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Osteria Via Stato
Categories: Restaurants Italian Event Planning & Services Party & Event Planning Restaurants Pizza Italian, Party & Event Planning, Pizza [Edit]
620 N State St(between Ohio St & Ontario St)
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighborhood: Near North Side
(312) 642-8450
- Nearest Transit:
-
Grand-Red (Red Line)
Chicago-Red (Red Line)
Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 11 pm
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated, Valet
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
263 reviews for Osteria Via Stato
Review Highlights
"Veal meatballs were delic and the lamb shoulder."
(in 27 reviews)
"Ooh try the cavatelli with wild mushrooms."
(in 7 reviews)
"The wine list is comprehensive and pretty reasonable."
(in 21 reviews)
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263 reviews in English
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Review from Anna V.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2012
I try so hard to hate touristy Lettuce Entertain You (yep, this is one, along with Mon Ami Gabi and the super popular Ba Ba Reeba) chain restaurants. I want to be a hater but I'm not.
I have done a la carte, pizza, and prix fixe here with varying degrees of success.
Pizzeria: fun and pleasant, good for friends if you all work nearby. We ate in the summer indoors in the evening for pizza and craftish beer. It's better outside, but it was raining. I'd try this again in the spring or summer on the patio.
A la carte: was a date with one of the bigger d-bags ever - he wore designer flip flops. This was the saving grace of that meal, which otherwise pissed me off. The pasta is very good. So is the cheese plate. Quartinos of wine are a really happy thing to have when you're annoyed.
Prix fixe: solid. I always dodge shellfish and they were good about accomodating it. Roasted garlic in balsamic is great. Salad, tomatoes, and cheese for the appetizers; a creamy mushroom pasta with asparagus and some type of thin brothy tomato sauce penne, and split entrees of gnocchi and short rib. We did the wine pairing and really enjoyed it. Nothing was bad. It was totally excessive but tasty.
Is it kind of pedestrian? Of course it is, and snobs (especially if they're from New York) will tell you this immediately. I like it. I can't not. -
Review from Melanie V.
Chicago, IL
2/2/2012
Ah yes....2012 marks the year when most of my friends (and myself!) turn 30. *sigh* To kick off the celebrations, my friend decided she wanted to have a "fancy" dinner with some of her favorite peoples. After some change of plans, she ended up deciding to have it at Osteria Via Stato.
I had come here previously (well, to the pizza place...more low-key) and thought the food was pretty good and normally priced. So, when my friend told us that, per management's direction, our group of 12 HAD to partake in this "family-style, prix fixe" menu for $40, I was little confused. Like, is that necessary? Why couldn't we just order off the menu?
We also couldn't choose any of the vegetables, pasta or antipasta....only our main dish. And, while there were alot of items to choose from, what if there was that instance where NOTHING appealed to anyone in the party? They're just SOL, ya know? (Sidenote: Don't get the seafood stew. It's NOT good. I made that mistake and that's probably why I can't get myself to write a semi-positive review of this place.)
So, yes, the food was good (namely, the duck ragu, brussel sprouts, scallops, short ribs), but it was WAYY too much. I'm all for birthday celebrations and all...but encouraging gluttony really wasn't necessary. I ended up dropping a ton more than I expected on this meal (granted, I did order one Negroni and one shot of Limoncello).
Our waitress was nice and brought out a delicious 'happy birthday' cheesecake for the birthday girl, so that was nice. Other than that, though, I would never really feel the need to return here. -
Review from Daniel M.
Chicago, IL
1/23/2012
This place is awesome. They served us roasted garlic in balsamic oil with our bread when we were seated, it was amazing.
The calamari was cooked perfectly, and served with marinara. (Can't stand places that serve it with cocktail sauce)
For the main course I had the filet which was good. My fiance had the penne with chicken in a spicy tomato cream sauce which I tried and was also very good.
I will definitely be going back. -
Review from Erin P.
