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Trattoria Trullo
Category: Restaurants Italian Italian [Edit]
4767 N Lincoln Ave(between Giddings St & Lawrence Ave)
Chicago, IL 60625
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Square, Ravenswood
(773) 506-0093
- Nearest Transit:
-
Western-Brown (Brown Line)
Rockwell (Brown Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
167 reviews for Trattoria Trullo
Review Highlights
"Elevated with some olive oil and freshly grated parmiggiano."
(in 22 reviews)
"...with it (I recommend the bruschetta or caprese salad."
(in 9 reviews)
"I got the flourless chocolate cake."
(in 4 reviews)
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167 reviews in English
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Review from august b.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
I mean it's good but...
I really wish my girlfriend would stop buying groupons. sure you save money but only in the kind of way that you have to order all this extra food to make it worth it. The groupon gave us an appetizer, 2 entrees, and a dessert. Not bad but throw in her obligatory red wine and that translates to a 15 dollar bill. Again not bad but...
I tip the socially responsible way which meant that with the 30 spent on the on the groupon and the other 30 spent on the tip, tax and wine...this really is questionably worth it.
Not to sound cheap but it isn't "lights out." I guess i can't complain, i ate a steak prepared the way i like it but...
Overall, food is solid, service excellent but it lacks something. -
Review from mark c.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
2nd visit here - this time on a groupon. We both felt it was a mediocre experience although I thought service was decent. I had the snapper special and had to take it back as it was loaded with bones. I usually don't send things back but it had so many bones in it!
They gave the risotto special instead and it was ok, but a bit too much lemon for my liking. The dessert was the chef's special and it was excellent - peppermint ice cream and some type of Carmel pie. That alone moved my review up a star, however, overall, with so many great Italian restaurants to choose from and with the lack of parking without paying for a valet 10 bucks, I probably won't return unless I have other plans in the neighborhood. -
Review from Stolie G.
Chicago, IL
1/15/2012
I purchased a GROUPON on this restaurant. I checked the reviews before getting it. it was back and forth. Some good and some bad.
Well, we made reservations. as it said, it was highly recommended.
We, arrived on time. thank god for vallet. parking is bad around there (Especially with snow). We, were seated right away. our waitress was Anna, she was very nice.
But, I did feel like she was rushed. she didn't tell us the specials. we had to ask her.
she didn't seem like she was all there. but, she was very nice.
we ordered the calamari for a appetizer. it was delish, not to crispy the sauce for it was OK. I personally just ate the calamari on it's own with the lemon on top.
my partner ordered the meat special. OMG! to die for. I ordered a pasta dish, it was OK. it kind of lacked flavor. I regret not ordering from the chef's special.
The dessert was delish as well. I would go back. But, this would not be my first choice for a italian restaurant. -
Review from J H.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2012
MEH. Food was extremely mediocre. Not worth the 26 bucks for each entree. Risotto tasted like soupy rice. Not creamy at all. The flourless cake was honestly terrible.... I didn't think it was possible for flourless cake to be dry?
This is one of those places that makes you feel like you never want to buy another groupon ever again.
There was a piece of aluminum foil and hair in my food. I probably should have complained... but I didn't.
Did anyone else have to pay tax on the full (pre-groupon) amount? We had to pay $10+ in tax on our $12 bill (for drinks). Felt strange.
Add another $20+ in tip and we left pretty bummed that we had spent $80 bucks on a MEH meal.... would have rather skipped the groupon and spent that money on some place decent!!
:( -
Review from Thomas L.
Chicago, IL
2/7/2012
We always enjoy dinning here for certain dishes so we stopped go to Taylor street. Services is OK it can be better. Parking is crazy around here.
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Review from Steve K.
Chicago, IL
1/6/2012
After another restaurant choice fell through on New Year's Eve, my fiance and I found a lot of reservation availability at Trattoria Trullo...I suppose that should have been the first red flag.
