We were walking by on a Saturday evening when we thought Italian food sounded nice. They were able to seat us immediately. Service from then on was a bit slow. We ordered drinks and dinner and waited another 10-15 minutes before we were given bread. Once the food got to our table it was delicious. I love a good bolognese sauce and Sofi's passed the test. Overall, it was a pretty good dinner. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Fettuccine Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I came here during Lit Fest in the summer. They normally are only open for dinner but were open during the festival. Sat outside. Had a great Chianti and a wonderful simple salad with some bread and olive oil. Waiter was very polite and friendly, but felt rushed. The wait staff were running around and we're busy but were very professional. I would definitely come back to try a meal there. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Chianti Classico Castelli dei Bossi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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

Very nice Italian resturant, we frequent it with my coworkers when visiting Chicago. It is close to to everything and the food is amazing. read more

Cute place and very delicious food! We loved every part of dinner and cannot wait to come back. read more

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The outdoor seating is just perfect in the Chicago summer. It's next to a calm street so traffic noise is a minimum, and the bike lane leads to great people watching. The service was very friendly and gnocchi was delicious. A great wine selection too. read more

I really wanted to love Sofi. It is nearby, and it looks so quaint and warm whenever I walk by. I dined with them during summer, and both the service and food were lukewarm then. I ordered a pasta dish, which was cold by the time it arrived to the table, and the pasta itself was chewy and tasteless. But, because Covid impacted small businesses, and especially the restaurant industry, I decided to give Sofi another chance. This time, my partner ordered the leek-potato soup. It tasted like onion soup as the ratio between leeks and potatoes was off. I ordered the arugula parmesan salad, which was unwashed and poorly dressed. How hard is it to prepare a good arugula-parmesan salad? Get fresh arugula, wash it, inspect it, prepare lemon-vinaigrette, dress the arugula and massage the leaves to soften them. Then, sprinkle with kosher salt, fresh pepper, and freshly shaved parmigiana. There. That's the recipe. Perhaps Sofi's chef can read it and use it next time. Instead, I got the sad salad you see in the picture, and three bites into it I discovered a dead bug. Yep. Don't say you haven't been warned... Unless of course you enjoy bugs in your food. In that case, give them a shot before they get shut down by the Dept of Health. read more

Had the rigatoni sophi. It's a true test of good pasta dishes, the pasta was Al Dante just as it should be. Sauce so tasty, you are glad they brought fresh bread to soak it up. Just right with the recommended Malbec. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Rigatoni sophi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Staff was all friendly and nice. The food was good especially the bolognese and the eggplant appetizer. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Tagliatelle Bolognese Risotto - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Sofi's is my favorite dinner spot. The food is delicious. Service is extraordinary. Wine recommendations are always excellent. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Excellent wine ! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Beware of the 20% service charge added to the bill. While it is the payor's responsibility to scrutinize, I was disappointed to see that 1). the charge was not stated on the menu (it has been explained to me that a Chicago ordinance states it must be) 2). the waiter did not mention that the fee had already been added when presenting the bill or 3). assuming it was noticed while we were still present and upon seeing a "tip" of over 20% also had been left, a reminder that we were leaving a gratuity in addition to the service charge. Over 40% of the subtotal (about $100 of which was in alcohol) was paid as gratuity and charge. As I have said for years, the indoor smoking ban, the highest sales tax in the country (sans Old Orchard in Skokie at 13.25%), I am just as content have a can of tuna at home. I do not work for free, nor do I expect others to, but informing the customer up front and of a possible oversight is simply good business practice. Thursday, February 6, 2025 I retract my comment regarding not being informed that my dinner mate had left a gratuity in addition to the service. It was brought to my attention that he telephoned the restaurant a day or two later and Sofi agreed to refund the amount left as a tip. My apology for the misreporting. read more

Just went here last night to celebrate a friend's birthday. It was EXCELLENT!... Nice and cozy decor. The greeter and server were VERY nice and EXCELLENT as well. I'm soooo surprised I did not get to this place before yesterday, as I have been working in the area for well over 20 years. We used to go to SRO next doors when I was open (had the best turkey burgers). Was sorry to see them close. But anyhoo, we had a range of menu items to eat. Their bruschetta, lamb chops and lobster ravioli were Excellent. I personally had the bruschetta and their Chicken "Emiliana". It was great, though I didn't realize it originally came with prosciutto on it! So, I had to send it back, but they gave me a new one without. I saved about half of it to have room for dessert. We had the tiramisu, warm apple pie and I had the raspberry sherbert. All were also Excellent. The server also gave me an excellent choice for wine and their Italian Lemonade for my wife. We will definitely come back as couple in the near future on a date night. A friend of ours used to live in the area and she RAVED about their ricotta spinach ravioli, maybe we will get that and their branzino next time. Overall, Excellente' A+++ Gone...... -JV read more

Great service and delicious food. The entire staff made us feel welcome and wanting to go back to try their pasta dishes.

