Nonnina

*happy dance from my taste buds*We went to Nonnina with my team on a company work trip. It was a suggestion from my boss and his wife... let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. The location is central to downtown and convenient to locate when you're out walking around. The atmosphere of the place itself is a quaint, casual, upscale vibe, but not enough to feel deterred from being a patron. They have a wonderful outside covered patio section that I did love. The service was absolutely incredible with not a second gone by without a full water or iced tea. She made wonderful suggestions of her favorites and the specials and it was very nice to have some guidance because it all looked great. We got the beef carpaccio, calamari, and then Caesar salads to start. When they say a "crisp" Caesar salad... you'd think Nonnina invented it. The beef carpaccio had a wonderful taste to it and the crisp ravioli to accompany it was the perfect balance. Now let's get the the REAL review... the carbonara... might've paralyzed my taste buds from joy. What an exceptional hand crafted noodle and balance of pancetta on the sauce. Every single bite was a joy... and of course the egg on top (the pictures don't lie). I will be here again. I have to have that carbonara. It was a top 3 Italian experience for me, ever.

We arrived at Nonnina on Friday night around 7pm without a reservation. The restaurant is near the river, on the northern side. Luckily, there was an open table outside, so we were seated immediately. The inside seats were filled, and there were reserved tables for the rest of the night. Our waiters and servers were friendly. We started off with the oysters. The oysters were thinner than I expected to, but they tasted very fresh. The acidic sauces were absolutely delicious!For main dishes, my friends ordered the squid ink pasta and linguini special. I ordered the malfadine bucatini. The pastas took a while to come out, but the presentation was great! My mafaldine bucatini was lukewarm when I took my first bite, but it was delicious despite it not being hot. The mushroom flavor coated each curve of the noodle to make for delicious and great-textured bites. I scarfed down the portion very quickly since the flavor was so good!The check took a while to come out, but it was understandable since the restaurant was quite busy. Overall, Nonnina is in a great Chicago location, has great ambiance, and even better food! I'd love to come back to try some more pasta, as well as some desserts!!

Team dinner alert! Our department had a team dinner here and it was a good time. They have a variety of food options, drinks and great customer service. The restaurant has different dining areas. Each dining room is nice, clean and good ambiance.As with any restaurant, busier it is, the service can forget stuff but we're very attentive. This is a great place for a family gathering, date night and for drinks. The pasta and steak are my favorites; the drinks were ok but I think need to try different types in the future.

Had an early dinner (5pm) at Nonnina on a Saturday. The location is perfect; after leaving one has several close options for more drinks or late night shenanigans. The interior is beautiful, and they have a small outdoor patio for those wanting to enjoy the summer weather. The service wasn't bad; he wasn't unpleasant and did come quick when I waived him down. But remember I came at 5pm so the place was completely empty. I expected more attentiveness, and giving him the benefit of the doubt, maybe he didn't want to hover over me or come off as being a pest. He also did something I haven't seen at a nicer restaurant: when I asked him for a food/drink recommendation, he just described the ingredients. Again that's not bad, just not what I'm used to at a well-regarded spot downtown. I can read the menu lolAs for the food, again not bad. Portion sizes were great and it came out QUICK which made me happy. I just wasn't blown away by anything I tried. For the appetizer I had the calamari, and for the main course I had the orecchiette. If I could give half stars, I'd rate it a 3.5. But since nothing went wrong, and the bill wasn't crazy high, I'll give them a 4 and revisit in the future.

Thoroughly enjoyed eating here. We had a beautiful walk on the river, then headed over for our reservation. First off, the free bread is reason enough to come back. It was so soft and the flavor on top was delicious. Then, we with the sausage and peppers appetizer. I enjoyed that a lot more than I thought I would! For mains, I had the carbonara which was one of the better ones I've had. My partner got the orecchiette and he really liked it.Also, our server was great and super friendly. I will definitely be returning to eat here!

This place is close to the riverwalk and SpotHero parking options so it's really convenient. The patio is good for dogs but a little tight for large groups. The service was excellent.Appetizers were great. I especially liked the sausage and peppers. However, the meal was underwhelming. Margerita pizza tasted like a normal cheese pizza--nothing special. Bucatini was a weird texture but great flavor. Chicken was flavorful and fresh.

Always a great experience at Nonnina. Right from the time you enter, the front manager Giovanni is always so friendly and welcoming. I tend to stop in impromptu during the week to enjoy the happy hour bites which go from 4p-6p weeknights. I'm so hooked on the grilled octopus and eggplant stack and truly appreciate Ubaldo's attentive bar service.The ambiance is charming in the main restaurant too - especially if you dine in the enclosed patio with the twinkle lights. During warmer months, el fresco is another great option being it's located in the River North Neighborhood. I happen to notice little details and love the beautiful Italian blue bread plates and side plates, I feel they elevate the experience. Kitchen staff does an amazing job to make unique dishes that are prepared quickly, even on a busy night. The staff hustles nonstop which can make you feel rushed but don't let that stop you from enjoying it at your own leisurely pace either. Yelp tip: Definitely do yourself a favor to ask for the fresh house made focaccia bread with EVOO & balsamic when you order your meal. They used to bring it to the table right away but now you will need to specifically ask for it. Makes sense though because you could easily fill up on it. Hello Carbs!!Portions sizes in general are adequate, and if I come with friends I prefer to share a few plates to get a nice variety of flavors. The tagliatelle pasta is made in house, and it's delicious so don't be bashful and the squid ink pasta is a wonderful choice too.Overall, Nonnina checks all the boxes! Just go:)

Had a solid dinner here, good atmosphere, and not a chain. GF pasta was tasty, burrata app was very good, just couldn't get past the poor service at the bar. May have been a rookie bartender or over extended bar back that was assisting....primary bartender was great, he was just so busy. Manager needs to step away from the (slow as can be) hostess station and help out his struggling team.

We went here for lunch and opted for the prix fixe menu, which included a salad, entrée, and dessert for $25. The salads were good, but vegetarians should note that the Caesar salad contains bacon. The main entrées were tasty, with the meatball spaghetti being more flavorful than the green pasta shown in the photo. The panna cotta was delicious. The restaurant's interior is very cute, and sitting on the terrace offers a beautiful scenic view.

Oh Nonnina, you have a special place in my heart. The chef who made your chicken Parmigiana recipe, I am in love with. This is hands down the best Italian spot in river north for sure. You will never walk out disappointed or still hungry. The waiters are so nice and made sure that the wine section we had worked well with our meals and also gave great suggestions, like the tiramisu. I love this spot.