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Name: Rose Angelis
Address: 1314 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614
Telephone: (773) 296-0081
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.07

Rose Angelis

1314 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614

(773) 296-0081
Store is closed

Rose Angelis Menu

Antipasti

Pizza Del Giorno

Bruschetta

Bruschetta Di Carne Asada

Melanzane Miniature Alla Parmigiana

Asparagi E Prosciutto Freddo

Calamari Alla Griglia

Minestrone

Zuppa Del Giorno
Insalata

Insalata Di Caprese

Insalata Di Caesare

Insalata Mista
Pasta

Mezzalune Al Burro

Raviolini Alla Maria

Rotini Alla Putanesca

Tortellone Con Salsa Di Noce

Ravioli Alla Luigi

Rigatone Alla Lorena

Linguini Al Frutti Di Mare

Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco

Gnocchi Con Prosciutto E Albiococca Secca

Lasagna Al Forno

Manicotti Del Giorno
Specialita Della Casa

Aged New York Strip

Pollo Alla Marsala

Pollo Al Vesuvio

Pollo Florentino

Melanzane Alla Parmigiana

Pork Chop Ripiene Con Polenta E Spinaci

Zuppa Di Pesce

Pesce Del Giorno
Dolce

Tiramisu

Italian Bread Pudding

Trio Of Chocolate Mousse

Chocolate Chip Espresso Cheesecake

Fresh Strawberries

Donatella

Healthy Meal suggestions for Rose Angelis

Antipasti

Pizza Del Giorno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bruschetta Di Carne Asada [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melanzane Miniature Alla Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asparagi E Prosciutto Freddo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Calamari Alla Griglia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Minestrone [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuppa Del Giorno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Insalata

Insalata Di Caprese [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Di Caesare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Insalata Mista [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Pasta

Mezzalune Al Burro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Raviolini Alla Maria [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rotini Alla Putanesca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortellone Con Salsa Di Noce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ravioli Alla Luigi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rigatone Alla Lorena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Linguini Al Frutti Di Mare [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gnocchi Con Prosciutto E Albiococca Secca [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lasagna Al Forno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Manicotti Del Giorno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialita Della Casa

Aged New York Strip [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Alla Marsala [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Al Vesuvio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pollo Florentino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Melanzane Alla Parmigiana [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pork Chop Ripiene Con Polenta E Spinaci [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zuppa Di Pesce [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pesce Del Giorno [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dolce

Tiramisu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Italian Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Trio Of Chocolate Mousse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chocolate Chip Espresso Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Strawberries [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Donatella [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Joseph B.

My family posse of 9 (3 kids) went to a different restaurant in the neighborhood last night. We were told a 20 minute wait. After 30 minutes and a review of the dining room showed only three table big enough to seat our party and two of them without food yet -- I took emergency measures. (One of the kids is my 2 year old and she was near melt down after a four hour drive from Wisconsin Dells to Chicago) I found Rose Angelis on my mobile version of Yelp (which of course didn't tell me it wasn't good for kids) and I called. The person on the phone was great. She got us a table put together. By the time we had walked there the table was ready and we were seated. We did an emergency cheesey pizza order for the older kids and a glass of milk for my darling. They staff worked as a team and were fantastic to us. We were outside the norm of a typical "Rose Angelis" customer based on what I say and the reviews here. Regardless everyone had a very enjoyable meal. The food was fresh and well prepared. A potential dinner disaster was avoided -- and I will return to Rose Angelis when I have an opportunity to do it wit a romantic dinner for two. . . when my daughter can stay with her grandfathers for the night!
(4)
Michelle D.

I have been here three times. We went for the 1st time about 5 years ago and I remember thinking it was just okay. We tried it again pretty soon after and I felt the same. This past Saturday, we decided to give it another try 5 years later. I was very impressed with the wine list. Lots of great wines to choose from and reasonably priced. Lots of appetizers and entrees to choose from too. I got 2 items off the specials menu and my husband ordered the Duck Gnocchi off the regular menu. The skirt steak bruschetta was good, not great (definitely not an italian dish). My dish was one of the worst things I have ever tasted. I ordered the "Chicken Vesuvio" ravioli. It was described as flavorful and full of Rosemary, Chicken, Lemon, and Garlic (true to the Chicken Vesuvio) I know and love. When the dish came, it was essentially a bowl full of cream and raviolis. My first ravioli bite consisted of all garlic (but in a bad way - bc I usually LOVE garlic). The next and third bite were super spicy and I could not take the chicken or anything else. Just pepper or some spiciness. I had my husband try to make sure I was not crazy, but we agreed something was wrong. It was the worst thing I have ever received in a restaurant. I pushed it to the side and had some of my husband's gnocchi which was okay, not great. The waitress was very understanding (and kind of shocked when I explained how spicey it was and how it did not represent Chicken Vesuvio flavors). I actually was not charged which is a plus. She was very nice about it and I wish I could recommend something I had there. I will not be back.....ever.
(1)
Missy M.

