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The Rosebud
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
1500 W Taylor St(between Ashland Ave & Laflin St)
Chicago, IL 60607
Neighborhood: University Village
(312) 942-1117
- Nearest Transit:
-
Polk (Pink Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10:30 pm
Fri 11 am - 11:30 pm
Sat 12 pm - 11:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Lawrence C. said: "I just realized that I hadn't written a review on one my favorite places for Italian food until we were there with our friends John and Anna last week and I had thought that I had written one but to my surprise I hadn't. So here goes.…" read more »
212 reviews for The Rosebud
Review Highlights
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"...their homemade square noodles & Chicken Vesuvio a few of..." In 8 reviews -
"The Rigatoni alla Vodka was also good." In 5 reviews -
"We also ordered the Chocolate mousse cake served with..." In 5 reviews
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212 reviews in English
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Review from Candice G.
Naperville, IL
5/6/2012
How are all Italians not 500 pounds?
I don't know what's in Italian blood, but God must've blessed them with some kind of magic metabolism to be able to down all the butter, oil, cheese, carbs and more, and still be able to keep it tight at stallion status.
After dining at the original Rosebud this afternoon, I left with the pain of a million stretch marks fighting over who got to claim the fleshy territory on my gut. Ugh. So pretty, I know. I guess that's what I get for trying to pretend like I could eat like Soprano.
After what was probably 3 loaves of fresh baked bread, oil, pepper and Parmesan, a Napoleon eggplant salad that blew my mind (DO NOT pass this up), their ridiculously rich rigatoni ala vodka, a bite of the seafood fettucine dish (mind blowing) and a dessert that involved a bottom layer of spongy yellow cake, light and fluffy chocolate mouse, a fine layer of hardened chocolate on top, strawberry sauce, mint, and freshly whipped cream, I felt like I was ready to die a happy, fat death.
And while the dishes at around $15-25 each didn't make this the most economical place to take a group of 11 for lunch, it was a GREAT meal, we had a private room upstairs all to our selves, the service was stellar with the most up-to-the-moment water refill-age I've ever experienced, the announcing and multiple repeating of the specials, and the detailed description of just about a third of the menu at each guests request, it was certainly justifiable for this special occasion.
I would come back in a heartbeat with my faux Italian grandma and the intention of downing that Napolean eggplant salad faster than any hungry FOB-er in the history of Little Italy. -
Review from K F.
San Francisco, CA
2/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
A bit pricey...but well worth it!
I listened to fellow yelpers and ordered the Napoleon Eggplant Salad. I was not at all disappointed!! The lettuce, fried eggplant, chunks of mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and dressing created an orgasm in my mouth. I was only able to finish half of the portion but I look forward to eating the rest of it tomorrow. I also tasted my friends pasta. He ordered the Rigatoni in Vodka...also very delicious. Could use some pieces of steak or some source of meat on the side, but overall delicious. I will for sure go back! -
Review from beth a.
2/26/2012
the only thing i didnt like about this location was that in order to be seated u have to finagle ur way past the bar...not a seemingly easy task
its loud its crowded and the food is worth every delicious penny
my salad was a bit soggy but definitely still edible...the tiramisu is probably the best deal in town...the serving is HUGE & we were allowed to take our sweet time hangin out/chattin and sippin our coffee
they also valet for $8Listed in: sweet tooth, mangia
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Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2012
The best place for Italian. Huge portions, the sauce is amazing and lots of cheese! My parents are from the east coast and The Rosebud takes them back to their childhood. It really doesn't get any better than this! The atmosphere is reminiscent of the rat-pack and the food is just delicious.
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Review from S C.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2012
My favorite Italian in Chicago. Does all the standard Italian dishes very well.
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Review from Rob J.
Chicago, IL
5/21/2012
Top 5 favorite restaurants in Chicago. Favorite ITalian here (possible exceptions of Ro Sal's and Volare). All the classics done incredibly well. The ambiance and service you expect from high-end Italian. You won't be disappointed.
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Review from Joseph J.
Chicago, IL
4/24/2012
There's a reason this restaurant has survived for decades - it's the best traditional Italian restaurant in the city.
I first went there maybe 25 years ago when I was a kid and thought that spaghetti from a box with meat sauce from a jar was what Italian food is supposed to taste like. After that one meal I finally understood what real Italian food is all about.
