- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Abruzzo's Division Lounge & Italian Restaurant
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Abruzzo's Division Lounge & Italian Restaurant
8 reviews in English
-
Review from Adam S.
River Forest, IL
2/19/2012
Clean, nice furnished Italian restaurant in Melrose Park (except the life-like sculpture in the middle of the restaurant). As there are an abundance of Italian restaurants in the western suburbs, no doubt this is one of the better ones. They have a great menu with many choices plus daily specials. The grilled calamari is one of the best ever. Avoid the breaded clams - very bland. Braciole was excellent, nice size portions. Homemade pasta was spot on. Ravioli special with vodka sauce should be added to the regular menu. It was nice to see a restaurant in Illinois prepare a perfect vodka sauce. Looking forward to returning and trying more menu items.
-
Review from Mary T.
7/14/2011
Man does this place bring back memories.
-The first time I tried fettucini alfredo
-Countless dinners with my family
-My dad teaching me to play video poker
-Celebrating my 13th birthday with family and a few friends
Not usually one for suggesting a meal out, I was pleasantly surprised when my dad suggested dining here over the 4th of July weekend.
Even though Lefty Teodori sold Division Lounge years ago, not much has changed so far as the interior goes and that's fine. There are still the half round booths lining the one wall, opposite the big mirrored bar in the front area. You still feel comfortable whether you've arrived in jeans or dressier attire. The outdoor patio seems more inviting, open and airy than before; I would've opted to sit outside, but my parents declined.
It only took a few minutes for my mom and I to figure out what my dad would order. Ever since a trip to Rosebud some time ago, he's been obsessed with flat noodles. He ordered them with marinara and I decided to get an order with vodka arrabiata (spicy pink) sauce; my mom opted for the veal limone.
Entrees come with a choice of soup or salad; we all opted for salad. My mom and I ordered our salads with creamy garlic dressing, which our server raved about; my mom loved it - I found it good, but not amazing. The pasta entrees were enormous; Italian is one of those cuisines I can eat until I feel like my stomach might explode, so I threw down my fork once I finished half of my meal. The pasta was quite good, my only critque is I wish the noodles were longer. The sauce had the perfect amount of heat - I prefer my spice to slap my tastebuds to attention, not knock them out.
Our bill ended up being around $60, which was quite reasonable for 3 entrees with salad and a round of drinks; even more so since we all easily stretched our meals into two. Drinks were also quite reasonable, with my Stella being only $4.
While this isn't my all-time favorite italian restaurant, I did quite enjoy myself. I'm sure I'll be back, especially since my mom has already picked out her next meal (frog legs reportedly similar in preparation to the now gone Phil Smidt's). I'm not sure if there was a party in back or it was because of the holiday weekend, but this place seems to attract an older crowd; there was a noticeably large contingent of older people trickling in and out of the place.Listed in: Mangia, Mangia!, The Burbs, Hanging with the P's
-
Review from Jesse W.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 8/4/2011
I've confirmed this place is a solid 3 out of 5. Nothing phenomenal, but just good enough to say "Sure, we can have lunch there." I tried their caprese salad today. It could have used a few more leaves of fresh basil and perhaps a heavier spalsh of balsamic vinegar. Mozzarella was decent, as was the portion size. I would have liked to see fresh cracked pepper instead of the pre-grounded variety. Spumoni was pretty danger good. I ordered it per the recommendation of our waitress. When asked where it was from, she told me Lezza, which is supposedly one of the better local Italian bakeries. I was not disappointed. My coworkers ordered decent-looking dishes too. And everyone seemed semi-satisfied, but no raves. Leta not forget about the standard bread and oil: both pretty good.
Customer service, on the other hand, was below average this time around. If you're in the food desert of Melrose Park, Abruzzo's is worth a try.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
5/7/2011
Came here for lunch one day. Normal prices, normal food. It was a step ahead of Maggiano's. They… Read more »
-
-
Review from Jeff H.
Kansas City, MO
My family has been going here since it was the "Lefty" Teodori's Division Lounge in the 1950-60s (and probably before). The pastas and sauces are great, but so is the braciole and the chicken vesuvio. Don't forget a stuffed artichoke for your appetizer and a cannoli for dessert.
After all these years, Abruzzo's remains suitably and comfortably unchanged. Same great neighborhood restaurant feel, same TV over the bar playing the Cubs game. The restaurant, particularly the bar up front, has changed little over the years. This is what "home" is supposed to feel like when I go back to Melrose. -
Review from Mike S.
Chicago, IL
9/10/2011
Great taste of home. Service is great ask for Johnny. Great waiter. Owner is hostess and she is awsome! Order antipasto salad its the bomb.
-
Review from Chicare M.
Chicago, IL
9/19/2010
Don't waste your time. My husband and I were there on Saturday, September 18th.
The food and the service were aweful. My husband's ravioli was so under cooked it was disgusting. My cottage fries were so thick, greasy and almost raw that I ate one and the rest sat on my plate in a pile of grease.
We did enjoy the fried calamari and the atmosphere. Our waitress was really nice...when we saw her!
Would probably be fun to sit in the bar and watch the Bears game though! But, would I go back for dinner? NO -
Review from John A.
Chicago, IL
1/13/2011
If you want great food at affordable prices and friendly service, then search no more. You will get it all right here. Abruzzo's is a neighborhood restaurant right out of the past that makes you feel right at home. The menu has something for everyone. During the summer you can enjoy your meal in their cozy outside seating area. This has become my wife and mine favorite restaurant and will become yours if you give it a try.
-
Review from Michelle T.
Oak Brook, IL
Updated - 7/12/2010
I just had my Rehearsal Dinner here about a month ago exactly and the food was delicious! I haven't been there for awhile and the staff changed and are still very nice! The dishes are full to the rim with more than enough to eat. Everybody that came loved the food and my friends who have never been there or heard of the place said they would definitely go back for more! I'm very happy I had my rehearsal dinner here. It was really important to me for my family and close friends to be really comfortable with great food and drinks. I will always go back to this place! Lots of good memories!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
2/9/2009 First to Review
My favorite italian restaurant ever! Italian food is what I love to eat and I can eat this food here… Read more »
-
