Terragusto

Elite '08

78

56

Matt L.

Chicago, IL

If it weren't for the friendly, jolly chef, I might have given this place 3 stars. The service was so-so... Some of the dishes were just ok - the gnocci, fettucini, fish, salad. The chicken was very good and the bolognese was the best EVER. The restaurant has a very clean look and the multiple course menu makes you feel kind of special. BYOB is nice, but at $37.50 plus tax, tip, corkage fee (I think), ended up closer to $50 something. It's kind of a lot considering you still have to buy wine to bring with.

Personally I would go back if they'd make some adjustments to the menu. If not, I'd just go back and get that bolognese a la carte (can you do that?).

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2

19

Amy C.

Chicago, IL

Heavenly. Last night we went on a double date here, we had an early reservation- 6:30 so it wasn't too packed. First off, our waiter was really weird and not very helpful. Just not on his game, but I won't waste my time on explaining that.

Food- so so good, 5 stars really. We all did the 2 courses, and I was plenty full. Though I would have loved to try one of the meat/fish things that you're all suposed to share, I'm glad we didn't. I hate being overly stuffed. The first course and pasta was the perfect amount. I had the prosciutto and fennel/arugula appetizer. The prosciutto was melt in your mouth perfection. There's a lot of mediocre prosciutto out there and this stuff was serious- like you were in Spain or Italy. YUM.

Then to the pasta- I had the gnocchi with a lot of seafood, it was really tasty and had just the right amount of heat but I just love tomato sauces so much that I wish it were tomato vs. white wine. It was still amazing. But my boyfriend got the "al forno" Oh..my...God. It was to die for and extremely rich. Anything with truffle in it and I'm usually obsessed. This was so so good. So was his polenta appetizer. Definitely coming back- for the food only though, the ambience is nothing to write home about and kind of lacking.

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14

18

Brett K.

Chicago, IL

Though I might spend a few hours a week watching Anthony Bourdain, I am far from a foody. Occasionally I do treat myself to a great meal, and last week I was lucky enough to be treated to a meal at Terragusto. 3 courses of deliciousness. I am used to more southern styles of spice, citrus and seafood, but terragusto's seafood did not disappoint. BYOB.... an added bonus to the pocket book making this an affordable delicious high end meal. A week later I am still craving their gnocchi and pickled mushrooms.

Paraphrase the Cramps, "I don't know about art, but I know what I like" and this is how I feel about Terragusto. I know what I like, and it's this place.

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0

2

Candice C.

Chicago, IL

I have eaten here twice:  once with my husband and a second time in which I took my Mom (major foodie) visiting from California.  Both times the food was amazing and so much so that I probably overate both times. It's great that it's BYOB even with food this sophisticated (layered) but yet simple.  I highly recommend for an intimate dinner but do wish they would not take LARGE parties because it eats up almost the entire space making anyone at a few of the smaller tables feel left out of the party.

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0

13

larry w.

Chicago, IL

Arguably, the best resteraunt in the city.  I love everything about it!!!
One of my top 3 favorite.

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0

2

Kison P.

Chicago, IL

I've lived in Chicago for the past 8 years.. and I'm an Italian food fanatic.  At least try to dine Italian once a week if not twice.  This is one of the very best I've had!  Definitely of my top 3 favorites.

You must try this place!!  

Don't listen to the negative comments.. I think those people just had something stuck up their butt when they visited Terragusto.

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0

1

kevin m.

Chicago, IL

My wife & I have wanted to try Terragusto for some time and has been recommended by friends.  It's a little overrated!  Although the food was fresh & delicious, the service was god awful!  We stopped in for an early dinner Tuesday night & the hostess/waitress made us wait while she "checked" if she could fit us in without a reservation.  It was 6 o'clock & there was one other couple in there!!!  As she finally seated us, she was unattentive...uninformed...unfriendly.  Thank god she was able to seat us because when we left there were still a dozen tables open!  Bottom-line...food was pretty good & the service was terrible!

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Elite '08

276

269

Rob L.

Chicago, IL

I was lucky that I got to have dinner with three gorgeous and wonderful ladies here last night. We were all eagerly anticipating this dinner for over a week and this place did not disappoint. First off, yes it is BYOB. They are more than happy to chill any wine or beer you may have. I think the corkage fee may be $2. The place is also small, intimate and the night we came, very loud. Mainly due to a large party behind us of some boisterous birthday celebration. Simple decor, exposed brick, a little wood, a friendly and warm staff.... but really... let's talk about the food.

