"I'm back- the Manzo is still excellent but so is the spicy chicken panini. I ordered first, squeezed in a few golf balls at the range and came back. That's why I didn't complain about the wait this time."
"I ordered takeout out from Pizzeria Serio. They make some serio pizza but with a smile. The ordering process was easy, and the pizza was ready before their promised time. I ordered a Margherita Pizza, and customized my own pizza with Soppressata and had them drizzle some Hot Honey on the pizza. Both pizzas were really delicious, but I really did enjoy eating my custom Hot Honey & Soppressata pizza. The Margherita pizza was good but nothing special. The only good I would have preferred on both is a little more char on the crust. Overall very satisfied."
Conceived by the owner in his Chicago Law Office while Dreaming of "il gran giorno" when he would open his restaurant, the Pizza Pot Pie has become a favorite of world-wide pizza connoisseurs who have graced the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company since its inception in 1972. The Pizza Pot Pie is an individual serving, "made from scratch" with triple-raised Sicilian bread-type dough; a homemade sauce consisting of olive oil, fresh garlic, onions, green peppers, whole plum tomatoes and a special blend of cheeses; sausage made from prime Boston butts; and doorknob-size, whole, fresh mushrooms. (Vegetarian pizza pot pie may be special ordered.)
$12.75
Visit Restaurant PageSpaghetti with pecorino Romano cheese & coarse black pepper. Vegetarian.
$19.00
Visit Restaurant PageOrecchiette Pasta, peas, leeks, wild mushrooms served in a 50 lb Pecorino cheese wheel, rum, shaved truffles.
$38.00
Visit Restaurant PageSeashell pasta in a tomato-cream sauce with ground sausage, peas and pecorino cheese.
$16.95
Visit Restaurant PageA home made rich dessert. Prepared with layers of mascarpone cream and an espresso shot dipped in ladyfingers.
$10.00
Visit Restaurant PageCrispy hand-battered calamari, zucchini, lemon pieces, pickled Fresno chiles, marinara
$16.07
Visit Restaurant PageOur House Specialty! Bowtie pasta and grilled chicken served with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, garlic-buttered mushrooms, basil and our signature House Cream Sauce. Topped with fresh shredded Parmesan and served with fresh bread.
$17.00
Visit Restaurant Page"Pretty busy spot for lunch on the weekday but got here just before the crowd. It took a long while to get our two sandwiches which they need to improved as most corporate people getting food have a limited amount of time for lunch. There's not much room to sit inside but there is a cute little outdoor area off the sidewalk we were able to enjoy. My idea before coming to this spot was Italian deli but it's funny because I don't really think of the two things we got as Italian- crispy chicken sandwich and pastrami. Flavor was good because we enjoyed the sauces and slaw on the sandwiches but the pastrami was a little tough."
"This amazing Italian deli makes you feel like you are in Italy. The warmth and customer service of the staff is amazing.Anything you want Italian is here from the meats to the pastas to the sauces you name it they have it! I brought home some homemade Italian meatballs and they're delicious chicken Parmesan, along with some Fixin's to make subs over the weekend.I've passed by this little hidden gem in Frankfurt several times and decided to try it out and I am just over the moon impressed with all the options. If you're in the area stop by, you won't be disappointed."
"Really good! Celebrated our anniversary here and enjoyed a delicious meal and excellent service. Appreciated the BYOB policy and no corkage fee. From appetizers to dessert, each course was delicious. Calamari was fresh, crispy, flavorful. The Rigatoni Amartriciana had the perfect amount of spice, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Also enjoyed the Pizza Margherita. Brought home dessert, cannoli, and it was excellent. Service was outstanding. Nice atmosphere outside, if you don't mind the occasional Metra train. Highly recommend!"
"For this place to be arguably a tourist trap as it's across from the bean I was very surprised. My cocktail was well balanced & not a single food item was boring & some were mind boggling delicious. I'm among the people that contend that Monteverde is the best Italian in the city however there are dishes here that honestly can compete such as the lobster ravioli & the pistachio pasta dish. For your money & the area you could do a whole hell of a lot worse"
"It was storming and I had to feed 12 dudes. Luckily, I was able to order us two 3ft subs for $30 a pop (though really $50 after delivery fee and tip since we didn't want to venture out into the rain). I'm pretty sure these babies were 4ft long tho and I've never got to order that much sandwich at once before. We got the italian combo and the meatball, both were solid, though not life changing. In a true world of abundance, all sandwiches would be 3 ft long. One day, my friends. One day."
