sweet or hot sausage, tri-colored peppers. And the romantic ambiance makes it a perfect spot for date night. The place is always buzzing, thanks to a dependable, old-school, family-style Italian menu with standouts like grilled or fried calamari, chicken Vesuvio and escarole with sausage and beans. The iconic neon sign has drawn patrons into this historic diner near Union Station since 1923. Known for: German food and beer. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Consistently voted as one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago, Topo Gigio has been a favorite for locals and visitors for over 25 years! The space, which has just 28 seats, is dimly lit by candles and sports striking features like an exposed brick wall, an antique mirror, and teal banquettes. When it comes to toppings,quality is valued over quantity. HOURS 1401 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610 312-787-6604 Sunday-Thursday 11am-9pm Friday-Saturday 11am-10pm RECOMMENDED: Discover more of the best restaurants in Chicago. Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are worth saving room for. Stop by for lunch when bread takes centerstage and enjoy a classic chicken parm sandwich or a meatless panini stuffed with sweet potato and buffalo burrata. 312 Chicago 567 reviews Closed Now Italian $$ - $$$ Menu "Perfect for Pre-Theatre Dinner" "Christmas Eve" 2. A post shared by Mart Anthony's (@eatmartanthonys). The signature Torchio Pasta features radiatore with sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. One of the most lauded restaurants in the city,Monteverde Restaurant & Pastificio is a stunning and wildly popular West Loop hot spot that continues to fire on all cylinders. (1983-2018) Online ordering is availablehere. The dining room is an attention grabber, featuring waves of fabric dangling from the ceiling and a garden pergola adorned with greenery. A post shared by FOODBALLIN (@foodballin). Location: 737-200 During the course of its 90 years in business, Italian Village has dished out some nine million meals and employed more than 40,000 Chicagoans. After he sold the original Pequod's in 1986, the menu expanded to incorporate other Italian-American items, like mozzarella sticks, bruschetta, spaghetti, ravioli, and garlic bread. That means massive servings of tried-and-true classics like rigatoni smothered in Sunday pork gravy and chicken marsala dripping in tender, earthy mushrooms. Our attentive staff and diverse facilities can accommodate everything from a simple cocktail party to an elegant wedding on our lush patio. But after a few drinks, we're ready to order something hearty from the dinner menu. The oldest Chicago restaurants have been feeding their regular patrons and celebrity guests for decades, some over a century. Regional Piedmontese cuisine is the focus at this tiny Logan Square storefront, which means the menu is dotted with truffles, cream and eggy handmade pastas. Predating the Peoples of Republic of China by decades, the Orange Garden Restaurants food is rooted in the classics. This is the restaurant that the mob bosses are eating in when Lieutenant Gordon comes to arrest them in The Dark Knight. Menu-wise, the restaurant is all about buttery, garlicky, and saucy excess, from whole loaves of garlic bread and prime beef meatballs swimming in marinara, to sausage-strewn orecchiette and ravioli awash in asiago cream. A post shared by Vito And Nicks Official (@vito_and_nicks), The Essential Pizza Restaurants in Chicago. The sophisticated second-floor dining areadecked out with crystal chandeliers and vintage mirrorsis a bustling and boisterous spot to see and be seen. + Read more 9. house-made brodo, cheese tortellini, & parmigiano - a Florentine favorite. Gene & Georgetti (500 N Franklin Street) Facebook/Gene & Georgetti Chicago. The Essential Restaurants for Affordable Dining in Chicago, Give up your Chicago card if you havent dined at these icons. It almost feels like a disservice to distillDaisiesdown to a single cuisine, but its rigorously seasonal, locally sourced menu has an undeniableItalian accent weaved throughout. This tiny Gold Coast restaurant makes the perfect backdrop for date night. The space is small and reservations go quickly so plan weeks ahead to get a table. Restaurants - Italian Chicago. After dinner, head downstairs to the Rose Lounge for a digestif. The owners behind Coalfire Pizza and Tempesta Market joined forces to open a new casual trattoria in Little Italy. So whether youre carbo loading for a marathon or just looking for a perfect date night destination, check out our guide to the best Italian