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Category: Italian
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River NorthChicago (Purple Express, Brown)
Mon-Thu. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
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A true find in the great city of Chicago!
I'm not the biggest fan of Italian food - but this place wins me over every time I'm there. From the friendly service & true old school neighborhood charm - I always feel welcome from the get go. I have only been here a handful of times and have never had a disappointing experience food-wise there - portions are large and the pricing is reasonable. The staff knows the food well and can provide suggestions and/or additions for your meal.
If you want real Italian food in a comfortable local (often times crowded) atmosphere - this is definitely the place.
I wish they were open a bit later and I wish I could make it downtown more often to eat there.
After living in Rome for four months, I havee been looking all over the city for simple, authentic Italian and I found it at Club Lago. Before I get to the food, I must first stay that the manager/owner(?) came over to my table before dining to introduce himself and thank us for coming in. This was my first visit, but we were treated like regulars, every staff member we interacted with were pleasant.
The food came out very quickly, piping hot and so tasty! The pasta was cooked to perfection, and the portion sizes were perfect for one. The pricing was on point for this neighborhood gem. Looking forward to my next visit!
When deciding between two places, Yelp provided the tiebreaking vote. It was very easy to get to - just a block from the Chicago brown line stop in the River North area.
When I walked into Club Lago it was clear that this was a place "where everybody knows your name..." We were quickly greeted and seated in one of the booths. The whole place is like a time warp and you are back in the 50s/60s between the decor and the music. It was a nice ambience for a relaxed meal.
There was a lot on the menu, but our waitress was helpful in providing recommendations. The bread was delicious. I had the Veal Parm and my friend had the Green (Spinach) noodles. The veal was perfectly cooked and only lightly breaded. Yummy! We were both very impressed. Plus our meal was relatively cheap - $38 (with tip) for two.
We were in no rush, but the service left something to be desired. They were a bit slow - and to a certain extent it went with the ambience of a relaxed place, but there are still some expectations. We waited quite a while to put in our order (true we were indecisive when she did check on us) and it took a while for her to come back with the check. Plus, she didn't really check on us. Now I hate when there is too much hovering, but I probably would have ordered another drink had she come around.
I would come back again and recommend the place, but I sttill have my Italian favs.
I love Club Lago. I was lost this past six months while it was getting repaired and simply couldn't wait for it to open again. I went with two of my co-workers last Friday, and although everything was wonderful, just like I remember it, one event ruined the experience for me.
I understand that 'regular' customers sometimes get seated before before 'non-regulars' (let me just say, that although the owners do not know me by name, I am indeed a regular). That being said, it is simply INEXCUSABLE for this to happen multiple times in a row right in front of us.
After seating the party in line behind us first, they then told us it would be about another ten minute wait. After around five minutes, another group came in behind us, were greeted to hugs and kisses, and sat before us AGAIN. After being told initially that we would only have to wait 15 minutes total to get seated we waited 45 minutes because we were not 'preferred' customers. Neither party that was seated before us had reservations.
Club Lago, I hope you're reading this. Although I understand the need to keep your regular customers happy, it's not a good idea to alienate your other ones. I love your food, and I'll probably be back, but the place will never hold the usual warmth and friendliness for me that it once did. I am deeply disappointed.
The best casual Italian restaurant in Chicago! And after a return from an unfortunate kitchen fire, it is better than ever! Great for happy hour.
Food is excellent, though a bit pricey for, but try the specials...... Nothing like a place which has been around for 60 plus yrs. and stayed in the family.....
Great place overall. The veal/eggplant parmesan combo is one of the best things I've eaten in a while. It's kinda whole in the wall and easy to miss if you don't know where it is and you could easily walk buy it every day and have no clue.
I really wish I could say this was a great Italian spot. But.... I can't. The food has more grease than flavor and for someone who NEVER gets heartburn, I have gotten it every single time iIve eaten at Lago. I've been here many times because I work around the corner, so I did give it a fair chance, but I stopped going (pre- boiler explosion!) because the food just makes me feel, well, sick.
