Oliveti's Italian Ristorante

 

2

64

Teapot C.

Chicago, IL

I was expecting more from this place the way all the reviewers were talking about it. It was pretty decent food but it wasn't like I was back home in Italy or anything.  

The garlic bread they brought out was pretty awesome, so when we first got seated and I was snacking on that I was thus far impressed, it's an alright atmosphere, not super fancy or anything but the walls are all painted up and there's a bunch of framed photos of Italian places etc. and a map of Italy on the wall kind of stuff. There's also this picture of a scary boy next to a thermostat that kind of pops out of the wall on the far side of the restaurant away from the window. Look for that haha.

I ended up ordering a make your own pasta kind of dish. I ordered the Fettuccini Alfredo with broccoli and crumbled sausage. It was a pretty big portion but the presentation even of all the food wasn't that charming. For some reason I was expecting prettier in that regard. My boyfriend got the stuffed shells. It was just...average. I mean it wasn't BAD or anything I just mean I've had way better pasta in the past. Bill wasn't bad though for all that. About thirty bucks for two people I believe.

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110

111

G. R.

Chicago, IL

This is my review, I know it doesn't agree with all the others, sorry it's just the way it went, for me.

After seeing the reviews, I put this on my must go to list. Can't go as far as to say that I wouldn't go back. If I were in the area, I would. However, since it usually would be a special trip, and with so many choices nearby I doubt it.

Food- would rate three stars, one star deducted for service.

Greeting- immediate, friendly, place looks real cute. Arrived for a slightly early dinner on a Wednesday night. Seated right away, but the place wasn't too busy. At this point I had high hopes.

Initial contact by server- professional but she didn't have that certain something. I wasn't sure if she wanted to be there or if she had something on her mind. Didn't order drinks at this time, said we wanted to look at the menu, she also explained the specials, but not with any sort of enthusiasm.

She came back and we made our selections, I also ordered a drink at this time. Our dinners came with a choice of soup or salad. One of us ordered soup, me the salad.

Tick tock...tick tock...tick tock....TICK TOCK! Man, I'm really hungry when will the soup and salad arrive? What about my drink?

Finally soup and salad, then she says, I'll bring your drink.

Dinners arrive shortly after, I'm not done with my salad and she is trying to hand me a big platter. I guess I'm picky, Okay I KNOW I'm picky, one of the things I hate is when soup/salad plates are not cleared before dropping off the entree. This comes from my time as a server.

The dinners, we both agreed were good, but just good. My friend ordered one style of potato me another and we got the same thing as sides. I had the Chicken Vesuvio, an overall salty taste to it, didn't taste much else. She had the Chicken Marsala, she said she also has had better.

I guess it's just as well, with the price of gas, I don't need to be driving out to Des Plaines. Certainly I would if the place left us with that, wow that was a great meal and experience feeling. It didn't, instead a pretty anti-climatic feeling.

If the food were a notch better or the service a notch better, perhaps we would of been happier. I guess I could have written a shorter review, it could be three words, "eh just okay."

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6

86

Anna S.

Park Ridge, IL

I've passed by this restaurant numerous times but decided tonight to try it after reading the rave reviews on Yelp.  

The service was phenomenal.  Our waitress was incredibly sweet and she was kind enough to bring our 2 yr old plain pasta, without even being asked!  She took good care of him, and didn't even flinch when (to our horror) he flung a plate on the floor and shattered it!

The food - I really wanted to absolutely love it.  But I don't think it was exceptional and I am not sure it warrants the 5 stars others have given.  My husband ordered the pasta frutti di mare special, which had every fish imaginable.  He's ordered that so many times at other restaurants, so he has a frame of reference.  He thought it was fresh tasting, but that it lacked seasoning.  

I ordered the "choose your own pasta" dish, which isn't a common menu feature at most Italian joints but I appreciated it.  I chose their homemade papardelle pasta and chose a tomato sauce and a few veggies (there were meat selections too).  It wasn't bad but not the best - it could have been my error in choosing the combo.  It too lacked some seasoning so I dumped my son's meatball sauce on it.  
And as for the pasta being fresh, I honestly couldn't tell the difference as it was pretty drowned in sauce.

The entrees came with soup or salad.  These were both misses.  My minestrone was bland, and I believe any good Italian place should have good minestrone.  My husband's salad with blue cheese "dressing" had the blue cheese - without the dressing.  Oops.

Overall, the menu is a fairly standard one.  I did note they had 4 "light and healthy" options, which even listed nutrition information.  That was a nice touch, and not typical menu features for an Italian restaurant.  I did think the pricing overall was a bit high for the quality and considering the area.

