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Category: Italian
Neighborhood: The LoopWashington (Blue, Red)
Madison/Wabash (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Green, Pink)
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I went here on a Friday night with three friends. It's a quiet, elegant place, tucked away in the basement. It's definitely not hip or trendy or "fun". It also wasn't overly busy on a Friday evening around 8:00. In fact there were only a handful of tables seated when we sat down at 7:45. When we left around 9:00 it was noticeably busier, but still not full.
So about the food: I liked it a lot. I started with a salad which was tasty and fresh. My entree was the rigatoni with chicken. It was very good... flavorful sauce and not too much of it. The only thing I might change would be to add more chicken. I tried my friends' sausage ravioli and chicken, and both were delicious as well.
The service was spot on. Attentive but not overly so. One odd thing happened though. They kept pulling out a ladder and adjusting the track lights in our area. It happened at least 3-4 times throughout our meal. I guess they're trying to personalize the lighting? Anyway it was strange.
I noticed a number of couples here, so I guess it's a good date spot. I'll have to remember that in case I ever get a date.
I went here last week for dinner and, let me tell you, it was wonderful.
I had come here the first time about 10 years ago so obviously I didn't quite remember what it would be like.
The restaurant is located downstairs and the decor is nice and cozy. This was a business dinner so people were dressed up but nothing too extravagant. The service was prompt and friendly, and accommodating to our large party.
I started with the delicious tomato basil soup and ordered the famous butternut & acorn squash ravioli for the main course. DELICIOUS. I am still thinking about the ravioli and finding an excuse to go back there as soon as possible. It had a wonderful butter sauce with chopped nuts (walnuts?) on top. Probably the best entree I've eaten all year.
I had the chocolate gelato for dessert, which, quite honestly, was not that great. It tasted more like chocolate ice cream. It didn't have that creamy gelato goodness that I'm used to. But, it's still chocolate and tasty.
If you go to this restaurant, I highly recommend you to try the ravioli -- you can also order a smaller portion as an appetizer.
The wine selection was alright -- most of the people at the table split a bottle but I ordered a single glass of the Cabernet. Not bad.
Remember: Butternut & Acorn Squash Ravioli. Get It. Now.
(9/2008 Review carried over from Opentable since I'm a new Yelper - YAY Me!)
I scheduled a lunch with my project team and was encouraged to make reservations, which are REQUIRED!!! Its packed during the lunch rush on weekdays. As their menu changes daily (I suppose) I was given the wrong menu, so that resulted in me having to reorder quickly as we had already order 15min previous to them realizing the dish wasn't available. Everyone thought the food was presented well, but was lacking any sauces. All noodles were really dry!
This ismy favorite restaurant to go to downtown. The food and service is always good and consistent. They are very good at getting you out on time for theater but still giving you a relaxed and enjoyable meal.
You know, this is good food. But lol it's NOT italian. It's really americanized. I admit, it's good. NOT GREAT. The service is really impecible. (spelled right? ) lol . It's fun to come here with some girlfriends, get a bunch a different plates and share. The portions are just enough to do that. Not a great wine list, a bit dissapointing. It's OK, but I was expecting a bit more. 10 stars for service, 4 for food. I'll come back, but it might a little while. Oh, you can take the blue line straight here if you needed too.
After the Art Institute, Denton and I headed here for a romantic date. I am on their mailing list and received a free birthday dinner here. Who doesn't like free in this economy?
The venue is lovely and is perfect for an intimate meal. It reminded me of a trattoria in Roma. The service was fantastic. The courses came out perfectly timed. I enjoyed my caprese salad. My pasta was good although a little salty. For dessert, I ordered poorly: cookies. I was in the mood for cookies (when am I not?) but they were pretty mediocre.
Despite this, I think I might be willing to give the restaurant a second chance.