Leak, potato, porcini soup: creamy and good consistency on the soup. It was a little under flavored and need a pinch of salt Lobster bisque: same good consistency with this soup. The soup had that sweetness from the lobster, but didn't give you that fishy taste Scallops: it was a little too salty, but the cream/sauce around it was good Wagyu carpaccio: good flavor overall. Nothing memorable. I liked the added arugula for that peppery taste Veal: was not a fan of this at all. It was a chewy and the sauce was under flavored. The grilled asparagus was decent. Rack of lamb: it was cooked to our liking. It didn't taste gamey and the sauce complimented the lamb. The veggie accompaniment was delicious. I only know what it's called in Vietnamese though LOL Panna Cotta: the texture was perfect and velvety smooth, but it needed an extra boost of sugar. By itself, it was really plain. The honey drizzle helped bring out that flavor a lot. Ricotta Cheesecake: I'm not sure how I felt about it, but I think I prefer cream cheese cheesecake better. I think it's the texture of the ricotta that throws me off. Overall, the food was subpar and I was disappointed because the menu looked really promising. Maybe next time when I'm in the neighborhood again or something read more

We went with high expectations due to reviews we had read. We were disappointed. The service was competent and that space is nice, but the food was very average. Much better takes on Italian food are available at lots of places in Chicago. read more

Recently dined here with some colleagues visiting from abroad. The highlights include good dessert, nice olive oil at the table, and the octopus. Sadly, however, the service was heartbreaking, particularly since our guests were extremely excited about an authentic Italian experience. Plates were being pulled off the table while folks still had forks in their mouths. The service felt condescending, impatient, and rushed. For the money we paid, we would have expected a bit more kindness. Will not return. read more

The place is alright not great. The food was not hot like I like it but it did have flavor. The lobster bist was plenty but not enough crab for the portion that you received. I had to ask for a refill on my drinks at least 3 times before I actually got a refill would be my only complaint. The waitress was warm and friendly which complimented everything else. read more

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There are many better restaurants in Chicago than this one. Meatballs are terrible. Wine selection awful. Service lackluster . The bread is cold. Bucatini was delicious. Bolognese was ok. Dessert not great. Go to Siena Tavern. It was amazing. read more

Hi y'all! If you are looking for a new restaurant to try during Chicago Restaurant Week, then head on over to Sofi! We felt welcomed from the moment we stepped inside until our delicious meal ended. Sofi has that authentic, mom and pop Italian restaurant feel and during CRW, they really hit it out of the park! For $55 we enjoyed a delicious and filling dinner. CRW is still available through Sunday, 4/4. We tried a variety of dishes and I'll list the dishes you absolutely need to try: 1st course: Lobster bisque - yes, real lobster and the flavors are buttery, sweet, decadent without any fishiness. 2nd course: Wagyu beef carpaccio with arugula - so yummy and you get a nice size plate of this dish; we also tried the scallops - side note - the scallops are wrapped in bacon; grilled baby octopus - all very tasty, including the mashed potatoes. 3rd course: you had to see my hubby's face when the entree was set down on the table and we saw that an ample, buttery hunk of foie gras was sitting on top of an 8 oz beef tenderloin! THIS is probably worth $55 right there! Yummy, delicious, creamy, buttery...just order it already! You must order the beef tenderloin with foie gras! 4th course: panna cotta, a little thicker than what I am accustomed to, but, very creamy and delicious, not too sweet. Overall, I highly recommend Sofi, especially during Chicago Restaurant Week so that you can try a variety of different plates all at an affordable price point. read more

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Felt like I was back in Italy sitting on their street side seating. Servers speaking Italian. Large variety of great options. Service was ok - she forgot a few things but was generous with some tiramisu for dessert. Food is priced fair, very delicious sauce with the octopus, my tuna was very good but a ton of wasabi sauce so may be too spicy for some, and her prawns were pretty good she said. We also ordered a side of clam pasta which was delicious and the pasta cooked perfect. The fresh bread service was great too - so fresh! Great spot in the neighborhood. read more