We decided to do the 3 course prefix menu. A starter, a pasta and your choice of meat. We went with the pork and the chicken. Now the good thing with four people... we all got something different for our starter and pastas and shared, honestly nothing was bad. For starters it was a baked polenta with a spicy tomato sauce and lamb sausage, (my favorite), a simple chicken broth with cauliflower, roasted chicken and tiny pasta squares, shaved asparagus and fennel salad with proscuttio and this egg, mushroom and cheese dish. For the pasta it was a baked bolegnese, ravioli with brown butter and sage, this mushroom and asparagus and one with swiss chard and sausage. Again just amazing flavors... except we were kinda getting full and well... we just had to get dessert! The meat came out shortly after our pasta, roasted brussel sprouts and potatoes, baked polenta, some fabulous moist chicken and tender pork tenderloin. We trudged through and much on all of this, but just couldn't finish the meat or all of the pasta off. For dessert it was flour-less chocolate cake (darn tasty), bread pudding (yummy),  and strawberries marinated in balsamic with a crepe and marscapone. We nearly had to be rolled out of there.... nearly. Our waitress was amazing, very polite and warm, just like the rest of the staff. Again the place is small, so make sure you get your reservation in, there were small breaks in the action but the place was jumping through most of the entire night. I will say I can't wait to go back... however I think I will opt for a starter and pasta because that is all I needed, well that and dessert. But bring a wonderful companion or three, some bottles of vino if you wish and prepare yourself for a wonderful evening.

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1

50

Sean D.

Chicago, IL

Definitely worth a visit.  The food was very good (with a few complaints) the service not so good, and the room loud as hell due to the BYO (there always seems to be a table of 8 drinking heavily).

The service started out pretty slow and we saw two tables get seated after us and orders taken before our waitress even stopped by to introduce herself and open our wine.  Not cool.

My wagyu carpaccio was sliced a little too thick for my taste, but still a great appetizer.  For our pastas, we had the seafood gnocchi and potato ravioli.  The gnocchi is good if you like your pasta to taste like seafood and my ravioli could have been good but it was unevenly cooked...too soft in the middle and still hard on the edges.

The sea bass was somewhat bland but very well cooked.  Our waitress did not do a terrific job of fileting the fish so we were picking bones from our teeth the rest of the night.

I would definitely give this restaurant another try and order some safer menu items.

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11

51

Tony Q.

Chicago, IL

100% recommended, make a reservation before you go...do it now!  It's totally affordable, intimate, and BYOB (with no corkage fee, but a $2 bottle recycling fee).  The kitchen is within sight of your table, and with homemade pasta, life is really fantastic.  The service is great, knowledgeable of their products, and everything on the menu is natural (dare I buzz "sustainable" into this review!?), as it ought to be.  Treat yourself to dinner here with a bottle of wine and good company, and you're bound to have a nice evening.  For two, I recommend each ordering the 2-course prix fix option It's conveniently located steps away from the Addison Brown Line, as well.

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Elite '08

22

168

Erin C.

IL

Dear Terragusto,

What can I say?  You have easily become my new favorite restaurant in Chicago.  And I doubt anywhere else can take your place.  I was pleasantly surprised by your interior: the small dining area, the visible kitchen, and the homemade pastas for sale in the front.  Your servers know what they are talking about and are so very helpful.  It was like a new friend was waiting on our table.  

We had the two course menu and started with the mixed salad, the crostini, and the baked polenta.  My favorite?  The smoked trout mousse crostini.  Oh and the salad too.

For our pastas, we chose the tortellini, gnocchi, and the pappardelle with mushrooms.  When ordering, I thought the gnocchi would be my favorite (as it usually is at other Italian restaurants), especially since it was a mix of zucchini and seafood (also favorites of mine).  But I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the tortellini.  The pasta was huge and full of fresh vegetables and cheese.  I couldn't stop eating it.

I had heard the maple panna cotta was not to be missed so I knew we had to order it for dessert.  We also chose the chocolate flourless cake which is usually my favorite dessert to order anywhere.  But the maple panna cotta?  I could eat that ALL day.  I actually picked up the little cup it came in and just started digging toward the bottom, ignoring everyone else at the table.