Most everything I've had is quite good and they have several vegetarian, though not many vegan dishes. The food is fresh and tasty. Some items are very reasonably priced and some a bit expensive, but not out of the ordinary for the location. Definitely a good alternative to Corner Bakery etc. One of the best deals in loop food though is to come here between 3 and 4 when their pizzas are all half price. You get a fell pizza for less than $5. I usually go later for lunch and it's not too busy then, but if you go between 11:30 and 1:30 expect it to be packed. Also, be aware that the restaurant closes at 4pm, so not after work eats.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants I ever went to. All their food is so fresh and their sauces, pasta, cheeses, and meats are all so absolutely delectable:
You must get:
Butternut squash ravioli- it comes in this light, buttery sweet and salty sauce, and the ravioli pasta is thin yet perfectly al dente, with the inside buttery, sweet, soft squash- like nothing I've ever had before
Farfalle with duck confit and pine nuts- the sauce that this pasta is in is absolutely delicious, it's this rich yet light burgundy, flavorful, meaty sauce, and the duck confit is delicious
The mozzarella salad was fresh and melt-in-your-mouth delicious, and the dessert of the trio of chocolates was fantastic as well.
YOU MUST VISIT this restaurant!!!! Service was excellent as well.
My boyfriend and I went here with his parents when they were in town. I liked this place. The food was delicious and fair portions. The waitstaff was attentive without being intrusive.
All in all this is a great place to go for a special occasion, but a bit pricey for more than that!
The decor is nice without being stuffy -- linen tablecloths, tasteful archways everywhere, the whole 9. Much brighter than Morton's, which lightens the mood (no pun intended), as you might expect from an Italian place. Our waitress was efficient and friendly. No complaints on the service.
I had an appetizer of ravioli filled with butternut and acorn squash and I have to say that it was fan-*****-tastic. Almost mind-blowing. It's available as an antipasto or an entree.
Unfortunately, I was there mainly for seafood, and the halibut that both of us ordered was very underwhelming. I wish I'd gotten the pasta as an entree.
That said, I'd definitely recommend it & try it again.
Saving room for dessert is NOT a problem.
Out of all the pre-theater restaurants... this one probably is the best which is why I gave them 3 stars instead of 2. And their service seems pretty good though my experience is a slight exception.
I read here that they had small portions which is usually a good thing. I decided to order a salad and a half order of the butternut squash ravioli. I got 3 medium-to-small sized raviolis. Definitely SMALL portions. My cousin got the spinach and mozzarella raviolis which she refused to eat and I don't blame her. They were not very good... the sauce was terrible and the filling had a bad texture.
Our meals were late getting to the table (we informed the waitress as we sat down that we had a show to catch). Since they were so late they comped our desserts. This is a really nice gesture, but seeing as they were already late on the entrees... giving us free dessert seems almost rude... but we stayed anyway!!
Dessert was by far the best part of the meal. We each got something different - a peach ice cream, the cornucopia, cream puffs, and gelato. Amazing.
Just be warned that "small portions" really means barely anything. Go for the full order... the half portion is a joke.
Great food! Wine was o.k. Limited selection. Service was o.k.
Not great service. Had dinner here before seeing "Jersey Boys." It took for----ever to get entree. The atmosphere was nice. The meal....so so. I won't be back.
We had been meaning to try this place. My husband worked across the street for years. We finally decided to go there this weekend.
My husband and I had the pasta. The presentation was pretty enough (albeit the portions were very small). My ravioli was luke warm- and very stringy. The spinach inside was not fresh or properly cooked. My husband had a very similar complaint with his coin pasta.
It reminded me of the Woody Allen line "Boy, the food at this place is really terrible...and such small portions."
On the plus side: they had a nice wine selection and the host was very welcoming.
Overall I would recommend taking your money elsewhere- this place is too expensive for blah food.