We arrived for our 7:30 reservation at 7:31 pm and found the "lobby" and bar area crowded with seemingly frustrated groups waiting for their table. I approached the hostess with a smile and the proper information needed to inform her of my reservation and I was met with a sigh, mumblings about a MAJOR problem and a promise that it will be about 5 minutes.
We braced ourselves for a lengthy wait only to be surprised that the owner (I'm assuming) started to take the bull by the horns and seat individuals who had a reservation. We were seated immediately and I can only imagine that we were accidentally ushered to our seats ahead of other groups who had been waiting there, also with a reservation, longer than us.
Judging by the empty tables and time it took for our server to greet us and give us the specials, my fiance and I agreed that the major problem we had heard rumors about had to be that they were short-staffed. Fortunately, we were not in any rush to get to a NYE party and instead took the opportunity to enjoy our meal.
I ordered a chicken dish (in a lemon and olive oil sauce) and my fiance ordered a NY Strip...each coming with a $19.50 and $23 ish price tag respectively. Unfortunately the only part of the meal that was astounding was the bill. My chicken dish was flavor-less (had to salt, pepper and throw grated cheese on it) and average. My fiance's 14 oz NY strip was 3 ozs of fat, 4 ozs of gristle and 7 ozs of disappointment.
The atmosphere was very Italian-feeling but the prices were outrageous for the "quality" of entrees they serve. Far too many options (Italian or otherwise) in this area to ever return. -
Review from Heather H.
Chicago, IL
11/30/2011 Seated via OpenTable 2 Check-ins Here
Not consistent, which is a real shame.
I used to frequent TT much more when I lived in the area. It was an easy walk over to grab some dinner and wine. Years ago, I noticed the quality and service was excellent.
Fast forward to present day and it's almost like a different place. It's honestly a 50/50 chance you'll get a great meal vs pretty mediocre. Example, my favorite dish there is (was) Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa. It's orecchiette with rapini sautéed in olive oil, garlic, and a pinch of red pepper flakes.
The last couple times I was there, the orecciette was literally swimming in olive oil, almost like a soup. This is gross, and actually makes the pasta flavorless. You'd think the server would notice I didn't eat it, and ask if everything was ok, but lately they don't seem to care. I mentioned it wasn't good or prepared the way it normally is, they didn't offer to remove it from the bill, or get me anything else.
Sorry TT, I'm tired of taking a gamble on you, and usually losing.Listed in: Love in the Square
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Review from loni t.
Chicago, IL
1/20/2012
Delicious!
And the wait staff was fabulous!
Can't wait to go back! -
Review from L P.
Chicago, IL
1/24/2012
I live in LS and want to see this place be successful but the owner needs to get on Yelp and read what people are saying and take that as a hint that some changes need to be made.
Aside from probably hiring a new chef, there needs to be some quality control measures instituted in the kitchen.
Secondly, the wait staff is in dire need of training. Simply hiring a hot foreign girl and telling her that "all you need to do is fill the water glass and ask if everyhing is OK" doesn't make a good server. They need to be trained by someone who knows what they're doing, not someone who doesn't.
Again, I want this place to succeed but ownership needs to make some changes to win people back and get repeat business. -
Review from Maureen V.
Evanston, IL
11/12/2011
Let me start off by saying that the entrees were delicious. It's just too bad our waitress mistook us for firefighters who had just received an urgent call because we would have enjoyed our meal even more had we not felt so rushed.
I'm sure she thought she was being efficient, but it made for a less than relaxing evening. The low point was when she tossed the dessert menus down on our table as my husband continued to eat his meal.
The other problem we had was with the wine special. In her haste (I'm sure that must have been it), our waitress neglected to tell us one pretty big detail. The price she quoted was for a half bottle. Imagine our surprise when she arrived with the mini bottle -- turned out the special wasn't so much.
The restaurant is much larger than it appears when you first walk in (in fact, if they ask you if you want to sit in the back or front, be sure to ask to see the back -- it's an entirely different vibe that we regretted not choosing).