Chicago, IL
1/12/2012
I had an fabulous experience here. On a Wednesday night the place was packed by 7, luckily we had a reservation. The space is beautiful, the food incredible and the service fantastic (LOVED our waitress!).
They offer a $40/pp Family Style meal that includes 4-5 antipasti and 2 pastas for the table and an entree each (served in 3 courses). It was so much food but so amazing. Luckily, we still managed to save room for their homemade gelato for dessert!
Don't miss their Italian Manhattan with homemade vermouth! -
Review from Ashley K.
1/20/2012
This is a place I want to hate because I feel like it's in a super touristy location and as a real Chicagoan, I should be dining elsewhere. But you know what? I can't hate this place. I've been here 3-4 times and each time the food has been awesome.
In my course of dining here that much, I've had the majority of stuff on the menu and I've never been disappointed. My favorite thing is probably the crispy potatoes (extra crispy thankyouverymuch) that come with a lemony aioli dipping sauce. The handmade pastas are outstanding and truly showcase why homemade is best.
The space is adorable and I've always had impeccable service here. Cheers to that, Osteria, cheers to that. -
Review from Pam D.
1/8/2012
We attended a holiday party at Osteria Via Stato last night. There were about 80 of us in a private area in the back of the restaurant and was held by the company that Christopher works for. First let me say that the party was really nice. What a great way to cap off the holiday season.
The party started off with drinks and appetizers. The appetizers were very good and ran the gamut from pizza to calamari and these awesome little crispy cheese rolls. After an hour we were called into dinner. The spread was awesome. When we sat down, the table was already loaded with goodies, such as prosciutto, olives, marinated garlic and wonderful bread. It was hard to resist filling up on that.
Then, the rest of the food began to roll out. There was veal meatballs, salad, and some totally amazing grilled/carmelized onions. Next came the pastas. We were given a choice among 4 entrees. I chose the Scottish Salmon and Christopher had the Gorgonzola Crusted Fillet. Again, both were most excellent.
Dessert was a slice of chocolate tart, topped with whipped cream and candied orange peel. What can I say, but YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM
My only complaint with Osteria was the acoustics. It was designed like a grotto and conversation was very difficult with even the person right next to you. I spent the whole night having to yell and ask people to repeat themselves.
I really enjoyed my dining experience at Osteria Via Stato. If the opportunity ever presents itself again, I would certainly come back.
Oh yes, one last thought. There is only one bathroom for both genders, with one stall. If there is a line, the only option is to go into the hotel next door. A tad odd, but there you have it. -
Review from Ashley C.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 1/7/2012
2.5 stars. Ok - so apparently the pizzeria is different than the rest of the restaurant. We made reservations at Osteria and they do not have pizza "on that side." I did not know that and they did not make that very clear when making reservations.
We decided to come here for a late dinner after my holiday party in the area. First, they were almost 45 minutes late on a 9:00 reservation. That was not a great first impression. It was also frustrating that they kept telling us "just 10 more minutes" - at least manage our expectations. It doesn't help that I was starving at this point. Unfortunately, I was never blown away with the food.
When we sit down they heavily pushed the tasting menus which included soup, salad, appetizer, a pasta course, and the entree. The soup was delicious I may say. The salad was problematic because there were walnuts - I hate them and my husband is allergic. Someone missed the memo and never said anything. The pasta was okay. I thought there was too much olive oil that through the balance off. It was nothing memorable. I got the seafood stew for the entree. It was quite good with a nice sauce, but the portion size was more like an appetizer. I kept hunting for more shrimp! Maybe we picked the wrong things, but I was not impressed. Service was also incredibly slow. I am not sure whether this was a product of the tasting menu, but no one ever checked on us. It was order, drinks, the food courses (the waiter missed a few courses), and then the check.
Next time, I'll eat on the Pizzeria side. From the other time I was there, they had much better food in the pizza and pasta department. As for the Osteria side, I am not sure that I will be back anytime soon.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2010
3.5 stars. We came here for a late lunch and knew it would be more about the catching up than the… Read more »
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Review from Erin J.
