Chianti’s
201 S 3rd St, Geneva, IL, 60134
Chianti’s Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Geneva for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
201 S 3rd St
Geneva, IL, 60134 - Phone (630) 232-0212
- Website https://www.chiantisingeneva.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Mike M.
Visited last night for dinner with my wife, child, and out of town family. Sorry to say it was very empty. Cajun Chicken Tortellini? Fan-tastic. The server was very attentive, but she didn't strike me as a "fine dining" server... A bit unkempt and unorthodox, and we were cramped into a booth with the highchair on the end instead of being given a table. Regardless, great food, decent ambiance. Will be returning.
(4)Lisa L.
The restaurant is very nice and clean. If it were just a little warmer outside I would've sat in the garden but the weather wasn't allowing it. I realize that most people do not understand the hard crunchy bread sticks idea, but that actually IS authentic Italian (I should know). The staff was more than pleasant and put up with a loud obnoxious group with a smile (that was us). I'm no wine expert but the house wine went down really smooth. It wasn't until later that I realized how much I had drank. The food was very very good and portions were just right. I would definitely go back and would have no problem introducing other friends to this place. Good Job Chianti. Keep up the good work.
(5)Laura S.
A lot of fun and cozy. I like the meatballs and making your own pasta dish with choice of sauce. We once waited for a while to be seated despite making a reservation so the restaurant took us to the back bar and provided a first round if free drinks and appetizer, but it really wasn't their fault. A larger party was sort of loitering. They were just sitting around after having been paid out for a while. I think Chianti's was generous to have comped the drinks and appetizer.
(5)Mike S.
If breadsticks and garlic dipping sauce is what you're in the mood for this is the place. Pasta dishes are bland, no flavor. The patio is very nice but I wouldn't return.
(2)B A.
Italian restaurant on charming Third Street that adds amazing things to your standard pasta dishes - like Cajun butter - YUM! Must try the Cajun chicken tortellini baked with mozzarella on top. Soak up the extra sauce with the homemade French rolls. Breadsticks and dipping sauce are amazing! You can even purchase some to take home. A train circles around the perimeter of the ceiling in the main dining room.
(5)Aliyah W.
Canned clams? 50/50 crab meat? Why aren't the prices reflective of the gross good they serve? Was sat by an extremely socially awkward old woman with blonde hair who kept openly correcting our busboy, he looked embarrassed I hope he quit. Now keep walking past this disgrace to Geneva.
(1)Jeffrey B.
The wife and I went here on Valentine's day for dinner. Our waitress was very nice and we started with the cheese mushrooms that were excellent. I ordered the ravioli with shrimp and crab meat that was outstanding. There were about 10-12 shrimp in with the ravioli as well as tons of crab meat and the sauce was creamy and delicious. My wife had the shrimp scampi that she said was very good. Before our main dishes, I had the salad and she had the soup and both were good. They also served warm rolls that were excellent. The menu had many choices and the prices were fair. This was a very pleasant experience and we will definitely back.
(5)Comensal A.
I visited Chianti's for a recent family dinner. Very suburban (as expected), good plain Italian standards, efficient service -- not bad at all, but not special in any way. The wine list comprised a handful of whites and a handful of reds, all undistinguished but serviceable. It's not the kind of plane I usually go for dinner, but the choice of venue was not up to me. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their selections. My firsthand experience was that the Chianti salad was small and fresh, the sausage & pepper entrée substantial and satisfying. The only thing that really turned me off about the place was the noise -- we had trouble conversing over the din of other diners. For this reason alone, I doubt I'd go back for a similar family affair.
(3)Cynthia M.
Food was good. The wait for the food was horrible. 1hour 45 minutes until we received the main course. Front desk check in was less than stellar. The server was not attentive at all. The drinks were pored heavy which was nice. Again the food was very good. My husband had the ravioli and he liked his plate (and he is Italian ). I had the chicken oregano an fit was very good. It they fix the kitchen turn around and the lack luster attitude of e wait staff and front desk I would go back. Otherwise I won't. Too bad.
(2)Cassandra D.
I'm sad I can only give this review 5 stars(it should be at least 1000 stars...). Ignore the poor reviews here folks! I promise it will be worth the chance you give it. I can't even begin to describe the wonderful experience we had at Chianti's. But I will :) First off, it's in beautiful Geneva so the drive from Naperville was easy and very pleasant. We had no trouble finding parking and had a short 2 minute walk to the restaurant, which is in the cutest little house on the corner of the street. You walk in to a little front foyer where you wait to be seated after giving your name for your reservation (which you should definitely make). The foyer and the dining area are separated by a curtain which makes the experience all the more exciting and exclusive. The dining room is divided into 2 smaller rooms with booths and tables. The decor is clean and cosy which allows you to focus on why you're really there...THE FOOD. After reading previous reviews I was itching to get a taste of the famous garlic dressing/dip. I was NOT disappointed. I consider myself a huge fan of garlic and am rarely surprised by garlic dishes but wow! This dip is creamy and garlic-y and fresh! We got the house Chiantis which was reasonably priced ($6 a glass) and that was a perfect choice with the flavors throughout our meal. We of course ordered the stuffed mushrooms which is another popular item and it was excellent. Large portion and so full of flavor. Next we decided on the dinner portions of the Cajun chicken tortalini and the 5 cheese lasagna with bolognese sauce. I feel like you can reasonably judge an Italian restaurant fairly based off of their red sauce. AMAZING RED SAUCE! You can tell it is freshly made with lots of love. The Cajun chicken was spicy, flavorful, and cheesy. The lasagna LITERALLY melted in my mouth...I'm telling you this is life changing lasagna. We finished with sharing the made in house tiramisu (another dish that tells you the quality of a restaurant) and it was beautiful. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come visit this beautiful little bit of Italian heaven! I will probably be here once a month. I hope to see you there!
(5)Kevin W.
Alright, I have been here for the 3rd time now and I am ready to write my review. We first went here after hearing it was "pretty good" about a month and a half to 2 months ago, and I can not get enough! Walking into this place is very nice, it's smaller and quite cozy, appears to be able to accommodate larger groups as well. The atmosphere is phenomenal as well, nice Italian style music playing in the background, lots of wine and I love the train circling in the front room. The always give you bread sticks (long, thin and cracker-like) with garlic dipping sauce (which is also their garlic salad dressing and available for purchase at the front counter) which, being my first food experience here was what sold me. Do not plan on having a nice date after eating this garlic dipping sauce, it packs a punch! But, if you are a garlic lover it is fantastic! I love their soups, minestrone and chicken tortilla have been my favorites so far. Their Caesar salad was good as well, very light and flavorful. Still need to experience the appetizers besides the cheese garlic bread. It was VERY good, just ask for some marinara on the side for dipping. Now as for the dinner, I have tried to mix it up and try something new each time, I have yet to be disappointed. If you like seafood I highly suggest either the Garlic Crab or the Linguini & Clams. If you are thrown off by textures go with the crab since clam has the grittier texture. Both were phenomenal! (Get the asiago cheese on the top, it adds even more flavor!) Besides the seafood I have had the Sausage & Peppers and the ravioli. Their marinara is awesome, very flavorful and the tomatoes are fresh! The best part is most of their dishes are lunch or dinner portioned too so if you are a light eater, not as hungry or starving they have options. Overall I have had GREAT experiences here, the servers have been amazing and I am always impressed with the food. If you get a chance swing by and enjoy some good Italian cuisine!
(5)Chelsea L.
Stopped in for a late "girl's day" lunch with Mom. In the middle of the afternoon, the place was practically empty, so the service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, patient with our indecision, and helpful. The prices are a little steep for the amount you actually get (the "lunch portion" was TINY and cost as much as a full portion elsewhere) but the entreés come with bread and soup or salad, so it's still a fair meal. The quality of the food and the variety is excellent. Some things on the menu here that I haven't seen elsewhere (dill alfredo? unexpected and FANTASTIC) not to mention their soups were amazing and could have made a meal all by themselves. Nice atmosphere - it's a converted house, so the dining rooms are smaller more numerous than larger restaurants, with lower ceilings and lots of "charm" (what's with the train in the main dining room, anyway? kinda distracting. Guess it's for the kids?). In summary, yep, I'd go back.
(4)Rebecca B.
This is my in-laws favorite place to get carry out Italian. I was introduced to it by them. They have a very simple menu and stick to what they know. Every time I have been there to pick up at the back door the service has been prompt and the food has been delicious. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. I don't think I could be more pleased with this place. If you're looking for Italian in the area I highly recommend it.
(5)Jenny B.
Keep walking. Don't stop! My husband and I have walked past this restaurant so many times but never went in. Well, we finally decided to eat here and I wish we would have kept on walking. We had a lovely table outside. The waitress was fine...she was very nice. The prices were reasonable. We enjoyed the bread, soup, and salad. Then came our main courses... I had the chicken Alfredo and my husband had the chicken Parmesan. My Alfredo sauce was really runny and with the first bite I knew I was not going to enjoy my dish at all. The chicken had no seasoning and it seemed as though it was maybe boiled instead of grilled or something, making it super rubbery. The sauce had too much pepper for my liking and something in that dish tasted as though it was from a can or it was frozen for awhile. Whatever it was, it did not taste fresh. My husband loves chicken parm and he was very disappointed with his dish as well. He particularly did not like the chicken. I think it is safe to say that next time we are in downtown Geneva, we will go back to what we know best and keep on walking and go have a meal elsewhere. Very disappointed!
(2)Caroline B.
Cute little Italian restaurant in Geneva. I can't speak for the quality of their Italian cuisine since I had a cheeseburger for a hangover cure but I have heard great things so far about their food and prices (very affordable). Also they have this garlic dipping sauce for the bread sticks that is dangerously addicting, also good for dipping fries :) Helpful tip - there is a small outdoor patio on Campbell St which is around the corner from the main entrance, it's off the pedestrian heavy 3rd St and often pretty empty. Great if you are looking for something a bit more quiet and low key. You still have to go in the main entrance to be seated out there.
(3)Lore L.
We went here yesterday for a birthday dinner. It was extremely hot and a festival was going on but they were able to accommodate our large party without reservations. I want to start off by saying the waitress was rude. She was attentive but had a bad attitude. What really turned me off about this place was the food. The calamari was definitely poor quality and frozen. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan - also tasted like it was made previously then frozen. Inside was all soggy and the breading was soft. Just gross. My husband has one of their specials and that was good - broccolini, scallops and pasta (although the scallops were tiny and flavorless). But the broth was delicious. Another person had broccoli and shrimp pasta and she enjoyed that. Personally I would not return here.
(2)Rick D.
