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Categories: Italian, Venues & Event Spaces, Caterers [Edit]
7411 Madison St"What is going on over here? Ten five star reviews in a row? For that sandwich place on Lincoln, you know the one by the Paulina brown line…" read more »
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We finally decided to try some new dishes here... and we were really well rewarded.
We started with the $6.75 rapini and beans "appetizer". Appetizer? More like a hearty, delicious peasant meal for two, if not four. You could work all day off this stuff.
I then had (I took half of it home) the chicken parmesan with pasta. First of all, Jimmy's red sauce is just unbeatable. I don't know what they put in it, but it is just so deeply tasty. Second, the breading on the chicken has some smoky flavor that, combined with the the red sauce and chicken produces a taste like good barbeque.
Man, I love this place.
Jimmy's has the best old-school American-Italian food I've had in many, many years. The food is… Read more »
If I lived in their delivery area I'd go up 2-4 pant sizes! Jimmy's is such a comfortable joint that even if the food was simply "good" I'd go hang out at the bar for cocktails. But the food isn't simply "good" ... it's fresh, tasty & has that "just like Gram used to make" love cooked into it.
The Meatballs are killer! The gravy has depth & is not sweet. The beef sandwich is layered with thin tender beef. The pizza is crispy & thin and not glopped with tomato-pastey sauce. The bread is delicious with its dense flavorful inside & its hearty crust. All the pasta dishes I've enjoyed have all been top-notch & plentiful.
Over the years I've been to Jimmy's a lil' over a dozen times. There was probably a night where the service was lacking - it's bound to happen at every restaurant ... but really, I can't remember a visit to Jimmy's that hasn't been fun & filling.
Prices have understandably risen over the years, but the quality & portion sizes make that a non-issue. Yeah ... so they don't have 5 different Cabs, 3 Super Tuscans & a playful Muscato for your tasting pleasure ... They might keep it simple in the booze deptartment but there's something for everyone. It gets a lil noisey at times because it's a family place, but having a conversation has never been difficult.
Jimmy's is a gem on Madison St.
Great food and great atmosphere. The pizzas have the right combo of sauce and cheese. Great place if you want to have a "sit down" pizzaria experience. I've tried the cavatelli and its been delish. I've also had the linguine and clams with white clam suace and they do not skimp on the seafood. Great for date night or groups.
BEST MARTINIS, BEST PIZZA, BEST MEATBALLS, BEST CAVATELLI AROUND. Down to earth homestyle italian food with a very comfortable environment. Very kid friendly as well. This is our "go to" restaurant. We never feel disappointed. Only con is that the service can sometimes be on the slow side, but the personality of most of the waitresses and the great food make up for it!
I am torn on how many stars to give here. Service was shotty and the food was great. So, I guess I go in the middle. 3 Stars.
We wandered in here after waiting over an hour for a table a restaurant up the street. It was busy on a Tuesday night... must be good. We sat down right away. Bread basket and water arrived promptly.
Service...
About 5 minutes after sitting down, our waitress showed up to take our order. Umm... menus first would be great. She brought menus and then asked for our drink order. Umm... what kinds of drinks do you have? Beers are on the wall. Okay, beer it is. We asked about an appetizer and she did not really know how to explain the dish. When we got the bill, she had miscalculated and over charged us $25. I'm glad my friend looked at it! She apologized and said that someone had walked in and distracted her while she was adding it up.
The food...
Shrimp Sagamon (?) Appetizer. It's shrimp and roasted red peppers in a spicy sauce. Yum!
Salad with cumbled blue cheese... tasty.
Linguine ala Jimmy's - linguine with fresh mozzzerella and tomatoes in an olive oil and garlic sauce... double yum!
My friend had the gorgonzola alfredo... triple yum! I actually liked his entree more than mine.
