My partner took me to Ummo for a delightful Birthday dinner and it did not disappoint! The food was incredible, service was excellent, and the ambience was lovely. They have a great Mocktail and appetizer selection. The waiter had tons of knowledge about how each dish was prepared, which I appreciated. My favorite part of the meal was the roasted carrots, which was a bit surprising, but they were absolutely delicious. We ordered the Ummo Ferrero for dessert and they also brought out a little cake for my birthday with a candle in it - both were very tasty. read more

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Came here for an event dinner and had a really good experience! The interior of the restaurant is super cool and unique from other Italian restaurants. For the event we were seated upstairs, which was also really cool and spacious. I think I'd come back for a regular dinner simply because the vibe is so cool! We tried meatballs, Cacio e Pepe, the mini ravioli dish, and of course the tiramisu. I loved everything but will be dreaming about the tiramisu until further notice- it was so unique and incredible!!! With so many Italian restaurants in Chicago, ummo stands out in my mind as a unique one to try out! read more

Ummo - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Easily the worst Restaurant Week experience I've had. It was obvious there was zero communication between the chef and marketing. The menu that was advertised online did not match what was actually served, which immediately set the tone. The food itself was terrible. Portions were shockingly small, especially for a $60 Restaurant Week price point. The steak looked like a McDonald's hamburger patty cut up, and the chicken entrée was served cold. Completely unacceptable. The only redeemable part of the meal was the dessert, which was fine, but one decent dessert does not justify the cost or the disappointment. This is a meal I would not pay more than $15 for, let alone $60. They should be embarrassed to even participate in Restaurant Week. Every other restaurant in the city blows this offering out of the water. If anything, this experience makes me less likely to ever return, even outside of Restaurant Week read more

Really enjoyed eating here. Every dish was really well done and not your typical Italian eatery which was refreshing. We decided to share a bunch of plates between 3 of us and everything we got to try was tasty. The mortadella is really interesting - shaved slices on top of a deep fried gnocchi filled with ricotta cheese with balsamic glaze drizzled. All the flavors and textures worked incredibly well together. The cacio e pepe was also good but I would have preferred more black pepper since it was a bit light on that end. The branzino was the star of the evening as it was perfectly cooked and the sauces and toppings complemented the fish perfectly as there were notes of saltiness from the capers mixed with the creaminess of the sauce along with the tang of picked carrots and onions. Best dish of the night by far. The roasted carrots were also no slouch and highly recommended. The space is a cross between a jazz lounge and Italian trattoria which sounds weird but kind of works. It's fun and casual which is a plus. Service was also great - quick and friendly. Prices were fair and we had a great time. So far our venture into Chicago food has been really really good. read more

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Very interesting vibe. It was sort of retro/jazz style with velvet seating and records and music posters on the walls, but the food was kind of old school Italian with a twist. Our waiter was friendly, but perhaps over friendly offering advice when we didn't ask for it. As recommended however, we got 5 dishes for 3 people and it was a good amount. For a starter we did the burrata e avocado which for as simple as it sounds was suuuuuper good. It was definitely a little expensive, but you got a lot of cheese and avocado and bread. For pastas we did the il vincetore and the tortelli. For an award-winning dish the il vincetore was just ok and very hard to eat with a fork since it was basically a soup. The tortelli was incredible and the waiter told us it was one of the only dishes that had stayed on the menu since they opened. We did the carrot side dish which I really enjoyed though it wasn't anything crazy special. We did the pollo Alla bolognese as our main which I found to be underwhelming though the sauce was really good. read more

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10/10 -Food -Service -Ambiance Everything was amazing, If It's your first time going to Ummo, They recommend your really good drinks and food of what you are craving! read more

Ummo lived up to all of my expectations and more. I was tasked in finding a restaurant to have a birthday dinner with friends. So, after some research and previewing pictures of their appealing dishes and stunning interior, I became excited to bring my friend to this place. The space was open and beautifully done, and were met with welcoming service. The few drinks we ordered were delicious, and the food did not take long to come out. We shared and were able to try every dish. Each dish was delicious and had its own unique flavor. Afterwards, our server brought out a complimentary birthday cake for our friend, and it was actually very enjoyable way to end our meal. Once we were done with dinner we were able to explore the upstairs lounge area which had plenty of seating, a bar, a pool table, and lots of photo ops. We had a great time and highly recommend! read more