1/5/2012
Went here for dinner last weekend with a friend and we enjoyed ourselves. The veal meatballs were delicious, as was the spinach and asiago dip we started with. The dish of bread and olive oil with bits of roasted garlic was tasty, too - I wish there would have been more oil/garlic because there was a TON of bread and bread is MADE for sponging up yummy stuff like that.
My friend got the pappardelle, which she enjoyed. I got the gnocchi, which isn't your normal potato-based gnocchi; it's parm-based, iirc. So I thought that sounded fantastic. Not so much. While pretty much all gnocchi include flour, I could REALLY taste it in this dish. So much so that I couldn't eat more than a few. And they weren't light, but kinda gluey. Parts of them stuck to my teeth. The thin tomato sauce served with it did it no favors, either - I swirled my pieces in my friend's spicy sauce from the veal meatballs.
To drink, my friend had her usual chardonnay and diet Coke (not together!) and I got a couple white peach bellinis. I'd be lying if I said that wasn't perfect. Not too sweet, just the right amount of bubbles...perfect. And it'd better be, for $11 per wee champagne flute.
And dessert? Dessert was AMAZEBALLS. This review should be a solid 3 stars, but the dessert...my goodness. We each got gelato, she the carmel and me the hazlenut with chocolate. Hers made her eyes roll back in her head. She insisted I try it and it was really, really good. Mine was...there are no words. Imagine Nutella and vanilla gelato had a baby and that baby was delicious. Creamy and not tooth-achingly sweet, perfect consistency...someone in the kitchen really knows what they're doing.
The gelato is enough for me to come back. I would specifically extract the bellini and the gelato, insert me and friends onto a table outside in the summer and boomboomPOW: happiness. For dinner, I think I'd only come back if other people suggested it. -
Review from Richard C.
Brookfield, WI
1/24/2012
We went to Osteria for the wedding rehearsal dinner for my son/daughter-in-law. They did an outstanding job. We had around 50 guests, most of whom made it a point to compliment us on selecting Osteria. The dinner was on the evening of a snowstorm and, although my son's (another son) family were substantially late, they got to share in the full multi-course experience. The food was uniformly great and the service was better than I have experienced, in a large-group setting, perhaps because the storm scared regular patrons away from the restaurant. For those who are drinkers, try their Italian manhattans, made with vermouth and cherries made in-house. The vermouth was much less sweet than commercially popular vermouths, which I and my fellow drinkers thought made the manhattans particularly noteworthy. A great experience for all involved.
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Review from Kelly B.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
I went with my Mom and some of her friends for her bachelorette evening last weekend...and it was a crowd pleaser. I had been there a few years ago and really enjoyed the vidalia onion (yum), but sort of forgot about it until I was thinking of restaurants near their hotel for the weekend. My Mom is very allergic to onions and the chef was so wonderful, he came out to the table to talk to her about what he could cook special for her. When the food did arrive, it was excellent and chef even came out to personally deliver her dish. We would all highly recommend Osteria Via Stato--great food and they made us feel important!
Thanks, Chef! -
Review from Josh V.
12/7/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Osteria Via Stato is nice, but I don't like it as much as Quartino, the Italian restaurant right across the street. OSV (and its sister restaurant, Pizzeria Via Stato) is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant, so you can count on it being good, but it probably won't be great.
The food and service are both pretty good. On my last visit I had the creamy polenta (which was very good) and penne w/ spicy tomato cream & chicken (which was fine, but didn't stand out). My friend shared the polenta & ordered the gemelli with house-made chicken sausage, toasted garlic, breadcrumbs. His pasta was decent, but didn't really satisfy as an entree. OSV allows you to order their pastas in smaller, appetizer sizes, and I think the gemelli would make a better starter or side than main course.