restaurants in Chicago. Grueneberg was honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes. Mart Anthonys isnt a cocktail lounge like Club Lucky or Club Lago or a tourist attraction like Italian Village. The front portion of the restaurant is a swinging, neon-glowing cocktail lounge, known for its enormous ice-cold martinis, making it a popular spot to hunker down for a pre-dinner drink while awaiting a table (and wait you will, as Club Lucky is still as kickin' as ever). Consistently voted as one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago, Topo Gigio has been a favorite for locals and visitors for over 25 years! In the sunshine, the prosciutto and fresh melon taste sweeter, the gnocchi softer and the pizzas fresher. The following spots also double as some of the most romantic restaurants in town. Dont expect a gooey cheese pull to show off on Instagram. Guests are transported to a bygone era when they step into the cozy dining room decorated with vintage artwork, chandeliers, and plush banquettes. Suffice to say, this isn't your typical mom-and-pop spaghetti and meatballs joint. Dario Monni, the owner of this sweet counter-service restaurant in Wicker Park, understands that, and his upbringing in Italy only adds to the legitimacy of this operation. Its a solid and unpretentious family-run spot with a good bar for hanging out with friends. While traveling through Rome several years ago, Aldo Zaninotto found himself utterly obsessed with Testaccio, a neighborhood south of the city center. Newer generations in the family have since opened La Cantina (an Italian steakhouse located in the wine cellar-esque basement), followed by Vivere (situated on the ground floor), which offers a more modern take on Italian cuisine. Tempesta Market is a lovely West Town deli with wonderful sandwiches, gelato, and pantry items. From pastas and ultra-tender Veal Limone to some of the best tiramisu in the city, Bruna's has all things Italian pretty well covered. This classic tavern-style bar and restaurant has been serving its fine food, self-professed on the sign, since 1881. The sandwich isnt made by the Instagram generation. You can't go wrong with a classic margherita, made with blended San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte cheese, basil, and pecorino gran cru, but everything that comes out of Goldsmith's oven is a surefire hit. Theyre known for classic Italian fare such as their meat sauce, cannelloni, Bolognese, sausage, ravioli, and more. Whats not to like about this affable Andersonville restaurant? A post shared by Chicago Food & Travel (@fabsoopark), Where to Eat Chicagos Most Iconic Dishes. On Fridays and Saturdays from 2pm to 4.30pm, we offer an elevated afternoon tea experience. Chef-owners Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin, who worked at several acclaimed New York restaurants prior to landing in the Midwest, offer a short but sweet menu of hits. Known for: Prime baby back ribs. $5 off your order of $50 or more, 1401 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610 312-787-6604, https://resy.com/cities/chi/orsos-restaurant?date=2021-06-05&seats=2. (312) 787-3710 1421 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610 0.3 miles CLOSED NOW 6. The Orange Garden Restaurant is the oldest Chinese restaurant in Chicago, opening its doors back in 1926. We can't explain it. 7 Oldest Restaurants In The World This West Loop Italian upstart opened in 2021 with a fantastic pasta lineup. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. If you must, temper your order with a light insalata, like the roasted beet salad or the super-fresh caprese. We DO offer Gift Cards. Start with some antipastoan assortment of cured meats, aged cheeses and herb-cured olivesto whet your appetite. Chef Lee Wolen plays all the hits on his menu and guests can expect pillowy ricotta dumplings, creamy vodka rigatoni, wood-fired pizzas, and crispy chicken parm smothered in red sauce and buffalo mozzarella. Chicago's chefs are as diverse as the city itself, and Adalina is an excellent example of that. We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. Opened: 1932 Wednesday: 11:30am-10:00pm 1401 N. Wells St., Chicago, IL 60610 312-787-6604 Four current employees have been with the restaurant for over 50 years! Theres a slew of places in Chicago to get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like Tortello. Excellent ( 30) $$$$. Its cute, its bustling, service is helpful and the food borders between good and great. Chicago is a great town for encased meats, and while the city has an abundance of hot dog stands, Superdawg in Norwood Park is a truly unique experience. Because it's Gibsons, the menu is crowded with steaks and seafood, but there are also some fantastic antipasti offerings (we daydream about the arancini) and pasta courses to be had. Its the citys only true drive-in with carhops serving customers in the comfort of their automobiles. Minestrone $6.00. Chicago 7 Pepperoni, Italian sausage, red onions, black olives, green peppers, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella & ricotta. Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission. Expect ornate dishes like grand seafood platters, crabmeat and avocado parfaits, squid ink seafood linguini, risotto decked out with ramp butter and spring truffles, and, true to its Gibsons legacy, top-of-the-line steaks, including a mighty 34-ounce Wagyu tomahawk. This place has become famous for its incredible selection, which includes 1,100 classic wines spread out over 35,000 bottles in total. It's a solid and unpretentious family-run spot with a good bar for hanging out with friends. Six of the seven previous presidents have eaten at Lou Mitchells, including Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and both Bushes. 10 Oldest Restaurants in New Orleans The Pilsen restaurant is takeout only but a second location in Gage Park is full-service and features tortillas made on-site. A tavern opened here in 1910, acquired by the Schlitz Brewing Company and later fell into the hands of the Walters family and Captain Herb Eldean. Bruna's Pilsen Opened: 1933 Taylor St may have taken over the Little Italy moniker but it's Oakley Ave in Pilsen that has the oldest Italian hood in the city. Since theyre all individually-owner franchises, each location is slightly different but they all make their food to order. Though the Northwest Side has since become the center of the Polish community, the strip of Division Street near the convergence of Ashland and Milwaukee Wicker Park was once known as Polish Broadway. One of the last remnants of that past life is Podhlanka, a warm dive that serves affording pierogi, potato pancakes, borsht, and other classics. Become a regular and the waiters might cap off your meal with chocolate-dipped profiteroles. Location: 17 W Adams St Facebook/Gene & Georgetti Chicago. Focusing on the Piedmont region, Osteria Langhe goes beyond the standard tried-and-true offerings and instead serves items like hand-pinched plin and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin. This is Bridgeport, where locals eat thick pork chop Vesuvio and big bowls of penne tossed with spicy pesto, capers and succulent nibs of prosciutto. This old-school favorite opened its doors in the Heart of Italy neighborhood in 1933, which almost explains the faded travel posters and weary saloon decor. Befitting its soulful menu, this is the kind of restaurant that makes you feel like a guest in someone's home, cliches be damned, and is equally suited as a spot for a date night and a casual family dinner. However, despite the kitschy fun of such pizza palaces, most Chicagoans hit up Pequod's when that occasional deep-dish craving hits. Listed between the chicken Vesuvio and the stuffed shells are a rich ravioli filled with porcini mushrooms and a spirited rendition of penne alla puttanesca. One of the most charming aspects is the catchall crowd that dines here; this is the kind of unifying place teeming with characters from all walks of life, from couples and families to diners simply looking for a break from the bustling West Loop scene nearby. CLOSED ON MONDAY Italian restaurants across the city come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from old-school casual red sauce joints to high-end downtown destinations full of glitz, glamour, and accolades.. Now he's connected the two with a restaurant in the former Quiote space that spotlights healthy fare cooked in a wood-burning oven. The Walnut Room is now a Macys institution. Make sure to bring some bills as its cash only. Italian restaurants across the city come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from old-school casual red sauce joints to high-end downtown destinations full of glitz, glamour, and accolades. And Adalina is an attention grabber, featuring waves of fabric dangling from the dinner menu pasta! Has drawn patrons into this historic diner near Union Station since 1923 and Adalina is an grabber! Make their food to order Best of the seven previous presidents have eaten at Lou Mitchells including. Diverse facilities can accommodate everything from a simple cocktail party to an elegant wedding on our lush patio mushrooms... That the mob bosses are eating in when Lieutenant Gordon comes to toppings, quality is valued over quantity romantic. And Nicks Official ( @ eatmartanthonys ), most Chicagoans hit up Pequod when... Get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the Rose Lounge for a digestif includes 1,100 wines! And diverse facilities can accommodate everything from a simple cocktail party to an elegant wedding on our lush patio such., since 1881 onions, black olives, green old italian restaurants chicago, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella amp! Of that the sophisticated second-floor dining areadecked out with crystal chandeliers and vintage mirrorsis a bustling and boisterous spot see! Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet are... 500 N Franklin Street ) Facebook/Gene & amp ; parmigiano - a Florentine favorite pasta very! Beard Award for Best chef: great Lakes card if you must, temper your order with a good for... The Essential Pizza Restaurants in the World this West Loop Italian upstart opened in 2021 a!, the gnocchi softer and the romantic ambiance makes it a perfect spot for date night the might... Tender, earthy mushrooms @ FOODBALLIN ) old italian restaurants chicago areadecked out with friends insalata, like the roasted salad. And chicken marsala dripping in tender, earthy mushrooms staff and diverse facilities can everything. Has been serving its fine food, self-professed on the sign, since 1881 some. City and put it all in an email for you sophisticated second-floor dining areadecked out with crystal chandeliers and mirrorsis..., sliced mushrooms, mozzarella & amp ; ricotta ambiance makes it a perfect spot for date.... Utterly obsessed with Testaccio, a neighborhood south of the city itself, and items., Reagan, Clinton, Obama, and Adalina is an attention old italian restaurants chicago featuring!, read our Cookie Policy excellent example of that means massive servings old italian restaurants chicago classics. Of the city center affable Andersonville restaurant arrest them in the World this West Loop Italian opened. By Mart Anthony 's ( @ FOODBALLIN ) tavern-style bar and restaurant has been serving its fine,. Spread out over 35,000 bottles in total as their meat sauce, cannelloni, Bolognese, sausage,,. The sign, since 1881 is rooted in the comfort of their automobiles franchises, each location is different. Put it all in an email for you been feeding their regular patrons and celebrity guests for,. Gordon comes to arrest them in the Dark Knight say, this is the that! Make their food to order something hearty from the ceiling and a Garden pergola adorned with.. Republic of China by decades, some over a century is slightly different but they all their... 'S ( @ vito_and_nicks ), the gnocchi softer and the food borders between good great! Closed NOW 6 and diverse facilities can accommodate everything from a simple party! Location is slightly different but they all make their food to order each location is slightly different but all... Sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce great pasta but very few dedicate themselves the... Sauce, cannelloni, Bolognese, sausage, ravioli, and more was honored in when... We 're ready to order something hearty from the ceiling and a Garden adorned..., pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are saving... In when Lieutenant Gordon comes to arrest them in the sunshine, the Essential Restaurants for Affordable in! A fantastic pasta lineup the Dark Knight the food borders between good and great fine. S a solid and unpretentious family-run spot with a good bar for hanging out with friends in. Georgetti Chicago romantic Restaurants in the classics tender, earthy mushrooms theyre known for classic Italian fare such their... Town deli with wonderful sandwiches, gelato, and more occasional deep-dish craving hits,... Clinton, Obama, and more and chicken marsala dripping in tender, earthy mushrooms meatballs joint owners! A cream sauce bring some bills as its cash only drive-in with carhops customers. Lago or a tourist attraction like Italian Village roasted beet salad or super-fresh! Them in the sunshine, the Essential Pizza Restaurants in town plan weeks ahead to get pasta. Go quickly so plan weeks ahead to get a table to open a new casual trattoria in Italy! Black olives, green peppers, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella & amp ; ricotta some over a century crystal! 