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I ordered wrong last night--the caesar salad is not good and the smoked cauliflower is meh. My parter got the carbonara pasta which I tried a bite of and it was pretty good (definitely better than my choices) and we shared the pane della casa bread which was good. Overall, I walked away feeling like I paid way too much for a meal that I didn't really enjoy. read more

The place is very cool! Fun artwork and a huge downstairs and upstairs for seating! Was able to get a res the same day for 7pm. Took awhile to get a waitress but once we did things started coming out very fast. Our waitress was very awkward, kind of lingered around. I had the strawberry cannoli cocktail and this was great, not too sweet! For apps we had the olives, arancini and meatballs. My favorite was the marinated olives.the arancini was way too cheesy. Our main course was brought 3 minutes into eating our apps. I had cacio e pepe. This tasted like buttered noodles, very average. Good vibes but would not come here for food again. read more

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Stopped by Ummo for happy hour on a Wednesday evening and couldn't recommend it enough! It was a little slow, which was nice because I could hear my friend and we had no issue getting a seat at the bar. I would imagine the other days may be a bit more crowded. I ordered an espresso martini and it was out of this world! There was a huge dollop of homemade whipped cream on top which perfectly melted into the drink as i drank it. If you don't like sweet or dairy, I would request no whipped cream. read more

Ummo - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ummo is one of the cutest italian spots in river north! The cacio e pepe was amazing, and the cocktails were even better. The espresso martini and Ummo old fashioned were so good. Their dishes & desserts are super unique and the ambiance is one of a kind. The servers and bartenders are so friendly and the service was quick. Perfect spot for a date night or dinner for girls night out! read more

Ummo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for a nice dinner and loved the ambiance and environment of the restaurant! I got seated upstairs and it was a really nice vibe. I ordered the tortelli with lamb ragu and it was very delicious, highly recommend! read more

Ummo - Tortelli - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A friend wanted to check out this newish hotspot for dinner and they happened to be participating in the restaurant week program so we decided to go for it! How could we not? $59pp for a foodie's night out! I cannot even remember what establishment used to be here (some say it was RockIt) but they really made it an eclectic vibe which matches the wide variety of the menu. I would not say it's Italian cuisine to be honest. Reservations were made for 7:30pm, we arrived on time it was jam packed in the foyer and we could barely push our way through to the hostess stand to check in, but up a few steps to the bar there was a little more breathing room. We decided to order a drink because the host informed us it might be about 15-minutes before our table was ready. I feel the bartender was aloof and didn't seem too interested in taking our drink order right away. You'd think a friendly personality would be hired. Once seated, our waitress was really conscientious to ask about allergies ahead of taking our order and went to talk to the chef about ingredients in one of the entrees before we cast our selections. Nothing ruins a a great night faster than a food allergy so I appreciate it so much that they take it seriously. Then these warm puffy bread-like starters were brought to us and I might be slightly understating just how perfectly they went alongside everything. We each had the beef carpaccio as an appetizer which was lovely, then we opted for two different entrees on the restaurant week menu and a third that wasn't part of it that we both were too curious about not to try out. All we ordered ended up being quite a lot of food between us and literally everything was delicious!! Portion sizes are on the smaller size though and plated pretty. That said, it is a cool vibe so Ummo might just be my newest RN obsession and I will absolutely be back soon! First Impression 4/10 Ambiance 9/10 Food 10/10 Service 8/10 read more

