La Scarola
721 W Grand Avenue
(between Halsted St & Milwaukee Ave)
Chicago, IL 60610 (312) 243-1740
- Nearest Transit:
Grand (Blue O'Hare)
- Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Valet
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: No
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: No
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
35 reviews
Neighborhood: Lakeview
"Superb!! I was highly impressed with our visit to Fiorentino's. The inside is cozy, but elegant, with hardwood floors and white linen…" read more »
143 Reviews for La Scarola
I'll still keep the four star rating because of the food. After all eating out is all about the food.
I have to say they are consistent when it comes to service, we didn't get the snap, snap this time. However we got the you're lucky to be eating a meal here. What's with the attitude?
Hey wait staff...you're the lucky ones that the food is so good, it's why you're able to make a living.
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1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/21/2007
When a place has this many reviews, I sometimes just skip adding another unless, something real good… Read more »
I'm in love with one dish in particular at La Scarola...
The "Veal Chop Alla Gabe"!! It's a veal chop that's pounded thin, breaded, pan-fried, and served with a garlic, lemon, parsley, olive oil sauce. Diced sauteed potatoes are on the side. A very simple dish that's made perfect each time. You must be a garlic lover, though, because there are yummy bits of garlic everywhere, including the potatoes. I'm not one to cook veal at home, so ordering this dish is a treat for me.
We've also tried the chicken vesuvio (another garlicky dish), and it was excellent! You can't go wrong with this dish. Another classic. They also offer several other chicken, veal, fish, and pasta entrees. La Scarola is always crowded, so definitely make reservations. The bar is quite small and hectic during the dinner rush. While you wait for your table, you can drink wine and look at the walls covered with photos of celebrities who've been there. Yes, it's kinda cheesy, but cool nonetheless.
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I had dinner here once with the girls before heading across the street for some body shakin'. It was good, the service was good, the wine was good....Oh It was ALL good baby... Well, except the crowding of the masses of people into a tiny little area. Except that when I went to the bathroom I had to walk side ways not to bump a table or a waiter (and I am a petite little thing). A mangiare Torino!
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As a former East Coast resident now living in Seattle, I am saddened by the dearth of good Italian food in the Great Northwest. But visiting La Scarola for our anniversary dinner brought tears to my eyes in a good way. The crowded, familiar atmosphere, the tough but friendly waiters, and let's not forget the food. Oh, the food. Our grilled calamari was tasty and had the perfect texture, and I can't remember what my husband ordered because my face was buried in my veal marsala for the bulk of the meal. I was so overjoyed, I kissed the owner, who was meandering through the restaurant, making sure everyone enjoyed themselves. He responded with a round of shots. It was a wonderful evening and I hope to return to Chicago just to eat here again.
This place gets american-italian right! Went there last night, and everything was delicious!
4 of us shared calamari and italian sausage and peppers to start.
Then 2 of us had penne ala vodka -- that sauce don't stop!
I had "Gamberi Risotto" which is basically bacon wrapped jumbo shrimp in risotto w/ sundried tomatos, artichokes and onions. Shazaaaam!!
Buddy Chris had 3 (!) chicken breasts that were in a red sauce w/ mushrooms and cheese. It looked fantastic.
So, take delicious food, a hoppin atmosphere (which can be a little on the loud side), friendly service, good people watching (a little bit like chicago meets the Sopranos at times), huge portions, and did i say... delicious food? Wrap it all up and you get Scarola. I'd definitely go back.
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Comfort food at it's best. Upon walking into this place I always have a smile on my face. My go-to Italian spot in Chicago. It's an old-school vibe....it's always busy....my last time there was on a Monday and there was still a wait (although not long...and you can have a glass of wine at the small bar there or next door) and the tables were crowded until after 10. I love that. It's charming, the wait staff is great and the owner is so fun. If you need a cozy, homey meal...look no further. Yes, it's pasta...yes, you get huge portions...if you want "upscale" Italian, go elsewhere. But if you want a good, laid back meal...La Scarola is the place.