FYI - I did note some reviews on another site (maybe it was Metromix) about a strange smell, but forgot about it until we walked right into the door.  Sure enough, a moderate odor of what I thought was a sewer pipe did hit me.  The restroom and kitchen are close to the entrance, so the origin of the odor must be coming from either.  It didn't bother us enough to want to leave, but seeing as it still exists despite being noticed by other reviewers some time ago definitely makes you concerned.

Finally - There is a very big outdoor seating area which might be kind of nice in the warmer weather, if you don't mind the Metra train riding by or the noise of River Road.  I wouldn't go out of my way to come back, but if I were local and were with my parents, that "choose your own" pasta option might come in handy.  But otherwise this Italian girl will just stay home and make the classics on her own.

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Elite '08

94

226

Kathy R.

Niles, IL

Be assured the 5-star reviews popping up here lately are not inflated, nor are they groupthink. Oliveti's is the real deal for authentic Italian.  I'm glad b/c - as the site of the 1st N.W. Suburban Yelpers dinner - it was my suggestion (small back pat for me).

The food, atmosphere and service were exceptional.  Kudos to them for accommodating our group.  When we walked in, we delivered our approximate head count (smaller than anticipated). They invited us to wait outside or in, and told us, "We want to set this up right for you."  Boy did they!

Our charmingly accented waiter Tony told us how Oliveti's prepares its dishes with the freshest ingredients and makes its noodles from scratch.  When someone asked what he recommended, Tony was right on the money.  Although he went on to point out some of the menu's highlights, his first response was Pappardelle Chardonnay.

Well, I ordered it and it was one of the best Italian dishes I've had anywhere.  Crumbled sausage, mushrooms and onions in a chardonnay tomato-cream sauce.  Unlike any other alcohol-infused dish I've had, the robust chardonnay taste came through in every bite. Truly, they must have used at least half a bottle to cook it.  It was perfection.

I tried Ling's osso bucco, which was very tender. But really I most wanted to eat my pappardelle.  The mushroom appetizer, salad, and fresh bread/foccacia rounded out the meal.  I'm glad I splurged on dessert: the tiramisu was outstanding as well.  Not a false note in the whole meal.

Besides the enjoyable company of fellow Yelpers,  our personable waiter added to liveliness.  Whether discussing Italy, cheerfully goading us to try cappuccino or relating the difference between Pasta Fazul and Pasta e Fagioli, Tony was great.  And our glasses were filled constantly.  

Oliveti's is worth a special trip to the burbs.

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Elite '08

49

179

Ling L.

Arlington Heights, IL

*Photos shot

The next best thing to sharing an experience at Oliveti's with the husband is to share it with a bunch of strangers with common interest (yelp) and magnetic personalities.

Two dishes stood out:

Alice and I couldn't resist the special that night -- the osso bucco. The braised pork shank ($14.50) was a massive tender-to- the-bone perfection.

and Kathy's Pappardelle Chardonnay. I will leave it to Kathy to share her experience, being the wonderful writer she is.

This is by far the most authetic Italian meal I've ever had in the States. I believe it will be a staple for years to come.

Oh, a shout-out to our delightful waiter, Antonio "Tony". He handled all our questions and was detailed in explaining the signature dishes and meals.

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Elite '08

57

280

Mike O.

Park Ridge, IL

I've been to Italian places before and I am a self-admitted pasta fanatic, but this was phenomenal. We held our Yelp NW Burbs dinner here, but I was careful to reserve it in my name and not tip off the place on who we were or the reviews we would be writing. Regardless, Oliveti's came through as a great place for dinner.

Getting in from the street is a little tricky since the entrance door is on the side and the 2 front doors are locked. There's an outdoor dining patio right next to the restaurant too.

Inside, the decor is elegant, with Roman columns, pieces of carved marble, and wine bottles lined up in a rack near our table. The place has an intimate feel to it since it has a rather narrow dining space.

Our waiter Tony (Antonio, or Toni - as spelled in Italy) who served our table was charmfully excellent as a host and his menu recommendations were superb. Their menu is complex but well-crafted, with each item numbered and called out on a map of Italy to show the origin of each dish.

We shared an appetizer of mushroom caps filled with a creamy ricotta cheese. The bread basket on the table contained remarkably tasty bruschetta-like squares in addition to fresh-baked sliced bread.