Delicious food, wine, romantic setting...this place is perfect! The italian bread pudding is TO DIE FOR.
(5)
Ela B.

I love this place and I love to come here occasionally even though I live an hour and half away from Chicago. Obviously there are many great reviews describing the food and atmosphere so I won't wax poetic about the ambiance, romance, family-feel, dim light and coziness of the place. The great reviews are right on the spot. I love the menu because it's very unique and definitely not the basic spaghetti and meatballs you'd find at any other Italian restaurant. It's the feeling of a very close knit environment. Definitely a place you can go with your loved one and be very content with your selections and destination of choice. But I need to address something specific here. I read a previous review below about a woman being upset that she was asked to move her party into the bar area of the restaurant after spending $600 on dinner when they were sitting around after dinner and after they paid. Get a grip, lady, honestly. It's not about the money you spent -- it's about common courtesy to the people waiting to eat dinner. You weren't asked to leave the restaurant, you were asked to move to an area made for socializing. While I understand your opinion on the functions of a restaurant you also need to understand that there are people in line waiting to eat who couldn't care less if you spent a thousand dollars or how many of your friends you were trying to entertain. Did you know that average wait time in this place is 1 hour on a normal weekend and nearly 2 hours on a holiday? While you sit there having a party with your buddies, people have been waiting hours to eat. How about showing some consideration for your public? Here's my 5 star rating to offset your 1 star. The people serving us and the front staff has not been anything but professional and courteous. If they were ever rushed or anything of the sort it might have been because there are groups of people waiting to eat at all times. Make sure when you go there on a weekend or holiday you are prepared to wait. Remember also that this is Chicago meaning that there is only street parking and can be very hard to come by so give yourself a little more patience and time. There are two quaint bars across the street you can wait at and they'll actually correspond via phone with Rose Angelis to make sure your party is ready to be seated so you don't miss your turn. That's great service when people who are rushed to sit everyone and keep a bustling restaurant running smoothly also call the bars across the street when your table is ready. My favorite dish at this place is the Mezzalune al burro and Gnocchi con Prosciutto e Albiococca Secca and I absolutely love the Tiramisu for dessert. It's just amazing. I've never had a bad meal there and the food has always been delicious and delectable. And furthermore, for the amazing prices you can't say no. You'll be full to the brim and you'll walk out of there paying under $50 for two people if you don't overdo it on the wine (which is also very reasonably priced.) Definitely give this restaurant a try and post your own review of your experience but do everyone a favor and review the actual restaurant, food and staff and not the lack of your own consideration.
(5)
Furry P.

The food is wonderful and the service is prompt and friendly.
(5)
Chris W.

I, or we, really want to like this place. I started dining at Rose Angelis in 2005 because it was one of my girlfriend's favorite places. I would guess we were there about once every two months for about a year. She loves the special salad and I agree the dishes are generally pretty good (but not great) and the atmosphere is neighborhoody/warm. But after another bad experience just in the last few days, we won't be back. We had a party of about 10 to bid farewell to good friends and as we were ordering an 11th showed up unexpectedly as he was able to break free after putting his one year old daughter down. We we asked if we could get another chair, the waiter replied snottily, "I don't know. We're pretty busy tonight." So, I got up and looked for a chair. What a buzzkill. This has become the typical experience for us at Rose Angelis and it's just not worth it any more. There way too many other really great restaurants in Chicago to spend any more frustrated nights there.
(1)
Gina D.

The best Italian restaurant in Chicago
(5)
Robert B.