Terragusto, I am anxiously awaiting the next time I can dine in your beautiful space.  Select from your small, but locally/naturally focused menu.  And BYOB - you know just how to please a lady.

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5

40

Andy P.

Santa Cruz, CA

It's really nice.  We got the three course meal with the pork loin, the bolognese, and the mushroom one.  The appetizers we got were the carpaccio and the brushetta.  

Appetizers: wonderful, especially the bruschetta with the many different toppings.

Pasta: amazing.  The bolognese was luscious and the mushroom pasta dish had a nice buttery taste that I later figured out came from the homemade whole wheat pasta.  It is nice to have little surprises like that.  

Main: the pork was good but honestly I would have substituted it for a third pasta course.   Mmmm, so good.

Dessert: pound cake bread pudding.  Kind of a stretch to call it a "bread" pudding, but still pretty yummy, even if it is kinda ridiculous.

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Elite '08

16

76

Carolyn S.

Chicago, IL

Extremely impressed!  I have been wanting to check out Terragusto for months and had heard mixed reviews.  I vouch for the amazing freshness and flavors that will bring me back to this place again!

We had the beef carpaccio for starters and it was very light and delicious.  Second we had a pasta dish that was all kinds of meats and a creamy sauce.  Usually when you order a meaty creamy pasta sauce it's an extremely heavy dish.  This was a surprisingly light dish!  I had enough room the enjoy our next course of the fish of the day (sea bass) which was seasoned and cooked to perfection.

My only complaint was that the service could use a little work. I give 5 stars anyways because I don't care all that much about service when all is said and done.  But we walked in the door and several staff people saw us and just kind of ignored us.  It is a small restaurant so it was annoying to be ignored.  I guess the hostess was in the bathroom but I am sure another staff person is capable of greeting us and informing us that the hostess will be with us in a moment.  Duh.  And then it took forever to get our water glasses filled and our waitress disappeared forever. But again, the service was forgivable because the food was amazing!  Check it out!

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Elite '08

40

59

Pam P.

Chicago, IL

You must plan ahead if you'd like to dine here, because you won't get in without a reservation.  My husband and I have eaten here twice, and we were very pleased both times.  However, we made the same mistake each time.  We ordered the 3 course meal which includes to different meat dishes.  It ends up being a huge amount of food that the 2 of us can't even come close to finishing.  Each time we ended up having the meat dish wrapped up to go, practically untouched.  So, needless to say we'll remember to do the 2 course meal the next time we go.  

The food has been excellent each time that we've gone here.  The service is always extremely courteous, friendly and down to earth.  Both of our servers were fantastic and definitely added to the dining experience.  The decor is minimal, but it suits the space well.  It can get a little loud if there happens to be any large groups because the restaurant is pretty small.  However, it won't be so loud that you can't hear the person sitting across from you.  This is a great little restaurant for non-traditional, very fresh Italian food.

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Elite '08

60

81

Jessie B.

Chicago, IL

Went here this past Thursday night. It was how could I say? Let's see some of these words come to mind when I sip a perfect glass of my own BYOB wine bottle...delicious, scrumptious, mouth watering for more...

The service here was outstanding. He answered any questions that needed to be answered, he was delightful.

Now for the food--My friend and I shared the two course meal. It seemed plenty for two people. Two appetizers, two pastas, and it comes with sparkling or still water. (How cool is that?) One of the appetizers was so good I could have licked the bowl clean. The mussels were perfectly cooked, and apart of a broth like soup with cannelloni beans, red peppers, and garlic. See what I mean about mouth watering?

For our pasta course we chose seafood gnocchi with lump crab, shrimp, zucchini, over a light garlic cream sauce. Very scrumptious. Then we also chose a whole wheat organic pasta tossed with broccoli, fingerling potatoes, and parsley. Very light.

Needless to say--we couldn't even think about getting dessert we were so stuffed! If you BYOB it is only $1.00 a head. I can't wait until I have my next visit to Terragusto!

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4

124

Ann Y.

