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Four plates of Italian food — Tre Dita focuses on lesser-known cities in Tuscany.

Where to Eat the Best Italian Food in Chicago

Carbs and Chianti galore

by Ashok Selvam and Eater Staff Updated Nov 25, 2024, 10:24am CST

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Tre Dita focuses on lesser-known cities in Tuscany.

| Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

by Ashok Selvam and Eater Staff Updated Nov 25, 2024, 10:24am CST

If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that a hearty plate of pasta is always a good choice. Heavy with Italian tradition, Chicago is home to some of the country’s best red sauce restaurants. From timeless classics, such as spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Vesuvio, to contemporary offerings featuring fancy ingredients like truffles, there’s a lot of variety to be had. Some spots have histories that span decades while others are relative newcomers. But the one thing they all have in common: Cooking that’ll make nonna proud.

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Void

Void is a comfy restaurant along Milwaukee Avenue with a giant old-school bar that stretches alongside a wall. It flips a lot of cliches about Italian American restaurants on its back (“when you’re here you’re family, etc.). Void has a unique self-awareness, the restaurant isn’t stuffy but is devoted to precision in the kitchen. They offer a tight menu that rotates with regular items — think lasagna and gnocchi — that always stay on the menu. The homemade SpaghettiOs — which are presented in a can to give off childhood memories — are a great example of Void’s attention to detail.

2937 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618

A can of spaghetti uhOs.

Also featured in:

Mano a Mano

The owners of Andros Taverna have opened a dimly lit and intimate restaurant that serves a variety of pasta with farm-fresh ingredients. Mano a Mano features attentive service, great desserts, and an ambitious wine list. It’s not a red sauce joint, but it modernizes some familiar traits. The seafood-stuffed pastas are worth the splurge, and the bread is also a must-order—the stracchino with the focaccia is a crowd-pleaser.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

2534 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647

Daisies

The relocation of this Logan Square favorite showcases Italian food through a Midwestern lens with strong relationships with area farmers and some of the best pasta in town. This is a family-friendly restaurant that operates as a day-time cafe with sandwiches and pastries by day, and entrees at night. It’s also a Michelin Green Star recipient, which honors environmentally conscious restaurants.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647

The restaurant Daisies

Also featured in:

Osteria Langhe

Dive into the flavors of northern Italy at this acclaimed Logan Square restaurant. 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. After dinner, do as the Italians do and sip on a digestif.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Osteria Langhe (@osterialanghe)

Also featured in:

Bacchanalia

Head to the Heart of Italy for this family-run operation that’s been around for four decades. Touting recipes from the “old country,” Bacchanalia produces notable versions of linguine with clams, breaded pork tenderloin, veal scallopini, gorgonzola gnocchi, and more. To finish, pistachio cannoli are a must.

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bacchanalia (@bacchanalia_chicago)

Also featured in:

The Best Pasta in Chicago

Tortello

There’s a slew of places in Chicago to get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like Tortello. Husband-and-wife owners Dario Monni and Jill Gray take the art of pasta making seriously and enlisted a master sfoglina to help train the team. The charming pastificio imports its flour from Italy and the storefront window provides passersby with a view of the staff cutting and kneading dough into a variety of shapes. The menu presents options like tortelli filled with burrata, cacio e pepe, spaghetti stracciatella, and chiusoni alla gallurese. Fresh pastas by the pound, sauces, and meal kits are available as well. A charming outdoor patio, often with live music, is a great summer retreat.

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

A plate of chiusoni alla gallurese. — Tortello’s pastas are paragons of the form.

Also featured in:

Oggi Trattoria

A West Town classic has moved to a new location, leaving Grand Avenue for Chicago Avenue, and staying in the neighborhood. Oggi Trattoria is a family-owned throwback with pizzas and pasta. Chicagoans who grew up in the ‘80s will recognize the offerings as the kind upscale Italian restaurants offered. Now, decades later, dishes like tortellini alla panna and baked clams are comfort foods. It’s a great spot for an early dinner for families with young children.

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Also featured in:

Where to Eat and Drink in West Town

Peanut Park Trattoria

Taylor Street has changed over the years, but it remains vital when tracing the history of Italian immigrants in Chicago. Peanut Park Trattoria, owned by the owners of Coalfire Pizza, proudly serves delicious meatballs, delicate orecchiette with Italian sausage, and nduja from Tempesta Market. Peanut Park proves that Little Italy still has a heart.