Well, well, well. Where do I begin?? I read the yelp reviews before venturing here. I read some of the good and the bad. I should have taken heed to the 1 & 2 star reviews. They were dead on. First off the place was accommodating and loud with the hustle and bustle of a full Friday night. I like that! The wait staff were very pleasant and attentive and the bartender pours a good cocktail ( hence the second star). We started with the tossed salad, which was enough for four to share, and the asparagus and prosciutto. The salad was very tasty. The asparagus were good with the roasted red pepper purÃ©e, but got decimated by the dollop of mascarpone cheese they were lying in. Scrape that off and it would have been just fine. Flavors just didn't blend. My wife got Seafood Pasta which was good. Linguini seemed al dente and the sauce was flavorful and full of scallops (bay not ocean) shrimp, squid & mussels. I had, on the waiters recommendation, the special. This was a concoction of some sort of cream cheese sauce( probably mascarpone, seems the chef has an affinity for this) ravioli, jerk chicken, mango chutney & nutmeg!!!! It was like a 2 year old just threw ingredients together with no thought or it's like one of those days that you order several items because your just not sure what you feel like eating and then you say screw it I'll just mix them all together. The mango chutney was good but totally did not belong on this dish. It would have gone well on some grilled mahi mahi!! The ravioli had to be Biutoni brand out of the market. You know those little refrigerated dried ravioli that come in the fancy green package. The jerk chicken belonged on a stick or a sandwich, not in this dish!!!! And the nutmeg....... Come on man, what the Heck were you thinking!!! Totally didn't blend, Andrew Zimmern would have winced if he had taken a bite of this!!! Still had a very good time ( I ate my wife's pasta, sorry Gina haha). We tried the bread pudding for dessert. Rock hard dark blackish brown with the consistency of 10 year old fruit cake. This was drenched in a caramel sauce, probably to make it more moist. The caramel sauce was good the bread pudding was not! The espresso was flavorful with a nice crema and the grappa was good. All in all a fun night but the food seemed not well thought out at all or maybe in this chef's case, over thought out. I probably will never return but I'm glad I went to experience it for myself.
(2)
Dawn B.

Jesus, I forgot how good this place is. The food, the service, the laid back, casual atmosphere...I love it all. The prices are reasonable, the wine list is extensive, and the servers are knowledgeable and attentive without being over the top. All in all I would highly recommend Rose Angelis. The Gorgonzola Tortellini is outstanding but the truth is, everything I've ever tried has been fantastic.
(5)
Daniel S.

The food is seriously sub-par, but again one of those spots that everyone adores and thus it endures. To each his own. Cute decor.
(2)
natalie b.

mmmmm that just about says it. shared the mezzalune al burro with a friend and we still had leftovers. i'm craving it already and we just finished the leftovers! the salad special was great and they gladly prepared the gnocchi for my friend without the prosciutto (delicious). i finished up with the 3 mousse dessert (again, they were accomadating and left off the raspberry sauce). so scrumptious. too much too eat on my own. the tiramisu was delicious as well. i would definitely recommend seeking this restaurant out. seating on a saturday night? not so much with the quickness. seating on a snowy tuesday night? no problem.
(5)
Holly S.

My Husband and I love this place. It is our favorite place to go for all occasions including days that end in "y." Never had any thing less than absolutely fabulous to eat here. Wine selection is more than acceptable. I'm taking my husband here again for this birthday next wednesday. in the winter its cozy inside, and in the summer they have two beautiful patios! cant wait till wednesday!
(5)
pam w.

This is my favorite Italian Restaurant in the city. In fact, it's the only restaurant I'll actually wait an hour to get into! I recommend the eggplant parmesan and all of their great salads. Huge portions, reasonable prices, and simply delicious!
(5)
Adam S.

As I think most people have mentioned, for atmosphere, Rose Angelis can't be beat, although it definitely gets really loud on busy nights. I went there last week and walked out of there more full than I have been since I was a kid and took pride in eating as much as I possibly could. We had the lasagna and manicotti, one of their special salads, and an outstanding bottle of Meritage. Unlike some of the other reviews here recently, I thought we had great service although it took the waiter literally close to 5 minutes to go through the specials. They should pare it down for those poor guys. :( I guess it just all depends on who you get at your table, but the point of the place isn't to rush through a dinner and get the hell out of there. Relax, people watch, enjoy your date, and take comfort in the fact you're putting on at least 5 pounds.
(4)
Bill C.

I've been to this place 3 or 4 times, and I'm always amazed at the quality of food, the quantity of food and the price! This last time around I want with my family and my mother in law, and every dish we had was amazing. We all made it though 1/2 of our plates and took the rest home and had left overs for 3 days! The best part of it all is that I fed a party 7 for ~$120! I spent more the last time I went to the Olive Garden, and this place is about a billion times better. Great work Rose Angelis, I will be back for more.
(5)
Kristin C.

