Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago
50 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Monteverde
In-house pastificio with handmade pasta made to order by James Beard-winning chef
Essential Picks
#1
Monteverde
9.3
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Birthday & Celebration Central
Trendy Table Hotspots
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
James Beard Award-winning Chef Sarah Grueneberg's handmade pasta destination where sheets are rolled, cut, and hung to dry in the open pastificio. Her signature cacio whey pepe and seasonal tortellini exemplify the tipica and atipica Italian traditions that have made this West Loop gem a MICHELIN-recognized institution since 2015.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cacio Whey Pepe, Pork Shank Ragu alla Napoletana, Stuffed Cabbage with Porcini Bolognese
What Makes it Special: In-house pastificio with handmade pasta made to order by James Beard-winning chef
#2
Giant
9
A compact Logan Square dining room where a Michelin-starred kitchen turns out intensely seasoned New American small plates and handmade pastas from an open line. It’s a destination for diners who want serious cooking, tight pacing, and a lively, unpretentious room instead of white-tablecloth formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Trout Roe Tempura with Sour Cream, Shrimp & Pork Fried Rice with Maple and Salted Black Bean, Slow Cooked Lamb Ribs with Anchovy Aioli
What Makes it Special: An intimate, Michelin-starred New American kitchen known for bold, deeply flavored plates.
Notable Picks
8.9
Coda Di Volpe is a Southern Italian restaurant on the Southport Corridor known for VPN-certified Neapolitan pizzas, housemade pastas, and a polished but relaxed dining room. With strong Google and Yelp ratings across thousands of reviews and frequent praise from local guides, it functions as Lakeview’s destination for wood-fired Italian with room for both families and dates.
Must-Try Dishes:
Super Diavola pizza, Bucatini Bianco, Burrata with seasonal accompaniments
What Makes it Special: Southern Italian cooking with serious wood-fired pizzas and housemade pastas backed by high-volume, high-rating review data.
8.9
Vibes:
Group Dining Gatherings
Happy Hour Hotspots
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Since 2005, Quartino has operated as River North’s all-purpose Italian enoteca, turning out housemade pastas, Neapolitan-style pizzas, and antipasti in a loud, always-busy room. Enormous multi-platform review volume and steady crowds at nearly all hours make it a default choice for groups wanting shareable Italian without formality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Tagliatelle bolognese, Salumi and cheese board
What Makes it Special: High-volume Italian small-plates house with hand-cut pasta and late hours.
#5
Rose Mary
8.9
Top Chef winner Joe Flamm's MICHELIN-recognized tribute to his Italian heritage and Croatian coastal cuisine creates what he calls 'Adriatic drinking food.' The charcoal hearth delivers smoky lamb and grilled meats while housemade tortellini djuvec and burek showcase the unique fusion that earned multiple 'Best New Restaurant' accolades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tortellini Djuvec, Lamb with Blitva, Burek with Beef and Mozzarella
What Makes it Special: Unique Italian-Croatian fusion from a Top Chef winner with centerpiece charcoal hearth
8.9
A Neapolitan-focused pizzeria where the crust is the headline—soft center, blistered edge, and toppings that stay disciplined. Locals come for classic pies and a steady rotation of Italian imports, and it’s one of the most reliable “pizza night, no regrets” rooms in this part of town.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Prosciutto e rucola pizza, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Neapolitan technique that stays consistent at very high volume.
#7
Alla Vita
8.8
A West Loop Italian room built around house-made pastas, wood-fired pizza, and share-first ordering that keeps the table moving. The strongest play is one pasta lane plus one wood-fired starter, then stop before the order sprawls. It’s best for a dress-up dinner that still feels lively and current.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni alla vodka, Wood-fired meatballs, Ricotta dumplings
What Makes it Special: House-made pasta plus wood-fired pizza in a modern West Loop room.
Vibes:
Hidden Gems Heaven
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Instagram Worthy Wonders
This 1972 Lincoln Park icon invented the pizza pot pie—a theatrical bowl of Wisconsin brick cheese, homemade sauce, and Sicilian dough inverted tableside. The Mediterranean Bread alone has cult status, and the historic brownstone sits across from the site of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pizza Pot Pie, Mediterranean Bread, Oven Grinder Sandwich
What Makes it Special: The original pizza pot pie, served nowhere else, created by attorney Albert Beaver
8.8
La Storia Ristorante is a Gold Coast townhouse restaurant pairing handmade regional Italian pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and an extensive wine list with white-tablecloth polish. Diners come for rich seafood pastas, long-form dinners, and a room that feels suited to anniversaries and special nights out more than quick plates of red sauce.
