Lunch Review: I work nearby in the medical district and really enjoy coming here for lunch for special occasions several times a year. Their menu is affordable, the food is great, and the service is always friendly and top notch. Not many restaurants can have such an expansive menu and do it all so well. The OCD in me wants to get a bottle of stain and blend all the scratches in the dark wood paneling everywhere so that it looks a little neater, but then I also like that feeling that I stepped back in time when I dine there. I hope they never think of getting rid of the paneling. My personal favorite is the brick chicken, and ask for their spicy buttery sauce on the side. The brick chicken isn't on the lunch menu, but you can still order it and have a nice lunch for 2 with leftovers for dinner. Can't go wrong here. read more

Their lunch menu is extremely well priced... many things on it were $8-9 for the entree, and the entrees were regular sizes, not small portions or anything. TRY the chicken vesuvio. If you're unaware of what this is, you should at least try it once. It's a Chicago specialty. As Chicago as the Italian beef. And theirs is quite fantastic... (Vesuvio more or less is a piece of chicken sauted in a white wine sauce then tossed over potato wedges and thrown in an oven to get the skin crisp, garnished with peas later).. I've ordered it elsewhere before and Rosebud's was probably one of the better ones I've had (though it was made with boneless chicken?). The white wine sauce on it was amazing though, I could eat that all day. My sister had some baked ziti that was quite delicious... Service was decently good when we were there. I've been to a few other places in Little Italy, and this to me was better than some of the other big name places... read more

Best veal parm I ever had. If you can't get to Italy, this is the next best thing. Whenever I am in Chicago, I make sure this place ends up on my itinerary. read more

It was the 1st month anniversary of my then girlfriend and I, and I of course wanted to do something special out of the ordinary of most undergrad couples. I wanted to take her to a place with some history and a pedigree for excellent culinary prowess. Unfortunately two things made it an uphill battle for making this particular evening especially amazing in the eyes of the fairer sex. A) she had the flu and the packed crowded house & noisy atmosphere did not contribute to the ideal romantic setting. B) she wasn't the biggest fan of Italian food (which I found out after the $245 bill)... Fortunately for me we're no longer together and I can freely enjoy some of Chicago's finest Italian cuisines and hob nob with some of the local legends of Taylor street. The food is just ridiculous with portions that should really be sent to feed entire West African Refugee camps in one foul swoop. I'm a big fan of their spinach gnocchi and cappellini insalata (vegetarian friendly and a good alternative for those who are trying to keep their cholesterol down). The meal can be heavy for some because of the authentic ingredients they use, but if you want to treat yourself to some of the best cooking in Chicagoland Rosebud is the place to be. read more

Authentic Italian!!! I usually don't write a review after just one experience, but I felt pretty compelled after this one. However, i'm gonna go ahead and switch that double dollar sign ($$) to a three ($$$). I'm not saying it wasn't worth it, because it damn well was. That was some of the best Italian food i've had in Chicago, if not in my damn life, but i'm just trying to keep it real...it's a little pricey. I had the chicken parmesan, it was unreal! My girlfriend had pepperdale a la vodka, add meatballs, it was to die for! The staff was great, very friendly and knew their stuff. The quality of the food was superior, my pasta was cooked perfect, my wine was delicious, it was like they knew me! One last thought before I go...splurge on the canoli cake...do it, do it. read more

I love Rosebud. I literally come 3-4x a month. Skip the dining room , come on a Sunday, and have Nick help you get your life together. I always get the house salad, sometimes I get the square noodles, chicken Calabrese, or the baked Cavatelli. i switch up the desserts. John and Louis the managers are also amazing. I can't rave about Rosebud enough. you have a life long customer in me! read more

