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Affresco Pizzeria & Lounge
Categories: Restaurants Pizza Restaurants Italian Pizza, Italian [Edit]
11 N NW HwyPark Ridge, IL 60068
(847) 292-0233
$10 for $20 Deal at Affresco Pizzeria & Lounge
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Reserve a Table at Affresco Pizzeria & Lounge
- Hours:
Mon 4 pm - 10 pm
Tue-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 12 am
Sat 4 pm - 12 am
Sun 10 am - 9 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Intimate
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
71 reviews for Affresco Pizzeria & Lounge
Review Highlights
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"It was fried dough with cannoli filling to dip it in." In 6 reviews -
"They have a wood burning fire for the pizzas and it just..." In 7 reviews -
"But a HUGE thanks to Mike O for putting together another..." In 3 reviews
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Vikki A.
Woodridge, IL
4/17/2012
Absolutely love this Italian restaurant. I only wish it was closer to home. I was introduced to the scrumptious arancini, after much protest. Who would have thought rice, tomato sauce, ground beef and cheese deep fried could be so darn good. The woodfire pizzas rock! Try one with artichokes and spinach. If you don't know what to try first, ask Sergio(owner) to help you out. These a just a couple of my favorites.
You can usually hear Enzo singing throughout the restaurant. Jay is great behind the bar and Monica will make sure you get everything you need! If you are lucky, maybe Uncle Tony will be making fried artichoke!!! My life was not complete until I tried that. A light batter coats the outside of a juicy artichoke. It was heaven, couldn't get enough.
Enjoy dinner inside or on the patio during the summer. You can also take a few cooking lessons at the restaurant. Dinner and a movie anyone, they have that too. If I might suggest one more thing, the Riesling is AWESOME.
Try it for yourself:) -
Review from Jami S.
4/10/2012
Had family dinner here Saturday night. We were seated upstairs right next to the balcony and really enjoyed the ambiance of the place. Very italian, romantic feel. Our waitress was very nice & quick.
Margherita pizza was fantastic! Also, the pasta in the vodka sauce (like a wide noodle pasta) was really tasty. The cheese that comes with the bread was delish (can't speak for the bread tho since I only ate the cheese).
We would def go back! Its a very good Italian restaurant. Perhaps not as good as Nonnos but it is up there! :) -
Review from Jigna P.
4/4/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
Came here on a wednesday night, around 9 pm and we were seated right away (duh) there was barely anyone there, but the bar was pretty lively with people. I'm curious to explore further into this place like the back room and upstairs. We were seated kind of in the hallway area which was weird at first but we got used to it. I love the ambiance and decor of the place. The service was good and the food was delicious, we had the margherita pizza and the goat cheese app, both were delicious. The only very disappointing thing was that the bread for the table was gross. I expect much better bread from an Italian restaurant, this bread tasted almost stale and store bought.
Otherwise the pizza was veryyyyyyyy good. They COULD cut down on the oily-ness a bit.
Oh and on Tuesday nights they have a magician that Sergio pays for and he comes around and shows you magic tricks, all complimentary. They were very cool and it was very entertaining. This is a great date spot!
I definitely want to come back! -
Review from Kristi L.
Chicago, IL
4/26/2012
Absolutely LOOOOVE this restaurant! Authentic Italian food!! Tastes like Nonna cooked it herself!! Presentation is excellent! I've pretty much had everything on the menu and have yet to be disappointed. Service is exceptional, atmosphere is romantic and relaxing perfect for couples, girls night out and even families, (waitresses were really sweet to my nieces). The whole place made me feel like I was back in Italy. I've also been here for a wedding shower and rehearsal dinner, everyone was raving about the experience and don't forget the wine, they have their own cellar. There is a sweet red on the menu that's is definitely worth a try! Nothing but good things to say about this place its a gem!! If you haven't been yet, your missing out!
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Review from Amy P.
2/9/2012
We're new to the area and had our first visit recently. Due to an event on the first floor, we were seated upstairs. That was fine but it seemed like our waitress either had too many tables or was just slow. She was perfectly pleasant but waiting to order drinks and generally having to search out our bill was annoying.
On to the food. We had arancini for an appetizer. I thought it was ok. For some reason I felt it tasted frozen not fresh.
One disappointed, especially considering those great wood burning ovens, was the bread you get once you arrive. There is something about warm, fresh baked bread that I love and I definitely expected that at an italian place with an oven like this.... but the bread tasted like store bought, meh, bread. Not great or worth the splurge.
Pizza. OMG, Loved the wood fired pizza. Totally worth it.
It was the good pizza that saved the day on this one. The staff was nice but not super great service thus the 3 stars. We'll go back for the pizza. -
Review from Rebecca L.
