50 Best Italian Restaurants near Northlake

“fun atmosphere and great service love this place 😍“

“BEST Italian food in Illinois, this place is absolutely amazing. We got the poblano soup and the rigatoni alla traverstin and it was the best pasta and soup I have ever had. I requested it to be spicy, and they made it exactly how I wanted it, it was wonderful! My husband ordered his without the spice and it was just as amazing. Also, it is very refreshing to have a restaurant where all of the waiter and waitresses have conversations with the guests, it was so great to see. We had Susanna and her sister and they were so sweet to us. They all are so hospitable and genuinely great people. We have tried many many Italian restaurants in the area, and this is by far the best one and a must try.“

“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!“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“We tried Gaia for the first time on Mother’s Day and were pleasantly surprised by how wonderful the entire experience was. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. The service was fantastic; the staff was attentive, never letting our drinks go empty, and every course was timed perfectly.

The food was incredible, and every bite was delicious. The bruschetta was perfectly prepared, the Alfredo sauce was rich, creamy, and cheesy, and the chocolate fudge cake drizzled with strawberry sauce was absolutely to die for.

If you’re looking for a charming Italian restaurant for a night out with friends, family, or someone special, I highly recommend giving Gaia a try!“

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

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

“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“

“What a great meal and service at Pasta D'Arte Trattoria Italiana!

To start, the drinks were solid—a nicely balanced Manhattan on the rocks and generous pours on the wines by the glass. Our group of four shared the Caprese Salad and Caesar Salad, both excellent and plenty to go around.

For entrées, we enjoyed the Linguini Del Mare, Pumpkin Ravioli, Osso Buco, and Walleye Alla Piccata. Everyone loved their dishes! Note that the tomato-based sauces have a nice spicy kick from red pepper—we really enjoyed it, but if you prefer milder, I assume they can likely accommodate.

The attentive and knowledgeable service made the experience even better, guiding us through choices nicely. Free valet on a busy Saturday night was a plus as well, and the overall vibe was welcoming.

My only complaint: the place gets very noisy on a packed Saturday night, making conversation tough without raising your voice. It's that lively, bustling trattoria energy, though!
Overall, a fantastic meal and service—we'll definitely be back!“

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

“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!!!“

“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..“

“I always stop when I’m nearby!“

“Food, service and experience was perfection!“

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

“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!“

“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!! 🏆👍🏻“

“I used to eat here all the time, unfortunately, I moved away and it’s been almost 10 years since I’ve eaten Serino’s. The food is amazing! It’s just like going to grandma‘s house and getting some fresh made Italian food!!!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Excellent food, great service, knowledgeable waitress“

“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!“

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

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

“Outstanding from Start to Finish!

We recently placed a catering order from Lucca for a big company luncheon. They just rolled out their catering menu, so we were one of the firsts to try it. And let me say - the food and service truly exceeded all expectations.

From the very first interaction with Sonia, her team was professional, responsive, and genuinely invested in making our event a success. They were incredibly accommodating with menu options and special requests to make sure our luncheon was a success.

The food itself was absolutely phenomenal—beautifully presented, fresh, and bursting with flavor. Every dish was a hit with our guests, and we received countless compliments throughout the afternoon. It was clear that high-quality ingredients and great attention to detail were a top priority.

The staff that delivered the food were punctual, friendly, and highly organized, ensuring we had everything without us having to worry about a thing.

If you’re looking for a reliable, high-quality catering service that delivers both exceptional food and outstanding service, I can’t recommend Lucca Osteria & Bar highly enough. We will absolutely be using them again for future events!“

“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.“

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

“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!!“

“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!“

“If your looking for a true hidden neighborhood gem come to Pastina. I came here for Valentine's Day with my wife and had a wonderful time. The food was excellent and all the recommendations were on point. The chef was also able to make anything off menu but we went with the offerings. The Chicken Lemon I had was delicious and very well prepared with fresh capers. My wife had the chicken Vesuvio and loved her food and enjoyed the fresh mushrooms in the sauce, she said it was like eating two different meals at the same time. We also had the spinach soup which my wife fell in love with and now wants the recipe. The Bruschetta with the sweet roasted tomatoes is a must try. For dessert we topped it off with a delicious creme brulee cheese cake. Our server was very kind and attentive and everything she recommended was 5 stars. I will say this is a very date night spot and cozy space but don't let that stop you from coming with a small group of friends though I'd recommend a reservation for that. Neighborhood parking isn't too bad but I'd say give yourself a little time to get here and find a spot. I can't wait to come back and try more.“

“awesome place thank you Jackie and Gio“

“Came here for Mother’s Day! Great food we each had a different dish and shared Calamari for the table. Delicious. The sauce was just like Nonna makes!“

“great food, great service, good times.“

“We were a fan of the fabulous food already. But when my husband and daughter planned a surprise Birthday party for me, we were VERY impressed. They said whenever they asked Ricardo for something the only thing they heard was: No problem! OR… Whatever you need! And ALL of our guests complimented the food and most took home doggie bags. If you need a party room and want to work with the most accommodating staff - give Ricardo a call. If I could give a 10 star rating - I would. I promise you won’t be disappointed!“

“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!“

“First visit here and everyone in our group loved their meals. Karen was our server and she was just awesome. My meal was so good, I couldn't wait to get at my leftovers (and my wife's leftovers when she wasn't looking). They are not close to where we live, but we'd definitely go back next time we're in the area!!“

“My first time trying Giuliano’s! I picked up a pizza last evening and literally could not stop eating it. This is arguably the BEST pizza in the entire Chicago suburbs. I got thin crust with spinach and roasted red peppers. The sauce, cheese, and toppings were absolutely amazing. What a great find and will recommend to all my friends!!“

“Friendly, professional staff and delicious food.“

“Excelente servicio y comida deliciosa“

“I love this place! Good!!“

“I ate dinner at Donny G's several hours ago and am still thinking about my memorable fine-dining experience. I ordered the cream of broccoli soup, shrimp de jonghe, and chicken marsala. All three were really delicious. The sauces on the shrimp and chicken were outstanding. Hector was my waiter, and I appreciate his excellent service. I always look forward to dining at Donna G's because this restaurant never disappoints.“

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

“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 !“

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

“Exceptional Italian food“

“Incredible food. Very high quality“

“My best friend recommended Ellas’s and it was amazing! Definitely going back soon! The ambiance is soft and cozy. Every staff member I related with was friendly and went out of their way to make me comfortable with my requests. The food was amazing!! Very well done and stylishly served. Absolutely loved everything here!“

“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.“