Great food Good service Friendly staff Lots of choices Good seating available Neighborhoods We shall return many times read more

TRATTORIA DEMI On a recent trip to Chicago, my daughter and I decided to stay in a suburban hotel in Evanston. It was located a short distance from Wilmette where we had lived for some 20 years. After a nostalgic visit reviving memories from the past we returned to our hotel and decided to find a local restaurant to have lunch at. A few blocks from the hotel we spotted what appeared to be a quaint Italian Restaurant called Trattoria Demi. As we entered, the aroma of Italian food and the atmosphere seemed to indicate we had made a good choice. Having spent time in Italy during my military career, I was well versed in Italian food but especially pasta choices. We both decided on the Bucatini with Broccoli. Our server displayed great customer service as he scurried from table to table serving dinners. When our lunch arrived, we were both impressed with the presentation and the salad that came with the pasta. It was definitely "Al dente" and so flavorful we jokingly talked about extending our stay so we could eat there again. This small but intimate restaurant was one of the highlights of our trip. read more

Trattoria Demi - The best pasta and broccoli meal I have had in a long time. - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The food was horrible and overpriced. We ordered the octopus, pizza, lasagna, ravioli and chicken and pasta. Everything was rather bad. I don't understand the good reviews. The place also smells like mold or sewage read more

Food: tasted fine, nothing super special imo, the stuffed gnocchi is unique though service: staff was nice ambiance: cute little outdoor area but a lot of bugs seemed to be attracted read more

Trattoria Demi - Asiago Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

We had a large order that was to be brought to a residence for a celebration. Miguel helped us a lot with the order. The food was hot, great tasting, and there was a large quantity for a reasonable price. We were so impressed that we ate at the restaurant the next day. Once again, the food was fantastic. The service was top notch. This is a great restaurant with great employees. I would highly recommend for catering or eating in. read more

I came here before a concert around the corner in Evanston. Chill atmosphere, minimal staff at that time of day but I was in no Rush and they were kind and efficient, quiet time of day mid afternoon on a weekend They had a nice meatball sandwich special that was filling enough. Cute Italian decor that was clean and tightly fit but colorful. read more

I was torn between 3 and 4 stars. The service was a bit slow but I can understand that as there were big parties near me and it was a weekend night. My waiter was very friendly though and the food was good. I did love the ambiance. Felt very old school Italian cool. read more

Trattoria Demi - Insalata Caprese - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Prompt service, excellent food, large portions. Definitely a place to visit when on campus.

Pretty crowded place, but makes the environment seem more like a whole in the wall Italian place. Food was great, not the best I've ever had, but great for Evanston standards. Staff was great, and even sat us down despite lack of a reservation read more

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We left this place with nearly every plate polished so let's get into it! The calamari was good, nothing very different from what you'd expect. The grilled octopus had mixed reviews- I liked it but some other said their bites were kind of soft/mushy. The Asiago stuffed gnocchi is such a unique idea no wonder it's the most ordered dish! And the flavor was worth it too. The gnocchi was cooked perfectly and I was really thrilled that it came with chicken because it's hard to find gnocchi dishes that come with protein! The lamb shank was such tender fall off the bone meet and I liked the green sauce it came with. I think it was parsley or some herby sauce. The salmon was good, but that side of greens and cannellini beans it came with really elevated and made the dish. They didn't have a place for us even though we made a reservation and we had different waiters try to take our orders not knowing a when one already did which felt unorganized. However, the food was so good, came out in good time, and the waiters got more on top of it later on that I still wanted to keep 5 stars. Also, we were content with the pricing of the menu items. read more

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Delicious food. Friendly service. Ate outside. Felt like a small, family trattoria in Italy.

