Consistently have a good time when I go here. I like the various chicken dishes a lot, the meatballs and the cannoli. read more

Rosebud - Chicken calabrese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It is with great sadness that I am writing this review. I know they struggled to reopen, but Rosebud is THE place to do on Taylor. As a long time, Tri-Taylor resident of Italian descent, Rosebud on Taylor has been our families go to place for celebrations. I went there last night and I was treating a business colleague, who loves Rosebud, for a year end dinner and could not have been more disappointed. I ordered a bottle of wine, but when it arrived it was already poured into two glasses al la Olive Garden. My friends' Negroni and that is her go to drink, was awful. She sent it back. The wine itself was amazing. Our orders were a bowl of Minestrone and a seafood salad for me and my friend ordered a Cesar salad and a pasta dish. Then we waited, and waited. Two glasses of wine for me later, my friend received her Cesar and the pasta dish together. I received nothing. After several more minutes, I get a cup of cold Minestrone soup. Sent it back. I knew I was a bit tipsy so I said nothing because I did not want to appear to be that drunk "Karen." I eventually receive a bowl of soup which they comped. Finally, my Seafood salad which was delicious arrived. By the time my friend finished her Cesar, which was wonderful, her pasta was cold. Sad for such a fine traditional Italian restaurant to have such a lapse. Next time I am taking my clients and friends to one of the Italian restaurants on South Oakley. read more

Food was amazing and the service was perfect! They were friendly and checked in without interrupting my meal.

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate my birthday. We got to sit at the Frank Sinatra table since it wasn't a busy day. The service was excellent and the food was the best Italian food I've ever had. I ordered the Chicken Rigatoni alla Vodka and got a free cannoli dessert for my birthday. The moscato that I ordered was very smooth and sweet-- just how I like it. Could not have asked for a better experience. read more

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Way overpriced! It's no wonder they're closing. Food was good, but only good. Nothing sttod out except the bill! This was always a good place for a good value. Sadly no more. If their new speakeasy charges the same prices, it's sure to be gone. There are many better Italian restaurants for far less $. Go somewhere else! read more

Excellent Italian food here! After loving the authenticity of the Italian food in NYC's Little Italy along with the super cool area with strings of lights overhead and tons of fun shops and eateries, I couldn't wait to check out Chicago's. I picked Rosebud based on reviews. After reading about the large portions and considering we are visitors and unable to take home leftovers, we waived apps, soup or salad, hoping to make more of a dent in our entrees which I expected to be delicious. We couldn't help ourselves with the bread, however, which was fresh, warm and outstanding dipped in olive oil with salt/pepper/parmesan cheese. I had the baked ziti and the hubby got veal parm. Both were excellent though I'd have preferred more cheese throughout the ziti rather than just melted on top so I have to give the nod to the veal between the two. Portions indeed on the healthy side! I ate a little less than half of mine. The hub was more determined and polished off nearly all his veal bc it was too good to stop. We rounded it off with a canoli that was one of the best I have ever had plus a perfectly foamy cappuccino. Only disappointment is the lack of vibe and ambience in the neighborhood. For a Saturday night, there was barely anyone out walking around, no lights signifying you are in an established and named location, no bakeries or dessert shops. We strolled 1/2 a block after dinner, realized there was nothing going on, and Ubered on back to the city. read more

Rosebud is old school cool! All of their dishes are massive. You can share everything and get away with getting one entree per couple. But,I never do that because they have so many delicious options. We started with the fried calamari which was cooked to golden brown perfection. The sauce was just as good as the calamari. I could have had this as my dinner. I had the eggplant parmigiana and my group ordered the lasagna. We ordered the massive fish platter for the table and when we were done with what we ate it looked like nothing was touched. Needless to say we had a crazy amount of left overs and meals for the next few days. I will be back for more celebrations. Pretty reasonable prices for the monstrous quantity of grub! read more

Rosebud - Fishy deliciousness! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really liked this place. The food was delicious. Their cannolis were excellent. Homemade limoncellos. Service was great. Highly recommend. read more

Rosebud - Cannoli - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the lamb chops, the sea bass, and the ziti. Everything was incredible! The service was great as well.