We visited this restaurant many times when it was in Evanston and thought it was very good. But I doubt we'll go back again. Unless, of course, we're in a rush. -
Review from Katherine R.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011
The crisp and cool breeze on a very bright and sunny Saturday afternoon brought me here for an authentic taste of foreign wonder. The atmosphere inside and outside is quite what I imagine sitting in Verona, Italy feels and the olive oil on the table, fresh ground pepper, the ice water, and hot panini with assorted salted thinly sliced meat savored my taste buds to the last bite.
My friend ordered pasta with warm bread, and meat balls. For starters we had a plain and simple soup just hot enough broth to warm up our stomachs for our main course. I wasn't ready to leave sitting outdoors in the bright sun light and chilly strong wind by choice on the early empty court yard and streets; it felt nice to be the only people out,
I enjoyed watching in the window the pizza maker roll fresh dough with a wooden roller in his white chef uniform and hat. And our waitress was vibrant. The quality and originality of the menu here is plain and simple to see and select. I hope you enjoy this restaurant as much as we did. The site seeing here on a stroll for a brisk walk afterward marks the spot. -
Review from Jessica M.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
This is our go-to place for Italian in the neighborhood. We always order the specials and are never disappointed. I avoid the menu as the one time I ordered from it was blah, not bad, just not good. In the summer, we like to grab a table outside. This is a great little spot with some yummy specials and good wine choices.
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Review from Lauren V.
Meh.
I think that is the best way to sum up my feelings about Trattoria Trullo. The staff was friendly and I do enjoy some warm bread and olive oil but the Three Ricotta & Spinach filled Jumbo Shells baked in Tomato-Basil Cream Sauce were not as good as the description may lead you to believe. The shells were swimming in an overabundance of sauce, there was no way to really just taste the pasta or even get a good bite of it, the dish was basically pasta soup.
The dish also came out of the kitchen so hot that it didn't really cool off until I was done eating. Don't get me wrong I like my food hot but this was overkill and I was hungry and didn't want to wait another 20 minutes to eat the food sitting right in front of me.
The desserts were pretty good, but with all the other great Italian places in the city I don't think I will be returning. -
Review from Taufiq H.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very attentive service, specially on a Friday night
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Review from Shaun F.
Chicago, IL
11/24/2011
Extremely disappointed!
Before I totally unload on this place let me first say that our wait staff was attentive and friendly.
The food was bland and almost totally unseasoned. Also, this restaurant is shockingly overpriced considering what comes out of the kitchen.
We had the seafood salad for an appetizer. The fish was old, chewy, and disgusting. I should have sent it back, but I was using a groupon, so I didn't.
We both ordered the specials for the evening. My stuffed pork was dry and again, bland. My wife's risotto was slightly over-cooked and flavorless.
I actually was sick from this food once we got home. Unfortunately, it's a big mistake to eat here. -
Review from Pamela P.
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
The pizza is excellent. Everything else should remain far from your selection purview. The sausage pizza is quite delicious as is the basic tomato basil.
If you want to be brave and order something else, especially any of the "specials," ask for the price or you'll be shocked by something like a $17 for a buratta appetizer. Ouch. -
Review from Tara F.
Chicago, IL
11/3/2011
I have gone past this place so many times when friends wanted to go we jumped at the chance to give this place a try. This history, menu and services were terrific.
There was four of us for dinner and unfortunatley two of the four decided to have the eggplant parmesian. They both regretted their decision later that evening.
I will say that two of us quite enjoyed our meals but the experience was a bit lack luster and when great friends and loved ones don't have a good experience it tarnishes the visit. With so many wonderful places to go in Chicago I hate to say but this is one worth crossing off your list. -
Review from kevin v.
Chicago, IL
9/2/2011
My wife and I walked past this place dozens times when we lived in Lincoln Square. On almost every pass, one of us would say "we should use our Groupon for that place." One of the reasons we put it off was an episode of Check Please(!). A lady on the show said her pasta entree was "horrific." I assumed she was being a bit harsh, but um......yeah, not so much.