Decided to try after reading the menu online. We sat on the patio which was nice. Our table was a little small for a party of four but still a nice setting. Little breadstick packages with a cup of garlic dressing was good. I couldn't wait to try the mushroom caps filled with cream cheese and baked with mozzarella. Surprisingly I was pretty disappointed in them. Very little flavor to the point I had to dunk them in the garlic dressing just for a boost. For the entree I ordered the rib eye. Good size but no flavor. Not even a little salt an pepper, which I ended up adding myself. Also I ordered it mid-rare and it was closer to mid-well. Certainly was not an $18.95 steak. My wife got the 5 cheese lasagna which she thought was okay, Sister in law liked the salmon and my brother in law had the cheese ravioli which he said was also okay. All in all we didn't dislike it but nothing really stood out to make us say we'll be back anytime soon.
(3)Yves M.
I took my 4-yr old daughter out for a special night to Chianti's this evening. I can say it was a good choice. There were other families and the atmosphere, though romantic, was great for kids too. The wait staff was very friendly and quick. The food was excellent - my daughter had the stuffed cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce and overbaked with Mozzarella which she loved. Finally an Italian place in the western burbs too that offered grissini! The freshly baked bread rolls you get were excellent with a nice crust, served warm. I started with some Minestrone soup (very good) and then had the chicken and peppers alla vodka which was excellent. Nicely spiced and the lunch size was plenty without overeating. The house Chianti was also very nice. My only complaints are that the kid's menu consists of the standard cookie cutter spaghetti marinara, chicken fingers, etc. However, since Chianti's allows you to order most all entrée in lunch size, that worked out perfect for my daughter as well. We will definitely be coming back here. PS: loved the home made Tiramisu!
(4)Brenda S.
Great atmosphere and food was wonderful. Hosted a large group there. However.....it was uncomfortably hot in the restaurant. Everyone complimented the food, but everyone in our party complained about how uncomfortable we were because of the heat. Would return, but not until cooler weather arrives.
(4)Ashley R.
My first time to Chianti's was for a friend's birthday bash. We had a rather large group and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. It is what appears to be an old home and one of the rooms where you can dine has a large old-school fireplace. So cozy! I'd like to try this place again to seek redemption on the food. I ordered the meat ravioli and was disappointed. I looooove ravioli but this particular dish didn't cut it for me. Also, perhaps it's just my pregnancy sense of smell on the rise again but the restaurant smelled like a garlic farm. I like garlic so thankfully, it wasn't a problem. 4 stars for atmosphere but 3 for food but I do want to try another dish. Also, prices were very average which is also a plus!
(4)Kelly H.
I've been here several times over the past several years, and I can't get enough!! The garlic dressing with the breadsticks is to die for- I almost contemplated shipping some home on ice!! I also had the caprese salad which was DIVINE. And I tried a bite of the Cajun Tortellini- extremely rich, spicy, and cheesy. Yum.
(5)Kathleen D.
We love Chianti's. Love, love, love the cheese mushroom appetizer! I order the dinner portion of the Lasagna with the Marinara sauce and it's delicious. The soups are always good and the garlic dipping sauce for the breadsticks is delicious. The rolls always come piping hot which is appreciated. The salad dressings are all homemade and tasty. My husband orders the Spaghetti Bolognese and loves it! My son enjoys the Chicken tortellini. I don't understand some of the bad reviews as we haven't had a bad experience yet.
(5)Liz L.
This place on the outside had some nice charm to it. My friend and I went there for lunch on a Saturday. It got some really nice reviews so I was excited to eat here...I was a little disappointed. Good 1. We got in right away with out a reservation. 2. The waitstaff was really super nice. Our waitress was nice without being intruding. 3. Food came out fast! Almost too fast. 4.They have these prepackaged crispy breadsticks at the table which at first I eyeballed like no they couldn't be that good and they send out this garlic cream dipping sauce thing...but then I tried it...let me say I would have eaten every breadstick package and the garlic cream dipping sauce was the best. 5. The location is nice...where you could do some shopping after your meal. Not so good 1. The pasta we ordered is something I could have made at home . We ordered vodka pasta and spaghetti and meatballs. It wasn't bad but it wasn't fantastic where I would rave about it. 2. The meals came with a salad or soup and rolls but the soup I got was gross. Skip the minestrone soup it is water with vegetables. 3. The hostess was weird, there is no other word for it I can't explain it really well it was one of those situations where it was like a robotic friendly? Forced friendliness. 4. The dessert we had was also very average...once again I could have made it at home. 5. Yes can we be stingier on the bread? When I get a bread basket of warm rolls I may like 1 or even 2 pieces...if it is that good 3...there was exactly one for me and one for my friend. 6. The interiors seemed dingy and sticky and there was a horrible smell coming from the kitchen...like a sewage or old food smell. 7. This last one is not the restaurants fault but there was some party going on in the back and there were 2 children running and screaming in the restaurant. It is dangerous and also very annoying. If I wanted running unsupervised children with my meal I would have went to McDonald's playland. I have had much better Italian food with a better atmosphere in the past at other places. Would I overall come back: no Would I recommend it to others: no It was just ok.
(3)E R.
This review is about the bar....NOT the food. Have been here half a dozen times for a drink to start the evening. Every time, the bar is "half staffed"......meaning there is a bartender half the time. For having a bar the first thing seen as you enter, I would think it would be staffed by a knowledgeable bartender. Every time I've been here, I've never felt welcome at all when I was served. Probably won't come back.
(1)Ashley C.
I thought it was great! It was my birthday dinner, so needless to say it was a very important day :-) Our server was great and one of the nice things about this place is the other servers help out. Your glass is empty they grab it and fill it for you. I always like to see that because it shows everyone cares about their job. Food was good, and the garlic dip was even better. I don't think a vampire would have come near me for at least 6 hours after eating it. If only it scared zombies away too! Portions are big so if you don't like leftovers I would get the lunch portion. I ordered the dinner portion and was able to make a full meal out of it the next day. I had the carbonara and my boyfriend had the Chicken Parm. Both were amazing and fresh. It's a cute little romantic spot, so if you are looking to take a date here I would totally recommend it. I read the bad reviews before coming here and didn't experience anything they are talking about. So don't let those make or break your decision!!!
(5)Denise C.
I'm astounded at some of the good reviews with relation to the food so maybe we ordered wrong. We stopped here because it was a nice night and they have an inviting patio. I ordered a sangria which tasted like fruit punch, but I will say there wasn't a problem having it doctored with more wine. They bring you packaged bread sticks from the grocery in a plastic water glass...bad sign. We ordered the chianti salad and crab pasta. The salad again appeared to be packaged greens from the grocery and paid an additional charge for balsamic vinegar which was the best thing about the meal, but I can go the store on State Street and buy my own. The pasta was overcooked, flavorless, dry and the crab was exceedingly sparse which turned out to be a good thing because it had that old frozen taste. I saw another table with the calamari appetizer and it definitely came from a pre-made frozen package. For the prices they charge I expect freshly prepared food with somewhat fresh ingredients. Will not eat here again...maybe a beer on the patio.
(1)Penny M.
We called ahead for a reservation and let them know we were celebrating an anniversary. They wrote our names on the birthday/anniversary wall and surprised us with a dessert after dinner. Service began with a garlic cream sauce with crunchy breadsticks (I believe imported from Italy). The garlic sauce was insane! So good. So unbelievably good. The salad was a normal salad, nothing too special - I had a balsamic/olive oil dressing. For my main dish I had the Chicken Oreganato. It was ok - the pasta it was served on was on the bland side and the chicken could have had more spice on it, but overall it was still good. Overall, a cute location for a date night and good food!
(4)George F.
This is a 2.5 star rating. A mid summer evening dinner outing for wife and I tonight at Cianti's- the weather has been hot, 95+ degrees for what seems like weeks. I bring this up because either their air was broken or set to extremley low, the dining room was at best 80 degrees! If only the food could have made up for that- I could deal with grandmas 3rd floor city apartment that had no air in the summer because the payoff of a signature dish would be well worth every bead of sweat! Not at cianti, not tonight. THE GOOD: Cold fresh ice water, friendly and attentive waitress. Great gratuitus bread stick crackers and garlic dip. Exceptional salad.
(2)Allen C.
A staple for many years, they moved next door to a bit smaller space. Food and service remains very good. $7.95 lunch specials incl Soup or salad and soft bev of choice. Great value here.
(5)Margaux D.
This restaurant is truly a gem. The location is truly convenient during or after a day of shopping with the girls. It's a cozy, romantic setting at a more than affordable price. The best part is the food- I was delighted discover that on most dishes, the menu provides the option of ordering a "lunch portion" at a lesser price. They even offer fresh pasta. Hit up Chiantis for a beautiful meal.
(4)Barb G.
My family celebrated our October birthdays at Chanti's on Saturday night. We were 8 adults, 2 teens, 1 kid under 10. Setting was lovely and most of my family members were pleased with their meals. The pumpkin ravioli my brother in law ordered was delicious. My brother was pleased with the manicotti. I found the Sausalito Fettuccini average at best. My food wasn't remarkable, but the service was nice. Dillon was our server and he was pleasant and knowledgable.
(3)GrammaCindy L.
Another wonderful lunch today at Chianti's! This time, we had the pleasure of the owner's son, Jeff, as server! He was terrific as the food was! Kudos to Sheri and Jeff and Jeff, Jr and their lovely daughter! Thanks for a wonderful time, always!
(5)Molly C.
Good Italian food, never disappointed. Great garlic dressing, served with breadsticks. Fresh roles served with your salad that comes with all entrees. Linguine is homemade and delicious! Love the shrimp and broccoli and the tri color linguine crab dinner, yum!
(4)David W.
GREAT spot. My wife and I went here for Valentine's dinner a couple of weekends back. We were more dressed up than the average person there, but it didn't matter because it's such a cozy spot. We were seated in the front room which basically was a large living room that was remodeled to serve as the front part of the restaurant. There's a little toy train that runs along an edge on the tray ceiling and the lighting is low and cozy. While a family spot, it still was great cozy enough for our Valentine's dinner. The service was great and foor was FAB. My wife had Vodka pasta and I had the Cajun Chicken Tortellini. I'm a big Italian food guy and we've been to a bunch here in Chicago, but this little spot in Geneva and this little tortellini dish...the BEST. My new favorite dish! I'm so sad it's a whole hour outside of the city or else I'd be there once a month!!
(5)nicole h.
Friendly service. Cozy atmosphere. Their menu's nothing innovative. Just basic pastas, etc. Nothing's write-home-about-it delicious. But it'll fill your tummy with starchy goodness and make you happy just the same. One huge plus? It's fantastically affordable and offers half portions at any time of the day... So you won't have to roll yourself home and throw back some Tums because you just couldn't say "no" to that last bite...
