Pompei
(between Bonnie Brae & Illinois Route 43)
River Forest, IL 60305 (708) 488-9800
- Nearest Transit:
Harlem (Green Lake)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: No
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
26 reviews
Oak Brook, IL
"This is one of our favorites! We have never had a bad meal here! The only reason why I don't give it 5 stars is because the servers can be a…" read more »
20 Reviews for Pompei
I'm a fan of the turkey stuffing sandwich and the chicken wrap with roasted red tomatoes and artichokes (though you only get a few chunks of chicken). the service can be kind of slow so I don't recommend this place if you're in a hurry. I've only had one pasta dish and it was pretty good. This place is great for "I don't know what I want to eat" moments because it's not too pricey and you don't feel so bad about eating it (like most fast food)
This is definitely the MC Donald's of Italian food. Their Chicken Marsala was like soup. The sauce was runny and the chicken seemed undercooked. It seemed like it was thrown together quickly without any care. Just a pile of slop......disgusting. The only small bright spot was my Low Cal Salad with chicken and grilled veggies. It was decent enough that I may order it again if someone drags me in there bound and gagged that is.....I aint ever going back.....anyways.......
Then I took a bite of the Steak Fajita sandwich.......UGH. The steak tasted old, as if it was sitting for days. Sorry, but I usually like more steak than grissel. This place has definitely slipped. It used to be good, but the last few times I've went there, it was really really bad. Even their cannoli's suck! Hard cheese inside with no taste.....if they can't even make those properly, then you have a problem!
1. They have red cream soda.
2. Probably my favorite marinara sauce EVER.
3. Very good pizza.
4. The food is always piping hot.
5. Staff is friendly and courteous.
6. Their brownies are good too and the place is pretty affordable.
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Customer service sucked! Melissa B. server #42 she did acknowledge the lady in front of us she was helping pick out sandwiches and whatever but then me and my Mom were standing at the same counter AND KNEW WHAT WE WANTED! As the cashier proceeded to fill the refridgerator with pop and juice just pissed me off, then had the nerve to ask if we knew what we wanted to " c'mon here and order!" How ignorant! We were there for the first time and I did not cop an attitude but this person was just a WANKER! Also my Mom didn't get the hot peppers on her eggplant sandwich which by the way we did pay for. I will never ever go to any pompei ever again! Sorry Uncle Fonzy tradition hasn't been kept up!
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This place is really good. I normally go take-out, and get many of their great pastas. There pizzas can be skipped, they're nothing special. The marinara sauce is AMAZING! (The only reason its 4 stars instead of 3 is this sauce) but there are plenty of better Italian places around)
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I've been going to Pompei ever since it was over by Loomis, the original location. Of all the locations, this place sucks, big time. So bad that I live in Oak Park and would rather drive to the locations on Taylor or Oak Brook.
The customer service is horrible and the food tastes like it's been sitting in the fridge for days. The last time I was there it took 20 minutes before the busboy noticed that my food hadn't arrived. I wouldn't go back to this location and if I could I'd give them -5 stars. They definitely need to get some original family members over to this location to straighten this place out.
I don't understand the glowing reviews for this place. I didn't have one good meal the three times I went there. Granted, the soup was good, but the pastas and sandwiches were either bland, cold, or just plain bad (barbeque sause that tastes like potent 1000 island dressing?). With more than one better italian place within waliking distance, I could not recommend Pompei.
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Never been to this place, but have always wondered! I was very happy! The display case was stocked with amazing goodies, from pasta, pizza, salads, soups, and anything Italian you could wish for. Service was very friendly and fast. They also bring out this amazing foccacia bread with free refills! I can't wait to check out the Taylor Street location!
This was a rare occasion in which I was glad to see its local predecessor clear out (Pronto Roma, a place I tolerated for the sake of satisfying the cravings of work friends I joined for lunch) and the expanding chain move in.
Comparing it to Pronto Roma, the food is a vast improvement. There's a lot to choose from, it will satisfy dieters, vegetarians and the psychotically hungry. The staff are much better too. I've eaten at the Oakbrook restaurant a few times and this location is much smaller and more appealing, so if I come back, it will be to Harlem/Lake.
The other day I had the chicken ravioli with lemonade to drink - it ran me $11-12 for carry-out. It was tasty but you can get better quality italian for a little less at Mancini's just east of here.