I think we eventually went on a weekend around 8pm during the summer. We sat in the patio area which was very nice. My chair was close enough to the open windows that i got a blasts of a/c on a very warm night. There's lots of people watching to be had in the Square as well. Very pleasant environment complete with a few adult beverages and delicious fried calamari. So far, so good.
We both ordered daily specials for our mains. I got lamb served over risotto, which was pretty good. My wife ordered the black ink seafood pasta which was, let me tell you, horrific.
The pasta was so over cooked that it turned to mush if you looked at it the wrong way. There wasn't much in the way of seasoning either. Very unappealing. She would have sent it back, but our server disappeared after we got our food. I hate to say it, but it's almost like she knew.
As we shared my risotto, we notice that no one on the patio was eating pasta. The argument could be made that it was too hot to eat pasta, but pizza and risotto are not any lighter in the grand scheme of things. Might have been just a coincidence, but I wonder.....?
This might be a cheap shot and I'm sorry, but It also didn't help matters much seeing the owner walk around with a holier than thou attitude while his Italian restaurant can't even serve pasta al dente. I'm sure he is very proud of his establishment and I get that, but seriously man; taste the pasta sometime.
Very long story short, don't look at the pasta section of the menu if you go here. Which for an Italian restaurant, is pretty bad. -
Review from dan w.
Chicago, IL
12/16/2011
I had read the poor Yelp reviews on this place but wanted to give it a chance anyway, since it's so close to my home. Yelp was right; this place does not deserve more than 3 stars. There are way too many good (and less pricey) Italian restaurants in Chicago, so I hope Trattoria Trullo's kitchen will start getting its act together. I had always been curious about this place, but now I know and will probably not return.
*Melanzane al Cartoccio: just OK
*Pumpkin Ravioli: EXTREMELY bland. A big failure.
*Seafood special of the day: Nothing to write home about
*Tiramisu: Average
*Bread Basket: Five stars -
Review from Jenna G.
Chicago, IL
11/21/2011
My husband and I dined here using a Groupon on a Friday evening - which we were delighted we were able to do since so many restaurants restrict weekend usage. The breakdown:
Food: We ordered the prosciutto melon for an appetizer. My husband enjoyed it but it was just okay to me - I'm just not a fan of salty foods like prosciutto, but he is :) For our entrees, I ordered the mahi mahi on a bed of seafood risotto. Half of my fish was SO dry, but oddly the other half seemed to be okay. The seafood risotto was good - I could have used a little more flavor in it but that's just me being picky. My husband ordered a sirloin with a side of pumpkin ravioli with goat cheese sauce. The sirloin had a nice sauce on it and was cooked perfectly. The ravioli was good, but the goat cheese sauce was SO rich. It was nice for a side, but I wouldn't have been able to eat a whole plate of it. Dessert was the tiramisu, and it was excellent. Very light and fluffy - very enjoyable.
Drinks: If you like white wine, particularly a pino grigio or sauvignon - try the White Botromagno, Gravina. I liked it so much I took a picture of the name in the menu so I could buy a bottle!
Atmosphere: Casual - you could probably make it romantic if you wanted, but our evening was pretty relaxed.
Value: I think for the price you're paying (average of $12-$13 for a dish), you are getting a good dish. My dish would have been in the $20 range had I not had the groupon, and I think I would have been disappointed if I actually would have paid that amount.
I'd certainly be up to going back again, but this time I'll just get a classic Italian pasta dish :) -
Review from Jessica S.
Aurora, IL
1/8/2012
If you are looking for Italian food, this is the place! As a couple who has traveled up the coasts of Italy, we were delighted to enjoy an authentic Italian meal with menu offerings and flavors that were exactly how we remember Italy. Being at Trattoria was like being in Italy all over again! The shrimp and scallop risotto and cannoli dessert were heavenly! It was romantic, the wine was reasonably priced and the food was perfecto!
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Review from Jennifer E.
Chicago, IL
7/17/2011
I live very close to this restaurant but hesitated to come in because of the prices. So when Yelp Eats included this restaurant I asked my husband if we can try it since he loves italian food.