"Villa Rosa Pizza is a hidden gem that never fails to delight pizza enthusiasts. On my recent visit, I decided to indulge in a classic slice of pepperoni pizza, and it was nothing short of perfection. The moment my slice was handed to me, I was struck by the aroma of freshly baked dough and savory pepperoni. The crust, thin yet sturdy, boasted a golden-brown hue that promised a satisfying crunch with every bite. As I took my first bite, I was greeted by a symphony of flavors that danced across my palate. The crust, expertly crafted and baked to perfection, provided the ideal canvas for the star of the show: the pepperoni. Each slice of this spicy, savory delight was generously adorned with perfectly seasoned pepperoni slices. Their rich, smoky flavor mingled with the tangy tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, creating a taste sensation that was simply irresistible. But what truly set Villa Rosa's pepperoni pizza apart was its The pepperoni, crisped to perfection along the edges, offered a satisfying crunch that gave way to a burst of spicy goodness with every bite. The cheese, melted to gooey perfection, provided the perfect contrast to the crispy crust and zesty sauce. With each bite, I found myself transported to a culinary paradise, where every flavor was perfectly balanced and every texture meticulously crafted. Villa Rosa Pizza has truly mastered the art of pizza-making, and their pepperoni pizza is a testament to their dedication to quality and flavor. If you're in the mood for a slice of pizza perfection, look no further than Villa Rosa Pizza. Whether you're a die-hard pizza lover or simply craving a taste of culinary excellence, Villa Rosa Pizza is sure to exceed your expectations."
"Rosebud has a few locations throughout Chicago. They are synonymous with good Italian food. When I saw that a Rosebud opened a new location since my last trip, right on Randolph/Michigan, next to Millennium Park, I knew my group had to go. No surprise, the food was flavorful and tasty, they tend to do Italian right. I had the Gnocchi alla Vodka which was perfectly prepared. Don't be surprised, the portion sizes are ALWAYS bigger than expected. I like Rosebud, this location is open with good lighting. We sat on the second floor which afforded a great view of Millennium Park."
"We were here for a reception after a memorial Mass nearby. The staff was amazing. They worked very well together, helped, clear plates, even served a few people some food from the buffet, set up to get things rolling in the beginning. All of the dishes were very tasty and we were so impressed that we said we would return for dinner. It is right across from the train station and easily accessible. Plenty of free parking on the street in the evenings."
"Cant attest for the rest of the food but the pizza is always good!! Never disappoints. Underrated for sure!"
"**highly recommend making a reservation, seats fill up quick and calendar availability is up to 30 days+/- in advance****CASH ONLY**Shoutout to Germando for keeping in touch with me throughout the day (our 830pm reservation turned to a 1030pm + the last party of the night to dine-in l o l) and Sharon for the A++ service (heh thanks for flipping my bowl back so I could re-shoot a video)!Menu is focused on pizza , salads, and their famous pot pie so it's limited variety (i.e. didn't find spaghetti anywhere) Yelper Bonnie C. (hey love!) and I opt for the half pound Pizza Pot Pie, it can also be made vegetarian too (Sharon asked if meats and mushrooms were OK) It was a very cool video moment haha they make , making the pot , look so easy!The pot pie was constructed with a pizza dough bowl, red sauce, whole mushrooms, then a thick cheese layer to top it off It was good , essentially a fancier deconstructed Chicago Deep dish pizza in the shape of a dome / bowl hahaDefinitely recommend to try this at least once, a Chicago staple indeed!"
Anya B.
Jul 10, 2024
Cute outdoor seating! Make sure you order in the back if you want to eat there, though. The indoor ordering is to-go only. We had fries and soft serve and both were good! I liked the Parmesan mayo and the vanilla flavor in the soft serve was bold.
Visit Restaurant PageAly M.
Aug 11, 2023
This is by far my favorite Chicago pizza place. Brick oven style. Fresh ingredients can be custom and great staff. Atmosphere is appropriate pizza spot style. Sustainable food
Visit Restaurant PageAshley H.