Park Ridge, IL
5/5/2012 Purchased a Yelp Deal
My fiance and I went to Affresco about a month ago for the first time. We LOVED it! We loved the ambiance and most of all the customer service. Our waiter was so attentive and Sergio, the owner and master chef, was so friendly. His smile and cheerfulness is contagious and of course the food was delicious! We can't wait to go back!
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Review from Kelly K.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 11/14/2011
So, my friend asks where I'd like to meet her for Sunday brunch and I suggest Affresco, since she'll be coming from work and it's close for both of us. I'm seated immediately and given a huge cup of absolutely delicious coffee while I wait for my friend. When she shows up a few minutes later, we are still the only people there. I order the healthful-sounding arugula salad, mostly for the fried polenta that comes with it (don't you judge me). Our waitress (same one I had last time) is super nice and I feel the whole experience is going well.
I get my salad. Now, it looks delish, don't get me wrong, but it's not what I ordered. More specifically, it's partly what I ordered, plus some things and minus others.
The salad I ordered (description taken straight from the menu I had in my hand): Arugula, sliced pears, pine nuts, shaved pecorino Romano, pancetta croutons, herb vinaigrette
The salad I received: Arugula, shaved carrots, grape tomatoes, citrus vinaigrette.
There is a salad on their menu, made with spinach, that comes with the citrus dressing, carrots, etc. But that is not what I ordered.
Le. Sigh.
Still, I love arugula, so I dig right in. I'm not a complainer by nature (well, at least not until after-the-fact, apparently).
Munch Munch Yum Nom Feeling Healthy All That Jazz...
Hey....where's my fried polenta?????
So I raise my hand (I'm 38 years old and still do this. What is wrong with me?) and the waitress comes over.
Me: Um, doesn't the salad come with fried polenta?
Waitress: *blink* *blink blink* I don't think so?
Me: Your menu says it does
Waitress: (Looking confusedly at menu, approaching cook) Do we have fried polenta? (stressing "fried" and "polenta" like they're foreign words).
Turns out they don't even have any polenta, let alone fried. Okay, fine. Restaurants run out of stuff. But your brunch menu appears to be printed daily and I'm the first person here. Who ate it all before you opened this morning??
I want to stress that the waitress was VERY nice. Waitress-wise, she's one of the nicest I've ever met. My salad was tasty, the coffee was outstanding, and the dessert sent me into a Beavis-like sugar-rush. I also love the atmosphere, the location, and felt the prices were fair for what we ordered.
I've never worked in the food service industry and don't think I could, to be honest. I'd suck at it. But I'm fairly certain I could get one order right if there were only two people in the restaurant. Not sure who to blame for that one, and I'll go back anyway (the dessert is that good) but I'm still scratching my head.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/18/2010
We hit Affresco's around 1:30 on a Sunday. We were hungry, in the area, and their name came up… Read more »
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Review from Nikki D.
Park Ridge, IL
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tonight my husband and I went to Affresco and had a fantastic experience. We sat in a cute little table near the back of the restaurant and loved everything. When we were sat by our server she referred to it as the cozy corner, and we loved it. We started off with a bottle of chianti and the baked clams. For our entrees our server suggested the swordfish and the linguini pescatore... The fish and the seafood was so fresh, and prepared better then anything we have ever had. The portions were ginormous, you will never go home hungry at this place. Our server also suggested the house specialty for dessert, fried dough that you dip into homemade cannoli filling... Another awesome suggestion! The whole staff was amazing it seems like if the server was busy with another table we were always taken care of. Love the food, the cozy atmosphere and the service.... We will definitely be back!
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Review from Bob D.
Des Plaines, IL
1/11/2012 20 Check-ins Here
Delicious amazingly tender ribeye steak and perfect martinis!
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Review from Marge T.
Des Plaines, IL
Updated - 4/17/2012
Sergio from Affresco sent a message back stating that a Groupon certificate was used and that I was confused. I was in fact not confused. The certificate used was most definitely a http://Restaurant.com certifiicate. The woman next to me put it right on the table and was told by the waitress that she had to spend $35 in order to get $25 off of her bill. These are not Groupon rules because a Groupon certificate is prepaid and is like a gift card. So it is not me that is confused.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/14/2012
I went to this restaurant and wanted to use my http://Restaurant.com certificate. The certificate… Read more »
Comment from sergio l. of Affresco Pizzeria & Lounge 4/16/2012
HI Marge, The table next to you used a groupon not a … More » -
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Review from mark c.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2012
Thanks to a Groupon and a friends advice, I've given Affresco another shot and went out with our Bowling group on Sat prior to the game. Rigatoni with Sausage dish was good according to the groupies... I had the linguine with Shrimp and Mussels and mussels were decent, but the Shrimp didn't taste fresh...and the tomato sauce was quite bland... (which is the kiss of death as far as I'm concerned for restaurants). Now, we try and time things so that we can have our meal and cappuccino and by out by 8:45 for bowling.usually this is not a problem as we were there by 7:20, but unfortunately, the entrees took so long to get to our table that we just had enough time to have a few bites and then we had to take our portions to go... and no time for the cappuccino... -:( Probably not coming back for awhile - especially with our group - with Nonnos, Paste d'arte and Zia's only minutes away..