Chicago, IL

This place is wonderful- just don't go here yourself as it is set up for two people. The pasta is homeade and they put just the right amount of sauce on the pasta. The interior is cool and urban and the food is fantastic. It is BYOB which is wonderful, and while it has an upscale feel it is not stuffy or pretentious. Make a reservation- you will need it.

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5

23

Joelen T.

Chicago, IL

My husband and I dined here the night after Valentine's Day. Definitely make a reservation, as this restaurant is quaint, small and perfect for a date.... thus, a popular place for dinner. (And don't forget to bring a bottle of your favorite wine, at this place is BYOB too!)

We opted for the 3 course menu, which was $37 per person. We both got to choose our choice of 2 first courses, 2 pastas, 1 meat or fish to share & 1 litre still or sparkling water.

The menu offerings change seasonally/monthly, so they take pride in serving up the dishes using fresh ingredients. Furthermore, they love mentioning how their pastas are made fresh in the morning using organic ingredients.

First courses - My husband had the potato & leek soup with pancetta. It was smooth, creamy and the touch of saltiness from the pancetta was perfect. I ordered the crostini trio of grilled bread topped with three favorites - bufala/eggplant/tomato, olive tapenade,
prosciutto/parmigiano/herbs. It was quite a large serving as an appetizer, easily enough to share, as there were 9 crostinis in the order.

Pasta courses - My husband ordered the gnocchi di semola con granchio, gamberi, cavolfiore e dragoncello, which was roman-style semolina gnocchi with crab, shrimp, cauliflower, tomato & tarragon with white wine. He's a seafood lover so this pasta dish was perfect for him. For myself, I ordered pappardelle with various cheeses and spinach. I thought my pasta dish was a bit on the salty side - perhaps there was too much cheese that overpowered the delicate flavors of the fresh pasta.

Lastly, for our meat course - We both shared the whole fish of the day. It was encrusted with salt then baked with fresh herbs and lemon slices. Our server brought the whole fish to our table and seemed apprehensive about us diving in... maybe because she wasn't sure if we knew how to eat a whole fish that hadn't been deboned. Little did she know that we both knew how to filet a fish cleanly and eating a whole fish wasn't something we were unfamiliar with. We deboned that fish perfectly, if I must say so myself! When we finished, our server was quite impressed and confessed that most folks don't order the fish because they aren't sure how to eat it whole.

Overall the restaurant was a romantic place for our post-Valentines date. We would definitely return for the warm hospitality we were provided and the quality of food they prepared. The prices were reasonable and even better, their BYOB policy is one to take advantage of.

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0

9

Lynn C.

Chicago, IL

I took my fiance here for his birthday and was so happy I chose it!  We have such an amazing experience.  From the olives that came out with the bread (yum!), all the way to to panna cotta we got for dessert, everything was great! I got the tagliatelle and he got the bolognese.  I was savoring each bite.  It is expensive but you get what you pay for and it helps that it is BYO.  I can't wait to go back!

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0

6

April S.

Chicago, IL

This place is so great. We ordered the three course menu. The fresh pasta was soooo good! And the fish (orata) was fantastic; the server even picked out the bone for us. You can't beat the BYOB either. One of my favorite restaurants in all of Chicago.

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0

1

Sussan M.

Chicago, IL

Amazing.

The place is small, of course, and can get a little loud, but it's worth it.  The menu seemed a little confusing to us at first, but our server was very patient, and walked us through the whole thing.  Twice.  We wanted the polenta, but alas, they had run out, so we settled on the carpaccio and it was amazing.  The pastas could not have been better.  The skirt steak was out of this world, and melted in my mouth.  Make sure you try the pasta with the walnut pesto!  It was our second time there in 2 weeks, and it was even better the second time!  
Bring your appetite, your favorite wine and stay a while.  And if you want some laughs, ask for Kevin.  He was soo funny, nice, and helpful.  Can't wait to come back!

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Elite '08

19

111

Matt B.

Chicago, IL

Spaghetti, penne, rigatoni... pasta is pasta is pasta, right?  Maybe not.  Using the highest-quality products he can find, the chef creates organic, nourishing foods that are certainly appreciated by his hungry customers.  He changes the menu at Terragusto every couple of weeks based on what he finds at local farmers' markets, keeping the selection new and fresh.  And while the food is high-quality, the restaurant is far from stuffy: there are no fancy linens and corkage is only $1 per person.

