50 Best Italian Restaurants near Melrose Park

“One of the few remaining ethnic food festivals around. The old-time carnival rides were full of fun for the grandkids. The food was provided by many mom & pop shops who have been cooking Italian for years. No admission charge and each vendor charging $2 - 3 per item. Adjacent Taste of Mexico section provides even more variety. The Folklorico dancers put on a most professional show as did the other entertainment stages. Will definitely bring the family back next year.“

“Ordered pizza tonight, perfectly crisp and delicious. Really hot the spot.“

“Incredible food. Very high quality“

“I am beyond please with the service our server Kelsey gave. I hated that that I couldn’t do the survey for her because the kiosk died. Hopefully the managers will be able to read this review. It’s not very often I see someone super kind and very energetic. Kelsey you truly are wonderful with your customer service. Definitely would be amazing to have another day as a server. You definitely set the standard! Anyone would be happy to have her as a server! Thank you so much Kelsey!

The food was delicious! Definitely a great place to come!“

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

“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!!!!“

“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 room, excellent food and service for my mother in law’s 75th birthday celebration! Thank you! Would highly recommend!“

“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!“

“Best beef sandwich in the Southside, great season fries , breadsteak sandwich is also great, breakfast sandwich can't go wrong too. Been eating thier since I was 10 years old now in my mid 40's great shacks too family own since 1975“

“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“

“We love this restaurant! The servers and the chef are very careful about preparing food that is allergy free for me! And the birthday treat of Lemon Italian Ice was just as excellent as our main courses. I had a modified dairy-free version of the shrimp with broccoli on linguine in tomato sauce rather than pistachio cream sauce, and my husband had linguine with clams in red sauce. Both were cooked to perfection!!!“

“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 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!“

“Just a fantastic place everything I order is always excellent! I ordered the sun-dried tomatoes and a side order of meatballs that were fantastic. I highly recommend this place the pizzas excellent the cannolis out of this world, etc..“

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

“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;)“

“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!“

“Cozy location! I like this place!“

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

“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!“

“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!!!“

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

“This was our second time dining at Positano’s and it was just as fabulous! The food here is superb, the wait staff are very attentive and we love the photos on the wall! The Seabass was to die for and the grilled seafood appetizer was divine! Our only regret is that we live in New York and cannot be frequent patrons of this wonderful establishment! Mille Grazie!!“

“Excellent food, great service, knowledgeable waitress“

“I have been shopping at Nottoli for 25+ years. Their Italian sausage is the best. Yesterday, I called in an order for a party tray of 40 mini sub sandwiches at 2:15 pm. They were ready at 3:15 for pick up. The sandwiches were “award winning”. My wife brought them to a rehearsal for her church choir. Their staff is top notch. If you have not visited the store please do, you will not be disappointed.“

“Great food, drink, atmosphere, people!“

“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!!“

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

“Irena was an amazing waitress. There to celebrate a 102 birthday and they went above and beyond. I come from MN and this is the best Italian in Chicago and the only one I will go to! Thank you!“

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

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

“We came for my daughters birthday. We had a reservation for 6:45 but they were running a behind but that's understandable for a Saturday night. Overall I'd give the food a 6.5 out 10. But the server is 10/10. Our server was Kara. And she is Phenomenal! She was So sweet, informative and personable. I felt like she Actually cared about experience. When she checked in to see how things tasted she really listened. She even sang happy birthday to my daughter. I'd Definitely come back to try some of the other things on the menu.“

“Fantastic place! Pastina is a hidden gem in the neighborhood. By far, the best Italian restaurant in the area. Food is made fresh daily, the service is phenomenal, and the restaurant is charming and cozy. Try this place if you haven't already! You will not be disappointed.“

“Phenomenal food great service“

“The food was great. I had the gluten free pasta with bolognese sauce, delish. Hubby had Rigatoni alla Cucina. I'm going to try that with gluten free pasta. But next I'll check out a gluten free pizza. Service was excellent, prices are decent and the atmosphere is adorable. We'll be back for sure.“

“The best Italian Cusine in the northside of Chicago.“

“This past weekend a group ( 14 ) of us experienced a wonderful evening at Pazzi Di Pizza in Elmhurst. It was a fun get-together that was enhanced by great appetizers and varied, delicious pizzas. We also were served by some of the best and most courteous staff we have ever experienced. Marco, the Manager, who attentively scheduled our evening, came over, introduced himself, inquired about our needs, and then introduced us to Charlie, our evening's server. Charlie was exceptional!! It was our second time meeting at this venue, and I highly recommend a visit!“

“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.“

“Great service and always consistent food. They have a partnership until August 23 with @makeawish“

“I always stop when I’m nearby!“

“Dinner was great. Service was outstanding. Dinner was well paced - never rushed. Highly recommend.“

“great food, great service, good times.“

“Excelente servicio y comida deliciosa“

“The best pizza! Love the Summer outdoor dinning. I highly recommend this restaurant. So happy is so close to me ❤️“

“awesome place thank you Jackie and Gio“

“Claudia was the most amazing waitress we have ever had at an Olive Garden!!!! She was so attentive, kind, and efficient. It was like she was reading our minds!!!!!!!!!! Not even kidding! Always one step ahead. She sang beautifully for my friend’s birthday and our cake was delicious! Thank you Claudia!“

“Been here a handful of times ..
The pizza is th Star !!
Last few times the food was not as on par with the first 3-4 times.
Staff was slow and food was slow.
The first few times i went was when they first opened.
Seems service went down a bit!“

“I've been here a few times, and each time I come back to the restaurant, it feels like I'm back in Italy! The food is outstanding and the staff is incredible. Whether you dine inside or outside, it's just as good. Great restaurant for date night or going with the family! It's a new all-time favorite without question.

Cin cin ??“

“Amazing staff and the food was literally so fresh and DELICIOUS!!!! Worth the trip & portions are HUGE! I had the Diablo shrimp pasta, so flavorful and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Will be back again! :)“