The service is good, but that's about all I can say that I liked about this place. I'm a bit confused about all the "authentic Italian" claims. I'm not Italian, but have had plenty of homecooked Italian food- and it tastes nothing like something you'd eat at Lago.
Best Chicken Parm you will ever find: I have been eating her for the last 36 years and I must tell people that this is the best chicken parm you will ever find anywhere. It is so fresh it is scary. Most resturants use frozen chicken breasts to make this. Club Lago actually takes a fresh piece of chicken and de-bone the meat right off of the ribs before sending this yummy piece of chicken to your table. The atmosphere here is great...the bar is old school...the music rocks, it is like a great Italian Movie Soundtrack and unlike the generic music you here at every Italian Resturant you have walked in. The rest of the menu looks great but I must be honest I have never ever tried anything else other than the chicken parm. I cant seem to get past how good it is and neither will you.
A very cozy spot that is very relaxed. We went in there and they had the nice checkered red and white tableclothes going. The host seemed super friendly and they promptly sat us.
The menu is only 2 pages, but there is very little wasted space. There are no descriptions really, but the waitress was pretty helpful. We started off by ordering some of their house wine. We leaned towards the white, but the waitress said the white was not great and the red was actually very good. We went with her advice and she was correct, but after we ordered we definitely wondered if there was just an abundance of red in the back that she was instructed to push.
Then it came time to order. I went with the tomato bread to start and then the pasta francois as my meal. The tomato bread was awesome and a nice upgrade from the normal bread they bring out. It was kissed with olive oil and garlic and topped with tomatoes and subtle spices. I cranked it up a notch with some crushed red. Then my pasta came out. It was covered in this rather tasty tomato sauce and full of broccoli. The plate seemed to be of normal size, but it was heaping!
I didn't have room for dessert, but some self proclaimed cannoli experts (read cannoli snobs) at my table gave theirs a B, which would make me think it is pretty good.
The bathroom in this place is tiny. It was one stall and one unrinal and the door of the stall opens right into where the person using the urinal would be standing. You might be wondering why I am mentioning this. Well I went to use the bathroom and was standing at the urinal when this guy runs in there. I figure he is going to wait til I am done and then go. Instead he opens the door into me and just gets into the stall with this look of panic on his face. I did not stick around too long after that as I like breathing clean air, but I am pretty sure he did a number on that stall. Life lesson #2342: when someone has that look on their face while entering a bathroom stall, it is wise to get as far away as possible.
I hate to be the party pooper among all of these nice reviews. But until recently, I'd been eating regularly at Lago for years . The owners could not be nicer, but the food could. They claim to offer "the full cucina toscana," but what they really offer is watered down Italian-American. The place really is for people who have been coming here since they were kids and their children...old school regulars.
Simply put, Lago skimps on good ingredients. Not simply put, I don't know how many times I've gotten their chicken parmesan and found that, *gack*, it was several pieces of gristly thigh meat folded together, not chicken breast. Geez, you can buy a cheap entire bag of chicken breast at Jewel for a few bucks. Even cheaper thigh meat with the gristle left on, then breaded? And for 10 bucks at lunch? Just not right.
The meat sauce leaves something to be desired. It looks and tastes like tiny chunks of grey "meat" floating in a semi-clear tomato broth. Next, DO NOT order extra garlic in anything; they do not have it. No, they only have garlic blended in with cheap oil, which they pour liberally on your already oily food AFTER cooking it. When I asked why some regular minced garlic could not simply be added to my recipe, I was informed that they prepare the garlic/oil blend ahead of time. Apparently they cannot chop a garlic clove after the morning.