Must-Try Dishes:
Squid Ink Seafood Pasta, Cioppino with Mixed Shellfish, Arugula Pizza
What Makes it Special: Townhouse Italian dining with handmade pastas, deep cellar, and polished service.
8.8
Volare is a Streeterville standby for old-world Italian cooking, tightly packed tables, and big plates of pasta served in a room that’s been humming since 1997. Guests come for house classics like gnocchi alla vodka and seafood pastas, plus a deep Italian wine list that keeps the space buzzing night after night.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gnocchi alla Vodka, Spaghetti Neri al Pesce, Fettuccine alla Bolognese
What Makes it Special: High-volume, classic Streeterville trattoria serving hearty pastas since 1997.
#11
Anteprima
8.7
A small, neighborhood-feeling Italian dining room that wins on careful cooking and a menu that rewards pasta-forward ordering. It’s the kind of place locals treat as a repeatable special night: one starter, one standout pasta, and a dessert that actually lands.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orecchiette with spicy lamb sausage, Grilled octopus, Lemon panna cotta
What Makes it Special: Pasta-driven Italian cooking that holds up across years of demand.
#12
Gibsons Italia
8.7
Gibsons Italia is a riverfront Italian steakhouse pairing gold-extruded pastas, Prime beef and seafood with skyline views from multi-level dining rooms. Downtown diners use it for client dinners, occasion meals and polished date nights where service and execution are tightly controlled.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy Rigatoni, Cacio e Pepe, Roasted Mediterranean Branzino
What Makes it Special: Italian steakhouse where serious pastas meet river and skyline views.
#13
Osteria Langhe
8.7
Osteria Langhe is a Logan Square osteria focused on the cuisine and wines of Italy’s Piemonte region, with a tightly edited menu of plin, vitello tonnato, and rich meat braises. Between national press, Gambero Rosso accolades, and a deep regional wine list, it’s become the city’s reference point for Piedmontese cooking.
Must-Try Dishes:
Vitello tonnato with poached beef and tuna-caper aioli, Plin agnolotti with La Tur cheese, butter, and thyme, Ragu with house fettuccine and northern meat sauce
What Makes it Special: A Piedmont-focused osteria with serious pasta, Barolo-heavy wine, and a focused regional menu.
#14
Ricobene's
8.7
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Late Night Legends
A Bridgeport institution dating back to the 1940s, Ricobene's is famous for its overstuffed breaded steak sandwich, Italian beef, and pizza in a cafeteria-style space under the viaduct. Thousands of multi-platform reviews and national shout-outs cement it as a must-stop for Chicago-style Italian-American comfort.
Must-Try Dishes:
King-Size Breaded Steak Sandwich, Chicken Vesuvio Sandwich, Deep-Dish Pizza Slice
What Makes it Special: Legendary Bridgeport counter known citywide for its saucy breaded steak sandwiches.
#15
Rosebud
8.7
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Group Dining Gatherings
Girls Night Out Approved
Brunch Bliss Spots
Since the early 1990s, Alex Dana’s Rosebud on Rush has been a Gold Coast fixture for red-sauce classics, celebrity photos on the walls, and portions big enough to share. Brunch, lunch, and late dinners all lean on the same playbook: robust pastas, chicken parm, and tiramisu in a loud, celebratory dining room just off the Mag Mile.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni Alla Vodka, Chicken Parmesan, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Long-running Gold Coast institution for oversized red-sauce plates and celebrations.
#16
RPM Italian
8.7
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Business Lunch Power Players
Birthday & Celebration Central
RPM Italian delivers a polished, celeb-adjacent version of modern Italian with housemade pastas, crudo, and steaks in a sleek, reservation-heavy room. It functions as both a destination date-night spot and a go-to for corporate dinners where consistent execution and presentation matter.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mama DePandi's Bucatini, Mafaldine cacio e pepe, Maine lobster ravioli
What Makes it Special: Glossy, high-service Italian where housemade pasta shares space with steak and crudo.
