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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

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

See all

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

See all

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

See all

Tony was an incredible server. So friendly and kind. The food was incredible and service was top tier.

UMMO has a super cool, elevated hangout vibe. The branding and decor inside creates a great atmosphere where the dining experience is upscale but not too uppity or fancy. The presentation of each item we ordered was beautiful (see photos) and everything tasted fresh. Unfortunately, I feel the need to remove stars because of the service staff. They were friendly but helicoptering over our table to the point that they tried to take our plates away early (we were still actively eating) multiple times and we had to verbally tell them to please leave the plates until we were done. Our friend's mocktail didn't come out until the food did when we ordered drinks before the food, and our actual cocktails came out 10 minutes before. They also refused to split the check by seat when there were only three of us and we were one of 4 tables in the whole restaurant. Our friend was using a corporate card for only herself as she was on a work trip, so this was an inconvenience that could have been avoided - our server admitted he "didn't know how" to split the checks when they use Toast handhelds which I know, from my own food industry experience, make splitting the check very very simple. Overall it wasn't a bad experience and the food was outstanding, but I wouldn't make any effort to return. read more

See all

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

My boyfriend and I went for Valentine's Day and were greeted with a fresh rose for each of us when we were seated. This really helped us feel special and added to the overall nice ambience in the restaurant. The arancini was delicious however my boyfriend and I did not love the pasta. The seafood was well cooked however the sauce was a bit watery. I was also given the wrong pasta order at first, however this was fixed fairly quickly. read more

See all

We got the beef tartare, arancini, the pollo bolognese, and the mushroom risotto. The beef tartare was good enough that I'd order it again if I ever even bothered coming back. The arancini was okay too. Unfortunately the pollo bolognese (pictured) and the mushroom risotto were awful. The pollo bolognese was dry and flavorless. The little fried chicken meatballs on the side were the best part and tbh they just tasted like frozen dino chicken nuggets. I had the mushroom risotto in Jan 2024 and it was the best dish of the night. Ordered it again and it looked and tasted completely different. This mushroom risotto was watery, thin, and had like 4 mushrooms. Their previous mushroom risotto recipe was creamy and full of mushrooms, so this was a complete shock and disappointment. We politely gave our server this feedback to let him know the recipe change was for the worst and that we didn't enjoy our main dishes. But we still finished it because we are the type of people to not waste food and feel bad for sending dishes back. He acknowledged this and told us he shared the feedback with management and the kitchen. The bill was dropped with everything we ordered and that was it. At the very least, at the price level this restaurant is at, I would expect management to touch the table, acknowledge our feedback, and send a free dessert or something. Due to the disappointing food and lack of recovery for a terrible dining experience, we will not be coming back and will definitely advise our friends against coming here. read more

Ummo - Pollo bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Personally, I don't like to give poor reviews but I have to be honest. The interior is stunning. Great vibes aesthetically. However, the martinis were extremely salty. The oysters taste like they are not in season (flavorless) and the meatballs were served cold. I don't mind spending on quality food, but this was not worth the price. Tasted more like bar food. read more

Ummo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Great happy hour wine and food. Service was great and the espresso martini is worth a try. We will definitely go back.

looooove this spot for the chic & sexy interior and the mix of classic, fun & unique dishes on the menu! i appreciate how everything has a complex flavor and the famous (infamous?) tomato dessert is truly ~weird~ the thing about new restaurants that open up downtown is that they can be hyped up too much.. and they end up not being good. BUT that was not the case for Ummo because it did really live up to the hype. i like everything i ordered in the pictures, and i also came here for a work dinner but didn't take photos of what i ate - so instead i starred below what i liked. what we ordered: - branzino arrosto - cacio e pepe - mortadella di pistachio e ricotta - 22 w tiramisu what i've tried (not pictured): - ostriche di mercato (oysters) - arancini al tartufo - burrata e prosciutto (w/ gnocco fritto) * - battuta di manzo (wagyū beef tartare w/ gnocco fritto) * - polpette di carne (Italian meatballs) - egg raviolo carbonara - bistecca alla fiorentina (50-day-age steak) * - asparagi - maitake e rabiola * - pomodoro e basilico (the tomato dessert) read more

See all

Came here with a group of 13 and was shocked to be charged $95 for a cake cutting fee on top of already overpriced, mediocre food. According to their own website, the cake cutting fee is listed as $5 per person, which should have been $65. On top of that, we never asked the servers to cut the cake, and the fee was never mentioned until the bill arrived. Felt completely scammed. Won't be returning and wouldn't recommend. read more

Great restaurant! We loved the vibes, it's a little hidden away because of some scaffolding but such a great find. Our server was EXCELLENT (I don't remember her name but she was lovely). We had the arancini and the burrata avocado appetizers, both were delicious. We split the cacio e Pepe and the lobster ravioli pastas as well as the roasted chicken and the roasted carrots as a side. The lobster ravioli didn't totally hit for me but it DID come with this funny lobster head so extra points for presentation. The tiramisu also gets presentation points! Tiramisu is not always my favorite but this one was unique and a little more chocolatey than your typical which I enjoyed. read more

