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Grand (Red)
Mon-Fri. 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sat. 4:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Sun. 4:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
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Yes, it is that trendy -- like call at 4PM to score a 9PM reservation for two -- but, oh, it is that GOOD too, and totally worth the wait to eat at an actually good dining establishment vs. the tons of touristy in-and-out factory style places in the neighbourhood.
True, the waitstaff aren't particularly friendly -- but once you get over the fact that they aren't trying to be your bff's, service is plenty functional and efficient, and the focus is the food, people!
I for one, have lost my heart (wait for it!) to the hearts of palm salad! (ohhhh ouch yes sorry that was bad)
No, but seriously -- I'm usually really skeptical of pre-dressed salads and hate when they taste more like dressing than salad. Salads are salads, and not usually the part of the meal I'll rave about, but this was just so perfectly balanced, and a fabulously interesting mix of textures.
Couple in some perfect homemade pastas w/ tasty sauces, and you have me pretty damned happy with my meal. The wine list is great too, although without Quartino's carafe flexibility -- but for overall meal experience, Volare gets my vote!
I live right by here, and had walked by it several times. Wish I would have kept walking by. Ordered two aps and two pastas. The apps were both over seasoned, and the pastas were mediocre at best. Portions were big. We never take leftovers, but we didn't eat much since it wasn't great and thought instead of saying we didn't like it(unusual for me) I said sure we'll take it. Long story short the pasta tasted better after being refrig and microwaved...maybe they didn't microwave it long enough...lol
Price was average, but I'd walk barefoot to Quartino before going back here.
Super crowded and loud.
Went there Sunday night around 6. Made a reservation so we were lucky. Overheard the host tell a party of 2 that their wait would be about 45 minutes. Appeared to be a very popular place for both locals and tourists. No waiting area so everyone's standing around near the bar.
Started off with Fried calamari and Crab cake. Both were decent. Then we got pasta dishes and all three of us were disappointed. We might have had high expectations, but none of the dishes really pleased us.
Because it was so busy, our waiter rarely came by. Actually, the staff generally didn't say much when they did come. Kinda hurriedly did their job and rushed to the next table.
*Avoid sitting near the front door as their phone rings constantly and LOUDLY.
Went here again for lunch almost a year to the date of my last visit. Getting in during lunch was quick and the staff is just so very efficient and friendly. Greetings all around and goodbyes from people who didn't deal with you at all. That's good customer service.
Now, my meal was a little hit and miss however. I have had this obsession with risotto since i've started watching Hell's Kitchen (since they make it every episode) and it was awesome! It was risotto with shrimp and asparagus.
Soooo not sure where the shrimp came from but they tasted as though they were from the Chicago River. Yeah, imagine that for a second.
Why didn't I send it back? well it was a business lunch , yada, yada and things are complicated. So very unlike me, but I just pushed the gross shrimp aside and ate the risotto.
If you're going to get shrimp be sure to inquire about the freshness and whether or not they are brought in daily from the Chicago River.
Made a quick lunch trip here today. No wait to be seated, fast, efficient, and friendly service.… Read more »
Omg, left here STUFFED!
I really like the relaxed, cozy atmosphere they have going on here, and their food was pretty awesome. I got the tortellini with the arrabbiata sauce, and my friend and I split a side of their meatballs (those suckers were pretty massive).
Despite being completely packed on a Thursday night (we took it as a good sign), we were seated right away. Well, we did have a reservation... I highly highly recommend making a reservation. FYI, they do have an enclosed outdoor seating area with heating, but we opted to eat inside.
The crowd was a mix of families, after-work diners, out of towners, etc. I would say a little bit more dressy than plain jeans and a tee, but no need to get crazy decked out (unless you really wanted).
Before our entree's came, I pretty much had stuffed myself with their bread =P I know, I know, stay away from the carbs, but I was hungry! The bread was warm! I couldn't resist!
To top it all off, they had a nice selection of wines.
I am definitely coming back here to try their gnocchi! Om nom nom!
Best Italian food in the city. It's always crouded b/c it's so popular, but it's worth the wait.
I usually order gnocci and meat sauce, which is amazing.
