50 Best Italian Restaurants near Melrose Park

“One of our favorite festivals to attend is Taste of Melrose Park. They have some Hispanic food, Italian, and a little polish. When you enter on either side they have security and police officers with metal detectors. Coming in from 25th Avenue they have a section of carnival rides. As you go towards the food you pass through tents that have local vendors from Car dealership to clothes. They also have some entertainment from time to time near the information booth. You pass that then you have the drinks booth were you need tickets to purchase drinks then you enter the food tents area. They do have outdoor bathrooms to use and some dessert tents. Favorite was the meatball sandwhichs the tacos and the tres Leche. Pass that they have the stage area for the live music at night. They also have stand up tables within the middle of the food tent and near the washrooms they have a seating area for customers and they have a tent for seniors as well.“

“I have been coming to this location for a little over a year now and they just. don’t. miss. You walk in that front door and they are always ready to push out orders! I go so often I’m starting to think I annoy them a little 😂 all jokes aside, I have tried pizza from all over the state and others too, but nothing can compare to a slice from Anthony B’s. They never have the pizza just sitting it’s always fresh and piping hot. It’s HONESTLY the BEST PIZZA I have ever tasted in my life. I find myself coming back at least once a week (or more 😂) if you feel like you’ve never tasted REAL pizza come to Anthony B’s, you’ll never want a slice from anywhere else. Thank you to the amazing employees who are dedicated to providing AMAZING quality and thank you specifically the young lady with the blonde streaks, she is so so amazing, kind and SUCH a hard worker. Thank you Anthony B’s for being so MARVELOUS !“

“Incredible food. Very high quality“

“My cousin and I left the Chili's down the street and we were very disgruntled, but the staff at Olive Garden here were so friendly warm and welcoming. Neela was our server and she was the sweetest server we had. Thank you to Olive Garden for turning around our food experience today!“

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

“We had a wonderful dinner here celebrating my wife’s birthday, it was truly a memorable evening. The restaurant was warm, comfortable, and inviting, the staff made us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived. We enjoyed the chicken piccata and the porterhouse steak, both were excellent. A special thank you to our waiter, Edion, who was friendly, attentive, and made our evening even more enjoyable. We were especially glad he recommended the arancini, they were delicious! Overall, it was a fantastic experience with great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and exceptional service. We will definitely be back!“

“Just had lunch with my neighbor Jorge and as usual was NOT disappointed! Chris was her usual friendly self. She’s always on the ball about pleasing people and sending them home happy and full. Rose was the waitress everyone dreams of. Patient and funny all in the same breath. If you haven’t been to LaVilla I highly recommend a visit. You will want to return again and again! I’d be there more often but I have no self control. 🤣“

“The gm Stephan is amazing. Great experience and great good and service“

“The food is excellent and I cannot say enough kind words about how amazing the staff is. Every time we bring our toddler here, they treat her so special, making her smile, and so attentive to her. She absolutely adores the servers we’ve had. It makes you feel like part of the family.“

“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!!!!“

“Last week I hosted a private party for 20 people. We had drinks, dinner, dessert and it was all delicious! The service was outstanding and Eileen went out of her way to ensure the event was beautifully planned. It was everything I could have asked for. Thank you!“

“Food was excellent. Service impeccable! Will definitely go back again!“

“This is our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood, hands down. We've been regulars since they opened, and we're always leaving happy and satisfied. The owner is consistently very welcoming and genuinely glad to see us return. My husband is known for ordering his favorite dish, pork chop, and I for constantly asking for the Chef's cheesecake, which is usually not on the menu. I'm excited to hear about their new uptown location. Congratulations!“

“Wonderful all around. Amazing food,amazing wait staff, 10/10 atmosphere as well.“

“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“

“Never a bad meal or evening at Mia Francesca’s, but what’s been even more special has been our server Rebecca, who we’ve been lucky enough to have the last two dates here. She’s sweet, attentive but not intrusive, and makes the night feel special!“

“I recently dined at Gaia and had a wonderful experience. The garlic butter shrimp stuffed with crab meat was cooked to perfection, and the flavors were fresh and well-balanced. Our server was very attentive and gave us great menu recommendations. The cacio ee pepe is a must try, they cook the pasta in a cheese wheel at your table. The atmosphere was cozy, making it a great spot for a relaxed dinner. I will definitely come back!“

“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!!“

“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!!!“

“Went there with two former colleagues; we meet from time to time to catch up and solve world problems. It was the first time at Pasta d'Arte for each of us.

Food and service were marvelous, and I came away wishing the restaurant were closer to my near north home. I've not had better Italian cooking in Chicago, and we all thought Pasta d'Arte was a great discovery.