From outside, I often catch a glimpse of workers kneading pasta on a wooden block near the window.  However, once inside, the space is very simple, and there is nothing to distract me visually.  There isn't much decorative art, and if it weren't for the modern light sconces, the sage green walls would be bare.  The focus here isn't meant to be on the "bells and whistles" of dining; rather, Terragusto centers on the food and all its great ingredients.

I find it is best to order a pasta dish as your main course and then request a meat entree to be shared in the center of the table, in true Italian style.  Choose between organic pork loin, organic half-chicken, wild catch of the day, or all-natural beef steak.  Each is rubbed with the restaurant's very own herbed sea salt, roasted in cast iron, and presented with baked polenta and veggies.

While Terragusto offers a handful of salad choices (including an excellent combination of strawberries, spinach leaves, and goat cheese), pasta is definitely the star here.  Don't walk away from this place without trying the gnocchi, capellacci di zucca, or verde alla bolognese.  You'll find that this pasta is pasta at its best.

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Elite '08

4

42

Melissa W.

Chicago, IL

This place is perfect. The dishes are simply made, but very tasty. I didn't know they offered pasta classes. I have had previous pasta classes from culinary school, and it's like being in a zen state. It must be wonderful. I am jealous of those who work there. And I have fallen in love with their olives. If anyone know the name of them, please tell me! They are perfecto!

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3

15

Ryan G.

Chicago, IL

Terragusto is amazing.  Unfortunately for me, it took three people mentioning it to me before I gave it a shot.  Before you read any further, call and make a reservation!  The number is 773-248-2777.  This small BYO "Strongly Encourages" reservations and I can assure you this is for good reason.  People who know Terragusto love it, and they come back again and again.

Don't forget your wine!  Terragusto is BYO with a $1/person corkage fee.  Forgot!  Don't worry; the liquor store down the street will bring you a bottle(s).  Not only that, the server will call and order it for you.  The delivery charge was really reasonable as well at $3.  One of the bottles we brought with us was corked, so we had to take advantage of the option.  

Here is how it works:  The starters on the Menu are broken down into Antipasti and Antipasti Forte.  Then there are "Primi" to choose from.  This is the pasta part of the menu.  Side note: they hand make their own pasta every day.  The next section is the daily meat and fish selection.  Finally, the menu is wrapped up with the desert section.   In addition to ordering Ala Carte, Diners that are willing to pair up or couples are given the option of a 2 course and 3 course dinner selections.  The 2 course selection is $26.50 / Person and includes 2 first courses, 2 pastas, and a bottle of Panna.  The 3 course selection allows you to add one of the meat dishes to the 2 course selection for a total of 36.50 / person.  

We went for the 2 course selection and it equals more than enough food for two.  If you would like to have one of the meat selections, I strongly recommend ordering Ala Carte and having one starter and pasta to share and sharing the meat dish which is made for two anyway.

Everything we had was amazing which I would imagine is true for the entire menu so I wouldn't be nervous about any of the options, which change monthly.  We started with Crostini, 3 pieces each topped with bufala/eggplant/tomato, olive tapenade, and prosciutto/parmigiano/herbs.  We then had baked polenta with spinach, pinenuts & sage-gorgonzola cream sauce.  For our pastas we had "agnolotti con pomodoro e oregano fresco", which is roasted pork & vegetable filled pasta with tomato & oregano and "al forno: verde alla  Bolognese", which was baked swiss chard pasta with a creamy four meat tomato sauce, parmigiano-reggiano & a touch of white truffle.  We finished up with an order of vanilla pound cake bread pudding with rhubarb sauce & soft cream.

All of this with two $25 bottles of wine and we still only spent $130 for everything making this one of the best values in Chicago.  Do not skip Terragusto; it is so good I made a reservation for my next visit at the end of the meal.

Read the rest of my review(s) at http://livechicago.wor...

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0

3

Lauren R.

Chicago, IL

Call me unreasonable, but I think that if you are going to spend $50 per person for dinner (+ dessert & coffee) without drinks you should be able to count on good service...or at least pleasant service.  And let me say as well that I am NOT a perfectionist when it comes to service, especially when the table attendant is nice.  AND...let me say that I waited tables all through college, so I know how it is.  