I think this might be my new favorite italian place. I have seen it before and never even knew from the looks of it that it was a restaurant -- it looks like a wine boutique! It's cute and cozy, and you truly feel like you are a guest in someone's home when you walk in. I ordered dish that was on special -- it was a shrimp-filled ravioli with some kind of glorious sauce, and it was absolutely amazing! Everyone at the table raved about it. My boyfriend, however, ordered a spinach ribbon noodle dish, and I have to say, that was disappointing. The sauce not only tasted like jarred sauce, it tasted like a sub par brand, like Ragu. But, the portion was so huge that he helped me with my dish. Service was flawless, and prices are incredibly reasonable. We will definitely be going back (but avoiding the spinach ribbon noodle dish).
(4)
Eric M.

Now this is Italian food done right. Be prepared to wait as they don't take reservations, but while you wait enjoy some nice wine in classic Italian wine glasses. Once seated, the servers are personable and the decor is very homey. The food comes in huge portions and tastes amazing. I strongly recommend saving room for dessert and ordering the bread pudding. You can thank me later.
(4)
David S.

Page and I went here last night around 8:30. There was an 1.5 wait, but they had a nice outside area that was covered with a tent and we were told it was heated. I do not think they actually had the heat on, but die to the nice night is was quite comfortable. We ordered a bottle of wine and the Panzerotti Con Pesto E Gorgonzola (sauted cheese ravioli served with a pesto gorgonzola dipping sauce). The ravioli was cover, and I mean covered, in parmigiana cheese to the point that it made the dish extremely dry. The flavor was nice, but the same effect could have been achieved with a small amount of shave sharp parmigiana. For the main course we ordered the Mafaldina Verde Al Pollo E Carciofi (spinach ribbon noodle tossed with grilled chicken and artichoke hearts in tomato sauce topped with toasted pine nuts and parmigiana) and the Gnocchi Con Prosciutto E Albiococca Secca (potato pasta served in a mascarpone cream sauce with dried apricots, prosciutto, scallions and walnuts). Both of the meals were flavorful, but neither was a to die for dish. The Mafaldina tasted mostly like the tomato sauce and the creme sauce for the Gnocchi tasted mostly like scallions. I would have like to have seen less scallions, more apricots and more walnuts. I think this would have helped make the dish stand out a bit more. Don't get me wrong, we both had left overs for lunch today. This brings me to my next point. The portions were huge, and I don't see that as a good thing. Mine was at least three times the size it needed to be. Lastly, we ordered the Tiramisu for dessert. Don't. The top layer of mascarpone cheese was good. The bottom layer of lady fingers was good. The two layers in between were chocolate cake and chocolate pudding. Please, if you are trying to find the world's best Tiramisu, skip this one. It will just depress you.
(3)
Charlie G.

What more is there to say about this restaurant? Arrive early and be prepared to wait at the bar across the street. The duck tortellini is a must and the homemade ice creams (flavors change with the seasons) are delicious - if you can manage to save room.
(5)
Brent S.

I write this with a heavy heart, because of the great memories of Rose Angelis. It was my first Italian place as an adult. It was my first regular restaurant that i was picking up the tab. It was my first neighborhood place! But, you know when you thought you loved somebody, and you see them again, spend some time with them and you realize that they are not so great. Your new experiences in life make you realize that the way you used to do it, just wasn't that great. That is Rose Angelis. My wife and I lived in the neighborhood from 92-06, then moved a neighborhood away for the last 5 years. We have eaten there more times than we can remember (we even partied one time with the former partner at our place into the wee hours of the morning.) The last five years we probably caught the place about once or twice a year, and always walk away saying, why did we go back, there are about 10 different places within a couple miles that blow it away. Last night might have been the last time we go. It is below average Italian food, served too fast. My wife's ravioli was on par with a weight watchers frozen entree. My gnocchi was just plain gross (and i am gross for eating so much of it...). The gnocchi was like store bought quality (you know when you eat great gnocchi, then try and recreate at home by buying the packaged stuff, that is how this tasted.) The texture of the accompanying items in the dish were horrible. The green scallions were raw and the ham was clumped together like cheap lunch meat. I am a pig and eat anything and this was just not that good. It really was like if I asked my 8 year old to make me a past a dish. The kicker was the service. (I guess we always go back to the place because of habit and because it is pretty darn cool in that old house.) Our waiter took three tries to bring the right bottle of wine, which wasn't a big deal, but never mentioned that it was 1/2 price bottle day. We had to over hear it from another table. We also got drinks while we were waiting and the bartender never told us, so we spent more on two glasses of wine than we would have on an entire bottle. Oh well, back to the food. We have always complained that the food comes out too quickly. We ordered our wine, ate some bread (one three piece section was fine, one three piece section was hard as a rock). We ordered our food after getting the right bottle of wine and about two sips later, our food was out. The same thing happened to the table next to us, they had a full bottle of wine and you could see that they had taken just a couple bites of their food. I think McDonald's takes longer to get the food out. My final thoughts: it was a great first love, but there is just so much better out there. I give it 2 stars instead of one because she was my first and because the atmosphere is still one of the best around. The food is just not that great and experience has taught me that it was never that good...
(2)
Blair B.