I was craving pasta for lunch while walking my dog and I passed by this quaint location with its enclosed, charming patio at the front. I decided to eat out because the weather was lovely and I had my dog with me. The server was very friendly and brought a bowl of water for my canine companion while I looked over the menu. While waiting, I got a small basket of warm bread and butter. For the appetizer, I tried the grilled octopus and it was absolutely delicious! The octopus was perfectly cooked and it had a slight sweetness to it which paired well with the tartness of the lemon. I didn't want a full portion so I went ahead and just got a lunch combo. The house salad was nice and fresh and the rigatoni came piping hot. Each forkful had a nice cheesy pull from the mozzarella and it was just very good. Server kept checking in and gave refills when needed. Overall, it was just a delightful experience to eat out while enjoying the nice weather with fantastic food and service! I'll definitely come back for sure to try the other pasta creations in the menu! read more

Trattoria Demi - House Salad with Rigatoni and Ricotta - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Good food. Steady service. Comfortable surroundings. Diverse menu. Owner operated who cares about her staff and customers.

I came here with my parents and I have to say trattoria Demi was my favorite restaurant for my parents this trip. The house bread is to die for!! Goes perfectly with their olive oil and cheese. The rigatoni and risotto was delicious as well as the cioppino. They also split the risotto for us, free of charge! Great service. The restaurant is small but it has very nice vibes. Perfect for family, friends, dates, etc. read more

Trattoria Demi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I got the New York Strip Steak, medium rare, and it was unbelievably tender and flavorful. Man, this was good!! read more

Trattoria Demi - New York Strip Steak - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

This was a pleasant surprise. Friend suggested we try it. Went around 6:00 on Saturday. There were three of us and table could have been bigger. Waitress was a bit ditsy but pleasant. But the food was delicious. Started with the Walnut salad, all ingredients were excellent as was dressing. And it was large enough for two of us to share. Everyone loved their entrees. Mine was angel Hair pasta with artichokes. All ingredients were superb. Shared Tiramisu, again one was more than enough for two. Somewhat noisy, but so is everywhere else. I will come back. Would be nice to try the lunch specials read more

Unfortunately, I would not recommend based on the staff's demeanor. Went in on a relatively relaxed Sunday evening, asked about a table for two after seeing multiple open, non-reserved tables. The older, blonde waitress was rude and clearly did not want to "deal with us". When I asked about the wait she looked around at the open tables before shrugging her shoulders and offering an arbitrary number. Was disappointed by the service and sadly unable to try the food. read more

First time, may go again, but my impressions do not make me want to hurry back. Food- we started with the walnut gorgonzola salad. Good, but the pear was underripe. Then we had pasta. My angel hair was ok and my friend's scampi linguini was quite good. The bread, not worth ordering. Wine, excellent. Service- agreeable Ambiance- small, crowded, noisy. We were seated near the door so constantly had people coming in, standing 2 inches from us asking for a table. Reservations definitely recommended. read more

First time visiting! The food was excellent! The service was great! And the ambiance was relaxing. Will be visiting again! read more

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this spot in evanston felt so traditional and family owned, with an ambiance straight from europe. the baked goat cheese was SOOO creamy and the pesto bread was the perfect vessel for the cheese. the asiago stuffed gnocchi was drenched in amazingly creamy vodka sauce, and the tortellini della nonna was filled with so much flavor from the prosciutto (and we got our veggies with the florentine pizza). finally the hazelnut pear tart was AMAZING the warm, gooey pear with the sweet amaretto sauce was paired perfect with the more bitter coffee gelato yumm!! read more

Trattoria Demi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Trattoria Demi never disappoints with their pastas. I had the asiago stuffed gnocchi and my boyfriend had the meatball sub. The gnocchi was pillowy soft and was stuffed with the perfect amount of asiago. The sauce was flavorful and well balanced. The only slight issue I had was the chicken parmesan was a little dry towards the center, however I was here for the gnocchi specifically and the rest of the chicken was nice and juicy. The meatball sub was large and flavorful as well, and the sweet potato chips were perfectly crispy and did not taste burnt at all, which is a common issue with fried sweet potatoes in my opinion. I've had great food every time I've been here and I need to remember to come back more often. The service was super fast and the servers were nice. The restaurant is not large but cozy and well themed! I feel like Trattoria Demi is underrated in Evanston! read more

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the food was actually so bad although it's a nice atmosphere , very small room. the pizza was literally frozen and it had that wierd crunchy crust that frozen pizzas have. it seemed as though they added basil and prosciutto to a frozen cheese pizza...... will not be coming here again. service was ok, people were just standing in the back most the time. not pictured but my mom got their broccoli rigatoni dish and half the bowl was filled with oil. they clearly dont care about the quality of their food, save your time and money and go somewhere else. read more