One neat thing that OSV offers, which would probably be best for a group dinner, is the "Italian Dinner Party", which gives you family style antipasti, pasta & sides for the table and one entree per person (of their choice, from a list of 8 or so) for $40 pp. You can optionally add "Just Bring Me Wine!" for $20 or $40 per person (I guess it depends if you want good or cheap wine?) which adds three glasses of wine paired with the meal, chosen by the restaurant.
The look of OSV is rather unique, and kind of cool. It's dimly lit and almost looks like you're dining in a cellar. Of course, unlike a cellar it's not cold or damp.
To be honest, if you can get a table at Quartino I'd go there instead, but if not this is a perfectly legitimate Plan B for a hearty and tasty meal in the area. -
Review from Teddy B.
Washington, DC
12/27/2011
I've come back here multiple times whenever I visit Chicago, and the food is always the star. The pizzeria in front will fill up with cheapskates lacking much of any sense of culinary adventure, but ignore that boorish lot of palates and head for the dark restaurant in back.
It has a lot of space and some nice decor, even if they play club music circa 2002 that is completely out of place. And yes, it is in an Embassy Suites -- which would normally only be associated with "good food" by someone who holds Howard Johnson's fried clams in the highest esteem.
The wine list is eclectic and pretty good. The service is rough around the edges -- reaching over patrons and serving from the right side at times. Minor details perhaps, but clearly they are not trained. And yet the Italian food here always has a great variety and expression of flavor. It's the saving grace that makes this place particularly worth coming back to regularly. The prix fixe menu is a deal in terms of both experiencing that variety and doing it at a reasonable cost. -
Review from Stephanie W.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Fantastic service, totally nice vibe, and very wiling to accommodate big parties.
They've got two menu options - a la carte and family style prix fix - and they just request that your table all sticks to one option or the other. If you have more than 10 people, you have to go with the family style prix fix.
Everyone on the menu looks good, and the bread they put down on the table with garlic, olive oil, and balsamic is absolutely delicious. Unfortunately, though, at least 2/3 of the stuff our party of 7 ordered didn't actually taste good, and our boys went home still pretty damn hungry.
I wouldn't mind coming back here for drinks or pizza, but probably won't rush back for dinner -
Review from Cristene M.
Chicago, IL
1/16/2012
We (my bf and I) love the pizza at Pizzeria Via Stato! I always order the vegetable pizza without cheese and mushrooms and it's always been fantastic. They also used to have an appetizer made with a white bean dip, it was pretty darn good. Overall, this is a cute little place with good food, we'll certainly return.
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Review from Poppy F.
Manhattan, NY
1/22/2012
I had this yummy Celery Salad and a little Margerita Pizza, simple meal...but super yummy, fresh and realxing environment and very nice bartender Patrick.
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Review from Comensal A.
Chicago, IL
12/18/2011
We've been to Osteria Via Stato twice recently -- once with friends (when we had the "Italian Dinner Party" prix fixe dinner) and as a couple when we ordered a la carte. We've enjoyed this place in the past, and these recent visits continued that tradition. Everything was nicely conceived and well cooked. Our servers were knowledgeable, cordial and appropriately attentive & sophisticated. The extensive Italian-only wine list is approachable, with choices at many price points. The dining room we were in was warmly decorated and well-lit. All in all, this is another fine production of Lettuce Entertain You.
We enjoyed all the food on these visits -- it's hard to point to standouts! The braised pork shank was everything I'd hoped: succulent, tender and rich. Short rib & mushroom risotto was perfect winter comfort food. A pan roasted flounder special with sunchokes, grapefruit and a Meyer lemon sauce was superb. Borlotti bean soup, polenta -- the list of pleasing dishes goes on and on...
Like other Lettuce Entertain You ventures, Osteria is carefully crafted to offer a quality themed dining experience that is a little bit special, yet accessible to a mainstream middle class market. It's not edgy, not top shelf -- but it is well done & pleasurable, and it delivers good value. I'm a fan! -
Review from Edmund L.