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Review from holly h.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
This is such a great place for date night. I love wood fired pizzas which is a staple...and my fiancee is a huge fan of the Pollo Arrosto (roasted Chicken) which is always tender. Portion sizes are huge so come hungry.
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Review from Kim R.
Park Ridge, IL
1/21/2012
Sergio is the best host and cook.
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Review from Ms G.
Wheaton, IL
5/13/2011
We came here for Mother's Day, my mom being the only one who had been there previously. I loved the atmosphere, lots of brick and small lights, with an open kitchen so you can see them baking your pizza.
I got the margherita pizza, which was good, but I found the crust to be a bit burnt. The rest of the family had pasta dishes, which I tasted and were good. The portions were large, and the service was great.
It was a nice place, I'd go back. -
Review from Alexis O.
Chicago, IL
4/15/2011
With the Groupon I bought expiring soon, we headed down to try out the place that we've drove by a million times but never stopped in. When a restaurant is located on a busy, cluttered street and parking seems like it will be a pain in the ass, I most often pass it by. But I am happy that Groupon gave us the push to try this place out.
Ambiance is interesting - like you're sitting outside in an Italian market. It has several rooms, so if it seems like it's a tiny place, know that it has an upper level.
Our server was great - very attentive and laid back at the same time. The busboy was a little overzealous - Please let people eat their food without looking at us every two minutes to see if you can grab our plate. When there is still food on the plate, don't keep asking me if you can take it away. This happened 4 times.
The food was awesome! The three of us shared the following:
Calamari - good
Clams - delicious, but at $18/dozen, I thought they were very small
Caprese Salad - Fresh, but it needed more cheese, and was more expensive on our bill than what it was on the menu.
Quattro Gusti Pizza - brother didn't like the pungent olives, but I did
Quattro Formaggi Pizza - fabulous - loved by all!
Cartocci desert - Oh Mylanta! Delicious! Sooo damn good. Not to be missed. It was fried dough with cannoli filling to dip it in. I was so full but once I tasted this, I wanted another serving!
They also have a great wine list that I will definitely have to try next time.
Overall, a few things on the menu seem overpriced (like the clams), and I don't like that the price is different on the bill vs. the menu. I also don't like that they don't show you the price on deserts, and I don't want to ask "How much is this or that", but I would visit this place again. -
Review from Ted W.
Chicago, IL
4/8/2011
I got the chance to try Affresco's when a Groupon was offered a few months ago. Just like any other Groupon, I checked Yelp before buying it. The reviews were mixed but since I would be saving $30 off my meal that seemed like the best time to try it. I went on a weeknight, with no reservations. It was about 6pm and the restaurant had a decent amount of people. I was able to get a table with no problem. We were seated and given menus.
As we were being seated I overheard another table complain about something with their order. This alone should have scared me away. To the restaurant's credit, they did offer the patron a discount off their check for the inconvenience.
The next disappointment was the menu. With any restaurant I am going to for the first time, I checked the menu online to see what looked good. Several other people on Yelp said good things about the aracini and lasagna. I intended on ordering both. When I got there, the entire menu was different than the one online. Me and my girlfriend decided on a splitting the calamari, a pasta dish, and a fish dish.
While waiting for the food to arrive, another couple was seated. We overheard the person seating them explain the days's special tasting menu with unlimited wine. We would have been unable to do the special with the Groupon, but since they were unaware we had a Groupon yet, we thought it was odd we weren't told about the special.
We then ate our bread with oil and Parmesan cheese. The bread was average, but I enjoyed the small cubes of cheese. When our bread was finished, we sat with the oily plates in front of use for about 15 minutes waiting for the calamari. Not only should calamari not take that long, they could have cleared the plates while we were waiting. We realized we they didn't clear the plates when they brought the calamari and expected us to use the same oily plates. We waited another 5 minutes or so for clean plates. The calamari was some of the worst I've ever had, even though it cost $14.
For the main dish, the fish was good, but a little pricey at around $25 for the quality. The pasta was horrible. Some noodles were cooked fine while others we extremely hard. I'm not sure how it was even possible for the noodles to be cooked to such different textures (not stirring them as they cook maybe?)
