Have you ever made a rez while traveling - based solely on Yelp reviews? That's what we did and found Sofi, which may have been the best restaurant choice we've made in a LONG time. Sofi is northern Italian, (which means that that they serve the best food on the planet). We've traveled extensively in northern Italy, especially Parma, Bologna, Milan, Cinque Terre, and Perugia. Sofi is among the best of the places we dined at in Italy. We ordered the prosecco and a glass of the montepulciano. If you're not a fan of Italian reds, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo is a deep rich red with no bitterness - just a rich warm flavor. We started with the focaccia with parma ham, and then went on to share the ravioli in a walnut cream sauce - which was stunning. Breathtaking. We'll be dreaming of this for a LONG time to come. Parma ham can be meh, boring, or occasionally stunning - and this was indeed stunning. I wish we had left room for dessert. Next time. Can I give them six stars? Sofi deserves at least that many. read more

Cozy space, on street parking, accessible entrance, and two unisex bathrooms. Easy to make online reservations. Staff were friendly and accommodating. We were seated right next to another couple even though there were many other open tables - it was weird. We started with drinks and the baby octopus - it was charred and tender! Masimo recommended we share the Caesar salad - it was enough for two - and it was delicious with just enough dressing. For dinner, hubby had the pork saltimbocca romano and he said it was a bit overcooked which made it a bit tough. I had the salmon piccata which was very lemony and fantastic! We were full but wanted dessert since they make them in house and ordered the cheesecake and lemon cake to go. The desserts were light and perfect as our evening snack a few hours later. We would definitely stop back! read more

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Amazing experience! Phenomenal and attentive service. Beautiful ambiance. My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary and enjoyed sitting outside on their lovely patio under the twinkle lights. It's the perfect place to come for a date night or special occasion. Located in the pretty Printer's Row neighborhood, this patio transported us. I felt like I was in Europe. We started with the Seared Sea Scallops, wrapped in pancetta with leeks and lobster bisque. Wow! So flavorful. We also had a burrata and prosciutto appetizer off the daily specials menu. Excellent! I had a lovely pasta dish that was a daily special, and it highlighted delicious mushrooms with a simple olive oil sauce and garlic to really showcase the mushrooms. My boyfriend really enjoyed his chicken dish too. For dessert, we had an incredible Nutella crepe, which was also a daily special. Perfect way to end the night. Delicious wine too. I loved my glass of Primitivo! The chef/owner is from Milan and it's so special to be able to try his favorite dishes. I highly recommend coming here! You won't forget this meal! read more

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This is a gorgeous little place in a great location! The inside was warm and inviting on a very cold and snowy night. We made a reservation (probably not needed on a Monday in the snow). Greeted immediately on arrival. Service was impeccable, meals were timed perfectly, never rushed. Drinks were a lager selection (only two beers available I think ?) and a Bellini which was very good. We got a prosciutto and cheese appetizer that was a generous portion and high quality. I couldn't decide between two pasta entrees so I told the (server? Owner? Not positive) to go ahead and choose for me. He said he would surprise me. To my genuine surprise he brought me half portions of each! What an unexpected and thoughtful touch. Both were outstanding, the gnocchi was pillowy and the pesto flavorful, and the ravioli and crisped sage delicious. I wish we had room for dessert, maybe another time. Definitely recommend this place as a standout meal. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Special mixed pasta entree - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We have eaten at Sofi many times and have always enjoyed our experience. They have fabulous food and service. Recently we decided to have a celebratory dinner for our family which included 17 people in all--from 6 to 70. We have allergies galore and the kitchen staff and manager, Christian, worked with us to ensure everyone had a safe and enjoyable meal, and no one felt excluded. There was something for everyone! We were also able to have a kids table, a teenage one, and adults only! Everyone was happy. It is a wonderful welcoming place. read more

This was a recommendation from Showtime at our hotel. Sofi was exactly what we were hoping for on our last night in Chicago. Quiet, authentic and amazing! The bruschetta was so good. The tomato's were so lush! My mussels were also pretty darn good but I must say my husband's rigatoni was to die for. The pasta's were homemade from the noodles to the sauces. We finished our meal with cheesecake and a latte. The meal was quiet with music in the background and Massimo was very attentive to our table. Coming from Minneapolis it is hard to find authentic Italian cuisine and this will be on our list when we return to Chicago. read more

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The food here was so good! We really enjoyed our meal. They had gluten-free pasta, which was a bonus for me. The desserts were all great as well, and this really felt like a true Italian trattoria. The food came out really quickly, but the service in between that was pretty sparse- we were waiting to flag someone down for the bill for a while. However, that didn't take away from how good the food was. We would definitely return! read more

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Great food and terrific service. A bit pricey but it's worth it. Traditional Italian menu with several daily specials. I will go there again when in Chicago. read more