1359 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

Elina's

Industry vets Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin teamed up to open this small Italian American joint in West Town last year. 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. Every meal starts with complimentary garlic bread, focaccia, and salami before diners dig into clams casino, rigatoni a la vodka, chicken and eggplant parm, cherry pepper ribs, Dover sole piccata, and more — all served on vintage china. Online ordering is available here.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

A bowl of short, fat, ridged noodles covered in orange sauce and cheese.

Also featured in:

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap

Guests don’t have to be regulars to feel like family at this longtime neighborhood joint. Owned by the DiBuono family since 1931, little has changed at Tufano’s over the decades. Stop in for hearty red sauce dishes and favorites like eggplant parm and lemon chicken Vesuvio. Other old-school touches include chalkboard menus and a cash-only policy. The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant as one of “America’s Classics” in 2008.

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grace Wong (@gracewong630)

Also featured in:

Monteverde

Top Chef and Spiaggia vet Sarah Grueneberg places an emphasis on freshly made pastas and delivers regional Italian flavors through a modern lens at her lauded West Loop restaurant. The food lineup provides hits such as cacio whey pepe, tortellini en brodo, spaghetti al pomodoro, and whole bird chicken parm. Grueneberg was honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for best chef, Great Lakes. Online ordering is available here.

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Also featured in:

Rose Mary

Rose Mary has been one of the hottest tables in town since it opened, and South Side Chicago native Joe Flamm is mixing Italian and Croatian flavors into something truly different. The pasta is top notch with malfadine coming in lamb rags and lovely lasagne. The pork ribs are wonderful as is the Croatian star, cevapi.

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607

A round plate with octopus and greens.

Also featured in:

Piccolo Sogno

Escape the bustle of the city at Piccolo Sogno’s lush garden patio and enjoy an intimate evening filled with rustic cuisine and Italian wines. The “little dream,” the restaurant name’s translation, of Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo treats diners to first-rate dishes like seafood spaghetti nero, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, braised beef short ribs, and wood-fired pizzas. Carryout orders can be placed on Tock.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

A plate of spaghetti nero with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari. — Piccolo Sogno’s spacious outdoor patio makes it a popular attraction.

Also featured in:

La Scarola

La Scarola in River West — near the Milwaukee, Halsted, and Grand intersection — is one of the city’s most beloved family-owned spots. Known for gargantuan portions and halls lined with celebrity diners, generations have indulged in pasta, veal chops, and more.

721 W Grand Ave (btwn Halsted & Union), Chicago, IL 60654

Also featured in:

Chicago’s Best Family-Owned Restaurants

Alla Vita

Boka Restaurant Group unveiled an Italian spot in the former Bellemore space in 2021 to much buzz. The interior, engineered by Kehoe Designs, has beautiful touches like waves of fabric hanging from the ceiling and a garden-style wooden pergola draped with plants. 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. Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are worth saving room for. And on the beverage front, the wine list predominantly showcases Italian bottles while the liquor shelf includes Amari and vermouth.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

A round white plate holds a huge chicken parm

Also featured in:

Gibsons Italia

Chicago’s famed Gibsons Restaurant Group is most notable for steaks, but the company expanded its portfolio in 2017 to include Italian cuisine with the opening of this elegant tri-level venue. Situated next to the Chicago River, Gibsons Italia offers panoramic skyline views, a beautiful dining space outfitted with a retractable roof, and a lovely outdoor patio. The menu highlights Gibsons’ signature Prime Angus and grass-fed Australian beef plus Italian options like arancini, risotto, and fresh pasta made from a gold extruder. Online orders can be placed here.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .
SevenRooms

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

A dining space inside glass walls and roof.

Also featured in:

Riccardo Trattoria

Coming from a family with a rich restaurant pedigree, chef-owner Riccardo Michi whips up some of the finest Tuscan food on the North Side. Diners love the daily specials and crowd pleasing dishes, such as lobster-and-crab-filled ravioli and luscious panna cotta. Don’t miss out on the tripe Florentine, either: the veal tripe braised with veggies and tomatoes is a memorable recipe.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Riccardo Trattoria (@riccardotrattoria)

Ciccio Mio

Hogsalt Hospitality recreates the Italian American supper club experience at River North throwback Ciccio Mio. Guests are transported to a bygone era when they step into the cozy dining room decorated with vintage artwork, chandeliers, and plush banquettes. The kitchen deftly turns out excellent classics, such as black truffle bucatini, spicy vodka rigatoni, lasagna rolls, and chicken parm. And for indulgent desserts, get the cannocini or soft-serve gelato. Online ordering is available here.