We went here on a saturday night and it looked very busy but there were free tables inside. We were seated right sways and got bread and water to start with. Our server took awhile to get to our table but it was ok because the bread was keeping us busy.
Anyways, when our server came to our table. I mentioned we were there for yelp eats and from then on we never had to wait for anything lol. She was very nice, I think her name was Felicia. Food was good. I had the brusscheta and chicken parmagian. My husband had the Romana salad and a pasta dish...I think it was cavapetti??? I don't speak any italian, I just eat it.
Lastly, we had our first canolli and I liked it but my husband was not a fan. I would come back here again but probably not get as mud food because with 50% off for yelp eats, our bill was $40 so maybe on a nice payday :) -
Review from Angelique B.
Chicago, IL
11/8/2011
Four of us dined here on a Saturday night and ordered the special appetizer (buratta with arugula and bosc pears) - the appetizer and our pasta entrees were delicious; however, the waitress failed to mention the appetizer was $22! It was more than our entrees and a heads up would have been nice.
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Review from Christopher K.
Chicago, IL
6/26/2011
Let's call out Trattoria Trullo for what it is - a mediocre Italian restaurant that wouldn't survive if it wasn't in a high traffic area like Lincoln Square.
Starters: Calimari - solid and hands down the best part of the meal. Insalata Trullo - heavy on the mixed greens, light on everything else including taste.
Mains: Risotto w/prosciutto - I can't even fully comment as the prosciutto was put in as an afterthought and if I hadn't know it was supposed to be in there, I might have missed it. Cavatelli - bland, undercooked, and sat in your stomach like a ball of glue.
Drinks: Wine selection is decent and quite reasonable so I'll give them kudos for that.
Ambiance: Space is nice and open and lighting was romantic. However, there was a recurring odor that smelled like burnt pasta. Perhaps that's why the food took so long.
Service: Waitress was nice enough but painfully slow.
Overall: Unmemorable and we likely won't be back. -
Review from N. S.
Chicago, IL
9/27/2011
I live in the neighborhood and have always thought the menu sounded wonderful, but had never heard anyone say anything good about it.
Now I know why.
I had the orrecchiete with rapini, which the menu describes as " orecchiette with rapini sauteed in olive oil, garlic and a pinch of hot chili flakes." I expected garlicky, al dente pasta with some crunchy bitter greens, right?
No - I got soup. It was a bowl of mushy, overcooked pasta in broth with (again) mush stewed rapini. (Seriously, it might as well have been canned broccoli.)
My friend had the Conchiglie Ripieni Mascarpone. It was also overcooked, but that was more forgivable in a dish like that. It was nothing special though - sort of akin to Stouffer's frozen lasagna.
The house salad was very good. And the service was friendly enough, if slow and inattentive. However, when the server took our plates before we were done, I was a little irritated. Obviously, I didn't put up a fuss though, since the food was such a disappointment.
Something's wrong with this place. Whoever devised the menu must not be working there anymore, and whoever is running the kitchen doesn't really seem to care about food. -
Review from Tim C.
Wrigleyville, Chicago, IL
4/2/2011
Got the bruschetta and the sausage provolone pizza (I'd give the more formal definition if their website were listed) to go.
The bruschetta was only three pieces for 7.95. And really not that tasty to consider a portion that small and at that price.
The pizza, and maybe this is some old world hipster gimmick, wasn't even cut when I got home. I opened the box to a whole freaking un cut pie. Sorry, I don't like working for my take out. Let alone my very bland take out Italian "cuisine" that apparently hasn't heard of "Italian Spices". I could, and have, make a better pizza.
That's right Trattoria, I'm calling you out to duel.
12 inch rubber dildos at 10 paces at dawn. You bring the lube. -
Review from Michael R.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
Wow, did I waste some money this evening. This is the first time I have been there and I used a Groupon. You would think that any restaurant trying to drum up business by using Groupon would be at the top of their game. Certainly not here! You would think the owner, who happened to be there that evening would at least see how you were doing or inspect the food that was coming out of the kitchen. A big noOOOO.