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This joint screams authenticity and they show it! Pastas made fresh in house and good but mine were a bit salty other than that I ate almost everything. The octopus was the main attraction on my table the tenderness and taste and smell was so Devine I asked the waiter what did they use to marinade this and he just said olive oil, but I knew it had to be something more. Nevertheless this is super damn good and please do your taste buds a little favor and order this first! Everything on the plate will disappear! Second, Risotto with pine nuts is my favorite! Cheesy and creamy baby. Third would be the lobster ravioli tased Soo good. The creme brûlée wasn't too sweet just right but they have other great options as well. read more

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Restaurant Week customers BEWARE. If your entire table does not order from the Restaurant Week menu at this restaurant, a 20% "service fee" is added to your total check that is not reversible. so my $59 risotto cost $89! we have been patrons of this restaurant for at least 5 years, but we will not be going back there. Supposedly this fact was stated in the menu, but we did not see it, and have never experienced anything like this at other Restaurant Week restaurants . read more

I've visited Sofi quite a few times for birthdays, and just dinners out. It's been great every single time. The service is great, the food is great, the atmosphere is nice. I will continue to frequent Sofi as it's a wonderful Italian restaurant, a gem! read more

Sofi Restaurant - Gnocchi pesto genovese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Dining here is a wonderfully unique experience. The ability to escape the crazy, loud, and hectic city life and finally be able to unwind in this upscale restaurant environment is one of a kind. Although all the dishes is here are wonderful, a particular favorite of mine is the Fettuccine Bolognese paired with the restaurant's house made bread and Parmesan cheese. I've been here multiple times and have not had one experience short of wonderful. The staff here is so kind and accommodating and make the experience better read more

I visited the restaurant while traveling in Chicago. The atmosphere was great, and the food was fantastic. My waiter was great and accommodating. He kindly accepted my special order. Thank you! read more

This place is amazing!! The outside seating is so elegant. Baby Octopus was tasty and the octopus was cooked to perfection. Rigatoni was perfectly al dente, with a tomato cream sauce that will have me coming back next weekend. Staff was prompt and classy. Thank you! read more

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

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The last night of my conference in Chicago in February, my friends took me to this little gem. I'm not well-versed on Italian food, but my friends (who were speaking Italian with the waiter) apparently were! The price was a bit high for me compared to the quality of food, but all in all I thoroughly enjoyed my pappardelle cinghiale and Italian beer (not Peroni, which made me a little bit sad). The bread was also good, but with a larger party late at night when I was tired, I was ready to head back to my hotel after the main course rather than experiment with their dessert (most of my friends are skinny folks, too, so they had little desire for sweets, apparently!). If you're staying at the Chicago Hilton, this place is definitely worth going to, but it fills up fast so make sure you get a reservation. They fairly easily accommodated our party of 8 people, but for a party much larger I'm not sure how they would make room, at least in the part of the dining room where we ate. read more

Best authentic Italian food I've ever had in the Chicagoland are. The staff was always nice and one time when we were waiting on our to-go order they even offered us a complementary glass of champagne. The ambiance in and outside the restaurant (they also have a patio) transports you back to Italy. The menu is simple, with authentic and traditional meals. Best Italian food hands down! I've been at Sofi already 4 times and I plan on going back many more times. read more

I deleted my original review because I was harassed by the head chef of the restaurant on both yelp and open table, however this is unacceptable behavior and I know my opinion should be shared ESPECIALLY after these two incidents. My boyfriend and I attended for Valentine's Day where I booked a reservation a month in advance. We were seated 30 minutes late along with many other couples alongside us. No apologies from anyone. The food was cold, tasteless, and extremely unimpressive. I forgot to mention in the first review that there was red lipstick all over my wine glass when I received. Like kind and nice patrons, we still tipped and thanked our waiter, although I was disappointed that they didn't take anything off our bill for making us wait 30 minutes for our reserved table. I have been shocked at the responses from the head chef on my posts and find this behavior to be extremely inappropriate. Aside from the bad experience and food, this alone should make it evident not to attend. read more

Fantastic authentic Italian food. Solid wine and spirits selection. Excellent service and quiet neighborhood read more

Sofi Restaurant - Amaretto. Amazing cherries and almond. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Whenever I visit Chicago, I like the explore the many different culinary options available. Sofi did not disappoint. After meetings all day, I wanted something to close out the night with a bang. I saw Sofi with good reviews and I love Italian food. Atmosphere is upscale casual with a nice ambiance. Waiters were Italian and delivered exceptional service. I ordered the Scallops with leeks in a butter reduction sauce. Awesome! Linguini and clams (fresh tomatoes) came next. Not too saucy, just right. Awesome! To close out the meal, went with the tiramisu. Light and creamy and the tip was perfectly caramelized. Exceptional! If you are looking for great tasting authentic Italian food, I highly recommend. read more

