Monteverde absolutely lived up to the hype. The Cacio e Pepe was perfectly executed with incredible…read moreflavor, and the Pomodoro Spaghetti showed how amazing simple, fresh ingredients can be. The Wagyu beef skewers were tender, flavorful, and cooked just right. And whatever you do, beware the tiramisu. The portion is incredibly generous, but every bite is worth it. It's rich, creamy, and the perfect way to end the meal. The staff was warm, friendly, and attentive, making the entire lunch experience even more enjoyable. I would happily come back the next time I'm in Chicago.

We came here after I had done extensive research on where to eat in Chicago. Reservation is a must,…read moreand we went on a weekend lunch. We were able to sit outside. We got their Roman eggplant parm, tortelli grandi, and the sweet pea and sausage gramigna. The eggplant was charred for it to be paper-thin, and it was unreal how they were able to do that. It looked like a tower when it was presented, and when it was cut in, everything kind of deflated. It was kinda fun. The tortelli grandi were probably my favorite. The Sweet pea & Sausage Gramigna had a seasonal flavor that made it very delicious. It combined multiple ingredients I wouldn't have thought would have gone well. Even though we were full, we had to try their dessert. We got their strawberry-and-lemon Meyer sorbet, and it was absolutely delicious. It was lemon-forward, but the ice cream was quite pink. It was a bit confusing. I was told their lunch and dinner menus were the same, though online people mentioned there was one less item on the lunch menu. If you sit inside, there is the option of seeing the pasta being made, which, when I passed by it, I thought was pretty cool. Would definitely come here again.

A nice stop for their unique donuts! I like the classic ones dusted with sugar. A nice little…read morewindow that we ordered from. Unfortunately now closed.

This place was so so so good! These shakes were thick and creamy and dreamy!!!…read more The staff- oh these ladies were on it! Honey they are all of that and then some!!! Super heavy on the helpful and so sweet just like our treats! We ordered some treats to go... so all set and need nothing else sweet, we're going to have cavities from how tasty and sweet this place is (the staff... omg... my teeth were showing in the best ways!) Very cool spot super busy location and the hype is well worth it and love the space. Outside and inside!!

Old school. They put me on to the ice cream soda- thanks for that gang. Cool interior. The menu is…read moreexpansive. Would go back for sure.

I bought two boxes of their delicious English toffee on 12/19/25, but the candy was terrible. Hard…read moreto bite into and so sticky I thought it would pull my fillings out. Completely unacceptable! I sent an email complaining, but didn't hear back. I went to the store and an employee took my info and said the owner would get back to me, but he didn't. So, bad customer service and occasionally awful chocolate.

Why don't more Italian restraunts have charcuterie and the menu? This was the perfect appetizer to…read morekick off dinner. I did in fact eat my entire bowl of rigatoni alla vodka -- so good and creamy! Plus, I love the atmosphere here. The back room feels like you're sitting out on a patio even though you're inside, which is the best of both worlds during Chicago spring. And the banana gelato was the perfect sweet treat to end the meal even though I was so full.

At this point, I've tried five of their entrées, two of their salads, and four of their cocktails…read more-- Nonnina can't miss. I personally think that their chicken parmesan is one of the best in the city. Both the chicken Parmesan and the rigatoni à la vodka are so good that my fiancé, who doesn't really like either of those dishes usually, kept stealing bites. I *would* also recommend the carbonara, duck pappardelle, and arugula and prosciutto pizza, but I'm convinced at this point that everything on the menu is great. The service is exceptional. They run a tight ship, with multiple people checking on us, refilling our water cups anytime they don't have empty, changing our silverware dishes, etc. There are several different spaces you can sit in, all of them, beautiful and with slightly different ambience.

Literally the cutest café. This was my favorite breakfast spot while visiting Chicago…read more The second I walked in, I was obsessed. The green and white color palette immediately reminded me of Ralph's Coffee. It felt classic and polished but still charming. Everyone working there had a smile on their face, and the warmth felt so genuine and comforting, especially first thing in the morning. They had such a huge selection of pastries and cakes that it was honestly hard to choose. I ended up getting the cake shaped like a cherry because it looked so interesting. It was a black cherry cake and I paired it with a cappuccino. It was the perfect combination. The cake was beautiful and tasted just as good as it looked. We also ordered the breakfast burrito, which came with a small side salad. It was fine, but not the standout for me. If I came back, which I would, I would probably stick to the pastries and coffee and try more of their baked goods instead. Service was amazing. The ambience was adorable. I loved how all the silverware, plating, and dinnerware matched that perfect green tone. Every detail felt intentional. It was just perfect.