We were then asked if we wanted dessert. Since other Yelpers commented on the inside-out cannoli, I considered getting it. When I asked the waiter for a dessert menu, he was confused. He had to instead brought out a tray of dry looking cakes and mentioned the cannoli dessert was available. With the luck I had with the rest of the meal, I decided to pass on dessert.
My girlfriend was extremely disappointed with the service. While I thought the service was bad, I would be willing to get the food from the kitchen myself if the place had good food. Unfortunately, they failed there as well. I really can't believe the restaurant is still able to stay that crowded. Maybe the brick-oven pizza? I will never find out since I will not be returning. A couple blcoks down Northwest highway, you will find much better Italian food at Nonno Pino or Zia's. -
Review from Scott H.
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wife and I stopped here at about 9pm last Saturday night on an impromptu visit to use my aging Groupon. The restaurant was probably 80% full at this hour and the host assured us that not having a reservation was fine. The ambiance was quite nice and rather unexpected. Very high ceilings, exposed ductwork, dark and romantic, but still quite lively and exciting. The small bar (seats 8-10?) in the back looked quite inviting and will probably be where we high-tail it first on our next visit. We were seated upstairs in a somewhat private area that appears that it would be the outdoor balcony/terrace area during the warmer months. It was very effectively closed off on this cold winter evening, so it was nice and toasty up there, yet it still felt a bit like dining al fresco.
We were greeted immediately with water and warm flatbread (likely fresh from the wood-fired oven) with small cubes of tasty byt very salty Italian cheese. They were out of our first choice of Chianti, but offered the next one up for the same price. It was quite good so no problems there. We shared a delicious Caesar salad while we waited for our Margherita and Quattro Formaggi wood-fired pizzas. The pizza arrived reasonably quickly and while it didn't have any crunch like I might expect with Neapolitan pizza, it was still quite tasty if lacking a bit of something to set it apart. We were stuffed after splitting half of each pizza so we had no room for dessert and plenty of leftovers (which I'll bake until crunchy!).
Overall a very nice experience. The waitstaff were very attentive and my wife and I would most certainly return with friends...and maybe even try one of the pasta dishes too. -
Review from Brian W.
Prospect Heights, IL
10/23/2010
Really cute decor. Food is tasty but a little on the pricey side. I enjoyed the Gorgonzola ravioli.
They recently rolled a credit card surcharge into their tax line on the bill. I was shocked to see a 13.5% tax charge. I'm not sure this is legal. Also it is new the same week they did a groupon.
Tax oddities aside, I enjoyed my meal and will probably come again sometime. -
Review from Michelle M.
Rolling Meadows, IL
Updated - 4/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had dinner at Affresco over the weekend. This was my 3rd visit there. The parking lot is still small & needs repainting. For the 2nd time, I parked in a space that straddled the Handicap sign. I had to confirm with the hostess that my parking space was okay.
We were immediately seated, even though we were early (+). We got the table closest to the front door. Not the most private, but hey, it was an easy getaway if we needed it (-).
I had the arancini again. Came piping hot (+), but it wasn't as cheesy as I remember from the last time (-).
Hubby had the ribeye steak, which had tons of garlic slices on it. On the side were garlic potato wedges and spinach. Had a bite & it was very good (++).
I had the risotto. It came with sun dried tomatoes, grilled zucchini and 2 shrimp the size of my palm(+)! It was good, considering I normally don't like sun dried tomatoes (+). It had some crispy parts, which surprised me. I thought it was all supposed to be creamy. Maybe I got last bits at the bottom of the pot (-).
The busboy came to our table more times than the waitress. Had a long wait for my husband to get a new fork after the appetizer was cleared. He was so hungry, he started eating it with 2 knives. Plus, we were seated right by the hostess stand, I was surprised they didn't check in on us more (-).
We had a Groupon, so we had to meet a certain $ amount to use it. I'm starting not to like these, because it forces you to buy more than usual. We also had the cappuccino cheesecake, which was good (+).
Drawbacks: they don't have a dessert menu, the server just told us the sweets. I wouldn't have ordered it if I knew 1 slice was $7 (-).
Good place to go, just watch your tab if you need to hit a certain $$ amount. I have 1 more Groupon to use, maybe then I'll find a favorite. But this will be my last try for a while.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/26/2011
Had a nice dinner here with my sister, who was in town. It's a little hard to get to, as it's on… Read more »
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Review from CARMEN R.
Chicago, IL
10/23/2011
Unbelievable pizza! Perfect crust, fresh ingredients and perfect cheeses! Won me over completely. Love the Montepulciano wine and the staff is always attentive. Beautiful inside and the area has great atmosphere!