Only drawback, which disappeared as the night wore on and other folks finished and left, was the hard room surfaces which made conversation tough at times. But we left glad to have discovered a place with such good cooking and service.“

“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.“

“Perfect all around. Great atmosphere, prompt perfect service, polite attentive staff. The chef has a gift and talent. The bone in new york strip cooked to my specification and the sauce had a rich deep flavor that complemented the steak perfectly. The grilled calamari and shrimp was perfect, and the flavor was like nothing I had before. Dessert was Bananas Foster was mind blowing and prepared table side. We will be back again. This is a must try and repeat spot. The drinks were also on point.“

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

“I’ve been eager to try Mortadeli since it first opened, and after hearing so many rave reviews, I finally had the chance to stop by for lunch yesterday. Let me tell you, everything everyone says about this place is spot on! First off, the food is absolutely delicious. Everything on the menu is so tempting, it was hard to choose, but I went with the meatball sub and pasta salad. As someone whose grandmother made the best meatball sandwiches, my expectations were high – but Mortadeli’s version did not disappoint! It was fantastic. The pasta salad was also amazing, fresh, and perfectly seasoned. The atmosphere at Mortadeli is incredibly inviting – it strikes the perfect balance between classy and cozy. The staff are very friendly, and you can tell they genuinely care about making your experience special. The service was top-notch, with attentive staff and quick delivery of our food. One of the owners even took the time to chat with us a bit. Another pleasant surprise was the parking – I had my doubts at first, but we found a spot just around the corner with no problem at all. Overall, the experience was fantastic, and I’ll definitely be back. Mortadeli is a must-visit!“

“Love this place! We eat here frequently on Sundays!“

“Best calamari and eggplant around. My husband and I go to different restaurants on Friday's for calamari & eggplant parmesan . Antonino's is the best.“

“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!!“

“Absolutely the best Italian Beef sandwich on the south side, arguably the best in Chicago. The home made Giardiniera is also very good, with the perfect amount of heat. The sandwich is huge and the price is very good. Wish they had fresh cut fries. People working there are always nice. Small place, not a lot of seating, but has the old school Chicago vibe that I like. I live an hour away, but if I'm in the area I always stop in for a bite.“

“I always stop when I’m nearby!“

“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!! 🏆👍🏻“

“Solid food every time! Had great risotto last night, their pastas are always good & great cocktails. Take home family meals are delicious and a lot of food for the money. Recommend!“

“My sister Shelly Nagy purchased tickets to a Sunday afternoon drag brunch to celebrate my birthday! Marco not only held the door open for his guests, but he was also very kind and generous! He offered 2nd helpings (my only regret is that I did not indulge on that offer). Our meal was plentiful, delicious and presented beautifully! The bartenders cocktails (garnished w/ fresh flowers!) are pure elegance and his customer service skills are excellent! The drag show was a blast! The music was a hit (inside and out) and the upscale atmosphere will always have me anxiously waiting to come back soon! Thank you Marcos & Shelly for the most wonderful birthday celebration anyone will ever dream of! Gorgeous Downtown LaGrange is lucky to have Marco’s Kitchen! Take me back already!“

“We ordered food for our daughter’s graduation party and it was amazing and so good! All of our guests commented how good everything was. Sandwich tray, vodka pasta and Italian beef were outstanding!“

“Amazing food and it tasted awesome .. Would love to visit again .. Staff were very helpful and ambiance was excellent .. 5 stars !!“

“My family and I love this place. You can’t go wrong with anything you order. Great service and family atmosphere too.“

“The food and atmosphere were great!!!!!!!! Reasonably priced and attentive service!“

“Raffi is a wonderful host and the server is very attentive. Loved all of the meals I have had there over the years. My favorite is the mostaciolli with spinach and ricotta, better at Raffis than anywhere else I’ve been.“

“Great atmosphere and great food and drinks. We came here for my friend’s birthday and John M was an excellent server! The mozzarella is EXCELLENT! It was in the caprese and the risotto and was probably our absolute favorite part of each dish. The gnocchi has a great homemade flavor and has a very flavorful sauce! Branzino is also very yummy! The espresso martini, green goddess, and luccacello martini are excellent as well. The crudo was also incredible and very fresh. 10/10 recommend for a nice dinner with fun live music!“

“Food was good as hell frfr and u get a lot with the chicken Alfredo and broccoli 🥦“

“Our entire experience was wonderful, from the valet parking, the excellent service, friendly faces, mouth watering entrees and delicious desserts! We are from southern Illinois and have always wanted to visit. So glad we did, as we had an excellent time, never felt rushed and will definitely visit again!“

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

“Excellent food, great service, knowledgeable waitress“

“Excelente servicio y comida deliciosa“

“One of the best spots for authentic Italian and the best traditional atmosphere and great service and customers!“

“awesome place thank you Jackie and Gio“

“We were looking for new places to try this week and I came across Ella’s. Not too far from home and the menu looked great. Stopped in early on Saturday evening and grabbed a spot at the bar. Great bar for sure!! The whole place looks great. A little swanky and dim lights so it makes for a great date night. They had a super inviting patio out front but it was a little hot out so we stayed inside. We will be back to dine outside for sure!
We love to share plates so we got two appetizers and a salad. The Arancini alla Vodka was absolutely delicious, should have ordered two. The bacon wrapped dates were amazing. The house salad, perfect. Great drink selection as well. The menu has a great variety, not just Italian.
The staff was great, super friendly and attentive.
I love when smaller local places just do it right and Ella’s does it right!
Can’t wait to come back and dine alfresco.“

“great food, great service, good times.“

“Really good food choices and great staff super nice and very helpful and friendly will recommend 100 times over A++++++++. Around“

“Everything is fresh and delicious! They really have something for everyone including vegan! It’s fast food only in the sense that it is fast. It’s very affordable too and we love their points program! Love their cheese ravioli and meatballs! I also love the Rainbow cone which is a Chicago original! It may seem like a weird combination of flavors but it works! Great customer service!“