Zoooooooommm....that is how I felt while there-I've never been in and out of a restaurant in record speed like I have at Trattoria No. 10-
Reservations were at 8:15, by the time we ordered it was 8:25, food came out around 8:30 finished our entrees at 8:40, ordered dessert and it came out in under a minute-Paid the bill and it was 8:55, we were amazed-
I'm guessing that since this is a pre-theatre restaurant they know how to turn around tables quickly, but we laughed the whole time b/c it was like speedy gonzales ran the whole place-
What we ordered:
Entrees: (me) Butternut Squash (him) Wagyu Rissoto, both were very good, would order again-The Wagyu was melt in your mouth good, I just love Wagyu-
Dessert: Chocolate Truffle Cake, it was ok, I've had better-
If you are in a hurry, and I mean serious hurry dine here, nice selection of unique pastas and entrees, fast service and you will never wait for anything, snap your fingers and it's there-
I came here pre-theatre with my sister. Tables were booked up on Opentable, but we called the restuarant directly and were able to get a table in the "lounge," which is attached to the dining room and is honestly no different. Great ambience, and I didn't get the feeling that we were in some sort of pre-theatre "eat and out" factory that can happen in restaurants in the theatre district. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. My meal was delicious: arugala salad and butternut squash ravioli. If you are in the mood for desert, you must get the chocolate torte. UNREAL.
Two glasses of wine, two salads, two entrees, one desert, = about $100 w/ tip. Not bad at all for an excellent meal if you ask me.
This is by far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I visit every time I go to Chicago. Why? The service is excellent, the atmosphere quiet, and the food nothing less than outstanding.
The menu never disappoints, as there is a plethora of inventiveness and creativity in presentation and taste. They have an extensive and good wine list, and the staff is knowledgeable.
The caprese salad the last time we were there melted in our mouth. The mozzarella was so fresh, as are most ingredients. Typically there are 5 things I want on the menu, so I've taken larger groups there so we can sample everything and do the pass the plate....
Highly recommended.
So wait, there is a high quality restaurant that isn't a chain in downtown Chicago? Who knew! Went here for a meal as part of a rehearsal dinner and was extremely impressed with the quality of the dishes and selection. If you didn't know it was there, I can imagine you've walked right past it (as I have many times). I really like the ambiance of the place, wood details and a great bar area with French-style tiles.
The food was extremely tasty and even with a large group prepared wonderfully, did not hear complaints from anyone. Was especially impressed with the presentation - delicate yet enough on the plate to appease a large appetite (as opposed to a sloppy mess as I've seen at other Italian restaurants *cough*Gold Coast*cough*).
Great spot for a before-theater dinner or after work entertaining evening meal. If you're pressed for time and have to take a date out right after work, it would definitely work for that too!
Trattoria No. 10 is one of those perfect places to grab dinner before going to any of the many theaters in the area. The food is great, and their quick, efficient service will ensure that you make your curtain call on time.
If you are really in a hurry, or want to stop by after work to fill up- Mon - Friday they have a $12 buffet that has all sorts of beautiful salads and meats (quite the spread) in the bar area. It looked delicious but we opted to sit down and order off the menu ( I, for once, was actually early for our reservation as the "traffic gods" were smiling yesterday!).
I am a big sharer of food and I love when a restaurant splits it in the kitchen for me and then brings it out. Our serving team took the time to do this with both our appetizer and our dessert. Way to go!
We started with the prosciutto plate. It was supposed to come with pineapple but since I have an issue with citrus, they just added a few more slices of the delicious meat. Interesting combination of flavors as it was served with nuts and slivered mint.
Next up for our appetizer we split the spicy beef ravioli, and spicy is was! Splitting it was perfect as we each got 3 raviolis as any more would have been too much.
And finally for our entrees-we went with the server's recommendation of the lamb osso bucco and the veal scallopini. Both were delicious but in my book the veal was the winner.
Glancing at our watches we quickly split the highly touted apple crostini which was just as good as our server said it would be.
Love the location as it is intimate and cozy (it is actually below street level) and that the server's know that their "bread and butter" is from the theater crowd so they do an excellent job in getting you in, out and on your way (in our case all that food in a little over an hour and we didn't feel rushed).
Definitely a great way to start your night in the theater district.
Trattoria No. 10 won't make it into the usual lunch rotation because of its cost, but it is a good place for a nicer midday meal if you've got an occasion, or just feel like splurging. We walked in at noon without a reservation and were seated in the bar area since the main dining room was apparently booked full. The atmosphere is nice and quiet, and I kind of forgot that we were in the basement. I ordered a salad -- herb encrusted trout, if my memory serves me correctly. It came with a bed of spinach, roasted tomatoes, and grilled vegetables, with crispy onions on top. The dish came with a generous fillet, and I loved every bit of it. Our server was courteous, but I could sense his attitude change when he realized we weren't going to order anything more than our main entrees.
