Best Trendy Table Hotspots Italian Restaurants in Near North Side
4 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
La Storia Ristorante
Townhouse Italian dining with handmade pastas, deep cellar, and polished service.
Notable Picks
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.
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.
Set on the 12th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Torali blends a modern steakhouse with Italian pastas and sweeping city views. It’s more about polished ambiance, cocktails, and composed plates than rustic red-sauce comfort, drawing hotel guests and special-occasion diners.
Must-Try Dishes:
Torali Mafalde Bolognese, Pappardelle Bolognese, Prime Flat-Iron Steak Frites
What makes it special: Ritz-Carlton steakhouse with Italian pastas and 12th-floor city views.