I've been to some of the "best" Italian restaurants in Chicago, but this is still my favorite. -
Review from Alicia M.
2/14/2012
Best Lasagna ever...hands down, people!!
This place is easy to get to (Pink line, Ashland bus), is on the cute main stretch of Taylor Street and is very romantic. I am a huge fan
It's where my husband and I went on our very first date, and we just enjoyed dinner there last weekend with my family. I forgot how amazing the food is and how helpful the servers are.
If you want that Little Italy "it" experience, try it! I don't think the pricing is over the top, either -
Review from Mags W.
Chicago, IL
4/21/2012
A bit pricey, but very delicious. Service was pretty good as well. Great bread and the salads are huge! I got the tilapia and it was cooked very well
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Review from Dan C.
Princeton, NJ
4/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Phenomenal!!! Had the mahi mahi special. It was fabulous! Nice ambiance. Had a romantic feel to it. Great date spot.
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Review from Petey D.
Chicago, IL
I am a steak and burger guy, but the Linguine with mussels in white wine sauce is absolutely the best! The mussels were cooked to perfection in a rich, yet light white wine sauce and it just made my evening. I did make the mistake of ordering a side of escarole thinking it was escargot. A plate of sauteed veggies came to our table without snails I did the "huh" look.
I took my wife there for Valentines day dinner for the past two years. I look forward to going there again! -
Review from Jeanie P.
1/6/2012
Very classic Italian food with no frills. Hearty big portions with a homey atmosphere. The eggplant salad was great with thinly sliced fried eggplant with layers of fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, and greens drizzled with a thick balsamic sauce. I had the rigatoni alla vodka with italian sausage, and it was tasty but not really anything memorable. Pasta was cooked well though- al dente. Chianti was not bad either.
Overall it's an average place for just classic Italian food, but don't expect any creativity or imagination in the dishes here at all. I don't think that is their goal anyway. Too many other fun restaurants in the city to try to go back here again. -
Review from Christy D.
San Francisco, CA
12/8/2011
This is the kind of Italian restaurant I wanted to find when I moved to Chicago- sucess!!! It had that dark romantic Italian feel to it- love it!
I also loved everything I put into my mouth that night. I had the chopped salad which was so fresh and had such a great mix of vegetables. This made me feel better as I ate the cheesiest most delicious vodka sauce covered noodles afterwards. Generous portions so splitting is possible which I am a fan of.
Very helpful waiter as well. -
Review from Jeanne N.
Lake Havasu City, AZ
5/7/2012
This truly was "As Good As it Gets!" My husband and I are restaurateurs and it is hard to please both of us. We waited, we had to dine late... but who cares when the food and service are impeccable!? I could only explain it by stating that this is the food that the angels serve you in heaven! My husband had the chicken marsala and asked for garlic to be added. The server explained that the sauce is a sweet sauce however he passed my husband's request along to the chef. The marsala not only came to him with garlic added... but whole cloves of "roasted" garlic! As busy as it was, they still took the time to cater to a specific request! I tried the lobster ravioli special with slices of tender asparagus and a roasted red pepper sauce... just magic... rich, creamy, with the taste of "freshly made from scratch" in every bite! The very next night we decided to try their sister restaurant... Rosebud on Rush.... I will put a separate review on that particular restaurant's yelp review area as well! ROSEBUD was suggested to us by a server at a steakhouse we were patronizing... and when I asked where she goes for authentic Italian she didn't even hesitate "Rosebuds!"... she was correct!
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Review from Norman R.
Chicago, IL
3/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great dining experience. Our server John was fantastic. We had the white fish stuffed with crab, and the arrabbiata. For dessert the mousse cake and scoop of gelato. Great Saturday date night.
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Review from Natalie P.
Miami, FL
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
You're kidding me right, fellow Yelpers? 4 stars? What have you guys been smoking?
My boyfriend and I are visiting Chicago and, after quickly checking out the reviews on yelp, went to the Rosebud tonight as we're staying nearby. I was told by our driver that the portions are "large" - the understatement of the year. The portions are gargantuan, and unfortunately, the concept "quality over quantity" doesn't apply at this restaurant.
When we first sat down, I should have known things were not going to be up to my standard when a metal bowl of cheap parmesan cheese was place on our table. Uh oh.