The ambiance of the place and the prices on the menu immediately indicate that you are in for some great italian food. Entrees range between 14.99 - 29.99. The decor is simple and low key. Checkered plastic table cloths and photos and memorabilia on the walls.
3 beers
1 appetizer
2 entrees
$54
Pretty good no frills Italian Restaurant.
Good house Chianti, good bread, good pizza, great antipasto salad, good stuffed artichoke, great mussels.
Not a fan of the Caesar salad.
Overall a pretty inexpensive good place to eat in Forest Park.
On our endless quest for good thin-crust pizza, the hubby and I gave Jimmy's place a try. It was nothing to write home about. The crust had fine texture but no flavor (yes, Virginia, crust can have flavor). The cheese was laid on in slabs and not grated. I don't know why that makes a difference, it just does.
The worst culprit was the sauce. Or lack thereof. What lay between crust and cheese could best be described as a thin red lubricant.
The servers are probably very friendly if you're a regular. Ours, however, was not. She spent more time on her cell phone than helping her tables. And then she asked if we needed change from our $40 when the bill was $30. Uh...yeah?
Jimmy's is kind of like Sunday night at someone else's Nonna's house. The dishes are all recognizable and tasty--made with love and care. The service is genuine. The atmosphere is comfortable. No one ever makes it as good as your Nonna--but they can still make it good.
Lasagna was good. Nothing to make me leap and say, "Ohmigod, I have to come back this week." But it was tasty and hit all the right points.
The wine selection bummed me out a bit--but I guess if I wanted a fancy wine list I could have hit Francesca's next door.
There are better Italian resturants on the same block, and no draft beer, not worth the time.
Jimmy's Place is a great place where you can hang out with friends, have a drink at the bar or eat one heck of a good meal. Their marinara is out of this world, I grew up in a predominantly Italian neighborhood and I remember my friends mom Mrs Cabbatosta who used to make the most phenomenal meatballs and sauce (or gravy as some Italians may call it). My God, I remember hoping that Joey would invite us over his house for a bite to eat after a long day of riding our bikes and hanging out at the arcade. I always graciously accepted an invite and I thought I'd never have food like that again until I found Jimmy's Place. I have probably tried everything on the menu and all in all, I have enjoyed every meal there. I don't usually order the pizza as I am particular to the kind of pizza I'll eat, not that there is anything wrong with Jimmy's pizza, it's just I am very very picky and like a different kind of pizza pie. I suggest trying something off the specials menu, there is always something interesting and you can be sure you won't leave hungry. The bread that is served is made in house and is fresh, sometimes hot out of the oven which is the way I love it. The staff is friendly and the booze is never watered down. So go to Jimmy's and enjoy some great authentic Italian food like Mrs. Cabbatosta used to make.
This is a great place to go to with a crowd, or before going out around the neighborhood. They serve Italian-American food, so everything from pizza to pasta to the Italian-American bracciole or chicken parmigiana. They have specials everyday and have a very large variety of beer. Jimmy himself might even serve you your beer.
Portions are gigantic.
We were in a pasta mood so we went on over to Jimmys. This is a family spot. Filled with families and older couples. They have a nice little bar in there to, not a great beer selection nothing on tap but hey your coming for food not drinks. Theres a ton of bars you can chose from down the street if you want that.
Anyways I decided to order the Jimmy's place pasta. It had fresh mozzarella in it(which is the reason why I ordered it) tomatoes, chicken and a light sauce. It was good but not great, I wouldnt order it again. I have to get the briciole next time i bet thats great there. I wish I could remember the name of my soup because it was so good, had a very tasty broth and green leafy veggies in it with some beans. I would go back just for that soup.
Tai ordered Shrimp linguine with a butter lemon sauce. He really enjoyed it, I didn't try it because I don't do seafood. His minestrone was the normal minestrone, nothing special.
I give this place four stars because of the pizza. Great flavor and sauce. For the rest, I would only give it three. Service could be better and the rest of the menu is just average.