(3)Jason W.
Very good Italian in the heart of Geneva's downtown area. The restaurant is cute and they have both lunch and dinner portions of their meals - great for eating slightly cheaper (and less) during lunch. Nonetheless, the food is very good. I had the Garlic Crab pasta, and there was lots of shredded crab meat with a sumptuous pasta. The garlic was very strong (I was feeling it for a while) and there was too much oil at the bottom of my bowl, but it was still an excellent bowl of pasta. The dishes my friends ordered (the chicken tortellini and the Italian oven grinder) were also very well done. Service was very attentive - I had a new iced tea on my table just as I was finishing my previous one. Parking is on the street, but the restaurant is so cute and fits in so well in the downtown area that it's worth the effort to get out there.
(4)E B.
I miss the old place but they still do alright. It isn't the best Italian but the bolognese always hits the spot. Great value for the location especially for lunch.
(3)Sandy A.
I loved the "old" Ristoranti Chianti" and I was so glad it came back. Their cheese mushrooms are my favorite and I've even stopped and gotten them for carry out before. I love the train that chugs along the ceiling. It's a cute place with good food and it fits right in with Geneva and it's great shops.
(4)Maura S.
Meh. You get what you pay for when you dine at Chianti's. Based on Chiant's excellent location in downtown Geneva, and it's charming exterior, I was expecting something a little more than what I got. Food was okay, but nothing to go back for. My Shrimp Scampi was drowning in garlicy butter (but not in a good way...). On a positive note, our waitress was extremely kind and helpful, and the patio was nice.
(3)Margie T.
I haven't been at this place for years and when I finally went there again this month, I was really unpleasantly surprised how dirty and run down it looked. I had the Linguini and Clams and they were very bland. My daughter had the Chicken Alfredo and got a stomach ache on the way home. As a free appetizer you get wrapped breadsticks you can dip in garlic sauce, which is rather tacky. Why not serve some freshly baked bread and olive oil to dip in. We will not return to that place.
(2)Laura R.
So my boyfriend and I were supposed to go to Sorella's over by Naperville, but as we were walking in Geneva after having breakfast over at Egg Harbor, we heard Frank Sinatra singing from the sky (technically speaking, no, but it was from Chiantis). Right away it caught our eye, as we are big Sinatra fans. So we decided to cancel our reservations from Sorella's and try Chiantis instead. It had a very homely, old fashioned styled to it that we liked. It was not big, but it wasn't lonely either. When we got there I wanted to sit inside since I was afraid there would be mosquitoes and flies out in the patio. Unfortunately their inside tables were full and we would have to wait 30 minutes till the next one was available, so we chose to sit outside instead. The patio was not all that great so to speak. It was okay, fortunately there weren't as many flies as I thought but overall I didn't like the fact that they had a table which happened to have dishes and whatnot I presume. But anywho, the waitress who served us was very kind and would always ask us if we needed any more to drink (I was drinking away that delicious sweetened iced tea!). PRO: Food was delicious AND affordable. My boyfriend got the shrimp scampi and I got the spinach ravioli. Both were served with soup or with salad. We got appetizer, our food, AND dessert, and let's just say it came out to be about $50. We were pretty amazed. though the soup was not all that great, I did enjoy our dinner very much. CON: Long wait for food to be served
(3)Carol H.
Went to dinner last night with my family and the food was great. Got there around 7pm no wait for a table sat in a comfortable booth for four. The host was a quite young man who also was polite. The water girl said nothing to us, just plopped the glasses down and fill them up and walked away. My daughter said thank as she left and gave a quite "welcome" with her back to us. Waiter (Brock) came about 10 minutes after we sat he too was lacking in the personality department. more like a robot. Music was a mix of Sinatra and other Italian artist that made it enjoyable not to loud but added a relaxing ambiance. We had the cheese broccoli soup and house salads to start and spaghetti bolognese and manicotti with ricotta filling. we had the bread sticks that were at the table with small cup of garlic sauce (delicious) that was given by Brock. All the food was cooked well and the salads were fresh. I say we would go back just for the food because the staff seemed "hollow"!
(3)Dave B.
I like Chianti's a lot. Not overly formal, just a nice little italian place. I feel welcome whether I'm wearing coat and tie, or jeans. Love the cajun tort. Could stand to bump up wine list a bit, but not a detriment. Comfort food, comfort setting, friendly people.
(5)Dvorah G.
The food was excellent, but I am only giving 2 stars due to appallingly poor service. The wait staff were all very friendly, but it took 20 minutes from the time that we actually sat at our table for the waitress to take our food order (we had already ordered something to drink while waiting for our table). I asked passing waiters twice to take our order, and once I actually knocked on the door of the kitchen to ask for a waiter/waitress to take our order, but each time was told that "your waitress will be with you shortly". This marred an otherwise excellent culinary experience.
(2)Mary c.
the bread sticks are fantastic with the also delich garlic dipping sauce. they sell the breadsticks if you are interested, that and garlic sauce was the best part of meal. the rest was just ok. the waitress recommended the mushroom appetizer...8 sml mushrooms loaded with mozerella cheese baked on top...ok but no unique flavor. Then I had penne pasta with italian sausage pieces and sauce...reminded me of jar sauce..i took leftover home but never wanted it again. but it came with little salad and prices were right. my friend had hamburger (i know, why), and it was only fair, the fries were half dried out. I have tried this place twice in past yr. last time I had some crab and garlic pasta that was recommended to me, but i found it to be little too garlicy and soso, nothing to recomend. but it worth a try for lunch b.c location and its kind of cute inside.
(3)Erica R.
Average at best, and kinda expensive. Went there for my birthday, on a abmormally warm march day, it was very hot in the resturant, food came out very hot but very delayed and we sat next to a very loud couple. So much for a romantic birthday dinner. I had chicken parm, lots of chicken hardly any pasta, for a dinner portion i was disappointed. Pizza looked like something out of the freezer. We love trying out new places in Geneva and usually hit the mark but this doesnt if your looking for italian try Pi Pizza in St Charles or viva verona in Geneva.
(2)Tammy K.
our family dined at Chiati's one time and was very impressed so we decided to try again (our usual spot is Villa Verone). The Garlic Bread was good, Calmari was burnt very dark brown not good. My party was happy with their entree's I ordered the lingunie with clam sauce it was awful it was in a chicken soup base! had no taste. The place is adorable but I will not be returning back to Villa Verone!
(2)davia t.
This place used to be on third street in the same building and it closed and no italian restaurant in the area has been able to come close to what Chianti's instilled in us Genevians. Delicious food, fast service. Not overly priced, so you can bring the kids, but also dim and romantic enough to go out with the man. Canjun tortellini was delicious and recommended! Great salads and breadsticks as well. So happy that they are back with the some management! Way to go!
(5)Andy G.
The good news is Chianti's is back! If you were a fan when it was located next door for several years you will be happy because the menu has carried over with few changes. The bad news is I still find it to be overall an average dining experience. One of the best items on the menu is the Cajun tortellini. The Cajun spice is nice and not too heavy. Sadly it is no longer available stuffed with sausage. It is only available stuffed with chicken and I liked the sausage better. Next time I might order some Italian sausage on the side and just cut it up and put it on top. The salad that comes with the entree is good but it is small. I recommend upgrading to the Chianti salad for just an extra buck fifty. It's nice that the lunch portion is available at diner time. I recommend ordering the lunch portion and if it is not enough you can always supplement with an appetizer and or desert. For me what keeps this restaurant from getting more stars is a lack of Wow! features. A lot of restaurants serve good food otherwise they wouldn't be in business. I'm glad Chianti's is back.
(3)Michelle R.
We have been "regular's" at Chianti's since we moved to Geneva. Primarily we order take out because it is easier than dining with our two young sons. Everything on the menu is excellent! The new bar/take out area is very cozy-nice place to have a glass of Chianti before taking food home! Jeff and Sheri are the most generous and gracious restaurant owners we know. Chianti's allowed our school to host a fundraising night and fellow school parents raved about their experience--even our parish priest loved it! Can't say enough good things, truly a gem in Geneva!
(5)Brad P.
We stop in here every once in a while when we are in Geneva and the food is always great. The train inside is a nice touch to keep the kids entertained.
(4)Jackie G.
I love this little restaurant. Garlic butter sauce! I love it. I dip the bread in it and when I'm out of that I dig into the wrapped breadsticks on the table. Yummy!! I heard a waitress say it's garlic, mayo, and sour cream? I don't know what it is but it's garlicky delicious! This time we left the horrible Grato next door and came here for apps. We got the fried calamari, pizza, and cheesy garlic bread. Calamari was fresh and cooked perfect. The pizza was small but pretty good just what we wanted and cheesy garlic bread was yummy too! I love this place and will def come back here again!
(5)Jocelyn W.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Don't listen to the negative people on here. Def a great place to try! I have consistently great experiences every time I'm here.
(5)Megan S.
Went here on a Saturday night. We were seated right away outside on the patio because it was going to rain. They generously gave us $5 off our bill for sticking it out as it rained. And that's where they get the extra star. Good and friendly service, but the food is just terrible. Salad had limp lettuce. The white sauce on both dishes was just thick and pasty. No real taste to it. The dinner portion was huge. Too huge. Suggestion: focus on the flavor - and not serving plates that could feed three people.
(2)O H.
I am not Italian or a connoisseur of Italian food but I love Chianti's. To me a dining experience is more than just food. Having said that though I do love their food. But I also love the ambience especially during the holidays. While having lunch there today it was so cozy and inviting. A lovely fireplace burning and all the Christmas lights trimming the inside and outside, it was so festive and relaxing. We have never ever had bad service there. Everyone is friendly and they go out of their way to make us happy with our meal. We have been going there for years and are always satisfied with everything which is why I am happy to give them 5 stars.
(5)Karl W.
I enjoy this place, I live in Geneva so I've been here a couple of times. For the food, I'll give it a solid 3 stars. The wife and I went here on a whim on a Saturday night, while they didn't have any tables in their "main room", they had one available in the "bar". I didn't even know they had a separate bar area! As we walked through the main room, the hostess opened up the outside door, we walked about 20 feet outside, and then back in again to a bar area that I'd say holds maybe 20 people at most. There are only 4... yes, 4 stools at the bar itself. We were seated at a small 2 person table-top. Upon the waitresses suggestion, I ordered up the Parmesan-crusted tilapia on top of sauteed spinach (it was a "special" of the night). It was delicious, definitely a four-star rating for my plate. I'm a pretty well-rounded seafood eater, and the fish was delicious, and the spinach was cooked just right. The wife ordered a basic pasta dish with tomato sauce (sorry I don't remember the exact one), and to her it was just average. Not bad by any means, but nothing she raved about afterwards. I bring it up to a 4-star rating because the ambiance of the restaurant, along with our server, was great. When we return I'll specifically ask to be seated in the bar section, it was like we were eating in someone's home (well, with a custom-made bar). Decent food, great surroundings, if pasta isn't your thing definitely try the tilapia if it's on the menu.