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Delicious! The food here was amazing. Simple dishes, yet very well done. We were a little late getting seated but that was the fault of a huge group that refused to leave. The host was even classy enough to give us glasses of wine to make up for the wait. Highly recommended (especially for a weeknight)!
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Great atmosphere,great food.Even though it was busy ,we still didn't have to wait to be seated,nor did we have to wait for our food (which was amazing,by the way).The wine list is also something that will keep me coming back to La Scarola.The prices are fairly low too,if you take into concideration the great food.
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La Scarola is the stuff of dreams. The Fajoule (sp?) and Minestrone are amazing soups. My favorite entrees include the Chicken Vesuvio, Penne Vodka, and the Lasagna. But I've eaten there millions of times and have enjoyed every single meal I've ever had.
Armando and Joey are awesome restaurant owners, and know how to make their customers feel special. If I had to describe this restaurant in two words: Outstanding Hospitality.
The waitstaff and cooks all work their asses off, and many of them have worked there for a long, long time.
Also, valet is only 4.50! Where else in Chicago can you find such cheap service. The valet at La Scarola are very quick, friendly and trustworthy.
Sometimes the place is a little to loud and crowded for my taste, but I still give the place 5 stars because it is a fabulous, full-on five senses experience.
Such a great Italian spot. Cozy atmosphere and yummy food. Great seafood selections, and wine. Reminds me of the family trattorias in Italy. I love the messy and crowded wall with so many random pictures. Service is excellent too, even if it's a big group. If you like unique, fun dining spots rather than the mainstream, upscale Lux-type of places, this is the way to go.
I've been a regular here for since moving for about five years - thought I've had enough experiences to finally write a review.
We usually go on Saturday, before the huge rush begins. Since this place has become SO popular, it absolutely imperative that you make a reservation. It's funny to see all the people that still come in with no reservation and have to find someplace else to eat.
It's an extremely crowded and noisy at times, but that's part of the charm. There's no shortage of athletes and celebrities that can be spotted here that's evident by the pictures on the walls. We saw former Chicago Cub and current NY Yankee manager Joe Girardi eating here once.
As for the food, though the prices have been steadily rising, it remains one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. For appetizers, escarole and beans and sausage and escarole are very good. The portions of the entrees justify the prices - they are huge. I almost always have leftovers. One of my favorite dishes is the Gamberi Risotto, which is topped with prosciutto-wrapped shrimp. Eggplant parmesan and ravioli are very good. I often will try a special - they have a number of different ones and they change often. All the chicken dishes I've had are excellent, including Chicken Vesuvio. I've had the pork chops, prepared Italian-style, which means it's floating in flavorful juices.
This is a restaurant to recommend to anyone looking for authentic Southern Italian cooking with a nice atmosphere and larg portions.
Good Italian, heavy Italian. I would never take my parents here because they don't get that if you have a reservation it doesn't necessarily mean that they keep the table open for you all night until you get there. You might have to wait, and I'm used to that in Chicago for sure. Head over to Richards bar and have a drink, then show your face again and they might seat you.
It's a really cute place, always busy. Hand written menus. Reasonable prices, what you would normally find in the city. I like this place because not everyone knows about it and it's not necessarily a hot spot but people who do know about it love it. The service is no nonsense, which I like. Don't go here if you are trying to camp out at a table all night but do go here it you are craving good Italian. They have everything you could want.
When I have a reservation at 8:30, I expect to be sat within 20 minutes of that time. Not 45 minutes later. Clearly you are taking too many reservations or accepting too many walk-ins, dude. Not my problem.
I spent those 45 minutes smooshed up against the bar where wait staff were bumping into us while running food and ordering drinks. It was torture having to smell all of the fabulous aromas pass by, especially since I was STARVING!!
I feel sorry for those that work in the space. It's obviously too small and not laid out well. One guy said he had worked there for 19 or something, so it must not be that bad! A larger space would certainly solve many of their issues.
