Viaggio Highland Park

If you're searching for an authentic, old-school Italian experience, look no further--this is where you need to be. From the moment you walk through the door, you're embraced by an atmosphere that makes you feel like part of the extended family. The ambiance is warm, inviting, and irresistibly nostalgic, the kind of place where you instantly feel at ease.Logan, the bartender, crafted a perfect Aperol Spritz--a seemingly simple cocktail that can easily go wrong, but Logan absolutely nailed it. I chose to sit at the bar since I was dining alone, and it turned out to be the best decision. The bar itself is a charming spot, perfect for soaking in the atmosphere and enjoying some conversation.For my meal, I ordered the eight-finger cavatelli pasta. This dish is a masterpiece--homemade pasta with ricotta cheese rolled right into it. *Chef's kiss.* The sauce was rich, perfectly seasoned, and served piping hot, with steam rising off the plate--a detail that always elevates the dining experience for me. There's something deeply satisfying about receiving food that's hot and fresh, and this dish delivered on all fronts.But the highlight of the evening was the bread and peppers. It instantly transported me back to my Nonna's kitchen, where she would make roasted peppers in a beautifully seasoned olive oil. The flavors here were spot-on, a true taste of home and comfort.I can't recommend this place enough. If you're in the mood for genuine Italian cuisine served with warmth and care, this is the place to be.

My wife and I had the good fortune to discover Viaggio Highland Park last night. We dined early and initially had the cozy spot nearly to ourselves, but it soon began filling up with couples, groups, and families with children of all ages. We quickly learned the reason for the popularity of this outstanding Italian restaurant. The host and staff were gracious, welcoming, and friendly as we were seated and greeted by all. Our server displayed her in-depth knowledge of the menu and specials and was helpful with recommendations based on our questions and comments.We started with grilled calamari, which was right up there with the best I've ever tasted. A large serving perfectly grilled, tender, and served with lemon in a light balsamic sauce. With the warm crusty bread served with oil, grated parmesan, and roasted green peppers, it was an excellent start to our meal.Our entrees were rigatoni in vodka sauce, and rigatoni in nana's gravy, chunks of braised beef in a rich dark tomato and wine sauce, topped with ricotta cheese. Potions were large, and both entrees were delicious.For dessert, we could not resist the house-made profiterole with salted caramel gelato and chocolate sauce. All I can say is it tasted even better than it looked, and that's really saying something.It was a great dining experience. Excellent food and service. We will be returning soon with some foodie friends we want to introduce to Viaggio.

Solid all around. Brussel sprouts are the best I have ever had. Crispy and salty with capers and lemon. I am a big fan. Solid food all around.

I rarely go further north for dinner but a friend had recommended this place so I came with some family and it was a very nice experience for the 3 generations (group of five). We ordered grilled calamari, the meatball appetizer and bruschetta and they were all extremely tasty and delicious. We pretty much devoured it. My husband had the braised beef in Nana's gravy and there were big chunks of beef with noodles and he almost finished it! My son had the brick chicken and he liked his but I didn't have room to try. My daughter in law and I split the pork chop and white fish of the day and both were fantastic! The pork chop was huge so it must have been a pretty fat pig ! We couldn't finish half of the pork chop but managed the fish pretty well. The little one so enjoyed his spaghetti and meatballs and so there was so much for all of us. The roasted vegetables were perfectly done, too. The brownie sundae was yummy but the ice cream had some crystals in it. The tiramisu is good too.Dining outside was beautiful as well. The indoor seating is very romantic inside. They offer specialty drinks and many fine wines. I can't remember but I don't think they have draft beers but canned I think. I highly recommend it here.

Very good food and every staff person was hustling! First time here as a stop on the way to Ravinia. Very pleasant outdoor seating. Made reservations online but did not need them even given the time frame we showed up- 5:00 on a Saturday. We both had the Nanas Gravy and it was very good. Our biggest reason for the five star review was our server Liss. She was friendly, attentive and spunky. Will definitely return when in the area.

rigatoni vodka and Nonas gravy was delicious! Being from an Italian family that loves to cook, its hard to get Italian food that I love from a restaurant but Viaggio was amazing!

Honestly every single item I had was perfect. Baked clams were amazing, the 8 finger cavatelli was phenomenal and everything else from the salad to the other entrées.

We've eaten here a few times but tonight we carried out and the results were pretty good for take home. Our salad looked small but was adequate with pretty average ingredients. The dressing was tasty but very thick? Bread and peppers tasty and filling. My friends enjoyed the Brussels sprouts while I excused myself from their pungent aroma. Our mains were the chicken Milanese and rigatoni in vodka sauce. The chicken was very good with a nice coating and well fried while the sauce with it was too greasy for my liking. The pasta was overcooked and too creamy for my taste but others enjoyed it.It's a better experience and meal eating there and that's the plan for next time.

This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the suburbs. Everything I've tried on the menu has been great.

warm welcome, intimate setting, decent menu, good drink selection.the downside: the food, doused, drowing, swimming in sauce. bland. presentation meh. hadn't been back in awhile, and it will be some time before i return.