Just order the risotto with short braised ribs. And don't forget to order the tiramisu. You'll thank you me later.
Btw - Customer service was excellent.
I really loved this place! First off, our table was ready when we got there, and the hostess was very nice. Our server was very friendly and always had our drinks filled, and the food came fast! My boyfriend booked the reservation on OpenTable and wrote that it was our anniversary, so the manager came up to our table and greeted/congratulated us personally. The food was delicious! Even though it was in small portions, it was the portion that you should be eating. I didn't feel really stuffed afterwards like i do at most Italian restaurants, i felt pretty good. It was expensive however, so I recommend this place for special occasions!
this was a great find,open on july 4th and did not cost an arm and a leg. service was perfect, food was fantastic. very close to grant park
you can choose entrees or small plates and priced accordingly.
OMG - YUMMO!!!
Ok first I have to warn you this place will cost you, so you want to savor this place for special occasions. High Quality Food - High Quality Service!!!
I have never had one bad thing here - EVER!!!! The service is perfect, the place has a nice feel to it but it is small so make a reservation!
You will never have the same thing here because they change the menu - daily I believe. This is the kind of place you think of when your watching shows on the Food Network.
I had a mixed greens salad with goat cheese, walnuts and cherries. The risotto. Some Mahi Mahi and a few bites of my husbands steak....which I then regretted not ordering.
This is a MUST try place if your looking for fine dining before a show.
I love this restaurant and don't agree with what everyone is saying about the quality and cost. I think you completely get what you pay for. You may not get a heaping pile of pasta like you would at a place like Carmine's, but the food you do get is absolutely delicious and unique. I always get some type of butternut squash ravioli along with a salad to start and sometimes desert, and although there is not a ton of food piled on the plate, the food that is there is quite memorable and incredibly fresh. Fresh is the key word here. My father usually gets the whole wheat coin pasta which I tried and it is delicious as well.
The service is also fantastic as far as I am concerned. I have never had to wait here and the staff are incredibly polite. Every time I have dined here, the other patrons have been very classy people. You don't have to deal with drunks or snooty hostesses like you would at places in the Gold Coast. It is a very relaxing and soothing atmosphere with soft music playing in the background and dim lighting. I go here every time my father comes to town and we will most definitely go back many more times.
Another great meal while in Chicago at the suggestion of some local folks at a training. The caesar salad was fresh and their dressing was great. I had the london broil (the first time I've ever seen it on a menu) and boy did I not regret it. The meat was cooked perfectly, and the garlic butter on top made the meat melt like butter. Hardly any fat, but just a great tasting piece of meat. My coworker had the Veal which he said was also a great presentation and taste. The waiter was very well versed in the available wines as well as knowing the various dishes in and out. I could go to this restaurant for a at least a week straight there were so many different meals on the menu that looked worth trying.
Okay, so this place is one of those super over-priced Loop joints that I could never afford to go to without someone with money treating me. And boy, this was not a treat. Okay, except for the staff, who were friendly, helpful, and quick.
There were racist businessmen to the right of me, and an ugly ceilling, but my gripe at restaurents always comes down to food: quality, quantity and price. A $20 ravioli dish totalled six smallish raviolis. Preposterous. Well, I never. Simply shocking. Six. Even Sesame Street's The Count would hate this place. The only thing he'd get to count is the cash leaving his wallet.
Just an akward experience altogether. Hostess was a bit disheveled looking and seemed like she was trying way to hard. Server was one of those people who would constanly leave you feeling like he should have said more. Almost like ending a sentence before he should. Food was decent I guess, but nothing blew me away. I'd skip it and head to one of the many other Italian staples.
Oh and did I mention its in a basement...yeah, no windows creeps me out!