The food, however, was not an issue. Everything was fantastic! My dining companion and I both had pasta. They were perfectly cooked with just enough sauce, meat, cheese, and spice. The Pasta Fagiole was really tasty as was the wine and the Italian broccoli-ish side that we had.
I understand the jovial owner running around like a crazy man giving out free shots while kicking people out of their table, but that really make for great business? I don't think so.
I would come back for take out or on a slow night early in the evening ONLY!
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One thing to know about this place before you arrive with all your expectations of what a restaurant experience should be: forget those demands and preconceptions and just chill out, and see what happens. It'll be more fun that way.
Here was my experience:
We made a reservation for 9pm on a Saturday, and weren't able to be seated until 9.45pm. But we took this in our stride and went to the wonderfully classic old bar next door (which is quite possibly being kept in business soley by La Scarola patrons waiting to be seated). When we came back at 9.30pm, they still couldn't seat us, but eventually the charismatic and hilarious owner/boss (??) gave us some wine, on the house, which we enjoyed while waiting for a table. This dude is quite a character -- and watch out if you're a guy -- he'll manhandle your shoulders and possibly give you a bear hug (all friendly like) several times before he gets you seated. He's just being friendly. Fortunately he doesn't rough up the women in quite the same way.
So what of the food? Homely, full of flavor, messily presented, simply done, unpretentious. Classic comfortable Italian. I liked it a lot. Arrive hungry, even if you have to wait an hour, you'll want to be hungry. I've had better Italian, but rarely in Chicago, so this place is pretty special.
I liked this place better than Volare, Volare seemed more like a churned-out business full of wankers; this place had more character and personality.
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I was afraid that being in a party of 15 ladies on a Saturday night in which the first 10 arrive on time and the remaining 5 straggled in over the next hour would cause some serious attitude from the staff; but I was wrong. They were nothing but gracious, water glasses were kept full, wine refills aplenty, promptly removed dirty plates. Bravo to the whole staff for truly being patient with such a large and difficult (at times) group. And cheers to the free tequila shots (although really? Tequila at an Italian restaurant?)! My four star review is primarily a result of this fabulous service.
The sauted calamari was fabulous, and warning: the portions are huge. Almost family-style Italian. Two of my friends split one pasta dish, but my fat ass enjoyed the Pollo Ponzio all on my own, which was A) kind of disappointing because I didn't eat nearly half of it and since it was a night out, I couldn't take it to go, but B) not all that bad because the plate was swimming in oil and I really didn't need the leftovers. I really wanted the whitefish, but I didn't find out until ordering that they didn't have any left. Bummer.
Try to score a table away from the door when it's cold - double doors or not, that wind was COLD!!
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Awesome food, great service, very cozy. The wine list is great and the price is very reasonable. We went on a Tuesday and had no problems getting in without reservations, but we were placed at a cramped little table by the bar.
This might not of been the best place for a group of 15 on Friday night. We did plan ahead and had a reservation for 9:00 pm. When the first few of us arrived at 9:00 they told us our table wasn't ready and to go over to Emitts and have a drink and check back in 15 minutes. Good thing Emitts was so close because there is no place to wait around for a table inside La Scarola. After 15 minutes someone went and checked on the table. Still the table wasn't ready... this continued to happen until at 10:00 we were able to sit down. As Seinfeld would say, "They know how to take the reservation, they just don't know how to HOLD the reservation and that's really the most important part of the reservation, the holding
Personally 10:00 is too late to eat dinner and at this point I was pretty damn hungry. Anything was sounding good and the past reviews for this place sounded like I couldn't go wrong. I ordered a shrimp risotto. I am a huge risotto fan but this risotto left little to remember. My finance's dish was a lot tastier then mine, and maybe if I would of had that for my entree La Scarola might of gotten 4 stars.
Service was very good once we finally sat down and we were out of the restaurant and back drinking at Emitts in no time. I would never go back here with a large group, the place is too small and the tables are really close together. If you're on a date or taking your Mom & Dad out to dinner this might be a nice place.
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Unfortunately, La Scarola didn't live up to all the hype when my family and I celebrated my birthday dinner here a few weekends ago. We made reservations (a must if you want to eat at a decent time on the weekend) and got seated within a few minutes.