San Jose, CA
12/8/2011
I was on business trip to Chicago. When I had some free time tonight, I went downtown and discovered this place. The restaurant atmosphere was very classy, cozy, and not noisy. Since I was by myself, I sat at the bar in the pizzeria section and ordered a margherita pizza. It was made of tomatoes, hand-pulled mozzarella, and basil. The ingredients were so fresh. The crust was paper thin and perfectly toasted. Every bite was light, fresh, and not greasy. To some of you, the portion looked like an appetizer. But it was enough to fill my stomach. It was the best pizza I have had. I am not a drinker, and I ordered a glass of ice tea. Even just the tea tasted freshly brewed and had full taste of tea leaves, and it was not watery. To complete my menu, I had a lemon gratin as the dessert. It was very refreshing, and it was a perfect compliment to wash down my pizza.
My bill with a quite generous tip was just $24. It was surprisingly inexpensive. I am sure that it would be more than $30 if I eat the same items in the SF Bay Area.
Too bad that I don't know when I can come back to Chicago next time. Otherwise, I would definitely come back this place and try other dishes on the menu. Yummy, yummy. -
Review from Carol K.
Updated - 9/15/2011
What a difference a server makes? Went back last night for dinner with 50 of my closest friends (okay- they were colleagues but who cares, right?) and had one of the best dining experiences I have had in a long time.
Our servers, Ashley and Destiny were terrific! No request was too much trouble and given the noise level in the room- they were patient when they had to constantly repeat what the offerings were for our group.
The passed appetizers were delicious, shrimp wrapped in basil, sirloin roll ups, and brushetta with roasted peppers made everyone happy!
And the free flowing wine didn't hurt either!
And was I happy to have their short rib again! In fact- I extolled the virtues of it so much that everyone at my table also had it- even though we had 3 other entrees to choose from.
Thanks to Osteria Via Stato, my business meeting was a success and everyone went back to the hotel with smiles on their faces. Now that's a night to remember!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/2/2009
Osteria Via Stato is one of those places that I have passed many a time but have never been that… Read more »
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Review from john o.
Los Angeles, CA
10/31/2011
Fine Italian in the heart of Chicago and I absolutely love it. I have not eaten quality Italian food for years and I'm glad I came here with my family. We were sat down immediately and our server was great too.
The restaurant is divided into two parts, one is casual dining for Pizza and the other is fine Italian Osteria in the next room, where we were.
After looking at their menu, I couldn't decide so I went with the special Lamb Sausage Risotto with roots and I loved it. I never knew risotto could be this good. I guess the other Italian restaurant i've been to in LA is on another level. We also ordered gnocchi with duck meat, spaghetti, and seafood linguine.
Total came out to be around $150 including a liter of wine with tip for four people.
I will definitely come back here when I am in Chicago. -
Review from Linda S.
Lakewood, CA
10/23/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
I look forward to visiting Chicago again just so I can eat here again!
They have a pizzeria which is more casual, but I ate in their more upscale (meaning linen napkins, not paper) osteria.
The parmesan crusted onions (my mouth is watering just remembering them) are caramelized onions topped with parmesan cheese. These are good all buy themselves, but make an excellent topper for their wonderfully perfect bread.
I also ordered the olives - these too were very good. Much better than the assorted olives across the street at Quartino.
For the salad, I had the seasonal greens - the vinaigrette was nice and light.
I also ordered the gnocchi which melted in my mouth. Ate every last one even though with the bread and the previous courses I was already full when the gnocchi arrived.
I missed out on dessert, because I didn't want to be rolled out. I couldn't even eat a wafer thin mint.
The food was so good that I gave them a 5 star, but their service probably was only worth 2 stars. Our server was inattentive and forgot to bring requested items. We didn't even get refills on our drinks. : ( -
Review from Dan S.
12/8/2011
This is a great reliable place, perfect for large groups. We had meatballs to start as well as Parmesan onions. Don't miss the onions. Outrageously good. We were so full from apps we didn't finish the very good main course of short ribs. Very good service too. Can't go wrong here.