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Delicious Italian cooking! The food display case has all meals prepared as you would be eating them, so it's easy to know the portion sizes, and what you'll be getting before you order it. Conveniently located in the little shopping area in River Forest, we were able to browse shops and such while getting a bite to eat. Friendly staff willing to offer any assistance. Another perk is that Pompei serves good old Red Cream Soda...my favorite soda!
What would you call someplace that isn't fast food but not really a restaurant? Well I'm not sure exactly, but the food here really wasn't that bad... and they certainly have a lot to choose from. I had the chicken ravioli which had a nice flavor and everything came out fast too, which was a plus since we were trying to make an appointment. I'd go back for sure.
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Fantastic fast-food Italian. The staff was incredibly friendly, and the huge display case full of most of the menu's items gave us a good idea of the size and deliciousness of the dish we were about to order.
We ordered two stuffed sandwiches (Chicken Parmesan and BBQ Beef) and shared a side of Italian fries for only $13. The Italian fries, by the way, are basically freshly fried potato chips, cut just a bit thicker than your average Lay's.
Located in the heart of downtown Oak Park, Pompei makes a great stop during an afternoon of shopping.
P.S. Very clean bathrooms!
Charming story about the history of this bakery/restaurant and now mini chain, six locations in the Chicagoland area that started in 1909. At selected locations, full service banquet facility and/or private party space are available. This location has been open for about six months and has a warm and inviting decor.
This is based on my first outing here. I had the soup of the day, lentil with pancetta, the soup was so good especially on a day like today -- gray, dank and dreary. While I was waiting for my soup a waiter came along with a sample tray of hand rolled cheese pizza, crispy crust with lots of gooey cheese which was very good -- what a nice touch!
Can't wait to go back to try other items on the menu (baked minestrone has my name on it!) which includes appetizers, soups, sides, salads, handrolled pizza, pizza strudel, stuffed pizza, Italian sandwiches, and pasta (made fresh daily). Prices are good and portions are large.
Located at the SW corner of Harlem and Lake.
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I almost forgot I just went to this place about a week ago.
I must say I was impressed... the decor is nice, friendly service, and I didn't think the prices were that bad. Our food arrived fairly quickly after placing the order.
The food was good.. .the ceasar salad could have been a little better, but not bad.
When we were there, there was a girl walking around with cheesecake samples... very nice.
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Another local fave!!!Really enjoy the salads and the huge selection of daily special pizzas. The baked Minestrone is great too!Great fresh food that is not typical of chain restaurants.We go at least once a month and try something different,even though it is tempting to stick with a MeleVerde salad and a slice of the fresh tomato or four cheese pizza!Good stuff that does not cost a fortune.
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I like Pompei a lot - but I was particularly impressed with the Pompei in River Forest -
the food is always good: pastas (cavatelli is deelish), soups could be a little better, salads are great - and it's a great place to go with kids.
I met friends with their kids at this River Forest location and parking is bitch in that plaza - but if you are in the area and hungry - definitely stop in - the service is so awesome.
Looks like the workers actually like their job - friendly faces, helpful - and one of the girls came by our table to offer free tasting of their brownies - and she was generous with the brownies - given that there were a bunch of kids.
It was nice... amazing what a little attention to detail and customer service will do.
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Great little restaurant! Lots to choose from and nice that you can see all the food before you order it. I had the butternut squash ravioli and the mele verde salad. Both were pretty good for the price.
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I've only been to Pompei for lunch, and generally, the food is pretty tasty, but not particularly impressive. The prices aren't really that great, either, although it is River Forest/Oak Park, and I've yet to find a place to enjoy lunch for under $6. Seeing as the wait tends to get pretty ridiculous at lunch time, I don't go out of my way to get there.
I just don't get people's love for this place. The food is fair, the line to order huge. If they had more cashiers it would improve the wait considerably.
the first time I went, I ordered a meatball sandwich and received a meatball in a bowl. No bread. The last time, we ordered cheesecake and after a loooong wait found out they had forgotten to bring it. To make up for that... they gave us raspberry sauce for a topping. Gee thanks. Like that makes up for a 20 minute wait for something that's premade.
This place is pretty good. I've had one really good pasta dish (a special with spaghetti noodles, olive oil/white wine sauce, and fresh tomatoes and mozarella) and one not-so-great salad. It was an odd cream dressing on a light apple/walnut salad, so a bit of an odd mix. Great cheese bread and soups.
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