Nice restaurant with a good service. We saw a review on channel 11 about it which is why we went to visit it. Honestly we expected a little bit more in terms of food quality. Service was outstanding though and the dessert was very good. The risotto was a little bit on the bland and stiff side. Nonetheless it was a great pleasant visit read more

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Pricy but worth it Wish they had a larger space in the bar and opened past 10pm but overall a great experience read more

Sofia was recommended by our hotel. So good, we ate twice in the same week! Felt like you were eating with family!Food is very authentic Italian and very good. Very comfortable ambiance. Massimo was top notch on service...the place was full on Christmas eve dinner, but he was on top of all our needs. Highly recommend! read more

The food was amazing. We had a pizza to start with and it was cooked perfectly. The flavors were wonderful. We also ordered steaks and Pasta, both of which were excellent. Our server Al was very attentive, nice, and knowledgeable. We will definitely go back again! The atmosphere was nice and cozy too, and although the place was pretty filled up it was not loud. read more

This place was an expensive disappointment. They were busy with conference clientele on a Friday evening, and the service vibe was very unimpressive - we had a reservation for an indoor table but had to stand our ground not to be seated outside on a cold night; we were told we needed to place our full order all at once for the convenience of the kitchen, and any time we asked our waiter a question, he made clear that he felt he was doing us a giant favor simply to stop and listen. The food was pretty mediocre - the clam pasta had about six microscopically small clams and almost no flavor. If I spend $100 on dinner, I expect it to be a pleasant, relaxing, tasty experience . This place was none of those, and I do not think I will be back. read more

Have a new fave in Chicago. Old school delish. Old works feel. Great food great service read more

Sofi Restaurant - Short ribs stracotto - wow - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sofi has this amazing patio space with an Italian menu that feels and tastes nonna-cooked Perfect spot for summer nights. I rly like the baby octopus app. It has this nice charr and gets served with Yukon potato and pesto relish. Tastes like you're on vacation!! Their pastas have yet to disappoint so choose whatever sounds good Baby Octopus $18* Arugula Parmigiano $9 Orecchiette Pugliesi $22 Lobster Fettuccine $38 Fettuccine Bolognese $12 Panna Cotta Custard $7 Tiramisu Classic $7 주변에 식당이 별로 없어서 주기적으로 가는 3곳중 하나! 이쁜 테라스석과 이태리 집밥 스타일의 메뉴가 여름밤이랑 잘 어울리는 공간이다 여행가서 아기자기한 마을 식당에서 먹는 그런 맛이다. 애피타이저는 문어 추천. 감자랑 페스토 조합이 베리굳. 파스타 중에선 실망한 적이 없으니까 취향따라 주문하기! read more

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Great appetizers. We tried the arancini, the artichokes in cream sauce and fritto mare. All were good but the first 2 really stood out. Wild boar pasta was amazing. Short rib gnocchi amazing Risotto was good but I didn't read the menu and the seafood had so much calamari and mussels others would probably be thrilled but it was too much for me haha Our server was so accommodating with our need for separate checks and a separate bill for the wine! Desserts were good. Tiramisu, crème brûlée and cheesecake but I will say their version of cheesecake was amazing! read more

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Small Italian restaurant that seems to be neighborhood oriented. I was visiting the town and this was close to my hotel so why not. On this particular Friday night, there was no need for reservations as it was wide open. Service was bit slow, and considering how empty it was - this was surprising. Food is good - but that is all. Not great. Flavors are there but are pretty mild and I tried ordering dish with most flavors somehow that did not work out. On a positive side Tiramisu was amazing! read more

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For the last 5 years since moving to the area my husband and I have enjoyed dining here as our preferred neighborhood Italian restaurant because when you become a regular, there's no point in going anywhere else. The management and professional waitstaff are all from Italy, and they are warm, knowledgeable and generous. You will never be rushed from a table here as you dine the traditional Italian way. We always bring friends and family here when they visit because we always have a special experience here. I particularly appreciate how you can customize a dish to your liking - I always order the cacio e Pepe with bucatini, extra pepper and grated pecorino Romano and it never misses. But I've tried nearly every dish and it's always fresh, consistent and authentic. Whether you opt for the more formal white table cloth experience inside or casual al fresco on the patio, you'll always feel comfortable dining here. Grazie Mille to the folks who run this restaurant - they're doing so well, they are expanding it to include a Roman style pizzeria that I can't wait to try. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Front of restaurant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This dining experience was so disappointing. Yes, it was the night before the Chicago Marathon, lots of people carb loading, but the way we were rushed through dinner was so unpleasant. We were asked at least 3 times whether we were ready to order, having just sat down. Then, as we ate, asked multiple times if we were done. The waiters were clearly stressed and busy, but the abrupt, "aren't you done yet" tone ruined the meal. We weren't offered dessert. The bill included a "processing charge" and the waiter claimed to have no idea what that was. There was a "special" marathon pasta menu that appeared to be the regular menu, maybe some extra dishes, but marked up $10. The food might have been okay but it was hard to tell in that stressful environment. Maybe this is a great place on normal nights. On that night, avoid at all costs. read more