Started with grilled octopus and shrimp over a bed of rapini. Seafood was grilled well, ripini overdone and swimming in olive oil. Next my date had chicken marsala. I'm almost positive it was a twice cooked chicken. Partially cooked to save time and then reheated and finished off with a gravy of marsala something. Ask for the steak knife if you order this dish. You won't be able to use the regular table knife on this one. And the vegetables, yikes! Zuccini ala chung king! And the risotto side, lets not go there except arborio rice was not used nor the usual short or medium grained size. You'll see.
My entre was a simple steak. How can anyone go wrong with steak you ask. Come eat here an you'll see. Again, the vegetables were an uninspired steamed zuccini and potato cubes that must have been left over from breakfast. Just a bit dry and overdone.
In conclusion, there are so many better Italian restaurants that will leave you happier. -
Review from Patty E.
Melrose Park, IL
10/15/2011
I thought the food was delicious!! This restaurant is very well placed in the Lincoln Square area and there's plenty of metered parking available. I really like that they've branched out and have begun to do a salsa night on Fridays (yes, dancing!!) the instructor and staff are super friendly so it really made it worth the trip for dinner and they even have lessons if you don't know how to dance salsa, lots of fun!!!
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Review from Marcia T.
Chicago, IL
9/5/2011
First time I go to an actual 'Italian Restaurant'...meaning that your waiter is really Italian =) Its a nice looking fancy place...with dimmed lights...perfect for a romantic dinner...I ordered chicken parmigiana and it was delicious...Ive only been here once...but will most def come again =)
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Review from Anne M.
1/3/2011
I really want to give this place more stars, but I just can't. I've been here twice now - the past two years for new year's eve dinners - and the service was really bad and really slow both times.
This past NYE, I was in a group of four for dinner around 8. I called, made a reservation, we showed up right at 8, and were told it would just be a minute. Well, that was more like 20 minutes - off to a bad start (don't 'take reservations' if they mean nothing!!!).
We were seated in the back dining room (very loud) and bread/water was already on the table. We were in a rush to go to our festivities afterward, so we quickly ordered and then waited and waited and waited.... 3 bread baskets later, our food finally arrived. They gave me the wrong thing (I ordered eggplant parmesan and they gave me chicken parmesan) but there was no way I was going to send it back and risk waiting another 45 minutes for my correct order. Someone else at the table ordered a mixed seafood dish that was lacking several components listed on the menu. Despite the mix ups, the food was good - not spectacular, but it was good.
Our waiter was hustling all over the place, taking care of too many tables, and sweating profusely. He checked on us basically only to take the orders and that was about it.
It took about 2 hours for us to get out of there, and last year was a similar story - we never should have given it a second try, but it was close to where our NYE party was. The food is a bit pricey too.
There was a man whom we thought was the manager/owner, walking around checking on things, but didn't acknowledge us once while we were waiting to be seated, or on our way out, which is just really bad customer service.
We will not be back here... I don't like going to restaurants where you're treated like a nuisance rather than a paying customer. -
Review from Roseann M.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 2/24/2011
The central tenet of Buddhism, I'm told, is "everything changes." Consistency is a myth. The sand is always shifting under our feet. In the context of snarfing down Italian food, it means that past experience is not always a predictor of future results.
So it was with a recent Sunday evening at Trattoria Trullo.
The place is still cute. The restaurant was not super-busy, so all the patrons were seated comfortably in the front section, near the window. Despite being a cold February night, we were warm and comfortable near the big front window.
Our server was a young woman named Carmela. She was professional, friendly, prompt, and made no mistakes.
I was planning to abstain from alcohol, but my sister, who was buying, said something like "oh come on." How could I resist that strong coercion? She ordered a glass of sangiovese, and, weak-willed woman that I am, I said, "me too." It was okay. I drank it. On my own, I probably would have gotten something more full-bodied and bold. Oh well.