They always offer "olive oil" with their bread...olive oil that looks and tastes like corn oil. There is NO extra virgin oil here, just the generic, flavorless, chemical processed olive pomace oil. The waitress told me, upon inquiry, that it is "too expensive" to buy extra virgin. This is a first for me; this place is supposed to be Italian. All Italian eateries from Elmwood Park to Taylor Street have extra virgin olive oil, the good stuff, for your bread. For the aforementioned, Lago is a Meh experience.
This places feels very "Chicago"
If you want a restaurant that feels like an authentic experience, try out Club Lago. The food was good - I'm not having dreams about it or anything - but the atmosphere is great, and I'm guessing it has been that way for quite a while. While dining here, I looked around the room and noticed a lot of what I'm guessing were old regulars, who I bet knew a very different Chicago than I ever have - perhaps coming here rekindles some of those memories.
To be honest, this place straddled the line between three and four stars for me, and was only kicked into four star territory by a very nice meal with friends, as well as the fact that this restaurant was featured in detail in a recent issue of Brian Azzerello's "100 Bullets" comic book series, and it doesn't really get cooler than that!
Wait, is this in River North!?
Yes.
Wait, is this 2008!?
Yes.
Wait, really?
Um, yes.
Old school Italian, family-owned joint with a hearty bunch of regulars lining the bar, the booths and the tables. Favorable beer selection, excellent service, quality food (I had the chicken marsala, HUGE portion...I didn't even need the side of pasta!).
Fried calamari was crispy and hot, perfect....
The service and vibe are what makes this place stand out. It's very old school, but welcoming. Kind of like Cheers, if it were like...in Italy. In 1965. I dig it.
And yes, River North. If the likes of Nacional 27 and the Merchandise Mart make you cringe, this could be your spot for lunch, dinner, beers, etc...
Right off the Chicago brown line stop. Go. Meet Guido, he's a good egg.
Step into Club Lago and it is like taking a trip back to when people dressed up to go to dinner. You can imagine the cloud of smoke at the bar, gents in their suits, ladies in their gloves and hats...it's that kinda place.
There's no smoke at the bar anymore (a decision by the legislature that my lungs truly appreciate) and people don't really get dressed up for dinner much anymore, so you won't see hats or gloves for the most part. But what you will see is a barful of regulars and tables full of hopefully soon-to-be regulars enjoying good conversation and fabulously huge portions of Italian food.
This restaurant has got some serious charisma. Strong drinks, cold beer, huge portions of classic Italian faves...I feel like I want to be Italian so I can fit in appropriately (unfortunately, my blonde hair and blue eyes take that out of the realm of possibility). But take a seat in here and you will feel at home. Like you too have a nonna italiana back in the kitchen trying to get you to eat because it looks like you're wasting away...
Everything I have tried has been delish...from the chicken parm, to the veal piccatta...it's all good. And trust me, I never look like I'm wasting away here. You're likely to have dinner for two nights after dining here.
Service is always friendly with recommendations upon request, and as mentioned in other reviews, you'll likely meet the owners and become fast friends with them. You will WANT to be a regular here.
Now I just have to figure out how to get ladies wearing gloves and hats again to enhance my dining experience...
The lunch bunch and I trekked over here from work last week to celebrate one of our co-workers' maternity leave. I assumed it would be a little more exotic on the inside based on the name, but was happy to see an old-style Italian restaurant - reminded me of something straight out of Little Italy in Cleveland!
The place was completely crowded but luckily we were able to get a table (very small) for the 6 of us. The host saw my friend and nicely asked her when the baby was due and if it was her first, and reassured her that it would all be ok as he just had one of his own. After a minute or so, they started piling the breadbaskets on the table and we tore into them.
Our waitress, whose name I have forgotten, was an excellent help. She mentioned eating at this restaurant her whole life and had tried everything on the menu. We each individually put her to the test and asked for help on choosing a meal. I ended up settling on the chicken parmesan, not only because I had a huge craving for it, but because she sold it so well against the meatball sub.