Trattoria Demi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Dropped in for dinner on a Saturday. Got to sit outside which is really nice. The service here is excellent. No wait for the menu or welcome and drink order. We started with the mixed salad which was outstanding. A wonderful balsamic dressing with fresh lettuce and shaved red onions. The fresh bread was good like other reviews. A nice sweet bread. I had the sausage and onion pizza and wife had the skirt steak with mashed potatoes and beans. The pizza had a crisp crust even in the center. Lots of cheese and non-generous amount of sausage. The sausage and cheese was fine. but my complaint was there was almost no sauce. just a tad around the edge. Maybe they did that to keep the crust in the middle crisp, but the lack of sauce ruined it for me. The skirt steak was cooked well, but hit had too much gristle. The sauce on it was good but there was so much gristle. For $24 you don't expect to get so much inedible gristle with a steak. Probably our one and only visit. read more

Reservation recommended as it is a small place. There's no host/hostess stand and after waiting by the door for a minute or two. We walked through the restaurant to check in for our reservation at the bar. Food is delicious, atmosphere cozy, but loud. Wish we had sat outside. The waitress was not welcoming at all. I inadvertently handed her the menu folded the wrong way and she told me to fix it. She rushed us through ordering appetizers and entrees, I ordered wine when dinner arrived and it never came, we had to ask for a dessert menu. ( we weren't lingering, our entire three course dinner was wrapped up in an hour) She delivered the bill, told us to take our time and then came back twice to see if we were ready to pay. It was an hour before closing with no tables waiting. Everyone else was so friendly, but not sure if I would return to experience that again. read more

Place is great! Food is delicious. We got the Demi Pizza and it was fabulous! I recommend! read more

Trattoria Demi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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I loved the ambiance! Great little restaurant in downtown Evanston. Recommend making a reservation, but the wait is never too long!

Service was excellent! White bean and escarole soup was so good. Shrimp risotto was to die for. Love the atmosphere as well. This was our first visit and we will definitely be back! read more

The food here is soooo good. I love the arincini and the vodka pasta. The service is generally very quick and the food is consistent. My stomach did hurt after I ate here the last time though. However, I will be back because I love their food. read more

Yesterday afternoon marked the second and final full day of a cranial sacral workshop so I decided to treat myself to Italian fare as a reward. I didn't go wrong in my choice and I highly recommend this adorable and laid back Italian restaurant if you're seeking a healthy pasta entree and a quaint and relaxing atmosphere. The owner served me and let me decide which lunch item I preferred so I picked the pasta lunch combo which was extremely affordable for my budget and she brought me out a well portioned and fresh tasting light rigatoni with broccoli, three slices of Italian bread and a small salad I was satisfied with my choices and she brought everything out quickly so that I wouldn't be late returning back to my workshop. Next time I'm in Evanston I will definitely come back because I'd like to try out their gnocchi and other dessert options. I chose spumoni this time but the creme Brule looks enticing! This was a delightful experience and highly recommend if you're looking for delicious food in a comfy environment. read more

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the bread and calamari were amazing! We ordered the pizza and it came out pretty fast and was still delicious. The service was excellent and they checked up on us often. THE AMBIANCE WAS SO AESTHETIC. I loved it! The lights and set up were perfect for a date or family dinner. read more

Trattoria Demi - Ambiance - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

I had a great night and dinner with some family at Trattoria Demi! Trattoria Demi is a cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurant. A bit small, but I felt that the close quarters just made the vibes more intimate and special. Servers were very attentive and food all came out quickly. I got a build-your-own pizza with basil, and really enjoyed it. My sister got the ziti primavera and she loved it. We shared an order of tiramisu, as well--totally loved it! My only complaint is about the calamari but even that is not totally the restaurant's fault--we were a party of nine, and so most of us didn't get a proper serving of calamari. I thought that there wasn't much to begin with, but it's such a small complaint that I wouldn't knock a star off for it. Overall, I highly recommend Trattoria Demi if you're ever in Evanston and are looking for a nice Italian meal! read more