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Review from Kathryn W.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2011
I am looking for a place to hold my rehearsal dinner, so I went to check up Osteria. I immediately liked the place because of how beautiful to rooms are and how friendly the staff is.
I sat down to dinner and order a Diet Coke. Not only did the server bring a Diet Coke, she brought a carafe of Diet Coke for refills. I was so excited.
I ordered. And here is where I struggled with the restaurant. I ordered a Caesar salad and a half order of pappadelle pasta. First the Salad was HUGE. But it was caesar dressing served with a side of lettuce. Luckily, our server was wonderful and took it back. When she brought out a salad with "light" dressing it was still covered but at least I could eat it. Then I got my pasta..... It was server on a bread plate. Maybe I am just used to the Maggiano's size portions, but I kept looking around like "where is the rest?" Good thing I tried the salad or I would have left hungry.
I am thinking that this place might be better at private parties than they are at regular dinner. -
Review from Chester W.
Chicago, IL
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was wasted when I came here. Was packed on a Friday night, service was attentive and the food was solid. Don't exactly remember what I had, but the pasta was al dente. 3 stars because I was starving and the place still didn't blow me away. Would be willing to go again in a more sober state.
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Review from Meghan M.
Kalamazoo, MI
10/20/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Went here with a group for a business dinner and I was the only one that had visited Osteria previously. I recommended the onions (yum) and calamari (double yum!) Our server was fantastic and recommended some great wines and cocktails.
Our table ended up ordering the flounder which was very flaky and tasty, the bouillibasse which was a great consistency and had a ton of flavor, the scallops which were some of the biggest I've ever seen and the filet which was cooked perfectly. Everyone pretty much licked their plates.
I got the gelato sampler for dessert and everyone else just had to try it. The vanilla was creamy, salted carmel chocolate was to die for and the chocolate hazelnut was my favorite.
Being able to sit outside on the patio and enjoy the fresh air and people watching made it the perfect night! -
Review from Amy M.
Chicago, IL
9/15/2011
After a long search for the perfect venue for our Chicago wedding, my husband and I settled on Osteria Via Stato. What an amazing choice we made...
Allison (from Osteria) was our event planner and organizer and I truly can't say enough kind words about her. She was professional, friendly, organized, accommodating and amazing to work with.
We designed our own "cocktail reception" and "grazing party" and the food was OUTSTANDING. We were married 11 days ago and everyday I get another person raving about the food. Food favorites included passed pizzas, arancini balls, short rib crostinis, and the homemade ricotta cavatelli with wild mushrooms! Honestly, it was all amazing!
For our cocktails the bartender designed specialty drinks for us that were out of this word....a blueberry spritzer, a fig martini, and a bellini with peach and raspberry. All truly delicious!
The servers were so friendly and attentive to our every needs. Krista, you followed me around and always made sure I had what I needed. You were an angel. Thank you for making this truly the best day of our lives! -
Review from Melissa F.
Providence, RI
Updated - 8/28/2011
One of the underrated benefits of Yelp is the presence of helpful tips like "make sure to get the ___" or "steer clear of the _____" or "the bathrooms suck/rule/have bathroom attendants." That's what I hope to do with this update! :)
I still view this restaurant as a solid 4-star establishment. My latest visit included delicious food. The parmesan-crusted onions were a hit, as always. The prosecco fizz drink was not bad, but nothing stood out for me to order the $9 cocktail again.
I was super excited for the papardelle with 3 types of meat in their house-made ragu. I love a deeply flavorful meat sauce, as I'm sure many do. Sadly, it failed to deliver, and I was barely able to get any flavors from it - very bland. The cavatelli dish was outstanding - the hand-rolled noodles had been browned a bit and definitely soaked up some of the butter in which they had been so lovingly sauteed! The desserts were nothing special, but the care they put into them was cool. One waiter (not the one assigned to us) knew my brother from HS, so he sent over two different desserts, including a house-made chocolate bar! I'm not a huge dessert person, but it was a very nice gesture, and the service overall is top-notch.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/25/2010
The first time I went to Osteria, I was unimpressed by it and would give it three stars. Since then,… Read more »
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Review from Jenny H.