I was impressed - the breading on the chicken was excellent and crunchy, the cheesy was piping hot and oozing everywhere, and the pasta with meat sauce was excellent. I was pretty full after I finished eating, but had you put more of it in front of me, I wouldn't have thought twice about pounding more down.
The bill was pretty cheap and definitely worth the 3 block walk from the old-but-not-so-faithful's in my building. I'm sure this will be a new staple for all of us.
Wow did we love this place! My husband is Italian and loves to find "old school" true Italian places. We went on the recommendation of a family member and were not disappointed, in fact, we LOVED it.
The owner greeted us as soon as we walked through the door, and our table for 6 was ready immediately (we had a reservation).
It was pretty busy for a rainy night and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.
We shared the baked clams appetizer and they were loved by all.
Each of us got a different pasta dish and loved every bite.
The house wine was delicious and the service was fantastic.
We'll be back, in fact, I think this will be one of our "regular" spots from now on.
I've taken the bus by this place for 4 years and always wondered who went to a place like this. What I really should've been asking myself is why haven't I gone in and tried this place already?
My interest in Club Lago was piqued when I saw a stellar review from Colleen C. Since she and her parents loved Sabatino's it seemed like it might be a place my parents would enjoy; Sabatino's has been our special events place (birthdays, anniversary's, etc.) for over 15 years. I was a little hesitant due to the parking situation - my dad is cheap, he hates to pay for parking, walk more than 3 blocks or take cabs. My mom and I decided to chance it anyway and lucked out with a primo meter spot around the corner.
When we walked in I could tell this place was just my parents speed. An old school Italian place where it seemed time stood still and a lot of regulars hang out. Seriously, it probably hasn't seen a remodel since some time in the 70's, which my parents found charming and reminiscent of when they lived in the city. We were immediately welcomed and seated at the "Godfather" table, oddly by a huge fan/vent thing. My dad got the "Godfather" seat, which is in the corner and has a great view of the entire place.
We started off with a round of drinks and the calamari appetizer, which was done perfectly. I got Pasta Francois (linguine, broccoli, tomatoes and green onion), my mom the Veal Limon, and my dad the spinach fettuccine with meatballs. We were all thrilled with our meals and went home with doggie bags. My dad, who rarely raves about places, couldn't stop talking about how good his food was and how the meatballs were better than my moms (that went over real well with her).
This place also scored high points with my parents for being reasonable. They couldn't stop talking about it the whole way back to my house, ok it was only a 10 minute drive, but still. It only cost us $75 for 3 meals, drinks, coffees and an appetizer! They're already talking about coming back here to eat again and my dad can't wait to eat his leftovers.
The only thing we weren't thrilled with was our server. He was ok, but not great - a bit on the flaky side if you ask me. We had to ask him 4 times for a bottle of olive oil and he totally botched my mom's drink order. She ordered a vodka martini on the rocks with a lemon twist, he read back to her a vodka tonic straight up with olives - huh? Luckily this error was caught before any good vodka went to waste.
Bottom line: If you like no frills, old school traditional Italian check this place out.
The food is excellent, that's not even a question, but the people are even better. At Club Lago you are truly treated as a member of their family. Is that because it's been family owned and operated for 50+ years? Who cares? All that matters is that they do it. And it seems that they know EVERYONE who comes in. Hosts GianCarlo and Guido really set the atmosphere but even if they're not there the rest of their staff really follow thru.
Oh, and I know I said the food is excellent, but don't take my word for it. Try it yourself. At this point whenever I need to impress someone, I take them to Lago and I order whatever the special is for the day. And I am NEVER disappointed. Thanks, guys!!
the Best most friendly joint in the city. If you have any class I'll see you there!
