10 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago

10 Best Italian Restaurants in Chicago

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There are a lot of very good Italian restaurants in Chicago. Since the 1850s, Italian cuisine has been a staple of Chicago’s culinary DNA. Nonna’s creamy risotto, buttery gnocchi, soft ricotta ravioli, and crispy Milanese have all been preserved—and, in some cases, modernized—thanks to countless standout restaurants who’ve shared their family’s signature dishes over and over again for generations.

Italian Americans made a mark far and wide throughout the Midwest, from Chicago to Cleveland to St. Louis. In Chicago, you’ll find dishes such as Italian beef, Chicago-style deep dish pizza, and chicken Vesuvio.

Chicken Vesuvio is a specialty of Chicago, made of bone-in chicken and wedges of potato, celery, and carrot, sautéed with garlic, oregano, white wine, and olive oil. It is rumored that the Vesuvio Restaurant invented the dish in the 1930s.

Chicago is home to one of the largest populations of Italian-Americans in the country, which helps explain why it has many amazing Italian restaurants in Chicago. These Italian eateries double as some of the most romantic restaurants in Chicago, thanks to shareable plates and candlelit tables.

We present you with our pick of the 10 best restaurants in Chicago.

 

 

1. Daisies

Address: 2523 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Website
?
+1 773-661-1671

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Tue
CLOSED
Wed, Thu & Sun
11 am – 2 pm
5pm – 10 pm

Fri – Sat
11 am – 2 pm
5pm – 11 pm

 

Stylish spot with seasonal pasta & vegetables on the New American menu along with craft cocktails.

Vegetables play a leading role at chef-partner Joe Frillman’s charming 70-seat Logan Square spot, Daisies, but he also taps into his talent for pasta making, which he discovered working at Balena and The Bristol. Look for six seasonal pastas ranging from pappardelle with mushroom rage to addictive whole wheat tagliatelle with walnuts.

The Midwest-inspired, handmade pasta-focused restaurant utilizing sustainable produce sourced from Chef Joe Frillman’s family farm run by his brother, Tim. Summer yields a far fresher vegetable-centric menu, while winter relies on a stored pantry of ferments, pickles, and preserves.

Lunch makes way for classic sandwiches served in a casual counter service environment, with a micro grocery store located in the back room where you can pick sides, drinks as well as fulfil your grocery needs with produce and specialty Italian products

Order: trycaviar.com

2.  Monteverde

Address: 1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Website
?
+1 312-888-3041

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Sun, Mon & Tue
CLOSED
Wed-Sat
4:30 pm
10:30 pm

 

Monteverde is at the top of this list for one reason: it’s a favourite Italian restaurant in Chicago. Every dish here is fantastic, from the housemade pastas like cacio e pepe and tortelli di zucca, to the ragu alla Napoletana (with perfectly-cooked pork shank, sausage, meatballs, and fusilli) – which is one of the most delicious plates of food we’ve ever eaten.

it’s the excellent handmade pastas that made Monteverde so famous that reservations need to be booked 57 months in advance.

And it’s worth planning ahead for the fantastic staples like cacio e pepe or gnocchetti con pesto, and seasonal ones (like roasted mushroom ravioli with truffle, spinach, and honey) that are so good we’ve considered using black magic just to halt the seasons.

This restaurant always has outstanding food, great service, and a meal here always feels perfect.

Order: seamless.com, trycaviar.com, doordash.com, grubhub.com, toasttab.com

3.  Osteria Langhe

Address: 2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Website
?
+1 773-661-1582

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Tue
CLOSED
Wed-Sat
5:30 am
10:00 pm

Sunday
5:00 am
9:00 pm

 

Regional Piedmontese cuisine is Osteria Langhe’s focus, and that means ingredients like truffles, cream and eggy pastas appear on the menu. The space is warm and cozy, and you’ll want to order a bottle of well-chosen wine for the table before diving into the food.

The plin, miniature agnolotti filled with cheese, are beautiful and light; the beef tartare is impeccably seasoned; and the vitello tonnato tops tender slices of beef with a vibrant tuna citrus caper aioli.

In case you needed further proof that Osteria Langhe has elevated Chicago’s Italian restaurant scene, order the creamy panna cotta to finish the evening.

It is 0ne of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago.

Order: doordash.com, trycaviar.com

4.  Rosebud on Rush

 

Address: 720 N Rush St, Chicago, IL 60611

Website
?
+1 312-266-6444

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Thu
11:00 am
10:00 pm

Saturday
10:00 am
11:00 pm

Sunday
10:00 am
9:00 pm

 

Rosebud on Rush is top quality. You really can’t go wrong with the steak, lamb chops, and pasta favourites like spaghetti and meatballs.

Just a block from the famed Magnificent Mile, Rosebud on Rush is the perfect setting for the harmonious Rosebud dishes served here.

From our handmade Pappardelle, Cavatelli, and renowned Rosebud classics, to our signature cocktails and world-class service, few other restaurants offer the dynamic energy and big flavours of Rosebud on Rush.

Close to Chicago’s finest hotels and the renowned shops of Michigan Avenue, Rosebud on Rush attracts locals, tourists, shoppers, and some of the world’s biggest stars. Join us and discover why.

Order: grubhub.com, seamless.com

5. Pelago

Address: 209 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611

Website
?
+1 312-280-0700

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Thu
5:00 pm
9:00 pm

Fri – Sat
5:00 pm
9:30 pm

Sunday
CLOSED

 

Located in the luxurious Raffaello Hotel in the heart of the city, Pelago is a hidden gem. It puts a modern twist on traditional Northern and Southern Italian pasta and seafood dishes.