I was really disappointed with my take out order from this long time favorite restaurant. I paid $43 for a one item carry out! Linguine w/ shrimp and broccoli. No utensils, bread with no butter or oil, no Parmesan.... Dine in pricing w/o the high quality dine in experience! read more

Rosebud - $43 take out! Linguine w/ shrimp and broccoli. No utensils, bread with no butter or oil, no Parmesan.... - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We found this restaurant from our bartender at the bar. The best Italian food I ever had in America! Their ceaser salad was very different and tasty. Our server, Antonio,was so friendly and nice. read more

All the pasta sauces were base level. They need more seasonings. I was disappointed. The sauces did not taste homemade

A charming, old-style "red sauce" Italian restaurant in a convenient location on Taylor Street in Little Italy. The dining room was pleasant, with soft lighting and an understated ambiance. Privacy was offered by virtue of the numerous grottoes at the sides and rear of the dining area. Service was prompt and friendly, with ample bravado from the pleasant, older gentleman who was our waiter. The pastas and salads were excellent, as was the bread service. Wine selection was generous, without being pretentious, and prices were relatively modest overall. We will definitely be back during our next trip to Chicago! read more

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What a great Italian joint that offers fantastic food, service and atmosphere....not overly fancy but just right. Good wine, food and a fun night out!! Would recommend if you love authentic Italian food.... enjoy! read more

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Our waitress Ada (I am sure I'm spelling it wrong, so sorry) was awesome. Professional, attentive and very helpful. The food was to die for and excellent. Best Italian restaurant that we've been to. Too bad we live in Ca and won't be back. Thanks! read more

Rosebud - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I really love the quality of the food here. It's got an old school vibe. I like to stick to their daily specials because they are just phenomenal. I would say their seafood is spot on. I love a good tomato sauce, It makes or breaks an Italian spot, and this place has a nice one. Around Christmas time I had the pleasure of dining upstairs with a beautiful Christmas tree and decorations. It had a wonderful home-y feel. I look forward to my next visit. read more

This is the best place to go to, so clean and pretty. I have been coming here since a long time. If you love Italian then this is the place to go to. They offer the best type of food one can eat, delicious and tempting. 4 stars only, because they need to extend the area, I always have to wait for hours to get a table, which is tad frustrating. Other than that excellent! read more

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The original "Rosebud" of Chicago's Little Italy--did not disappoint! The vibes were lowkey, intimate and traditional. I enjoyed the Chicken Vesuvio (a dish that originated in Chicago) and it was delicious! The portion size was impressive and gave me a run for my money. (It was 4 chicken breasts in a white wine sauce, topped with an immense amount of peas, and long cut Idaho potatoes.) The bartender served me in a timely fashion and provided me with complimentary bread to start my meal, which was paired with freshly shredded Parmesan cheese! I expected olive oil or butter to accompany the bread but was not offered any. (Not a problem) My water was filled without my having to ask or remind the bartender and that attention to detail is most appreciated when considering where to eat in the vast locale of local eateries! I would return and I recommend this location to anyone looking for delicious Italian authenticity in the heart of Little Italy! -CAJ read more

Rosebud - Well seasoned and big portion to provide me with my money's-worth. Try for yourself!!!! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Can you believe that I've lived here for 6 years and still never been to a Rosebud? Well, I finally made it to this location for a work lunch. It's apparently the original and the walls reflect the various accolades they've received over the years - from Zagat to Time Out Chicago. As for their menu, most of us shied away from the pasta dishes, which might have been a mistake. I had their fish salad, which is really all calamari, octopus, shrimp, etc swimming in a pool of EVOO and garlic. It was good, but I'd recommend splitting it with at least 2 other people as an appetizer. All of the people who had the salmon salad complained about the saltiness of their fish. Then again, they're doctors so they might have a phobia of excess salt. Rosebud's desserts are undeniably decadent. A chocolate mousse cake and tiramisu were enough to share between a table of 6, and delicious at that. You may have loosen your belt a little or pop some Tums / Pepto after a meal here, but it is absolutely worth it. read more

I was in the neighborhood this afternoon running errands and came upon Rosebud. I have seen the one on Rush, but this was right here, and I was thinking, well why not? As I was seated quickly and Ol' Blue Eyes was just mere eyesight away in an old frame checking me out, I asked myself, what should I eat with Frank for lunch? Chicken Piccata. It comes with a side of rotini corkscrew pasta and marinara. The setting is reminiscent of an old Italian grammas' house. Some bookshelves filled with antique books, and memorabilia nic nacs, etc. Old Italian music playing in the background and a few stained glass windows. My only thought was that there was water damage in the ceiling and they really should fix that. My server is friendly, water and bread came out expediently. I'm dipping the warm lightly crusted on the outside bread in the olive oil on the table and there's a little metal UFO on the table with parmesan cheese. (the canned kind) The chicken comes out, and it is HOT. Wow, no mistaking freshness here. That baby was juicy and the sauce was thick with a variety of capers and big caper berries. There is so much sauce with the chicken it could have been soup. Not that you'd want to eat it as soup. lol The pasta was okay (obviously not made in house) and the marinara was tasty enough, but nothing special. I doused it in the UFOs cheese, better. Not too pricey. Good for lunch. read more

