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Clark/Division (Red)
Mon-Wed. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Mon-Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"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…" read more »
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I was in Chicago and found this restaurant on Yelp :)
Let me start by saying that the service is outstanding! From the moment you call to make a reservation everyone is friendly and very professional.
They don't mess around with portion size, I only managed to eat half of what was on my plate (and not because I wasn't enjoying it)
I had the Tiramisu for dessert .................................................. ...
.................... sorry....... having a moment remembring how delicious it was :)
I loved Chicago! and dining at this restaurant made our trip really special.
In a word -- wow!
I had dinner here Friday night with some friends I don't see very often, so I was already predisposed to enjoy myself. The staff at Il Mulino, in a very unassuming way, did everything possible to push the evening from enjoyable to religious experience. My friends treated me so I have no idea of prices here--but I'm guessing pretty pricey. Having said that, I can say that there was some wonderful new taste put before me every few minutes: a surprisingly spicey zuchini salad, bruschetta, cheese, calamari, garlic bread--and all that before we even ordered. I especially appreciated the portion size here. So many newer restaurants design entrees that are more than anyone can eat. Here, diners get many, many small portions of several different dishes. I sat for a while in the bar--small but cozy with a lovely view of Dearborn, especially nice on a rainy, misty October evening.
A wonderful special occasion restaurant.
Maybe an off night behind the grill. My filet was on par with a decent pot roast. Or rump roast. Blah. 'Spicy' sauce was very close to a good can of stewed tomatoes. In short, the main course was about a 1 star, especially for $39.
The breads and cheese helped save the evening for me, as did the wait staff. Very friendly, helpful and prompt. The location is wonderful. Wonderful building, which looks to have been kept true to whenever it was someones home. Loved it.
In short, go for the ambiance, enjoy the atmosphere and bread/cheese, and stay away from the pot roast... err.... 'filet' options.
*thinking 2 stars... 3 stars... 2 stars.... 3..*
Beautiful restaurant with some of the friendliest staff in the city. The food is beyond exceptional and they change it up enough that you can go back consistentley and never get bored. This is a great place to bring clients or for a date. Really good place!
I've been curious about this place for awhile, as it is one of the stars in the movie, the "Blues Brothers". Mr. Fabulous was the maitre'd of Chez Paul in the movie - this place.
I was walking around with Mr. Fabulous when we decided to stop in for a cocktail. Inside, this place is oldskool. I mean, Old. Skool. The bar was cute, quiet and unassuming. At one point, I went to the ladies room, and three guys practically carried me - service!
The bartender was attentive and great, and gave us a complimentary little nosh of zucchini chips, parmesan cheese (mmmmm) and garlic bread. Nice! This review is for the bar area only, but the food smelled great. If the food is as good as the service, I hope to return!
The only glitch, and this is due to the location, I'm sure. The prices . . . $30 for two martinis. Seriously!?
Perfect, classy and elegant spot for a special occasion. The food is pretty close to authentic and just so GOOD and flavorful. Il Mulino now has a special place in my heart because we had our wedding reception here. It was perfect and everything that we had envisioned. It was classy and intimate, but still quite a party with abundant, delicious food and drink. Tenae is terrific, and I have her to thank for everything going so smoothly. She is down to earth, flexible, and accommodating. Unlike other venues that I explored, I never felt pushed into anything or ripped off. We went through every detail together, and it was just fun. She gave me budget-friendly options, and we personalized everything. Great, great spot for a private event.
Now for the food. My favorite pasta is the penne arrabiata. It is cooked al dente, and I love that it has a kick to it. So good. The scaloppine capriccio is the best veal option. Its super flavorful but not too salty, which I find is an issue with veal dishes at many Italian places. Some of my guests did say the veal was too salty, so it could be that the food isn't cooked as consistently for large parties (we had 75 guests). Love the pre-appetizers (best parm cheese ever) and house grappa that's served after the meal. Next time, I'm going to try to osso bucco.
Usually not a fan of super expensive restaurants because I leave thinking: "that wasn't worth it".
Il Mulino: You're worth it!!! Nice romantic vibe, incredible service and A MAZ ING food. And lots of it.