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Review from Fabio S.
IL
1/19/2011
Had a Great time here at a monday night Art Opening.
We had a few appetizers, a pizza and the steak entree (and it was awesome) A juicy ribeye, roasted in their wood burning oven. I think it was topped with a wine reduction and served with a tasty risotto on the side. The Side of risotto was very good, definitely deserves a better title than "a side" with baby spinach, porcini mushroom and veggies.
Servers were friendly and efficient. I will definitely go back to explore the rest of the Menu. They offer dining in different setting, including a secluded wine cellar below and a terraced area above,
Oh wait, we also had a dessert that should not be missed. Like a deconstructed cannoli: it was fried pizza dough covered in cinnamon sugar and served with cannoli filling to dip in...that was so good! I had to wrestle it out of my 10 year old's hand just to get a little taste of it! -
Review from Bruce S.
Park Ridge, IL
Updated - 11/23/2011
I keep going here, and it's always good. Sergio, the owner, recognizes us and greets us. Great local restaurant feel.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/8/2011
I've had dinner at Affresco at least 15 times over the past two years, including last Thursday.… Read more »
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Review from KELLIE K.
9/18/2008
According to the website, this is a rustic little Old-World Italian joint in the suburbs and its star is a brick oven. OK, I'll bite, except next time I think I'll just stick to the pizza.
The menu features dishes you'd expect to find in a generic Italian restaurant: chicken, beef, pasta, and pizza, nearly all hitting the brick oven in one way or another. I tried the Pollo Allo Spiedo, a spit-roasted chicken, finished off in the brick oven. Extra stars to whoever wrote the description, because that's what sold me.
When my dish arrived, I was impressed by the presentation. Beyond that, it fell short of the mark. The chicken was tender, with a nice garlic flavor, however, as the menu indicated, I think they missed a step and forgot to finish it off in the brick oven. Moist is good, almost soggy is not. Also, it was a little too salty for my preference. Then again, I wouldn't have minded it quite as much had my water glass been maintained. It was empty more far more often than full.
Our server was nice, when we saw him. It took a long time to place our orders. I do understand that I was with a large group. Regardless of the size, drinks (water or otherwise) should flow and you should see your server more than a few times throughout the visit. Affresco, go ahead, it's acceptable to send more busboys to a big table with at least water!
While the decor was "rustic" and had charming highlights of the claimed Old-World Italian feel, I couldn't help but think that it was just a smaller and a little classier version of your average Olive Garden. Still, if you're in the area, it does have potential as a good date spot.
I'd be willing to try it again if was in the area. The oven has its appeal, but I'm in no hurry to go back. -
Review from Kathy R.
Niles, IL
9/18/2008
My opinion is simpatico with those of Patty V., Gayle G. and Kellie K., who were among the 14 Yelpers here to have dinner. It was o.k., but I thought it mostly missed the mark.
I should have gone with my first impulse and ordered a pizza (made in wood-burning ovens; it's their specialty). A few people, including Mike O. (diavola pizza) and George (chicken pesto pizza) really seemed to enjoy theirs.
Instead I got the chicken, which was rubbed with herbs, fresh garlic, olive oil and lemon - spit-roasted, then finished in the wood-burning oven. As others have mentioned, they were heavy handed with the salt. The marinade was surprisingly pungent. I liked it while I ate it. But when I woke up 8 hours later? I STILL tasted it in my mouth, which made for an "ew" moment.
Probably more so than anyone, I had an issue with service. Our waiter was just not around enough, for one thing. i.e. My iced tea tasted nasty (as in, old) but it took 20-25 minutes before I had a chance to ask him for another glass.
I had to leave about 8, so before I ordered, I asked our waiter if that was enough time to cook and eat my entree. He assured me yes, yes - plenty of time. My meal arrived at 7:58 (Patty V. wore a watch). It was not pleasurable to inhale my chicken.
I would have just had most of my food wrapped up to go - but waiter was MIA. So I abandoned it, when I just couldn't stay for one more minute. Double boo because I didn't have a chance to bid most people goodbye, making me appear to be rude and unsociable. Which I'm not. Really. -
Review from Mike O.
9/18/2008 3 photos
Without reading any further reviews, let me sum them all up. You can't miss if you order their pizza. Order anything else on the menu and you may be disappointed. Oh, and you'll have problems if the waiter is the one we had.
Affresco is a relatively new Italian restaurant in Uptown Park Ridge. Since I pass by it on my daily commute to and from work, I watched it with great interest as it was rehabbed from an old building. Affresco displays old European charm with its exterior and once inside, you see bare brick with semi-finished stucco walls. There are old terra cotta roof shingles used as wine racks. The place has this intimate feel with closely spaced tables. The bar is towards the back.