It's been a while since I've been to Rosebud...what used to be my "go-to" place for Italian has been replaced by other favorites, but we decided to give them a visit on Sunday night. It was pretty slow, as the Bears were about to start playing, so I was thrilled that we were seated quickly (without reservations). I was looking forward to having a few beers and some great pasta after a long weekend of work...this being my "big night out". Waitress came by relatively quickly and offered olive oil for our bread and dispensed onto our plates. Since when can we not be trusted with our own personal oil dispenser on the table? Waitress was quite chatty (a bit too much)...and we ordered drinks. I *love* the square noodles, but also was eyeing the cavatelli arrabiata, and could not decide. When waitress returned with drinks I told her of my dilemma and she suggested the square noodles with arrabiata...now why didn't I think of that? Anyway, it was a brilliant suggestion and I could not wait to eat. In the meantime, I enjoyed my bread and rationed olive oil, while BF got a nice house salad. And we waited. My beer was long gone, and my olive oil was gone. I was hungry and wanted another beer. Waitress stood by another table and chatted, and chattted, and would run off without looking at our table for 10-15 minutes. Grrrr. It seriously was not even busy, but she spent WAY too much time chatting. Finally, I practically accosted her for another beer, and her reaction was kinda like "Well, why didn't you tell me you wanted another beer?", um, I would have if you had looked in our direction in the last 15 minutes! Ok, food arrives finally, delivered by another waitress. My pasta is NOT hot. Sigh. It was a huge portion, and toward the bottom of the bowl it was hot-ish, but most of it was pretty much room temp...SUCH a bummer. BF said his veal braciole was excellent (he doesn't give a rat's arse about his food being hot). My pasta was excellent, but I would have been over the moon about it had it been HOT. All I could think of is how good it will be leftover heated up to proper temp (which was definitely the case!). So, beer #2 is long gone now, and I'm done eating and ready to have my pasta wrapped, which bus dude efficiently does. Waitress comes by and offers dessert, and I tell her I would like to see dessert menu but really just want another beer for dessert. She drops off dessert menu, and never returns with beer....in the meantime chats with another table for 10-15 minutes. Finally, BF had to go up to her and just ask for the check 'cuz at this point we just wanted to go. The food is absolutely 5 stars! (when hot)....and perhaps this bad service experience was an anomaly, but it was bad enough to subtract 2 stars. I know I will be back to Rosebud, but I will be in no hurry. read more

Great home-style Italian food! This is a good place to go for the old school Taylor street restaurant style. The food is amazing and tastes like Granny used to make. I recommend the eggplant salad as an appetizer. The prices were pretty reasonable as long as you don't order drinks (but I assume this is pretty rare, a cocktail was looking pretty good to go with the cookies we had for desert)! read more

Amazing food and great service with a perfect restaurant ambience. Loved visiting here!

This is my favorite Italian place in Chicago. Traditional ambiance, excellent service, delicious food and the most generous servings I've seen anywhere. The area of town it's in doesn't strike me as the safest. I'd forgo the urge for a late night stroll after dinner. Definitely consider splitting your portion with another member of your party. read more

There's nothing fancy or new about the food at Rosebud. It's just simple, good Italian food. I have a very hard time NOT ordering the Rigatoni ala Vodka, which is to die for. Usually, I get a small salad or the Panzanella too, and I'm happier than a clam. But the Chicken Vesuvio is also ridiculously good--probably some of the best Vesuvio you'll get in a restaurant in Chicago. As for the different locations, I've been to three, and I think Rush might be better. But this is THE Rosebud, and you can't go wrong with the atmosphere. read more

This is the kind of Italian restaurant I wanted to find when I moved to Chicago- sucess!!! It had that dark romantic Italian feel to it- love it! I also loved everything I put into my mouth that night. I had the chopped salad which was so fresh and had such a great mix of vegetables. This made me feel better as I ate the cheesiest most delicious vodka sauce covered noodles afterwards. Generous portions so splitting is possible which I am a fan of. Very helpful waiter as well. read more

It's taken me THIS long to go to Rosebud, but finally did with coworkers last Friday. It was the first nice day in Chicago and we came for lunch and sat on the patio. It was really nice. I had the classic spaghetti and meatballs and it was really, really good. The bread on the table, the service...it was all really good. Everyone in my party was happy with what they ordered. I ordered a tiramisu to go and then devoured it a few short hours later. I will be back! read more