I'm trying to think of my next "special" occasion so that I can come here again!
Ridiculously accomodating. I went here for desert after a first date once and they oozed romanticism and delicious sweets for us....and their famous lemoncello of course!
Every time I have been there now I am amazed at how they treat you like you were their best friend or maybe even royalty....the service could not get ANY better- that would be impossibe.
The place is utterly romantic and I only have wonderful memories of the restaurant.
Tenae is amazing. I inquired about taking my husband out for a well deserved 'date night', not only did I get a immediate response from her, she also arranged everything! All we had to do is walk there, the staff their listened to my dietary restrictions and assured me the items chosen would be fine. I cannot believe I seriously work 2 blocks away and have never been to this hidden secret. The staff there was very kind and knowledgeable.
The appetizers were great and flavorful, entree was even better. We decided to sip our desert ( Prosecco) as the thought of anymore food was going to have to wait, possibly a week! I will be back and I feel very confident in recommending this restaurant to most, I can definitely say leave the kids at home and enjoy a romantic dinner and fine wines.
I tried Il Mulino in DC earlier this year and was so excited when I stumbled upon the one right here in Chicago!
My bf planned a surprise for me last Sunday night and I was so happy when I got there! But that was the only good thing about this place.
The execution was overall very poor! The appetizers idea is nice, but the bruschetta was so old and soggy and the cut warm tomatoes were very unhealthy and unhygienic.
The worst of all:
1) The pasta was terrrrrible and they over charged us from what was on the menu just because we changed the type of pasta (same sauce etc)!!!
2) They asked if we'd like the sampler dessert, which we said okay to, and they gave us 1/8th of what the full dessert would've been, but charged us as if we ordered all 3 full desserts!!!
I don't know if the manager was off-duty or new, but I would consider this cheating! You can't offer something not on the menu and then charge whatever you feel like charging!
Now, the next morning, both my bf and I woke up with horrible upset stomachs and didn't even make it through the full work day.
This is probably some of the best Italian food I have ever had in my life. I visited Il Mulino with my girlfriend to celebrate Valentines day. The food was excellent as well as the wine pairing and the main courses.
The cheese carving dude (IDK what to call him) was cutting off hunks of this Parmesan cheese that made me want to set fire to my underwear. I really didn't want to set fire to my underwear but when faced with something that tastes that good I tend to lose all control and we all know the underwear is the first thing to go when facing a mental breakdown.
The ambiance was great and the servers were very attentive. I will also mention that the prices were very reasonable with the caliber of service you get. I would give it a .357 but maybe go a little higher with a desert eagle .50 caliber. Easy killer I'm not going any higher, i know I'm a big guy but anything over .50 caliber has a killer recoil. If you didn't get the gun reference maybe that's for the best.
The calamari was kind of chewy and didn't really taste that good. This is part of the reason that I am giving this only 4 stars. This is not the only reason though, so you are going to have to read the rest of this review to find out why. If you don't I will quiz you later. Answer wrong and you will have to answer to my fists. Meet my two bro's pain and sorrow. I had originally named them Sunny and Cher but figured who names their fists Sunny and Cher?
Now that i have ensured that nobody is still reading I will continue. For my main course I had the Lamb and I think this is the best prepared lamb i have ever had in my life. Did you see that I capitalized lamb one place and not the other. I did that for emphasis, or maybe out of stupidity. You be the judge. But not like that Simon dude.....that guys a dick.
The parking. Fairly simple right? Give the man your car keys and he parks your car and you go in. Its every lazy fucks dream. Do you know whats every lazy fucks nightmare? Not seeing the valet guy and waiting and waiting for your car in the freezing cold. Now you see the reason this place lost a full star. Calamari and parking, get it? If you answer Calamari and parking next time I see you I will not body slam you.
" What were my turnoffs for Il Mulino?"
"Pina coloda's and getting caught in the rain?"
"Its time to die".
P.S
I love you Mandi, and I apologize for ruining our valentines day venue with this horrible review.
We visited Il Mulino whilst we were in Chicago over Christmas 2009. I honestly think this is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. The food was absolutely fantastic, the setting in the Biggs Mansion is beautiful also, almost like eating in someones house!