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ciccio Mio (@cicciomiochicago)

Also featured in:

Chicago's 2023 Michelin Bib Gourmand List, Mapped

Franco's Ristorante

A remodel in 2016 gave new life to this Bridgeport establishment that dates back to 1989. The renovated space has a modern-yet-retro look and is home to beloved dishes like chicken giardiniera, thick-cut pork chop Vesuvio, and housemade gnocchi. Online ordering is available here.

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616

A variety of dishes and drinks laid out on a table. — Franco’s Ristorante has the look of a newcomer but the soul of a veteran.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat and Drink in Bridgeport

Torchio Pasta Bar

Torchio Pasta Bar in River North does not hold back. Diners are here for primarily one thing: carbs. The signature Torchio Pasta features radiatore with sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. The shrimp fettuccine has a beautiful plum tomato cream sauce. Braised short-rib risotto is also worth and order, as the weekend special bolognese lasagna.

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Also featured in:

UMMO

The owners of Tzuco, lauded chef Carlos Gaytán’s Mexican restaurant, have turned their attention to Italian cooking and taken over the former Rockit space in River North. Ummo is decadent with items like pistachio-crusted lamb and ravioli with lobster-butter ragu. Chef Jose Sosa and have staff are influenced by Italian, American, and other restaurants around the world and have created a unique menu that will frequently change.

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Adalina

Glitzy and glamorous, Adalina is built to impress. The lively Gold Coast newcomer has plenty of eye candy: crystal chandeliers, vintage mirrors, and plush velvet seats. Servers dressed in tuxedos echo the stylish setting, while the modern Italian menu from former Band of Bohemia chef Soo Ahn features refined staples such as cacio e pepe arancini, veal chop parm, and a truffled Caesar salad that’s prepared tableside. The restaurant recently kicked off a tasting menu.

Search for reservations

Capital One Dining

Book primetime tables set aside exclusively for eligible Capital One cardholders. Capital One Dining is the presenting partner of the Eater app .

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Adalina has a seven-course tasting menu.

Also featured in:

Tre Dita

Tre Dita opened in March inside the luxurious St. Regis Chicago at the start of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooks Navy Pier. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants in town, with a mix of unique pasta and beef from LA chef Evan Funke. This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that is dialed in with a focus on the Tuscan region. The pasta lab is a glassed-off room where guests can see workers make unique noodle shapes.

Search for reservations

OpenTable

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

Also featured in:

Nella Pizza e Pasta

Calamari fritti, quattro formaggi risotta, and housemade spaghetti are come of the specialties at this Hyde Park Italian restaurant. Yes, this list is avoiding pizzerias, but they do serve a tasty selection of authentic Neapolitan pies. That baking comes in handy so diners can use the fresh bread to sop up the numerous delicious sauces.

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

Also featured in:

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Void

2937 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618

Void is a comfy restaurant along Milwaukee Avenue with a giant old-school bar that stretches alongside a wall. It flips a lot of cliches about Italian American restaurants on its back (“when you’re here you’re family, etc.). Void has a unique self-awareness, the restaurant isn’t stuffy but is devoted to precision in the kitchen. They offer a tight menu that rotates with regular items — think lasagna and gnocchi — that always stay on the menu. The homemade SpaghettiOs — which are presented in a can to give off childhood memories — are a great example of Void’s attention to detail.

2937 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60618

Visit Website

A can of spaghetti uhOs.

Mano a Mano

2534 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647

The owners of Andros Taverna have opened a dimly lit and intimate restaurant that serves a variety of pasta with farm-fresh ingredients. Mano a Mano features attentive service, great desserts, and an ambitious wine list. It’s not a red sauce joint, but it modernizes some familiar traits. The seafood-stuffed pastas are worth the splurge, and the bread is also a must-order—the stracchino with the focaccia is a crowd-pleaser.

2534 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60647

Visit Website

Daisies

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647

The relocation of this Logan Square favorite showcases Italian food through a Midwestern lens with strong relationships with area farmers and some of the best pasta in town. This is a family-friendly restaurant that operates as a day-time cafe with sandwiches and pastries by day, and entrees at night. It’s also a Michelin Green Star recipient, which honors environmentally conscious restaurants.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

The restaurant Daisies

Osteria Langhe

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Dive into the flavors of northern Italy at this acclaimed Logan Square restaurant. 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. After dinner, do as the Italians do and sip on a digestif.