I am embarassed and ashamed to admit this but I have Silician blood running through my veins and I was born and raised here in Chicago and yet I've never before been to Taylor St or to Rosebud. Shun me, go ahead, I deserve it.... *pout* Last night however, everything changed. You see, a few weeks back my friend and I were at St Mary's of the Angels Oktoberfest and they were selling gift certs for various places. Rosebud had a deal- for $25 you get a $50 meal, so my friend Stacey and I took advantage. Last night was the big dinner. We decided to share 2 pastas and each had an inexpensive glass of wine. Let me start with Taylor St itself- its so CUTE! I can't wait to come back and walk down the street some and check it out. Adorable street! The restaurant is old Chicago style. Dark wood paneling (reminiscant of the Berghoff but not quite as nice as Berghoff's) and even the patrons are a bit older or more established. The waitress we had was just great- I wish I could remember her name but she was fab! She was fun and so knowledgable- and also a great salesperson! I saw a dish at the next table over that looked delish. Our waitress told me it's the popardelle noodles (square noodles) with tomato basil sauce- but that she always recommends people order it with vodka sauce and spicy sausage. I took her advice and man it was divine- really fantastic. The noodles were really unique to me. Long fat square noodles. And their vodka sauce is the best I've had yet. So good it melts in your mouth. Then add the spicy sausage- oh man. I am already thinking of going back for more. I ate my leftovers for BREAKFAST this morning it was so good! My friend got the linguine with shrimp and broccoli in garlic olive oil sauce. (we did share each entree). Hers was just fantastic- really hit the spot. They were really different so we got 2 totally unique flavors. If I had to pick one that was better than the other I just couldn't do it. I loved them both. The ONLY negative is that it is pricey. For 2 pasta dishes and 2 glasses of wine our bill was $61 which is a tad high for my taste. Would I return? ABSOLUTELY Would I recommmend it to a friend? ABSOLUTELY Was the service top notch? ABSOLUTELY read more

For anyone who enjoys Italian cuisine, Rosebud is a must-visit. I am pretty sure that every dish on their menu tastes heavenly. Some of my friends and I stopped by this delightful eatery for my birthday dinner. We sat out in the patio on a very lovely Monday night and absorbed the South Loop ambience that included light conversation from nearby tables and occassional courtesy visits from our personable server. They were pretty generous with their bread. It was served oven-warm and wrapped in a thick napkin to help keep the sliced loaf warm for a good amount of time. We indulged in the crispy potatoes (baby whole potatoes (boiled and then deep-fried(?) resulting in a very crispy skin) for starters, and although pricy (5 bux for 4 small potatoes), was deifinitely a tasty intro for what was to come. The XXL entrees that followed included the Brick Chicken, which was a well-seasoned (but not overly-seasoned), boneless whole chicken with a variety of spices, herbs and peppers served with pasta that had a tangy tomato sauce and melted mozzerella cheese laid into the mix. Our second entree were these extra-large meatballs soaked in a tasty tomato sauce. It definitely added additional protein to our meal, which was great because we were truly carnivorous. Our dessert experience was twofold. First was the tiramisu that included a lit candle as it was carefully placed onto the table. The initial bite was perfect, but about 3 bites later, the sweetness almost became over-bearing. I appreciated the candle though.... t'was a nice gesture. The second half of dessert was a delectable gelato. We soooo wanted to finish it, but had more than our fill from the entrees. I would like to add that I await the day that they would invent the unmeltable, indestructible gelato. =) thanks mary j & D for the smart pick!! read more

Food was OK.... wait, so why the negative review? Our server Angela tried to pull a fast one. The final total was $87.00 and with a $50.00 gift card it should have been adjusted to $37.00, no? She walks away and quietly comes back with $87.00 on the bill. Gift card missing... So I go back and bring this up to the entire wait staff standing by the front. The manager takes care of it and Angela comes back to the table and says " I'm glad you caught that... YOU are fine!". No apology etc.... and made us feel like we were the ones that screwed up. And then she quickly walks away. There are times when honest mistakes happen but the whole thing was clearly not from her body language and just overall rude attitude. read more

