Truly one of the most enjoyable Italian food experiences in Chicago. It's worth the effort to plan…read moreahead and make a reservation. Reservations are released 21 days ahead of time, which I personally find impossible to make. Every time I've checked over the last several years there have been no availability. Yesterday I decided to pop on their website again and was delighted to find that they had released same day dinner reservations for patio only dining. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so I went ahead and booked a table for Friday night. I felt like I won the dinner lottery. Service was wonderful and I didn't mind sitting outside at all next to the road with cars. I actually never stepped foot in the restaurant so cannot comment on what it's like inside. But do not give up that patio dining reservation if it's available. All of our dishes were delicious. I was really impressed by the meatball appetizers, chicken vesuvio (the potatoes are a must get as a side if you skip this dish), and branzino. The meats and sauces were wonderfully balanced and tender. Nothing tasted overly salted. Ironically, the pasta felt less of a star compared to the other dishes. And of course I had to get the gelato, which was so aesthetically presented and the taste just reminded me of an Italian summer vacation.

They stick people on their front coffee table as their dining location and act like it is normal…read more There needs to be a discount to eat at this table. Removed the "restaurant surcharge" after I asked.

We really liked this place! It was very busy. The Caesar and calamari were outstanding. My wife…read morereally liked her pappardelle noodles. I also thought the lasagna was good, but not quite worth the hype. We really appreciates the free dessert for our anniversary as well as the server noticing I don't drink alcohol and bringing over a non alcoholic beverage to celebrate. The inside is super cute and not too loud. Very photo worthy. Overall we are glad we stopped by.

There are so many Italian restraurants in Chicago and I can see why this place gets such good…read morereviews. Caesar salad: 4/5. Well balanced dressing and fresh greens. The sliced celery was a nice addition. Just the right amount of anchovy. Burrata lasagne: 4.5-5. A top tier lasagne. Loved the sauce and cheese in the many layers of pasta and the burrata was a nice way to top it. One bad note: the app the restaurant uses to pay the bill with a QR code incorrectly calculates the recommended tip (apparently including the tax).

Georgia was amazing!!! The food was exceptional and loved the desserts. Loved the family style…read moreapproach and that Georgia helped with the amounts. Loved our evening !!

Our server, Lulu, was amazing!! she was so kind and helpful with our dietary restrictions and made…read moreus laugh. the restaurant was clean and the food was so yummy! i love the shareable portion sizes

exactly as I expected, gilt bar was phenomenal - the beef…read moretartare was the best I've ever had, it was so filled with flavor, every bite tasted like a beef salad. the egg was jammy and delicious adding a new layer of richness to the meal. the bread it came with was FRESH, hard crispy crust surrounding thick cuts of spongey bread - the truffle malfadine was perfectly cooked long chewy noodles with the perfect amount of a truffle pepper sauce over them. certain bites had full peppercorns, breaking through the slight creaminess. - I had high hopes for the burger and was picturing a bougie restaurant thick cut juicy burger. it was fascinating because it had the same juicy soft flavor, but it was more of a Smashburger style so you had a little bit of crisp on the outside and instead of a thick singular patty, it was two on top of each other. the fries were solid (not very salty which was divisive) but the aioli elevated the fries and burger to a new level, huge points - Guinness here is so cheap. my dirty martini was dirty as all hell and delicious. the service was so kind and attentive and brought out extra ice cream with hot fudge for my birthday. the carrot cake was incredibly moist and tasted like real carrots, nuts, and spices, not enough frosting for me tho hehe - this is literally such a stunning restaurant with a photo booth and a downstairs sultry bar, and an open standing space around the bar upstairs. I get why it is always booked. If I was to come back, I would do it all again except ...maybe instead of the burger... try something else hmm

Dinner at Gilt Bar felt like stepping into one of Gatsby's favorite haunts. The interior is…read morestunning , moody, golden, and effortlessly glamorous. The cocktails were beautifully crafted and worth the visit alone. The food was good, but not necessarily the star of the night. What really stood out was the atmosphere and the service, both absolutely incredible. One of those places you go for the vibe as much as the meal.

Volare was a disappointment. It had been recommended to us as a restaurant with amazing food and…read moreambience. We were celebrating a special occasion and were excited to try their food. My son ordered the lasagna. It was bland with a sauce that was too thick. I ordered the linguine with clams. it was meh. The tiramisu we ate for dessert was delicious and the only portion of our meal that we enjoyed. The service was the most disappointing part of our evening. The waiter removed everything from our table as soon as we finished our last bite. He even took the water glasses that we had not finished drinking. We were practically pushed out of the restaurant. The sad part is there were plenty of empty tables, it wasn't busy and it wasn't near closing time. Don't waste your time or money going here.

Carl was phenomenal! It felt like home. The service. The food, the drinks. Fantastic. Will fly…read more1,000 miles again just to eat here!

Great food, good vibes, and quick service. They only take reservations via phone and you'll want…read moreone as it is packed. We tried: - Calamari - Chicken Vesuvio - Pasta Mandera - Tiramisu - Canoli I will definitely be back!