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I've been seeing the desserts from UMMO on my feed so obvs I had to stop by. A relatively new Italian addition in River North with a contemporary menu & trendy vibes. Really spacious too so great for groups! Start with their gnocco fritto appetizers. We got the mortadella ones, stuffed with ricotta cheese and topped with pistachio shavings. Great savory & creamy combo but you could be fancier and order the beef tartare or prosciutto sampler options From pastas, I can never not order mafaldine. Made in house so has that light texture (kinda overcooked tho) that pairs well with the simple peppercorn flavor. But the standout is the branzino I love the way Italians do fish but also idk how they eat it bc it's so hard without chopsticks. Grilled perfectly, maintaining that juicy meat with salsa verde for a tangy kick. Finished with roasted tomatoes, pickled onions, and fresh radishes for textural variety. Strongly recommend!! I know they're famous for the tomato dessert but I find sweet versions of tomato to be like eating ketchup...? I love ketchup (even on my Chicago dogs) but not as dessert. The tiramisu is almost as exciting and they pour a chocolate & amaretto sauce around the bean. The bitter undertone rly elevates the dish but the liquor flavor is a bit strong for me. Mortadella di Pistachio e Ricotta $4 ea Mafaldine Cacio e Pepe $20 Branzino Arrosto $45* 22 W Tiramisu $16 요즘 시카고 피드에서 자주 보이는 곳이다. 오픈한지 5개월된 신상 이탈리안 레스토랑인데 인테리어도 트렌디하고 맛도 낫배드! 애피타이져는 뇨꾜 프리토 옵션 중에서 먹기. 우린 심플하게 모르타델라 올린 걸로 시켰는데 타르타르나 프로슈토를 곁들여 먹을수도있다. 파스타는 당연히 마팔디네지~ ‍ 약간 오버쿡되었지만 그래도 부드러운 식감이랑 후추향이 맛남. 베스트는 농어!!! 알맞게 구워져서 촉촉한 생선살과 시콤한 살사 베르데가 매우 조화롭다. 약간 짭조름해서 밥이 생각난건 비밀 read more

Ummo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The pasta dish we ordered had a sausage on top of the pasta with peppers and onions just a bad combo in my opinion peppers and onions Chicago style just does not go well on top of pasta. The pasta was starchy and slimey. Maybe we just ordered the wrong item. But it was suggested by our waiter! read more

The octopus carpaccio was great, it had maybe squid ink chips, similar to shrimp chips on top that were a great flavor complement. Definitely skip the dessert, the parmesean cheesecake looked beautiful but the flavors were super bland and the texture was not good and the white chocolate shell and caviar-looking stuff tasted more like plastic than food. read more

Ummo - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Where do I even start- our experience at Ummo was an excellent all around, taking into consideration the food, ambiance, and service. Our server (forgot his name unfortunately) was wonderful, attentive, and keen to answer any questions we had on the menu with enthusiasm. The place itself is very comfortable, artsy, and easy on the eyes. As for the food, we were stunned! MUST ORDER: The Egg Raviolo Carbonara and the Battuta Di Manzo (Wagyu tartare). These two blew us away in flavor, and we all greed the tartare was the best any of us had ever had. Branzino was amazing, as well as the Arancini, but not quite as show stopping as the other two. Possibly avoid the Tortellini- no one at the table enjoyed the cheese in this one and when we told them we didn't want it and that they could just toss it, they came back with it all boxed up for us (we could tell there was a bit of a language barrier so no worries!). Tortellini aside, definitely worth the visit. We will for sure be back to dine again! read more

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Incredible! Arrived here for my surprise birthday dinner. I've been wanting to check out this place for sometime. My friends and I came almost 15 mins early so we had to wait for sometime but as soon as we were seated, the service was quick and efficient. Our server explained how the portions were shareable which was nice as we were a big party of 9 people. The interior was cozy and classy. We ordered a bunch of drinks and some food: Cacio e Pepe, Arancini, Burrata e Avocado, Gnocchi e Patate, Pollo Rosso and some carrots dish to share. Overall everything was pretty good. Our server was patient throughout in taking care of a large party. I was particularly impressed by the desserts. Every element of the dish worked so well together, so unique. I'm still drooling looking at the pictures of dessert. I will come back especially for desserts anytime! read more

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A small group of us came here for dinner during an early evening Wednesday, and while there were definitely a lot of patrons, we were all spaced out nicely so it wasn't too loud or hard to hear our table. Between the four of us we ordered the Ummo's Ceasar Salad, the Mafaldine Cacio de Pepe, the Bucatini Di Aragosta, and a couple sides like the potatos. Everything looked very pretty. We anticipated a little bit more flavor profile across all the entrees, to match the visual. Nonetheless it was a good meal. I would recommend adding black pepper and red pepper flakes to add more spice flavoring to the pasta. read more

