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Four plates of Italian food
Tre Dita focuses on lesser-known cities in Tuscany.
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Where to Eat Italian Food in Chicago

Carbs and Chianti galore

by Ashok Selvam and Eater Staff Updated
View as Map
Tre Dita focuses on lesser-known cities in Tuscany.
| Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago
by Ashok Selvam and Eater Staff Updated

If there’s one thing most people can agree on, it’s that a hearty plate of pasta is always a good choice. Heavy with Italian tradition, Chicago is home to some of the country’s best red sauce restaurants. From timeless classics, such as spaghetti and meatballs and chicken Vesuvio, to contemporary offerings featuring fancy ingredients like truffles, there’s a lot of variety to be had. Some spots have histories that span decades while others are relative newcomers. But the one thing they all have in common: Cooking that’ll make nonna proud.

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Freddy's Pizza

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Though the name suggests that pizzas are the main attraction, Freddy’s slings much more than just pies. Cicero residents line up at owner Giuseppe Quercia’s grocer and deli to stock up on Italian meats and goods and also order hot food. The menu features thick Sicilian-style pizzas, housemade meatballs, pastas, calzones, gelato, Italian ice, and more. It’s cash only, so bring some bills. Call 708-863-9289 to order.

1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 863-9289
(708) 863-9289

Also featured in:

Daisies

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The relocation of this Logan Square favorite showcases Italian food through a Midwestern lens with strong relationships with area farmers and some of the best pasta in town. This is a family-friendly restaurant that operates as a day-time cafe with sandwiches and pastries by day, and entrees at night. It’s also a Michelin Green Star recipient, which honors environmentally conscious restaurants.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 697-9443
(773) 697-9443
The restaurant Daisies Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Osteria Langhe

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Dive into the flavors of northern Italy at this acclaimed Logan Square restaurant. Focusing on the Piedmont region, Osteria Langhe goes beyond the standard tried-and-true offerings and instead serves items like hand-pinched plin and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin. After dinner, do as the Italians do and sip on a digestif.

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-1582
(773) 661-1582

Also featured in:

Bacchanalia

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Head to the Heart of Italy for this family-run operation that’s been around for four decades. Touting recipes from the “old country,” Bacchanalia produces notable versions of linguine with clams, breaded pork tenderloin, veal scallopini, gorgonzola gnocchi, and more. To finish, pistachio cannoli are a must.

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 254-6555
(773) 254-6555

Tortello

Copy Link

There’s a slew of places in Chicago to get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like Tortello. Husband-and-wife owners Dario Monni and Jill Gray take the art of pasta making seriously and enlisted a master sfoglina to help train the team. The charming pastificio imports its flour from Italy and the storefront window provides passersby with a view of the staff cutting and kneading dough into a variety of shapes. The menu presents options like tortelli filled with burrata, cacio e pepe, spaghetti stracciatella, and chiusoni alla gallurese. Fresh pastas by the pound, sauces, and meal kits are available as well. A charming outdoor patio, often with live music, is a great summer retreat.

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 360-1293
(773) 360-1293
A plate of chiusoni alla gallurese.
Tortello’s pastas are paragons of the form.
Tortello [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Oggi Trattoria

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A West Town classic has moved to a new location, leaving Grand Avenue for Chicago Avenue, and staying in the neighborhood. Oggi Trattoria is a family-owned throwback with pizzas and pasta. Chicagoans who grew up in the ‘80s will recognize the offerings as the kind upscale Italian restaurants offered. Now, decades later, dishes like tortellini alla panna and baked clams are comfort foods. It’s a great spot for an early dinner for families with young children.

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 733-0442
(312) 733-0442
Oggi Trattoria

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Tempesta Market

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Tempesta Market is a lovely West Town deli with wonderful sandwiches, gelato, and pantry items. The ‘nduja arancini is decadent and the chicken and dumpling soup is great on a cold day. Tempesta has a big delivery radius and can turn a slow morning into a win with Dante (hot soppressata, mortadella, genoa, hot capicola, porchetta, provolone, hot giardiniera, ‘nduja aioli, lettuce, and tomato). The owners also run Peanut Park in Little Italy.