Rosebud - Chicken piccata - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Last night was my +1's late father's birthday, so he wanted to remember his father by eating his favorite meal: seafood fettuccine alfredo. Service was friendly and, for the most part, pretty attentive. Our waiter was nice and totally full of options and recommendations. His nervous energy was a bit distracting, though. We ordered: Traditional Calimari ($15) This was the best part of dinner: it was meaty and fresh. Get it! We were offered both marinara and cocktail sauce, so took both. Wild Mushroom Ravioli ($21) Pretty good. I loved the sauce! Sadly I tasted very little mushroom flavor, so that was disappointing. Fettuccine Alfredo ($16) w seafood (+ $10 for shrimp, another $10 for mussels...) He reported the sauce was totally flavorless and had to add lots of salt and pepper to try and salvage it. I totally GET the upcharge for the seafood since it's not a standard menu item and it had to be customized; however, $20 seemed excessive for 5 or so shrimp and 3 mussels. For nearly $80 pre-tip, we expected more flavor. That's sad, since this place is so highly revered and the ingredients are fresh. Also disappointing given the sentiment of the day: this wasn't a regular pasta dinner. read more

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Hands down, Rosebud is one of my favorites along Taylor Street. It's not fancy (anything but) but the food is always delicious, the servers friendly and I like that the "regulars" sit at the bar and talk to you. This is the original Rosebud restaurant. Located in what used to be the old Italian men's Supper club, this restaurant opened in 1977, and due to it's success, other outposts have opened since, but this remains my favorite. On a recent visit- we came on a slow Wednesday night. My friend had never been to Taylor Street before and was amazed at the choices before us. "How do you know where to go?" asked he. "Trust me", said I. "You'll be up to your eyeballs in Mama's meatballs soon enough". We were seated and rather than explore the entire menu- I took the lead and ordered some of my favorites. Caprese Salad, Antipasto plate and a lovely Chianti to start. For our entrees we split Mama's meatballs and a side of spaghetti along with the NY strip Vesuvio. The look on my friend's face said it all. He was in Rosebud bliss. And now for the "piece de resistance". We were on the quest for the perfect cannoli and I had promised that if there was a perfect one- we were going to find it on Taylor Street. We waited. And then the moment happened. The cannoli was placed down before us. Centered on a small plate, with that sweet ricotta spilling out of the end, pistachio nuts sprinkled about and a dollop of whipped cream, it was beauty on a plate. But would it satisfy this cannoli connoisseur? As I watched the smile come over my friend's face with just the merest fork full, I knew we had found a winner. Baked in Rosebud's own bakery, this cannoli is the winner on Taylor Street. Our evening of Italian indulgence done, we left Rosebud and headed home. But not without "visions of cannolis, dancing in our heads". read more

We had our first visit to the old flagship location of this franchise. The seating is quite tight here, and if crowded, the smallish dining space can get quite loud. It is a charming, old school kind of setting, and the host and server played their parts as traditional Italians. Wife had their pork chops with bell pepper/mushroom sauce, and I had their veal parmesan with penne pasta side. The portions were very large, as was the $15 chopped salad that we split. On a side note, it would be nice if an individually sized and priced starter salad could be ordered. We had take-home for every dish we ordered including the salad. Overall, a nice dinner, but the quality wasn't quite 5 star quality (as we had expected) as the veal was a little firm and stringy and the pork chops were a little on dry side. The cheese and breading on the veal was fine. Metered street parking was easy right out front on Taylor Street for $2/hour. Nearby side streets looked to be permit parking. Come here if you are looking for large portions and old school rustic Italian. ps - I noticed a lot of out-of-towner Yelp reviews for whatever reason. read more

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I enjoyed the Rosebud. I had the chicken Vesuvio which was delicious, and the portions, as they are known for, are certainly large enough for me. Cool vibe, you can feel the tradition here. This is a neat spot for old-school Italian food in Chicago. read more

Rosebud - House salad. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We were so excited to go back to eat at Rosebud as it had been awhile since our last visit. 1st our mistake to go on Valentine's. It was very busy. Which is great for them. However, the service was lacking. It took over 2 hours to get our entree. Once we did get the penne with vodka sauce, it was so disappointing. Not good at all. Luckily we had begun our meal with the mussels in red sauce. They were ok. We would not go back again. read more