I've never been disappointed and go 4 or 5 times a year.
we went to dinner over the weekend - a group of 8. We had reservations for 9:30 pm but when we got there we had to wait for half an hour and nobody seemed to know exactly when we would actually get our table. They asked us about our plans after - perhaps to determine if they would give us a a table on time? they asked us to wait at the bar area which was small as well with diners on one side and our large group had to stand right beside other diners which made it quite awkward for all of us.
when we were finally seated the waiter came up to one of our friends and told him people have been complaining about how loud he is. The place itself is small and super loud - you can hardly hear anyone at your table so i thought it was a little targeted to come to our friend and complain to just him. At the end of the meal when we were ordering dessert the waiter just stood at our table insisting that we need to make up our minds right that moment till one of us had to ask him to leave and come back until we made up our mind - it wasnt attentive service it was quite abruptive.
the food was okay and the seafood rissotto ranked high amongst our group. however, i wont be going back anytime soon given the high price, the poor service and ambiance.
I went there for dinner on a sunday night hoping that it wouldn't be too crowded, but I was wrong... The place looked chaotic but the manager, I assume, found me a seat at the bar while I waited for my husband to arrive.
We were seated immediately after my husband came 'cuz we had made reservations. The bread the waiter gave us was the best!! It was so soft and had seasoning on top that was a delight. There was also the unseasoned bread that most Italian restaurants serve.
We had the starter-eggplant-risotto that simply melted in the mouth and was so flavorful!
Even though we're vegetarian, we were able to customize the entree and it was very very tasty. The portions were large and we had to get some it in a box as we couldn't finish it.
All in all, a great experience!!
First time eating at Volare, and the food was good.
Started off with 3 appetizers and some meatballs. BTW - was not eating alone, we had a group of 4, more than enough food was served.
Antipasto all' Italiana - wonderful! Who doesn't like a good meat and cheese spread
Insalata di Mare - conche...not so good
Rotolini di Melanzane - baked eggplant, always a favorite, but even better with stuffed ricotta!
Also we ordered a side of meatballs, so tender and juicy, but not enough marinara sauce on the side. The meatballs didn't really need it though.
For dinner, I had the Costolette di Agnello (Grilled Colorado lamb chops in a demi-glace sauce). Let me tell you, if you are a fan of lamb, this dish pretty amazing. Don't have to tell you how to eat it, but medium rare is preferred!
Not known for the deserts, but you have to get the pistachio gellato, rich and creamy with pieces of pistachio to help end the night!
Ambiance is loud and would not recommend it for families with children, but you can't go wrong with the food.
The food and the prices are A+++. This is just no frills great traditional Italian food. The ambiance is slightly outdated...definitely not a trendy place at all. We walked in with a 6:30 reservation on a Sunday and were seated immediately which sounds like we got lucky from reading some of the other reviews. I dont know what I would have done had we had to wait because I was starving...like to the point where I was about to start gnawing on my hand.
My friend and I ordered the Volare salad, the arancini, gnocchi marinara, and rigatoni alla vodka. The waitress kindly warned us the portions were large, so she recommended a half salad. The salad and arancini were both delicious, however the arancini didn't stand a chance against the numerous traditional versions that I sampled throughout Sicily in March of last year. They were a little small, but very tasty nonetheless.
My friend and I both loved the pastas, although her rigatoni was DROWNED in vodka sauce. We both had nice little doggie bags to take home...but I doubt I will get to enjoy mine because my boyfriend has already gotten his grubby hands on my gnocchi!
The service was good, but our waitress seemed like she was auditioning for a Broadway show and was a little nutso so that kinda turned me off.
All in all, I love Volare. It's super cheap -- our meal cost us less than $50 total including tax and tip. Mind you, we didn't drink because we were both incredibly hungover (maybe that's why I also savored my gnocchi like it was the last meal I would ever eat), but I would imagine that even the wine options would be reasonably priced.
Cute date place, not trendy, food is delicious, service and decor are a bit outdated. Did I say the food is delicious?
Must go....pry....food....out of BF's....hands.
I absolutely love Volare. After a few visits, it is hands down one of my favorite restaurants in the city.