1372 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 929-2551
(312) 929-2551

Also featured in:

Elina's

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Industry vets Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin teamed up to open this small Italian American joint in West Town last year. The space, which has just 28 seats, is dimly lit by candles and sports striking features like an exposed brick wall, an antique mirror, and teal banquettes. Every meal starts with complimentary garlic bread, focaccia, and salami before diners dig into clams casino, rigatoni a la vodka, chicken and eggplant parm, cherry pepper ribs, Dover sole piccata, and more — all served on vintage china. Online ordering is available here.

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 929-2249
(312) 929-2249

Also featured in:

Gioia Chicago

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This West Loop Italian upstart opened in 2021 with a fantastic pasta lineup. The crowd-pleaser is a paccheri Mancini spun table side. Cacio e Pepe made with bucatini is another favorite in this intimate space along Randolph Restaurant Row.

1133 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 672-8955
(773) 672-8955

Also featured in:

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap

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Guests don’t have to be regulars to feel like family at this longtime neighborhood joint. Owned by the DiBuono family since 1931, little has changed at Tufano’s over the decades. Stop in for hearty red sauce dishes and favorites like eggplant parm and lemon chicken Vesuvio. Other old-school touches include chalkboard menus and a cash-only policy. The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant as one of “America’s Classics” in 2008.

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-3393
(312) 733-3393

Also featured in:

Monteverde

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Top Chef and Spiaggia vet Sarah Grueneberg places an emphasis on freshly made pastas and delivers regional Italian flavors through a modern lens at her lauded West Loop restaurant. The food lineup provides hits such as cacio whey pepe, tortellini en brodo, spaghetti al pomodoro, and whole bird chicken parm. Grueneberg was honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for best chef, Great Lakes. Online ordering is available here.

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 888-3041
(312) 888-3041

Also featured in:

Fioretta

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One of the splashiest openings in West Loop in recent years, the owners of Bar Siena and Bandit have honed in on opulence with a luxurious Italian steakhouse in a crowd of competitors new Randolph Restaurant Row. Diners will find all the traditional trappings of a chop house paired with pasta. Vegetarians can indulge in a triple mushroom lasagna. 

318 N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 897-5011
(312) 897-5011
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Rose Mary

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Rose Mary has been one of the hottest tables in town since it opened, and South Side Chicago native Joe Flamm is mixing Italian and Croatian flavors into something truly different. The pasta is top notch with malfadine coming in lamb rags and lovely lasagne. The pork ribs are wonderful as is the Croatian star, cevapi.

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607
(872) 260-3921
(872) 260-3921
A round plate with octopus and greens. Rose Mary

Also featured in:

Piccolo Sogno

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Escape the bustle of the city at Piccolo Sogno’s lush garden patio and enjoy an intimate evening filled with rustic cuisine and Italian wines. The “little dream,” the restaurant name’s translation, of Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo treats diners to first-rate dishes like seafood spaghetti nero, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, braised beef short ribs, and wood-fired pizzas. Carryout orders can be placed on Tock.

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0077
(312) 421-0077
A plate of spaghetti nero with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari.
Piccolo Sogno’s spacious outdoor patio makes it a popular attraction.
Galdones Photography/Piccolo Sogno

Also featured in:

Alla Vita

Copy Link

Boka Restaurant Group unveiled an Italian spot in the former Bellemore space in 2021 to much buzz. The interior, engineered by Kehoe Designs, has beautiful touches like waves of fabric hanging from the ceiling and a garden-style wooden pergola draped with plants. Chef Lee Wolen plays all the hits on his menu and guests can expect pillowy ricotta dumplings, creamy vodka rigatoni, wood-fired pizzas, and crispy chicken parm smothered in red sauce and buffalo mozzarella. Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are worth saving room for. And on the beverage front, the wine list predominantly showcases Italian bottles while the liquor shelf includes Amari and vermouth. 