Finally made it to La Scarola after having it on my list forever. It's one of those old-school…read moreItalian spots everyone talks about, and it definitely delivers on that classic vibe. Reservations are a bit unconventional. We showed up right when they opened, put our name in, and came back around 8pm and they had a table for us. It's very casual and informal, so you could probably put your name in and go do something nearby, or just try your luck walking in. They don't take online reservations, and I did notice a few open tables while we were there, so walking in is definitely possible. The space itself is pretty tight and can feel cramped and loud. Personally, I didn't mind it, it reminded me of old-school Italian spots back home in Jersey but it's worth noting that this probably isn't the best place for a quiet date or if you're trying to have long conversations. Service was solid and quick. I started with a dirty martini, which was very good. We shared the calamari to start, and honestly, it was some of the best calamari we've ever had. Perfectly fried, not too heavy, and ideal for sharing. For my entrée, I got the rigatoni chiaverni, and for $24, it might be the largest plate of pasta I've ever been served. I came in starving and still only managed to eat half -- finished the rest the next day. The portion size combined with the quality makes the value here absolutely insane. Overall, La Scarola definitely lives up to the hype. Incredible value, great food, and that classic old-school Italian atmosphere, just be prepared for it to be loud and a little crammed.

Was in town for pleasure and business and decided to try this spot after hearing so many great…read morerecommendations. When I arrived the line was out the door so I recommend making a reservation or come early. Since it was so packed, I ended up sitting at the bar, which turned out to be a great experience. I ordered the waygu burger and definitely recommend adding lettuce, tomato, bacon and a egg which really takes the burger to another level. I also ordered the fries and that were cooked perfectly, and a salad, to make it seem as if I was making healthy choices lol. The total cost of the burger was around $50 but totally worth it. I would definitely try this place when I'm back in Chicago.

Bavette's definitely deserves more than 5 stars. You can never go wrong with anything you order and…read morethe service is phenomenal. I think of Bavette's ALL the time, ever since I tried it, I feel like I can't find another restaurant like it. Reservations are definitely hard to book, but it is worth the trouble. We went here for my partner's birthday and everything about it was perfect. The steak, the sides, and even the dessert were lovely. The restaurant is beautifully lit with intimate seating. We definitely feel very special for this very special occasion. The server (forgot his name) was so kind, he made sure we understood the menu and gave us his personal recommendations. Would love to come here again, perhaps for another special occasion. I will always think of Bavette's P.S. The food was so good that I forgot to take photos of the other dishes we had. Bavette's had the best mashed potatoes ever

I had a really wonderful lunch on the patio of Alla Vita! The food was all delicious, our server…read morewas attentive and the manager stopped by as well. The Bluefin Tuna Crudo was incredibly fresh and they don't skimp on the olive oil! The arancini were a little sweeter than others that I've had but I still loved it all the same. The tagliatelle was great as well ( a taddd salty) but I'm a salty girl so it works for me! The all known and popular chicken parm is not available at lunch but you can get the chicken parm sandwich which does not disappoint! Great spot for a great meal!

DoorDashed and got the kale Caesar and rigatoni, and both totally hit the spot…read more The kale Caesar was divine. Red onions, toasted breadcrumbs, Parmesan all tied together with the lovely dressing. Great textures, flavors, every bite was delish. The rigatoni is good too. The Calabrian chilies give it that subtle kick that makes it. Could've used a touch more flavor overall but that might just be a personal preference thing. Solid delivery experience, would order again.

With only a few hours left before heading to the airport, we stopped into Nonnina on N Clark St.,…read moreand it ended up being the perfect send-off to our Chicago trip. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere felt warm and inviting, with beautiful decor that struck a nice balance between cozy and polished. We kept it classic with a Caesar salad, carbonara, and penne alla vodka, and every dish delivered. The Caesar was crisp and well balanced, the carbonara was rich and comforting without feeling too heavy, and the penne alla vodka was easily a standout. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. The location is also a big plus, especially if you're exploring downtown or squeezing in one last meal before heading out. Overall, Nonnina felt like one of those reliable spots that still manages to feel special. A great final stop and one I'd absolutely come back to.

Cozy place and nice holiday decorations!…read more We got the special Bruschetta alla Caprese to start and it was delicious! The whipped pesto ricotta was SO good. We got three pasta dishes and tried them all. The pasta noodles were fresh. Tough to pick a favorite as they were pretty different. They were all good but can't say any were amazing. The server was hard to hear and understand.

Pretty solid pizza. And there are some nice views of the river…read more Charred pepperoni pizza: 4/5. Really good crust and they used quality pepperoni. It's funny, as much as I love pepperoni pizza, I think this topping has a ceiling for me at 4/5. No other topping seems to elevate pizzas with it. With this in mind I wished I had ordered something else to see how good the pizzas at this place really are.

Nice space right off the river; we sat inside as it was evening and rainy but I'm sure the patio is…read morenice in summer! Busy even on a Monday evening at 8pm but the host and our waiter were both attentive and kind, and we were sat right around our reservation time. Charred pepperoni pizza was solid with the hot honey and pepper flakes. Arugula salad was fresh and very lemony. The vodka rigatoni was the star of the evening - very good flavor and the noodles were just the right amount of al dente. Side note: almost every table seemed to be celebrating something as we saw SO many of the desserts with a large sparkler candle go by throughout the evening lol. Definitely not a bad place to celebrate something at!