I was surprisingly unimpressed. I had heard such great things.. but in the end Rose Angelis disappointed. I loved the cute little house, and service was pretty good... but the food was just boring and not very good. I had the duck tortellini... completely dry and the sauce was nothing special.. kind of like dry tortellini with clear watery glaze. My friend got manicotti.. that was just ok, but nothing impressive. Also, what's up with the pine nuts people? I think I calculated something like 70% of the entree dishes contained it? Kind of ridiculous.
(3)
Kristine K.

Went here with friends about a week ago, and was quite disappointed. Not a fan of the small kiddie cup juice glasses they give you for wine. If I'm paying 40 bucks on a bottle of wine, I'd like to drink it from a wine glass. Bruschetta appetizer was decent, but our entrees left much to be desired. First, it's hard to find a pasta on the menu NOT in a cream sauce with pine nuts. What ever happened to a good hearty meat sauce? Also, none of the pastas had red meat in them. They had one duck ravioli, one dish with chicken, and one with seafood. The rest were meat free. Sometimes a girl likes a big fat meatball or some italian sausage on her plate. Honestly. I tried the pear ravioli, which I have had before at Tuscany...needless to say I ate about three ravioli and settled on drinking my wine to curb my appetite. Didn't do dessert because we all just wanted to leave. Won't be back. (the only reason they got two stars is because the service was decent)
(2)
Kevin B.

Went here for my bday. Great service and great food. That's a five in my book. We sat outside (back when the weather was still good). The place almost looks like a person's Chicago home who just happens to serve great Italian food. I will definitely be back. There's lots of good Italian in LP, but Rose Angelis is up there for me.
(5)
Alanna O.

This place is great!! Good for a date night or even a night out with your family when they are in town! The wait can get to be long if you go on a weekend night b/c they don't take reservations, but it's worth it!! The restaurant is in an old house, and it's very warm and inviting:) Every meal I have ever had here has been delish and they always have great nightly specials too!! If anything save room for the strawberries and caramel......to die for!!!!! Service is great too!!
(4)
Mark R.

Ok, so it wasn't actually one star bad, but I had to make it low to balance all the other reviews. Let me be clear: I WOULD NEVER GO HERE AGAIN. Here are the reasons why: 1. The chicken was bad, very bad. So bad I sent one dish back and then when the 2nd was also bad I just gave up and ate it. It was dry, unflavored, and overcooked. 2. The service was bad - waitress was overstretched, rude, and unbecoming the decor of the restaurant 3. They serve wine in tiny little glasses that they fill to the rim. This is not the way to drink wine. Unless it's very bad wine, which perhaps it is. Don't go there, go to one of the many other excellent neighborhood Italian places, like Sapori or La Tavernetta.
(1)
Pamela P.

What a gem! I heard about this place through some whispers on Yelp and from some friends but was never brave enough to try it out. Last weekend, being somewhat adventurous and entirely famished, my better half and I found ourselves in this great gem of a restaurant. From the outside, it looks like nothing more than a hole in the wall. Inside, it's as is you've stepped back into someone's large home and just sat down for a comforting, carby meal. The entire place is beyond adorable and has an old world feel. There's no gold-tinted dishes and fancy crystal goblets --instead, you'll feel right at home whether in your Louboutins or flip flops. We started off with a veggie pizza appetizer on a wheat crust. First, it was enormous. Second, it was orgasmic. Delicious, crispy, crunch, fresh and really tasty. We ate half of it because we had an entree coming. Thank goodness we shared an entree (in fact, we even took some home) because it was bigger than my head. The portion sizes here are ridiculously large--be prepared to take home. Our pasta puttanesca was good. I wasn't in love but that's maybe because I don't care for an olive, tons of onions and capers mix. There was unequivocally no room in our bellies for dessert. We took tons of food home for tomorrow's snacks. Wonderful place. The only down side was the waitress that may or may not have been under the influence of some tension tamers and possible muscle relaxants. We'll be back, for sure!
(4)
Mary H.