Their food is just amazing. To start with, the bread is fresh. I also love the bread with the tomato on top of the focaccia. The only bad thing is it is too easy to just fill up on bread before the goods arrive. I have never ate something that I haven't liked. The veal parmeasan is to die for! The meat is perfectly cooked with the right amount of cheese and the pasta side is delicious! I've also had a few of their other pastas (including the Arrabiata sauce) and have never been disappointed. Each time, I want to try something else but it is hard to stray from my favorites because they are so tasty (others rave about the vodka sauce). I also feel like they aren't overpriced (it's comparable to most places but the quality is way better). More bang for your buck!
This past week was the first time I had ordered a bottle of wine and my was it tasty - and my wallet was pleasantly surprised by the price. I've had dessert there a few times - the cannoli is amazing! Unfortunately, a few times my eyes are bigger than my tummy and by the end of the meal I have overate. I suppose that is just a risk when the food is SO good.
As you can tell, I love this place. I do realize that there are some downsides. The place is packed and has been whatever day I have been there and whatever time. You really should have a reservation - the bar isn't that big to wait at and gets jam packed. [I have come in after 10 before (they close at 11) and it was still a full house.] Because it is so crowded and not a big place, it can be noisy. To me, that just shows the quality of a business and I know that, but this is NOT the place for a quiet dinner. With any restaurant, some waiters are better than others, but overall it is good and just isn't worth deducting any stars.
Each time I leave, I always think: "wow, that is so good. I really need to come more often." Very true.
Enjoyed a casual meal here during a recent trip to Chicago, and I'm glad the hotel concierge recommended this place. Shared a Insalate Volare -- a little overdressed, but a good mix of ingredients and a nice change away from a standard house or Caesar salad.
For dinner, I paired the housemade paperdelle with marinara sauce, and added meatballs. I could only eat one meatball (you get two, and they are huge), and it was moist and delicious. Oodles of sauce and soft noodles made a nice combination with the meatballs. My co-worker had cheese ravioli and said they were great. No room for dessert!
Overall, excellent Italian in a homey atmosphere. Note that it is a little loud inside, and tables are close together. I'd recommend and visit again on a future Chicago visit.
Fantastic Food. Terrible Service.
I ate here last night with two friends and had the calamari to start, which was fine, and ordered the gnocchi with salmonata sauce. I actually was craving lasagna or manicotti, but their selection of vegetarian dishes was quite limited - mostly to the pick-a-pasta-and-sauce section of the menu.
The gnocchi was delicious and the salmonata sauce was amazing, except for the numerous bones I found in the salmon. But the portion was quite generous and I do love me some tomato cream sauce.
But OMG the service was so baaaaaaaad. I had to flag down the waitress and the guy helping with bread and drinks all three times I wanted a refill of my iced tea. It also took a long time for the entrees to get out to us. And the tables were crammed so close together that it was difficult to ignore the conversations of neighboring tables.
I would probably go here again but might get the food to-go. Delicious, but annoying.
Having made a previous attempt to go to this restaurant on a Saturday night, but to no avail, I was most pleased when my Mum mentioned she fancied some Italian fare. It also helped that we'd had a few glasses of wine and this is stumbling distance to my place, so we could have another bottle.... but Volare gets 5 stars wherever it is.
The food was delicious. Down to the bread (warm focaccia and ciabatta with good olive oil). I had mussels in white wine and I will be returning for these - especially as their appetisers are easily enough to make a meal.
I wish I had read these previous reviews and knew that you could order half portions.. I have several pounds of clam linguine and chicken cacciatore languishing in my fridge, and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to finish them. It is not often - nay, ever - that my brother is defeated by food... but his bowl of gnocchi was a potato dumpling too far at about halfway through! All delicious. All drowned in oil, however, so if that's not your thing... go elsewhere. I didn't see anything that wasn't heavy on the oil and parmesan. Yum say I. Seriously, this is one of those most delicious meals I've had since moving here.
I'd recommend the patio. The inside is ridiculously noisy. I don't know how people were holding conversations in there; too much atmosphere for me. But the patio is lovely, and the service was attentive and speedy in both places as far as I could tell.