#17
Sal's Trattoria
8.7
Sal's Trattoria is a cozy neighborhood Italian spot in West Lakeview where pastas, burrata, and classic mains stay remarkably consistent across hundreds of Google and Yelp reviews. Open since 2016, it leans into warm hospitality and straightforward cooking, making it a go-to for date nights and small family dinners on Southport.
Must-Try Dishes:
Rigatoni Bolognese, Burrata with grilled bread, Trout Piccata
What Makes it Special: A small, quietly confident trattoria where careful pastas and nightly specials match a genuinely neighborly room.
#18
Calo Ristorante
8.6
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Birthday & Celebration Central
A long-running Andersonville institution that’s best when you treat it like a classic Chicago Italian night: big portions, familiar recipes, and an easy-going dining room. The strength is consistency at scale—great for groups, celebrations, and repeat takeout orders that need to hit the same every time.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Vesuvio, Lobster ravioli, Calamari fritti
What Makes it Special: A true neighborhood Italian anchor with proven, high-volume reliability.
#19
Daisies
8.6
Daisies is a Michelin-recognized Midwestern-Italian restaurant where house-made pastas and vegetable-forward plates lead, with the kitchen able to accommodate gluten-free needs on many dishes. The newer, larger Logan Square space adds daytime coffee and pastries while keeping dinner firmly in special-occasion territory.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carrot bolognese tagliatelle, Strawberry panna cotta, Warm rhubarb crostata
What Makes it Special: Michelin Bib Gourmand pasta spot where seasonal produce, careful technique, and a willingness to accommodate gluten-free guests make it a neighborhood benchmark.
8.6
A Heart of Italy classic that wins by leaning into old-school comfort with unusually tight execution—especially the chicken parmigiana and the baked pastas. The meal starts strong with the roasted-garlic-and-bread setup, and the portions make it easy to turn one order into a full table plan.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna, Roasted Garlic Bread Setup
What Makes it Special: Old-school Italian done with standout chicken parm and a roasted-garlic bread ritual.
8.6
A modern casual-Italian cafe built around slice-and-go Sicilian bakery pizza plus a deeper bench of panini, pasta, and gelato for a full meal. It works best when you treat it like a “pizza first, sweets after” stop—grab a couple slices, then finish with gelato before you roll out.
Must-Try Dishes:
Margherita pizza, Vodka Burrata slice, Panzerotti
What Makes it Special: A slice counter that pairs bakery-style pizza with a serious gelato lineup.
8.6
A polished neighborhood trattoria built around house-driven pastas and old-school Italian-American comfort, with a dining room that feels made for lingering. The lasagna plays like a signature: layered, sauce-forward, and sturdy enough to justify coming specifically for it rather than treating it as a backup order.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna Bolognese, Squid Ink Pasta with Lobster & Shrimp, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: A lasagna-and-pasta-first kitchen with a true trattoria pace.
#23
Piccolo Sogno
8.6
A River West mainstay built around a big, light-strung patio and a menu that rewards classic Italian ordering: a composed antipasto, a focused pasta, and a steady bottle. The lasagna is a smart move when you want something richer and more structured than the seafood-leaning pastas, especially on cooler nights when the room carries more than the garden does.
Must-Try Dishes:
Lasagna, Ravioli 'Piccolo Sogno', Tortino (dessert)
What Makes it Special: A high-volume River West Italian patio where hearty classics like lasagna still land reliably.
8.6
A classic Italian deli-counter where the move is simple: pick one hot sandwich or one cold sub and let the bread-and-deli-meat balance do the work. It’s built for fast lunches and take-home trays, with enough house-made and imported items to turn a sandwich stop into a full pantry run.
Must-Try Dishes:
Italian sub, Sausage and peppers sandwich, Schiacciata (Sicilian stuffed pizza-sandwich)
What Makes it Special: Old-school Italian deli sandwiches plus a deep prepared-food and catering bench.