That said...I cannot believe how rude and unpleasant our table attendant was last night at Terragusto!   I was kind of confused while it was happening, thinking that perhaps people were just a bit...not nice at this restaurant...until we observed the other table attendant  and met the chef.  Both warm and welcoming.  So it was just our guy...and then we noticed that he left the restaurant to go home as soon as we did.  Aha!  We were his last table and he didn't really want to deal with it...

I say all of this because I feel that service is as much - if not more - a part of your dining experience as the meal.  And it was so disappointing b/c most of the food was really fantastic.  Thus, my 1 star rating.

The positives:
- the pappardelle pasta with mushrooms (homemade, totally incredible, as good or better than any of the pasta we had in Italy)
- the terrine of potato & leek appetizer (subtle, rich, yum)
- the bread pudding dessert (creamy goodness with just the right amount of sweetness which is not much)

The neutral:
- the trout (fresh and cooked properly, but could have used a bit of seasoning)

The negatives:
- having each course thrown (well, maybe dropped) down onto the table with not a word from the server
- getting our second and third courses at the same time (are you kidding me??) so we had to rush to eat the pasta before the fish cooled, or vice versa
- finishing our bottle of still water (included in the 3 course prix fixe menu) about mid-meal and being thirsty b/c no more water was offered and our waiter did not come by following the deposit of 2nd and 3rd courses on our table
- the hauty, hushed tone and look of disgust before we ordered, when I asked if the trout was served with the head on (whole fish, like it was in Italy - well, he did say the menu is AUTHENTIC Italian, so I just figured I should ask...)
- the waiter failing to ask if we would like dessert when we wanted dessert, instead assuming that we were all finished and he could bring the check...then a moment of silence when we asked if we might have some dessert and tea...

It's so sad.  I don't think I can survive without their amazing pasta, so in spite of the terrible service I do recommend Terragusto for fans of Italian food.  Maybe they do take-out...

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0

3

Shannon H.

Chicago, IL

My husband and I walk by this place all the time since it's a block from out house. I was always intrigued -- it's off the beaten path but always full of people. So, we tried and tried for reservations -- always last minute and never able to get in. We finally planned ahead and success! Stepping in, the space was personal and inviting -- authentic Italian cafe style. But I must say it's really about the food. They are a BYOB restaurant and serve your wine in small cylindrical glasses which were informal but suitable. Unfortunately, I can't say much about everything on the menu, because I was only able to try a few things during my first visit, but I will be back to eat my way through after the meal we had there. We learned that the chef trained in the Bologna region of Italy. The homemade polenta with mushrooms, cannelloni beans, and housemade sausage was a symphony in my mouth -- each bite offering new discoveries -- rosemary, a cheesey crust, parsley, cornmeal, etc.. The mezzaluna filled with rainbow trout in a white wine sauce was so surprisingly full of flavor that I never wanted each bite to end. The bolognese -- behind words. Rated best bolognese in the city of Chicago and I can see why. It was truly one of those meals you never wanted to end. Savoring each bite was not enough. Lastly, we had a whole fish similar to sea bass that was paired with caramelized brussel sprounts and potatoes. Very rustic but extremely flavorful and moist. I have been to a lot of exciting restaurants in the city, but this one has won me over. I can't wait to sample what the chef has to offer in the changing seasons to come. I better start making my reservations!

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4

13

Alison B.

Chicago, IL

I have to post a review for this place - it is my FAVORITE restaurant in the city.  I just hope it doesn't get popular b/c it is so small...but the food is out of this world and it's BYOB.  It's authentic italian food.  The best option is the family style options and it's more food than you could ever eat!

Even more fun, they have pasta making classes!

If you have not been then you MUST GO!  But make sure you make a reservation.

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Elite '08

65

128

jamie k.

Chicago, IL

I was expecting the interior to be horrid..I had heard over and over that the interior was definitely the down point...
But it totally wasn't!  I thought it was perfectly cute!

BYOB - Awesome

Service- Very very thorough and pleasant (aside from the food runner dropping a fork in my husbands glass then the glass exploding all over the table..accidents happen..it was actually quite incredible).

Food-- We got the the 3 course shared deal..

Antipasta Misti Platter - I loved this!  The cheese was noticeably fresh, the crostini, still warm..thankfully my dining partner loathes blue cheese, which was of the  highlights of my night...An incredibly smooth blue cheese on crositini topped with a fig..the textures blended together perfectly!