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Osteria Langhe (@osterialanghe)

Bacchanalia

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Head to the Heart of Italy for this family-run operation that’s been around for four decades. Touting recipes from the “old country,” Bacchanalia produces notable versions of linguine with clams, breaded pork tenderloin, veal scallopini, gorgonzola gnocchi, and more. To finish, pistachio cannoli are a must.

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bacchanalia (@bacchanalia_chicago)

Tortello

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

There’s a slew of places in Chicago to get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like Tortello. Husband-and-wife owners Dario Monni and Jill Gray take the art of pasta making seriously and enlisted a master sfoglina to help train the team. The charming pastificio imports its flour from Italy and the storefront window provides passersby with a view of the staff cutting and kneading dough into a variety of shapes. The menu presents options like tortelli filled with burrata, cacio e pepe, spaghetti stracciatella, and chiusoni alla gallurese. Fresh pastas by the pound, sauces, and meal kits are available as well. A charming outdoor patio, often with live music, is a great summer retreat.

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Visit Website

A plate of chiusoni alla gallurese. — Tortello’s pastas are paragons of the form.

Oggi Trattoria

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

A West Town classic has moved to a new location, leaving Grand Avenue for Chicago Avenue, and staying in the neighborhood. Oggi Trattoria is a family-owned throwback with pizzas and pasta. Chicagoans who grew up in the ‘80s will recognize the offerings as the kind upscale Italian restaurants offered. Now, decades later, dishes like tortellini alla panna and baked clams are comfort foods. It’s a great spot for an early dinner for families with young children.

Open in Google Maps

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Visit Website

Peanut Park Trattoria

1359 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

Taylor Street has changed over the years, but it remains vital when tracing the history of Italian immigrants in Chicago. Peanut Park Trattoria, owned by the owners of Coalfire Pizza, proudly serves delicious meatballs, delicate orecchiette with Italian sausage, and nduja from Tempesta Market. Peanut Park proves that Little Italy still has a heart.

1359 W Taylor St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Elina's

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Industry vets Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin teamed up to open this small Italian American joint in West Town last year. 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. Every meal starts with complimentary garlic bread, focaccia, and salami before diners dig into clams casino, rigatoni a la vodka, chicken and eggplant parm, cherry pepper ribs, Dover sole piccata, and more — all served on vintage china. Online ordering is available here.

Open in Google Maps

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Visit Website

A bowl of short, fat, ridged noodles covered in orange sauce and cheese.

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607

Guests don’t have to be regulars to feel like family at this longtime neighborhood joint. Owned by the DiBuono family since 1931, little has changed at Tufano’s over the decades. Stop in for hearty red sauce dishes and favorites like eggplant parm and lemon chicken Vesuvio. Other old-school touches include chalkboard menus and a cash-only policy. The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant as one of “America’s Classics” in 2008.

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grace Wong (@gracewong630)

Monteverde

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Top Chef and Spiaggia vet Sarah Grueneberg places an emphasis on freshly made pastas and delivers regional Italian flavors through a modern lens at her lauded West Loop restaurant. The food lineup provides hits such as cacio whey pepe, tortellini en brodo, spaghetti al pomodoro, and whole bird chicken parm. Grueneberg was honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for best chef, Great Lakes. Online ordering is available here.

Open in Google Maps

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

Rose Mary

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607

Rose Mary has been one of the hottest tables in town since it opened, and South Side Chicago native Joe Flamm is mixing Italian and Croatian flavors into something truly different. The pasta is top notch with malfadine coming in lamb rags and lovely lasagne. The pork ribs are wonderful as is the Croatian star, cevapi.

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607

Visit Website

A round plate with octopus and greens.

Piccolo Sogno

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

Escape the bustle of the city at Piccolo Sogno’s lush garden patio and enjoy an intimate evening filled with rustic cuisine and Italian wines. The “little dream,” the restaurant name’s translation, of Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo treats diners to first-rate dishes like seafood spaghetti nero, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, braised beef short ribs, and wood-fired pizzas. Carryout orders can be placed on Tock.

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

Visit Website

A plate of spaghetti nero with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari. — Piccolo Sogno’s spacious outdoor patio makes it a popular attraction.

La Scarola

721 W Grand Ave (btwn Halsted & Union), Chicago, IL 60654

La Scarola in River West — near the Milwaukee, Halsted, and Grand intersection — is one of the city’s most beloved family-owned spots. Known for gargantuan portions and halls lined with celebrity diners, generations have indulged in pasta, veal chops, and more.