#25
Sapori Trattoria
8.6
Since 2001, this cozy Lincoln Park destination has earned a devoted following for housemade pasta dishes and classic Italian preparations. The three dining rooms across two levels stay packed with locals who return for dishes like the charred octopus and lobster ravioli.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cappellacci All'Aragosta, Vitello Meatballs, Gnocchi al Brivido
What Makes it Special: Nearly 25 years of housemade pasta and consistently excellent service
#26
Siena Tavern
8.6
Vibes:
Trendy Table Hotspots
Girls Night Out Approved
Birthday & Celebration Central
Business Lunch Power Players
Siena Tavern leans into a loud, party-friendly take on modern Italian, pairing housemade pastas and pizzas with big-format cocktails and a DJ-adjacent vibe. Since 2013 it has anchored Kinzie’s going-out strip for groups who want sharable plates and a social scene in one stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Wagyu beef meatball, Rigatoni alla vodka, Gnocchi with truffle cream
What Makes it Special: High-energy Italian spot where big meatballs, pizzas, and cocktails drive the night.
#27
Stefani Prime
8.6
A polished, special-occasion Italian steakhouse where the move is splitting prime cuts and leaning into the seafood-and-pasta lane alongside them. The room is built for celebrations and date nights, with a menu that balances classic Italian hospitality with steakhouse execution.
Must-Try Dishes:
Branzino, Dover Sole (tableside), Sesame-Crusted Ahi Tuna
What Makes it Special: Italian steakhouse glamour with prime cuts plus serious seafood.
#28
Tortello
8.6
Chef Dario Monni's counter-service pasta shop produces some of Chicago's finest handmade pasta, crafted daily with imported Italian flour and Wisconsin farm eggs. The open kitchen lets diners watch artisans shape tortelli, tagliatelle, and bucatini while the signature tortelli di burrata with brown butter and sage has become a destination dish.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tortelli di Burrata, Focaccia with Ricotta & Honey, Cacio e Pepe
What Makes it Special: Daily handmade pasta crafted using Old World Italian techniques with eggs from a dedicated Wisconsin farm
#29
Tre Dita
8.6
A Tuscan-leaning steakhouse inside The St. Regis built around handmade pasta and live-fire cooking, where the meal works best as a paced progression from schiacciata to pasta to a shareable cut. The room is designed for big-night energy—views, polish, and a menu that rewards ordering fewer things, better.
Must-Try Dishes:
Schiacciata bianca, Pici cacio e pepe, Bistecca alla Fiorentina
What Makes it Special: Handmade Tuscan pasta and live-fire steak in a skyline-view dining room.
#30
Void
8.6
Void is a dimly lit Italian-American spot in Avondale where chef-owners rework red-sauce classics into playful plates like Spaghetti Un O’s and confit grilled octopus. The room feels equal parts neighborhood date-night and industry hang, backed by a sharp Lambrusco-heavy wine list and attentive service.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti Un O’s with meatballs, Gnocchi in vodka sauce, Confit grilled octopus
What Makes it Special: Playful Italian-American cooking that turns comfort dishes into clever, chef-driven plates.
#31
A Tavola
8.5
Chef Daniel Bocik's converted house has delivered Northern Italian excellence since 1995, with his signature gnocchi in brown butter sage sauce earning a devoted following. The intimate candlelit rooms and ivy-covered patio create one of Chicago's most romantic Italian dining experiences.
Must-Try Dishes:
Gnocchi with Brown Butter Sage, Tonnarelli Cacio e Pepe, Veal Saltimbocca
What Makes it Special: Nearly 30 years of Northern Italian excellence in a converted home with secluded garden patio
#32
Ascione Bistro
8.5
A contemporary Hyde Park Italian room built for a more “dress-up” date with cocktails, shareable starters, and handmade pasta at the center. It’s strongest when you order in the burrata/meatballs lane, then commit to one pasta and one main to keep the pacing smooth.
Must-Try Dishes:
Burrata, Meatballs, Gnocchi
What Makes it Special: A stylish Hyde Park Italian dining room with handmade pastas and a date-night-friendly cocktail program.
#33
AVVIO
8.5
A polished neighborhood Italian dining room that leans into classic comfort—red-sauce favorites, seafood starters, and pastas that read as made-with-intent rather than trendy. It’s the kind of place locals use for dependable weeknight dinners and low-stress celebrations, with a menu built around familiar hits executed cleanly.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chicken parm, Oysters Rockefeller, Chocolate tartufo
What Makes it Special: Classic Italian comfort dishes in a more polished, modern setting.