Since we came here for a NW Suburban Yelp dinner, we had the back room behind the bar. A black metal staircase in the room made gave the room an added touch. This is really a nice place and the food was great, but we had a weird waiter.
Liz recognized him as a former waiter at Piano Piano, a local restaurant that burned down. The guy seemed awkwardly funny yet distant and not really helpful with menu explanations. He also disappeared for long stretches of time. Considering his primary job was covering our table of 14, he should have been around more. Perhaps while he was away from us, he was playing with matches in back.
Affresco's main claim to fame is their wood-burning brick oven. They make personal-sized cracker-thin crust pizzas. While I was tempted with a pasta or sausage item, I ordered the diavola pizza: pepperoni with black olives and hot red pepper sprinkled generously as a topping. It had just the right kick without being too hot. George R let me have a piece of his chicken pesto pizza in exchange for 1 of mine. George had the right idea as he assembled what amounted to a pizza sampler platter by slice-swapping with everyone else who got pizza.
Liz M's stuffed artichoke appetizer was good too, from the sample she offered me. After dinner, it seemed a long time before the waiter returned and offered us coffee or other dessert items. Other than the complimentary slice of cheesecake in honor of Dee M's birthday, nobody wanted dessert. I did order a cappuccino for myself though. It came in a rather large cup, not one of those pathetic child-sized teacups like some places have.
In summary, great food and ambience, needs a better waiter. But it is a good overall experience. -
Review from Ling L.
9/19/2008 7 photos
On second thought, I should have ordered the pizza. But I simply couldn't stomach my 3rd pizza in a row. I ended up with the veal saltimbocca or was it bacco .
The only saving grace of my meal was the linguine. Wonderfully al dente and not overloaded with sauce, and I generally love robust sauce. The veal tasted grounded and overcooked, the proscuitto overly salted and the mozarella was s'alright.
I was eyeing George R's chicken pesto hungrily. It looked creamy and delicioso. Let the record show that he did offer me a slice, but I declined.
The prices are comparable to Osteria di Tramonto, and I know where I'll be spending my dough in future.
It goes without saying that Mike O successfully pulled off a great gathering and the company was wonderful -- meeting new people, sitting next to my favorite monkey, getting free things from my queen "Bee" Gayle. Alas, the table is long and doesn't make for good conversation with the other delightful yelpers. But trust the good ole social eagerness of yelpers that rounds were quickly made after dinner and I got to make the acquaintances of other delightful yelpers, the new, the legendary and the old faithfuls. -
Review from Gayle G.
Chicago, IL
9/17/2008
I had my Yelp cherry popped last night and...wow. Just wow. Interesting.
I've been Yelping for a while, but hadn't had a chance to attend any events. Last night's dinner out was fun! What a great group.
The restaurant, it was ok. Not stellar, but not hideous.
My Margharita pizza was good, but I've had better wood fired pizzas. George graciously shared a slice of his pesto chicken pizza and it was tasty too. There were several comments about over salted food, too. I also wouldn't say it's a "deal" for a local Italian joint, it's not too pricey, but you can easily drop $70 on dinner for two with a drink and app. More than some want to pay for a quick bite out.
The service was good and the space itself was nice. If it was closer to me I might give it a second chance, but given that I live in the city, probably not a place that I'll add to my rotation.
The company, however, was a hoot and I look forward to meeting more of your crazy, Chicago Yelpers! -
Review from Allan M.
Chicago, IL
9/20/2008
Like Kathy said about Affresco, I also concur with Patty, Gayle, and Kellie's reviews.
Service wasn't the best, and I agree with Patty about the waiter(plus liked her Addams Family comparison!). He had a weird character of not being the most talkative person when it came to taking orders, but still doing friendly gestures, such as patting me and another yelper on the back. I personally wasn't offended by that, but I know others can be about this gesture! Waiter description aside, I ended up getting a half order of Pollo Allo Spiedo, which is the roasted chicken on a spit. It was decent, but was a little greasy to eat. The oven-roasted potatoes were also good, but there was something about their taste that made me slightly wish they had a wee bit more interesting flavor.
However though, I kept eyeing the wood-fired pizzas so much that others ordered throughout my meal, to the point where it almost was unbelievable! Regardless, I know if I ever come back(and I am in Park Ridge from time to time, since my brother lives next door in the Edison Park 'hood), I'll definitely order one of those, especially since I'm curious to know how they compare to the wood-fired pizza at Graziano's. My favorite thing about this restaurant was probably the nice interior and exterior decor, including for whatever reason, those barrel waterfalls by the bathrooms! The upstairs rooftop patio looked interesting, though I couldn't see what the patio looked like, due to the fact it was dark outside.