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The place is super cute inside and the service was good. We're vegetarians, so we tried a few pasta dishes--Cacio e Pepe, Pomodoro y Basilico, and the Butternut Squash Ravioli (without the prosciutto powder). They were all decent, but not as flavorful or spicy as we were hoping for. Glad we tried it, though we probably wouldn't go back for the food. The desserts looked great, so we might return just to try those. read more

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Five stars hands down! From the ambiance, to the service, and absolutely the food! Eating at Ummo was a stand up and stand out experience! Also honorable mention to their amazing amazing happy hour! A friend and I visited on a Friday we had 6pm reservations which were needed because the place filled up pretty quickly as the night progressed. Our server was great offering recommendations and her personal favorites! We started with the Pane Della Casa which was a warm DELICIOUS bread with a super tasty truffle butter. The perfect start to an amazing meal. We then had the Carbonara which was a super creamy pasta with crispy guanicale (like bacon) that added bold flavor and tied it all together absolutely a menu highlight. Our other entree was the Campanelle alla Vodka with a nice chicken ragu and a vodka sauce. Both entrees were so yummy, filling, and just amazing! Ummo is perfect for a date night, friend date, or business meeting! Whatever it is just get there, you won't be disappointed! read more

This is my first time in Chicago and I wanted to experience a delicious Italian meal! My team and I were here for a conference and we got lucky with our dining experience at Ummo. The service was phenomenal. Our waitress had a whole spiel about dietary restrictions, what to order if we did have any restrictions, she made some suggestions and was very attentive to what we were wanting to enjoy. Four out of five of us ordered the tortelli (pictured) for obvious reasons. We had a couple rounds of drinks and all shared a tiramisu unlike any other! Come to Ummo when you're out in Downtown Chicago! read more

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What happens when Italian comfort food gets a modern glow-up? @ummochicago in River North is plating up some of the most beautiful, and delicious, Italian dishes in Chicago. The avocado burrata is rich and refreshing, the cacio e pepe is silky and perfectly balanced, and the roasted carrots? I would go back just for those. Seriously. And the desserts? Almost too pretty to eat, but absolutely worth it. If you're into Italian food with a little flair, this place should be on your list. read more

The staff here are true professionals! They pay attention to every detail, treat you with respect, and are always so friendly. A special shout-out to Inay, who went above and beyond with his service--his skills are truly impressive and made our experience stand out. The drinks are always well made and beautifully garnished. I've come here plenty of times because the service never disappoints. I even celebrated my birthday here and stayed after for the upstairs dance floor... OMG, such great vibes and unforgettable times! Definitely one of my go-to spots. read more

The food was delicious and fresh. Quick service although they are very busy. I would definitely come back the next time I visit. read more

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Such a fun new spot in River North!! I loved all of the art, dark velvet, and overall luxe vibes as soon as you walk in! This is the perfect spot for shareables with a group of you can - I don't know how I'd decide otherwise! The avocado burrata is a must! It is so creamy and flavorful, but the bread it is paired with also earned recognition. Such a perfect treat to start! The arancini was perfectly textured with an impeccable sauce pairing. I would always order this when returning if you are looking for comfort food! The tortellini was similarly cozy, with the best and most creamy pesto I've ever had! Tortellini and pesto are generally not my first picks on a pasta menu, but these proved me delightfully wrong. Also almost goes without saying at this point, but you must try the Pomodoro e Basilico (or other fun desserts if tomato/basil isn't your thing). It's so beautiful and fun, but is also is such a special flavor combo to experience! Ummo is certainly on the pricey end, but I'd highly recommend it as a celebration treat. It is such a fun new spot to experience!! read more