Very nice restaurant - a bit pricey, but the pastas are all made fresh on premises and are delicious. Service is lovely and warm. Wish we would have bought a bottle of wine instead of two glasses each! I had carbonara, a wonderful Chianti, and a latte with nonna's lemon dessert. Definitely get the basket of bread served with butter! Wish we could have eaten it all. Would go back again. read more

We went for Mother's Day and had a wonderful time. The food was amazing, best we've had in years. The restaurant was just small enough to feel cozy but not crowded. The service was perfect. We felt at home and very full. read more

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Pretty standard but good Italian restaurant. I started off the meal by ordering the Polpettine meatballs ($14), which were made from veal and pork. These were a bit smaller than normal meatballs but standard in quality. The tomato sauce was pretty ordinary. The Pappardelle Cinghiale ($26) was cooked to an al dente level and the pasta itself was decent. There was plentiful wild boar meat in the sauce, which was pretty tender. The Rigatoni Sofi ($22) was great. The smoked bacon bits were delicious and the pasta itself was cooked well. The pink sauce added a tasty creaminess to the pasta and was added with a proper amount that didn't overwhelm the pasta. The restaurant itself has a pretty standard nice Italian restaurant kind of environment. There were plenty of empty tables on a Friday night. Our waiter was moderately friendly and attentive, although it was a bit odd that he did not know the prices of the desserts when asked. Overall, Sofi Restaurant is a very good option if you are looking for classic Italian food in the area, but don't expect anything out of the ordinary. read more

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Food: we ordered 3 appetizers + dessert to share and it was a good amount of food for 2 ppl. The baby octopus is very very good. tuna carpaccio was a bit soggy which is not to my liking. The scallop is only 2 (a bit disappointed that it's only 2 ). They give you free bread like they do in Italy Service: impecable! Very attentive waiter, I think one of them was Italian. Ambience: very nice outdoor terrace :) Price: a bit too expensive imo, that's why the 4 stars. read more

We had a nice meal for eight conventioneers mid week. Pretty high- end place that charges top dollar. The food was very good but the wine service was truly lacking. One of our group is quite well versed in wines and noticed a lot of bait n switch and we even sent one wine back that was suggested to us. They were out of one of their popular specials which started the ordering process over again. I ordered a Hendricks martini and they did not have cocktail onions on hand. Other than that, my appetizers and meal were really quite good. Shared calamari and a lovely shellfish pasta. Mixed results but a good meal. Buyer beware. read more

Absolutely divine! Every appetizer we ordered was better than the next. The ambiance was so warm and cozy, just loud enough to create a fun vibe, but also intimate enough for conversation. I ordered the sea bass for dinner and it was so large, I made two meals of it. The fish was outstanding but the rice with Lima beans - wow! - I want to eat this dill and Lima rice all the time. Great service and overall a lovely place for a meal. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Sea bass - so so amazing! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is small but very cute. I recommend you to make a reservation a day or two before going, it was packed. For how busy it was, the service was good and the waitress was attentive to my SIL and I. As a complimentary, the restaurant will provide a bread basket. For dinner, I had RIGATONI SOFI, it was excellent with a great pair of cream and smoked pancetta. I wish there was pea in this dish, which would have went well with the dish. The sauce was not too much or heavy. Also, my SIL got the LOBSTER RAVIOLI, which they give you 5 ravioli's. She felt for the price they should have provided more ravoioli's. I would recommend this place to others and would come back for other items. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing food and laidback atmosphere! The owners were welcoming and interactive as well. Highly recommend trying this place out.

Basic food with Italian names on the menu. What you ll find in most standard restaurants (unsurprising - a lot of stuff are sous-vide/frozen pro food ready to for restaurants... or did they hunt the wild boar this morning? Haha). Fish risotto was just bad, and for the rest... well... it s hard to fail a pasta bolognese and a tiramisu. Ok for whom never visited Italy I guess, but def not worth the bill. The bill for 5 people came out around the price of a return flight to Italy... just saying. Edit to answer: @Maurizio: your menu might be the same than in Milan in the 1980s, but the quality of ingredients, chefs and prices on your menu are definitely not. The tiramisu? As I said... decent but it's something impossible to fail, and overpriced. The fresh pasta were not restaurant level, sorry. So you import everything? Including fish, fresh meats (forbidden to import except for cans) and mascarpone for the tiramisu? You're drowning in your lies... Anyways, assuming your Milan restaurant was good, here it has not translated well - at all. And the bill was a joke. read more