The risotto is supposed to be amazing here. It was good, not amazing. I ordered the shrimp wrapped in prosciutto risotto. The risotto had excellent flavor but the shrimp was overcooked. Personally, I had better risotto at Francesca's Forno - and it was cheaper.
It's true - they rush you out like a herd of cattle. Once we stood up - the bus boys were clearing the dishes, cleaning the table - all while we were all still standing next to our table gathering our belongings! Annoying! Yes, I might be back, but only because it's so close.
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I can see how it might be tight for large groups here; although the place is pretty big, it kind of winds around, and the tables are pretty close together. I had dinner here with a friend, and I felt the atmosphere was very cozy. But again, definitely a place to go with 6 people or less.
Food: I can't even tell you. I had the shrimp risotto, and although another reviewer said it was just "eh", I thought it was the ultimate in comfort food. The shrimp were wrapped in prociutto, for god's sake, and gigantic. We both had cannolis and cappuccinos for dessert... This cannoli was the best damn cannoli I ever ate, and I've eaten a LOT of cannolis.
After we had finished dinner, and paid the check, the owner pulled up a chair and chatted with us for a few minutes. A few minutes after that, a waiter brought over two shot glasses of anisette liquor for us, which completely dispelled any feeling we might have had that we were overstaying our welcome.
We'll definitely be back, and next time we'll bring our boys. Very reasonable prices, btw; we also had a nice bottle of wine, and got out of there paying less than $70 each.
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When I die, I would like to be entombed inside a giant cannoli.
OK so I'm not Italian - not even a smidge - so I'm not going to do the obligatory railing about how this place is authentic and they make their own pasta and blah blah blah
It's just damn good, alright?
Jason L., man of insurmountable taste, took me here for my 24th birthday. We were kinda ballin' that night so we got two appetizers - grilled calamari and steamed mussels. Jesus, Mary and Joseph - you really must see the size of their sea creatures. They've been juicin'.
I had shrimp cappellini diavolo and it was spicy hot and tasty. I think this would be a great place to come if you were gearing up for a marathon because every entree contains about 5 pounds of fresh pasta. Expect to have 2 meals worth of leftovers.
I wasn't too wild about sitting directly next to the bar cash register which had a bell that dinged every fucking time the drawer was opened. But after enough wine and food I was able to mostly tune it out. Oh, and where the hell was my tequila?! That'll teach me to expect freebies based on Yelp reviews.
The cannoli made me believe in God. You need to have this. It's the best.
I will definitely want to come back here. I think I still like Angelina's better for Italian food in the city (plus their ambiance is waaaaaay better) but La Scarola is a close second.
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I used to think Italian food was overrated until La Scarola converted me. Italian food is so predominant in America that some people even think spaghetti and pizza is American. This made me avoid Italian food unless friends wanted it because it was eating normal everyday stuff in my opinion. La Scarola though is authentic Italian cuisine, according to my friends that took me there that spent time studying abroad in Italy.
It's taken me along time to post finally because I wanted to make my 100th review something memorable and I had been working crazy I-banking style hours. I chose La Scarola because it is my favorite Italian restaurant and opened my eyes up to what 'real' Italian food is (not Olive Garden junk).
From the creamy risotto that has the perfect texture, to their delicious vesuvios, I simply love La Scarola. It's one of the must-take places that I bring guests from out-of-town to. Even my mom liked it and she hates western food! I also love how they frequently update their specials menu, it hasn't been the same ever when I've gone. We used to go all the time because my friends love it too. When we're there we'd have fun and I'd become "Big Tony" and talk in my horrid Italian accent. It's a very fun place, a warm family atmosphere. Once there were drunk ladies without shoes on and they were hilarious. The dcor is cool tool, so old-skewl Chi-town. They also honor reservations so you don't have to wait around.
Once we were there and a person cleaning our table knocked over something onto the floor. The manager came down on him hard, poor guy - something straight outta a gangster momvie. The place is in the 'family' owned part of Chicago. I bet we must've seen a few Mafioso there. It's so cool.