I worked with Marco to plan a private dinner meeting. The experience was excellent. I had so many questions and emails back and forth and was nervous planning my first meeting for work, and he made sure everything went smoothly and that I could rest easy when the meeting was happening. The food was plentiful and delicious. I definitely recommend working with this restaurant if you need private dining space, or just for a nice dinner. read more

I am a steak and burger guy, but the Linguine with mussels in white wine sauce is absolutely the best! The mussels were cooked to perfection in a rich, yet light white wine sauce and it just made my evening. I did make the mistake of ordering a side of escarole thinking it was escargot. A plate of sauteed veggies came to our table without snails I did the "huh" look. I took my wife there for Valentines day dinner for the past two years. I look forward to going there again! read more

Rosebud - Eggplant salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

How have I never reviewed Rosebud on Taylor? I've been here for numerous business dinners and lunches and stopped by with a co-worker today after a meeting at Rush MC. Rosebud is one of the OG's of Chicago Italian food, and they have pictures of just about every famous person on the planet to prove it - JFK, Frank Sinatra, Robert DiNero, Oprah and the dad from Tommy Boy. The interior is dark and cozy - if it's busy you might feel a bit crowded. They've got a very nice wine list (as I'd expect) with a good number of by-the-glass options at not terrible prices. Alas, it was a work lunch so no wine for me. I picked penne Bolognese and my co-worker went with carbonara which she kindly shared. The carbonara wasn't the "traditional" with beaten egg and pancetta - rather it's a creamy parmesan sauce with mushrooms and peas. Very, very rich but good all the same and if you love mushrooms (I'm indifferent at best) know that the ones they used were meaty and flavorful. I'm tough on Bolognese sauce because I make a mean one and Rosebud's was really good - very meaty and not too tomato-y. Again, not strictly traditional (I didn't see veg in there) but tasty, and who am I to question 40-year old recipes? Service was fine - waters were refilled regularly but we had to ask for a refill on iced tea. Prices are quite reasonable for lunch (most dishes under $15) and the portions were enormous. I know there are other Rosebud's in the city, but the original location has a lot of charm and is worth a visit. read more

This happens to be the 4th Rosebud I've been to (after Carmine's, Dearborn and State/Rush) And this one is THE BEST!!! We sat outside and it was a beautiful day! I had their homemade square pasta and brought back home enough to make 2 more meals out of it! And apparently that's their "lunch" portion and dinner's larger!! I also tried the Minestrone soup and it was MMMMM so good!!! All in all, a great great lunch!!! read more

Oh man this place was quite delicious. I had insalata di pesce (squid, octopus, calamari, and shrimp tossed in olive oil and spices/herbs!) and it LITERALLY made my mouth-water. It was so fresh-tasting and flavorfully refreshing! I loved the fact that I could walk out of an Italian restaurant without feeling like I had eaten a whale (if ya know what I mean)--I wasn't super stuffed---just perfectly satiated. They served up a pretty decent variety of breads that came complimentary to each table...with olive oil = magnificent! Although...it was SUPER LOUD IN HERE---you literally had to yell to get the attention of the person sitting across from you... Despite the noise, I highly recommend this place. read more

This is a wonderful Italian food establishment. I came for a company dinner event and I was pleasantly surprised with the good service and delicious well prepared food. We started off with stuffed mushrooms appetizer which was pretty good, moist panko crusted outter layer. I had a garden salad to prepare me for my bone in ribeye steak. The bone in was cooked to perfection as I requested and didn't need any sauce. It had a great balance of fat and meat which made the meat delicious and savory. The desert with a rosebud tiramisu which is large and couldn't finish but it was not overly sweet but full of vanilla flavor. read more

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I've been coming to The Rosebud on every trip to Chicago since I was child. The food has always been consistently good. The romantic charm of The Rosebud makes you feel like you've traveled back in time to an earlier era in Chicago history. I love Italian food - it's probably my favorite type of food. And The Rosebud serves up some quality Italian in typical Italian sized portions (aka they give you a lot!). Some of my favorites items on the menu include the lasagna, meatballs, bruschetta, and chicken Parmesan. Their chopped salad may be one of my favorite of all times as well. The service is relaxed: not too fast so you feel rushed but not too slow where you're waiting in agony. The waiters are friendly and offer wonderful suggestions if you're ever unsure of what to order. It can get a little crowded on a Friday or Saturday night, so grab a drink at the bar or call ahead to save yourself a spot. The Rosebud is a Chicago classic - don't miss an opportunity to come here! read more