A restaurant that helped give Chicago it's reputation on food... big servings... and good food! A must for out of towners. A great stop for when you need to eat Italian. Seafood is alright. Stick with the Italian staples and you should be happy. The sausage and peppers are some of the best in town. You really don't need appetizers... unless you are very hungry. The calamari is another easy go to. Old school charm with quality food that is Chicago. You will likely be bringing home leftovers. read more

They should have had a sign that read 'We don't serve Asians.' At least that the way I felt the host treated us, as compared to the non-Asian patrons. Terrible. I won't recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

Thank you!! Walked in today on Friday around 5:30 PM and had asked for a table for 6. I really appreciated the two managers on duty and hostess for being able to squeeze us in last minute on a busy weekend night without a reservation. We had had a long day at the hospital, exhausted and starving we decided to finally jump out of highway traffic to grab some food. Our server was Amanda B. and she as well as the bus staff were attentive and kind. Perfect timing on food, it was delicious as always! My family doesn't get to dine out too often so thank you for making it great! read more

Personally, I don't understand paying more than $8 for a plate of pasta. Even if it is alla vodka. Rigatoni + California Sangiovese + Tiramisu + tip = $39.95 Service was slow. Luckily I didn't mind because I wasn't in a rush. Stick with California wines here. Better price for the quality, as tempting as it is to get an Italian wine. Remember, you are not in Italy! Cute decor in December. Nice wreaths with lights. Cozy. Many large families sitting together gave it a homey atmosphere. I enjoyed that. read more

Even if my initial review was 3.5, after trying numerous times during my days in Chicago, I should give this place 4 stars. I really got to love their food over time, and did a lot of take outs at least once every 1-2 months. Our favorite is spicy calamari. other pastas and meat entreé are pretty good too. and as I said before, keep that in mind that the portion is enormous. If you buy an entree especially if you have small stomach basically you are buying it for 2 meals. read more

I had the Chicken Palermo and I must say...THE SAUCE!!! Tangy, savory, and rich with flavor. Whenever I go to Italian restaurants, I find myself ordering a chicken parmesan or an eggplant parmesan. The servers are extremely knowledgeable. Allow them to recommend something on the menu read more

yum yum yum yummy!!! I love everything about this place... the meatball salad is amazing (not much food, but sooooo good) The spicy calamari is reeeeeeeally good too I have no complaints about this place... read more

I figured on a nice early Sunday afternoon I could spend some time getting a good meal, perfect day outdoors, & a good price. The problem was the latter. I felt for a couple of salads, $25 was going to be a fair price. Over $40 for two salads, & I was scratching my head. Service was excellent & food was good, but the pricing compared to similar restaurants was nothing to write about. It's a tourist attraction no doubt, but nothing more. read more

We went here before a Bulls game. The spicy calamari and shrimp grilled was fantastic! Out if 4 dinners we enjoyed only 2 which was disappointing . The veal Parmesan and chicken Vesuvio was fabulous . The skirt steak was so tough you had to chew 5 minutes a piece so not edible really , the world famous ribs were cold and old. So disappointing ! The waiter was Jay. He was not very pleasant. At the end he asked if we wanted to box it up and I said no. I told him the steak was not good and very chewy and he got mad and said I asked you if everything was okay. Honestly we just shared the good food and were ok but he was not a good waiter seeing that our bill was 250 you would think he would be nicer. read more

I love that even though it was my first time in here, it felt like my very own family joint. The service was so friendly and helpful and the food is pretty good. I was absolutely thrilled with the mussels in the tomato sauce. I should have asked for a spoon so slurp up the sauce. Everything about it was perfect and so American Italian - heavy on the thick sauce and tasty. The rest of the food though, was just ok. I ordered the breaded veal but this time, it was super salty. James ordered the lamb and it was very good. So, big extra star for the amazing mussels but otherwise, it's fair to say it is only 3 stars..... read more

Came in for an anniversary lunch on a Saturday the weekend of Italian fest with no reservations and were seated almost immediately. Our server Jay was very knowledgable on daily special and overall very a accommodating with our dining experience. Food was amazing. My hubby and I really enjoyed our dining experience. read more