We had a toddler date with a friend and her son here at the cafe at the Peninsula. They had some…read morelimited-time St. Patrick's Day specials that caught my friend's eye, including the Pot of Gold, a special dessert only available for the weekend. The food was really excellent, as was the service. But it was ridiculously priced. The reuben sandwich was $28. It was a great sandwich, very lean, but you could get a sandwich as good for half the cost elsewhere. They only have a couple of kid's items, but my friend requested buttered noodles for her kid rather than the cheesy noodles. I got the hibiscus drink and lavender lemonade, both non-alcoholic, and they were very good. My little one especially liked the hibiscus. And we ordered the appetizer of whipped ricotta and honey; my daughter liked this more than anything else we ordered. We didn't have dessert at the restaurant, but ordered to go. The pot of gold was really good. There were little "gold nuggets" on it and that was my daughter's favorite part; good thing since I didn't realize it had a layer with Bailey's in it. It was very rich, and the cauldron was really thick chocolate (and actually was a struggle to get into, a bit!). The restaurant is small but it didn't feel crowded. We never felt rushed or unwelcome, and we were there for a couple hours (longer than I realized; it took an unusually long time to make two reuben sandwiches). Their pastries are really nice but somewhat expensive, like the rest of the menu. It was a nice, sophisticated experience.

What a gem for this neighborhood and for all custard lovers in the region. There's no better place…read moreto sample the best custard in the region. If there is ever a neighborhood institution, this would be it, not only for the quality of their custard, but the charm of this whole place, stocking old fashioned candies to unique sweets from around the world. Plus, they make some of their own bakery items, including these delicious cupcakes baked at their Lunt location. Ken the charming dedicated owner started this beloved shoppe 16 years ago in the heart of Edgewater. What adds to the special ambience of this place is that everyone is welcomed reflecting the diversity of customers who come here from families with young children to seniors & yuppies representing the wide range of demographics of the Northside community. Especially as we face these major heat waves, visit this oasis to experience the simple joy of eating perfectly flavored custard from their dark rich chocolate and satisfying lucious vanilla to at least one special flavor of the day. As a resident of nearby Rogers Park, I've been coming here since they opened and witnessed so many children, including my own find happiness in this magical place. Thanks Ken, for sharing your love for custard with the community and choosing our Northside neighborhood!

I accidently stumbled here when I was walking around Edgewater. It was late and not quite 10pm…read more(they close) so I stopped in. Took me awhile to process the menu but it was pretty simple as there are only three steps but plenty of add-ons. Pick your custard base, pick your add-ons and size. I choose the store favorite "Mocha-madness" which is vanilla base custard and they add brew coffee and chocolate chip and blend. I like it as this was not too sweet and rich coffee flavors. $9 (medium). There are other favorites listed but I was not looking for anything crazy. The store has many candy items that you can buy which does not have to ice cream. There is a long bench in the back of the store where you can sit and enjoy the dessert. I like it and will come back for more.

Scooter's is a neighborhood favorite of mine! Their lines can be long, but it is always worth the…read morewait and the staff works hard to keep it moving. I love checking in on their instagram for the flavors of the day. Nothing has disappointed me yet. Inside, there is ample seating and a freezer with pints, quarts, and other frozen treats where you can find something you'll love.

One of the best places in Chicago for ice cream/frozen custard. Highly recommend any of their…read morefrozen custards, sundaes, concretes, or parfaits (Italian ice served on top of vanilla frozen custard; only available in the summertime). Every day they have vanilla, chocolate, and a 3rd rotating frozen custard flavor, as well as a rotating concrete (think McFlurry or Blizzard). Each day during the summer, they also have 1 Italian ice flavor available. Expect a line, especially in the evenings on hot days. You can order inside or outside from the window on the side of the building. Indoor seating is very limited and can get quite crowded. Their hours are a bit limited, they're closed on Tuesdays, and they shut down completely sometime in the late Fall until early Spring, so make sure to check their website for hours of operation. Street parking only!

The Black Dog Gelato is such a cute neighborhood dessert spot. When we went around 10 PM on a…read moreFriday night, luckily it wasn't too crowded, so service was friendly and quick. They didn't have a huge flavor selection, but they covered the basics (vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, hazelnut etc). I chose the pistachio and it was so good and really satisfied my sweet tooth. They did samples when I visited, so I tried the goat cheese caramel, but it was a bit too tangy for my taste. There isn't much indoor seating, but they have cute, little patio seating just outside. Parking isn't ideal if you're coming from a long ways away, but I'm guessing a lot of their customers live close by to walk to it. We may have to visit again before we leave, but high recommend!

Honestly the best thing about this place is how nice their presentation is. Service was slow and…read morethe staff were rude. They were annoyed and short when explaining what some flavors were when I asked. There was a constant awkward and weird feeling while we were there. We got their Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel and Malted Vanilla Pretzel. The gelato is much prettier than it is tasty. The pretzel was the better of the two, but that doesn't say much. The texture was more like ice cream and it was not satisfying overall. Pricey considering the lack of quality and flavor.