8/21/2011
This place is pretty good but not as good as some of the other Italian restaurants in Chicago.
Their bread and garlic oil in the beginning is SO good. I also got their meatballs (which was a bit salty and not as moist as I would like) and also their margherite pizza which I thought was just OK, very thin, not as substantial and tasty as I like my pizza. -
Review from Thom P.
Crystal Lake, IL
11/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I have to say I was a little skeptical getting Pizza in the "hotel" restaurant, but wow what a delight. The pizza was super thin wood oven pizza and it was outstanding!!! I'm not the biggest fan of sausage pizza but my son ordered it and it left me wanting more! This place is a secret little gem for those who love thin wood oven pizza!!! Our server Angelo was great too... I will be back!
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Review from Kim K.
Cool seasonal flavors, crispy crust, nice sauce. Decent pizza Probably wouldn't return here but I'm glad I tried it.
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Review from Marc T.
Milwaukee, WI
9/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Just attended a wedding here over the weekend. The food and service were fantastic.
We had a wide selection, but I'd definitely return to order off of the menu or from the pizza bar. -
Review from Stephan J.
Maple Valley, WA
11/18/2011
Great Italian food in a quaint and cozy environment. The food was amazing and the service was attentive. I loved the pasta dishes. They also had a nice seasonl menu featuring local ingredients.
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Review from Kate M.
4/20/2011
I recently spent an evening at Osteria Via Stato wining and dining some out of town clients. We were in the party room which would be great for a rehearsal dinner or a shower.
The food was really good. I had the salmon with roasted cauliflower and a bite or two of a few other entrees. Everything was seasoned perfectly and tasted delicious.
The service was really good too. There were 18 of us at a total of 3 tables. The servers did a great job of not interrupting the discussion but ensuring everyone had enough wine and food.
Even in a separate room, with the doors closed and music turned down, it was still very loud. I suppose it would be a good date spot since you'd have to be thisclose to your date so you can hear them. -
Review from Nick G.
Salt Lake City, UT
11/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really nice place to eat. Very creative menu and great specials. I had a risotto special with wild mushrooms that really was great. It was tough for me to chose to stay at the hotel and eat because I was looking forward to trying some "local" food in Chicago, I was not disappointed at all. Really good food. I suppose a little pricey, but then again this is downtown Chicago and that is to be expected. I was surprised to find out that this was part of a chain because it didn't have that feel at all. Very classy, comfortable, and decent food. My chocolate desert bar was decent, but it was like a glorified Hershey bar (tasted much better) but not what I was expecting.
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Review from Gina V.
Burr Ridge, IL
5/25/2011
I don't even know where to begin....
1. Service- Phenomenal...unfortunately I cannot remember our waiter's name, but he was so patient and always smiling. Really made my experience beside the fabulous food.
2. Bread was beyond fresh...mmmmmm
3. Pasta with red sauce was pretty good, but white pasta with spinach and salami was to die for
4. Filet Mignon was pretty good....average
5. Ricotta cheesecake was out of this world and their special doughnuts melt in your mouth! I have been dreaming about them for 2 weeks and cannot wait to go back! I can't wait to try other items on the menu! -
Review from Mr. and Mrs. G.
Oakland, CA
7/5/2011
Came here for an impromptu dinner on the night we arrived in Chicago. This place is cool and relaxed and a bit on the hip side. Their meatball appetizer is a must--I would be back solely to eat them again! They serve you bread to start which was really tasty, but it's easy to fill up on bread. By the time the pizza came, although they are thin crusted, I felt like I had had my fill of bread. Also, thought their white pizzas far exceeded their red pizzas.