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We were super excited to try this place (for those who also grew up at rockit, we were also excited to see what they did with the place) but were somewhat let down. I think they're still working out new spot kinks in terms of service and the menu was just ok, nothing blew us away. Service - Madison our server was great with checking in and giving us her recos. Not her fault but dishes were slow coming out of the kitchen and pacing was off between app and mains. It was one of the hottest days in Chicago (105+) and our water glasses weren't consistently refilled even though there were plenty of servers walking around as it wasn't terribly full that night. We each had two drinks each and pacing from the bar was a little slow as well. Food - at the price point, pasta portions could have been a lot bigger. - burrata and avocado - we were told it was THE app to try but nothing special. The avocado seemed a littler underripe and the burrata was a little tough. If you mixed it and ate it off a spoon, really well seasoned but when spread on the accompanying bread, it was lacking flavor. - mafaldine cacio e Pepe - ordered this to share and it was prob our fave dish of the night although not the best I've ever had. The pasta shape is fun but could be cut shorter - tortellini Al pesto - pasta was too Al dente and it was hard to scoop up the sauce. - garganelli - pasta was also too Al dente for me and even though lamb is usually flavorful, the whole dish seemed to lack seasoning. Not sure I'd come back to try any of the other dishes on the current menu based on the execution we saw but very nostalgic to be in the space and the decor was fun. read more

Ummo - Burrata e avocado - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Service was very slow. Our server had too many tables. I counted at least four large parties plus our four top. Servings very small on everything we ordered from appetizers to dessert. No suggestions from our server on anything. Just an order taker. 350 plus tip for a meal that was just average read more

Great service! The branzino and Brussels sprouts were so tasty. Definitely will be back

This was another place I had never heard of, but we stopped by spontaneously as a group looking for a late night meal. It was pretty spacious not too crowded for the area. We got seated right away and enjoyed the musical atmosphere. The cocktails were great and the caccio e pepe was satisfying. Service was attentive and we had just enough time to eat and talk before the upstairs floor started turning into a nightclub. read more

It happens less often than you think that a trendy River North restaurant not only lives up to, but exceeds, expectations. Ummo is one of those places. I went recently with my wife and experienced their restaurant week menu. First, the food was amazing. We collectively ordered the arancini, carpaccio di polpo, mushroom risotto, lasagna alla bolognese, 22 W tramusu and the pomodoro e basilico. Each of the dishes we ordered with delicious and rich with flavor. The octopus in the carpaccio di polpo was done perfectly and accompanying chip had a rich pork flavor. It was probably the best dish of the night. The presentation of each dish was elegant and playful. Also the 22 W tramusu had a fun table side presentation. Second, the service was amazing. Our waiter was the right mix of friendly and professional, but not servile. Also, each course was brought out with excellent timing. Third, the ambience and atmosphere was relaxed, yet elegant. The vibe is that of a hip lounge. The walls are decorated with vintage concert posts and records. That created a fun and cool atmosphere. In sum, this is a must visit restaurant in River North. read more

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Ummo-gawd! What a cute spot! Super friendly staff when I walked in; they weren't open yet but let me get comfortable at the bar while they setup. The decor is really fun. They offer both booth and table top seating which is great if you love a booth like I do. Food was fresh, hot and service was fast & friendly. Arancini is a must (you can order per ball also if you have more/less people) Mafaldine cacio e pepe: great noodle texture and not too peppery as I've had at other places. Perfect light balance Mole Cappellacci: new item LOVE spicy just a heads up. Great balance with cacio e Pepe if you can't handle a little heat. read more

We ordered: BATTUTA DI MANZO - Wagyu beef tartare, pickled baby carrots, caramelized onion aioli, and gnocco fritto BARBABIETOLE ARROSTO - Roasted baby beets, honey ricotta, foie struessel, and compressed strawberries GARGANELLI - Braised lamb belly ragu, fresh ricotta, mint pesto, and Pecorino Pugliese SOGLIOLA DI DOVER AL LEGNO - Mediterranean dover sole and brown butter sauce POMODORO E BASILICO - Tomato, raspberry & vanilla campote yogurt mousse, olive oil, and basil sorbet This review is from their second day of opening. I'm not a friend of the restaurant/chef and just an objective guest. With that said, everything was delicious! They nailed flavors, textures, creativity, and presentation. I would recommend every dish we tried. Service was excellent. They constantly check on your table, even swapping out your dirty plates and cleaning the table. I really appreciate the spacing between the tables so you don't feel cramped. read more