Mar 19, 2024
Nonna's lives up to the hype! There is not one item on the menu that isn't delicious- consider this shop my current obsession.Nonna's catered a group lunch recently and there were ample leftovers for everyone, so I was lucky to try a good portion of their menu. The sandwich platter included halves of their chicken parmesan, eggplant parmesan, Pacino, roasted turkey, and meatball sandwiches. There were additional family style orders of their kale salad, antipasti chopped salad, and chocolate chip cookies.All were absolutely outstanding, but my favorite of the sandwiches was actually the turkey! It's beautiful in its simplicity, and all of the flavors went together so well. The bread was perfectly chewy, and I loved how the broccoli gave a nice crunch to the smooth dill cheese and sweet/spicy honey mustard mayo. A close second was the meatball sandwich, which was spicy, loaded with delicious cheese, and contained some of the most tender meatballs I've ever tried. The antipasti chopped salad was also an absolute explosion of flavors and textures- do not sleep on this! The chocolate chip cookies were about the size of my face, and were beautifully soft on the inside, crispy on the outside, and dusted with a perfect sea salt sprinkle.I am already thinking about the next visit (hopefully in person), and can't recommend Nonna's highly enough!
Visit Restaurant PageP P.
Oct 11, 2022
This place is the bomb! Smells heavenly! Great for catering events. Renee helped with our catering for our church function and gave us a great price. Lots of food too! I've also bought groceries there too. The ready made meals are good too. Don't miss this gem in Frankfort.
Visit Restaurant PageJerome R.
Sep 13, 2023
The food here is to die for. For so long I have searched for that one special Italian dish that brings back so many fond memories, Spaghetti Carbonara. Not only did Via Roma have it, it was beyond incredible. My wife and I truly enjoyed this quaint and tastefully done restaurant, surrounded by hints of Italy. Molto bene, Vía Roma! I will be back my friends, I will be back.
Visit Restaurant PageJessica L.
Aug 6, 2024
Acanto is right across from Millennium Park so parking can be tough. It was pretty busy for an early Friday night dinner, and we had a 20 minute wait. If you can, highly recommend making a reservation. The menu has a lot of options, including appetizers, salads, pasta and entrees. We ordered the arancini and pear salad to share, and I ordered the fusilli. * Arancini - 5/5 well fried and the flavors of the tomato risotto with the basil pesto aioli was just amazing* Pear salad - 5/5 huge portion size, a refreshing and light salad with watercress and endives * Fusilli - 5/5 probably in my top two for squid ink pasta in Chicago! It had a decent amount of lobster, scallops and shrimp. Not spicy, but a slight kick from the calabrian chili. It was so flavorful, I ate with a spoon to get a good amount of pasta sauce with the fusilli and seafood in each bite! Loved every single dish at Acanto and definitely will be back! Highly recommend checking out Acanto!
Visit Restaurant PageAriel B.
Jan 30, 2024
Absolutely Yes. I love sandwiches... and I was told this was a classic sandwich shop .. so I dropped in. A typical small Italian grocery store/deli. I headed straight to the back and the deli guy told me to take my time. I ordered the Focaccia Italian Sub, it was made in about 5 minutes, paid the lady at the register and took this BEHEMOTH of a sandwich home. Firstly: this is enough food for a family of four maybe five not exaggerating. The meat and cheese were plentiful and the toppings were perfectly placed. The bread was fresh, soft, chewy, and delicious. Very impressive sandwich.
Visit Restaurant PageOscar S.
Jan 30, 2022
Updating my review.Guys,I am SOOOOO SORRY!! I totally neglected to tell you guys that Villa Rosa is BYOB on my original review(probably because I was BUZZED.) Lmbooooo!!! Im here again NOW!!! Having an Italian Beef with fries and MOOOOOOORE BEEEEER!!!!! LOL.Today Sarah was my server.And she was GREAT!!!! Honestly,whenever I BYOB I try to be courteous and take all my empties away with me.Today I didnt have to!!!! Because Sarah was just so ATTENTIVE!!!! She was just soooo ON IT and kept taking away my empties to the point where after I paid my check there WAS NO EMPTY BOTTLES.My Italian Beef with fries was delicious.This is my fourth time here since my original review and Im pretty sure I'm going to be a regular.Just good food with GREAT SERVICE!!!!!