I have an aunt who lives in Oak Park and one in Forest Park and they always take my brother and I out here. The pizza is good, but uninspiring. The salads are delicious, although the house salad was disappointing- mostly lettuce with a tomato. But I would definitely recommend it over a chain restaurant. Plus, the owner is almost always there and says hello when you walk in.
I love that the place is decorated with local memorabilia- you can see the hometown teams from all over on the walls.
Overall, decent pizza but nothing special.
I love Jimmy's and have been going there with my family for years, I just wanted to make a correction to the business' profile, they are now delivering all their menu items. I love their pizza and the staff along with the owner are always very welcoming and friendly. I would recommend Jimmys to anyone looking to have a casual Italian dinner with family and friends.
FYI - the head chef quit the restaurant. He's now at Smoking M's
They do have good pizza (don't know about it being the best thin crust, but it's good) and they serve your basic dinner salad on a cold plate (which is great),
I have a dilemma, don't care for the owner but the food is fine. Waitstaff is a group of real nice people. It is a neighborhood joint.
Best Thin Crust Pizza in the whole Forest Park, Oak Park area!
Their pasta dishes are great!
Jimmy is a heck of a guy!
I LOVE this place. Every month or two a get a strong hankering for Jimmy's Place. Angel hair pasta with vodka sauce is my favorite. Sounds boring, but it's not - very flavorful. I've tried lots of stuff on the menu by picking off my fiance's plate, and everything I've tried is good. Be warned...the portions are huge.
This isn't a romantic type of place. It's a bit noisy when it's busy, and when it's busy the wait staff are very busy, but I have no complaints about the service.
I don't know what the fuss is over Jimmy. He is there sometimes working the bar. I go here to eat though, at a table. The one time I got a drink from the bar he was fine.
Gee, too bad there are people who would say bad things about a guy who's just a little overly gregarious and friendly. I'd rather see an owner be overly friendly than to act like I didn't exist when I enter his establishment.
I LOVE Jimmy's place, it has a neighborhood, homey feel. And yes, the pizza is OUTSTANDING...thin crust, great sauce, quality sausage...weird that they only come in small and large. I special request Alfredo sauce on my pizza instead of marinara and they graciously oblige. I've had spaghetti, shrimp linquini and pasta with chicken alfredo...all excellent with more than generous portions.
This place is strictly casual unless you're there for a special event in the private dining area. Smoking is permitted and there are TV's for sports events.
Basically, if you want something special that's not on the menu....just ask and they'll do it.
Jimmy's Place has a following. Yes, he buys drinks for regulars who come in.....that may be why they're regulars....I'm sure they buy their fare share of drinks and dinner or the guy would be out of business. For my girlfriend and I he offered a complimentary dessert, cuz he wanted us to try the Oreo Cheesecake which was outstanding! Go into this establishment with a positive attitude...see for yourself......It's ALL good here. You'll be a regular in no time!!! Jimmy makes you feel at home and welcomed. Ever see a show called Cheers????????
how have i not reviewed this? i used to live across the street and this was my go-to for pizza and pasta.
it's not a super hip or chic place, but it's inviting, delicious, and cheerful enough that i make a trip out that way at least once a month (now living in the city).
sit at the bar. talk to jimmy. he'll be nice. and he'll pour your glass of wine really full. really often. and don't hesitate to talk to the regulars sitting next to you. they'll be able to tell you if the rib special is worth it (it is, you even get extra sauce on the side), as well as tell you random stories that make you feel like you just got a new cool aunt and uncle who always have enjoyed an adventure or two lately.
I honestly wasn't expecting an Italian place named Jimmy's to be good at all. I mean odds are if you were to go to Italy you wouldn't find anyone named Jimmy there. But there is a reason why this place is packed on the weekends. It's simple fare Italian, but it's really good.