(4)Carolina B.
My friends and I stopped at Chianti's at around 7 on a Sunday night. We were seated right away and our server attended to us quickly. One of my friends had to catch a train back home at 8:30 so we were in a bit of a hurry, we were grateful for the timely service. The restaurant is small, but nice, casual Italian style with white table cloths and dim lighting. I liked the atmosphere, perfect way to end a night out with girlfriends. It was also nice they were open later on a Sunday, most places on 3rd street in Geneva were closed. We were so hungry so the first thing we noticed was this white sauce on the table and we wanted some! We thought some bread might come out but then one of us noticed some crispy bread sticks on the far end of the table. The white sauce was a homemade creamy garlic sauce for dipping these sticks and it was delicious! We cleaned the cups of sauce dry before our waitress came back with our waters. The waitress also eventually brought out crispy warm bread rolls which were great too. The menu consists of standard Italian fare. I wasn't in the mood for pasta so my friend and I ordered side salads and split the stuffed mushrooms and the calamari. The salad was Okay. They make their own dressings so I asked for ranch but it tasted more like sour cream and the salad was just iceberg lettuce with a few veggies, nothing special. The stuffed mushrooms were amazing however! The highlight of the meal. Cheese on top and crunchy on the inside, I would definitely recommend these, especially if you are a cheese lover. I was very disappointed in the calamari. It was very breaded, and there were no actual calamari or even the rings, they were basically just calamari straws. If you are a calamari lover like me, I wouldn't order them from here. I also tried my friends cheese lasagna and it was wonderful. I would go back to Chianti's, order the mushrooms, skip the salad and try a pasta dish.
(3)Logan J.
I use this as a guide to help select great restaurants and great food- so let me help by saving you the time and expense of a wasted trip. Nothing authentic about the food and below average in dated decor. Many better choices right down the street!!
(1)Tracy H.
Went here on a Saturday afternoon. It was so lovely for the end of October, we sat on the patio. The service was great and friendly, and the wine was delicious (got the House pinot). My sister and I both had the beef minestrone, and it's seriously one of my favorite soups anywhere. Highly recommend. Also love their breadsticks/garlic sauce. For entrees, they were good. Not great. My sister had the Italian sausage and peppers and really likes the dish. I had chicken parm. Good flavor. Our main complaint here was that our food came out lukewarm. Come on! Clearly both our dishes had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while. Flavor was good, but the food should come out hot. Had our food come out hot, it would have been a near-perfect meal. If they can work on that, that'd be wise. I'm sure we weren't the only ones this happened to. But still, food is good, service is friendly.
(3)Bob P.
They have a great hidden bar in the back. The service is consistently slow, but the food makes up for that. While it's not homemade pasta you'll still enjoy the dishes. If you're expecting homemade pasta look at the prices, you should know better. The sauces are what makes their dishes.
(3)Eric S.
Finally tried it. Sat inside, front area. Felt like we were on grandma's musty porch. Thought the store-bought thin bread sticks (think crackers) and garlic "dipping sauce" along with the paper napkins were grossly under-par for a restaurant on 3rd Street in Geneva. The staff were friendly and the service was good. Underwhelmed by the food. The Santa Fe Pasta was indeed spicy. It was "OK." My wife had the chicken Parmesan -- which should have been a safe bet. She is not a picky eater and finished less than half of it before we downed our drinks and asked for the check. Dinner for two and a few drinks was around $50. My wife did comment that their house Pinot-N was good and they pour a nice-sized glass. But overall, felt like we needed a date night do-over. Geneva is such a charming little town. We walked it off.
(2)Stacey W.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Chianti's yet! I've had the cheese ravioli and the chicken parm and they're both to die for! I'm also in love with their garlic bread with cheese. The staff has always been friendly, and if you're having a special occasion and make a reservation, they put your name up on the chalkboard. It's a cute little Italian restaurant, and the prices are very reasonable. I've been here about five or six times within the past year, and I definitely plan on coming back for more! Oh, and don't forget to try their creamy garlic with your breadsticks! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Kathryn B.
Went here last night for a date night with my boyfriend. We had both never been before. We mentioned this to the server, but she didn't really give us the "first time here" talk; telling us what's good, recommending food/drinks, telling us about the restaurant etc.... We sat in the bar area which is its own little room. We both enjoyed it and were the only two in there which was nice and quiet! However.... We seemed to be forgotten about. It seemed as if our server was in a rush every time she came to check on us. After we had three apps and a few drinks prior to our meal, she seemed to warm up a bit. (Maybe because our check was going to be high or because it was later and the main restaurant wasn't so busy??) For apps had the calamari, bruschetta, and the cheesy mushrooms. Calamari was ok but just a deep fried appetizer you could get at a bar. I wouldn't recommend the bruschetta, was pretty bland. The mushrooms however were AMAZING. So were our main entrées. I had the shrimp and broccoli angel hair pasta with a white wine sauce. I got the small, which was more than enough. I was surprised with how low our bill was as we had three apps (although they are half off in July on Tuesdays!) four drinks and two entrees. Bill was around 80$. Will for sure go back, just wish the serving staff was a tad more personable and friendly to first time customers.
(3)SE W.
Chianti's never disappoints! The Garlic Crab Pasta is fantastic! The thin crispy breadsticks and garlic dipping sauce are amazing and I don't know of anyone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed their meal when dining at Chianti's with me. Another plus is that it is not one of those noisy - can't hear your dinner companions - places that seem to be so prevalent. Truly a gem in Geneva and reasonably priced!
(5)Tom C.
This review is from several months ago - when Geneva was having that art show on 3rd Street. I have nothing good to say about this place The food is way worse than I can make at home. Panera Bread serves tastier pasta. But beyond the food, the service and management is incredibly bad. I considers ordering a sausage and peppers dish on the menu. Then I hear commotion at the table next to me. The gentleman had ordered this dish and received it without any peppers in it. He asked the waitress (who while nice seemed clueless) to bring some peppers and she brought him a bowl of RAW green peppers. Then, they had the nerve to try to charge home for extra peppers! The gentleman had to get with the manager to get them to take it off. Now to our meal. My wife, daughter and u had to get up and leave after we had not gotten our meals over an hour after we had ordered. We dropped cash at the table and just left and went down 3rd street to another establishment. Wine selection was awful. You would think in a gentrified area like 3rd street in Geneva the restaurant could put a little effort into picking a few inexpensive Italian wines that go well with simple cafe fare. Instead you get the same $8 swill Chianti they sell at Jewel.
(1)Kay C.
We went to Chianti's a couple of weeks ago and it was ok. Went with friends so it was a great night. The food was also ok, nothing exceptional but decent Italian classics. I had the lasagna and it was one of the better things on the table. Two of my friends ordered sautéed spinach and it was barely wilted, not appetizing at all. Salads as starters were pretty good. I guess one of their claims to fame is this garlic dipping sauce. I don't get it. It's basically liquid garlic, way too strong for my taste but I know a lot of people like it. You're supposed to dip these hard skinny breadsticks that are wrapped in paper into the garlic dip. That seemed a little lazy to me, some fresh bread would have been nice. They did serve bread with your entree but it would have been nice in the beginning. I've had better Italian.
(3)Debbie T.
Love, love, love Chiantis! Food is always right on, garlic crab pasta is the best! You can get lunch portions on a lot of the items, which is perfect when you don't want a large meal. Service is always excellent. I have gotten the lasagna from catering for large parties and it is always a hit. A definite stop for a casual, delicious meal.
(5)Kimberley L.
Took my parents and three children there--food was delicious and all ages enjoyed themselves. Lovely view of Third St and inside is charming Italian with a cute train that runs at ceiling height through the restaurant. REALLY good food!!!
(4)A C.
-Excellent Italian food - well prepared, fresh, and tasty. - The best service anyone could ask for, from the maître d, to our server. Never did we have to ask for anything. They anticipated everything and was very knowledgeable about the menu selections
(5)Gail P.
The last time we had dinner in Chianti's over 4 years ago, it was good and my husband had a taste for Italian, however, dinner on Friday was quite disappointing. The calamari was served looking like fried clams instead of calamari and very chewy. The caprese salad was just okay. The dinner salad was very good especially the garlic dressing. For dinner I had the Cajun chicken tortellini because I had read a review on another site that it was very good. Well, maybe the cook has changed because it was not Cajun, not spicy or flavorful at all. It was quite bland topped with quite a bit of cheese. The portion, although dinner sized was small compared to most other restaurants. I would not recommend this dish. My husband had the sausage and pepper dinner and the sausage was chopped in chunks and lacked flavor and said he would not order it again. The hostess was very friendly and accommodating seating us right away. The server was warm and friendly as well as the bus help. We had a booth in the center dining room, but every time the diner behind me moved, I felt like I was being bumped in the back. This restaurant is right in the center of busy downtown Geneva, I certainly hope that this was an off night, but don't believe we will be returning, there are many other Italian restaurants in the area.
(2)Tom O.
What a nice place! Was in the area and the family was hungry. We stumbled across this place, and we were really delighted with it! The food was very good, the service is excellent and the overall value was excellent. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is just because I am born and raised in NY, and the Italian food there, which I am used to, is a bit different (I would say better). But this is a very nice place for a good Italian meal!
(4)Gee S.
I accidentally booked a family lunch here instead of at Gratto next door. Do not make this mistake. You will be gravely disappointed. First, the bright spots. The salad with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots was crisp and fresh. The dinner rolls were warm and crispy. The servers were perfectly nice(though they struck me as inexperienced and a little overwhelmed by our questions about the food). It is very inexpensive. Onto the horror. My Linguini with Clams was like something a passive aggressive lunch lady would dream up. First of all, it had little hidden bits of crunchy onion in it, when onion isn't listed as an ingredient on the menu. This would have been fine if it weren't for the rest of the dish. Instead of the lovely steamed clams I imagined, these were chopped clams from a can that looked like something we would feed our cat to entice her into taking her medicine. All in all, blecch. Pity my partner's Shrimp Scampi were dead, as they no doubt would have enjoyed swimming around in their vast garlic butter reservoir as though performing in a nightmarish gustatory ballet (Prawn Lake). At least that might have livened up the dish, which was as boring as church on Christmas. The burgers have something called "Scallion sauce" on them that looks like it was squeezed out of a duck's bottom.
(1)Philly C.
Can't say enough good things about this place...great experience, great service and most importantly great food. Will be back!
