38 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago

“My Fiancé and I discovered this restaurant after watching “Somebody Feed Fill” and were inspired and intrigued by Sarah’s restaurant and craftsmanship. We had our eye on getting reservations here for a very long time and we ended up landing lunch reservations for my Fiancés birthday (whom is also a Chef). We just happened to be seated by the expo line near the kitchen where we saw Sarah working. From start to finish our server Rose, and Sarah made sure our experience was personalized special. Sarah even signed the cookbook we bought and menu! Everything was on point from the food to the service. I can see why it’s so hard to get a reservation here! If we could rate our experience higher we would. We greatly appreciate the hospitality and dedication that this restaurant displays!“

“Wonderful Birthday/ Father’s Dinner tonight…Ambiance, Food and Staff absolutely incredible!!! John and Cole, along with the rest of the Ciccio Team are the consummate professionals!!!“

“Intimate place with great food and service. Chicken parmesan and rigatoni were delicious. If I lived closer, I certainly would be a regular.“

“Alla Vita is an exceptional restaurant for several reasons. First, their menu offers a delicious variety of authentic Italian dishes, prepared with fresh and high-quality ingredients. The atmosphere is warm and elegant, perfect for a romantic dinner or a night out with friends. Additionally, the service is impeccable, with a friendly and attentive staff that ensures every diner has a memorable experience. The combination of exquisite flavors, charming ambiance, and excellent service makes Alla Vita an outstanding choice for any occasion.“

“I have never eaten food like this before! It is so good and I am leaving beyond satisfied!“

“Nice ambiance! Will eat here again“

“I am late writing my review but I had to write it !! I visited provare chicago On july 8th !! From start to finish this restaurant gets 5 starts . The decor was nice and set a perfect atmosphere for a great night . We were greeted immediately upon arrival and seated within 5 minutes of being there . Once seated the wait staff began their introduction's on drinks and popular menu item's. After my party ordered drinks and appetizers a gentleman came over (not sure if he was the manager) and introduce himself and made sure we were having a great experience. Appetizers were amazing!! We couldn't wait for dinner!! Our entrées we just as good if not better ! Everything was cooked and seasoned to perfection! When we didn't think the night could get even better the entire wait staff and the gentleman that came over before stopped and recognized my friend for her birthday and brought over a birthday surprise!! I live 307 miles and this place was definitely worth the drive !!!“

“Pasta Veneta offers a good range of Italian classics, and we definitely had a nice meal. The burrata was a highlight — fresh and flavorful — and the pasta dishes were enjoyable, especially the truffle gnocchi, which had great depth of flavor. We also really liked the red wine blend. Worth a visit if you're looking for a dependable Italian option in the area.“

“We've never been disappointed in our half dozen visits to Peanut Park. The pizzas are great, sausage and peppers appetizer, the pastas, and a great hazelnut gelato! The service is friendly. Parking is easy. There's a certain kind of nostalgia in a neighborhood restaurant like this. We'll be back!“

“Best restaurant in Chicago ! ❤️“

“Wonderful restaurant. Food was excellent very close to what I had in Rome. Staff very friendly and made our dining very enjoyable! Go here!!“

“Good food and lovely atmosphere“

“Eravamo in 4 a cena e siamo rimasti soddisfatti sia del cibo che del servizio . Il locale era pieno di gente ma la cameriera Maria ci ha serviti velocemente e in maniera simpatica e professionale. Le pizze che abbiamo mangiato sono state ottime. Ristorante consigliato.“

“The deep dish pizza was rich, cheesy, and packed. The crust was thick but still buttery and soft, which made it really satisfying. Each slice was filling, so it’s definitely a meal to share with friends or family. The place had a laid-back atmosphere and the staff were friendly, making it a spot worth visiting again.“

“Highly impressed with your work and services“

“Best pasta I’ve had in so long. Had a great experience there, have had 4 different pastas: the fried truffle, the bucatini arabiata, the Torchio special, and the Cacio E Pepe. All of them are fantastic. They told me at the table once I inquired how they learned the recipes that the owner and his wife studied in Italy with the “Nonnas”. This restaurant is their retirement project… go figure. Anyways 10/10“

“Chef Wilson is a culinary genius! All ingredients are responsibly sourced and a crafted with such attention to detail. His flavorful pairings are out of this world.“

“We always look forward to takeout (during COVID) and look forward to seeing you in person. Pizza is always fantastic!!! Always!“