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The ambiance is gorgeous , the food was ok I think I have had better also the portions feel really small so don't go hungry hungry . The dishes itself were pretty unique read more

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I've been to Ummo twice--once for brunch and once for dinner. The desserts caught my eye online, but note that many aren't available during brunch. The Egg Raviolo Carbonara was the standout--delicious and rich--and I really enjoyed the Carpaccio di Polpo. However, the Cacio e Pepe was overly peppery and under-salted, and the Lobster Pasta was surprisingly bland. Dessert presentation is stunning, but only the Tiramisu really delivered; the Pomodoro e Basilico is definitely for adventurous palates. Beautiful space and great service, but overall, I wasn't blown away. read more

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Imagine you make reservations to a restaurant claiming to be one of the trendiest restaurants in the city. Your party of seven arrives and is quickly seated -- the restaurant is almost entirely empty. Your server comes over, and tells us that he has to explain the (relatively small and $$$) menu to us. He claims to be a somm but is barely 21 years old and when we ask about a bottle of white wine he says he's only helpful if you're looking for a red wine. Once the menu is explained you put in your orders. The starters are decent and everyone is having a good time. Then the entrees come -- a lobster pasta that, for some unknown reason, is prepared by chopping up lobster into the smallest pieces possible and overcooking them until they're little rubbery cubes; an "award winning" dish made up of a gritty pasta with imperceptibly flavored hay broth and little "pearls" of red wine, and a $92 "wagyu" beef steak that is maybe 3 oz of meat. Oh, and one of the entrees we ordered doesn't come out -- they send a completely different dish instead (and because the chef says that all food orders have to be put in at the same time we don't send it back). Then they ask if we want dessert. The dessert menu looks fine so we order two to share. The server tells us that he'll also throw in the tiramisu for free because of the mistake with the entree. We oblige. The desserts arrive, but are wildly underwhelming. The pavlova tastes like a salad (but not in a good way). The tiramisu is so bitter no other flavor is detectable. I can't even remember the third dessert it was so forgettable. And they charged us for the tiramisu. This place is pretentious, sure, but the pretentious doesn't match or elevate the food in anyway. I'd rather have a decent bowl of Italian pasta that tastes like pasta than a mid (at best) plate of poor pasta with performative little wine balls! The whole thing felt like an outdated attempt to be a fine dining establishment in the mid-2000s. It's overpriced, the concept felt tired, and the place drips of pretension for no reason. Shout out to the very kind and hard working staff who kept our water glasses full, our plates clean, and our tables clear. read more

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Good ambience, young, casual crowd. Friendly servers. The food was ok, not great. I had carbonara for a main. A solid B. My wife had the turbot. There was too much stuff on it that obscured the flavor of the fish. Appetizers were interesting. Had the avocado and burrata, a caesar salad, and fried oysters. The first was a large serving and the last was four oysters. The bar looked good, although we did not go to it. All in all an ok evening but not an awesome one. Other diners seemed to be enjoying themselves. read more

5 food 5 Service 5 Ambiance Everything was AMAZING! The cutest little jazzed up Italian restaurant! read more

To say I was impressed is an understatement. New restaurants in the city has been such a hit or miss. We came for a birthday on a Thursday and there was 8 of us. My husband and I came early and grabbed drinks by the bar. Once everyone arrived we were seated and treated promptly. Our waitress took our drink orders and then came back for food orders. We ordered a bunch of stuff to share: Mortadella- I felt like I was an Italy eating this Oysters Wagyu beef tartar Buratta and avocado Ummo Caesar- love a Caesar (needed a bit more dressing) Cacio Pepe Raviolo Branzino A few wagyu steaks And a potato dish I forgot the name but it was chef's kiss I was beyond impressed, service and food were impeccable. I can't say that for many new restaurants in Chicago but I will for sure be back read more

Loved our experience at Ummo! Everything from the ambiance to the service and most importantly the food was amazing! The food was incredibly fresh and authentic and they offered a great variety of pasta dishes. Definitely will be going back in the future to try more! read more

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