Visit Restaurant Page"We ordered:Seafood Fra Diavolo - Spaghetti with mussels, shrimp & calamari in a spicy red tomato sauceGiovanna's Bolognese - pappardelle in parmesan basket"Torchio" Pasta - Radiatore pasta with sausage & cremini mushrooms in a brandy-thyme, cream sauceBraised Short Rib PappardelleFried Artichoke Hearts w/ arugula salad / Beef & Veal MeatballsFried Artichoke hearts were an excellent appetizer. Lightly breaded/fried and perfectly cooked. It is a good pairing with the arugula salad. Meatballs were decent. We loved that all the pasta were made fresh in house. Seafood was properly cooked. Braised rib was very tender. Delicious flavors and portions for the price. We weren't clear on how to eat the Parmesan basket and even the waitress wasn't sure.No issues with service. Decent amount of seating to small to medium size groups. Background noise was pretty loud so note that for your type of outing."
"A solid find and the kitchen is open until 10:30! Located just off Michigan Ave near Fourth Presbyterian Church and The Four Seasons Hotel. FOOD Each item was bursting with flavor and very reasonably priced. Roasted rabbit tenderloin wrapped in crispy prosciutto- 5/5 Penne Arrabbiata with sausage - 3/5 *full of flavor and fresh short pasta though not a fave. I wouldn't be inclined to order it again. Sautéed Calamari with Shrimp - 4/5 Gnocchi short rib - 5/5 (gluten free option available) SERVICE Service was what you'd expect close to closing. AMBIANCE The chairs in the restaurant have seen better days almost every seat in the front of the restaurant have a clear view of who heads to and leaves from the bathroom. MISCELLANEOUS There's a 3% charge for using a credit card. We dined as walk ins at 10:20p on a Friday night and things were pretty quiet. In terms of occupancy, there were a couple of other diners who were wrapping up their meals while we were there."
"This place not to be mistaken as the Francesca's chains. It's a stand-alone restaurant by a completely different owner. The food is deliciously addictive. It's a small place, I mean less than 40 tables (estimating). It's one room and they don't take reservations. The menu is on the wall and there is always a wait for a table so you'll have plenty of time to decide. If you don't see it on the menu, chances are high that they can make it for you! Now that's top notch service! The baked clams are SO FREAKING DELICIOUS! Seriously, not even exaggerating here. I could just have 4 dozen as my entree and still want more! Fried calamari always seems to taste better here than other restaurants, maybe it's what they season it with after being fried. Even if you don't have an appetizer, the warm and crusty bread that gets brought out is highly addictive! My husband loves their veal chop, it's tender and prepared perfectly. It's a large portion so depending on how hungry he is, it makes a good lunch the next day too! He's also a huge fan of their spicy seafood diavolo with linguine. They put in ample amounts of seafood like lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams, and salmon. The pasta and grilled bread is just the right thing to sop up all the very spicy sauce. My favorites are the osso bucco with risotto, the bucatini with lobster, crab and shrimp, and the black linguini with mussels, clams, and cherry tomatoes. The osso bucco is melt in your mouth delicious and there's nothing more sinful than digging out the marrow with a tiny shrimp fork to spread on a small piece of fresh bread. The black linguini is prepared just right with an ample amount of clams and mussels. There is a down side to the dish - the last few times the clams and mussels were not cleaned well so all the sand and grit really ruined the dining experience. The bucatini is just as delicious, but the last time I ordered it there was no lobster and they used fake crab (Gross!), and there was tiny broken pieces of salmon - it looked like someone's leftover meal and wasn't quite what I expected. It was rather disappointing since I wanted lobster and crab with pasta. They didn't let me know about the substitutions and NO quality restaurant should serve fake crab in place of real crab!I guess I'll stick to the osso bucco or something more consistent."