We didn't have plans to eat here for lunch but since Rosebud has such a great rep, we had to try it. Service was an A Food was an A Bathroom was an A A's across the board! Take a bow, Rosebud. Although the meal was ghastly expensive, I luckily did not pay the bill and was able to sit and enjoy my lunch. My salmon salad was super delicious and the bottled iced tea was a nice touch. BUT, hold the phone and listen to this: TRY THE ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP. I REPEAT, TRY THE ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP!!! I'm a clam (no pun intended) chowder girl, but seriously their soup has converted my opinion to all soups. If this were my last meal on earth, I would request the Italian wedding soup. Gratzi! read more

My favorite spot. I love the spaghetti and meatballs. Service is great. And the bread with Parmesan+olive oil is great

An early dinner right after work with the family, easy street parking on a friday evening a major plus in the city. We had mussles for appetizer and the kids got linguine with shrimp and buttered pasta, we got Chicken vesuivo, White river fish with crab which was soaked in butter. I had a glass of pinot noir and hubby had a couple of morretis. For dessert we split the creme brulee which was perfect! I know the Rosebud on taylor is a chicago tradition but i will be a Francescas on taylor loyalist, just a personal preference. Our server Ana was very courteous and friendly. read more

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We started off with some calamari! Amazing calamari! The calamari was cooked to perfection with just the right amount of crisp and it came with a side of two sauces (both AMAZING!). The appetizer was large enough for a group of 4! Strongly suggest this as an appetizer! For my entree I ordered one of the specials of the day (not on the menu)! I ordered the sea bass which came with sautéed spinach and tomatoes. The sea bass was okay, but it was seated on top of some sort of sauce (I wish I knew what it was) that made it a little better. Not a huge fan of tomatoes but these were pretty good. My boyfriend ordered the bone-in Veal Parmesan (also a special)! WOW this dish was MASSIVE! The veal was covered with parmesan and red sauce and came with spaghetti! This dish was big enough to feed 3 or 4 people and still have enough for some leftovers! I had a taste of his dish and it was amazing! The veal was cooked perfectly and the bone in just gave it more flavor! read more

Rosebud - Bone-in veal parmesan (special of the day) - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went on a Friday evening just before the dinner rush. Adorable eatery. There were several large parties so we ate at tables near the bar and hostess area. Did not matter one bit. Waitress was awesome and attentive and very helpful with recommendations. We had the stuffed artichoke appetizer to start. Soooooo good. Split the special - lobster Risotto - with my daughter. Other friend at the table ordered chicken Parmesan and it was enough for all of us! We ubered over from MagMile and it was maybe a 10 minute trip if that. Worth the trek. Go!!! read more

Rosebud - Lobster Risotto goodness - it was the special and full of lobster, scallops, shrimp & asparagus (enough for two!) - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here six years ago with family and I remember it being so incredibly delicious and the best Italian food in the city. Over the weekend while in town my boyfriend and I came here for Sunday dinner. I made a reservation but there was really no need to, there were plenty of empty tables. The food was good but not as great as I remember. The pasta and clams were so delicious but the carbonara dish was not as good. The service was very pushy for a half full restaurant. Our server was rushing us, the bus boy was clearing plates, and the check was on the table in under an hour. We enjoyed our dinner but unfortunately it didn't live up to the memory I had from my last visit. read more

It's absolute perfection. Sat up with a smile the moment we walked in. We ordered a caesar salad, baked ziti, and chicken Marsala. All to share, with my Valentine. I cannot describe the deliciousness. It is SO much food, but we ate every bite of the salad and Marsala. Brought the Ziti home and I'm already back at eating. I love the ambiance. I loved our server (beautiful Indian woman). We are in our early 30s and have spent a lot of time staking out hot new spots (we met at Butter circa 2005, waiting tables, and we got married at Gilt Bar's Library for God's sake). However, no offense to RPM and co., but Rosebud was here long before you and will be around long after you're gone. Babbo is to NYC Greenwich Village as Rosebud is to Chicago's Taylor Street. Poor Rosebud though: someone got sick in the restaurant. Just right at the table. Couldn't feel it coming, I guess. My husband saw it (I was facing the other way). Still uoogie though. Rosebud handled it like pros. Showed concern, but cleaned things up fast, respectful of other patrons... read more

A bit pricey...but well worth it! I listened to fellow yelpers and ordered the Napoleon Eggplant Salad. I was not at all disappointed!! The lettuce, fried eggplant, chunks of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and dressing created an orgasm in my mouth. I was only able to finish half of the portion but I look forward to eating the rest of it tomorrow. I also tasted my friends pasta. He ordered the Rigatoni in Vodka...also very delicious. Could use some pieces of steak or some source of meat on the side, but overall delicious. I will for sure go back! read more