It was New Year's Eve, and we were looking forward to a celebratory meal. It was all ruined by snail service and a table of loud people who took over the room. Food was ok, but it was faaaar from an elegant evening. We paid a fortune and on this experience we will not return. read more

Yummy! Our dinner was delicious and we liked eating al fresco on the patio out front. Our server(s) were quite friendly and checked on us regularly. My husband lived his Bronzino, and I got the chicken Parm, minus the Parm, add a spicy red sauce underneath, again I appreciated the kitchen allowing me to alter my order. Yummy food,, good people watching, good date night spot! read more

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Sofi Italian was just a wonderful experience! The restaurant has a welcoming old world feel, the staff is extremely professional, and the food was great. We had the Tropicale and Misto salads as well as the rigatoni with a Roman-style sauce and the house made spinach ricotta ravioli. The outside seating reminded me of an Italian cafe - it was not open when I was there in early May but I imagine when the weather is nicer it will just be delightful. The restaurant itself is located on a charming street. We were looking for high quality comfort food with a nice atmosphere and this experience was it! read more

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Food was delicious. Loved the cod with polenta and the tiramisu. Our server was attentive and made us feel special. Beautiful location.

The ambience was great. We sat outside and there is not a lot of traffic on that section of Dearborn so it was very enjoyable even though you were on the street. The service was very good, our waiter was very charming and attentive. Food was good. I would recommend this restaurant. read more

I had an excellent experience at Sofi on a trip to Chicago. It's a gem. Great friendly service, great food, great price for the quality. I had tge Veal Ossobuco. It was perfect! read more

Nice place on the tourist loop in Chicago. The food was really good and the waiter friendly and helpful. I will be in Chicago again next year and I will definitely be eating here again. read more

Local, authentic and excellent Italian food served in a comfortable atmosphere with an attentive and knowledgable staff.

After work, I was in the mood to try a restaurant new to me and I think I just found a neighborhood favorite for myself. I called in my order and picked it up. From what I saw, they do have a small patio for dining. Every person I came in contact with was very friendly from a server who happened to be coming out the door to service a table to another person who gave me the bill. I ordered the seafood linguini pasta. The guy over the phone mentioned they could change the pasta to a different one if I liked but I chose to stick with linguini. The dish was absolutely fantastic! It was not heavy with cream and other sauces most other restaurants. There was just something so authentic and plain delicious about the dish. It made me feel that I was eating a true Italian dish. Anyway, as you can tell, I would order again. I also ordered the ricotta cheesecake for dessert. It's different than what I'm used to (meaning no Graham cracker crust or any crust for that matter) but I still enjoyed. You can tell it was homemade and could truly taste the ricotta. I'm eating there again tonight. Yes, it was that darn good. They have a 3 course special for $30 so why not? Highly recommend Sofi! read more

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Thought I posted a review, but I guess not. I was in Chi Town last month for a conference. Wanted to find a quiet and quant place in near my hotel. This is it. The staff were attentive, but not overbearing. I had the filet. It was overdone, but edible. Spinach was a good recommendation from the waiter. That olive oil! I know they don't make it, but it's amazing! Will definitely return. read more

Sofi Restaurant - OVOO - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had heard great things about this Italian restaurant, so I finally came with my family. We ordered a lot because we were hungry - started with baby octopus and scallops as appetizers. These were delicious and paired nicely with the refreshing salads - arugula and Mista. Both salads were very small though. My favorite pasta was the oil based seafood spaghetti - I'm not sure what the name was as this was a special that was highlighted by the waitress. This was delicious and had a variety of clams and other seafood in a tasty oil based sauce. We also got another special pasta - a lobster based red sauce with jumbo shrimp on top. This was our second favorite with great rich flavor. The rigatoni we ordered wasn't that great - the pancetta made it taste too bacon-y. Finally, we had to order a variety of desserts to share, but nothing was too special or standout. The warm apple pie was my favorite with the ice cream. The ricotta cheesecake was warm, which was strange but otherwise rich and tasty. The chocolate lava cake was standard - you can't go wrong with this. The tiramisu was also standard. Our service was excellent and everything was delicious just nothing special compared to other Chicago Italian restaurants. Definitely a more classic style - brightly lit, so it was great for a meal to catch up with family. read more

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We went to Sofi for valentines dinner. They were quite busy. The service was excellent, and food was good. The salad and scallop appetizer were great. Well seasoned and well cooked. The desserts were great as well (the Panacotta and Nutella crepe). However, the entrees had issues. My salmon was overcooked to the point of being fishy. My date had the wild boar stew which came on pasta. It was a bit dry and lacking in wild boar. Overall had a very good time, and except for the entrees, the rest of the meal was excellent. read more

Sofi Restaurant - The Panacotta. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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