(5)Lisa L.
The restaurant is very nice and clean. If it were just a little warmer outside I would've sat in the garden but the weather wasn't allowing it. I realize that most people do not understand the hard crunchy bread sticks idea, but that actually IS authentic Italian (I should know). The staff was more than pleasant and put up with a loud obnoxious group with a smile (that was us). I'm no wine expert but the house wine went down really smooth. It wasn't until later that I realized how much I had drank. The food was very very good and portions were just right. I would definitely go back and would have no problem introducing other friends to this place. Good Job Chianti. Keep up the good work.
(5)Tom C.
This review is from several months ago - when Geneva was having that art show on 3rd Street. I have nothing good to say about this place The food is way worse than I can make at home. Panera Bread serves tastier pasta. But beyond the food, the service and management is incredibly bad. I considers ordering a sausage and peppers dish on the menu. Then I hear commotion at the table next to me. The gentleman had ordered this dish and received it without any peppers in it. He asked the waitress (who while nice seemed clueless) to bring some peppers and she brought him a bowl of RAW green peppers. Then, they had the nerve to try to charge home for extra peppers! The gentleman had to get with the manager to get them to take it off. Now to our meal. My wife, daughter and u had to get up and leave after we had not gotten our meals over an hour after we had ordered. We dropped cash at the table and just left and went down 3rd street to another establishment. Wine selection was awful. You would think in a gentrified area like 3rd street in Geneva the restaurant could put a little effort into picking a few inexpensive Italian wines that go well with simple cafe fare. Instead you get the same $8 swill Chianti they sell at Jewel.
(1)Kay C.
We went to Chianti's a couple of weeks ago and it was ok. Went with friends so it was a great night. The food was also ok, nothing exceptional but decent Italian classics. I had the lasagna and it was one of the better things on the table. Two of my friends ordered sautéed spinach and it was barely wilted, not appetizing at all. Salads as starters were pretty good. I guess one of their claims to fame is this garlic dipping sauce. I don't get it. It's basically liquid garlic, way too strong for my taste but I know a lot of people like it. You're supposed to dip these hard skinny breadsticks that are wrapped in paper into the garlic dip. That seemed a little lazy to me, some fresh bread would have been nice. They did serve bread with your entree but it would have been nice in the beginning. I've had better Italian.
(3)Debbie T.
Love, love, love Chiantis! Food is always right on, garlic crab pasta is the best! You can get lunch portions on a lot of the items, which is perfect when you don't want a large meal. Service is always excellent. I have gotten the lasagna from catering for large parties and it is always a hit. A definite stop for a casual, delicious meal.
(5)Kimberley L.
Took my parents and three children there--food was delicious and all ages enjoyed themselves. Lovely view of Third St and inside is charming Italian with a cute train that runs at ceiling height through the restaurant. REALLY good food!!!
(4)A C.
-Excellent Italian food - well prepared, fresh, and tasty. - The best service anyone could ask for, from the maître d, to our server. Never did we have to ask for anything. They anticipated everything and was very knowledgeable about the menu selections
(5)Laura S.
A lot of fun and cozy. I like the meatballs and making your own pasta dish with choice of sauce. We once waited for a while to be seated despite making a reservation so the restaurant took us to the back bar and provided a first round if free drinks and appetizer, but it really wasn't their fault. A larger party was sort of loitering. They were just sitting around after having been paid out for a while. I think Chianti's was generous to have comped the drinks and appetizer.
(5)Mike S.
If breadsticks and garlic dipping sauce is what you're in the mood for this is the place. Pasta dishes are bland, no flavor. The patio is very nice but I wouldn't return.
(2)B A.
Italian restaurant on charming Third Street that adds amazing things to your standard pasta dishes - like Cajun butter - YUM! Must try the Cajun chicken tortellini baked with mozzarella on top. Soak up the extra sauce with the homemade French rolls. Breadsticks and dipping sauce are amazing! You can even purchase some to take home. A train circles around the perimeter of the ceiling in the main dining room.
(5)Aliyah W.
Canned clams? 50/50 crab meat? Why aren't the prices reflective of the gross good they serve? Was sat by an extremely socially awkward old woman with blonde hair who kept openly correcting our busboy, he looked embarrassed I hope he quit. Now keep walking past this disgrace to Geneva.
(1)Jeffrey B.
The wife and I went here on Valentine's day for dinner. Our waitress was very nice and we started with the cheese mushrooms that were excellent. I ordered the ravioli with shrimp and crab meat that was outstanding. There were about 10-12 shrimp in with the ravioli as well as tons of crab meat and the sauce was creamy and delicious. My wife had the shrimp scampi that she said was very good. Before our main dishes, I had the salad and she had the soup and both were good. They also served warm rolls that were excellent. The menu had many choices and the prices were fair. This was a very pleasant experience and we will definitely back.
(5)Comensal A.
I visited Chianti's for a recent family dinner. Very suburban (as expected), good plain Italian standards, efficient service -- not bad at all, but not special in any way. The wine list comprised a handful of whites and a handful of reds, all undistinguished but serviceable. It's not the kind of plane I usually go for dinner, but the choice of venue was not up to me. Everyone at the table seemed to enjoy their selections. My firsthand experience was that the Chianti salad was small and fresh, the sausage & pepper entrée substantial and satisfying. The only thing that really turned me off about the place was the noise -- we had trouble conversing over the din of other diners. For this reason alone, I doubt I'd go back for a similar family affair.
(3)Cynthia M.
Food was good. The wait for the food was horrible. 1hour 45 minutes until we received the main course. Front desk check in was less than stellar. The server was not attentive at all. The drinks were pored heavy which was nice. Again the food was very good. My husband had the ravioli and he liked his plate (and he is Italian ). I had the chicken oregano an fit was very good. It they fix the kitchen turn around and the lack luster attitude of e wait staff and front desk I would go back. Otherwise I won't. Too bad.
(2)Cassandra D.
I'm sad I can only give this review 5 stars(it should be at least 1000 stars...). Ignore the poor reviews here folks! I promise it will be worth the chance you give it. I can't even begin to describe the wonderful experience we had at Chianti's. But I will :) First off, it's in beautiful Geneva so the drive from Naperville was easy and very pleasant. We had no trouble finding parking and had a short 2 minute walk to the restaurant, which is in the cutest little house on the corner of the street. You walk in to a little front foyer where you wait to be seated after giving your name for your reservation (which you should definitely make). The foyer and the dining area are separated by a curtain which makes the experience all the more exciting and exclusive. The dining room is divided into 2 smaller rooms with booths and tables. The decor is clean and cosy which allows you to focus on why you're really there...THE FOOD. After reading previous reviews I was itching to get a taste of the famous garlic dressing/dip. I was NOT disappointed. I consider myself a huge fan of garlic and am rarely surprised by garlic dishes but wow! This dip is creamy and garlic-y and fresh! We got the house Chiantis which was reasonably priced ($6 a glass) and that was a perfect choice with the flavors throughout our meal. We of course ordered the stuffed mushrooms which is another popular item and it was excellent. Large portion and so full of flavor. Next we decided on the dinner portions of the Cajun chicken tortalini and the 5 cheese lasagna with bolognese sauce. I feel like you can reasonably judge an Italian restaurant fairly based off of their red sauce. AMAZING RED SAUCE! You can tell it is freshly made with lots of love. The Cajun chicken was spicy, flavorful, and cheesy. The lasagna LITERALLY melted in my mouth...I'm telling you this is life changing lasagna. We finished with sharing the made in house tiramisu (another dish that tells you the quality of a restaurant) and it was beautiful. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE come visit this beautiful little bit of Italian heaven! I will probably be here once a month. I hope to see you there!
(5)Stacey W.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Chianti's yet! I've had the cheese ravioli and the chicken parm and they're both to die for! I'm also in love with their garlic bread with cheese. The staff has always been friendly, and if you're having a special occasion and make a reservation, they put your name up on the chalkboard. It's a cute little Italian restaurant, and the prices are very reasonable. I've been here about five or six times within the past year, and I definitely plan on coming back for more! Oh, and don't forget to try their creamy garlic with your breadsticks! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Michelle R.
We have been "regular's" at Chianti's since we moved to Geneva. Primarily we order take out because it is easier than dining with our two young sons. Everything on the menu is excellent! The new bar/take out area is very cozy-nice place to have a glass of Chianti before taking food home! Jeff and Sheri are the most generous and gracious restaurant owners we know. Chianti's allowed our school to host a fundraising night and fellow school parents raved about their experience--even our parish priest loved it! Can't say enough good things, truly a gem in Geneva!
(5)Kevin W.
Alright, I have been here for the 3rd time now and I am ready to write my review. We first went here after hearing it was "pretty good" about a month and a half to 2 months ago, and I can not get enough! Walking into this place is very nice, it's smaller and quite cozy, appears to be able to accommodate larger groups as well. The atmosphere is phenomenal as well, nice Italian style music playing in the background, lots of wine and I love the train circling in the front room. The always give you bread sticks (long, thin and cracker-like) with garlic dipping sauce (which is also their garlic salad dressing and available for purchase at the front counter) which, being my first food experience here was what sold me. Do not plan on having a nice date after eating this garlic dipping sauce, it packs a punch! But, if you are a garlic lover it is fantastic! I love their soups, minestrone and chicken tortilla have been my favorites so far. Their Caesar salad was good as well, very light and flavorful. Still need to experience the appetizers besides the cheese garlic bread. It was VERY good, just ask for some marinara on the side for dipping. Now as for the dinner, I have tried to mix it up and try something new each time, I have yet to be disappointed. If you like seafood I highly suggest either the Garlic Crab or the Linguini & Clams. If you are thrown off by textures go with the crab since clam has the grittier texture. Both were phenomenal! (Get the asiago cheese on the top, it adds even more flavor!) Besides the seafood I have had the Sausage & Peppers and the ravioli. Their marinara is awesome, very flavorful and the tomatoes are fresh! The best part is most of their dishes are lunch or dinner portioned too so if you are a light eater, not as hungry or starving they have options. Overall I have had GREAT experiences here, the servers have been amazing and I am always impressed with the food. If you get a chance swing by and enjoy some good Italian cuisine!
(5)Chelsea L.
Stopped in for a late "girl's day" lunch with Mom. In the middle of the afternoon, the place was practically empty, so the service was excellent. Our waiter was friendly, patient with our indecision, and helpful. The prices are a little steep for the amount you actually get (the "lunch portion" was TINY and cost as much as a full portion elsewhere) but the entreés come with bread and soup or salad, so it's still a fair meal. The quality of the food and the variety is excellent. Some things on the menu here that I haven't seen elsewhere (dill alfredo? unexpected and FANTASTIC) not to mention their soups were amazing and could have made a meal all by themselves. Nice atmosphere - it's a converted house, so the dining rooms are smaller more numerous than larger restaurants, with lower ceilings and lots of "charm" (what's with the train in the main dining room, anyway? kinda distracting. Guess it's for the kids?). In summary, yep, I'd go back.