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This restaurant was fantastic. The food was awesome and the service outstanding. This will be my go to spot in Chicago

Came to Sofi on a Friday night looking for a place to check out near the neighborhood. The inside definitely gives me Europe vibes. Small, a bit crowded, noisy, I loved it! Makes me want to go back to Europe again. Started with getting an Old Fashion. This drink is my go to. Read my other Yelp Reviews and I'm pretty sure you will see a review on their old fashion. LOL. Anyways, this place ain't it for an Old Fashion. The fact that it was $14, so poorly made, bunch of ice cubes, and sweetner or pulp or whatever it is you put on my drink was so amateur hour I wanted to instantly give this place 2 stars. I mean come on, I could've just gotten a club drink of Jameson and ginger for $8 and it would've been better than the Old Fashion here. $14!?!?! Are you kidding me!?!?! Take it off your menu if you're going to make a drink like that and charge me $14 for it. My goodness. Well apologize for the rant but $14 for a "mixed drink" and not a "cocktail" annoys me. I had a long week of work so I was ready to emotionally eat. We got an order of the fried calamari and shrimp. It was good. A bit small in quantity for my liking but can't really go wrong with this dish. I went with the Chicken "Emiliana." It was actually delicious. The chicken was perfectly breaded and cooked and the prosciutto with cheese on top was a great touch. A large party was also booked in the corner where we were. So it was pretty loud. Kind of ruined the experience and the atmosphere but otherwise it would've been a 4-5 experience/atmosphere. Cocktail was a 1-2. Appetizer was a 3. Entree was a 4.5! All in all I want to give this place a 3.5 rating but I'll give it a 3 for now. That old fashion left a really bad taste in my mouth, both literally and figuratively. read more

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Last night we celebrated our anniversary at Sofi and it was wonderful. Printer's Row is such a cute area with little shops and lights this time of year. We had a reservation, which was definitely a good call for a Friday night at 7 pm as every table was full during peak hours! The ambiance was cozy and romantic. The service was excellent! Our waiter, Massimo, was attentive and welcoming. The food was delicious. Ordered the mussels which were cooked perfectly with flavorful broth. Also ordered the trofie genovese and rigatoni "sofi" which were done perfectly. Will recommend to friends and come back again! read more

Delicious food with great service makes this a lovely place that I will definitely return. The seafood pasta comes with a wide variety of perfectly cooked fresh seafood. Love it when the pasta is not covered with rich sauce. The pasta itself is cooked al dente. Tiramisu is to die for... fiancé and I were fighting over it lol read more

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

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Ate here recently with some friends in from out of town. We ordered a few apps to start. The mussels stood above the rest. They have a red sauce, not the most common in the city but definitely delicious. The wine and service were great as well. There was a particularly needy table nearby us that was keeping our server busy but he did a pretty good job taking care of us considering if the circumstances. We also ordered the orecchiette with spicy sausage. The pasta was extremely undercooked and the sausage was burned. They were very busy that night so I believe that is the cause, I'd love to go back and try it again. read more

I was surprised that this restaurant received so many stars. Food was subpar. Service mediocre. Calamari was not fresh. Likely frozen from Costco. Short ribs had more fat than ribs. Seafood pasta with no flavor and smelled bad. Ordered a second glass of Malbec to feel full since we didn't finish our food. The outside decor is deceiving and you may think it's an upscale restaurant. Save yourself the trouble and go to any nearby restaurant on the block. Sorely disappointed. read more

Sofi Restaurant - Short Ribs - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had the lamb chops there and I would say they are the best food I have had in Chicago in the last 3 weeks. And we have gone to a ton of good restaurants during that time. They tasted amazing. My wife had some pasta dish and she loved hers too. Great food all around. Their beer selection sucks (i.e. they did not have anything I like). read more

Very good northern Italian food in Printer's Row. We had the oriechette and a NY strip as well a delicious asparagus soup and arancini. All were very good. The service was impeccable. Our waiter asked all the right questions and made recommendations to ensure we enjoyed our meal. The atmosphere was welcoming and warm. Loved it! read more

The food was amazing and we were treated similar to eating in Europe in terms of pace of meal. We had a very good experience across the board and Jasper was great and very knowledgeable with the menu and wine cocktail pairings. The saltimbocca and gnocchi with braised short rib were fantastic while the ricotta cheesecake and tiramisu was a nice ending. The restaurant was very accommodating as we needed to move tables due to a "colorful heated discussion" at a table nearby. The hostess and server were more than helpful in assisting. read more