Their chicken is always amazing, so moist and tender. Their seafood is great too. Once we had the gnocchi there and it was amazing. I don't normal see gnocchi on the menu, but they frequently have wonderful specials to try. It's also very reasonable priced and you can get most entrees between $10-$20. Probably the best price to taste ratio (or value as some would call it) in all of Chicago for Italian food.
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What is not to love about this place? Outstanding italian food, great staff who make you feel at home, and a cozy place to dine. Love any and all the pasta dishes I have eaten here. Next time, I think our family just needs to kidnap the kitchen and wait staff and take them home so they can move in and we can live life large day after day!!!
Really worth spending some time here, and not just once! Also, very reasonable prices and decent wine list.
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The epitome of excellent hospitality! A++ food is only exceeded by the friendliness of the owner Armando who took care of our party as if he was part of the family. I will be back, I suggest all to go.
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Dining out on a school night doesn't typically work well for me because I'm too stupid to pass on the wine and last night the tequila. It was a friend's birthday so I threw caution to the wind and headed out to La Scarola.
Our party of six started out with the Sausage & Peppers, Escarole & Beans, and the Brushetta. The sausage and the escarole were delicious as always. However, I think I have come to the conclusion that I don't really like Brushetta. I mean the Brushetta was good, but in the grand scheme of things it's just a tad boring.
The highlights for the entrees included Stu's Veal Special, Kristy's (Birthday Girl!) Pasta w/ Goat Cheese, Liz's Risotto, and My Veal Marsala. Once again I went against my instincts and passed on the Veal Special. I should have known that anything with bacon tastes better, but my Veal Marsala was very good too. The rest of the dishes were all good, but the above mentioned were definitely a step above. With dinner we enjoyed two very well priced bottles of Tuscan Sangiovese ($35). We finished the evening with a candled Tiramisu, a Canolli, and the Chocolate Mousse. All three desserts were delicious and the Canolli was one of the best that I have had.
The interior of La Scarola looks like a scene from Goodfellas. It seems like every time that you are there that one of the famous faces from their walls is actually sitting at a table next to you enjoying their meals. It's the type of place where the staff takes care of their regulars and you so desperately want to achieve "regular" status. The service was great and became even better when the free tequila shots began to flow. It turned out to be the manager/owner's birthday and he made sure that he celebrated with every table and our table twice! I haven't had a bad experience yet and will continue to frequent La Scarola. Maybe one day I will reach the elusive "regular" status and be greeted with a handshake and a "I have your favorite table waiting for you Mr. David."
1 Sausage & Peppers
1 Escarole & Beans
1 Brushetta
1 Pollo Italiano
1 Veal Marsala
1 Eggplant Parm
1 Veal Special
1 Chicken Vesuvio
1 Risotto
1 Broccoli & Goat Cheese Pasta
2 Bottles of Sangiovese
1 Tiramisu
1 Canolli
1 Chocolate Mousse Cake
3 Double Espressos
1 Cappuccino
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$265
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Delightful. This restaurant is warm and cozy and makes me want to become a regular so that the staff will know me, although our server acted like we were best friends from the minute we sat down. He was fabulous, offering opinions and double-checking ingredients due to my boyfriend's unnatural hatred of cheese.
The food was superb. The boyfriend had linguine with clams and I had penne alla vodka and both dishes were great. We split a chocolate mousse for dessert that was pleasantly different from most chocolate mousse desserts - it had a hard chocolate shell and sat on top of a brownie. I am swooning over the fact that I have leftovers in my fridge.
I think we spent about $40 per person including a bottle of wine. This is a great place to have a special dinner or just get some damn fine food.
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I went to La Scarola last night and I loved it !!! The wait staff was very attentive and friendly. And the food by the way . . . FANTASTICO !!! I went on a Monday night and the place was jammed. From the outside you never can tell that it's a happening place, but once you go in the place is booming. I highly recommend this place.