To start, we shared the Caprese Salad, which was pretty standard. Although, I don't know what type of "traditional" Italian restaurant would bastardize Caprese with olives and roasted red peppers! The mozz was decent, but I would have rather them left off the "extras" and instead opted for Buffala Mozz and a little more balsamic reduction.
For dinner, I ordered the fresh papardelle pasta with an alfredo sauce, mushrooms, spinach, and broccoli. When it came out, it nearly choked on my wine! It was seriously large enough to feed a small village. Before even taking a bite, I was nervous because portions *this* large are never good...and this time was no exception. The "alfredo" sauce was basically heated cream with the smallest hint of flavor. There wasn't even the slightest hint of nutmeg. The papardelle itself was perfectly cooked, but the rest of the dish did nothing to compliment the restaurant's 'original' creation. In hopes of salvaging some sort of goodness, I asked the server if they had any fresh parmesan - pecorino, reggiano, anything! - but he said no. NO FRESH PARM AT AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT? Oh god.
My boyfriend had the Brick Chicken, which he said was good. He said he'd give it about a 7/10. It looked really tender although, being a vegetarian, I can't comment on the actual flavors. It did, however, come with one of my all-time favorite sides - broccoloni! Which he said was "yum!"
We ordered dessert - opted for the carrot cake. Of course, it was also a huge portion, though not as gargantuan as the others. It was pretty decent, definitely the best part of my meal (but that's not saying much). It was really missing the sweet tang of the cream cheese frosting. I'm not sure if they call their frosting cream cheese - but I am a baker and I couldn't taste the slightest hint of it. So, that was a bummer for me.
The service was OK. Our sever and busboy were friendly and the busboy really prompt, but I had to ask him to bring our server the check after waiting for 10 minutes. While the server was nice, he was often absent.
I would have probably given the restaurant 3 stars if it weren't for the bill. I was already grumpy about my mediocre meal, but I got downright choked when I saw that my $18 on-the-menu pasta was now $28 because quote "the mushrooms and other stuff are extra." Sigh. I could have gone to a significantly pricier restaurant, had a killer meal, and been totally satisfied for $28. Our nearly $100 check was ridiculous for the quality of the meal and service. I have *zero* problem paying for great food, but when the food is blah and I could have bought a new pair of jeans instead, I'm not happy.
Being that we are staying in a hotel, our insane amount of leftovers were taken by our driver to be delivered to a homeless fellow he knows. So, at least someone appreciated the meal!
Overall, I'm pretty damn crushed that this is the experience I'm taking away from Chicago's Little Italy. Maybe I'm a food snob (ok, not maybe), and maybe I'm spoiled by Miami's insanely awesome selection of Italian restaurants (not maybe), and maybe my own Italian cooking is head-and-shoulders above the average Italian restaurant (definitely not maybe) but seriously. In no way, shape, or form is this restaurant worth 4 stars. And it's certainly nothing to write home about - unless you're a grump, like me! -
Review from Linda H.
10/19/2011
It's been a while since I've been to Rosebud...what used to be my "go-to" place for Italian has been replaced by other favorites, but we decided to give them a visit on Sunday night.
It was pretty slow, as the Bears were about to start playing, so I was thrilled that we were seated quickly (without reservations). I was looking forward to having a few beers and some great pasta after a long weekend of work...this being my "big night out".
Waitress came by relatively quickly and offered olive oil for our bread and dispensed onto our plates. Since when can we not be trusted with our own personal oil dispenser on the table? Waitress was quite chatty (a bit too much)...and we ordered drinks.
I *love* the square noodles, but also was eyeing the cavatelli arrabiata, and could not decide. When waitress returned with drinks I told her of my dilemma and she suggested the square noodles with arrabiata...now why didn't I think of that? Anyway, it was a brilliant suggestion and I could not wait to eat. In the meantime, I enjoyed my bread and rationed olive oil, while BF got a nice house salad.
And we waited. My beer was long gone, and my olive oil was gone. I was hungry and wanted another beer. Waitress stood by another table and chatted, and chattted, and would run off without looking at our table for 10-15 minutes. Grrrr. It seriously was not even busy, but she spent WAY too much time chatting.
Finally, I practically accosted her for another beer, and her reaction was kinda like "Well, why didn't you tell me you wanted another beer?", um, I would have if you had looked in our direction in the last 15 minutes!