8.5
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Trendy Table Hotspots
Family Friendly Favorites
A destination-worthy pizza shop known for doing both deep dish and thin crust with real seriousness. It’s the kind of place where a simple plan wins—commit to one style, add one salad or appetizer, and let the pie be the whole point.
Must-Try Dishes:
Deep dish pizza, Tavern-style thin crust, Italian beef + giardiniera pizza (specialty pie)
What Makes it Special: A serious Chicago pizza house for both deep dish and thin crust.
#35
Connie's Pizza
8.5
Vibes:
Comfort Food Classics
Group Dining Gatherings
Family Friendly Favorites
Birthday & Celebration Central
Since 1963, Connie’s flagship Archer Avenue location has been a south-side standby for deep-dish, tavern-style pies, and red-sauce pastas. Mama Sue’s Homemade Lasagna sits alongside pizzas and vodka rigatoni, giving groups a way to build a classic Chicago-Italian spread under one very large roof.
Must-Try Dishes:
Mama Sue's Homemade Lasagna, Rigatoni alla Vodka, Original Pan Sausage Pizza
What Makes it Special: Flagship south-side pizzeria where deep-dish and lasagna share the spotlight.
#36
Il Porcellino
8.5
Il Porcellino delivers red-sauce Italian comfort in a cozy, wood-and-checkered-tablecloth space just off Hubbard’s bar row. Large-format salads, chicken parm, and spaghetti plates make it a reliable pick for family-style carb nights before or after downtown events.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spaghetti and meatballs, Roasted chicken penne, Whipped ricotta bruschetta
What Makes it Special: A modern red-sauce joint that balances cozy design with big, shareable plates.
8.5
Since 2007, this Pugliese specialist has transported diners to Italy's coastal south with two wood-burning ovens and a floor-to-ceiling wine wall. Named one of Chicago's Best Pizzas by Chicago Magazine, the orecchiette cime di rapa and seafood risotto showcase authentic regional cooking from owners with deep ties to the Puglia region.
Must-Try Dishes:
Orecchiette Cime di Rapa, Wood-Fired Pizza with Burrata, Grilled Octopus with Rapini
What Makes it Special: 17+ years of authentic Pugliese cuisine with twin wood-burning ovens
8.5
Vibes:
Birthday & Celebration Central
Comfort Food Classics
Date Night Magic
Group Dining Gatherings
Mirabella is a classic Italian steakhouse on Addison where red-sauce pastas share the table with grilled steaks and chops. Locals lean on it for hearty linguine with clams, big plates, and old-school service in a dark, clubby room that works for birthdays as easily as date nights.
Must-Try Dishes:
Linguine with clams (white sauce), Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and shrimp, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: Italian steakhouse energy with big pastas, steaks, and old-school hospitality.
8.5
Osteria del Pastaio brings a more polished, wine-driven take on Italian cooking to a side street just off the Magnificent Mile. Fresh pastas, truffle-forward specials, and a serious wine list make it a frequent choice for Gold Coast date nights and lingering dinners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Housemade Tagliatelle, Pappardelle Bolognese, Pecorino al Tartufo Nero
What Makes it Special: Gold Coast osteria focused on fresh pasta, truffle dishes, and wine.
8.4
An Italian neighborhood room with a chef-driven streak—Roman-style pizzas and pasta cones that skew richer than they look. It’s at its best when you split one pizza and commit to one signature pasta build, letting the kitchen’s comfort instincts carry the meal.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tortellini vodka pasta cone, Squid ink pasta, Roman-style pizza
What Makes it Special: Roman-style pizza plus playful, rich pasta cones.
8.4
A BYOB neighborhood trattoria known for homestyle, sauce-forward plates and hearty portions that land like a warm family meal. The move is to lean into their handmade pasta and classic red-sauce comfort—simple cooking that locals return to regularly.
Must-Try Dishes:
Homemade rigatoni, Lasagna, Tiramisu
What Makes it Special: BYOB, homestyle Italian built around handmade pasta and red-sauce comfort.
#42
Ciccio Mio
8.4
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Trendy Table Hotspots
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Birthday & Celebration Central
Ciccio Mio is an intimate, reservation-booked room styled like a vintage Italian supper club, known for rich pastas, antipasti platters, and thoughtful cocktails. Since opening in 2019 it has become one of River North’s most sought-after Italian date spots, with a heavy emphasis on indulgent, sauce-driven dishes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Spicy vodka rigatoni, Lasagna bolognese rotolo, Orecchiette pugliese
What Makes it Special: A small, softly lit Italian room focused on luxurious pastas and classic antipasti.