To be adventurous, we each tried different menu items to get a little sample of each other's dishes too. I took the safe choice of ravioli. Tara's stuffed shells were great, with a similarly creamy ricotta cheese filling. Kathy's pasta with crumbled sausage (I forget the name but it has "chardonnay" in it) had the most dee-licious Italian sausage I've had in a while. Ling L and Alice S ordered osso bucco (pork flank) that I described as a "meat volcano" when I saw it placed on the table.

It is not just the flavor of their food, but their overall presentation that made the experience so complete. Take a look at Ling L's photos and you'll see what I mean.

As a dessert, their Tiramisu is a can't-miss favorite with a moist and creamy texture. The lemon Italian ice looked great too.

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Elite '08

23

191

Tara M.

Des Plaines, IL

Did not have access to a computer since our Yelp NW Bubs dinner... LOVED IT though!

I hadn't been to Olivetti's in a few years, and I cannot figure out why!  It was amazing food and service (great company made the dinner that much better!).  Florentine Stuffed Shells were AMAZING!  My husband loved what I brought him (same as what Kathy R had, which at the moment I cannot remember) and he ate his in the car, about an hour after I got it... still warm and ever so good!  Everything is made fresh, to order and is phenomenal!

Tony, our waiter, was fantastic!  I cannot say enough about how great our service was!

There's nothing inflated about a 5 star for Olivetti's, it's just an amazing, Italian dining experience!

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Elite '08

52

33

Laura P.

IL

How do you say perfect in italian...oh yeah, PERFECTO.  A little out of the way place in the land of strip malls this place exudes old world italian grace. It is just off River Road on a small side street, hard to find but worth it~ My co-workers and I have gone here for the past 3 days in a row and even for drinks on a friday night as they have free appetizers in their martini bar.

First things first....at lunch time they have the menus in chalk as you walk in to order. You place and pay for your order immediately so no hassle waiting for the check after your meal is done. Therefore, not making your boss mad if you are taking an hour and a half lunch because a lazy waitress can't bring you the check.

Second, the menu is easy to understand. You get to pick from pasta, sauces, risotto, and vegetables. The first time I went here I overheard the chef or owner talking to someone who was allergic to eggs and wanted to know if the sauce was made with eggs. His response was no as they use only the highest quality ingredients so they do not need to thicken up their sauce with eggs. I thought that was a little bit of a fib....until I tasted the sauce and realized he knew what the heck he was talking about.

I have been to Italy and have never tasted pasta and sauce this good outside of Rome. Each time we go it is consistently STUNNING!!! And by stunning I mean we all just feel like we have died and gone to Italian food heaven. The tomato cream sauce and hand-made tortelacci (tortellini) is really the best dish I have had since 1999. Really.  The lemon cream risotto is a close second.

The management of this obviously family owned establishment is always freindly and eager to please. It is hard to identify as the storefront is small and has a strange sign out front for the martini bar in the back. Do not be discouraged, just look for the enormous outdoor garden that looks like it is right out of the italian countryside...and go in the side door.

Please patronize this place as you will not be disappointed and I am so surprised when we are the only one's in the garden eating. I have to admit I kinda like that it is not crowded but I think everyone should know about the best italian food I have had in years. Totals for lunch range from $8-15 including drink so it is in everyone's budget. I do not rave about much of anything and I cannot stop thinking about their food. We usually take about 6 or 8 people there and everyone orders something different but it is ALL good.....

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Elite '08

188

77

Alice S.

Chicago, IL

Wowee wow wow WOW! You know how when you go to a restaurant for the first time, open the menu, feel instantly that you may have found a real treasure, and hope your expectations are not left flatter than a balloon three days after your birthday? That's how I felt when I sat down with a group of charming suburban Yelpers at Olivetti's this evening. When I saw the variety of Italian dishes available (named in Italian!), my hopes for the evening were instantly elevated. When Tony, our very charming waiter from Capri, told us one of the specials tonight was osso bucco, made with pork instead of veal, I knew that was for me!

I ordered and shared a starter of funghi ripieni, mushrooms stuffed with ricotta and topped with a bright green sauce of (I believe) spinach, basil and oregano. They were light and flavorful. The osso bucco was a huge pork shank, served on a bed of spaghetti and stewed veggies: perfectly braised and delicious, the meat was tender but not mushy; the pasta was properly al dente; and the veggies were a bit soupy with tomato sauce, but with good flavor. I suppose I would have preferred less "sauce," but maybe they're trying to accommodate some more American preference there, because the meat certainly didn't need any support in the way of moisture. I took the road of least resistance when it came to my wine, accepting Tony's helpful suggestion of the house chianti, a safe bet for pairing with my meal. While nothing out of the ordinary, it was sturdy and dry, with a slight fruity note, just the thing for a rustic dish like osso bucco.