Ok, food arrives finally, delivered by another waitress. My pasta is NOT hot. Sigh. It was a huge portion, and toward the bottom of the bowl it was hot-ish, but most of it was pretty much room temp...SUCH a bummer. BF said his veal braciole was excellent (he doesn't give a rat's arse about his food being hot). My pasta was excellent, but I would have been over the moon about it had it been HOT. All I could think of is how good it will be leftover heated up to proper temp (which was definitely the case!).
So, beer #2 is long gone now, and I'm done eating and ready to have my pasta wrapped, which bus dude efficiently does. Waitress comes by and offers dessert, and I tell her I would like to see dessert menu but really just want another beer for dessert.
She drops off dessert menu, and never returns with beer....in the meantime chats with another table for 10-15 minutes. Finally, BF had to go up to her and just ask for the check 'cuz at this point we just wanted to go.
The food is absolutely 5 stars! (when hot)....and perhaps this bad service experience was an anomaly, but it was bad enough to subtract 2 stars.
I know I will be back to Rosebud, but I will be in no hurry. -
Review from lisa b.
Chicago, IL
4/29/2012
perfect for a nice, relaxing, gluttonous meal! the vodka sauce is delectable! i could almost drink it.
fantastic pasta and a big ol' glass of wine or two...walk out feeling like a food-coma-induced million bucks. -
Review from Pamela K.
High on the list of Taylor Street eats. Yes, it's on the more formal side - think dark woods, fancy dining area, and pricier menu, but the food is more typical Italian. Even the candy bowl they have at the bar. hehe. Not Americanized. I take that from my italiano friend who says so :). Rosebud has their own "rosebud" (tomato-based) spicier sauce which I think most are a fan of. The pappardelle that one friend had and the sea bass and side of sauteed rapini my other friend had made my palatte sing. The heaping seafood special full of mussels, clams, fish, and calamari served with linguini tossed in the Rosebud marinara sauce was really to die for. It's several days worth of seafood and pasta! The pasta overall is mmm al dente. Yum. The chopped salad we shared is a nice departure from the typical. Wow. Yum. Could have just had a big bowl of this too. And well, maybe the grilled calamari. OMG, no skimping there and super flavorful. Great selection of delish wine. If you don't venture to Taylor Street often, you can try the Rush street or the other locations. The Rush one has a popular outdoor patio. Either way, try this sooner rather than later. You'll know what I mean. Metered parking and gets crowded so make reservations and plan ahead if you decide to come during the weekend or non-grandpa time.
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Review from Chelsea L.
Stewartsville, NJ
4/18/2012
Best Italian food in Chicago, hands down. Family style, huge portions, excellent service and food. I've been there many times and I absolutely love this place!!!
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Review from Cherie L.
Orange, CA
11/2/2011
Came here on two separate occasions while I was in Chicago for business.
I'd have to say that overall, the food and service is good. I loved the calamari and caesar salad. -
Review from Judie S.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Square noodles. That's all you need to know.
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Review from Jennifer A.
Oak Park, IL
7/23/2011
We had family visiting from Savannah, GA, where they claim you cannot find good Italian food, so we decided to take them to Rosebud so they could get their Italian fix. Having never been there despite living in Chicago for 5 years, I was hoping this place would meet their expectations.
We were seated promptly in the main dining room, which was jam-packed with tables but yet not too loud. Our server was very enthusiastic and attentive.
The bread was served warm and was delicious. Definitely a good start.
We ordered baked clams and a tomato and onion salad to start. That was more than enough for our table of 4 - huge portions! The clams were fabulous, and as a lover of tomato & basil, the salad was fantastic. Very fresh, great flavors.
For entrees, we had the veal saltimbocca, square noodles with vodka sauce and sausage, and two plates of the cavatelli arrabiata. The veal and the square noodles were AMAZING. Absolutely delicious. The verdict was split on the arrabiata. I had it and enjoyed it, but it was much spicier than I had anticipated. My dad also had the arrabiata and had a little trouble with the spice. With that said, the cavatelli was fresh and delicious - it just was a bit overshadowed by the spiciness of the marinara. So... consider yourself warned - the arrabiata will make you sweat.
We also ordered a side of meatballs and sausage with our entrees, and the meatballs were unbelievable. So, so good. I could have just eaten those and been thrilled with my Rosebud experience!