We got to il Mulino quite late on December 26th but the staff could not have been more courteous if we were the first people to walk into the restaurant that night.
We were glad we didn't order appetizers as the complementary bread sticks / olives and bread were almost a meal in itself! They also brought a large block of Parmesan cheese to the table and cut you pieces from it freshly to accompany the complimentary appetizers.
I ordered the Filetto di Manzo alla Fiorentina for my entree and my girlfriend had one of the pastas. Mine was absolutely fantastic, the beef was cooked just right and it was a great cut. My girlfriend's pasta was superb also.
The wine list was extensive and the waiter was kind enough to bring out a complimentary dessert as it was my birthday.
All in all we had a fantastic experience and would recommend it to anyone, we can't wait to go back!
I really enjoyed my dinner at Il Mulino. I went with the future in-laws for a potential rehearsal dinner spot and we had a great meal and experience.
The ambience is definitely what makes the place- the old mansion is so cool and historic- it would be a great spot during the holidays. You have to be careful not to fill up on the freebies they bring...they start with fried thin zucchini chips with red pepper flakes, then they bring a piece of bruschetta, some other toasts and bread, and some tables got a massive block of parmesan brought to them and pieces cut off. For some reason we didn't get that- but we did get some grappa after dinner- no thank you.
Anyways I had the veal chop with fried sage and potatoes- it wasn't spectacular but it was good. I like that you can do half pastas- which we ordered to all share a few bites. All the other dishes- a scallop rissoto, halibut and lamb were all quite tasty.
This is a fun special occasion spot witch rich and satisfying food!
Perfect fancy date night spot. From the outside, it's a classy, old-fashioned brownstone that's been slightly updated for comfort (i.e. warming lamps in winter) without compromising the aesthetics of the facade.
Then you step into a very inviting, cozy space. If you're claustrophobic and enjoy huge industrial loft-like decor, this might not be your thing, but for those who enjoy little nooks and crannies in rooms, this place is totally cute. I came here with the bf for a romantic dinner and we were seated in an alcove on the second floor. I loved the decor - intimate, and Italian without being garish like, say, Buca di Beppo.
Weird moment - our amuses (bread, prosciutto, olives, etc.) were already laid out when we got to our seats. On one hand it felt very personal, but at the same time it made me wonder how long it was lying out before we'd gotten there/ if the table was already taken. Either way, a little unusual. They bring out the parmesan in traditional big blocks and carve it out for you by hand right at the table, which is a nice touch.
The specials we tried were not the best Italian I've ever had in my life, but they were nicely seasoned/portioned, as to be expected. The bill was pretty sizeable for two...as to be expected. But I did enjoy the complimentary sides. A server came up to us afterwards with a tray of grappa. It was a kick in the pants, and definitely woke me up after the massive dinner I consumed.
*If you aren't a valet fan, give yourself a few minutes to park. this place is right next to Tsunami on Dearborn.
I cannot believe it took me this long discover Il Mulino. It is my new favorite Italian restaurant in the city. The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is super romantic. Adam had been to Il Mulino in New York several times, and recommended this restaurant.
Even though it was a nice night, I wanted to sit indoors because it is so beautiful. The building is an old Chicago home, with lots of detailed moldings, lavish drapery, beautiful chandeliers and dim lighting. All of the servers are in white jackets and have the best Italian accents! Buongiorno!
I started with a glass of Prosecco and we immeditely had bread, cheese and bruschetta served. The menu is extensive. I mean, there are 32 items alone on the specials menu. It took us a while to get through all of it.
I had the scallops. Four large scallops were wrapped in pancetta and pan seared to perfection. It was served in a white wine sauce with a porcini mushroom risotto... I definitely recommend it.
My date had the chicken parmasean. It was really big and looked like a pizza. He only got through about a quarter of it.
For dessert, we had the flourless chocolate cake. It wasn't the best, but satisfied my sweet tooth.
I will definitely be back.