My favorite Theatre District Italian restaurant - bar none. Have been dining here longer than I can remember, am still a huge fan of the first dish I tried: Butternut Squash Ravioli, simply delectable. They don't even skimp on the Happy Hour Buffet, and offer hot and cold appetizers - get there early, tables go fast, people tend to linger. Most recently had a very successful private party for my colleagues, and everyone raved about the food, service, ambiance - a very "hard to get" group was very impressed. I will return again and again, and yes, it's NOT a chain. Love that!
Trattoria No. 10 is the perfect place for celebrating special occasions. Right when we got there our hostess was ready for us and we were seated immediately. Our service was ridiculously fast and the manager greeted us personally and thanked us for coming. The food portions are smaller than typical Italian restaurants, but I didn't eat anything all day and I left happy! The restaurant is located in the basement of the building, and the lights are dim and the rooms are quiet. This makes for a really nice and intimate atmosphere! I ordered the butternut squash ravioli and I highly recommend it! We ordered Mango Sorbet for dessert and it was also phenomenal. Since the cost is pretty high, I highly recommend this place for special occasions. I assure you, you won't be disappointed!
I was here last night with some folks that I'm pretty fond of and some others that made it to my list of favorites by the end of the night. As did the food here.
I loved the perfectly portioned asparagus and sun dried tomato drenched ravioli. Probably the best I've had in a while, and light enough that I could actually get through my dish and even consider dessert afterward!
Highly recommend the dessert sampler. If the entree portions seem stringent, the dessert portions more than make up with the generous overdose. It was hard to pick a favorite, but the memory of the wickedly rich and delicious profiteroles is still fresh, so it gets my vote!
While the food was inarguably amazing, I do believe that the place is a bit overpriced, given the rather ordinary ambiance and unexceptional layout. However, it definitely deserves a fan-following among food snobs.
Very very delicious food and good service. We were an hour late for our reservations due to a flat tire, but they still got us in. Our server was super quick as well since we had a show to catch down the road at the Goodman.
I had a beet salad, and the butternut squash ravioli, both were incredible. The only down side is the price tag. I wouldn't go here if someone else wasn't buying.
Note: I may have just gotten lucky with my ordering. My boyfriend informed me that his food was good, but he would've been just as satisfied with a can of chef boyrdee.
Excellent food and service. We go there often as we go to so many plays in the area. The food is so different and varied each time we go there; a new menu is printed each day. Creativity is alive and well.
The wine selection is great and reasonably priced,try the Sardinian wine. The servings are just the right size before going to the theatre.
And did I mention the Great Service ! Buon Apertito !
Fantastic food - their appetizers were light yet tasty. With one of our work clients, we went to lunch here and the service was fantastic. It definately is larger than it looks on the outside. The dining room is below in a basement setting that still maintains its ambiance and sense of cozy classy Italian restaurant. I had their soup of the day which was roasted red pepper soup with a chicken stock base and garnished with mini goat cheese ravioli. Delish! It had a little kick to it.
I topped it off with a grilled salad - didn't taste much of olives in there as it was advertised with but their ravioli (stole off of a co-worker's plate) was fabulous. (Check out the pictures for the soup, ravioli and salad) We topped off lunch with coffee/cappuccinos and their dessert platter - I don't know where to begin -t he chocolate mousse melted in your mouth - they had french vanilla ice-cream topped with a crust of chocolate on top of a biscotti. YUM! andt heir tiramisu was fantastic..their apple dessert was fabulous - crispy crust - warm delicious apple pastry on the inside topped off by french vanilla ice cream.
Great option for a classy Italian meal. Impressive, delicious, and doesn't break the piggy bank either. :)
My latest edition of Good Deal Meals: the weeknight buffet (5:30 to 7:30) at Trattoria 10. For $12 per person (with a one-drink minimum) you can help yourself to a spread of salads, antipasti, pastas and fruit. This worked well for us because we were going to the theatre and didn't want to carry any aromatic bags of leftovers around. The staff was very helpful in finding us a table (we arrived at 6:20 and it was pretty full) and they did a fairly good job replenishing the empty trays. Only minus: I would have liked a salt and pepper shaker, maybe some olive oil, on the table, because the food was a little on the bland side.