Did someone say dessert? I left a bit of room because Tony mentioned a lemon granita which I knew would be the perfect light ending to my meal. That, plus the perfectly made cappuccino, capped off a sumptuous and lovely meal that I won't soon forget. I'll be back!

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1

33

Linda N.

Des Plaines, IL

A stand out of the meal?  - appetizer of sausage, peppers and polenta...yummmmy!! Sausage grilled just right.

We each ordered the "quattro meal", that is where you get to choose an appetizer, entree, soup or salad and dessert, and all for 12.40!

I chose chicken marsala,(that came with some very tasty parmesean garlic mashed)  bruschetta, corn soup and tiramisu.  It was all damn good except the soup was pretty tastleless and floury,

He chose  meat ravioli, with crumbled sausage (small extra charge) with sundried tomatoes. and meat sauce; the aforementioned sausage pepper with polenta, corn soup and tirimisu.   He didn't care for the soup either.  

Seriously,  with that amount of food, we really didn't need soup.  I have  a portion of chicken suitable for lunch left over.  His pasta was fresh and the sauce quite favorful, not too spicy, not too sweet.  

I should mention, it was our first time there and we are in the neighborhood so we ordered take out.  Prepped well, good portions, good food, good price means I will be back!

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114

304

Patty V.

Franklin Park, IL

We went here to celebrate my hubby's birthday, just the two of us(we have had a LOT of face time with the family these days).Very cozy atmosphere, too bad it was too cool to enjoy the outdoor area. It looks perfect for Al fresco dining in milder weather!
We started with baked clams,an old favorite and were not disappointed. Not as much garlic as some places use,but the clams were so fresh and clean, it was not missed.
We both got Minestrone and it was delicious-home style and fresh, not too much potato,as some places do to add bulk.Yummy!
We each had a glass of wine,I got the special of the night-La Bocce Chianti. It was a bit lighter and less dry than most Chianti and I really enjoyed it. He had a glass of Merlot,as he does not usually like Chianti,but I think he would have been happy with that as well.
I got the stuffed shells. They were very fresh and flavorful, but the pasta was a bit overcooked, making eating them a bit messy,but still ,not bad.A generous portion, plenty to eat and some to bring home.
He had Eggplant Parmigiana,and he had no complaints with that,even though it resembled a lasagna more than Eggplant .Parmigiana. It was very good and a huge portion,plenty to bring home and still leave quite full.
The star of the evening was the tiramisu.It is house made and just right! We shared one serving and I intended to have just a few bites, but it was some of the best I have ever had and we made all gone-Pronto!!
I would return to try something else, the menu had a lot to offer and the service was good.
I do tend to be critical of Italian restaurants,as I do make some pretty awesome Italian food,but this was fresh and very good.

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1

9

Magda S.

IL

Mmmmm...mmmm...mmmm... it's that good!

Can't say what dinners are like but lunches are great.

During lunch you order at the counter and they bring your food to the table. Service is prompt and attentive. Take-outs available. You get a free meal card every time you eat there. Collect 8 and you get a free lunch.

Delicious, good quality, homemade Italian food for a decent price. Their portions are large and I often end up with leftovers. I like putting together my own pasta dish (pasta, sauce and a  choice of three veggies). Like trying something new every time? You can count on a long list of daily specials.

My favorites:
- sausage calzone (comes with a pasta salad and a piece of yummy bread);
- meat torletacci with creamy tomato sauce, mushrooms, zucchini and green peas
- tiramisu

If you want to take a group of people out to lunch - this is THE place. Your guests will be oh so satisfied with the food and you won't spend a fortune.

Enjoy! :)

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Elite '08

61

318

Sarah B.

Chicago, IL

Food was great--fresh-tasting ingredients and seasoned well.  I would recommend the calamari (was tasty and not rubbery) and the stuffed mushrooms.

I was not impressed with the vinyl, floral print table clothes--fabric, even paper-topped, would be much more pleasant.

I have to give 3 stars b/c the service was pretty lackluster.  Oh, our server was nice and frequently checked on us, but she had such a problem getting our order down (even after writing it).  I had to repeat everyone's order for her.  The server also spent 5 minutes explaining the specials, when we specifically asked only for the soup specials.

Finally, as a purportedly Italian restaurant, I would expect the wine to be good.  While my Chianti may have been good, I couldn't tell, it was so cold!

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4

5

Colleen F.

Des Plaines, IL

Delicious food!  Relaxing and romantic atmosphere.  Lovely in summer with outside seating...just like Roma!

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