We had the cavatelli with vodka sauce and it was excellent. It's a little rich on it's own, but if you're sharing with someone else so you get a taste of something else I'd recommend it. Our second dish was the chicken parmesan which was pretty good in of itself.
Overall if you're looking for cutting edge or experimental cuisine you're looking in the wrong place. But if you want decent non-chain ultra traditional Italian give it a shot.
Not impressed...maybe I caught an off night? My fave pizza places are:
--PIECE in Wicker Park for Thin Crust White Pizza (world's GREATEST pie! Truly and utterly unbelieveable!!)
--Lou Malnati's on Wells for deep dish cheese (2nd greatest!)
--Bacci / Sbarro for thin crust with extra oil (when neither is nearby)
--MAMA LUNA's which is way out in Logan Square for deeper than deep crust Spinach Cheese to DIE for! You will be a convert!
RUNNERS UP: Leona's thincrust cheese, and Giordana's deep dish anything. Good but not going to have an oral orgasm.
Being from Boston and having lived in Boston's Little Italy for many years, I am a tough customer when it comes to down to earth Italian food. I've lived in Chicago now for 6-years and moved to Oak Park about a year ago. We found Jimmy's on a friend recommendation and man, do I love this place. I have probably put on 10-pounds because of this place. We bring the family there once a month at least. They are very family friendly and hardly ever a table wait.
I always get the Chicken Parm.
Jimmy's Place is what it is, your basic casual Italian restaurant. In general the pizza is solid (good); however, relative to the other pizza options in the Oak Park/FoPo area, Jimmy's pizza is great.
Great place to bring kids, and as an outsider, I've always felt welcome.
Good casual neighborhood place. One negative for those of us who don't want to breathe cigarettes with our food is that people can smoke there.
The pasta is freshly made - the cavatelli with vodka tomato sauce was excellent.
Great pizza, great pasta, great service. Love Jimmy's. Can't believe I haven't reviewed already. It's friendly, and homey, and just plain good.
Bottle of Ruffino Chianti, $24.
Whenever I go to any other Italian restaurant I feel like I'm cheating on Jimmy's Place. Jimmy's has the best Italian food at reasonable prices. I'm a fan.
love this place. friendly lively alcoholic and italian... just like mom used to make.
i fantasize about the cavatelli with vodka sauce. so so so so good.
havent found pasta quite like this.
pizza is good too.
I agree with the other posters that say that the quality of food is better than a chain restaurant, but not as good as some of the more highbrow restaurants, if you will. But, I liked Jimmy's because it is what it is, a hometown neighborhood bar/restaurant. I will also note that this place seemed to have a plethora of extremely loud drunken middle aged men in the restaurant section on Friday night, so this may be a better weeknight or Sunday night option if you want to be able to actually have a conversation with the other members of your dining party.
DELICIOUS!!!
back intown again..and yes yes yes!!!must have some jimmys!!!!the aroma when i walk in the door and the friendly smiles is what i love anout this place!!!there is a genuine feel of chicago here complimented with wonderful flavors..pizza is a favorite when im off my diet that my strict trainer keeps me on! a must go!
I've read all the reviews and this place is what it is. It's a neighborhood bar/restaurant with awesome pizza. It doesn't pretend to be anything else. I do love the braciole, though, and I'm torn everytime I come in. I'm not sure about all the portions being "huge", but the braciole is and I can split it with my boyfriend (who has a big appetite) and we walk out full.
I don't care for the salad, unless it's an antipasti salad. The lettuce is some sort of pre-packaged deal and has no flavor at all. If I order dinner, I usually pick through the salad and wait patiently for the entree.
The pizza is perfect, in my opinion. I'm usually a gourmet pizza lover, but for classic Italian pizza, this is the bomb. It's a super-thin, super-crispy crust with the corn-meal bottom and the ingredients are spread all the way to the edge...no left-over crust here. I find myself eating more than I plan to everytime.
I never seem to have room for dessert, but I do have some faint memory of having a good one once.