We decided to order dessert off the menu, and got the "Chocolate Trio" for another $12. It was enough for four of us to share, and it was positively scrumptious. I also thought the bathrooms were nice.
You know what? I think I was born in Italy because I can eat lot of Italian food like I have been starved for weeks. People tell me how in the world I can eat so much of it? Well. Maybe it's in my blood?
I like this place, clean, cozy, fast service, and everything looks really good. I had gigantic ravioli; it was little spicy because they make their own sauce. I'm use to eating ravioli out of the can and heated in the microwave. So I said what the heck.
"Sir, I would like to have ravioli! Right there. Yes please"
They were so goooood. It was spicy for me and I drank down two glass of water with it. One piece of this ravioli is like 5 times bigger than ones you get from can ravioli. I wasn't use to eating this size so I did what I normally do with little size ravioli; I put one or two pieces in my mouth. So I'm eating it, shoving it in my mouth without cutting in to little pieces first. Then I start talking with my mouth full... it was kind of funny if you were there. I can't wait to go back to this place to try some other Italian food.
I went here for lunch with a party of 5. I had the minestrone, which was surprisingly spicy but quite good. I also had the grilled trout salad, which was great. My companions had pork, squash ravioli, arugula salad, and the salad trio. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal very much.
Service was good, but not excellent; it took a while for anyone to notice us once we were seated. The atmosphere is very nice. Portions are adequate but won't cause you to loosen your belt.
I contracted some scientists from Belgium to fly into Chicago and bring their best equipment. Through their powerful and well-calibrated electron microscope, I was juuuust able to make out my ravioli on the monitor, with the help of immense magnification and theoretical mathematics to determine its location on the enormous plate.
Said ravioli was tasty, but good god it's expensive for what you get. From what I saw of the rest of my group's dishes, it's essentially a tasting menu. A good one though.
I ate here yesterday for a late lunch and I think I may still be full today.
Everything was PHENOMENAL. My office gathered here for a wedding shower for our manager, so the appetizers had already been selected. Asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and phylo dough, stuffed portebello wedges and grilled veggie skewers... That alone would have been enough!
The bellinis were refreshing and the farfalle pasta with duck confit and asparagus was mouth-watering. I will certainly be back to try the weeknight buffet!
(Minus one star for the server calling me ma'am. I'm 23. I don't think I fall into "ma'am" status for another 23. I mean, do I LOOK like I should be called MA'AM? Doubtful.)
How NOT to be seen while eating at an Italian restaurant...
First, most of the places above ground will charge you an arm and a leg, plus everyone sees you in the restaurant. Second, the food is usually MEDIOCRE at best. You can get the same food at half the price without a waiter at a cafeteria elsewhere. Other restaurants with "Italian" in their name are VERY mediocre and a total tourist trap.
Trattoria No. 10 is a real restaurant in the middle of the loop that has great Italian food.
ENVIRONMENT: Dark, quiet, private tables that let you hide in a corner. The bar is good too.
LUNCH: The Italian food is very good. It is a lot of pasta in rich sauces, or a meat dish with a side. Not exactly your Zbarro's offering in volume, but more than enough in quality. I had the pasta with duck confit and vegetables (pasta tossed with a good serving of boneless dark duck meat, in a rich duck sauce with peas, carrots and other root vegetables). My lunch friend had a hazelnut ravioli in a pumpkin sauce (try that with gorgonzola and it just makes the dish).
Caesar and Italian salads, plus traditional panini sandwiches are also available at a reasonable price.
It all comes with a very good bread basket, full of a nice assortment of artisan breads and flatbreads.
DESSERTS: At lunch, they have a dessert menu. Tiramisu and strawberry cheesecake looked good, but we didn't have time.
CAVEATS: It IS a trek down the stairs or by elevator. Also, its a little pricey. Lunch ranges from $10-$15 for one dish. A drink and a plate with tip will cost you about $16-20 per person. BUT, what you are paying for is PRIVACY. Also, expect to stay the full hour for lunch (no express here).
In all, take your lunch date, your early dinner, or your theatre date here if you want to escape the rush of the loop at an upscale restaurant hideaway at a slight premium.
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