#43
Club Lucky
8.4
This 1940s-style Italian supper club has anchored Bucktown since 1990, drawing crowds for oversized Naugahyde booths, killer martinis, and hearty Southern Italian classics. The cavatelli in vodka sauce and family-style portions make it ideal for groups celebrating occasions or seeking classic Chicago red sauce hospitality.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cavatelli Vodka Sauce, Fried Calamari, Chicken Vesuvio
What Makes it Special: Authentic 1940s supper club atmosphere with 34+ years of neighborhood legacy
8.4
Since 2014, Dough Bros has been the go-to New York–style slice window in 60654, staying open as late as 4 a.m. on weekends. Counter service, foldable slices, and subs make it the quintessential post-bar pizza stop near the State & Hubbard cluster of nightlife.
Must-Try Dishes:
Artichoke & Spinach Slice, Mushroom Slice, Custom Build-Your-Own Whole Pie
What Makes it Special: True late-night New York–style slices and subs steps from River North bars.
8.4
Eduardo's Enoteca is a compact Gold Coast wine bar where thin-crust pizzas, pastas like spicy vodka gnocchi, and a focused Italian wine list anchor candlelit evenings. Locals use it as a neighborhood date spot or a first-stop for drinks and small plates before heading deeper into downtown.
Must-Try Dishes:
Hot Honey Pizza, Spicy Vodka Gnocchi, Burrata with Roasted Tomatoes
What Makes it Special: Intimate enoteca with shareable pizzas, house pastas, and a serious wine focus.
8.4
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Fabulous Freddies is a counter-service Italian-American spot in Bridgeport known for Italian beef, massive sandwiches, pizza slices, and Italian ice at budget-friendly prices. Sox fans, families, and neighborhood regulars pack the picnic tables for quick, filling meals before and after games.
Must-Try Dishes:
Italian Beef Sandwich, Breaded Steak Sandwich, Homemade Italian Ice
What Makes it Special: High-volume Italian beef and sandwich counter with big portions and low prices.
#47
Fioretta
8.4
DineAmic Hospitality's glamorous Italian-American steakhouse channels a new-age Copacabana with checkered marble floors, live entertainment, and bartenders in waistcoats. Chef Joe Rizza's solid-fuel hearth delivers exceptional steaks alongside tableside Caesar salad and al dente housemade pastas that nearly outshine the beef.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tableside Caesar Salad, Dry-Aged Ribeye, Chicken Parmesan
What Makes it Special: Mid-century Copacabana glamour meets Italian-American steakhouse excellence
8.4
Vibes:
Family Friendly Favorites
Group Dining Gatherings
Comfort Food Classics
Trendy Table Hotspots
A classic Chicago deep-dish stop in Printer’s Row that’s built for families who want a sit-down pizza night with a little spectacle. The move is to commit to one deep dish (it takes time) and add one appetizer so the table stays happy while the pie bakes.
Must-Try Dishes:
Deep dish pizza (sausage or spinach Margherita), Homemade mozzarella sticks, Thin crust veggie pizza
What Makes it Special: A family-built deep-dish experience where the long bake time is part of the ritual.
8.4
Vibes:
Date Night Magic
Business Lunch Power Players
Trendy Table Hotspots
Family Friendly Favorites
Il Milanese focuses on Northern Italian cooking, with ossobuco, saffron risotto, and charcoal-grilled meats anchoring a white-tablecloth dining room. It’s the neighborhood choice when you want classic Milanese dishes and a serious wine list without heading downtown.
Must-Try Dishes:
Ossobuco alla Milanese, Risotto alla Milanese, Tagliata di manzo
What Makes it Special: Milanese-style dishes and risotto in a polished, neighborhood dining room.
8.4
A longtime Rogers Park pizza institution that wins on craveable tavern-style thin crust and dependable late-day delivery rhythm. Order the thin crust when you want the cleanest read on their strengths, then add a deep pan pie if you’re feeding a crowd and want extra heft.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tavern-style thin crust pizza, Deep pan pizza, Giant party-size pizza
What Makes it Special: A decades-old neighborhood pizza shop with cult-following thin crust.