50 Best Italian Restaurants near Elmwood Park

“We frequent this restaurant and can say the service and food are outstanding. Very welcoming staff. The fish dishes are delicious and always fresh. Recommend their grilled calamari and whitefish. Pasta dishes are great. DJ nights are awesome, fun times dancing.“

“The food is definitely pretty good here and it's got an old school atmosphere with a touch of modern which is pretty cool and they work pretty hard to keep everything fresh so that's always a plus when you know you're going to get great food so the only downside, parking is really rough around this area and it is a bit expensive but the meal was good?❤?

Parking: They have free street parking but it's a pretty busy area but the food is super fresh and pretty good so that definitely might be worth the hassle of parking“

“Saw this place on TikTok. Did not disappoint! The fresh pasta is awesome and the paninis out of this world. Not to mention, large selection of fresh gelato was a plus.“

“Best pizza eeeeeever. Best spot in the Elmwood Park area.“

“The atmosphere and drinks here are amazing! The staff is friendly and takes good care of their customers!“

“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 !!!“

“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.“

“I've eaten in many restaurants in Italy which are not as good as Il Milanese, right here in Chicago. It's exactly the sort of place you want to be able to walk to in your neighborhood, and go back to again and again. All of the staff is kind, and make you feel at home. (Special thanks to our server, Jason!) The ambience is cozy and fun.
Most importantly, the food is outstanding. The beef carpaccio with truffles was out of this world. So was the tagliatelle al ragu, and the buccatini carbonara. A week later my wife and I returned, and were thrilled with the spaghetti with clams, and a large portion of delicious ossobuco with risotto.
There is a an excellent selection of Italian wines which are reasonably priced.
We look forward to being back again...soon!
Thanks for everyone at Il Milanese for your hard work!“

“Good food and lovely atmosphere“

“Hands down some of the best food I've had in Chicago. The charcuterie was a sensation. I had the best chicken Parm I've ever had in my life. I was there before the pearl Jam show, i wish so much I recalled my servers name, a guy who served us for outside seating. He was a delight. He knew his menu, he had great suggestions and was so friendly and professional. Thank you for a wonderful experience!“

“An intimate space, but the entrées and desserts were excellent and the service was pleasant and efficient. A modest, but reasonable wine list.“

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

“If you are looking for a really special food experience with a cozy casual atmosphere, this is an awesome place to visit. The chef, Ms Dani Kaplan, is the daughter of one of my closest bff. OMG! Each bite is a tastebud delight! And the bar - so special! If you want a true, high-quality, Chicago, eating experience don’t miss this place!!!!“

“It’s great place with great service, a variety of wine options, and delicious pasta!! 100/10“

“**Long Review – Worth the Read!** I first noticed this charming restaurant while driving by a month ago. Intrigued, I did some research and couldn’t wait to visit. Unfortunately, each time I attempted to dine there, they were closed. Lesson learned: always check the hours! Finally, eight days ago, I arrived on a busy Saturday evening. With no seats available inside, we opted for the patio near a heater despite the chilly weather. **What I Loved**: I was impressed as the staff graciously apologized to walk-in guests without reservations, offering them the option to wait or take food to go. Once seated, we were informed about the busy night ahead and things may take a little longer. They made sure to take care of us, even inviting us inside when seats became available. Walking into the restaurant felt like stepping into a trattoria in Italy, the kind only locals know about. The pizza was divine—and reminded me of Naples. The homemade pasta was perfection, and the mussels were absolutely to die for! This meal transported me back to my days living in Italy, away from the tourist trap restaurants. **A Second Visit**: I returned today, craving pizza and pasta, but they were out of pizza. While disappointing, it’s a sign of their growing popularity. Pamela, my server, delivered the news with grace and empathy, which made the experience enjoyable despite the setback. We quickly and playfully switched gears, and she suggested some fantastic alternatives that I loved! I truly appreciate good communication and understand the importance of patience in the dining experience. To those leaving negative reviews: It’s easy to critique from the sidelines. I challenge anyone who thinks they could do better to step into a server's shoes. Patience and kindness are free and go a long way.“

“Such a great experience! Such authentic Italian food! This is the first time since we have had a meal that compared to what we ate in Italy! Flavors were incredible and prices were great for the quality food we got! Grazie Mille!!“

“We were at a holiday/retirement party. Large group. We were well cared for. I highly recommend them for a date night, happy hour or a large party!“