They have high chairs!
Note: Their menu says that the pizzas are individual sized, but don't believe them! There were 3 adults and one child and between us, we ate 2 pizzas and 2 appetizers. -
Review from Cindy O.
Austin, TX
11/8/2011
All I can say it great food and perfect service. My server was pleasant, polite and always there to answer questions but not in your face - get it? I had the beet salad which was very good with tender beets and arugula followed by the homemade cavatelli in a wild mushroom ragu.....amazing. Traveling for business I rarely take leftovers for lunch the next day but definitely did with this. The server knew how much I loved the marinated roasted garlic cloves in balsamic and olive oil with fresh Italian bread so she added this to my take-out. Nice touch.
I really wanted the risotto with pork bellies and squash so maybe tomorrow night, if they still have it. The chef has a different risotto each night I believe. This restaurant ,for a road warrior, is nicely situated within the Embassy Suites Hotel on State St. It was an ugly, rainy night and after taxi fiasco's this was a warm, lovely place to dine at the end of my work day.
For dessert I had the apple crostada with their homemade coconut gelato. It is on the menu with vanilla gelato but they also had coconut so I asked for it to be substituted fore the vanilla.
So roasted marinated garlic cloves with fresh, crusty Italian bread, perfect beet salad, homemade cavatelli with mushroom ragu and apple crostada dessert with coconut gelato all for $32.00. YUM!! Not to mention the great service. -
Review from Kristin F.
Sunset Valley, TX
7/20/2011
Visited here last week with my boyfriend and all of the food was simply wonderful. We were considering over dessert and we decided that in the last three years of all the meals we've had, this was the greatest that held up from start to finish.
Note that there's two restaurants in one building/entrance that serve different food. There's the "pizzeria" and the "osteria", this review refers to the osteria side, with entrees. Any reviews mentioning pizza were probably about the other half...
Here's what we had.
me: Muddle Free Old Fashion
him: Italian Sidecar
both: Bread with Roasted Garlic in Balsamic Vinegar and Oil
me: Daily special lobster/shrimp risotto dish
him: Chicken "Mario" with broccoli
both: Gnocchi in cream and tomato sauce
both: chocolate tart, 3 scoops gelato (2 burned caramel, 1 chocolate hazelnut)
me: tawny port
him: coffee with frangelico and a homemade chocolate liqueur
His comments on the Chicken Mario: It was startling how good that chicken was. At first, I was just like, oh, it's a piece of chicken and some broccoli. Then I took a bite, and was like, these people are magic rainbow unicorns ohmygod.
It was a little on the pricey side, but unlike some other more expensive meals we've had, we felt it was worth every penny. -
Review from Lauren K.
5/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
I was in Chicago again recently and we stumbled across the Pizzaria at Osteria Via Stato and decided to stop in for dinner. Everything was delicious, and the service was great. The patio is the perfect spot for a cold drink and some people watching. The parmesan crusted roasted onions were AMAZING. Cheesy, warm, tangy...yum.
I then had the classic cheese pizza. Uncommon in Chicago, it was as thin as a cracker, light and delicious. Sometimes a basic cheese pizza done right can hit the spot, and Osteria Via Statos did just that. -
Review from Kate S.
Chicago, IL
9/8/2011
I really like Osteria and continue to come back for the friendly service and yummy salads and pizzas. My only complaint is that they have one glass of Pinot Noir by the glass and it's not that good. It's also $14 which is aggravating because I've had great Pinot Noir by the glass around the $10-$11 price point. I recommend sitting in either section (the dining room or the bar/pizzeria). Portions and prices are great. I'll be back!
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Review from Dave H.
4/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I find myself eating here quite regularly even though there are lots of great restaurants within a few blocks. The reason? Great Pizza!
I am not a fan of the local deep dish variety, but the thin, bubbly, chewy crust on these make my mouth water just thinking about it. I always go with the Pizza of the month and have never been disappointed.
