50 Best Italian Restaurants near Lincolnwood

“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!“

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

“Nuovo is one of the finest restaurants I've ever eaten in. The food is all fresh and expertly prepared. The dishes are all very artistic and beautifully presented. The flavors are authentic and fantastic. I am always excited to have a night out here, even if I am on my own for the evening.“

“exceptional experience, thanks to both the incredible food and the outstanding service provided by Ayait. From the moment we walked in, Ayait made us feel welcome and took such great care of us throughout our meal. Their attentiveness and friendly demeanor added a wonderful warmth to the dining experience.

The food was equally impressive – each dish was flavorful and beautifully presented. Every bite was a delight, and it was clear that the chefs put great thought into every ingredient. The ambiance, combined with the delicious food and Ayait’s exceptional service, made for a truly memorable. I can’t wait to return and highly recommend“

“First time in Chicago and had to get a Chicago deep dish pizza. Had a couple of recommendations for this place and the reviews were good. Very much worth it! I hade the garlic bread, Malnati side salad, and a personal sized The Lou pizza and it was so delicious! Guadalupe was my server. He had lots of suggestions and explained everything when I told him it was my first time. He was covering a busy area but was so attentive.“

“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!“

“Great food and Ambiance. Highly recommended.“

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

“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!!!“

“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 !!!“

“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!“

“The service was exceptional from the moment we walked in. Our server Sam was very attentive and informative. He made our experience above what we expected. The pizza was SO good and very filling. There is a 45 min wait for deep dishes but it’s well worth it“

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

“I had a great evening at Pasta Veneta with my friends! It was great to see the pastas being handmade in front of us! Our table ordered quite the spread, and everything was really tasty. We all got a pasta, a few appetizers, some drinks, and desserts. Everything was great! The service was also fantastic, and I can’t wait to return!“

“Exceptional bartenders while we waited for our table. EXCELLENT food,drinks and an amazing waiter named Jose that truly made our date night extra special with his exceptional attentiveness to a table of two!“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“Service was prompt and very friendly. Our glasses were always filled/refilled; and staff checked in on our table throughout the meal. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was delightful.
Personal favorites/standouts: scallops + bacon pasta, braised short rib pasta, and tiramisu!!

Vegetarian options: Truffle pasta, tomato burrata pasta, gnocchi, and the desserts“

“This was by far the best authentic Italian dinner I've experienced since living for 3 years in Naples Italy 22 years ago. AMAZING food and service with extremely reasonable pricing for the quality. A special acknowledgent and appreciation to Maria that brought the experince to the next level. Great conversations, so inviting and professional! Thank you Maria, I'll certainly recommend to all my frineds and colleagues to come and enjoy as well!“

“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.“

“Trip from Waukesha to Chicago to celebrate our wedding anniversary, I was really impressed and satisfied with the Italian flavor of all the food, the chef was very friendly, helpful but above all dedicated to the attention of the diners, he was always attentive to every detail in our dishes, he came over several times to help us with the menu and giving recommendations according to our tastes, I was delighted with the treatment and service of the entire team in the restaurant, they made us feel like we were eating in a restaurant in Rome, everything was organized , clean, a pleasant and very calm atmosphere, I recommend it 100%, the olive oil cake is such an exquisite thing, the mortadella with pistachio is an Italian product, the flavor is somewhat indescribable, the cheeses are wow, I really loved it and we are sure to return, Thanks to the Chef and his team for the attention and service!“

“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!“

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

“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!“

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

“Great Italian authentic food… Love the family atmosphere ❤️“

“Come see Elizabeth, service and food were superb! Best Italian Beef sandwich in Chicago.“

“Good food and lovely atmosphere“

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

“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!“

“Nice ambiance! Will eat here again“

“Spectacular pizza. Among the finest in Chicago. The stuffed/deep dish spinach, available by delivery only, is spectacular. The thin crust with CARAMELIZED onions & sausages magnificent. Alas, more often than not, recently, during the Covid transition, the onions are often raw. Or limp. Not dark. Don’t miss the Brussels. Unbelievable“

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

“Cute streetside dining. Food, drinks and service... Excellent!“

“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!!!!“

“The food is delicious!! The staff friendly and very attentive. They help make the whole experience. The atmosphere is so warm and comfortable. I love an hour west of the city but if I will be in Chicago for dinner, it will be at Tuscany. 💚🤍❤️“

“**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!!“

“Wonderful place! Loved the grilled calamari, alpino bianco pizza and orecchiette. Our server Hector gave us great recommendations and made it a very special evening.“

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

“Food is delicious. The best calamari.“

“Always perfection= great service, best food choices and fun atmosphere.“

“Delicious!!! Great service!!!“

“Best pizza ever! I highly recommend eating at this place!“

“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“

“An outstanding experience for the second straight year. Connor was great and was able to swiftly handle unique, last minute dietary restrictions with a guest. Food was so good, we had trouble walking up the stairs!!! Highly recommended“

“Wonderful experience! Best food we had in all of Chicago!“

“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;)“

“Excellent food! Highly recommend.“