I'd give n extra star if I could because: THEY HAVE DECENT COFFEE! Super strong Italian espresso, made right.
So, in conclusion: order a glass of Montepulciano, have the mussels, share some pasta, and savour the coffee.
Decent Italian food with generous portions at reasonable price. Take out is decent as well.
They recommended very good wine against what I ordered, and I liked it much better. I sat outside under the heat lamps and it was still nice. I ordered the chicken parm and it was fantastic. My girlfriend ordered whitefish and she loved it too. The vodka sauce on the pasta was delicious also.
Because the restaurant we wanted to go to was booked until 7:45, my friend and I decided to look into restaurants a little further into the city. We had wanted to get in pretty quickly and get out also quickly in order to arrive at the Chicago Theater in time for our show. We ended up choosing Volare based on the good reviews on Yelp.
Getting there was a bit of a task, and we ended up having to bump up our reservation because traffic SUCKED. They kindly told us they would have a table waiting for us when we arrived, which they did. They also had valet, which most Chicago restaurants do. Life saver.
My friend told our waiter that we were in sort of a rush to get to the theater by 8, and he said that would be no problem, even though it was already 6:45. We decided if he's right we might as well order an appetizer, we wont be late right?
We ordered the bruschetta, which was pretty good. Obviously a little hard to cut and eat properly, but when you're hungry it's best to just dive into the food. The waiter brought it to us in a matter of a few minutes. He definitely listened to our plea.
I was in love with their tomato bread. Not sure why, but it was amazing, and I probably could have eaten the whole basket of bread that night.
Both of us ordered Vegetarian meals, pesto tortellini and egg noddles with vodka sauce. I didn't happen to love either of the dishes, but they also came out relatively quickly compared to everyone else that was dining. I would say these dishes were really filling, but were also too thick and creamy of sauce and not enough of the flavors I'd have liked. It just seemed like a standard pesto sauce and vodka sauce with no originality.
Overall the food was OK. I think the layout of the space isn't really too great. You're pretty much crammed in and seated next to a bunch of different tables, where you probably can hear a few conversations at once. Therefore, if you're going for a romantic date, it's probably not the BEST place to be. But, they do listen and are accommodating and I'm sure if I had tried a meat item on the menu I may have liked my dish better, if it was something they specialized in.
We got to the Chicago theater with perhaps a minute to spare. So, our waiter did good!
We've dined at Volare several times, and we feel our experiences our consistent with the other reviews.
Reservations are a must for the weekend, or expect to wait. Atmosphere is buzzing and loud, but not so much you can't enjoy your company and meal. Service has always been top notch!
Fun spot to take out of towners!
I've been here several times, both for lunch and dinner, and each time is better than the last. The dishes are truly amazing and the service is some of the best in this city...and it's always consistent.
My husband and I had the debate last night of what our favorite Italian restaurant is in the city and this definitely tops it for me. The quality in their food is always so great and so fresh - and there isn't a thing on the menu that I have tried and didn't love.
One night I went and their special was a Fruiti Demare - which is scallops, clams, shrimp and mussels in a red sauce - and it was probably the best I've ever had. This is one of my favorite Italian dishes, and have tried it at a lot of places, but by far Volare's version of the dish is in the top 5. I also love their Grilled Seafood salad and their Calamari is also quite delish (especially with their amazing marinara sauce).
One of my favorite things about this place is you can choose your own type of pasta (orrechiette, farfalle, spaghetti, etc) and you pair it with whatever sauce you want....Pesto, Arrabiata, Bologne, Pomodoro, etc. It's really catered to be made the way you want it to be. If you go the pasta route I definitely recommend a side of Meatballs....they're truly some of the best I've had.
Overall, excellent Italian food. I went here with a work group and the food was delicious with large portions (great for eating later!). The service was a little slow that night but overall very helpful and friendly.
I like how this place has a discrete exterior. The atmosphere here is very warm. Check it out!
Every time I bring an out of towner to Volare it becomes their favorite and insist on going there when in town again.
The Insalata Mediterranea is excellent if you like seafood. The grilled octopus is perfect and never rubbery. Risotto Volare is my favorite entree. And yes, I love sea food.