The interior features crisp white tablecloths and solid white background on the walls and ceiling, giving patrons a memorable environment for a fine dining experience.

Perfect for a quiet, romantic evening or special occasion, the setting includes soft lighting and an outdoor courtyard.

Indulging in one of the desserts such as Sicilian cannolis or apple tart with apricot sauce is a great way to conclude any meal here.

6.      Elina’s

Address: 1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Website
?
+1 312-929-2249

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Sun-Mon
CLOSED
Tue – Sat
5:30 am
11:00 pm

 

Chef-owners Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin have teamed up for the ultimate red sauce experience, harnessing their collective—not to mention impressive—years of culinary expertise to devise their mouthwatering lineup.

Dubbed Jersey-style Italian, Elina’s boasts a boatload of classic flavours served atop vintage plates which evoke a feeling of home and heritage.

Kick things off with a plate of baked clams strewn with bacon breadcrumbs and lemon before settling into a signature pasta like Rigatoni alla Vodka with Calabrian bread crumbs or Fusilli di Rabe with sweet sausage and Parmesan.

For now, it’s BYOB, which serves as further enticement to whip out that good bottle of Italian red you’ve been hoarding.

Order: toasttab.com

7. Acanto

Address: 18 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

Website
?
+1 312-578-0763

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Thu
11:00 am
10:00 pm

Friday
11:00 am
Midnight

Saturday
4:00 pm
Midnight

Sunday
4:00 pm
10:00 pm

 

Acanto is casual, inviting Italian restaurant and wine bar on Michigan Avenue, steps from Millennium Park.

Featuring Executive Chef Chris Gawronski’s (Also of The Gage) authentic, seasonally-driven cuisine, Acanto’s specialties include: house-made pastas, an in-house charcuterie program, stone oven pizzas and coastal seaside plates.

Executive Pastry Chef Kym DeLost (also of The Dawson and The Gage) crafts desserts that decadently showcase fresh ingredients and draw inspiration from traditional Italian sweets.

No Italian meal is complete without a perfectly paired beverage. Beverage Director and Sommelier Jon McDaniel curates Acanto’s award-winning wine program with offerings from all of Italy’s 20 regions.

Order: doordash.com, trycaviar.com

8.  Segnatore

Address: 1001 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Website
?
+1 773-697-9687

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Monday
CLOSED
Tue – Fri
5:00 pm
10:00 pm

Saturday
10 am -3 pm
5 pm – 10 pm

Sunday
10:00 am
3:00 pm

 

The food at this casual Italian restaurant in Humboldt Park stands out in Chicago’s pasta and chicken parmesan landscape because every dish has some kind of creative twist.

The meatballs are filled with melted scamorza, offering the benefits of a Juicy Lucy without the risk of third-degree burns.

The deconstructed lasagna is a pile of handmade garlic mafaldine, whipped ricotta, and a mushroom bolognese that would win in a steel cage death match against any meat version.

The restaurant has the relaxed vibe of a European cafe, and is busy with couples on dates, small groups catching up, and people at the bar drinking wine and having oysters—all of whom are probably pretending they’re on vacation.

9.  Tortello

Address:  1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Website
?
+1 773-360-1293

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Monday
CLOSED
Tuesday
4:30 pm
9:00 pm

Wed – Thu
11:30 am
9:00 pm

Sunday
11:30 am
9:00 pm

 

Tortello is one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago, There are few things in this world that taste better than authentic Italian pasta that’s made by hand. Fresh pasta handmade with the best ingredients like nonna makes in Italy.

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.

Buy hand-crafted noodles by the pound or stay awhile and luxuriate over a plate of namesake tortelli, which are stuffed with creamy burrata and topped with brown butter, sage and crunchy toasted hazelnuts. Monni’s uses his grandmother’s tiramisu recipe, making it a must-try dessert.

Order: trycaviar.com, postmates.com, doordash.com, toasttab.com, ubereats.com

10.  Nonnina

Address:  340 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Website
?
+1 312-822-0077

HOURS
DAY    
OPEN
CLOSE
Mon – Thu
11:00 pm
10:00 pm

Fri – Sat
11:00 am
10:30 pm

Sunday
CLOSED

 

The friendly, attentive wait staff at Nonnina doesn’t rush diners, so the eatery is an appropriate selection for a leisurely, relaxing meal. Patrons may choose indoor seating or outdoor seating in a garden room.

The ambience is such that diners can feel equally comfortable whether they’re dressed for a special occasion or attired casually.

Entrees are large, pastas are homemade, and prices are reasonable. With all the positives, this old-world Italian restaurant is well worth a visit.

A must-try is the cappuccino gelato, along with a large selection of drinks in the bar and lounge area.

Order: grubhub.com, ubereats.com, seamless.com, trycaviar.com, toasttab.com, postmates.com, doordash.com

Italian cooking requires patience, skill, a whole lot of heart, and…tomatoes, flour, cheese, olive oil, wine, and garlic.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit reductive, but those seven heavenly ingredients so often join forces to create countless home-style dishes we know and love.

From old-school osterias peddling top-shelf martinis and modern, celebrity chef-helmed Restaurant Row hotspots to grab-and-go deli counters pushing farm-fresh ingredients, on the above list are the 10 best Italian restaurants in Chicago.