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 667-0104
(312) 667-0104

Also featured in:

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Gibsons Italia

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Chicago’s famed Gibsons Restaurant Group is most notable for steaks, but the company expanded its portfolio in 2017 to include Italian cuisine with the opening of this elegant tri-level venue. Situated next to the Chicago River, Gibsons Italia offers panoramic skyline views, a beautiful dining space outfitted with a retractable roof, and a lovely outdoor patio. The menu highlights Gibsons’ signature Prime Angus and grass-fed Australian beef plus Italian options like arancini, risotto, and fresh pasta made from a gold extruder. Online orders can be placed here.

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 414-1100
(312) 414-1100

Also featured in:

Riccardo Trattoria

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Coming from a family with a rich restaurant pedigree, chef-owner Riccardo Michi whips up some of the finest Tuscan food on the North Side. Diners love the daily specials and crowd pleasing dishes, such as lobster-and-crab-filled ravioli and luscious panna cotta. Don’t miss out on the tripe Florentine, either: the veal tripe braised with veggies and tomatoes is a memorable recipe.

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-0038
(773) 549-0038

Ciccio Mio

Copy Link

Hogsalt Hospitality recreates the Italian American supper club experience at River North throwback Ciccio Mio. Guests are transported to a bygone era when they step into the cozy dining room decorated with vintage artwork, chandeliers, and plush banquettes. The kitchen deftly turns out excellent classics, such as black truffle bucatini, spicy vodka rigatoni, lasagna rolls, and chicken parm. And for indulgent desserts, get the cannocini or soft-serve gelato. Online ordering is available here.

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 796-3316
(312) 796-3316

Also featured in:

Franco's Ristorante

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A remodel in 2016 gave new life to this Bridgeport establishment that dates back to 1989. The renovated space has a modern-yet-retro look and is home to beloved dishes like chicken giardiniera, thick-cut pork chop Vesuvio, and housemade gnocchi. Online ordering is available here.

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-9566
(312) 225-9566
A variety of dishes and drinks laid out on a table.
Franco’s Ristorante has the look of a newcomer but the soul of a veteran.
Franco’s Ristorante [Official Photo]

Also featured in:

Torchio Pasta Bar

Copy Link

Torchio Pasta Bar in River North does not hold back. Diners are here for primarily one thing: carbs. The signature Torchio Pasta features radiatore with sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. The shrimp fettuccine has a beautiful plum tomato cream sauce. Braised short-rib risotto is also worth and order, as the weekend special bolognese lasagna. 

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 643-0543
(312) 643-0543

Also featured in:

UMMO

Copy Link

The owners of Tzuco, lauded chef Carlos Gaytán’s Mexican restaurant, have turned their attention to Italian cooking and taken over the former Rockit space in River North. Ummo is decadent with items like pistachio-crusted lamb and ravioli with lobster-butter ragu. Chef Jose Sosa and have staff are influenced by Italian, American, and other restaurants around the world and have created a unique menu that will frequently change.

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 374-8736
(312) 374-8736

Adalina

Copy Link

Glitzy and glamorous, Adalina is built to impress. The lively Gold Coast newcomer has plenty of eye candy: crystal chandeliers, vintage mirrors, and plush velvet seats. Servers dressed in tuxedos echo the stylish setting, while the modern Italian menu from former Band of Bohemia chef Soo Ahn features refined staples such as cacio e pepe arancini, veal chop parm, and a truffled Caesar salad that’s prepared tableside. The restaurant recently kicked off a tasting menu.

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 820-9000
(312) 820-9000
Adalina has a seven-course tasting menu.
Adalina

Also featured in:

Tre Dita

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Tre Dita opened in March inside the luxurious St. Regis Chicago at the start of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooks Navy Pier. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants in town, with a mix of unique pasta and beef from LA chef Evan Funke. This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that is dialed in with a focus on the Tuscan region. The pasta lab is a glassed-off room where guests can see workers make unique noodle shapes.

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

Nella Pizza e Pasta

Copy Link

Calamari fritti, quattro formaggi risotta, and housemade spaghetti are come of the specialties at this Hyde Park Italian restaurant. Yes, this list is avoiding pizzerias, but they do serve a tasty selection of authentic Neapolitan pies. That baking comes in handy so diners can use the fresh bread to sop up the numerous delicious sauces.