“Gpay didn't work and I had no physical card. After trying the Gpay several times, I gave up. The manager asked for the drink I was drinking back, lol. I got in the car, saw my wallet in the seat and decided not to go back in. I drove out of my way to try this food, but this experience with being asked for the drink back was shocking. #theapartmentlady“

“This place is beautiful amazing as soon as you walk in you smell the deliciousness definitely recommend this place for Italian food
The service was horrible with our waitress she forgot a plate forgot brought the bread after the pasta, arrived forgot the cup of lemonade for my kid, the food took longer than expected to arrive luckily we ordered appetizers I normally don't ever complain but she was bad very upset but we still tipped her and the supervisor or manager gave us a plate to go, bread and a free sangria their sangria is amazing too! Parking was ok bathroom was clean the bus boys served us better thn our actual waitress to the point that the table next to us even noticed how they took a while for our food we were there way before everyone else and were served last but anyway we found a good waiter that when we return we will ask for Pepe he is amazing and helped too so shout out to Pepe and the busboys there they were amazing
Definitely check this place out!!! Everything was 5 stars but our waitress ohhh their bruschettas were delicious too!!“

“5 stars for HECTOR in Western Springs!!! Hands down this was the absolute best dining experience I’ve ever had! While the food was delicious and the overall ambiance and decor of the restaurant was cozy, it was our server that made this dining experience over the top, great! HECTOR, you are a gem, a diamond! You have an absolutely charming personality and made my mother in law’s birthday dinner an experience to remember! From your spot on suggestions, to your lovely rendition of “Happy Birthday”, to the funny banter, our whole family left talking about how wonderful you were! We will be back and we will be sure to come when you are serving! Thank you Hector!!!“

“We’ve been to Buona Terra several times and our experiences have been great. So it made sense to host a party there. We hosted my 60th birthday party at Buona Terra in late April 2024. What made Buona Terra so appealing to us was we could have the entire restaurant to ourselves and the food, of course!Planning the party was so easy with the help of the owner, Eileen. Eileen was helpful and accommodating and walked us through every step from the menu, bar options and different seating options. She emailed sample bar packages and sample lunch and dinner packages. She also said we could create our own menu which was exciting for us. We decided on Caesar Salad, Pasta di la Nona, Chicken Piccata and Tiramisu. When we arrived for the party Eileen had the room set up perfectly for our party of 35. And the weather was so nice she opened the front patio windows. Everyone had a great time! The food was delicious and the staff friendly. Our family and friends all remarked how great everything was and that they’ll all be back, including the Italians;)“

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

“Best Italian sub I've ever had in my life! The atmosphere epitomizes Old Italy and all its charm. Definitely coming back!“

“Well, we just loved it! We expected a slightly more bustling urban Italian experience, but being a bistro, we got a more home kitchen feel. The prices were a little lower than expected, but typical with a dine-in Italian experience.

But the food! We have tried lots of Italian restaurants in Chicago recently. This was a standout. They offer a delicious homemade cornbread and feta spread upon arrival. We ordered the Gorgonzola fettuccine and the linguine putaneska and they were just to die for! The Gorgonzola was creamy and not overpowering. The putaneska was savory, salty in the right way, with lots of umami. The shrimp was cooked to perfection. And the carrot cake with cream cheese icing was delicious. The food was just wonderful.

Going along with the home kitchen feel, the server was casual and friendly. Lovely and personal attention is given. Please give this place a try. It is worth it.“

“an instant superstar in this community, people will come from near and far for this quality of Italian.“

“This place is truly a real gem here in Logan Square! 💎 First of all, I had already fell for it since I saw that it has carpaccio in the menu, which is quite rare to find in Italians restaurants here in Chicago, but after trying it, I knew it was going to be my to go Italian place. 🤤 I have been here a few times and everything I have ordered is delicious, and reasonable prices for such a quality food. But, it also has an early bird menu for $39 that’s a GREAT deal, happy hour everyday, and Ladies Night on Tuesdays. What else can you ask for??? 😏 The restaurant is run by its owner who is constantly making sure you have a pleasant experience, but the staff is not far behind. Everyone is super friendly, respectful, and efficient. Last but not least, the place is cozy and beautiful and always has sunflowers which I love since it is my favorite flower😍🌻“

“Excellent food! Highly recommend.“

“We want to thank John and his staff for doing an amazing job at our daughter’s graduation party. Everything was perfect. The food was amazing. We highly recommend this restaurant for any type of party or just for dinner. You will not be disappointed!“