(4)Rebecca B.
This is my in-laws favorite place to get carry out Italian. I was introduced to it by them. They have a very simple menu and stick to what they know. Every time I have been there to pick up at the back door the service has been prompt and the food has been delicious. The staff is always very friendly and helpful. I don't think I could be more pleased with this place. If you're looking for Italian in the area I highly recommend it.
(5)Jenny B.
Keep walking. Don't stop! My husband and I have walked past this restaurant so many times but never went in. Well, we finally decided to eat here and I wish we would have kept on walking. We had a lovely table outside. The waitress was fine...she was very nice. The prices were reasonable. We enjoyed the bread, soup, and salad. Then came our main courses... I had the chicken Alfredo and my husband had the chicken Parmesan. My Alfredo sauce was really runny and with the first bite I knew I was not going to enjoy my dish at all. The chicken had no seasoning and it seemed as though it was maybe boiled instead of grilled or something, making it super rubbery. The sauce had too much pepper for my liking and something in that dish tasted as though it was from a can or it was frozen for awhile. Whatever it was, it did not taste fresh. My husband loves chicken parm and he was very disappointed with his dish as well. He particularly did not like the chicken. I think it is safe to say that next time we are in downtown Geneva, we will go back to what we know best and keep on walking and go have a meal elsewhere. Very disappointed!
(2)Caroline B.
Cute little Italian restaurant in Geneva. I can't speak for the quality of their Italian cuisine since I had a cheeseburger for a hangover cure but I have heard great things so far about their food and prices (very affordable). Also they have this garlic dipping sauce for the bread sticks that is dangerously addicting, also good for dipping fries :) Helpful tip - there is a small outdoor patio on Campbell St which is around the corner from the main entrance, it's off the pedestrian heavy 3rd St and often pretty empty. Great if you are looking for something a bit more quiet and low key. You still have to go in the main entrance to be seated out there.
(3)Lore L.
We went here yesterday for a birthday dinner. It was extremely hot and a festival was going on but they were able to accommodate our large party without reservations. I want to start off by saying the waitress was rude. She was attentive but had a bad attitude. What really turned me off about this place was the food. The calamari was definitely poor quality and frozen. I ordered the eggplant Parmesan - also tasted like it was made previously then frozen. Inside was all soggy and the breading was soft. Just gross. My husband has one of their specials and that was good - broccolini, scallops and pasta (although the scallops were tiny and flavorless). But the broth was delicious. Another person had broccoli and shrimp pasta and she enjoyed that. Personally I would not return here.
(2)Rick D.
Decided to try after reading the menu online. We sat on the patio which was nice. Our table was a little small for a party of four but still a nice setting. Little breadstick packages with a cup of garlic dressing was good. I couldn't wait to try the mushroom caps filled with cream cheese and baked with mozzarella. Surprisingly I was pretty disappointed in them. Very little flavor to the point I had to dunk them in the garlic dressing just for a boost. For the entree I ordered the rib eye. Good size but no flavor. Not even a little salt an pepper, which I ended up adding myself. Also I ordered it mid-rare and it was closer to mid-well. Certainly was not an $18.95 steak. My wife got the 5 cheese lasagna which she thought was okay, Sister in law liked the salmon and my brother in law had the cheese ravioli which he said was also okay. All in all we didn't dislike it but nothing really stood out to make us say we'll be back anytime soon.
(3)Yves M.
I took my 4-yr old daughter out for a special night to Chianti's this evening. I can say it was a good choice. There were other families and the atmosphere, though romantic, was great for kids too. The wait staff was very friendly and quick. The food was excellent - my daughter had the stuffed cheese ravioli with Bolognese sauce and overbaked with Mozzarella which she loved. Finally an Italian place in the western burbs too that offered grissini! The freshly baked bread rolls you get were excellent with a nice crust, served warm. I started with some Minestrone soup (very good) and then had the chicken and peppers alla vodka which was excellent. Nicely spiced and the lunch size was plenty without overeating. The house Chianti was also very nice. My only complaints are that the kid's menu consists of the standard cookie cutter spaghetti marinara, chicken fingers, etc. However, since Chianti's allows you to order most all entrée in lunch size, that worked out perfect for my daughter as well. We will definitely be coming back here. PS: loved the home made Tiramisu!
(4)Brenda S.
Great atmosphere and food was wonderful. Hosted a large group there. However.....it was uncomfortably hot in the restaurant. Everyone complimented the food, but everyone in our party complained about how uncomfortable we were because of the heat. Would return, but not until cooler weather arrives.
(4)Ashley R.
My first time to Chianti's was for a friend's birthday bash. We had a rather large group and the staff was very friendly and accommodating. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. It is what appears to be an old home and one of the rooms where you can dine has a large old-school fireplace. So cozy! I'd like to try this place again to seek redemption on the food. I ordered the meat ravioli and was disappointed. I looooove ravioli but this particular dish didn't cut it for me. Also, perhaps it's just my pregnancy sense of smell on the rise again but the restaurant smelled like a garlic farm. I like garlic so thankfully, it wasn't a problem. 4 stars for atmosphere but 3 for food but I do want to try another dish. Also, prices were very average which is also a plus!
(4)Liz L.
This place on the outside had some nice charm to it. My friend and I went there for lunch on a Saturday. It got some really nice reviews so I was excited to eat here...I was a little disappointed. Good 1. We got in right away with out a reservation. 2. The waitstaff was really super nice. Our waitress was nice without being intruding. 3. Food came out fast! Almost too fast. 4.They have these prepackaged crispy breadsticks at the table which at first I eyeballed like no they couldn't be that good and they send out this garlic cream dipping sauce thing...but then I tried it...let me say I would have eaten every breadstick package and the garlic cream dipping sauce was the best. 5. The location is nice...where you could do some shopping after your meal. Not so good 1. The pasta we ordered is something I could have made at home . We ordered vodka pasta and spaghetti and meatballs. It wasn't bad but it wasn't fantastic where I would rave about it. 2. The meals came with a salad or soup and rolls but the soup I got was gross. Skip the minestrone soup it is water with vegetables. 3. The hostess was weird, there is no other word for it I can't explain it really well it was one of those situations where it was like a robotic friendly? Forced friendliness. 4. The dessert we had was also very average...once again I could have made it at home. 5. Yes can we be stingier on the bread? When I get a bread basket of warm rolls I may like 1 or even 2 pieces...if it is that good 3...there was exactly one for me and one for my friend. 6. The interiors seemed dingy and sticky and there was a horrible smell coming from the kitchen...like a sewage or old food smell. 7. This last one is not the restaurants fault but there was some party going on in the back and there were 2 children running and screaming in the restaurant. It is dangerous and also very annoying. If I wanted running unsupervised children with my meal I would have went to McDonald's playland. I have had much better Italian food with a better atmosphere in the past at other places. Would I overall come back: no Would I recommend it to others: no It was just ok.
(3)E R.
This review is about the bar....NOT the food. Have been here half a dozen times for a drink to start the evening. Every time, the bar is "half staffed"......meaning there is a bartender half the time. For having a bar the first thing seen as you enter, I would think it would be staffed by a knowledgeable bartender. Every time I've been here, I've never felt welcome at all when I was served. Probably won't come back.
(1)Ashley C.
I thought it was great! It was my birthday dinner, so needless to say it was a very important day :-) Our server was great and one of the nice things about this place is the other servers help out. Your glass is empty they grab it and fill it for you. I always like to see that because it shows everyone cares about their job. Food was good, and the garlic dip was even better. I don't think a vampire would have come near me for at least 6 hours after eating it. If only it scared zombies away too! Portions are big so if you don't like leftovers I would get the lunch portion. I ordered the dinner portion and was able to make a full meal out of it the next day. I had the carbonara and my boyfriend had the Chicken Parm. Both were amazing and fresh. It's a cute little romantic spot, so if you are looking to take a date here I would totally recommend it. I read the bad reviews before coming here and didn't experience anything they are talking about. So don't let those make or break your decision!!!
(5)Denise C.
I'm astounded at some of the good reviews with relation to the food so maybe we ordered wrong. We stopped here because it was a nice night and they have an inviting patio. I ordered a sangria which tasted like fruit punch, but I will say there wasn't a problem having it doctored with more wine. They bring you packaged bread sticks from the grocery in a plastic water glass...bad sign. We ordered the chianti salad and crab pasta. The salad again appeared to be packaged greens from the grocery and paid an additional charge for balsamic vinegar which was the best thing about the meal, but I can go the store on State Street and buy my own. The pasta was overcooked, flavorless, dry and the crab was exceedingly sparse which turned out to be a good thing because it had that old frozen taste. I saw another table with the calamari appetizer and it definitely came from a pre-made frozen package. For the prices they charge I expect freshly prepared food with somewhat fresh ingredients. Will not eat here again...maybe a beer on the patio.
(1)Penny M.
We called ahead for a reservation and let them know we were celebrating an anniversary. They wrote our names on the birthday/anniversary wall and surprised us with a dessert after dinner. Service began with a garlic cream sauce with crunchy breadsticks (I believe imported from Italy). The garlic sauce was insane! So good. So unbelievably good. The salad was a normal salad, nothing too special - I had a balsamic/olive oil dressing. For my main dish I had the Chicken Oreganato. It was ok - the pasta it was served on was on the bland side and the chicken could have had more spice on it, but overall it was still good. Overall, a cute location for a date night and good food!
(4)George F.
This is a 2.5 star rating. A mid summer evening dinner outing for wife and I tonight at Cianti's- the weather has been hot, 95+ degrees for what seems like weeks. I bring this up because either their air was broken or set to extremley low, the dining room was at best 80 degrees! If only the food could have made up for that- I could deal with grandmas 3rd floor city apartment that had no air in the summer because the payoff of a signature dish would be well worth every bead of sweat! Not at cianti, not tonight. THE GOOD: Cold fresh ice water, friendly and attentive waitress. Great gratuitus bread stick crackers and garlic dip. Exceptional salad.
(2)Allen C.
A staple for many years, they moved next door to a bit smaller space. Food and service remains very good. $7.95 lunch specials incl Soup or salad and soft bev of choice. Great value here.
(5)Kelly H.
I've been here several times over the past several years, and I can't get enough!! The garlic dressing with the breadsticks is to die for- I almost contemplated shipping some home on ice!! I also had the caprese salad which was DIVINE. And I tried a bite of the Cajun Tortellini- extremely rich, spicy, and cheesy. Yum.