As far as Jimmy is concerned, I don't know who he is, really. I have had nothing but friendly people waiting on me and saying hello. I have never payed much attention to who owns the place. I'm about food and service and this place has good amounts of both.
Is there better Italian food in Forest Park (aka: La Piazza)?? Of course, but we're talking about a completely different type of restaurant and price-point.
I'm giving Jimmy's 4 stars, because it's good for what it intends to be.
The reviews I read are have the same complaints I do!
Jimmy can be friendly but if he is busy doing free shots/drinks with his buddies--you are forgotten. And I don't know what you have to do to be a free drinker friend--my husband has known this guy for decades--several-- and has met me at least a half dozen times but doesn't recognize me and when I go in there. Even when I go in there with with my husband if Jimmy is busy with his cronies--forget it.
If you do order a drink at the bar, he keeps topping off your wine or drink so you never get to say you've had enough and you aren't sure if you are getting a free top-off or are being charged full price for half a drink--my experience has always been the latter.
The chicken parmesan is fantastic and so it the bread and salad dressing.
The place is really loud, always mobbed and bright lights so I always get my food to go. Additionally, the service there is really bad. I've always had to wait so long that I eventually have to ask for a waitress. There are always tons of little kids in there so if you want a break from kids or noise--don't set foot in here.
The last time I was in there getting take-out, Jimmy was doing his free drink crap with his buddies and forgot until my take-out order was ready to get me the water I had asked for. Also, I was uncomfortable with the waitress giving me "the eye." I'm a married woman and don't like being glared at by other women in this way. I am the most liberal person I have ever met when it comes to sexual preference but this waitress made me very uncomfortable constantly walking past me, and eyeing me up and down--I really felt that if I was going to be there any longer she would have done something blatant to come on to me. Creepy.
Jimmy's is super. On most Friday or Saturday nights, expect to wait 45 mins for a table and hope that they can sqeeze you in sooner. We always get pizza, even if we get it as an appetizer and take the leftovers (yeah, right - what leftovers??) home. The cavatelli is awesome. When this place was first open, Jimmy's wife used to wait tables, as did other assorted family members - his brother in law does the cooking - he is a regular neighborhood guy who you can find behind the bar of this regular, neighborhood joint with good food. He is always accomodating and friendly - we have parties here at least once a year and even ate here after we got married. Oh, and if you dont like Jimmy, its probably because you owe him money or his kids are better than your kids at sports. Shaddup and EAT!!
I ordered take-out last night (cavatelli, eggplant parm, mozzarella capri salad and a side of meatballs). When I got it home, I found out that the eggplant was more or less raw - is was sliced eggplant covered with gloopy sauce and wads of cheese, melted under a broiler for about five minutes. Disgusting. The meatballs were burned, the bread was black on the bottom and the cavatelli was gluey. If there is vodka in the vodka sauce, I couldn't tell. I didn't bother calling to complain because if an Italian restaurant doesn't know how to make eggplant parm properly by now, nothing I say is going to help. The mozzarella and basil salad totally tanked, too. The fresh tomatoes were barely ripe and cut too many hours ago to be considered fresh. It was like a welfare tomato. How do they manage to have such awful salads in the summertime, when vegetables are fresh and abundant? I guess the place is always loud and packed because of the regular drinkers there, but I'm over it. I've tried dining in and take-out, but you couldn't get me to go back to Jimmy's Place. I'm over it.
tried this place for the first time last week. service was good. get the soup instead of salad, i got the salad with ranch and it was by far the WORST ranch i have ever tasted. the cavatelli with vodka sauce was good but a bit pricey for the amount you get. a previous reviewer stated that the portions were huge. well i suppose they are if your used to eating a sigle slice of bread for dinner. i still want to try the pizza as i have heard good things about from more than a few people. this is definately not a date place but if you have kids your all set. bottom line-- there is better italian on madison
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