“Went to mia Francesca today on a date with my boyfriend celebrating an anniversary. We ordered the bolognese and rigatoni which were both amazing. Walking in the atmosphere was definitely busy, but we were escorted to a table right away. The service was very quick considering the fullness within the dining area. The manager paisley took our food and drink order and was the absolute sweetest. She was so easy to converse with and was accommodating each and every request perfectly. She was super efficient and effective with every guest I saw her interact with. Definitely a place to visit in Chicago!“

“Grande! Finalmente anche gli americani possono mangiare una pizza seria.“

“We needed to be in Chicago for Thanksgiving this year and wanted to find a nice restaurant open Thanksgiving Day in Logan's Square. So happy we found Saba. They offered a pre fixe traditional Thanksgiving meal but we opted to order from the standard menu. Everything was delicious including the gnocchi with pesto, the linguini basilico with prosiutto, chicken and eggplant parms and cocktails. The staff was very friendly and really made a holiday out of town very enjoyable.“

“Truly a family-owned, family-run and family-centric establishment. We've witnessed them grow since they opened in 1999, and their craft is perfected. Whether you want a quiet date night with some ridiculously delicious pasta and wine; or a coffee and Gelato; or a quick lunch of a sandwich, pizza or arancini and pasta salad... you can't go wrong. They're expert caterers and you won't have to worry about a thing if you're hosting an event of any kind. Love!“

“Loved this place! Very authentic, with a feeling of good home cooked food!
Everything was very tasty!
We tried the grilled octopus, the vesuvio shrimp, and the Portobello salad as starters and then got the fusilli pasta and the dish of the day, ossobuco beef with parmesan risotto! Everything was great!
Very big portions and very reasonable prices! Definitely a place I will come back to!“

“lo consigli vivamente su tutto, cibo, locale raffinato personale competente ed infine la proprietaria una persona meravigliosa“

“Had dinner on 12/17/2023 service and food was excellent. Gluten free menu available.“

“We visited for the first time yesterday and it was AMAZING! Great ambience, friendly staff, good music but the food was the star of the show. Absolutely delicious! Everything from the bread, salads, soups and entrees. We will definitely be back!!!“

“Excellent food, great service, knowledgeable waitress“

“Food is amazing, me and my girlfriend come here often even though we live almost an hour away. Every dish, drink, server or host we have had were great. Joey is the best server we have had at any restaurant and will ask for him every time! Definitely come eat here and ask for Joey!“

“Nottoli's is the Best Italian Food in Chicagoland Period! Everything is Handmade! The Homemade Italian Sausage is World Class! The Sandwiches are Amazing, They Also Have Frozen Food, The Frozen Handmade Pizza's are Delicious! We Have 4 Generations of My Family that have Shopped at Nottoli's...We Highly Recommend it!! 🏆👍🏻“

“Beautiful restaurant, great decor and ambiance. The food was delicious and beautifully presented. Everything was perfect!“

“It is always a pleasure dining here. Wonderful service is always provided. Great food with large portions. The cocktails are amazing! Let’s not forget the tasty appetizers and scrumptious desserts!!! GA must try!! You will not be disappointed!!“

“Wow delicious pizza and great atmosphere. Would highly recommend. #ella'sitalianpub“

“Food was delicious. Service was great and nice ambiance too. Lunch menu was reasonable & delish.“

“Very good food. We enjoy the dinner. Very good service too“

“My FAVORITE grilled chicken sandwich! Everything is amazing! Highly recommend!“

“Love this new for me tasty omg takecare uslike a VIP excellent service quality and oldiest place wonderful“

“Quaint place with excellent food and cocktails at a reasonable price. The service was exceptional in this unexceptional restaurant environment. Our Server was excellent. She didn’t miss a beat! We enjoyed the evening.“

“A very good restaurant. The food was very good and service was solid. We started with Mussels. My only request would have been to add a little more extra sauce. I had the orecchiette Bernese and it was great and huge. My guest had the rigatoni Bernese and it was the same. The tiramisu to finish was nice and very light. All good food.

Parking: Restaurant will validate for parking across the street.“

“Love this place. Great flavorful food, great wait staff. Our “goto” place for great comfort food.“

“I am impressed with the quality of the food. I was on vacation in Chicago and New York, I visited many restaurants, but I ate the most delicious food at the "Anto Pizza and Pasta" restaurant. Thank you for the excellent service and great food. ☺️“