Basically, I'd say decent but not the best food I've had(or service), but it wasn't so bad that I wouldn't come back. -
Review from Kristine M.
Austin, TX
6/14/2008
Oh noes.
My husband and I went there for dinner. We are not your typical Park Ridge people (e.g., I am not a soccer mom, we do not have kids, etc.) We waited until around 9:00 to show up for dinner, with the hopes that all the rugrats would be gone by then. Parking was a bit of a hassle, but what do you expect in "downtown" Park Ridge?
Walking in: cute place. Pretty surprising, actually. Classier than we expected. They have some saloon doors that block the (small) hostess stand. Sort of odd, but whatever. We are seated. Then the husband realizes he has left his wallet at home. Guess what, I had changed purses into a tiny purse and also had no wallet. Husband goes home to get wallet. I sit at table, expecting to order wine and whatnot.
Fast-forward 11 (yes, not 10, 11) minutes. Husband walks back in. Drink order has still not been taken. Waitress comes around RIGHT after the husband gets back, and I say "We are leaving." Oh, she had stopped by about five mintues before and said she'd be right there . But I am sorry, I sit there for over ten minutes and don't even get to ORDER drinks, much less receive them.
So, all I had was some "on the house" tapenade and water. Cute place, menu looked great, full bar, open late (the only place in Park Ridge that I know of that meets these two criteria.) I am sad. Maybe some time to work out the kinks is needed...I know this place is pretty new.
Went to Moretti's in Edison Park, much less stuffy crowd anyway. The ladies at the table next to me were talking about their latest rounds of Botox, I kid you not.
I know this entire scenario had to look strange to the outside observer. LOL -
Review from Tom Z.
6/6/2008
I heard this restaurant mentioned on the Johnny B Show and had to try it.
I decided to try the pizza. I liked the pizza. The flavor was very good. The crust was more like soft bread sticks in texture. I personally like a crunchier crust, but still enjoyed the pizza.
I had an Italian sausage pizza. The Italian sausage itself was very high quality and tasted great.
I went on their website, when I got home, and found many other dishes and sandwiches I want to try. I may go for lunch one day.
I liked the atmosphere inside. They had music playing and the decor was something I would associate with dining in Italy. (though I have never been there)
It's also a short walk from the Park Ridge Metra Rail Station.
I will be returning to try some of the other food. -
Review from Steve G.
8/8/2009
The attention to detail in this place is great. The ambiance is great, not too noisy, not too dead. And the room layout assures that you could be here a half dozen times and dine in a different place each time...
The cream of mushroom soup was very good, with fresh mushrooms and lots of cream -- and the bowl was HUGE! Not so sure how Italian it is...
The bread was good, although the first slices we got were not as good as the fresher slices we got in the second bowl. Nice touches with the bread service included thin hard-boiled egg slices...
[A recommendation for the restaurant: Take the dry parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes out of the shakers and put them in bowls with spoons. We're grown-ups and can handle the utensils. The shakers are for the kitchen to use or maybe in a pizza hut.]
Our table had pizzas and the Pollo Limone. First, the chicken dish -- huge portion, big enough for two to share. The chicken was well-cooked and pasta was cooked just the way my wife liked it: very al dente. Nice taste throughout...
The pizzas. All of them looked great -- and again, these are big enough for at least two people to share with a shared entree or even a salad. I had the Diavolo and it was very good. The crust was perfect, flat as flatbread crust, but not cracker thin or cracker hard. Just perfect. A great example of what a wood-burning pizza crust should be.
[Note to California Pizza Kitchen: Schedule a visit for your research kitchen to this restaurant right away!]
Nice selection of wines (about two dozen), although I got a chuckle out of the price for the Opus One (no vintage listed, if I remember correctly) -- $385. Really?
We all had reds, my Chianti was good and what a great pour for under $10!
This is obviously a great neighborhood pizzeria, and if I lived in Park Ridge I would be a regular. Sergio and his crew are doing it right. The biggest dig at this place is that there are many, many great pizzerias and Italian places out in the 'burbs now, so perhaps I'm getting jaded when I say I'll go visit friends in the area and stop here, but I wouldn't make a special trip...
TIP: Live music on Friday and Saturday. The DImarco Trio was very nice, not obtrusive and added a great background to our meal. -
Review from Angela T.
Urbandale, IA
5/4/2011
I am a big fan of Affresco. Our server was excellent, and the food was delicious. The decor is gorgeous and makes you feel like you are in Italy. We ate in the very top level, which was really fun. The restaurant is a little pricey, so watch out for that. Great bar area and wine list too. We received the recommendation to check it out from the concierge at our hotel, and we were definitely happy with our dinner choice. Check it out if you get the chance!