Okay, the food was fine and the service was fine, but I don't like their practices and I must say something. I am a neighbor. I had walked by several times and read the posted menu before going in. The menu outside was tempting and the prices were just right. When I went inside I was really surprised to see that the menu posted outside was not available because it's a pre-theatre menu but it doesn't say that on the sign. And of course the menu they offer is more expensive. I can afford to pay the higher prices, and did stay for a meal, but felt I had been baited and switched once inside. This happen several months ago, I have not checked to see if the menu is still posted outside showing the lower prices.
But what really gets me going is that they are bad neighbors. They are on a large corner and today there is snow on the ground. And ice. Every other business on the block, across the street, down the street and around the corner has cleared its sidewalks but Il Mulino doesn't find it necessary to do so. And I just saw a wedding party going in for lunch--bad way to invite people in. I called them to point out that they needed to clear their sidewalks, she who answered said she was unaware of it but would pass the info along.
So I have several reasons not to frequent this place and I always tell other neighbors not to go there also.
Il Mulino holds a special place in my heart as it has been a place we have celebrated multiple occasions at. The service is impeccable, at times it feels a little as if you are being hovered over but it is to be expected with this type of place. The food is always outstanding. The truffle ravioli is always my favorite. My fiance has eaten at the one in NYC and was not disappointed with the Chicago counterpart.
It is a great place in a great location with great food!
I had the chance to go to the first one in New York on Restaurant week there about 5 years ago. Now how happy was I when I saw that they opened a location in the Gold Coast about 3 years ago.
The food is fantastic and the outdoor seating is some of the best in the city, not the wanna be "I want to be seen" seating of the viagra triangle. A great excuse to get dressed up and go out big time.
FANTASTIC!
I miss the food in San Francisco and I always heard that Chicago is one of those food cities. Well this place proved it. We sat down and immediately had complementary brusectta, cheese, muscles, bread and fried zucchini chips within the first 5 minutes before the menu even came. The pastas were the highlight but everything was delicious. The meal end with a complimentary dessert sampler and peach grappa. The concierge at the Ritz/Four Seasons made the reservations for us so that might have had something to do with it. But, the service was impeccable and friendly.
And the price was incredible. Between the two of us, we had an $80 bottle of wine, all that free stuff in the beginning, a pasta course each and an incredible meat main course which included a half rack of lamb and a Fred Flintstone size veal chop plus a giant dessert sampler plate and grappa - Before Tip $106. Amazing.
I am diggin Chicago so far.
I got to check out this place recently on one of my man-dates. This man-date was with my buddy, Colin, and we were looking for a hidden romantic gem for our next romantic interlude ( with women not each other...not that there's anything wrong with that). As far as look alone, you have to love the Biggs Mansion. Dark wood, huge fireplace, candles, mirrors...perfect setting for a date.
We sat down and there were already two wine glasses, 2 water glasses, two place settings, 3 small appetizer plates and 2 bread plates on the table - they kept coming with the complimentary appetizers... kept chunk of parm reggiano, crispy friend zucchini, bruschetta, garlic bread, salame, etc. It was of different a small things to try, which was cool. The actual dinner was kick ass. I had pasta, because I love pasta, and it was amazing. I can't actually tell you what I ordered, but I do know the sauce was vodka-based, which continues the tradition of "Mike does not handle vodka very well", while my buddy Colin wanted a steak with mushrooms, which they dont serve but they offerred to make it special for us ( I think its because Colin is Canadian, they dont get real steak there, just moose). The wine kept coming, the staff was tremendous and the overall vide and feel of the place was amazing. It's a great date spot, as you'll love the atmosphere to woo your date. A bit pricey, but sometimes a great night is totally worth it.
We had our wedding at Il Mulino just about a week ago and everything was perfect! Tenae Graybosch, who does their private parties, worked with us all the way through and helped us find a florist, a photographer, and other professionals. We were afraid the bill was going to be huge since it is such a classy place, but we were actually positively surprised in the end. We had 50 guests and the upstairs private dining room was a perfect size for us. We also had a band (jazz trio) playing there and it worked out really well. The ceremony was on their patio, which worked out well too, even if the traffic going by was a little noisy at times. Highly recommend this place for a small, classy wedding.
After reading several gleaming reviews of this restaurant specifically as a "special occasion" restaurant, I decided to take my girlfriend here for her birthday.