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 643-0603
(773) 643-0603
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Also featured in:

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Freddy's Pizza

1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero, IL 60804

Though the name suggests that pizzas are the main attraction, Freddy’s slings much more than just pies. Cicero residents line up at owner Giuseppe Quercia’s grocer and deli to stock up on Italian meats and goods and also order hot food. The menu features thick Sicilian-style pizzas, housemade meatballs, pastas, calzones, gelato, Italian ice, and more. It’s cash only, so bring some bills. Call 708-863-9289 to order.

1600 S 61st Ave, Cicero, IL 60804
(708) 863-9289
(708) 863-9289

Daisies

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647

The relocation of this Logan Square favorite showcases Italian food through a Midwestern lens with strong relationships with area farmers and some of the best pasta in town. This is a family-friendly restaurant that operates as a day-time cafe with sandwiches and pastries by day, and entrees at night. It’s also a Michelin Green Star recipient, which honors environmentally conscious restaurants.

2523 N Milwaukee Ave (Fullerton Ave), Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 697-9443
(773) 697-9443
The restaurant Daisies Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Osteria Langhe

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Dive into the flavors of northern Italy at this acclaimed Logan Square restaurant. Focusing on the Piedmont region, Osteria Langhe goes beyond the standard tried-and-true offerings and instead serves items like hand-pinched plin and prosciutto-wrapped rabbit loin. After dinner, do as the Italians do and sip on a digestif.

2824 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 661-1582
(773) 661-1582

Bacchanalia

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608

Head to the Heart of Italy for this family-run operation that’s been around for four decades. Touting recipes from the “old country,” Bacchanalia produces notable versions of linguine with clams, breaded pork tenderloin, veal scallopini, gorgonzola gnocchi, and more. To finish, pistachio cannoli are a must.

2413 S Oakley Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 254-6555
(773) 254-6555

Tortello

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

There’s a slew of places in Chicago to get great pasta but very few dedicate themselves to the craft like Tortello. Husband-and-wife owners Dario Monni and Jill Gray take the art of pasta making seriously and enlisted a master sfoglina to help train the team. The charming pastificio imports its flour from Italy and the storefront window provides passersby with a view of the staff cutting and kneading dough into a variety of shapes. The menu presents options like tortelli filled with burrata, cacio e pepe, spaghetti stracciatella, and chiusoni alla gallurese. Fresh pastas by the pound, sauces, and meal kits are available as well. A charming outdoor patio, often with live music, is a great summer retreat.

1746 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 360-1293
(773) 360-1293
A plate of chiusoni alla gallurese.
Tortello’s pastas are paragons of the form.
Tortello [Official Photo]

Oggi Trattoria

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

A West Town classic has moved to a new location, leaving Grand Avenue for Chicago Avenue, and staying in the neighborhood. Oggi Trattoria is a family-owned throwback with pizzas and pasta. Chicagoans who grew up in the ‘80s will recognize the offerings as the kind upscale Italian restaurants offered. Now, decades later, dishes like tortellini alla panna and baked clams are comfort foods. It’s a great spot for an early dinner for families with young children.

1461 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 733-0442
(312) 733-0442
Oggi Trattoria

Tempesta Market

1372 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Tempesta Market is a lovely West Town deli with wonderful sandwiches, gelato, and pantry items. The ‘nduja arancini is decadent and the chicken and dumpling soup is great on a cold day. Tempesta has a big delivery radius and can turn a slow morning into a win with Dante (hot soppressata, mortadella, genoa, hot capicola, porchetta, provolone, hot giardiniera, ‘nduja aioli, lettuce, and tomato). The owners also run Peanut Park in Little Italy.

1372 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 929-2551
(312) 929-2551

Elina's

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Industry vets Ian Rusnak and Eric Safin teamed up to open this small Italian American joint in West Town last year. The space, which has just 28 seats, is dimly lit by candles and sports striking features like an exposed brick wall, an antique mirror, and teal banquettes. Every meal starts with complimentary garlic bread, focaccia, and salami before diners dig into clams casino, rigatoni a la vodka, chicken and eggplant parm, cherry pepper ribs, Dover sole piccata, and more — all served on vintage china. Online ordering is available here.