My husband and I split the tiramisu for dessert. I thought it was amazing, but my husband thought it lacked a bit of the liqueur flavor he normally loves in a tiramisu.
Overall, we had a great experience at Rosebud. -
Review from Mimi M.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
Expensive! Good food!
If you are looking for an intimate night out in a romantic atmosphere where good Italian food is served then Rosebud is a nice place to visit. -
Review from B L.
Burbank, IL
9/14/2011
This is a very special restaurant not unlike Morton's where you walk in and waitstaff treat you like you're a celebrity. I could get used to that! :)
What can I recommend? I truly loved the veal. I also love love LOVE the stuffed mushrooms.
Stay for dessert and get the spumoni ice cream! It comes out and it's huge! When I went here during my pregnancy my eyes almost popped out of my head...but I still managed to eat the whole thing. -
Review from Iona B.
Chicago, IL
1/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
The food (chicken Alfredo) was yummy, and I had enough left over to make a second meal. The service is prompt and the people were friendly.
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Review from Brian T.
Chicago, IL
7/24/2011
I thought this was a Citizen Kane-themed restaurant. Imagine the egg on my face when I realized it was a Goodfellas-themed restaurant...but seriously folks.
I had the Salmon Vesuvio. Disclaimer: I'm a sucker for anything with the word "vesuvio" in it. The sauce could've been a little more substantial but it wasn't overly-oily. I'd probably order it again if I ever returned.
My only real qualm is that the ambiance was lacking. I found street parking easily (everything around here is metered or valet...Thanks, Daley!) but entering the place through the dimly-lit, completely empty bar seemed uninviting. On a busy Friday night, it probably wouldn't be weird grabbing a drink while waiting for your table. However, on a weekday before the dinner rush, I thought we entered the wrong place.
The best Yelp description I can muster: Dive-y atmosphere with classy prices and decent food. -
Review from Joelle S.
Niles, IL
What a wonderful evening we spent at The Rosebud Restaurant on Taylor Street in Chicago!!
We were immediately seated at "Sinatra's" table, it is in a non-traffic part of the restaurant. Our waiter was at our table without hesitation and offered us the specials for the evening and asked for our drink order. We asked for wine suggestions and he was very willing and able to help us with that!
We started off with the Napolean Eggplant Salad, a Rosebud exclusive. Piled high: vine ripe tomatoes, arugala, fresh mozzerella, thinly sliced eggplant (battered and fried golden brown), drizzled with oil and balsamic vinegar. You do NOT have to be a fan of eggplant to fall in love with this salad! It was spectacular!
Next we had the Zuppa di Mare, Pappardelle Noodles in a tomato basil sauce (Rosebud house specialty), Pork Chops Cacciatore, and Brick Chicken (another Rosebud specialty of the house). We were not disappointed by any of our choices!
The Zuppa di Mare was a very generous portion of linguini smothered with the clams, mussels, & octopus. Wonderful!
Pappardelle Noodles, large square noodles, prepared in a tomato basil sauce were cooked perfectly.
Pork Chops were large portions with potatoes, mushrooms, onions and peppers were broiled then sauted in tomato sauce. yum!
Brick Chicken was a WHOLE CHICKEN! with potatoes and rapini. We brought most of the chicken home, but enjoyed a little of it at the restaurant. We were full!!
Two bottles of wine later, full from the wonderful meal, we all went home happy and satisfied! We will be back! -
Review from Michelle L.
Rolling Meadows, IL
10/17/2011
This is a nice Italian restaurant that we visited upon a friends request. They have an extensive menu. I had the Fettuccine Alfredo and was not disappointed. Some items are a bit Spendy, but most items are very comparable to other Italian chains. ($14-18 for a pasta dish)
The lighting is low and some of the elderly crowd were using their cellphones to light the menu, so If you have problems seeing in dim lighting I would suggest asking for a seat near the window or bringing a small light of some sort.
The atmosphere nice. The staff are in jackets and ties but we didn't feel uncomfortable being in hoodies and jeans after a day of walking the city. This is definitely a place that would be appropriate in black tie attire as well.
The location is great as it is right in the city- accessible via the CTA. We rode the Red Line up from Sheed Aquarium and then ended up walking all the way back to our vehicle at the Field Museum (it was a beautiful night). -
Review from Amanda Z.