Pastas:
roasted pumpkin & butternut squash filled "bishop's hats" with brown butter, parmigiano & amaretti crumbs -- "Scrumptious" comes to mind..like pumpkin pie pillows..perhaps ..

Rustic whole grain pasta with mixed mushrooms, wilted spinach and pecorino - This was also outstanding...I think mainly because the texture of the pasta was just so perfect and so "homemade" it was comforting..

Main Course - Fish - (I will edit when I remember the proper kind) but it was a white fish, and it is served whole, which is fine, and great...
but..the texture was way off, and though I would have never known why, my husband explained that it seemed it wasn't dropped into a hot enough pan to crispen the skin, then was overcooked, making it chewy.

So, that kind of sucked (the fish part).

The desert was maple pana cotta and that was also really really nice.

Overall, I loved the seasonal menu from start to finish - figs, tomatoes, pumpkin, kale, maple...so perfect for these early fall days.

A bit pricey...but if the fish had been better, I may have not even given it a second thought.

Definitely recommend and will personally be visiting again.

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6

122

Jonathan C.

Chicago, IL

Terragusto is delicious.  BYOB def makes it nice.  It can be a little pricey though.

They have amazing prosciutto appitizer and some sort of fish ravioli.  

I just wish I could afford eating here all the time

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4

23

Adam C.

Chicago, IL

I had heard so much about this place from friends that I decided to check it out.  It was a Sunday around 5:45pm and didn't think we'd need reservations since the place was nearly empty.  There were 3 tables with seated patrons and a room with about 12 more empty tables in it.  When we walked in the door (party of 2), we were given the "Oh...you don't have reservations?" attitude.  From there, the hostess walked back to the kitchen and then returned.  She said "Since you don't have reservations, it's going to be at least 30-40 minutes before we can seat you."  I looked around the empty room with so many empty tables in it and said "No thanks...we're leaving now."  From there, we went over to Piazza Bella, which was crammed with full tables.  I held my breath when we walked in the door, worrying they would give us the same response as Terragusto.  Nope, they seated us immediately and treated us like they were so glad to have us with them.  We had a wonderful meal and great service at PB.  An hour and a half later, on our way home, we passed by Terragusto again and looked inside.  To our astonishment, there were still multiple empty tables all over the room!  What a complete CROCK!

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2

34

Katrina B.

Chicago, IL

I like Terragusto, but I do not love it. There were many good points. We called a couple of hours before we wanted to go by on a Saturday and the person taking the reservation was friendly and frankly told us that they could fit us in, but there would be two large (and possibly loud) parties there at the same time. We did take advantage of the BYOB and service there was helpful and pretty good all around. The family style/prix fixe meal strategy does seem to be the better option for the menu. However, when you first sit and the waiter explains the menu, options and prices your head begins to spin.

The food was quite good, uses fresh and local ingredients and is a nice change from the linguini with clam sauce and lasagna of many standard Italian eateries. It didn't wow me though. I tried the crostini as an appetizer and one of the salads. Both were very good. The pastas were a little greasy with the amount of cheese and oil on them, but I favor going light on that stuff.

Alll in all this place is worth at least one meal, although we won't be making regular trips out of our way to go there. The restaurant is comortable, small and the staff definitely take pride in the restaurant, its food and service.

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6

21

erin m.

Chicago, IL

2.5 stars for service, 4 stars for food, bad math = 4 stars.

I've been here twice now, and I must say, the food is terrific.  All local and organic, fresh pasta homemade right in the window, BYOB... it's really great.  The food is prepared rustic Italian style, and the portions are filling but not gross in size.  I can't even think of a bad thing to say about the salad.  

The service- it's a small operation, so you'd think they'd be into service, but both times I visited the services was lackluster.  The courses are served on top of one another which can make you feel rushed.  Then, of course, there's the manager who asks you how long you expect your dinner will take you so he can determine whether or not he can seat you in an empty restaurant.  That might be a factor in the rushed feeeling.  

Definitely worth a visit- for the fair (not cheap) prices and great food.  Not worth denoting as a favorite because of the fair (not great) service.

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Elite '08

42

206

Isabella W.