“We drove down from Milwaukee. I’ve been wanting to try Tortello since they’ve opened and I found out that they source their eggs from where I get mine (they are the best). Dario was kind, friendly, and extremely engaging. The food was fantastic. We started with Focaccia Ricotta & Honey which was ridiculously good. I had the spaghetti pomodoro which was perfectly balanced sauce to pasta to cheese. My husband had the Cacio e Pepe and devoured it. Our son had the Kids Lumache and ate half (he’s only two) and inhaled the rest tonight. It smelled even better the second time around if that’s possible. Best authentic Italian I’ve had in the States. Felt great after too, not like I’d eaten a pound of pasta. If you aren’t making plans to go sometime soon…you’re missing out!“

“Outstanding Northern Italian-inspired cuisine! Wonderful dining experience. Delicious food and excellent service.“

“If you are looking for old school Italian with a modern flare, this is the place!“

“We had such a great date night here! We did the wine pairing dinner and they collaborated with Planeta from Sicily. Such a special evening 🤎“

“Photos from ~10:30 on a Friday night: perfect late night dinner substitute
Not gonna rob you, huge single slices, open well past when you should think about going home.
**consider the mac’n’cheese pizza, will change your life!“

“Wonderful, creative menu as well as great service.“

“Best food,great service,Love The Open windows beautiful summer breezes, it’s a Delight💜🩷🩵Fun🎊🎉and great desserts and did I mention the food is fabulous!!“

“Family friendly restaurant with food choices for everyone but the made fresh pasta was the best part!“

“Love this place. This restaurant also has very great service staff.“

“We had an excellent experience. Service was exceptional. Food was well timed and delicious. Ordered Garlic Knots, baked mozzarella, arrancini, Caesar salad, bolognese, veal parm, pizza, shrimp scampi, tiramisu.

Everything was super delicious. Portions were large. We took home leftovers. I would definitely come back. Did not get pics of everything. Atmosphere was lovely and perfect for date night but casual enough that my family felt welcome for an early dinner. I especially loved that they fry their chicken/veal parms in a separate fryer and the flavor is amazing.“

“Wonderful meal while on our van Galder day trip to a concert. Wonderful service, food and atmosphere. They even packaged up a tiramisu for our bus driver!“

“oh my goodness I found this pizza by chance at my local Meijer. Hands down best frozen pizza or any take and bake. The sausage was delightful and the Cheese was The Cheesiest ever it actually did the cheese stretch. Great Job it doesn't deserve the Bottom shelf“

“Celebrated my birthday here and had a wonderful time! Great food, and really enjoy the Cosmopolitan martini! 🍸 I had the Branzino. All delicious! Recommend!👍🏽“

“The food and service were AMAZING. Will most definitely be coming back here again!“

“I have food allergies. They made a delicious pizza that I could eat and enjoy instead the usual tasteless salad that I have to get so often. Couldn't be happier.“

“The focaccia alone is worth writing home about—pillowy, warm, and absolutely addictive. I nearly had food FOMO when I saw my friend’s dreamy mushroom risotto… but then my short rib arrived and I stopped questioning my life choices. It was fall-apart tender and full of rich, deep flavor.

My husband ordered the veal ossobuco, and let’s just say—every dish at our table was to die for. From start to finish, the meal was unforgettable.

Can’t recommend Il Milanese highly enough. 10/10. Already planning our return.“

“I made reservations for Saturday, July 19th, but upon arriving and noticing the bar wasn't busy, I opted to sit in the back corner. It was my first time at the restaurant, and the space looked beautiful. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the ambiance. I sat for several minutes before anyone acknowledged me. Someone eventually handed me a brunch menu—which surprised me since I came for dinner. I had to request both the regular food and cocktail menus from the male bartender. I ordered the fried calamari and vegetables, which were quite good—tender calamari and lightly battered vegetables. After finishing, Amelia asked if I wanted another drink. I told her I was ready to order dinner. Frustratingly, no one had asked if I planned to dine—something typical at a bar. I ordered the Branzino based on her recommendation. The tomato sauce was flavorful, though the vegetables weren't hot. Still, no one checked on my meal or offered more silverware, which had been cleared with my appetizer. Thankfully, a tall, slim, dark-haired barback noticed and brought me a fresh set. He also asked how everything was—something none of the bartenders did. He later brought a to-go container and followed up with the dessert menu, showing far more attentiveness than the bartenders, who didn't seem busy—just disengaged. After my meal, I waited for someone to bring the check. With a to-go bag in front of me, I sat at the bar for several minutes without a single bartender stopping by. Again, the barback stepped in and brought it. The food and ambiance were great, but the bartenders' service was lacking. The barback truly saved the evening—he was the star of the night. Sadly, the overall experience makes me hesitant to return.“

“Traveling to Chicago for a concert and this place stood out for a bite to eat. Our expectations of the food were exceeded and the staff was amazing!“

“Had supper at the bar before the ELO concert. Service was great, the food was delicious! I definately would go back!“

“Great old school Italian food and atmosphere, always good food and service.“