(5)Gee S.
I accidentally booked a family lunch here instead of at Gratto next door. Do not make this mistake. You will be gravely disappointed. First, the bright spots. The salad with Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, and carrots was crisp and fresh. The dinner rolls were warm and crispy. The servers were perfectly nice(though they struck me as inexperienced and a little overwhelmed by our questions about the food). It is very inexpensive. Onto the horror. My Linguini with Clams was like something a passive aggressive lunch lady would dream up. First of all, it had little hidden bits of crunchy onion in it, when onion isn't listed as an ingredient on the menu. This would have been fine if it weren't for the rest of the dish. Instead of the lovely steamed clams I imagined, these were chopped clams from a can that looked like something we would feed our cat to entice her into taking her medicine. All in all, blecch. Pity my partner's Shrimp Scampi were dead, as they no doubt would have enjoyed swimming around in their vast garlic butter reservoir as though performing in a nightmarish gustatory ballet (Prawn Lake). At least that might have livened up the dish, which was as boring as church on Christmas. The burgers have something called "Scallion sauce" on them that looks like it was squeezed out of a duck's bottom.
(1)Philly C.
Can't say enough good things about this place...great experience, great service and most importantly great food. Will be back!
(5)Margaux D.
This restaurant is truly a gem. The location is truly convenient during or after a day of shopping with the girls. It's a cozy, romantic setting at a more than affordable price. The best part is the food- I was delighted discover that on most dishes, the menu provides the option of ordering a "lunch portion" at a lesser price. They even offer fresh pasta. Hit up Chiantis for a beautiful meal.
(4)Mike M.
Visited last night for dinner with my wife, child, and out of town family. Sorry to say it was very empty. Cajun Chicken Tortellini? Fan-tastic. The server was very attentive, but she didn't strike me as a "fine dining" server... A bit unkempt and unorthodox, and we were cramped into a booth with the highchair on the end instead of being given a table. Regardless, great food, decent ambiance. Will be returning.
(4)Barb G.
My family celebrated our October birthdays at Chanti's on Saturday night. We were 8 adults, 2 teens, 1 kid under 10. Setting was lovely and most of my family members were pleased with their meals. The pumpkin ravioli my brother in law ordered was delicious. My brother was pleased with the manicotti. I found the Sausalito Fettuccini average at best. My food wasn't remarkable, but the service was nice. Dillon was our server and he was pleasant and knowledgable.
(3)GrammaCindy L.
Another wonderful lunch today at Chianti's! This time, we had the pleasure of the owner's son, Jeff, as server! He was terrific as the food was! Kudos to Sheri and Jeff and Jeff, Jr and their lovely daughter! Thanks for a wonderful time, always!
(5)Molly C.
Good Italian food, never disappointed. Great garlic dressing, served with breadsticks. Fresh roles served with your salad that comes with all entrees. Linguine is homemade and delicious! Love the shrimp and broccoli and the tri color linguine crab dinner, yum!
(4)David W.
GREAT spot. My wife and I went here for Valentine's dinner a couple of weekends back. We were more dressed up than the average person there, but it didn't matter because it's such a cozy spot. We were seated in the front room which basically was a large living room that was remodeled to serve as the front part of the restaurant. There's a little toy train that runs along an edge on the tray ceiling and the lighting is low and cozy. While a family spot, it still was great cozy enough for our Valentine's dinner. The service was great and foor was FAB. My wife had Vodka pasta and I had the Cajun Chicken Tortellini. I'm a big Italian food guy and we've been to a bunch here in Chicago, but this little spot in Geneva and this little tortellini dish...the BEST. My new favorite dish! I'm so sad it's a whole hour outside of the city or else I'd be there once a month!!
(5)nicole h.
Friendly service. Cozy atmosphere. Their menu's nothing innovative. Just basic pastas, etc. Nothing's write-home-about-it delicious. But it'll fill your tummy with starchy goodness and make you happy just the same. One huge plus? It's fantastically affordable and offers half portions at any time of the day... So you won't have to roll yourself home and throw back some Tums because you just couldn't say "no" to that last bite...
(3)Jason W.
Very good Italian in the heart of Geneva's downtown area. The restaurant is cute and they have both lunch and dinner portions of their meals - great for eating slightly cheaper (and less) during lunch. Nonetheless, the food is very good. I had the Garlic Crab pasta, and there was lots of shredded crab meat with a sumptuous pasta. The garlic was very strong (I was feeling it for a while) and there was too much oil at the bottom of my bowl, but it was still an excellent bowl of pasta. The dishes my friends ordered (the chicken tortellini and the Italian oven grinder) were also very well done. Service was very attentive - I had a new iced tea on my table just as I was finishing my previous one. Parking is on the street, but the restaurant is so cute and fits in so well in the downtown area that it's worth the effort to get out there.
(4)E B.
I miss the old place but they still do alright. It isn't the best Italian but the bolognese always hits the spot. Great value for the location especially for lunch.
(3)Sandy A.
I loved the "old" Ristoranti Chianti" and I was so glad it came back. Their cheese mushrooms are my favorite and I've even stopped and gotten them for carry out before. I love the train that chugs along the ceiling. It's a cute place with good food and it fits right in with Geneva and it's great shops.
(4)Maura S.
Meh. You get what you pay for when you dine at Chianti's. Based on Chiant's excellent location in downtown Geneva, and it's charming exterior, I was expecting something a little more than what I got. Food was okay, but nothing to go back for. My Shrimp Scampi was drowning in garlicy butter (but not in a good way...). On a positive note, our waitress was extremely kind and helpful, and the patio was nice.
(3)Laura R.
So my boyfriend and I were supposed to go to Sorella's over by Naperville, but as we were walking in Geneva after having breakfast over at Egg Harbor, we heard Frank Sinatra singing from the sky (technically speaking, no, but it was from Chiantis). Right away it caught our eye, as we are big Sinatra fans. So we decided to cancel our reservations from Sorella's and try Chiantis instead. It had a very homely, old fashioned styled to it that we liked. It was not big, but it wasn't lonely either. When we got there I wanted to sit inside since I was afraid there would be mosquitoes and flies out in the patio. Unfortunately their inside tables were full and we would have to wait 30 minutes till the next one was available, so we chose to sit outside instead. The patio was not all that great so to speak. It was okay, fortunately there weren't as many flies as I thought but overall I didn't like the fact that they had a table which happened to have dishes and whatnot I presume. But anywho, the waitress who served us was very kind and would always ask us if we needed any more to drink (I was drinking away that delicious sweetened iced tea!). PRO: Food was delicious AND affordable. My boyfriend got the shrimp scampi and I got the spinach ravioli. Both were served with soup or with salad. We got appetizer, our food, AND dessert, and let's just say it came out to be about $50. We were pretty amazed. though the soup was not all that great, I did enjoy our dinner very much. CON: Long wait for food to be served
(3)Carol H.
Went to dinner last night with my family and the food was great. Got there around 7pm no wait for a table sat in a comfortable booth for four. The host was a quite young man who also was polite. The water girl said nothing to us, just plopped the glasses down and fill them up and walked away. My daughter said thank as she left and gave a quite "welcome" with her back to us. Waiter (Brock) came about 10 minutes after we sat he too was lacking in the personality department. more like a robot. Music was a mix of Sinatra and other Italian artist that made it enjoyable not to loud but added a relaxing ambiance. We had the cheese broccoli soup and house salads to start and spaghetti bolognese and manicotti with ricotta filling. we had the bread sticks that were at the table with small cup of garlic sauce (delicious) that was given by Brock. All the food was cooked well and the salads were fresh. I say we would go back just for the food because the staff seemed "hollow"!
(3)Dave B.
I like Chianti's a lot. Not overly formal, just a nice little italian place. I feel welcome whether I'm wearing coat and tie, or jeans. Love the cajun tort. Could stand to bump up wine list a bit, but not a detriment. Comfort food, comfort setting, friendly people.
(5)Dvorah G.
The food was excellent, but I am only giving 2 stars due to appallingly poor service. The wait staff were all very friendly, but it took 20 minutes from the time that we actually sat at our table for the waitress to take our food order (we had already ordered something to drink while waiting for our table). I asked passing waiters twice to take our order, and once I actually knocked on the door of the kitchen to ask for a waiter/waitress to take our order, but each time was told that "your waitress will be with you shortly". This marred an otherwise excellent culinary experience.
(2)Mary c.
the bread sticks are fantastic with the also delich garlic dipping sauce. they sell the breadsticks if you are interested, that and garlic sauce was the best part of meal. the rest was just ok. the waitress recommended the mushroom appetizer...8 sml mushrooms loaded with mozerella cheese baked on top...ok but no unique flavor. Then I had penne pasta with italian sausage pieces and sauce...reminded me of jar sauce..i took leftover home but never wanted it again. but it came with little salad and prices were right. my friend had hamburger (i know, why), and it was only fair, the fries were half dried out. I have tried this place twice in past yr. last time I had some crab and garlic pasta that was recommended to me, but i found it to be little too garlicy and soso, nothing to recomend. but it worth a try for lunch b.c location and its kind of cute inside.
(3)Erica R.
Average at best, and kinda expensive. Went there for my birthday, on a abmormally warm march day, it was very hot in the resturant, food came out very hot but very delayed and we sat next to a very loud couple. So much for a romantic birthday dinner. I had chicken parm, lots of chicken hardly any pasta, for a dinner portion i was disappointed. Pizza looked like something out of the freezer. We love trying out new places in Geneva and usually hit the mark but this doesnt if your looking for italian try Pi Pizza in St Charles or viva verona in Geneva.
(2)Tammy K.
our family dined at Chiati's one time and was very impressed so we decided to try again (our usual spot is Villa Verone). The Garlic Bread was good, Calmari was burnt very dark brown not good. My party was happy with their entree's I ordered the lingunie with clam sauce it was awful it was in a chicken soup base! had no taste. The place is adorable but I will not be returning back to Villa Verone!
(2)davia t.
This place used to be on third street in the same building and it closed and no italian restaurant in the area has been able to come close to what Chianti's instilled in us Genevians. Delicious food, fast service. Not overly priced, so you can bring the kids, but also dim and romantic enough to go out with the man. Canjun tortellini was delicious and recommended! Great salads and breadsticks as well. So happy that they are back with the some management! Way to go!
(5)Andy G.