To start, the building is gorgeous, providing a very romantic setting. There is a fireplace in each dining room, which are rooms in the former mansions in which the restaurant resides. They immediately serve some tasting dishes as you are seated along with parmigiana reggiano and some bread.
My first turn off was the wine recommendations. I appreciate that this is a fine dining establishment, but the waiter should be able to recommend a range of wines that fit their customer's budget, not exclusively recommending wines over $200 a bottle! I settled on a wine that they ran out of, so he brought out a substitute, which he said was more expensive but he would only charge me for the bottle I ordered (which he should, but still appreciated).
The menu is very extensive, with pastas, meats, and fish. I obviously cannot appreciate fine Italian food because I have trouble understanding how Mediterranean sea bass can cost $55 at a restaurant. I thought that was a little ridiculous. After all the tasting dishes and our starter, neither of us were terribly hungry. I ended up ordering a simple Amatriciana pasta dish, which was bland. I think they just put marinara sauce on my dish because I did not taste any prosciutto or onions. My girlfriend enjoyed her prawns and risotto, so we had one winner at the table.
Overall, a good dining experience. For the price, I certainly would not go back. I think there are many, many other Italian restaurants in the city that are much better in flavor and consistency.
My biggest complaint of the evening was the service. I phoned the restaurant twice asking them to please bring out a special dessert with a candle at the end of the meal as we were celebrating a birthday. At the end of our meal, no dessert, no candle! I said something to the waiter afterwards, and he said it wasn't his fault and that I should talk to my other waiter. I wasn't looking to place blame here, I just wanted them to know how badly they dropped the ball.
I want to give this place five stars, I really do but there were too many little things that got in its way. To be fair I would like to give it 3 and a half stars at least.
The mansion itself is amazing to say the least, to think that a family once occupied this lavish living space is a story in itself. It felt like old money which is pretty classy in my opinion. Nothing new and obnoxious about the ambiance except for the weird dance music selection they decided to put on their sound system. So we sat down after the staff kind of looked at one another like "um, where do we put them"? (which I heard them say) I made the reservation a week ago and your place is empty, just seat us.
We are immediately served little plates of bruschetta, a steamed and bland mussel and cheese. I mean the immediacy of food was nice but it was just felt like it was a bunch of randomness. The table were full of plates by the time we sat down. We had like five servers at one point and when we asked about the wine, forget about it. I felt so uncomfortable asking because he and I had no idea what he was talking about!
We ordered prosciutto and melons which were just amazing in my opinion. The ham slices were very large and clean tasting. The melon balls accompanied the ham very well. The entrees came out and was good, but not stellar and was very salty for my taste. The gelato was freaking awesome and their wine selection is pretty impressive.
Definitely a rare treat because it will set you back with a bottle of wine. I thought the service was good but overbearing at times and I felt a bit rushed when the waitstaff kept trying to take our plates. I felt like a republican eating here but its okay to go to try the darkside once in a while.
Tip #1: If you are going to Il Mulino, do not eat for at least 24 hours prior to arrival. Reason? You are going to be stuffed silly with some of the best Italian food you've ever had.
Before we get into the meal, I must mention this: Il Mulino is one of the most beautiful settings for a meal that I've ever seen. Located in the historic Biggs mansion, Il Mulino is pure opulence - high ceilings, dark woods, huge chandeliers.
Now, let's get to the meal. Before you even get to your salad, a massive amount of free goodies will be foisted upon you. And they are all great (I love you, bruschetta). But use caution. Do not do as I did and load up on the freebies.
Why? Because the main courses are positively massive. Fortunately, Il Mulino does not employ the Maggiano's theory of "quantity over quality," because everything I tried was fantastic. The pastas are clearly homemade, the seafood is fresh, and the osso bucco is fall-off-the-bone tender.
Top it off with some of the most attentive and cordial service around, and it is clear that this place is a winner. It is perfect for both a romantic date and a business dinner.
Fantastically frightening place.
Kinda like a cross between that restaurant that they visit in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and a modern day Klan rally.
A spooky disney-like mansion complete with accented waiters, long wait lists, overpriced food and great valet parking.
Go team!