Volare has the feel of a local hole-in-the-wall neighborhood restaurant even though it is one block of Michigan Avenue.
I'll say off the bat - we did not eat here. This review is just a eater beware. We walked over here from our hotel and everyone was so rude. The host was rude, the waiters and staff walking around were rude. So rude that we left. I'm sure the food is great and maybe we'll make it back on a less busy night but seriously - don't be so rude b/c you never know who you're dealing with.
4
10
best italian food in the city. family favorite.
get the risotto, and the gnocchi with vodka sauce.
Visiting from Miami on business. My friend who lives in Chicago took me. Very busy place and very good food. I had the minnestrone soup and orechiette bolognese. Simply put, it was delicious. Great bottle of Montalcino, reasonably priced. Definitely check it out.
After a long day spent escaping Buffalo, I'm checking into my hotel in Chicago and realized I was incredibly hungry. I asked the woman at the Embassy check-in counter what she recommended around the area to eat. This was her first suggestion, and I completely understand it.
I'm not wholly sure what real 'home-style' cooking is, but I'm willing to consider that Volare might be it. They had some of the best Italian food I've eaten. I'm no expert on it, and I might have been biased because I was so hungry, but this stuff was incredible. I ordered the paradelle bolognese (nothing fancy, again, I was just starving). Before that even came out, however, they brought me the best bread I've ever had in my life. I realize I'm one of the few people in the world with strong opinions on bread and toast, but I will tell you; the baker at Volare is unbelievably good at his or her job. It was perfectly crusty on the outside and then warm and airy on the inside. It was the perfect match for soaking up the remnants of the wonderful bolognese sauce that was left after I devoured the entire heaping portion.
All in all, a wonderfully lucky find. This is what you get when you ask locals where they go to eat.
And also when you're smart enough not to eat at any hotel restaurant.
I was expecting more. Our waiter recommended the gnocci with the ham and peas sauce, and I also had some fettuccine with vodka sauce. Both were average, the sauces were a little too rich and salty, and that's coming from someone who loves salt. It's the kind of stuff that will send you looking for a nice spot to pass out after chugging a big glass of water. The bread was ok -- similar to Pompeii's. Our waiter had an attitude, which got annoying. Everyone else seemed nice though.
The prices aren't bad, the sizes are decently big, and the food is ok. Not that special.
Tasty and reasonable. How great is that?
Plus you can literally order anything even if it's not on the menu. I always order the seafood pasta in a red sauce even though it's never on the menu and the chef always accomodates. Not only that but it's one of my fave dishes in all of Chicago.
It's really great! You won't be disappointed. Note: Sitting outside is a little more exciting than inside. Inside is a little drab. They definitely need to hire an interior designer. But then again I'm not there for the not-so-fancy decor, I'm there for the tasty authentic italian food! Yum!
I am not sure why I gave this 4 stars previously, but this is by far my favorite Italian restaraunt in the city. I would just reccomend that if you are going to have a reservation as they do get busy, especially on the weekends. For starters the menu is great. They have a large pasta and sauce variety that you can mix and match and a variety of chicken, veal and beef dishes. I have had the ministrone soup on multiple occassions and it is wonderful, along with the soup of the day. The cesar salad is average, but the tomatoe mozzerlla salad makes up for it. For dinner I have tried the pesto sauce, the aglio y olio (which is the only one that holds a candle to mine), the vodka and the meat sauce and all are amazing. They sauce their pastas perfectly. All of the pastas are great and they have everything from angel hair to gnochi. The service is amazing. My glass is never empty, and when you get up to go the restroom, they refold your napkin. Several staff members including managers stop by to ensure you are having a great experience. As for dessert, the tiramisu and canolli's are wonderful. My mom went there prevously and loved the spumoni gelato. This is just an amazing restaraunt and I plan on returning again and again!
My husband I went here on Saturday night at the recommendation of the hotel we were staying at… Read more »
Motto Beno. I think that means i liked it here. This place is great! We went here for a business meeting and were very satisfied with the food, service, and wine. These people go out of their way to please everyone. Ridiculously good food, and truly authentico!!! I'll be coming back here if I'm in Chicago.