721 W Grand Ave (btwn Halsted & Union), Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Alla Vita

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Boka Restaurant Group unveiled an Italian spot in the former Bellemore space in 2021 to much buzz. The interior, engineered by Kehoe Designs, has beautiful touches like waves of fabric hanging from the ceiling and a garden-style wooden pergola draped with plants. 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. Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are worth saving room for. And on the beverage front, the wine list predominantly showcases Italian bottles while the liquor shelf includes Amari and vermouth.

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Visit Website

A round white plate holds a huge chicken parm

Related Maps

Gibsons Italia

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

Chicago’s famed Gibsons Restaurant Group is most notable for steaks, but the company expanded its portfolio in 2017 to include Italian cuisine with the opening of this elegant tri-level venue. Situated next to the Chicago River, Gibsons Italia offers panoramic skyline views, a beautiful dining space outfitted with a retractable roof, and a lovely outdoor patio. The menu highlights Gibsons’ signature Prime Angus and grass-fed Australian beef plus Italian options like arancini, risotto, and fresh pasta made from a gold extruder. Online orders can be placed here.

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

Visit Website

A dining space inside glass walls and roof.

Riccardo Trattoria

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Coming from a family with a rich restaurant pedigree, chef-owner Riccardo Michi whips up some of the finest Tuscan food on the North Side. Diners love the daily specials and crowd pleasing dishes, such as lobster-and-crab-filled ravioli and luscious panna cotta. Don’t miss out on the tripe Florentine, either: the veal tripe braised with veggies and tomatoes is a memorable recipe.

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Riccardo Trattoria (@riccardotrattoria)

Ciccio Mio

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Hogsalt Hospitality recreates the Italian American supper club experience at River North throwback Ciccio Mio. Guests are transported to a bygone era when they step into the cozy dining room decorated with vintage artwork, chandeliers, and plush banquettes. The kitchen deftly turns out excellent classics, such as black truffle bucatini, spicy vodka rigatoni, lasagna rolls, and chicken parm. And for indulgent desserts, get the cannocini or soft-serve gelato. Online ordering is available here.

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ciccio Mio (@cicciomiochicago)

Franco's Ristorante

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616

A remodel in 2016 gave new life to this Bridgeport establishment that dates back to 1989. The renovated space has a modern-yet-retro look and is home to beloved dishes like chicken giardiniera, thick-cut pork chop Vesuvio, and housemade gnocchi. Online ordering is available here.

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616

Visit Website

A variety of dishes and drinks laid out on a table. — Franco’s Ristorante has the look of a newcomer but the soul of a veteran.

Torchio Pasta Bar

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Torchio Pasta Bar in River North does not hold back. Diners are here for primarily one thing: carbs. The signature Torchio Pasta features radiatore with sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. The shrimp fettuccine has a beautiful plum tomato cream sauce. Braised short-rib risotto is also worth and order, as the weekend special bolognese lasagna.

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

UMMO

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

The owners of Tzuco, lauded chef Carlos Gaytán’s Mexican restaurant, have turned their attention to Italian cooking and taken over the former Rockit space in River North. Ummo is decadent with items like pistachio-crusted lamb and ravioli with lobster-butter ragu. Chef Jose Sosa and have staff are influenced by Italian, American, and other restaurants around the world and have created a unique menu that will frequently change.

Open in Google Maps

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

Visit Website

Adalina

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Glitzy and glamorous, Adalina is built to impress. The lively Gold Coast newcomer has plenty of eye candy: crystal chandeliers, vintage mirrors, and plush velvet seats. Servers dressed in tuxedos echo the stylish setting, while the modern Italian menu from former Band of Bohemia chef Soo Ahn features refined staples such as cacio e pepe arancini, veal chop parm, and a truffled Caesar salad that’s prepared tableside. The restaurant recently kicked off a tasting menu.

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Visit Website

Adalina has a seven-course tasting menu.

Tre Dita

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

Tre Dita opened in March inside the luxurious St. Regis Chicago at the start of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooks Navy Pier. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants in town, with a mix of unique pasta and beef from LA chef Evan Funke. This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that is dialed in with a focus on the Tuscan region. The pasta lab is a glassed-off room where guests can see workers make unique noodle shapes.

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

Visit Website

Nella Pizza e Pasta

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

Calamari fritti, quattro formaggi risotta, and housemade spaghetti are come of the specialties at this Hyde Park Italian restaurant. Yes, this list is avoiding pizzerias, but they do serve a tasty selection of authentic Neapolitan pies. That baking comes in handy so diners can use the fresh bread to sop up the numerous delicious sauces.

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

Visit Website

Related Maps