Well well......the dining experience inside is not my favorite! I don't enjoy a show with my meal folks. However, the food is tasty and service ALWALYS (too much) around. The Biggs mansion is beautiful, so the decor is lovely.
Now for the reason I am reviewing, the outside patio. That is what I am talking about! Its a down tempo version of the "show"! Open all day and into dinner. So if I feel like noshing on some prosciutto melone, a glass of vino and pizza for my little guy at 3:45, no problem.
One afternoon I bought my son a game that needed batteries and a special eye glass screw driver. Well the waiter went out and bought both, then proceeded to put the toy together for him! Mind you the toy made terrible nosies and ran all over the place. No problem! They don't mind. They are never to busy, I love it! I just hope they don't close down due to lack of business!
Prices are a bit high, but so worth it! Anytime I can enjoy a glass of wine while my son plays worry free. Its good for me! As you might be able to tell from my reviews, cheese cake factory I am not. However, I don't want my son to feel like he can't be a kid while mommy dines. Outside IL Mulino is the best of both worlds! Stay away winter.......
Bees knees.
Romantic, different, great food, great service. Great place. Two entrees, app, 1/2 wine (keeping the drinking light), tableside dessert and coffee for $169 not including tip and valet. If you can afford it in these trying times, do go. Nice!!!
I give this place four stars. The Biggs mansion was decorated so beautifully - very inviting from first glance - warm and friendly inside. I don't think Chris B.'s review does this place justice, although it does paint an exceptional picture of the first 15 minutes of our meal. He uses the term "Seussian". I'd say "Roman". If you've been to Rome, and been to a nice restaurant during your stay, you will not be surprised by the onslaught of service personnel upon your arrival to Il Mulino. We walked in to the aforementioned chorus of "Bona Sera", "Bona Sera, bienvenito a Il Mulino", "Happy New Year!", etc. It was slightly overwhelming, but also endearing. They're just so excited to have you there!
We were seated at a tiny 2-top in the middle of the room, and there were already two wine glasses, 2 water glasses, two place settings, 3 small appetizer plates and 2 bread plates on the table - needless to say, it was crowded. Then the amuses kept coming, chunk of parm reggiano, crispy friend zucchini, bruschetta, garlic bread, salame, etc. It was all really wonderful.
Dinner was great - wine was amazing. Fiance had osso buco and eggplant rolotini. I had the biggest langoustines I'd ever seen and porcini ravioli in a black truffle, champagne sauce. YUM. YUM. We shared dessert of lemon sorbet, beautifully presented in a frozen lemon and a toast of orangecello at midnight. It was wonderful and not as insanely priced as previous posters have mentioned. Definitely a special occassion place, but not unrealistic.
We were very excited to try Il Mulino, being that we living in NY but never tried the one there. We went for my birthday yesterday (Nov. 27th) and it was great, and it met and exceeded our expectations in many ways!
First off, the mansion is beautiful and the ambiance is amazing. It is dark and there are chandeliers and we sat next to the fireplace.
The portions are huge so be mindful of that when you order. We don't eat meat or chicken so I cannot comment on that but the sea bass we shared was really good and plenty for the two of us. Their ceasar salad is among the best I've had as well. Excellent flavor. We also tried appetizer portions of their pasta. These are large and more like an entree size at any other restuarant. I had the pesto ghnochi. It was very rich and I definately couldn't finish it but the flavor was great. My husband had the mushroom ravioli in a cream/truffle sauce. It was also delectable!
The one negative is that the service can be a bit much at times! There is a captain, an assistant waiter and a whole group of bus boys. When we first sat down, there was some antipasti type food already on the table, compliments of the chef. Then, within 15 seconds- 3 or 4 more items were delivered to us and it was very overwhelming!
We had to just laugh. After that, things calmed down...
The other criticism I have is that our captain/head waiter had such a thick Italian (?) accent---we really couldn't understand him at all! He read the specials list, which was quite extensive and we didn't know what he told us! Fortunately, it was all printed on a card. The specials list is large and seems to be a staple that doesn't change very much. The regular menu paled in comparison to the selections that they call their "specials".