Thank you fellow yelpers! You did not let me down!
My boyfriend's dad and sister are in town and wanted to go to dinner tonight. They asked me for a recommendation for good Italian... and having to pick out the restaurant is usually a panic-inducing situation for me. Yelp to the rescue!
Volare's reviews seemed solid, and the location perfectly near their hotel, so I went with it. Was easy to get a reservation, we were seated immediately when we arrived at 6 (think this was before the usual dinner rush) and had great service.
Someone mentioned the waiters' accents, and yes, they're very thick. But the service is great, the portions are large, and it was a very nice dinner. Had the appetizer special (a fresh antipasta) as well as the pasta special (with ground sausage, peas and mushrooms in a tomato sauce with fresh mozarella). Pasta was homemade and everything was fresh.
Thank you yelpers!
Update: leftovers were delicious!
An average Italian place. Was very busy on a Saturday night and we were squished into a table with 8 people; BUT overall a good experience! Good wine, good salads, and the entrees were pretty good! I had the stuffed flank steak - which was a little on the dry side but overall good. I had the opportunity to also try two of the risottos - the mushroom with red sauce: good, the pea risotto with white sauce: not so good.
Recommended.
Came here on a first date and I hate to admit it but I give this place 5 stars for the experience, the food, and the service. My date knew the owner so we were treated very well, we were served entrees that were not even on the menu! This place is charming and has a very italian, old world sort of feeling. It was crowded and full of energy, all around us everyone was having a good time, drinking red wine and had a mouthful of pasta. My fave was the square noodles with vodka sauce...so good! Classic service and charming ambience.
This might be my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago, and I realize that's a bold statement. I started going to Volare years ago since it's very conveniently located to my office. At one point I had to take a break from this restaurant because I was going at least once a week and I didn't want to OD on it. After taking a step back I can safely say that Volare and I now have a healthy relationship.
Their lasagna is AMAZING. Seriously, everything about it is divine. The pasta, sauce, meat, cheese...it's all gooey and heavenly. They also have a solid Caesar salad that is a good starter to any meal. And let me tell you about their vodka sauce...you could put that on anything and I'd eat it.
The restaurant itself is small and snug fit for everyone that wants to dine here. However, I've never had to wait more than 10 minutes for a table and that's rare. They have an outdoor patio that's shaded and let's enjoy the weather (when that's possible). The staff all have pretty heavy accents and it's sometimes difficult to understand them, but I just smile while I nod and they've never done me wrong.
I've been here many times for lunch with coworkers (they have lunch portions which is a nice option if you're not in the mood to beast out), it's a great option for a date, or if you're looking for a restaurant in River North that isn't a chain or crawling with tourists.
This restaurant was fair. Food was good. Not amazing. The Gnocci in vodka sauce was indeed quite good but not so much the lobster ravioli that was on special or anything else for that matter.
Cramped restaurant, tablecloth was wet when we sat down and kept rubbing on my roommate's leg so she ended up moving as we don't typically enjoy wet cloth from who knows what touching our skin.
It also was her birthday which we notified the waiter of and he brought out a beautiful (and i will say yummy!!) piece of tiramusu with fruit around it and a candle, only to charge us ten bucks for it in our bill!
Eh, mediocre restaurant. Nothing to rave about.
what a fantastic surprise! i used to work right down the street and had heard only horror stories about this place, so i always avoided it. so needless to say, when my boyfriend surprised me with reservations for volare for my birthday, i was a bit hesitant.
for a wednesday night, this place was PACKED! i'm glad my boyfriend though to make reservations! we were whisked to our table, towards the back of the tiny dining room. (phew! as i walked in, i took note that the restaurant had insulated their outdoor patio with that thick plastic? so you could sit out there? no thank you.) our waiter read off the specials, and i knew right away it would be osso bucco for me. mmmmmm.
my boyfriend ordered one of the "pick your pasta, pick your sauce" dishes, going with the farfalle (bowties) and the parmesan, pancetta and pea sauce. we shared a plate of bruschetta too.
the app was okay. not the best bruschetta i've ever tasted, but not terrible either. entrees were great!! HUGE portions, like we're talking four meals worth of food. prices are fair for what you get.
service is slow. the food arrived in a timely fashion, but the waiter wasn't overly attentive. but i am one of those weirdos who LIKES that. i don't want to be bothered constantly while enjoying my meal.