I started hanging out at Lago when the Nardini brudders' father was still running the place. He is a wonderful guy who knows how to make you feel at home, and his sons, Guido and GianCarlo, are smart enough to have learned what their father knew so well
I've always said, if the Nardini Brudders don't know you when you come into Lago, they will before you leave. Aside from the bragging rights of knowing a couple of local boys named Guido and GianCarlo, Lago is just plain old school fantastic.
The menu doesn't qualify as Nouveau anything, and that's probably the greatest thing about it. From the egg plant parmesan to the best blue cheese salad dressing in Chicago, Lago food is great Italian comfort food.
Mind a quick side story about Guido and GianCarlo? A business partner and I made a habit of meeting every few weeks to talk shop and have a couple too many adult beverages. On one such occasion, our final stop of the night was for "just one more" at Lago. We probably stayed a little longer than planned, laughing and retelling stories. And about the time we were asking ourselves if we could handle one more before the cab ride home, Guido appeared from nowhere with a big plate of meatballs, a grin on his face and said: "Maybe you boys oughta have a little something to eat."
Man, I love Lago.
I loved my meal at Club Lago. The tomato sauce was delicious.
I wish I lived closer to go there more often.
The owner was friendly, and I do love a family-owned business, but it takes more than charm to run a restaurant. I found the food to be decidedly sub-par.
My date and I had a simple garlic bread, which was quite good, then he had the chicken parmesan, and I had the manicoti with a side of meatballs. The chicken parm was huge, which was good... I guess. But it didn't taste like it was made with quality meat. My manicoti was palatable, but it didn't taste anywhere near fresh. The leftovers were fairly vile upon re-heating. The food was so blah that we didn't have the faintest desire to stay for dessert.
Next time I want good, home-made Italian, I'll go up North to Caro Mia or Lucia's.
Not much to say except that the place has excellent old-world ambiance, and really solid Italian dishes. Nothing that'll blow you away, but overall this place is an old school Chicago Italian classic. The daily specials are typically pretty good. I prefer the veggie pasta dishes, including the confusingly named "francaise," which pairs pasta with just-soft-enough broccoli The place also works well as a bar, so if you want to check it out, commit to a beer, and if you like what you see, sit down and have a nice meal.
One more thing, Lago is family owned, and one of the family is almost aways there to greet you warmly. It doesn't seem to take long to become a regular.
I have heard that Club Lago is now the holder of Chicago's oldest liquor license, with the closing of The Berghoff. Club Lago is old school Italian thru and thru. I went for the first time about 3 weeks ago with a friend and his little brother, who happen to be Italian. They said the food was very much like what their Grandma and Mom cook for them at home. I had veal saltamboca, it was great. The chicken cattachtore was also phenomenal. Antipasto tray was a nice starter.
Don't go to Lago expecting to make the scene. It's a bar with some tables in the back and some of the best Italian food you'll find in Chicago.
Okay is the word that comes to mind after last night's experience at Lago. The atmosphere is very old timey and wonderful. It's just what I adore in a restaurant. The service was very slow, even with the dining room being less than half full. Though, every time I said something akin to "this is taking forever!" the waiter would appear in no less than ten seconds.
I had the linguine with clams in white sauce, and it bordered on inedible. The sauce was all too reminiscent of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup. I almost wanted to check the menu and make sure I hadn't ordered cream of linguine and clams. My partner in dining had the mostaccioli, which was decent but not amazing. He attested that the meatballs were flavorless.
Were I ever to venture back to Lago, it would be only for the bar. The bar area was hopping all night long and seemed to be a decent place to hang out. You win some, you lose some.
I've been going to Lago for over 10 years and I love this place. The guys that own it are the best and the staff is all super friendly and easy going. I love the food and enjoy hanging out here with friends. It's definitely all Chicago... This isn't a phony Italian chain - this place has been around for 50+ years and real Italian family restaurant spanning 3 generations.
The veal is the best thing on the menu for dinner and if you go for lunch be sure to try the toasted club sandwich on wheat. I always get the Insalata Dante because it's a great salad for dinner.