1202 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 929-2249
(312) 929-2249

Gioia Chicago

1133 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607

This West Loop Italian upstart opened in 2021 with a fantastic pasta lineup. The crowd-pleaser is a paccheri Mancini spun table side. Cacio e Pepe made with bucatini is another favorite in this intimate space along Randolph Restaurant Row.

1133 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60607
(773) 672-8955
(773) 672-8955

Tufano's Vernon Park Tap

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607

Guests don’t have to be regulars to feel like family at this longtime neighborhood joint. Owned by the DiBuono family since 1931, little has changed at Tufano’s over the decades. Stop in for hearty red sauce dishes and favorites like eggplant parm and lemon chicken Vesuvio. Other old-school touches include chalkboard menus and a cash-only policy. The James Beard Foundation honored the restaurant as one of “America’s Classics” in 2008.

1073 W Vernon Park Pl, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 733-3393
(312) 733-3393

Monteverde

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607

Top Chef and Spiaggia vet Sarah Grueneberg places an emphasis on freshly made pastas and delivers regional Italian flavors through a modern lens at her lauded West Loop restaurant. The food lineup provides hits such as cacio whey pepe, tortellini en brodo, spaghetti al pomodoro, and whole bird chicken parm. Grueneberg was honored in 2017 when she took home the James Beard Award for best chef, Great Lakes. Online ordering is available here.

1020 W Madison St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 888-3041
(312) 888-3041

Fioretta

318 N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL 60607

One of the splashiest openings in West Loop in recent years, the owners of Bar Siena and Bandit have honed in on opulence with a luxurious Italian steakhouse in a crowd of competitors new Randolph Restaurant Row. Diners will find all the traditional trappings of a chop house paired with pasta. Vegetarians can indulge in a triple mushroom lasagna. 

318 N Sangamon St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 897-5011
(312) 897-5011
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Rose Mary

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607

Rose Mary has been one of the hottest tables in town since it opened, and South Side Chicago native Joe Flamm is mixing Italian and Croatian flavors into something truly different. The pasta is top notch with malfadine coming in lamb rags and lovely lasagne. The pork ribs are wonderful as is the Croatian star, cevapi.

932 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60607
(872) 260-3921
(872) 260-3921
A round plate with octopus and greens. Rose Mary

Piccolo Sogno

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642

Escape the bustle of the city at Piccolo Sogno’s lush garden patio and enjoy an intimate evening filled with rustic cuisine and Italian wines. The “little dream,” the restaurant name’s translation, of Tony Priolo and Ciro Longobardo treats diners to first-rate dishes like seafood spaghetti nero, pappardelle with wild boar ragu, braised beef short ribs, and wood-fired pizzas. Carryout orders can be placed on Tock.

464 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 421-0077
(312) 421-0077
A plate of spaghetti nero with mussels, clams, shrimp, and calamari.
Piccolo Sogno’s spacious outdoor patio makes it a popular attraction.
Galdones Photography/Piccolo Sogno

Alla Vita

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661

Boka Restaurant Group unveiled an Italian spot in the former Bellemore space in 2021 to much buzz. The interior, engineered by Kehoe Designs, has beautiful touches like waves of fabric hanging from the ceiling and a garden-style wooden pergola draped with plants. Chef Lee Wolen plays all the hits on his menu and guests can expect pillowy ricotta dumplings, creamy vodka rigatoni, wood-fired pizzas, and crispy chicken parm smothered in red sauce and buffalo mozzarella. Carbs aside, pastry chef Kim Mok makes tiramisu and housemade gelato and sorbet that are worth saving room for. And on the beverage front, the wine list predominantly showcases Italian bottles while the liquor shelf includes Amari and vermouth. 

564 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
(312) 667-0104
(312) 667-0104

Related Maps

Gibsons Italia

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606

Chicago’s famed Gibsons Restaurant Group is most notable for steaks, but the company expanded its portfolio in 2017 to include Italian cuisine with the opening of this elegant tri-level venue. Situated next to the Chicago River, Gibsons Italia offers panoramic skyline views, a beautiful dining space outfitted with a retractable roof, and a lovely outdoor patio. The menu highlights Gibsons’ signature Prime Angus and grass-fed Australian beef plus Italian options like arancini, risotto, and fresh pasta made from a gold extruder. Online orders can be placed here.