"Came here late on a Friday night around 9:00 pm (12/29/23) without a reservation and was seated immediately. Normally, I believe a reservation would have been needed but it was pretty slow. Nonetheless, I am happy we were able to be seated without issue. It was incredibly dark inside - this gives more intimate vibes rather than family style or dinner with coworkers after work. It is tight regarding space as the establishment is narrow but the bar in the back is a nice touch offering a large variety of top-shelf liquors. Our server spoke minimal English but was super knowledgeable about the menu and helped my friend and I pick our dish. We were happy there was only one price for the pizza but the size was incredibly small. Thankfully we only wanted a small snack but had we been hungrier, I just know we would have spent double if not triple the amount of money to be well-fed. The taste, flavor, crispiness of the crust was spot on. I highly enjoy a oven-cooked pizza from scratch. It gave authenticity to what they were presenting. I can stand to return just once more and try another pizza."
"Stopped by for just HH drinks/food so can't say much otherwise. Available Tuesday through Friday from 4-6 pm. $10 espresso martinis, 1/2 off wines, and $2 oysters. What more can you want? Oh, wait they also have espresso martini flights for $30!Super cute restaurant. Love the all pink vibes. Fun spot to come with your girls!"
"This was my first time trying this restaurant and let me say I'm a big fan of bag pizza so they won me over already. They known for their sauce being on the sweeter side. The sweetness wasn't overwhelming. The pie was cooked perfectly. The only flaw was a lot of the middle piece were cut smaller than my liking and the crust is extra thin. Those things aside this is a solid pie and they have half off on Monday and Tuesday for their family and jumbo size pizzas. The taste also reminded me of a pizza place on 113th & Halsted called Joeys that I loved as a kid. This is good pizza!"
"My luck finally ran out. 9 times of 10, food I order online is done before the promised time. I showed up about 10 minutes before the promised time and was still told it would be 20 more minutes. I ordered their Herb & Foccacia and two pizzas. The Herb & Focaccia was delicious. It came with olive oil to dip the bread but, overall a very simple flavorful dish. We went with their Margherita pizza and their Miele & Fig. I've definitely had better Margherita. It such a plan pizza that should be hard to mess up. My biggest issue was with the crust. It wasn't cooked long enough, it was more on the chewy side and not crispy enough. It was my first time trying Fig on a pizza. It was supposed to come with marinara sauce, honey goat cheese, mozzarella, dried figs, cayenne infused honey, arugula, although I mine was missing the arugula and I didn't see any honey or tasted anything cayenne on my pizza. Despite it missing those two key ingredients, the pizza was still damn delicious. It definitely changed my entire experience with this place. The goat cheese went perfect with the sweetness from the fig. The only thing it was missing was a kick from the cayenne infused honey. Will definitely be returning to try this pizza again."
"Great place to relax, their pizza is fabulous and so is their homemade Gorgonzola cheese...It's such a cozy atmosphere and the best service !Reasonable prices, great place for families to gather"
"Had Sunday brunch at Venuti's restaurant. I loved the elegant and upscale ambiance of the space. The restaurant was not busy, due to it being Superbowl Sunday. This worked fine for me :) The food options were fantastic! They had the following stations: Salads (love the crab salad!)Hot entrees (lots of classic Italian options)OmeletWafflesCarving (PRIME RIB!!) Service was friendly, efficient, and on point. Used plates were removed quickly, drinks were replenished without having to ask. I was very pleasantly surprised with the variety of vegetarian friendly dishes. Don't get me wrong, they definitely had plenty of protein entrees to choose from (fish, chicken, beef, sausage). The only critique I have is that the prime rib was cold. That was the first thing I got for my meal, and I tucked in right away, so it wasn't sitting in my plate for any length of time. But it was definitely not warm, even though it was maintained under a heat lamp.Venuti's Sunday brunch is an absolute treat, and I cannot wait to go back."
"Best restaurant I have been to in Chicago. This place is absolutely amazing. From the ambiance to the service to the incredible food. We were a big party so we got to sample plenty of it, everything was a showstopper but I think I loved the lasagna the most. I also loved the cheese in the meatball. The service was impeccable and the meal was even better. I need to come back next time I'm in town."
"I ordered delivery from Pete's. Everything came well packaged in sealed foil containers and bags, which I appreciated. However, the food itself was not great. The cheese breadsticks were just Bosco sticks like the ones you'd find at a school cafeteria, and the cheese fries were a giant soggy blob of mess by the time they reached me because they put the sauce on top instead of on the side. It was more like eating mashed potatoes than french fries. Pretty underwhelmed overall."