Why is it that I can't see eye-to-eye with you folks on Italian food?
My experience was eerily similar to that of Carol K.'s.
"I was seated by the door where cold winds blew in everytime someone walked in"
Check. Even though we had a reservation.
"As for the server- call it an off night but the guy was rude and kept rushing us to place our order and get out. He actually made a face when someone in our party ask read more ed for a couple of extra minutes to make up his mind. Did the waiter have any recommendations? No. Did he have any favorites? No. All he was was someone to write down whatever we ordered and send it to the kitchen. Strike one."
Check. Must have been the same waiter. We ordered our appetizers and said we needed a little bit time to pick our main courses, and the dude was back after like ... 60 seconds. Not kidding. Like he had a plane to catch.
"When the food came- it was only okay."
Check. Actually, the fried clams were much better than OK, but my pasta dish and my friend's risotto were decent, nothing earth-shattering. Actually, I made the mistake of ordering the same pasta dish that I'd ordered on my only previous visit, but that was because I felt rushed to make my decision.
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I went here last night with my boyfriend, his brother and sister in law and we had a great time! For appetizer, we shared the calamari and it was delicious. I had penne all vodka and it was very good... pretty big portions. We all shared a bottle of red wine and at the end of the meal the owner brought each of us a tasty shot of tequila! The atmosphere was typical of a quality Italian restaurant. The owner greeted us and made sure our meal was sufficient. After our meal we got caught up in conversation and because it was a Saturday night and the restaurant being pretty busy, the owner had asked if we were finished so he could seat other customers in our table. However, he provided us all another shot from the bar! :) Overall, we had a great experience at La Scarola!
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We laughed, we cried, we almost walked out, we didnt and had the best Italian I've ever had! This was one of the most dramatic dinners I've had. I'd heard great things about this place, so I made a reservation for a Friday night. We waited, and waited, and waited. We saw countless people seated before us that walked in after us. The tequila was flowing like wine.
Finally, an hour in, my fiance had had it and we told Armando we were out of there. He refused to let us leave, seated us immediately and offered to pay for our meal! And, oh what a meal. This pasta is truly incredible. I used to think, good pasta's pasta but this place proved me wrong! The calamari is huge and meaty too!
At the end of the meal, Armando had tequila shots with us and tried to get out of paying for the meal. After a little good hearted bantering though, he covered it (and he refused to let us pay for drinks!! Even though Grant told him we were more than happy to pay for our wine!)
Bottom line, this place is an experience. Go for great pasta but be in a good mood and ready to make a night of it!
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It's not that gorgeous, and not that sexy, but their food is great, service too. We had a really great time with a bottle of chianti and nice hearty, traditional meals.
I asked for lots of garlic and got it. Really great entrees. Asparagus salad is great too!
After my second experience here, I felt compelled to write something about this unique and very enjoyable establishment.
Do you go here for the fancy "italian" dining experience? No. Do you go here for the authentic italian food and hospitality? Yes, absolutely. While the term "reservation" is used rather loosely here, it is well worth the wait at the neighborhood bar next door for the homestyle service and authentic italian food that La Scarola has to offer.
Awesome food, large portions, and a special place in my heart due to the memories it evokes. Ever since I moved from Philly, I have not been able to find italian food his authentic. The owners and waitstaff go out of their way to make you feel at home and to me, the decor makes me fee right at home whether I'm dressed to the nines or in jeans.
The owner, Armado, has a big personality and circulates the restaurant to make sure that patrons are enjoying their dining experience.
All in all, I highly recommend this place for a great italian meal, whether its a special day or just a night out where you don't feel like cooking.
I don't get it. Everyone raves about this place as the best place for Italian in the city.
La Scarola must be living on past accolades based on my recent visit to the place. The server was surly, I was seated by the door where cold winds blew in everytime someone walked in and the food was merely okay. I expected so much more.
As for the server- call it an off night but the guy was rude and kept rushing us to place our order and get out. He actually made a face when someone in our party asked for a couple of extra minutes to make up his mind. Did the waiter have any recommendations? No. Did he have any favorites? No. All he was was someone to write down whatever we ordered and send it to the kitchen. Strike one.