233 N Canal St, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 414-1100
(312) 414-1100

Riccardo Trattoria

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Coming from a family with a rich restaurant pedigree, chef-owner Riccardo Michi whips up some of the finest Tuscan food on the North Side. Diners love the daily specials and crowd pleasing dishes, such as lobster-and-crab-filled ravioli and luscious panna cotta. Don’t miss out on the tripe Florentine, either: the veal tripe braised with veggies and tomatoes is a memorable recipe.

2119 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 549-0038
(773) 549-0038

Ciccio Mio

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

Hogsalt Hospitality recreates the Italian American supper club experience at River North throwback Ciccio Mio. Guests are transported to a bygone era when they step into the cozy dining room decorated with vintage artwork, chandeliers, and plush banquettes. The kitchen deftly turns out excellent classics, such as black truffle bucatini, spicy vodka rigatoni, lasagna rolls, and chicken parm. And for indulgent desserts, get the cannocini or soft-serve gelato. Online ordering is available here.

226 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 796-3316
(312) 796-3316

Franco's Ristorante

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616

A remodel in 2016 gave new life to this Bridgeport establishment that dates back to 1989. The renovated space has a modern-yet-retro look and is home to beloved dishes like chicken giardiniera, thick-cut pork chop Vesuvio, and housemade gnocchi. Online ordering is available here.

300 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-9566
(312) 225-9566
A variety of dishes and drinks laid out on a table.
Franco’s Ristorante has the look of a newcomer but the soul of a veteran.
Franco’s Ristorante [Official Photo]

Torchio Pasta Bar

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654

Torchio Pasta Bar in River North does not hold back. Diners are here for primarily one thing: carbs. The signature Torchio Pasta features radiatore with sausage and mushrooms in a cream sauce. The shrimp fettuccine has a beautiful plum tomato cream sauce. Braised short-rib risotto is also worth and order, as the weekend special bolognese lasagna. 

738 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 643-0543
(312) 643-0543

UMMO

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654

The owners of Tzuco, lauded chef Carlos Gaytán’s Mexican restaurant, have turned their attention to Italian cooking and taken over the former Rockit space in River North. Ummo is decadent with items like pistachio-crusted lamb and ravioli with lobster-butter ragu. Chef Jose Sosa and have staff are influenced by Italian, American, and other restaurants around the world and have created a unique menu that will frequently change.

22 W Hubbard St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 374-8736
(312) 374-8736

Adalina

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610

Glitzy and glamorous, Adalina is built to impress. The lively Gold Coast newcomer has plenty of eye candy: crystal chandeliers, vintage mirrors, and plush velvet seats. Servers dressed in tuxedos echo the stylish setting, while the modern Italian menu from former Band of Bohemia chef Soo Ahn features refined staples such as cacio e pepe arancini, veal chop parm, and a truffled Caesar salad that’s prepared tableside. The restaurant recently kicked off a tasting menu.

912 N State St, Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 820-9000
(312) 820-9000
Adalina has a seven-course tasting menu.
Adalina

Tre Dita

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601

Tre Dita opened in March inside the luxurious St. Regis Chicago at the start of Upper Wacker Drive and overlooks Navy Pier. It’s one of the prettiest restaurants in town, with a mix of unique pasta and beef from LA chef Evan Funke. This is a Lettuce Entertain You restaurant that is dialed in with a focus on the Tuscan region. The pasta lab is a glassed-off room where guests can see workers make unique noodle shapes.

401 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Nella Pizza e Pasta

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615

Calamari fritti, quattro formaggi risotta, and housemade spaghetti are come of the specialties at this Hyde Park Italian restaurant. Yes, this list is avoiding pizzerias, but they do serve a tasty selection of authentic Neapolitan pies. That baking comes in handy so diners can use the fresh bread to sop up the numerous delicious sauces.

1125 E 55th St, Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 643-0603
(773) 643-0603
Barry Brecheisen/Eater Chicago

Related Maps