Ummo - Roasted carrots and chicken - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I would give Ummo a 3.5 stars. Service was sub par. Our drinks came after our appetizer, and our server didn't ask us if we wanted another round until our meal was completely done. Also bussers kept trying to take our plates when we were clearly still working on our meals which was off putting. Cocktails were just average. Also $45 for 2 tiny little pieces of halibut is crazy. The positive: the creative desserts, arancini, and octopus carpaccio were delicious. If service improves, I'd definitely come back. Maybe more so if they have a happy hour because some of their full priced items just doesn't seem worth it from a value perspective. read more

Ummo - Halibut - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Ambience amazing. Wish the service matched it. Food thoughts, see below. Food... Panne Della casa...wow!!! Not a fan of truffle and ate this up Burrata de presciutto...nice portion sizes and good flavors. Burrata was a bit stiff. More on the mozzarella side than a good burrata. Seafood Chittara...pasta was well overdone, not al dente as an Italian pasta should be served. Mussels tasted fishy, . Shrimp were precooked and reheated. Scallops small, but had more flavor than the shrimp. NY Strip...the star of the table. Cooked as ordered. Nice sides for dipping flavors. Wish the wait staff had helped up with the roasted garlic to start Briciolle...good flavors. Honestly torn, because it has to be cooked rather well due to preparation. Not sure if a filet was the best choice for preparing this dish. It was very tender despite its being so well done. Tiaramisu...presentation of the cacao bean spot on. Be prepared for a very rich flavor of espresso and cacao. Espresso Martini....definitely. Old Fashion...just like my grandma used to make. Old school smooth. Service sub par. For an upscale experience I would expect the service to be on point, but it wasn't. No wine menu or food suggestions given unless asked for. Dirty silverware. Waitress was flat....like no personality or forward thought for an upscale restaurant. read more

See all

If had a nickel for every new STYLISH, SEXY, and MODERN eatery backed by a culinary "star-power" team and a hospitality group touting an ~innovative~ menu of ~creative~ spins on classic dishes with an almost ostentatiously and esoterically named (think: the cellar, the loft, the lounge, the cellar) speakeasy/cocktail lounge on a different level that I've visited in the past month I would have 2 nickels, which isn't a lot but it's funny that it's happened twice and will likely continue to happen. Every shiny new restaurant that hits River North doesn't really make my heart sing but I admit that when I heard that Tzuco had a sister Italian restaurant opening I did feel my skeletal system twitch. I rolled in with high expectations and WOW. Ummo is showing up with verve and an intention to stay. She is a stunning and marvelous display of culinary technique, showmanship, and service, complete with a meticulously designed jazz club interior and classy atmosphere. It feels like Ummo was crafted to be the ultimate date night and corporate card destination, and honestly, I'm fine with that. Come fully ready to splurge, there are quite a few items worth trying. Carpaccio di polpo (5/5): the octopus at Tzuco is one of my favorite apps and so I was influenced to try to the octopus carpaccio here. This was truly a blast to eat and enjoy: the textures, the colors, the flavors, the presentation, every. single. part. absolutely hit. The octopus is so soft and in perfect sheets, the acidity of the pickled onion and the crunch of toppings just make every bite lovely and a delight. I really enjoyed eating this dish, thank you Ummo!!!! Mafaldine Cacio E Pepe (3/5): don't get me wrong, this was so DELICIOUS, the noods are dripping in butter and peccorino and that's not even the best part, the long ruffled noodles are the perfect vehicle for the sauce and such a delightful shape and texture! The reason for 3/5 is that I think that the best part was just the pasta shape, it is truly a treat to have what handmade pasta can offer, but overall this was a very standard cacio e pepe, it could even have used more cracked black pepper. Ravioli Di Aragosta Al Nero Di Seppia (5/5): hehehehhehehhehehehehehhehehehehehhehehehehehehehehehehehe I don't ever reach for lobster, I think we should celebrate our convergent evolution kings (crabs) way more, but this lobster dish is one I would order again. She comes out with a decorative lobster head which was perfect for the "gram" (jesus I can't believe I said that in the year of our lord 2024) but then it's quickly whisked away to reveal a literal CROWN of raviolo pinched to form a double-ring cup. What a victory for fun pasta presentation, though I will say the top of the noodle was a little underdone, but the rest of the pasta sitting in the indulgent butter ragu was perfect. Salty and with generous chunks of lobster, fun to eat and explore. Lamb duo (4/5): perfect lamb chops accompanied by a lamb ragu. I was a little confused by the additional pesto and ricotta puree, the given portion was huge and too much to comfortably finish and enjoy with the lamb so I was puzzled. Portion is kind of small but it makes sense for the kind of dish, I don't think I'll get it again for this reason tho. Carotine Grigliate (4/5): a great carrot side! And finally, the star of my heart, the tomato dessert. It's not easy to finish strong on a multi-course meal and yet this dessert feels like a symphonic finale! Pomodoro E Basilico (5/5): she comes out looking like a tomato, plump, with shiny and taut skin, plus it literally has a real tomato stem. The dishware is chilled to preserve the basil sorbet and to protect the TOMATO. a TOMATO. It's just so whimsical I love it so much!! The tomato is filled with raspberry compote and yogurt mousse and tbh I was a little surprised that they didn't go for more of a tomato flavor route but I really love yogurt mousse so I wasn't disappointed by any means. The real magic comes with including a bite of the basil sorbet, it tastes like the smell of picking tomatoes off the vines, it's punchy and not saccharine at all, it's the perfect complement to the tomato, especially when touched with olive oil. All I could ask is actually a bit more bite from balsamic vinegar and more olive oil. I look forward to recommending this dessert and delighting my friends. I'm quite happy I tried Ummo, she won't be a regular destination for me but she will always be a special one and a memorable one. read more