The good news is Chianti's is back! If you were a fan when it was located next door for several years you will be happy because the menu has carried over with few changes. The bad news is I still find it to be overall an average dining experience. One of the best items on the menu is the Cajun tortellini. The Cajun spice is nice and not too heavy. Sadly it is no longer available stuffed with sausage. It is only available stuffed with chicken and I liked the sausage better. Next time I might order some Italian sausage on the side and just cut it up and put it on top. The salad that comes with the entree is good but it is small. I recommend upgrading to the Chianti salad for just an extra buck fifty. It's nice that the lunch portion is available at diner time. I recommend ordering the lunch portion and if it is not enough you can always supplement with an appetizer and or desert. For me what keeps this restaurant from getting more stars is a lack of Wow! features. A lot of restaurants serve good food otherwise they wouldn't be in business. I'm glad Chianti's is back.
(3)Megan S.
Went here on a Saturday night. We were seated right away outside on the patio because it was going to rain. They generously gave us $5 off our bill for sticking it out as it rained. And that's where they get the extra star. Good and friendly service, but the food is just terrible. Salad had limp lettuce. The white sauce on both dishes was just thick and pasty. No real taste to it. The dinner portion was huge. Too huge. Suggestion: focus on the flavor - and not serving plates that could feed three people.
(2)Brad P.
We stop in here every once in a while when we are in Geneva and the food is always great. The train inside is a nice touch to keep the kids entertained.
(4)Kathryn B.
Went here last night for a date night with my boyfriend. We had both never been before. We mentioned this to the server, but she didn't really give us the "first time here" talk; telling us what's good, recommending food/drinks, telling us about the restaurant etc.... We sat in the bar area which is its own little room. We both enjoyed it and were the only two in there which was nice and quiet! However.... We seemed to be forgotten about. It seemed as if our server was in a rush every time she came to check on us. After we had three apps and a few drinks prior to our meal, she seemed to warm up a bit. (Maybe because our check was going to be high or because it was later and the main restaurant wasn't so busy??) For apps had the calamari, bruschetta, and the cheesy mushrooms. Calamari was ok but just a deep fried appetizer you could get at a bar. I wouldn't recommend the bruschetta, was pretty bland. The mushrooms however were AMAZING. So were our main entrées. I had the shrimp and broccoli angel hair pasta with a white wine sauce. I got the small, which was more than enough. I was surprised with how low our bill was as we had three apps (although they are half off in July on Tuesdays!) four drinks and two entrees. Bill was around 80$. Will for sure go back, just wish the serving staff was a tad more personable and friendly to first time customers.
(3)SE W.
Chianti's never disappoints! The Garlic Crab Pasta is fantastic! The thin crispy breadsticks and garlic dipping sauce are amazing and I don't know of anyone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed their meal when dining at Chianti's with me. Another plus is that it is not one of those noisy - can't hear your dinner companions - places that seem to be so prevalent. Truly a gem in Geneva and reasonably priced!
(5)Eric S.
Finally tried it. Sat inside, front area. Felt like we were on grandma's musty porch. Thought the store-bought thin bread sticks (think crackers) and garlic "dipping sauce" along with the paper napkins were grossly under-par for a restaurant on 3rd Street in Geneva. The staff were friendly and the service was good. Underwhelmed by the food. The Santa Fe Pasta was indeed spicy. It was "OK." My wife had the chicken Parmesan -- which should have been a safe bet. She is not a picky eater and finished less than half of it before we downed our drinks and asked for the check. Dinner for two and a few drinks was around $50. My wife did comment that their house Pinot-N was good and they pour a nice-sized glass. But overall, felt like we needed a date night do-over. Geneva is such a charming little town. We walked it off.
(2)Carolina B.
My friends and I stopped at Chianti's at around 7 on a Sunday night. We were seated right away and our server attended to us quickly. One of my friends had to catch a train back home at 8:30 so we were in a bit of a hurry, we were grateful for the timely service. The restaurant is small, but nice, casual Italian style with white table cloths and dim lighting. I liked the atmosphere, perfect way to end a night out with girlfriends. It was also nice they were open later on a Sunday, most places on 3rd street in Geneva were closed. We were so hungry so the first thing we noticed was this white sauce on the table and we wanted some! We thought some bread might come out but then one of us noticed some crispy bread sticks on the far end of the table. The white sauce was a homemade creamy garlic sauce for dipping these sticks and it was delicious! We cleaned the cups of sauce dry before our waitress came back with our waters. The waitress also eventually brought out crispy warm bread rolls which were great too. The menu consists of standard Italian fare. I wasn't in the mood for pasta so my friend and I ordered side salads and split the stuffed mushrooms and the calamari. The salad was Okay. They make their own dressings so I asked for ranch but it tasted more like sour cream and the salad was just iceberg lettuce with a few veggies, nothing special. The stuffed mushrooms were amazing however! The highlight of the meal. Cheese on top and crunchy on the inside, I would definitely recommend these, especially if you are a cheese lover. I was very disappointed in the calamari. It was very breaded, and there were no actual calamari or even the rings, they were basically just calamari straws. If you are a calamari lover like me, I wouldn't order them from here. I also tried my friends cheese lasagna and it was wonderful. I would go back to Chianti's, order the mushrooms, skip the salad and try a pasta dish.
(3)Logan J.
I use this as a guide to help select great restaurants and great food- so let me help by saving you the time and expense of a wasted trip. Nothing authentic about the food and below average in dated decor. Many better choices right down the street!!
(1)Tracy H.
Went here on a Saturday afternoon. It was so lovely for the end of October, we sat on the patio. The service was great and friendly, and the wine was delicious (got the House pinot). My sister and I both had the beef minestrone, and it's seriously one of my favorite soups anywhere. Highly recommend. Also love their breadsticks/garlic sauce. For entrees, they were good. Not great. My sister had the Italian sausage and peppers and really likes the dish. I had chicken parm. Good flavor. Our main complaint here was that our food came out lukewarm. Come on! Clearly both our dishes had been sitting under a heat lamp for a while. Flavor was good, but the food should come out hot. Had our food come out hot, it would have been a near-perfect meal. If they can work on that, that'd be wise. I'm sure we weren't the only ones this happened to. But still, food is good, service is friendly.
(3)Bob P.
They have a great hidden bar in the back. The service is consistently slow, but the food makes up for that. While it's not homemade pasta you'll still enjoy the dishes. If you're expecting homemade pasta look at the prices, you should know better. The sauces are what makes their dishes.
(3)Karl W.
I enjoy this place, I live in Geneva so I've been here a couple of times. For the food, I'll give it a solid 3 stars. The wife and I went here on a whim on a Saturday night, while they didn't have any tables in their "main room", they had one available in the "bar". I didn't even know they had a separate bar area! As we walked through the main room, the hostess opened up the outside door, we walked about 20 feet outside, and then back in again to a bar area that I'd say holds maybe 20 people at most. There are only 4... yes, 4 stools at the bar itself. We were seated at a small 2 person table-top. Upon the waitresses suggestion, I ordered up the Parmesan-crusted tilapia on top of sauteed spinach (it was a "special" of the night). It was delicious, definitely a four-star rating for my plate. I'm a pretty well-rounded seafood eater, and the fish was delicious, and the spinach was cooked just right. The wife ordered a basic pasta dish with tomato sauce (sorry I don't remember the exact one), and to her it was just average. Not bad by any means, but nothing she raved about afterwards. I bring it up to a 4-star rating because the ambiance of the restaurant, along with our server, was great. When we return I'll specifically ask to be seated in the bar section, it was like we were eating in someone's home (well, with a custom-made bar). Decent food, great surroundings, if pasta isn't your thing definitely try the tilapia if it's on the menu.
(4)Jackie G.
I love this little restaurant. Garlic butter sauce! I love it. I dip the bread in it and when I'm out of that I dig into the wrapped breadsticks on the table. Yummy!! I heard a waitress say it's garlic, mayo, and sour cream? I don't know what it is but it's garlicky delicious! This time we left the horrible Grato next door and came here for apps. We got the fried calamari, pizza, and cheesy garlic bread. Calamari was fresh and cooked perfect. The pizza was small but pretty good just what we wanted and cheesy garlic bread was yummy too! I love this place and will def come back here again!
(5)Jocelyn W.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Don't listen to the negative people on here. Def a great place to try! I have consistently great experiences every time I'm here.
(5)O H.
I am not Italian or a connoisseur of Italian food but I love Chianti's. To me a dining experience is more than just food. Having said that though I do love their food. But I also love the ambience especially during the holidays. While having lunch there today it was so cozy and inviting. A lovely fireplace burning and all the Christmas lights trimming the inside and outside, it was so festive and relaxing. We have never ever had bad service there. Everyone is friendly and they go out of their way to make us happy with our meal. We have been going there for years and are always satisfied with everything which is why I am happy to give them 5 stars.
(5)Kathleen D.
We love Chianti's. Love, love, love the cheese mushroom appetizer! I order the dinner portion of the Lasagna with the Marinara sauce and it's delicious. The soups are always good and the garlic dipping sauce for the breadsticks is delicious. The rolls always come piping hot which is appreciated. The salad dressings are all homemade and tasty. My husband orders the Spaghetti Bolognese and loves it! My son enjoys the Chicken tortellini. I don't understand some of the bad reviews as we haven't had a bad experience yet.
(5)Gail P.
The last time we had dinner in Chianti's over 4 years ago, it was good and my husband had a taste for Italian, however, dinner on Friday was quite disappointing. The calamari was served looking like fried clams instead of calamari and very chewy. The caprese salad was just okay. The dinner salad was very good especially the garlic dressing. For dinner I had the Cajun chicken tortellini because I had read a review on another site that it was very good. Well, maybe the cook has changed because it was not Cajun, not spicy or flavorful at all. It was quite bland topped with quite a bit of cheese. The portion, although dinner sized was small compared to most other restaurants. I would not recommend this dish. My husband had the sausage and pepper dinner and the sausage was chopped in chunks and lacked flavor and said he would not order it again. The hostess was very friendly and accommodating seating us right away. The server was warm and friendly as well as the bus help. We had a booth in the center dining room, but every time the diner behind me moved, I felt like I was being bumped in the back. This restaurant is right in the center of busy downtown Geneva, I certainly hope that this was an off night, but don't believe we will be returning, there are many other Italian restaurants in the area.
(2)Tom O.
What a nice place! Was in the area and the family was hungry. We stumbled across this place, and we were really delighted with it! The food was very good, the service is excellent and the overall value was excellent. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is just because I am born and raised in NY, and the Italian food there, which I am used to, is a bit different (I would say better). But this is a very nice place for a good Italian meal!
(4)Margie T.
I haven't been at this place for years and when I finally went there again this month, I was really unpleasantly surprised how dirty and run down it looked. I had the Linguini and Clams and they were very bland. My daughter had the Chicken Alfredo and got a stomach ache on the way home. As a free appetizer you get wrapped breadsticks you can dip in garlic sauce, which is rather tacky. Why not serve some freshly baked bread and olive oil to dip in. We will not return to that place.
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