I say- go, and give it a try! Its a really great experience. And, it helps if you know some Italian b/c you will be greeted with a bunch of words you don't understand. I think it was "Bueno Sera" followed by a bunch of things we also didn't understand!
Oh, and for the ladies--its really nice to be called "Bella" all night by all the waitstaff!
Bon Appetito!
This was definitely a dining experience! I went here last weekend for my bday dinner. I was so impressed.
Located in the old Briggs mansion on Dearborn, it was a very elegant atmosphere. The service was choice -- think Charley Trotter's. Very knowledgeable waitstaff and attentive as well.
Would def. recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to start their night off perfectly!
Everything about this place is stellar except for the food. The atmosphere is perfect for a romantic evening, the wine selection is pretty good, the service is strong, and the Mansion is beautiful. We even got to see a marriage proposal.
But wow, did the food come out mediocre. I ordered there "signature" dish which was porcini mushroom ravioli with black truffle oil. I'm still waiting for the truffle oil, the pasta was over cooked, and the filling was mushy (probably from being over cooked). The only other good thing was they have half orders so I didn't waste my money too badly.
I won't go back myself. But the ambiance is almost worth the trip.
Gorgeous!! This place is impressive to say the least. I like to go to nice places but the service here was one of the best in the city. And the decor is second to none. If you haven't done so, you really need to celebrate a special occasion at Il Mulino. It is a very romantic place but I think it would work well for a good size group of friends. The food was alright, not the best I've ever had but good enough that I would go back to try something else. We really had a great night at Il Mulino and would highly recommend it to anyone.
Food: The food is all-around terrific. All the meats I've had are delicious, prepared right, and usually with an interesting sauce. The menu is large, which should suit everyone. The initial deluge of food is welcoming as well. Highly recommended if you want to differentiate from some of the other high-end steakhouse-type restaurants.
Service: Unpredictable. Evening service is apparently based on a team of captain, waiter, and numerous SA's. At first it's overwhelming, and then later you feel like they've lost interest in you. Additionally, sometimes it seems like they don't think before they act, which can be not only distracting but potentially ruin your experience. They are often like robotic monkeys, but at least they are not flinging poo at you.
Environment: Dark as hell. I'm not really bothered by this, but it's something to consider. Not that packed, which is nice.
Price: When you get the bill at a place like this, you kind of expect that feeling of a swift kick to the balls. Here, you get two kicks to the balls, plus a punch to the face.
I always wanted to go here because it is in that beautiful old mansion.
The service is exceptional, beautiful mood, very romantic. Nice list of Italian wines.
I LOVED the mushroom ravioli. The grappa seems like they make it.
Was slightly annoyed they seem to have a CD player with only one CD and heard the same songs over the course of dinner. Also did not like that the bookshelves were empty, could have at least put fake books or something.
Another place my boyfriend complains about after paying the bill.
Ok, i don't often give out 5 stars. I save it for the truely special places. the moment I approached the restaurant, i was quickly greeted by the the valet and the host. The host walked me up the stairs to assist me with finding my group. After drinks at the bar we were seated for dinner. The waiter pulled my chair back and layed my napkin on my lap. I'm not really going to get into details about the free appetizers and how wonderful my meal was. All the other 5 star reviews here say exactly what i experienced. We had 4 waiters to our table, all very attentive and always refilling drinks and quickly cleaning up empty plates. This place is seriously a gem. Ive been to 5 star restaurants and have never experienced five star quality all around. Great job Il Mulino! I can't wait to return.
Some reviewers have already correctly mentioned that this is the restaurant from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the former Biggs Mansion. I went here for a Christmas party and loved the atmosphere and food so much I decided to come back for my birthday dinner. My husband and I arrived here early (around 4:45) because we had tickets to Wicked soon thereafter. We took the red line and walked maybe a couple blocks from the Clark & Division stop. Even though dinner doesn't officially begin until 5, the matre d' promptly seated us at a great table close to the bay window.
The atmosphere was very cozy with candlelight and dark wood. I would definitely recommend this place for dates or special occasions. For the Christmas party I attended, half of the upstairs area was rented out and there was a bar and pasta serving station in two separate rooms. I tried the gnocchi and ravioli porcini and they were absolutely delicious! For my birthday dinner my husband and I both had the ravioli porcini and it was just as good as I remembered. I believe for a full portion of pasta our meals were $20 each (not bad considering how filling the pasta is and that the sauce is made with white truffles and champagne). They also serve many great appetizers like bruschetta and fried zucchini for free while you wait.