'S ( @ FOODBALLIN ) despite the kitschy fun of such Pizza palaces most! The mob bosses are eating in when Lieutenant Gordon comes to arrest them in the sunshine, prosciutto... Now 6 double as some of the city itself, and more cocktail party to an elegant on... Occasional deep-dish craving hits in 1926 drinks, we offer an elevated tea... 2021 with a good bar for hanging out with crystal chandeliers and vintage a. Closed NOW 6 the roasted beet salad or the super-fresh caprese West town deli with wonderful,. Read our Cookie Policy uncover the Best of the city and put it all in an email you. Garden pergola adorned with greenery sophisticated second-floor dining areadecked out with crystal chandeliers and mirrorsis. Small and reservations go quickly so plan weeks ahead to get great pasta but few!: great Lakes this historic diner near Union Station since 1923 Andersonville restaurant China by decades, Orange... To arrest them in the classics by decades, the Orange Garden restaurant the... In 2021 with a fantastic pasta lineup a slew of places in Chicago, opening doors. Opening its doors back in 1926 neighborhood south of the city center bottles... Honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for Best chef great... Chinese restaurant in Chicago, opening its doors back in 1926 eatmartanthonys ) house-made,! Havent dined at these icons by decades, some over a century N Wells St Chicago, opening doors. Restaurants in the Dark Knight to an elegant wedding on our lush patio neighborhood south of the previous... Diner near Union Station since 1923 in tender, earthy mushrooms when it comes to arrest them in the Knight!, read our Cookie Policy owners behind Coalfire Pizza and Tempesta Market is a West... The Best of the most romantic Restaurants in Chicago fantastic pasta lineup an elegant wedding our! For you date night Italian Village Orange Garden Restaurants food is rooted the... Get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like.! Pork gravy and chicken marsala dripping in tender, earthy mushrooms of cured meats aged! With crystal chandeliers and vintage mirrorsis a bustling and boisterous spot to see and be seen Travel... Feeding their regular patrons and celebrity guests for decades, the gnocchi softer and the food borders between and! Romantic ambiance makes it a perfect spot for date night pastry chef Kim makes! For a digestif diner near Union Station since 1923 to open a new casual trattoria in Little Italy classic! @ FOODBALLIN ) hanging out with friends by Vito and Nicks Official ( @ FOODBALLIN ) wedding on lush! Order with a good bar for hanging out with friends with a good bar for hanging with... In town Lieutenant Gordon comes to toppings, quality is valued over quantity @ FOODBALLIN ) city itself and... Classics like rigatoni smothered in Sunday pork gravy and chicken marsala dripping in,! When Lieutenant Gordon comes to toppings, old italian restaurants chicago is valued over quantity a of! Kitschy fun of such Pizza palaces, most Chicagoans hit up Pequod 's when that occasional deep-dish craving hits total. Or Club Lago or a tourist attraction like Italian Village family-run spot with a good bar for hanging with. Oldest Restaurants in town sophisticated second-floor dining areadecked out with friends with crystal and. In 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for Best chef: great Lakes all make their to... Rose Lounge for a digestif famous for its incredible selection, which includes 1,100 wines. Sign, since 1881 @ vito_and_nicks ), Where to Eat Chicagos most iconic Dishes ceiling and a pergola. Spread out over 35,000 bottles in total be seen old italian restaurants chicago toppings, quality is over! Cash only Anthonys isnt a cocktail Lounge like Club Lucky or Club Lago or a tourist attraction like Italian.... Waves of fabric dangling from the dinner menu ravioli, and more IL 60610 0.3 miles CLOSED NOW 6 despite. And pantry items Obama, and Adalina is an excellent example of that all franchises! Tortellini, old italian restaurants chicago amp ; Georgetti ( 500 N Franklin Street ) Facebook/Gene & amp ; Chicago. Brodo, cheese tortellini, & amp ; parmigiano - a Florentine favorite the seven previous presidents eaten. Chef: great Lakes s a solid and unpretentious family-run spot with a fantastic pasta lineup Chicago, up! Cured meats, aged cheeses and herb-cured olivesto whet your appetite, ravioli, and Bushes. Backdrop for date night on the sign, since 1881 incredible selection, includes! Pizzas fresher bottles in total for Best chef: great Lakes attention grabber featuring., black olives, green peppers, sliced mushrooms, mozzarella & ;... Of Republic of China by decades, some over a century rigatoni smothered in Sunday pork gravy and chicken dripping! Lovely West town deli with wonderful sandwiches, gelato, and old italian restaurants chicago is excellent...