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Review from Teri M.
3/13/2011
My boyfriend and I met another couple here for dinner the other night. Really enjoyed the quick service and food was rather quite good. Small, dark and quaint imbibed an rustic euro cafe feel, plus they had singing entertainment which was enjoyable.
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Review from Kryste N.
Chicago, IL
6/24/2011
I like this place alot. Went last night with a friend for dinner, we ordered the portabello cap appetizer, it was great, then we split a Fresca pizza, also great. The only drawback was that they did not have stuffed artichoke on the menu last night, and well, I'm a stuffed artichoke junkie. Other than missing my artichoke I had a great dinner and a great time, the service was wonderful, and we even had desert! This place has become a reliable standby for good food and service!
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Review from diane w.
Niles, IL
11/12/2011
When we walked into the restaurant we had a reservation and they gave us a table right by the door and then when we asked to move, we were given a hard time. When we sat at our table all of our plates had very dirty. The pizza that we received had the incorrect toppings on it. We asked for black olives and were given kalamata olives and wish we were told they didn't even have black olives. They took back the pizza and scraped off the olives and put on Parmesan cheese which was not fully melted. Some traces of the kalamata olives were still present when we were given back the exact same oily pizza. Not too often that I have to go home and cook dinner after eating out. We will not be returning. Parking is also very difficult in their lot behind the restaurant. The restaurant had a strong cheesy odor when we first walked in.
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Review from Stacy C.
Park Ridge, IL
11/15/2010
Our entire family loves Affresco.
The ambiance is lovely, the food is delightfully fresh and simple, and we've only experienced very good service. Apart from that, Sergio (owner) makes you feel as though you're a guest in his home, and Monica (mgr.) is both efficient and charming.
While I can appreciate a good pizza; it's not really my thing. My husband on the other hand, is an aficionado. He adores the pizza at Affresco. His favorites are the Saltimbocca and the Margherita.
I've had pretty much all of the staples on the menu, which changes often, so I'm never bored. ...love the stuffed artichoke, the arancini are ridiculously good, the roasted chicken is amazing (mine was definitely finished in the wood burning oven), each of the three different fish entrees I've had have been sublime and that dessert...the Italian doughnut thing with the cannoli filling, is insanely good.
Regarding the pasta, I have seen with my own eyes, the woman upstairs making the pasta. Her gnocchi are divine.
I highly recommend Affresco to everyone I meet. -
Review from Clifford K.
Park Ridge, IL
7/22/2009 19 Check-ins Here
Amazing food and atmosphere. I have been going here since the place opened and I just love it.
Pizzas are all amazing they have a little bit of everything and all the ingredients are as fresh as can be.
If you don't see anything on the menu go for their daily specials which are always changing and are just amazing. Prices can be high ($20-30) for specials but it's worth it.
If you want to have a pizza they run at about $15 and I have personally had them all and am pleased with their consistency. They have a wood burning fire for the pizzas and it just makes the crust to die for.
I'm there all the time and glad to have a good Italian place in Park Ridge. -
Review from Norajean N.
Irving Park, Chicago, IL
12/18/2011
This is a great place for Italian food. The personal pizzas are really good. Risotto dishes always good and lots of pasta dishes. Nice atmosphere and good wine selection
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Review from Ben P.
Park Ridge, IL
4/26/2009
Went here for the first time recently and really enjoyed it. Prices on some dishes are a bit high but the quality of food is fabulous.
First the bread is great. Served with grated romano cheese and it really hits the spot.
My dinner date and I both ordered from the nightly specials list. I had grilled calamari over linguine tossed in garlic and oil w/ some vegetables. Everything about the dish was great. Really fresh ingredients and very tasty. He had the halibut with some potatoes and vegetables on the side. The fish was outstanding, but the dish was way overpriced. I think I remember it being in the high 20s.
Prices overall seem to be OK on some dishes like pasta but a little high on others.
Now on to desert - outstanding. On the house we were brought their Cartocci which is 4 pieces of fried dough with cannoli filling in the middle of the plate. This has to be their specialty and I would highly recommend it.
I will definitely go back. I really want to try the pizza and some other pasta dishes. I'd recommend it if you're looking for some simple, fresh and great quality Italian cooking. -
Review from Magen R.
4/10/2011
I went to a rehearsal dinner at Affresco last week and it was amazing. It was family style and I got to sample a bunch of different dishes including the pizza and rigatoni with vodka sauce. All of it was great and the service was impeccable. I'd definitely go back!