Chicago, IL

By far the best Italian restaurant in the city, and it's BYOB!
Came here for date night from a recommendation from a friend, and it was AMAZING! They home-make their pasta daily, and it's organic, and you can taste the freshness.  What's more, their pasta is as good as the pasta I had in Italy.

Try the Pasta al forno (with bolognese sauce and melted cheese on top) - SO GOOD! My husband had the funghi pasta, which was on the lighter side but just as good.

For dessert, we got the chocolate cake, which to be honest, wasn't great.. the staff also dropped a couple of glasses here and there... BUT I'm willing to overlook that minor flaw, as everything else was delicious.

I've been craving the pasta here everyday, can't wait to go back!

Reservations STRONGLY recommended, else good luck getting a table!

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7

22

meredith s.

Chicago, IL

i have been to terragusto twice and have recommended it to other people many times.

first time, the bf and i decided to check it out.  loved that it was BYOB and that every course was perfection!  i thought that the polenta was a gift from God.  seriously, it was manna from heaven to this lutheran girl.  unbelievably soft and buttery, melted in my mouth.   we also had the pork loin, which was very juicy and a good level of saltiness.  both pastas we selected were delicious as well.  great balance of flavors.

second time, we brought my parents along.  dad the farmer loves that everything comes from "local" farmers.  (local means all the way to indy apparently) mom the teacher loved that she was in a small cozy restaurant enjoying the chicago experience.  they also loved the 2 bottles of wine we brought along.  again, every course was absolutely delicious.  they were so impressed by the food, our server, and the ambiance.

reservations are a must, and so is TERRAGUSTO!!!

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10

75

Irene H.

New York, NY

I recently came here with Isabella W and two other girlfriends for a Sunday evening dinner. She brought a nice bottle of cab franc that we didn't do a good enough job on polishing off.

Simply put, the food was phenomenal. Everything in the restaurant was fresh (and I love fresh pasta), local, and organic. We ordered the crostini and baked polenta for appetizers. Both were very good. I love polenta and this is definitely the best baked polenta I've ever had. It is a perfect appetizer to share - you want to save room for the entree(s). And I have to add that I even loved the olive oil that came with the complimentary bread.

For our entrees, we ordered the roasted pumpkin and butternut squash bishop's hats, al forno (baked pasta with meat sauce), and the fish of the day (I forget the name, but it was a Mediterranean fish that was similar to sea bass). I loved every single dish. They were perfectly seasoned and flavored. It made me dream of Italy. For dessert, we tried the warm vanilla pound cake bread pudding, which was very good and not too sweet, and the chocolate flourless cake.

And if I had to make any constructive comments:
- The restaurant was a bit chilly and though the restaurant is nicely decorated, it didn't lend enough warmth.
- The server needs to be better about refilling water glasses.
- The chocolate flourless cake would taste a lot better if it was slightly heated before serving. I feel like this is becoming such a standard dessert fare. It would really make a difference if they at least served it warm like most other places!

I'm not a Chicago local but I visit often enough. This was my first time in the area, but I would definitely come back here to eat again! (And I know Isabella W would love to as well).

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0

10

cathy c.

Chicago, IL

Disappointed in Terragusto.  Love the concept, but execution on the night we went wasn't so hot.  We went the whole nine yards, got the three-course meal (2 apps, 2 pastas, one main course to share).  Crostini was very good (loved the mozerella/anchovy combo).  Pasta was cloyingly salty (was admittedly with prosciutto, but someone could have thought about balancing the flavors, it was nearly inedible).  Fish was good, moist and nice flavor.  

BUT at 9:45 pm (we arrived at 7:30), with us still finishing our dinner and wine and another table still seated, the wait staff started to PUT THE CHAIRS UP ON ALL OF THE TABLES.  Not too subtle?!?  There are only about 12 tables in the place, could they not have waited?  

We felt very uncomfortable (and unwelcome) so we paid our $90 dinner bill (on a weeknight without wine) and left.  And agreed that we likely wouldn't go back.  Unless we want the early bird special!!!

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6

4

Rachel D.

Skokie, IL

Yum, yum, yum, yummy.  Seasonal dishes and fresh ingredients are oh so delicious.  And, the BYO aspect is brilliant.  Nice little twist on Italian.  Love it.

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