato sauce and decided to serve it anyway. While the customer service here is great, at the end of the day you come to a restaurant to eat, and the food wasn't even sub par. read more

Food is okay but super bad service. I am a student on campus and I have been there three times with my friends in the past 6 mos. Ending up once with a spider in my pasta and the server said nothing, and once they added $0.99 to the tip bill even when I paid fairly decently and already signed my name. Dudes, many of your customers are people in the neighborhood and could have come many times and bring $999 revenue ​to you. read more