I'm a little hesitant to post this review because I love this restaurant so much and I don't want everyone in Streeterville horning in on our lunch spot. On the other hand, Volare deserves all five stars, so here it is.
Volare is where we go for lunch in the summer when we want a great salad. I know, you're like, "salad? What of it?" I say to you: Volare Salad! It's a delicious combination of lettuce, carrots, hearts of palm, marinated artichoke hearts (amazing!), fresh mozzarella, radishes, broccoli, and an awesome italian dressing. No, it's not low fat. Yes, it is delicious.
The best thing about lunch here is that you can get half orders of everything. So, what I typically do is get a half Volare Salad and a half order of penne with vodka sauce (don't get me started!). That's a nice lunch - and it's only about $1 more than Pockets for waiter service and much better food.
Yes, Volare - keep it up!
good god this place is delicious.
i visited a friend and she made my man and i reservations. i trust this gal, as she is from italy and her mama is one of the best damn cooks out there. she knows where it's at... it's here.
we had caprese salad to start and shared the ricotta gnocci with vodka sauce and the scaloppa di vitello zii teresa. now, in my experience ricotta gnocci is a little more difficult to come by than it's cousin potato gnocci. my gram used to make them with ricotta and they were the best. but i can say in all honesty these were just as unbelievably scrumptious. i only wish i had added the meatballs too.
the service was excellent. on my next visit to chicago, i will definitely be back.
What a lovely outdoor patio! Most of the day, the sun won't even be in your face. We went here for lunch on a Saturday and were seated promptly.
The wait staff was very attentive and I thought the pre-meal bread was definitely worth the calories. We started with house salads with a well balanced vinaigrette. My SO ordered the special veal skirt steak with potatoes and arugula greens - I don't normally go for veal, but it was fantastic. I ordered an organic pasta with tomato sauce, sausage, peas, and mushrooms and it was also fantastic. Plus, paying lunch prices, you can't really get better than that.
There's not much more I can say about it, it was a very good meal in a quaint atmosphere and I'd definitely go back for dinner if I was in the area.
I had a heart attack after eating here. Oh my.
I came here with my mom after work one day and the place is cute. Outdoor and indoor seating. There weren't many people there yet but they still decided to push everyone in one section against the wall. Our server had a very heavy accent and really couldn't understand a word she was saying.
I ordered ravoli is olive oil sauce...or something and I swear I have a clot now. This thing was just greasy and oiley and I cant even explain it. I couldn't finish it. It was beyond fatty.
The bathrooms are gross. Although the setup and decor is nice, its small and right by the kitchen. Is that even sanitary? The bathroom was dirty and smelled. Gross.
It took us a long time to get our check and we were trying to get the hell out of there.
I dont recommend this place.
Oh Volare, you disappoint me.
The good:
- The rigatoni alla vodka, like everyone else has said, was very good (and only 10 bucks)
- The greeting...we were asked by four different people if we had been helped
The bad:
- The foccacia in the bread basket was stale
- The minestrone soup was full of those vegetables that you buy in a bag in the freezer section that my mom used to try to pass off as actual vegetables at dinner
- Service was nonexistent except for the basics--drop off menus, take order, foodrunner brings order, bussers clear plates, drop off check, pick up check. Our server failed to greet us or introduce herself but rather came by and said only, "What can I get you to drink?"
- The tables are way too close together
- It was extremely loud during the lunch hour and made it very difficult to converse
The ugly:
- I have been vomiting for the past two hours. Not pointing fingers, but the only other things I have consumed in the past 24 hours are coffee and wheat thins
I am giving two stars because the pasta was very good and despite getting sick I would probably give the place another try, though this time for carry out.
Vomiting aside, the atmosphere and service at Volare were completely disappointing. I'm embarrassed to have taken a client here and certainly hope that he isn't puking his guts out too.
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