4/4/2011 ROTD 1/6/2012
Lovely atmosphere, large portions of lovingly-cooked pasta, and friendly service are really the highlights of a dinner out at the Rosebud.
Two months of minimal carbs (wedding gowns are TIGHT) and months of pinching pennies meant that my young man and I were itching to get out of the house and eat some serious carbs. It's allowed once in awhile, right?
Since aforementioned young man had scored a gift card to Rosebud, we figured this would be a perfect excuse to treat ourselves to a nice little date night.
We started with the chopped salad...a wise choice. Really, this would be enough starter salad for four people, but for starving not-quite-newlyweds, it was perfect because it meant leftovers. My date enjoyed a veal dish (with a side of patsta) whereas I went all in wiht the cavatelli arrabiatta. Our server warned me, "It's spicy." I told him, "Oh honey, so am I, bring it on!" It was a little spicy, but more that zestiness demanded in an arrabiata. I loved it. And the cavatelli was cooked marvelously and the perfect match for the spicy sauce. Yay for us, we took home plenty of leftovers.
Crusty bread was provided for sopping up bits of leftover sauce (olive oil is available, just ask)...and a bottle of red rounded out dinner.
I'm not one to turn down tirimisu, so we finished out evening with a plate full of that. Of course I'd say this would be the perfect amount for a four-some just looking to have a few bites of something sweet. We couldn't finish ours (as much as we tried).
Service was lovely (props to the bartender for the lovely wine recommendation) ad the food was delicous and plentiful. I'd definitely return when I choose to break my carb-fast again.Listed in: My favorite Italian…
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Review from Alex P.
Chicago, IL
9/10/2011 Seated via OpenTable
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, late near closing. It was very quiet, dim, romantic. I would say this is my favorite place in Little Italy, hands down, and I've eaten at every place on Taylor St. The prices are pretty much the same as all of the other Italian joints around town.
Next to Greek food, Italian food is my favorite cuisine, and I've never had better red sauce, lasagna, or veal in my life.
I can't remember which veal I had--it was slightly fried with a light wine sauce and a lot of lemon--and it just melted in my mouth. Sometimes you get veal and its a bit chewy. This veal was buttery and superb. The lasagna my boyfriend had was phenomenal, and it was a huge, hearty portion.
If you want to spend the evening on Taylor Street and simply cannot decide which place to get dinner at, hands down I would suggest Rosebud over all the rest. -
Review from Hayden M.
San Francisco, CA
12/15/2011
I've never been treated more dishonestly by a restaurant. I was so pissed off by what they did I left no tip.
The server came to our table and rattled off the specials. I ordered one of the specials, the zuppa di mare, which our server described as mixed seafood in a red sauce over linguine. Sounded fine to me, but what the server didn't tell me is that this one dish could probably feed a family of four.
First, I wouldn't be surprised if they boiled a full pound of linguine. Then, there enough seafood on top of the noodles that they were completely hidden. Most of the seafood was chunk fish of some kind, in a layer about an inch thick. On top of that was calamari, shrimp, mussels and clams. Then, after digging a bit, what do I find under all this? Two whole fish fillets. Are you f@*#ing kidding me?
So, why was I so upset by getting so much food? Because I then had to pay for it. Because of the size of this "entre" it was at least twice as expensive as what anyone else ordered. And the price was clearly only a function of the size, because that was the only thing remarkable about the food. There is no excuse for not telling your customer that you're going to do something as asinine as this.
Imagine if you said, "I'd like some pie for dessert." You would expect a slice of pie, right? What would your reaction be if they brought you (and charged you for) half a pie?
So, congratulations, Rosebud. You did it. You successfully wrung an extra thirty dollars out of me.
Dicks. -
Review from Steph V.
3/14/2011
We didn't have plans to eat here for lunch but since Rosebud has such a great rep, we had to try it.
Service was an A
Food was an A
Bathroom was an A
A's across the board! Take a bow, Rosebud. Although the meal was ghastly expensive, I luckily did not pay the bill and was able to sit and enjoy my lunch. My salmon salad was super delicious and the bottled iced tea was a nice touch. BUT, hold the phone and listen to this:
TRY THE ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP. I REPEAT, TRY THE ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP!!!
I'm a clam (no pun intended) chowder girl, but seriously their soup has converted my opinion to all soups. If this were my last meal on earth, I would request the Italian wedding soup. Gratzi!Listed in: Travel Go-Tos
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Review from Chris Y.