TT is an Italian restaurant, so we decided we were obliged to order bruschetta. We got three pieces, and it was very good. The sister particularly remarked that the cheese was delicious.
On to the entrees. . . we both prefer vegetarian. She ordered the eggplant (malanzale alla parmagiana). I tasted it. She said it was okay. Nothing great, nothing bad. The red sauce tasted kind of sweet to me. She took home about 1/3 of her dinner, and later told me that it tasted better the second day.
I ordered the orechiette con cime di rapa. This is the "little ears" pasta, and the rapini sauteed in garlic and olive oil. I hated it. Hated, hated, hated. It tasted bitter and nasty. Even when I tasted the olive oil and garlic sauce, it tasted bitter. I took two bites and said to Sister, this is inedible. We called Carmela over, and I told her, I can't eat this; I hate this. She apologized and brought over a menu.
I must tell you, Dear Reader, that maybe this rapini was something you might like. Sister said she was surprised that I had ordered this; apparently I did not know what rapini was. Well, I sure do now. If you know you like rapini, maybe you will like this entree a whole lot better than I did.
On my second try, I ordered the cavatellia cruidaiola. I fared much better with this. Like the eggplant, it was deeply okay. Not terrible, not great. I was very hungry by this point, and I snarfed it down.
We shared a tiramisu for dessert. This was very, very good. I had house coffee, and that was just fine.
Bottom line: excellent location, service, appetizer, dessert. One entree was a complete fail; the other two were deeply okay, and one was better after sitting in a refrigerator all night and being reheated the next day. We were charged for my original entree, which I hated, but not for the replacement entree that I ate.
I definitely won't write off TT for future visits, but it has slipped from the top tier into the middling range.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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9/3/2008
I love this place. I've eaten here twice in the past month, and each time, we are served… Read more »
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Review from Steven K.
Des Plaines, IL
9/15/2011
Try the Burratta Cheese as a appetizer. This is not your typica Italian fare. It is a unique style souther Italian restaurant with more of a seafood a lighter style entrée experience. You will be comfortably full after eating here.
Another favorite of mine is the Gnocci with truffle sauce.
Enjoy! -
Review from joe b.
8/22/2011
The service was excellent and the waiter we had was exceptional. He gave us a great win suggestion and also recommended great food. I ate a great pasta clam dish and my girlfriend had the chicken parmigiana which was also pretty good. I would recommend this place again if only for the great service alone.
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Review from Kaydee F.
Chicago, IL
8/28/2011
Cavatelli sucked. chicken parmesan was ok. This place is mediocre at best. Like a previous reviewer said, this place would not make it if it wasn't located in a high traffic spot. Thank goodness we came when it was 50% off for Yelp week. I couldn't imagine having to pay full price for those dishes.
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Review from M T.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2011
I've been to this restaurant twice and am disappointed to say I won't be back. While the wine was alright, I found the food to be underwhelming both times. The S.O. and I went most recently on a Saturday night and found the service to be poor even though it was half empty. I asked if we could order a pizza and was discouraged to do so because it was on the lunch menu (i.e. cheaper). Also, what's up with serving my house wine in a different glass than the more expensive ones? Strange.
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Review from Jeremy G.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2011
Tried this place out for the first time this past weekend and thought it was just okay.....
The space is nice and open, and filled up pretty quickly. It was a tad dark at first but light was adjusted accordingly.
My wife and I spilt a house salad that was decent. We decided to both order something and split - chicken parmisian was pretty good.
We ordered the cavatelli for the second dish and I wasn't impressed. I've never had that type of pasta before so maybe that's the way it's supposed to be, but it seemed over firm. It seemed pretty bland, with the exception of the ricotta forte cheese.
We finsihed off with the taramisu which was very good.
I hate to criticize service in general, but it was extremely slow. Out waiter was also coming off as grumpy or in a bad mood. I don't know if it was because we were a two top and there were larger groups in there, or it's because we used a groupon, but this was the worst service we've experienced in Lincoln Square by far. And from other people I spoke to also said the same thing.