Awesome awesome awesome. Don't come here expecting your usual downtown upscale Italian restaurant... this is more like eating at a family member's house. They were busy on Saturday night, but we got a table right away and the service was great. A simple dish of mostaccioli and meatballs was just great- tasted like homemade. The girlfriend had that night's special, gnocchi cesare, which was a garlicky cream sauce and broccoli and cauliflower- it was great.
The place was very comfortable, very reasonably priced, and I loved feeling like I was in such an old restaurant. It reminded me of some of the old places in St. Louis on the Hill, it brought back some great memories. We'll definitely be back.
I remember our waiter...
They had some sort of special that night and he proceeded to tell my friend that they had a 'lake fish' with a 'whore sauce'. She made a face, at which point he told her that it wasn't in reference to her, because she was clearly so 'virginal and beautiful'.
Laughter ensued.
I had a great experience here overall. The food was great (my friend's veal tasted awesome, and my fettuccini alfredo was amazing), the atmosphere was nice (dimly lit, stuff to look at on the walls, nice looking bar up front), and the staff was friendly (our waiter gets madd props for not only being nice and attentive, but funny to boot! I love when you go somewhere and the waitstaff can personalize their conversations with you. I HATE generic waiters.).
To sum this place up in 7 words or less:
Fun, fun, fun and yum, yum, yum!
Went here the other day, for an office lunch. Either get there by noon or you will have to wait. The key to some good here, stay away from the red sauce! Honestly the sauce tasted like it was from a can....
I wish I could say it was great considering this place has been around forever, though I guess everyone has different tastes and standards for their food!
I'm totally biased. I'm at this restaurant 3 times a month, if not more. I've gone there for so long I'm a good friend with the 2 owners, Guido and GianCarlo. When I get there it takes 5 minutes to go around the place saying hello to not only the entire staff, but all the other regulars there. That being said, how many other places in Chicago, offer such a warm and friendly place, that you go in so often, you become good friends with the owners? Obviously there is something special about Club Lago. The food is authentic, real old school Italian, the same their grandma would have made in her kitchen in Lucca. The potions are huge, and the prices are very affordable. If you want a friendly atmosphere, with simply good Italian food, this is the place to go.
Old skool Italian, indeed. Red checkered tablecloths at this place are somehow not cliche. Visibly dusty HVAC systems are somehow . . . charming.
What takes them down a star is charging $3 to split an entree . . . huh!? Their portions, while delicious, are HUGE and two chicks wanting to split an entree should not be upsold on getting another entree . . . we wanted a reasonable amount of food, remember?
Other than that, great bar, delicious food, unobtrusive yet attentive waiter.
The food. Mmmm . . . calamari without too much breading. Carbonera pasta - decadent, delicious. Drinks are bracing without being solid alcohol. I've been going here on and off as long as I've lived in Chicago - a great alternative to the tourist tripe in River North.
It's a pretty slow day in the office with the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, so us suckers who were stuck here (there were only a few) went out for lunch at Club Lago. I liked this place. It had a nice family, old-timey Italian restaurant feel to it. I think the menu is different every day. A couple of my coworkers used to work nearby at former jobs and have been going to Club Lago for years. I didn't have it but Eric said the eggplant Parmesan will blow your mind. He had it today and his head is still there atop his shoulders, so maybe not.. but pretty dang good, in his opinion.
A truly great find. in a city with tons of great Italian restaurants this place stands out. The food is excellent, the staff and owner are friendly and personable and the cannolies are out of this world. Its nothing fancy and the clientele is diverse- people come in wearing jeans and other in 3 piece suits.
A bar and a restaurant? go figure. good thing the brothers believe in history. they'll hand it down to their kids some day!
great food, family owned, good prices, red wine served italian style - in a short tumbler glass.
old style beer here!