Trattoria Demi - Build Your Own Pizza and Ziti Primavera - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Superb chicken parm. Warm bread.Great service (this was at 4pm on a Saturday, so not busy). Highly recommend! read more

I don't know what took me so long to try this place. Trattoria Demi has the atmosphere of a cozy, upscale restaurant, but at prices I can actually afford. The food is great. The lentil soup really hits the spot on a cold Illinois night. My toddler liked the pasta dish so much she even ate the broccoli. :-) read more

~Monica's T.A.S.T.E. Test~ Taste: My family and I shared the arancine and table bread as an appetizer. The arancine were much smaller than expected and came in an order of 8. It wasn't served with any side of sauce so we asked for marinara and made the dish 100x better as they were a little dry without it. Later we shared the walnut gorgonzola salad and the Florentine pizza which were both excellent. The salad had the dressing on the side and was a little light on toppings but the taste was there. The pizza was the star of the meal here and would be the reason I go back. Atmosphere: The restaurant is small and cozy, but the noise level is very manageable. It feels like a family vibe and would make for a great date night spot. Service: The waiters kept our water full and plates out of our way once we finished eating. They were great about replenishing the table bread and were never too far from the table to be able to ask for extra napkins or silverware. Tab: Standard pricing for Evanston. Each meal is between $15-24 and pizza between $11-20 depending on size. Besides the appetizer you definitely get your money's worth. Extra wow factor: All the ingredients tasted really fresh and made the pizza one of the best I've had in the Chicagoland. Does it pass the T.A.S.T.E test? For sure. The meal was great and made for a relaxing night with family. Just a pro tip, they do give a NWU discount but its per meal, not per table. read more

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Great food, service and ambiance. This is a very small restaurant and because of that the service is very attentive. My friend and I stoped for late lunch. We both got salads. I got the Grilled Chicken Salad which consisted of Romaine, Tomato, Mozzarella, Red Onion, Cabbage and Homemade Italian Vinaigrette and it was lovely. The chicken was fresh and tender. My salad was extremely good and it was a very generous portion. I took quick look what other patrons were enjoying that day and all the dishes looked really good to me. I would definitely return! read more

Amazing! We didn't have a reservation but were seated quickly. Only 2 servers and a busboy for the whole restaurant but the service was quick and we never had to ask for anything. The decor was aesthetic and reminded us of Italy. But the best part is the food. There are so many options that look appealing. The food we ordered was DELICIOUS and didn't take long for it to come out. Pasta was homemade and the sauces were very tasty. We live nowhere near this restaurant but we are DEFINITELY coming back! read more

Trattoria Demi - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

The food was delicious! I ordered the baked rigatoni for my first time and was so happy with the portion, the flavor, and the awesome service. The place was cozy, could be for a fancy night or a relaxed good time. Plenty of room for people indoors and outdoors (when the patio is open). So glad I gave them a chance. read more

Trattoria Demi - Baked Rigatoni and Calamari - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Great value food, and delicious flavors. Got the Asiago Gnocchi, and it came with a side of bread. The gnocchi was filled and felt like a pillow in the mouth. The chicken that came on top of the gnocchi was pretty dry and not that flavorful, but the gnocchi and sauce were both very good. The prices were decent as well, and they also offer lunch specials and 10% student discount which make it good value. Overall, I would go again if I was ever craving italian food! read more

My Mom has been coming to this Evanston institution for more than 30 years. The grilled octopus appetizer, Caesar Salad, lasagna, and spaghetti marinara with a meatball were all outstanding, the house red was solid, and the ambience is old school with cool art, the staff attentive. I come here every time I visit. read more

I will not be going back to trattoria Demi. This place is just not very special, yet I'm glad I tried it. Some of the food didn't taste that fresh, arancini seemed frozen, and the food was just nothing to write home about. In Evanston, which generally lacks strong Italian, this place can survive, but I'm hoping for a new Italian spot that takes things to the next level. I've also heard of people getting food poisoning from the chicken parm here...just not a good reputation to have. Go elsewhere (union pizza) for a great meal instead. read more