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Basilico Ristorante
Rating Details »
4701 N Cumberland Ave Ste 1
Norridge, IL 60706
(708) 452-6400
Norridge, IL 60706
(708) 452-6400
- Hours:
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 3:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good for:
- Dinner
10 reviews for Basilico Ristorante
I have frequent business meetings in the Ohare area and often bring the people to Basilico for a "not too fancy" but always good italian dinner. People who come to Chicago should be treated to a neighborhood experience and this is the place.
It is in a windowless old strip mall setting that this resturaunt and some government office shares. I hope this does not turn you off because the first appetizer that you get the smile will be on your face. Very nice veal and pasta dishes. Actually, the seafood including light fish is exceptional made delicious by the nice light sauce.
Did I mention the bread? Dont be tempted to fill up on the bread and appetizers because the meal will be sure to impress.
I lived across the street from this place in a little apartment years before I got married. It's located in a strip mall, and you'd never guess it was there. It served some of the absolutely best Italian food, but that neighborhood is known for that cuisine. It's also the safest neighborhood in the city; it's home to a lot of cops and firemen because they have to live in Chicago.
As a throwback to the old days, I had my husband take me for dinner there before the David Gilmour show at the Rosemont Theatre. The food was just as fantastic as ever. We spoke to the waitress, and I told her how I hadn't been there since the earth cooled but the food was still phenomenal. She informed me that they've had the same chef for 25 years -- even before I started my sojourns -- and that's why the food quality was so consistent.
Seek this place out. Listen to Dino sing and smile at the signed pictures of Sinatra, Jay Leno, Tommy LaSorda and others who have eaten here. If you are in the mood for the full fatty, ask them to make you the turkey tetrazzini (they will, even if it's not on the menu that night). Loosen your belt, sit back and enjoy.
It was good. But I don't think it can compare to Da Luciano's which is just down the street. I've tried them both. The one advantage it does have though is there is lots of room.
was taken here last night for dinner.........and had no idea where i was going. but we all pull up and it's actually in a "strip mall". I couldnt find the door.......then realize you have to walk into this "mall like entrance" to get into the place.
the restaurant itself was small, but it was crowded! always have to start off with warm bread and oil and cheese! awesome! I decided to have the "Lobster Ravioli". Never heard of it, but it sounded different! That was awesome! served in Vodka cream sauce..........it was very very good! I would recommend trying it!
The rest of the menu looked good.....and I think I'll be back!
The only negative was the poor water refills. Had to always flag down our waiter to refill the water, that isn't his job. Overall, a good meal.......give it a shot if you are in the area!
I came here since we had a gift certificate to this place and it's been sitting unused for too long. I got excited since I saw a lot of great reviews posted about this place. And yes, the food is good, very good in fact. But I see this restaurant leading a conflicted existence, trying to decide whether it will be the fancy Italian dining place or the kind of Italian place you can go to drink a few beers and watch a football game in progress. Basilico is located inside of a small indoor mall called the Cumberland Business Center, alongside "Application Support" for immigrants and some medical offices. As you walk in the mall doors, a sign reminds immigrants their place is to the left, not in the direction of the restaurant.
So my wife and I walk inside Basilico and we're not sure if we came in the right way. There's a wine rack, a little podium with a list of reservations, and a picture of Frank Sinatra on the wall. Little 2-person tables line the walls outside in the hallway of the mall. And across from where we came in, located in a separate, mall kiosk-sized room, even more unused but ready tables. I assume all this is Basilico too, in case someone wants to capture the essence of a mall dining experience. After about a minute, someone finally greeted us and led us to a table. This place was not busy at all thought we came at 6 PM on a Sunday and The Phoenix Restaurant just down the street looked packed. I sat down at a booth with a great view of their large-screen TV, showing the final minute of the Bears-Giants game. A man in a Bears cap sat alone at a table next to us, facing AWAY from the TV as if he already knew the outcome.
Looking up at the ceiling, you can see various artworks used as ceiling tiles. Even more Italian food-related art adorns the walls in the hallway to the bathrooms. A lit-up traffic light hangs in the hallway, seemingly out of place amidst the other art.
We waited a little before we got our drinks (mostly ice in a glass) and a loaf of hot Italian bread. The bread was a bit crusty, but something about its freshness and flavor made me eat just about the entire loaf. The posted special was lobster ravioli, and I was certain to try it, seeing another Yelper's recommendation for it. My wife ordered chicken parmesian.
The lobster ravioli was excellent, covered in a creamy tomato sauce. Each pasta piece was colored with orange and green stripes, with a flavorful lobster filling inside. Even after I finished, I kept dipping my bread in the great creamy sauce since it was too good to waste.
The chicken parmesian was downright massive, enough to feed 2 people. The chicken had a juicy flavor to it, topped with a marinara sauce, plus a small plate of mostaccioli on the side. Once we got our food, we were set free from any more service from our waiter. We got no drink refills, and my wife wanted some crushed red pepper for the chicken and a side dish of more marinara to add. I was finished with my dinner by the time the waiter returned. He got the marinara too late, so we had a little container in which to bring it home.
And even the check was complicated. I gave him our gift certificate and he asked if we're paying in cash. I said yes, thinking it would be easier. He went away for another 10 minutes, then returned with the final total, adjusted for the gift certificate. We were puzzled by why it took so long.
In conclusion, Basilico offers good food, but they fall short of the fancy Italian dining experience that you're paying for.
Good, fresh pastas. Drowned in sauce and cheese but very tasty. Small restaurant, but weird strip mall location. They have put tables out in the mall now, that's a little too cheesy. But overall solid Italian favorites.
A hidden gem, especially for River Grove, home of the dull family restaurant. I've eaten here several times and everything has been phenomenal. Their vodka sauce is the best around, the calamari is always tasty, the eggplant is tender and flavorful, the chicken is unbelievable. Now if we can only talk the grandmother into coming here instead of always going to The Loon....
The restaurant is located in a weird spot. Really good Italian food. Great for a date. Nice banquet rooms for a outing. Good selection.
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for Italian American comfort food. I grew up on the northwest side and have been to all of the neighborhood spots. I live close to Taylor street and Grand/ Ogden and have eaten at every place in the area. I first went to Basilico a little over a year ago with my fiance and her parents. I liked it then, since I have been there 2 or 3 more times and it has sunk in that this is my favorite place for this genre of Italian American food. I know I should try more dishes, but it is hard for me to order something different once I find a dish I love. My benchmark of a good Italian American restaurant is chicken parm. Basilicos has the best! I have tried bites of the lasagna, which my mother-in- law swears by. Everything else looks good! Service is fine, I tend to side with if I don't notice the service my drink stays full I'm happy, sometimes overly attentive service interupts conversation so this was good. Prices are very reasonable. I brought a friend for lunch recently and he was laughing at the quirky location in a suburban strip mall, but once you get into the dimly lit fairly dated restaurant you're transformed to a neighborhood place in the bugalow belt, huge difference from the raised ranches of Lawrence and Cumberland.
One of the best itilian restraunts I have ever been to. The veal was excellent!!. The inside, reminds me a restraunt in itialy. The staff is friendly and nice. The portions are huge, I had left-overs for two days.