We'll probably give Trullo another shot at some point down the road, but I don't think we're going to rush to get back there. -
Review from Emily R.
2/21/2011
The biggest problem with Trattoria Trullo is their bland, watery, marinara sauce.
Husband and I dined here on Saturday night: 2/19/2011.
The restaurant appeared to by understaffed as the waitresses were running around and it took forever to place our orders and even longer to receive the food. The waitresses hasty temperament made for an all-around uneasy experience.
When our food actually came, it was bland and WAY overcooked.
We had the eggplant and spinach appetizer (Melanzane Al Cartoccio) which was basically deconstructed eggplant parmesan, covered in bland marinara; nothing to write home about.
My husband had the Trofiette Pugliese; a sloppy bowl of pasta with bland sauce, diced tomatoes, some slices of mortadella and literally, a block of cheese on top. Might have been okay if the sauce weren't so wretched.
I had the Vitello Capri; veal scallopini that was cooked until it was the consistency of shoe leather and mildly slimy (?). Throw some cheese of top, some diced tomatoes, a few slices of potato and a veggie on the side and voila: dinner fit for a retirement home!
I also had a side of spaghetti which was cooked until mush and topped with their awful, bland, watery marinara.
As we were waiting for our food to come, we noticed that the table next to us didn't come close to finishing their entrees and didn't take any of the food to-go. At first we thought, "how wasteful," but now we realized that their dinner was just a bad as ours!
Needless to say, we didn't take any of out leftovers home and we won't be coming back to Trattoria Trullo. -
Review from Beth L.
Chicago, IL
3/7/2011
I live in the area and have dined here about a dozen times in the last year. I do really like this restaurant; it is comfortable, has nice ambiance and lighting, and has a good selection of pastas to choose from. The fresh parmesan, olive oil, and bread they bring to you are my favorites!! I've come here just for that and a glass of wine.
I have ordered the ravioli, lemon chicken, and other pasta dishes and always thoroughly enjoyed my dinners. I do wish they had a better seafood selection, however. I think they only serve tilapia, and that might only be on their specials list. I would like to see at least one consistent nice fish dish (salmon?) on their menu.
The service is hit or miss here and that almost caused me to give 3 stars. The owner or manager (a gentleman who seems to be running the place) is always very polite, but on a few occasions, it's taken 25 minutes to order and we don't hear back from our server for the rest of the meal.
I will definitely be here again, though, and I do suggest it for a nice meal! (My common dishes: Ravioli $13 and chicken $19.) -
Review from Laura O.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
We have been here several times and both have just been okay. The service has always been fine, and the outdoor seating is really nice during the summer. I do have to say the ravioli alla vodka is delicious but only because of the vodka sauce - the ravioli itself was pretty plain. The last time I was there I got the linguine con vongole (linguine with clams) which tasted okay, if only a little bland, but later in the evening I felt sick to my stomach. Overall I would have to say if you're looking for good Italian food in the square, go down the street to Due Lire.
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Review from Camille K.
Chicago, IL
8/22/2011
I was extremely disappointed in the service at Trattoria Trullo.
Even though the food was phenomenal, I won't return as their service was horrendous! Our waitress seemed on the ditzy side when she defined common Italian dishes but endearing until it came time to accept our Groupon, which I made a point of telling them when we made reservations and when we sat down. She returned after taking our Groupon to tell me it had already been used, as in manually scratched off a sheet. I explained that this was my first time in the restaurant and after a little back and forth I asked to speak with her manager. She returned after a bit to tell me her manager was too busy to come over but I could look for myself at the pen mark through the Groupon number, as she tried to hand me a stack of papers with numbers listed on them. I politely said that I believed her, I wasn't doubting that the number was marked as used but I really had never been there. She left abruptly then returned, obviously annoyed and said that her manager would then honor it. Our hundred dollar check was then $60. I couldn't believe her manager REFUSED to come see us, especially when we saw him as we left; he was behind the bar without a customer and kindly said good bye. As a former waitress myself, I was more than floored that an upscale restaurant made me feel so unimportant!