"5 stars for food! 5 stars for service! We were seated promptly and greeted by our server Pablo. I already knew it was going to be a great night with Pablo as our server. He was enthusiastic and provided excellent service! The drinks came out SUPER fast as well as our food. All our dishes were timed perfectly and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal! It had been awhile since I got to see my girlfriend so we definitely got talking and Pablo never rushed us out. He encouraged us to stay as long as we wanted and we enjoyed more drinks and conversation through the night! He checked in with us at the right moments and always made sure everything was the way we expected. I'll definitely be back and I'll be asking for Pablo! Now for the food! I highly recommend the bruschetta, the mushroom ravioli AND the raspberry beret cocktail. I had 3 and wanted more! It was absolutely delicious! The mushroom ravioli was truly the highlight of the evening. It was absolutely delicious! Pablo treated us to a tiramisu for dessert for my birthday. It was more like a fluffy creamy chocolate cake more than your typical tiramisu coffee/espresso flavor but it was still delicious and the perfect way to end our evening. Definitely recommend Francesca's and I'm super glad it's so close to home. Can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes. I'll be back Pablo! Thank you for a great evening!"
"My friends and I decided to get dinner at Topo Gigio on a Sunday evening after visiting the Old Town fair. We did not have a reservation and could easily walk in and get a table for 4. Topo Gigio features a modern Tuscan-Style approach to Italian Cooking. This place has a lot of seating space - they have a patio, bar and indoor seating as well! We ordered a house salad - PANZANELLA alla ROMANA that was shared by all and also ordered CAMPANELLE alla NORMA and CONCHIGLIE MEDITERRANEA. They have hand made pastas and it was delicious! Overall, the food was very authentic and 10/10 would recommend it. The place was a bit crowded as they were showing Celtics vs. Mavericks game but overall the place had a good vibe! I'll surely visit again."
"If you're looking for a delicious meal in a welcoming atmosphere, look no further than this neighborhood Italian restaurant. Not only is the food amazing, but the ambiance is outstanding as well. The cozy interior and friendly staff make it the perfect spot to enjoy a meal with friends or family.But that's not all - during the summer months, you can also enjoy live music at this establishment. It adds an extra layer of charm and entertainment to your dining experience. One of my favorite spots in the North Shore!"
"Another beautiful experience at Eataly! I signed up for the hands-on Neapolitan Pizza making class. It was great! We were greeted with a nice glass of Prosecco and escorted to a beautiful table. There were twelve of us and we were all first timers. Our host was funny, friendly and patient. The dough took the longest to prepare. When we were done playing around with it, it was wrapped in plastic and boxed up. It takes twenty-four hours for a good Italian dough to proof. Thankful and grateful for the restaurant having enough dough prepared for us to each make our own pizza. Of course, we had to shape it, stretch it and top it. I was getting hangry but the second glass of Prosecco helped. Besides, it only takes 90 seconds for the pizza to finish in the 900 degree oven. So much fun!!!"
"I've been wanting to try the pizzas here, and coming for brunch was a great opportunity to do so while taking advantage of bottomless mimosas (OJ on the side!). It's a great casual spot for day drinking, with plenty of TVs to watch sports as well. Though service at first was pretty slow, the champagne bottles were refilled pretty frequently which was nice. I loved the option to split any size pizza in two different flavors, so we did just that. I shared the small pizza - half buffalo bill and half popeye. The popeye was delicious, but the buffalo bill was a little too salty for my taste. We also shared the chopped salad, and this wasn't so great either. I do think this place has great potential and was fun for a casual group outing - I just needed to try different menu items I'm sure."
"5th time coming here! celebrated my boyfriends birthday with his family. As always inside is stunning. Service is good. Our waiter was very nice! We got the baked clams to start and the sausage and peppers. Both of these were great! I loved the baked clams with a little Tabasco.For my main I got the fettuccini and my bf got the vodka rigatoni. This rigatoni did not tasted like vodka sauce. Something was very off about it. It was not good. Fettuccini was average. Seemed a bit overcooked the noodles stuck together and were hard. I want to love it here but lately it has not been hitting.The birthday celebration was nice. They brought out tiramisu with a candle and sang. The Tiramisu was amazing."