Food: OK, not great. But it's priced to be OK. Fun pricing fact from their menu: "items not on the menu may be available for a $2.50 extra charge". Good: chicken marsala. Not so good: sausage panini on untoasted wheat bread. Today's lunch: 6 people, $75 including tip.
Best men's room in the city.
OK, lets start with the good. I ate at the bar and bartender was very friendly to me and to all at the bar. One look at the menu and you know you're not going to throw a c-note for dinner for two. I had them make me the Pasta Francois (vegetarian) on Green (spinach) noodles. Actually slightly above average. But there won't be a next time sitting in this run down, depressing place.
I was here 2 years ago with my teenage kids. Food was slightly above average even then, but I swore I would never set foot in the place again because it reaked of cigarettes- far worse than most smoky bars. And never returned until now, with a smoking ban. Maybe I was expecting them to make the place a little less depressing and spruce it up now that the stench of cigarettes is gone. Ah, wishful thinking.
I may order in from here at some point in the future because I live so close, but if I crave good Italian there are SOOO many great alternatives in the area- Volare, Orso's, Topo Gigio, and Quartino's
If you go here with the right mindset, you will have a great experience.
Club Lago reminded me of a small town Italian restaurant my parents took me when I was a youngster. It was called Cully's, and was owned by 1st generation Italian immigrants in a railroad town. The lady at Cully's had a mustache better than anything I could grow even now. I was terrified of her. I mean, aren't there products to remedy that situation? I know, you don't care. I'll stop babbling now. On to the review.
Club Lago is not about fine dining. And it is not priced as such. Most entrees are under $15. I ordered the chicken parm, and it was as big as my fucking head. I wear a size 7 3/4 hat. I have a big fucking head. The chicken parm was tasty.
You go here for the old-school atmosphere and camaraderie. There is a picture of the three generations of owners behind the bar. Guido and Gian Carlo currently run the place. I bullshitted with one of them for an hour or so after dinner - nice guy. They treated us like regulars even though we were just some chumps from out of town.
If I lived in Chicago, I would be a regular here.
Atmosphere: Old School, needs an update
Food: Americanized Italian
Service: Excellent
Place has a long history, owners are the best, very nice, very accommodating. In dire need of restaurant makeover. Our food was good not great. The veal was above average! This place with a little more attention to the food and atmosphere can really hit the ball out of the park!
Guido the owner gave us a complimentary canoli dessert which was excellent!
Rick
From the moment you walk in, one of the brothers will greet you and treat you like a life long friend that comes in once a day. Even if you don't.
The meat sauce is better than my Gramma's which is one helluva feat in itself. I would eat it a bowl of it with no pasta, it's THAT good!! The marinara is also fantastic. There's so much flavor in a seemingly simple little sauce.
Service is great. The ambiance is fantastic. Whether you're at the bar, or at a booth or one of the tables in the back, it's like being rocketed back a few decades.
If I could give it 8 stars, I would.
You're almost like family when you come to this joint. The Chicken Vessuvio is excellent. So is the pasta. Like everybody says, this is like traveling back in time with it's old school feel. The atmosphere (love the music!!) and food make this a great place for lunch, dinner or even just a drink.
The host/owner Guido remembered I went there with a friend. He said the she did not get off of her cell phone the whole time we were there. Sadly she was a friend and nothing more. I was impressed that he remembered that.
A great Italian joint for sure....! Just wish I there was an entrance through the kitchen for a truly gangster experience.
This place was recommended to us by a local. The prices are more than reasonable. We wanted some Italian food that wouldn't break the bank and that is just what we got. My friend and I both had the linguini with clam sauce, and my boyfriend had the carbonara, which he said was really good too. I have had better clam linguini, but for the price it was good. It was a Monday night so it was kind of empty, dark, and sad inside, but I'm sure there are busier nights there. The waitress (Jamie) was awesome and she said she had worked there for 6 years. Great service. We stayed until closing drinking.
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Italian
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