Chicago, IL
4/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
As someone who grew up on Olive Garden and the Macaroni Grill, this place was like a swift slap in the face. The best italian food I have ever had. Walking by it you would never know what amazing works of culinary art walk out of that kitchen. Has become a place near and dear to my heart as any big even I have with my special someone is celebrated in the dimly lit dinning room of this masterpiece.
As you walk in make sure to look for the little table at the back of the bar that always seems to be full with "the dons", as my family now calls them, as they talk with an old world tongue about things one can only imagine. As you turn the corner you will notice the freshly backed cookies inter a glass cover just begging you to grab them as a pre-meal snack. Don't.
This is the original and well worth the wait. If you want real Italian skip the bread sticks and salad and go for the Rosebud. -
Review from Joseph F.
Chicago, IL
3/31/2011
I was a bit hesitant as I detest chain restaurants. But I'm making a rare exception in this case. The only reason I did not give this place 5 stars is because of a rather foul odor that greets you as you walk in the front. It smells like old tropical fish tanks were stored there. Get the febreeze out people.
In any event, the martinis were wonderful. Mine was so smooth it was almost like drinking water. The bread was fresh and crusty, just like good Italian bread is supposed to be. I ordered the chicken marsala. I know that's not very creative, but I normally can tell a lot about the skills of the chef with this very simple dish. My meal was delcious. The chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned with no strange parts hanging off the meat. I didn't bloat like a balloon the next morning because of overuse of salt and the portion size was just right for one person.
Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised and would definitely go back. -
Review from Anne B.
Ashburn, VA
1/12/2012
This is a cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant. It was recommended by the conceirge at my hotel who said she took her family there when they came to visit, so I had a sense it would be wonderful.
It has warm wood walls, candlelight and delicious food. Chicken Marsala is huge and delicious and comes wide a side of pasta. You also get a wonderful bread basket before dinner with a variety inside.
Kevin is a great bartender and kept me company while I ate. Wonderful place and I will definitely return upon my next trip to the windy city. -
Review from Angie C.
Belmont, MA
3/7/2011
The Rosebud jumpstarted our experience by telling us we might have to wait 30 minutes (totally reasonable for a Saturday night), then calling us 3 minutes later because one of their reservations cancelled... Brownie points! No hungry hippos like to wait.
The location by the university is much larger than it appears upon entry because there's an upstairs with quite a bit of seating. The lighting and decor make for a very nice atmosphere, and we enjoyed the humorous Rosebud ads framed on the wall next to our table.
Now for the food... Yum... If you like artichoke (I love it), don't miss the stuffed artichoke for your appetizer! Just when you think it's gone, it's not - it keeps going. And when the artichoke is gone, there's plenty of sauce left to dip the house bread in. Bring on the garlic breath! Rosebud's Caesar and vinaigrette dressings were also tasty-tasty if you do salad between your appetizer and entree.
Now for the entrees, they're h-uge! One of my coworkers managed to eat, no, CONQUER the whole brick chicken, but I only made a dent in my flat noodles. It was a dent I enjoyed, though, and I wished I wasn't flying out the next day because I had a feeling the leftovers would've been equally enjoyable... We went to RB for a work dinner while in town for a dental convention, but I tell you this place would be a great date if you're in the mood for some love and Italian food! -
Review from T T.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011
Good Italian food, great atmosphere, attentive service.
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Review from Kay M.
Kenosha, WI
6/29/2011
In short... Excellent service and Excellent Food!!!
I was around Michigan Ave. looking for a particular restaurant, which happened to be closed and I ended up here. I sat at a nice corner table outside. My waiter was fantastic, as well as the support staff. I ordered the Chicken Marsala. AMAZING! It was two nice sized chicken breasts with a generous pile of perfectly cooked beautiful mushrooms in a marsala sauce that was like eating candy. It came with a generous side of perfectly cooked and perfectly sauced pasta. While I waited for my food the waiter brought warm rustic bread and parmesan and olive oil. I also ordered a wonderful Godiva chocolate torte, and my waiter perfectly packed it for me to take back to my hotel. -
Review from T M.
Arvada, CO
12/22/2011
The service was great; the food was good and yes the portions were large. Good food and large portions and nice ambiance. I'm a fan and yes I would return.