"Literally obsessed with this place!! Food it fantastic!! Service is great!! The place is small but totally worth the squeeze"
"My sister her fiancée & I came here for a quick meal after an afternoon of libations @ Cooper Hawk Esquire. We were all famished as we haven't eaten all day. Pasta Palazzo is a tiny restaurant on Halstead just south of Armitage. The restaurant was quite busy when we got there & got the last 3 seats available. Our server was the only one & quite busy handling all of the order taking, serving & clearing the tables. We ordered 4 dishes to be shared family styleGrilled Calamari - 4 pieces of calamari Spaghetti Fruitti Di Mare - spaghetti w/tiny shrimps & bay scallops in watery marinara sauceJalapeño Gnocchi - Gnocchi w/Jalapeño saucePenne Funghi - Penne pasta cooked Al dente w/3 different mushrooms & cream sauce (by far the best dish)Kudos to our server who was handling all the tables. She was quite busy (great server - 5 stars for service). The food was ok but nothing extraordinary. The highlight of the night was when a woman walking by slowed down & stopped looking at me. This was my former co worker that I haven't seen for years. She was dining w/her husband, son & a couple of her husbands friends when she spotted me across the restaurant. It was great running into her as I haven't seen her in years"
"If the Location makes you feel skeptical, I wouldn't doubt you. Nestled near Tony's (great for late nite Tacos), you wouldnt expect much.Walk in and you feel like you have walked into someone's house. Not intrigued yet. Hold on....You have a seat, and you are suddenly embraced by the warmth of the wait staff. It feels authentically American-Italian. While the skeptic in you sips a glass of water, the mild aroma of clean flavors and a nifty peak into the adjacent table will force you to give the place a chance. I am not usually a fan of an Alfredo. And I remain constantly wary of the Vodka sauce. However, Call it Devine intervention or my innate niche of looking at food leaving the kitchen and connecting to the names on the menu, The Vodka sauce calls out to me. I order it.The food arrives and i must say it was rather comforting. It could have been the cold Chicago weather, or the trio of Tomato, cream and Vodka. It was just perfect. Is it authentically Italian? May be, Maybe not. I am no connoisseur.It tastes good. The garlic bread may need a bit of work, but the pastas are comforting. Including the Alfredo fettuccine my wife ordered.That's what you want when you got for Italian. Enough food to make you sluggish with Just Enough garlic to spook a Vampire. End it with some wine and a Tiramisu and you have a pretty good date night. Ya, It isn't fancy, but its comforting and I love it.Do check it out."
"Came across Vito and Nick's II Pizzeria cause we were in the area and love thin crust pizza. I know the original location was also on Guy Fieri's show Diner's & Drive-Ins back in 2016 and has good Google reviews. We got a 12 inch cheese with various different veggies to go. Requested pizza to be well done. Pizza was nice & hot and put together well. But as a lover of thin crust pizza, I can't say this hit the spot for me. Pizza was good but not out of this world good! I can say there is a place that does it better and it's because of their crust."
"I'm thrilled we have a new restaurant within walking distance to our house. We were fans of the other Merlo's back in the day so excited to see one in Glencoe. We met friends here for an earlyish Saturday evening dinner and it was quite busy. I expected the service to be somewhat slow based on the crowds and it being a new restaurant, but the staff was very attentive and everything came out very fast.We started with much needed cocktails (vodka martini for me) and a variety of appetizers. They were all great, but the eggplant stack was the clear winner. One of my dining companions enjoyed it so much she ordered the eggplant parm for dinner, which looked big enough to feed the entire table.I ordered the salmon for my entree. It was a little under cooked for my liking, but I would order it again and next time specify I like it medium/well done. My husband got the halibut, which he was underwhelmed with. And our 4th dining companion got gluten free pasta which looked so good that my husband mentioned several times after dinner that he should have gone the pasta route. Next time!If there's tiramisu on the menu there's a good chance we're ordering it and it lived up to the hype. Overall, it was a fun and delicious meal and I"m sure the first of many meals for us at Merlo's! Welcome to the neighborhood!"
"This is our favorite pizza place for ordering. They make it easy to order and send a link to track the order. But most impossible the pizza. We usually order the pepperoni deep dish and sometimes build a thin crust veggie. Their pizza is all about the crust. Tasty and crunchy! I have to watch out for our daughter who likes to cut off the crust for herself!"