When the food came- it was only okay. For appetizers we tried the sausage and peppers and calamari. Not remarkable. As for entrees- the best thing was the pasta special of the day which was basically pasta shells with a meat sauce. Hard to screw that up.The pounded veal chop was good but the fish was tasteless. Strike two.
We asked to change tables to get away from the door, but even though people continued to pour into the place- there was supposedly "no room" for us to move. So I ate dinner with my winter coat on. Strike three.
All in all, I love Italian food, and in my opinion there are alot better places in Chicago to get it.
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We went here for the first time on New Years. I got the Steak Vesuvio and it was amazing. The sauce was perfect and the meat was tender. Our group got a few seafood appetizers which they liked (I don't like seafood). They asked us to change tables before our entrees arrived and gave us a free round of drinks. I went back a few weeks later and had the Chicken Vesuvio and it was equally as good. And got free shots :) The only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is becuase it is just too crowded. They have you wait at the bar, but there is no room to move over there. La Scarola would be perfect, if it was a little bit bigger.
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Made reservations so didn't have the wait issue; it was a good thing too b/c the place was packed! I thought it had charm, and didn't expect the celebrity pictures all over the walls. The pixrs were kind of cheesy since that tends to be a stereotypical italian restaurant decorating trait.
At any rate, the host greeted us the second we walked in, we were seated immediately, and our server was fantastic. Our water never got below half full and every dish came quickly.
All four of us loved our dishes. My husband had the Sinatra Penne and loved it; the scallops were cooked perfectly and the muscles were big! I had the broccoli and goat cheese pasta and it was pretty tasty. Our two guests had chicken dishes and they both loved them.
We will most likely try it again.
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Have been here 3 times now and have had an amazing experience every time! Suggest making reservations - this place gets packed. Our favorite appetizer is the grilled calamari - perfectly marinated and especially good with lots of fresh lemon juice on top! So far we've tried pastas, veal, risotto...my favorites are the risotto di primavera, gnocchi and the tilapia special. The spicy angel hair pasta with shrimp and arugula is also great! Prices are very reasonable (our wine bill has surpassed the food bill almost every time) and service is always great. I love when Armando sends over free shots to the table!!! Gracias Armando!
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I've been here twice and I absolutely love the food at this place. Some of the best Italian food I have had in the city. I am especially a fan of their calamari because as Mabana C. said its perfect. Not soggy or overfried but just great! I actually dont remember what I ordered each time, but I know it was good.
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I got the Vodka Penne; fanFUCKINdeliciousoamazingness.
My friend got the shrimp risotto; not so much. I had a bite and thought, it MUST be good, I know my mouth is saying, "not so good", but what the hell does it know?! This is La Scarola for fucks sake!! But, I'm sad to report the risotto was unevenly cooked; half of it was still plain rice, the other half had crunchy kernels of rice in it. I don't know much, but I know that ain't right. Also, the bread is supremely janky. Again, I was thinking, "weeeelll, maybe it's like imported from europe, french-style hard-ass rock bread." SILENCE. It was just bad, stale bread. Universally available. Universally jank.
****EDIT: fried calamari is a WINNNN-ER. v. light batter, tossed in lemon and olive oil, nice tomato dipping sauce, sprinkled w/ herbs.
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I went here a few times witha friend of mine and his wife who are regulars. We got first class service and the food was amazing, particuarly the tortellini. So I went back with a co-worker and the service was TOTALLY differnt. The waitress had no eye contact, no interest in us as clients, didnt check in on us after our food. All in all the service was awful and parking is out right awful. I am only giving 3 stars for the food. It was good.
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Food and atmosphere is good. My main complaint is that they rush you out of the restaurant. I would have to say that this is the first restaurant that did not ask us if we were interested in having dessert. The bill was brought without us asking for it. It is fairly loud in there. The tables are close to one another. If it wasn't so loud in there you would be able to hear your neighbors conversations.
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