50 Best Italian Restaurants near Winnetka

“My sister and I both ordered the grilled salmon. She asked for her to be cooked through; I asked for mine to be prepred per chef's recommendation. Both of our dishes were prepared to our specifications. Mine was seared on the outside and tender moist on the inside. To add to that perfection, the sunchoke purée had an amazing mélange of flavors. I finished my meal with the Scorza Dolce--also packed with flavor.I have now had three meals that were so exquisitely flavorful that they will stick in my mind forever (previous two are from 1981 and 2005). My salmon at Mino's is now my #1 all-time favorite meals!“

“Fresh and delicious attention to detail. Just had a deep dish pizza with red onion and yellow peppers. Perfect balance of flavors.“

“The food is delicious and the people are extremely friendly. I am a big fan and highly recommend there Eggplant Parmigiano, beet salad, curries, and Spaghetti marinara. But you can’t go wrong, food is top quality. They make my life easier after a long day at work. Oh, and one of the best brownies I have ever had!“

“Great food as usual!“

“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!“

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

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

“I only get up here from Florida every few years. Always make it a point to stop in with my cousin. I’ve never been disappointed in the food or service.“

“Food was excellent as always and our server Moses made it extra special. Always one of my favorites!“

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

“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!!“

“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!“

“Really good Italian food and ambiance!“

“Omar gave great service! Good was very good (ravioli with tomato cream). Good for kids too!“

“Great food, great people!“

“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.“

“We always look forward to takeout (during COVID) and look forward to seeing you in person. Pizza is always fantastic!!! Always!“

“Best food,great service,Love The Open windows beautiful summer breezes, it’s a Delight💜🩷🩵Fun🎊🎉and great desserts and did I mention the food is fabulous!!“

“I always stop when I’m nearby!“

“My palette’s lack of sophistication prevents me from doing justice reviewing the menu items I enjoyed, but my belly is satisfied , and there were no leftovers; however, no matter the exquisite culinary notes I, likely, missed that a more refined pallet might’ve identified, there’s no way there was anything on a plate in the Chicago land area this evening that matched the atmosphere, service, and proud history shared by the staff and current owner, a descendant of the original owners who established the restaurant 123 years ago. A truly delightful experience that I intend to repeat as often as I’m able!“

“Four of us went Carlos and Carlos to celebrate three August birthdays. The staff was very friendly, accommodating, and courteous. You need to be prepared to read an extensive menu with specials of Italian dishes including pasta, veal, fish and meat to meet range of tastes. Also, available were soups, salads, desserts and appetizers with a decent wine list. Definitely worth a return visit.“

“Delicious food Free uncorking Excellent service Romantic atmosphere“

“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.“

“Grew up on them. Still love them to this day. I just wish they would expand!“

“Amazing and now I love the tacos 🥰“

“What an amazing experience! My daughter had the best birthday meal and we enjoyed all our amazing food! Fresh and homemade doesn’t get much better than that. The place is smaller which was fined we got there during the dinner rush. She had been wanting bread bowl with her pasta, and this place did not disappoint! Such flavor and so delicious! Worth the 2 hour drive! We will definitely be back!“

“Great Food! Great Service! Always a Favorite❤️“

“Came for a celebratory dinner on Saturday evening with my family. CJ was patient and hospitable and took great care of us. The food was fresh, with hearty portion sizes and full of classic Italian flavors.

We look forward to dining here again! :)“

“We went to Washington Garden’s last night with friends hoping to enjoy some good Italian food. The food was delicious! The portions were large and the waitress couldn’t have been nicer. We will be returning soon. 🥰👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“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!“

“They had great food !! I liked their chicken with sauce on it !! Very tasty !!“

“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!“

“So glad I tried and continue to enjoy Maria’s Italian Bakery and Cafe! This authentic spot offers wonderful service and excellent quality menu items— highly recommend!“

“great food, great service, good times.“

“Excellent service, amazing food. Gelato is incredible! :) Very nice people there, too! Will definitely return!“

“Delightful owners, excellent customer service. The best lasagna we have ever tasted. It melts in your mouth. Beyond delicious!!!!“

“One of our favorites!!! Delicious Italian food. Great portions. Julianna and Marco are the best ever. So attentive and friendly!! Courtney,one of many great servers, is the best!! Thank you Pazzi for being the best Italian Restaurant in Park Ridge ❤️“

“Ovvio provided the best dining experience I've had this year. The service was excellent. With its open air dining, weather permitting, the atmosphere is amazing. The food was outstanding. We had the muscles and chicken parmesan. I especially want to recognize Nate, the restaurant's manager, who went above and beyond to make our visit incredible. We will return very soon.“

“friendly staff food was hot and 😋 tasty“

“Stopped in for dinner last night. Food was excellent. The gnocchi and penne pasta were some of the best I’ve had. The gnocchi literally melted in the mouth!“

“amazing food and awesome staff!!“

“Carry out was outstanding! Helped tide us over until we are all able to eat here and in all restaurants again! 👍🏼“

“Thank you Paninos for fast turn around and great food for our group tonight. The food was a big hit.“

“Wiener schnitzel was. Delicious. Service impeccable. Entertainment fun. Highly recommend Hummel.“

“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.“

“Todd and his daughter & staff are incredible . their wonderful service made my family dinner something so special. Everyone who works at this tiny gem is so welcoming. In a time when it seems every restaurant experience is rushed and rotten- Viaggo puts personal touch and love into every moment. Thank you so much Todd we will be back .“

“Francesco's Hole in the Wall is one of those restaurants that reminds you what dining out used to feel like. Every dish is made with care. Nothing is over-seasoned or trying too hard. Everything is balanced. The pasta tastes fresh and homemade, cooked perfectly every time. The tomatoes taste like tomatoes, the herbs are fresh, and every dish feels light instead of weighing you down.

The atmosphere isn't fancy, and that's exactly why it works. It feels like stepping back in time. They somehow fit what feels like 60 people into a space that's about 25 by 25 feet. The tables are small, everyone's close together, and somehow it all works. There isn't a menu at your table either. You walk over to a giant handwritten board, take a picture with your phone, and order from that. It's part of the experience.

The service is what really impressed me. It feels like everyone has worked there forever. The owner is there, watching everything, and the staff runs like a well-oiled machine. Plates disappear as soon as you're finished, silverware is replaced without asking, food comes out quickly, and they somehow keep all those small tables organized without making you feel rushed or cramped.

This is a great place for a birthday, anniversary, or just a really good Italian meal. They don't take reservations, so you have to decide if you're willing to wait. After eating here, the answer is easy. Absolutely. I'd wait every time.“

“Food is very good, the staff is so friendly. excellent.“

“Great food and even better customer service. We ordered food for delivery and Grub Hub only delivered our pastries, not our dinners. When I called Sorelle, the manager apologized and said he would bring us our food. It is so rare these days to have that kind of service and we were so appreciative. We will definitely be return customers!“