Reservations are recommended. We made ours a couple weeks in advance, and the place filled up quickly after 5.
Il Mulino is one of those places that I would recommend for a romantic dinner- but not for a business dinner which seems to be what I have been on all the times I have been there.
The first time I went- we were seated in the bar and it was sooo dark that I couldn't even read the menu. When I asked about it- I was told that because the space is so crowded (and it was) they use the dark to provide "space" between the tables. Interesting approach. I told my colleague that I had not been on such a romantic dinner in years!!! The waiter did have a small flashlight which he shined over my shoulder on to the menu to help me read!
The subsequent times I went, I sat in the dining room to the left of the main entrance and it was much better. Didn't need all that "romantic ambiance" with people who want to do business with me.
The Biggs mansion is as beautiful as ever. It is a pleasure just to sit at the bar and look at the beautiful oak doors and to imagine a time when this was someone's house! The bartender is friendly and pours a nice glass of wine.
The food is great and the wine list is equally as impressive. Try the osso bucco or the lamb- both are some of the best in the city! The sea bass is also delicious. The complimentary antipasto starters are good but be sure to save room for dessert! We had a little tray of varietal desserts and they all were good.
I actually got used to all the serving people hovering around after my first visit, although I did personally question the addition of a tip for the captain on our bill. While he was pretty pretentious the first time I was there- on subsequent visits, he actually recognized me and welcomed me back - the sign of a great restaurant recognizing its patrons!
So keep your business colleagues at home and take a date or your spouse to Il Mulino. You'll both be happy you did.
My dad and I were headed to a sushi restaurant, but the place was just so noisy...he has a hearing loss and wears aides. Consequently, loud places are just too much for him. Thus, we started walking to find an alternative, when we stumbled upon Il Mulino. What a wonderful surprise....we were seated almost immediately...in a lovely, quiet corner. The bruschetta was divine (offered free), as was the spicy zucchini and fab cheese. All of this was served before we EVER ordered!?
I had the scallops and rissotto. OMG!? My dad had the salmon...which was a huge, huge piece of salmon...enough to feed three or four people! We also had a marvelous wine and even did dessert. Daddy had a lemon sorbet that was served in a shelled out lemon?! Yummy! I had the flourless chocolate cake...
Everything was positively delicious! Also, the service was fabulous...very attentive, but not overly so.
We were given so many "freebies", from the antipasti to the grappa at the end of our meal.
Overall, a great experience for the price.
I never should have gone to New York. At least not to the original Il Mulino. While the Chicago location is very nice, and it tries to stack up to the original, it doesn't.
The space is very nice...the right amount of lush without being over the top. Service is terrific (a bit over the top from time to time) but we changed captains halfway through the meal with no explanation. Actually liked the second guy better. He didn't seem like he was auditioning all evening long.
Was disappointed to be seated next to a group of 10 in for a convention who apparantly thought they were at TGIFridays. Even the wait staff was embarassed for them.
A recent trend in New York and London is to not take reservations from group of more than six. I originally hated the idea, now can see that it really does make sense.
Food was very good, including all of the wonderful little treats they bring at the very beginning. Some of the entrees were blander than we expected. Osso bucco was a bit hit, as was all the fish. Loved my pasta...fresh ingredients, just the right amount of sauce.
If I just hadn't been to the original....ah well.
Perfect for a romantic dinner....the mansion itself is beautiful - dark woods, huge fireplace in the front room, gorgeous huge mirror, candles, etc. We got a corner table for 2 which was perfect! I loved the free appetizers...fresh parmesan cut from a huge block at your table, fried zucchini, bruschetta. Delish! The dishes we tried were not as good as expected especially for the price....The cannelloni was nothing special - it looked like italian enchiladas. The market fish was good, and filleted just before serving, but because it was only seasoned on the skin as a whole fish, it was a bit bland once filleted. We had such a great experience we'd go back to try other dishes.
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