See all

Went back to Ummo after a while and I'm so sad that their service has deteriorated. The food is still good, although inconsistent. We ordered the chicken and the potato side and it looked completely different than the previous times that we have ordered those same exact dishes. They also took a lot of the items of their menu and it's a much much smaller menu now. The service was terrible. Our server was not paying attention at all. He didn't bother to check if we all had plates and silverware or water glasses. We had to ask him for everything. He forgot two drinks for my friends and made us repeat some orders because he looked like he was never paying attention. The service was extremely slow. We were there for 3 hours, because our server wouldn't show up in a timely manner to take our order. We reminded him of the birthday on the table and I had communicated with Ummo before our reservation too and they didn't do anything for the birthday boy. I had to ask our server for a candle so we could at least put it on the desert that we ordered. Also, in desserts only their tiramisu is good. Do not try the tomato desert or the tartufo ( which my friend pointed out tastes like a wet towel). While their food is always delicious, I am extremely hesitant to come back because of the service and the lack of attention to requests for special occasions. read more

Ummo - Pollo and whipped potatoes on the side! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

I've been to this restaurant a couple of times now. The last time I went was to take my friend out for her birthday. The ambience and decor are fantastic! We started with the Arancini. I love all the cheese oozing out when you cut into it. Delicious! The star of the show for me is the risotto sprinkled with truffles. I cannot wait to go back. :) read more

Ummo - Beautiful restaurant decor - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

The food, service and ambiance was perfect! The POMODORO E BASILICO dessert was so good, a must try! read more

Ummo - POMODORO E BASILICO - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ummo was a delight. Ambience is very classy and pleasing. We reached 15 mins early for our table so we had to wait a few mins to be seated. The service was really fast. The whole place smelled of freshly brewed espresso and it was delightful. We ordered the Mezcal Mafioso, Gimlet and the Negroni. They all were pretty good. We ordered the Cacio e Pepe, Arancini, Burrata e Avocado, Gnocchi e Patate, and Pollo Rosso. The food overall, was scrumptious except for the Arancini which I was excited about the most. The highlight of the dinner were the desserts. The Pomodoro e Basilica was sooooo good. The tomato shaped dessert was too pretty to eat. We really loved the tomato and raspberry combination in this dessert. The 22 W Tiramisu also looked too pretty to eat, however the amaretto was a little too strong in this one. The crunchy outer shell of this dessert was really tasty though. Overall, the restaurant was slightly on the pricier side, but it was worth it. read more

See all

Loved Ummo! Service and ambience 5 stars! Food was good, but a couple misses make it 4.5 stars. Location and decor were fantastic-- our waitstaff, Madison, was attentive, funny, and knowledgeable. Order one plate off each course for 2 people. Drinks-- I loved my old fashioned-- my husband's martini was tiny (per him). We tried the Mortadella (yum!), then meatballs (yum!), risotto (a little bland), filetta (cabbage and toasted garlic was a miss for me-- steak was delicious though small for 2), and baby carrots (yum!). Panna cotta was surprising, complex, and delicious! Funny, but I really appreciated cool bathroom vibe downstairs! Music was nice, jazzy-- servers attentive and professional! Loved the woodwork, open kitchen, and modern feel without being too pretentious. Would love to visit again! read more

Ummo - Dessert! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pretty much what I expected from a new river north Italian place! Kinda hype-y, nice decor, pretty pricy but food is actually pretty good. The arancini and the mushroom risotto were actually some of my favorite I've had in the city. I also got the strawberry canoli drink and it was great. The pesto pasta and the tiramisu were both mid. Overall not sure if it's worth the price but the stuff that was good was really yummy. Our server also kind of had an attitude with us? If I had to guess it's because we ordered less than recommended (we did a plate each instead of 2-3 plates each to share) but for what it's worth we both thought that was enough food and I even brought some of my risotto home as leftovers so decent portion sizes too. read more

See all