Honestly, what's not to love? I have been coming here for years with both family and friends, for special occasions or simply a great meal. There are always regulars scattered about, large parties and intimate tables of two so no matter who your company is for the evening you will never feel anything but comfortable and welcome. The bartenders start your night out w/nice stiff martinis while you wait for your table and your server will gladly keep your wineglass full through the night. All of the service from the staff is stellar. I am pretty sure that by now each item on the menu has been enjoyed by someone in my party and there have never been complaints. Of course, the items that tend to frequent my table are the sausage & peppers, any one of their homemade pasta dishes (of course my favorite Cavatelli al Forno) & their fabulous tiramisu is a must to conclude any meal here. read more

You won't see me doing too many reviews that aren't recent, but I had to share my love for Rosebud. This is where my husband proposed to me in 2007 since, in his words, it's the only place that compares to his mother's Italian cooking. It wasn't just the magic of the moment or the accordion player her hired to play a few Sinatra tunes that makes me nostalgic for Rosebud -- everything from the paintings on the wall to the small, yet friendly bar that adorns the entrance helps define Chicago's Little Italy. I've been to Rosebud a handful of times, and the food has always been delicious and very authentic. The caprese salad with small peppers and the Nutella cake are to die for (although I think they stopped making the Nutella cake recently). My husband is a big fan of the daily specials, so he never gets the same thing. During our last visit, he enjoyed prosciutto, basil and cheese stuffed chicken. Looking forward to dining at Rosebud in May to celebrate our first wedding anniversary! read more

Rosebud gives huge portions at a reasonable price. It's not gourmet Mediterranean by any means. They just add a ton of butter to everything. This restaurant has the gumba, old school charm that is irresistible. It's a good place to go with a group of friends. It's a Chicago favorite. read more

Had an amazing experience!! Everyone was really friendly and the food was absolutely amazing! I got the veal Parmesan and it was perfect very tender and tasty! The carrot cake is to die for my overall experience was great I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Definitely one of the best, most authentic, most flavorful and good-portioned Italian restaurants I've been to in awhile. Great ambiance with dim lighting and friendly service...but let's get to the food. You can smell the garlic even as you're still walking towards the restaurant. Good sign. Bread was incredibly fresh, warm, crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. I had the risotto-stuffed pasta shells with green beans, mushrooms and roasted red pepper - VERY flavorful, garlicy without scaring off too many vampires, and not overly salty. My mom had the beef pot roast on large pasta tubes with red sauce (one of their specials), and that was definitely my favorite dish of all. Dad had the Rigatoni ala Vodka with shrimp, and the sauce was amazing. My husband had the 20 oz pork chops and they were really thick and well-grilled. My sister had the thin-pounded veal and it was also amazing. Sister's b/f had the baked ziti, also very happy with his dish. So...you get the point - all the food seems to be REALLY good here, HUGE portions for reasonable prices given the quality and quantity. Expect to pay $18-$28 a dish, depending on what you order. read more

This restaurant is our to go to restaurant. The dining experience starts upon your arrival. The parking is free! How many nice restaurants in Chicago have free parking? The hostess staff that greeted us was pleasant. They are always pleasant. The restaurant is never jammed packed. There is always room to select your favorite seat. The food....let's discuss the food. We started with the eggplant stack. Normally, I am not a fan of egg plant. This eggplant stack is incredible. It is crispy and savory. I asked for red onions to be added to my stack and the kitchen did not object at all. The mussels were delicious, the grilled and fried calamari were both delicious. Yes I had both grilled and fried calamari. We also ordered chicken marsala, however, we were so full from the other food items that we were not able to eat it. I took the chicken marsala home and it warmed up nicely the next day. I will revisit this restaurant. read more

As someone who grew up on Olive Garden and the Macaroni Grill, this place was like a swift slap in the face. The best italian food I have ever had. Walking by it you would never know what amazing works of culinary art walk out of that kitchen. Has become a place near and dear to my heart as any big even I have with my special someone is celebrated in the dimly lit dinning room of this masterpiece. As you walk in make sure to look for the little table at the back of the bar that always seems to be full with "the dons", as my family now calls them, as they talk with an old world tongue about things one can only imagine. As you turn the corner you will notice the freshly backed cookies inter a glass cover just begging you to grab them as a pre-meal snack. Don't. This is the original and well worth the wait. If you want real Italian skip the bread sticks and salad and go for the Rosebud. read more

I was a bit hesitant as I detest chain restaurants. But I'm making a rare exception in this case. The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is because of a rather foul odor that greets you as you walk in the front. It smells like old tropical fish tanks were stored there. Get the febreeze out people. In any event, the martinis were wonderful. Mine was so smooth it was almost like drinking water. The bread was fresh and crusty, just like good Italian bread is supposed to be. I ordered the chicken marsala. I know that's not very creative, but I normally can tell a lot about the skills of the chef with this very simple dish. My meal was delcious. The chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned with no strange parts hanging off the meat. I didn't bloat like a balloon the next morning because of overuse of salt and the portion size was just right for one person. Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back. read more

Finally a good quality meal. Went here before a hockey game. Food was so good and fresh. The staff was exceptional. Setting is calm and relaxing. Portions were great. BEST calamari I have ever had. Most kind server one could have. Thanks for a great meal. We will return. read more

I was a bit concerned about meeting for dinner at this restaurant with a gluten allergy, but the waiter and chef were very accommodating. They had gluten-free pasta available! Along with that they provided a few different options on how it could be prepared. I selected marinara with Italian sausage (which the waiter confirmed was safe). I was interested in the minestrone soup but was warned against it due to the presence of flour. However, they made me a fresh bowl of escarole soup which was totally awesome! I also had a small house salad which of course was fine, but the dressing was a specially made house vinaigrette with Italian spices. Add some pepper and parmesan cheese and overall my dinner was excellent. I followed up with dessert of lemon, mango and raspberry sorbet (also gluten-free). Service was spot-on and as I already mentioned, the waiter was very helpful and speedy, considering it was a busy Saturday night. I gave this 3 dollar signs because that was the average of everyone in our party. Although, you could easily get by on 2 dollar signs :) I've always liked the Rosebud Restaurants and this one is no exception. Definitely recommend. read more

We had family visiting from Savannah, GA, where they claim you cannot find good Italian food, so we decided to take them to Rosebud so they could get their Italian fix. Having never been there despite living in Chicago for 5 years, I was hoping this place would meet their expectations. We were seated promptly in the main dining room, which was jam-packed with tables but yet not too loud. Our server was very enthusiastic and attentive. The bread was served warm and was delicious. Definitely a good start. We ordered baked clams and a tomato and onion salad to start. That was more than enough for our table of 4 - huge portions! The clams were fabulous, and as a lover of tomato & basil, the salad was fantastic. Very fresh, great flavors. For entrees, we had the veal saltimbocca, square noodles with vodka sauce and sausage, and two plates of the cavatelli arrabiata. The veal and the square noodles were AMAZING. Absolutely delicious. The verdict was split on the arrabiata. I had it and enjoyed it, but it was much spicier than I had anticipated. My dad also had the arrabiata and had a little trouble with the spice. With that said, the cavatelli was fresh and delicious - it just was a bit overshadowed by the spiciness of the marinara. So... consider yourself warned - the arrabiata will make you sweat. We also ordered a side of meatballs and sausage with our entrees, and the meatballs were unbelievable. So, so good. I could have just eaten those and been thrilled with my Rosebud experience! My husband and I split the tiramisu for dessert. I thought it was amazing, but my husband thought it lacked a bit of the liqueur flavor he normally loves in a tiramisu. Overall, we had a great experience at Rosebud. read more

Ridiculous sized portions ruined my apetite. There were 3 of us who chose the ribeye special and we got 2lb prime rib on the bone which was so huge none of us ate even a third. We brought home what remained and couldn't bear to even look at it and eventually just ditched it. A gross waste of food. We won't be back. read more

Ordered one order of lasagna via delivery. Was expecting the famous "giant" portion to split. It came fast and hot thru Grubhub, but it was small. I even weighed it. 1.5lbs for $30. Tasty, but very overpriced. read more