HUGE and delicious portions, reasonable prices, romantic ambiance...what's not to love? Oh, and they may well have the best grilled calamari in the world. It was amazing and quite unique! Check it out during the week sometime for a shorter wait.
(4)
Britt K.

Food- Yum, Yum, Yum! I'm not a huge pasta fan, but the fresh pasta at Rose Angelis is delicious, along with the creamy homemade sauces. My sister really loves ordering linguine with buffalo mozzarella and red sauce. This is not on the menu, but Rose Angelis happily makes this simple and yummy dish for her. We also had the ravioli and sun dried tomatoes. The sundried tomatoes were a perfect touch to this straightforward dish! DÃ©cor- This is such a cute and warm place with a romantic European feel! I love it! Prices- Very reasonable prices for fresh Italian homemade food! I recommend Rose Angelis for a romantic date, a girl's dinner night out, or even as carry out when you want to treat yourself to fresh homemade food!
(4)
Amy K.

Rose Angelis never fails. I've been there a handful of times, and it is always consistently good. The food is scrumptious, the prices are reasonable, and the service is normally spot on. Was there most recently on Friday night, arriving at 6:30 to beat the dinner rush and wait. We shared two of the specials, a large salad (a bit overdressed) and shrimp with raviolini, and this was plenty of food! Rose Angelis is an all purpose restaurant - good romantic dinner spot, a great place to convene with friends, great place to celebrate a birthday or dine with out of town guests. Parking is easy too, fyi. We asked the host, and he mentioned several spots that were not permit parking.
(4)
Andrea R.

I haven't been here in years and I've really been missing out because apparently I forgot all about this amazing Italian restaurant. We had dinner here tonight and it was incredible. We ate quite a lot and I think I may be full for the next 3 days! We started the meal by ordering the pizza and grilled calamari for the table. The pizza was really good....loved the sauce in the middle of the pizza! The calamari was OK, but it was the only part of the meal that was just "OK". Then we ordered the "special" salad and the Cesar's salad...both were great! I was pretty much full at this point, but couldn't resist the duck filled tortellini I had ordered for dinner. It was one of the best meals I have had in a long time! I also tried my brother's pasta stuffed with salmon and it may have been even better than my tortellini. The meal should have ended there because we were all ridiculously full, but everyone insisted on getting the bread pudding and another dessert for all of us to share. The chef decided to send out a total of 6 desserts just to be nice so we ended up having a little taste of everything. Wow....it really was all so good, but if I had to go with my favorite dessert for next time I would probably choose between the tiramisu or the white chocolate mousse. Overall it was an incredible meal with some of the best food I've tasted in a long time and very good service. I don't think I'll be forgetting about Rose Angelis after this meal!
(5)
Sara N.

I've been to Rose Angelis many times, but I'm just getting around to reviewing it now. This is mine, and my husbands' favorite go-to place. We live about three blocks away and love to take visitors because we know we'll always be satisfied. The portions are enormous. I can literally order something and eat it for dinner for the next three days. What prompted my review is this: last week my husband and I stopped by for an impromptu dinner out on a Sunday. I ordered the melanzane alla parmigiana (the best in the city, IMHO) and he ordered the steak with gorgonzola cheese. About two bites in, he remembered that he doesn't like the taste of gorganzola. Oops. Our server noticed right away that he was not eating his dinner and asked if anything was wrong. We explained that he didn't like the cheese, but it was his own fault and by no means did we want her to worry about it. Luckily, he has ordered a side order of pasta, which was enough for a meal anyway. At the end of our meal, our server came by with the check and insisted that we would not pay for the steak. What a lovely surprise when it was totally my husband's fault! She said that she didn't want us to leave disappointed. Well played, Rose Angelis. We' would have been back anyway, but this was above and beyond! Don't miss out on this great restaurant! Bonus: Half priced bottles of wine on Tuesdays!
(5)
Colin H.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food is consistently great (although I'd avoid the pasta dishes with fruit, which tends to be a bit too sweet for me), there's an awesome wine selection, and the waitstaff is top notch. Oh man, and the patio is really great in warm weather.
(5)
Anand K.

Amazing food...! Tried the gnocchi, agnelotti mezzaluna and the tiramisu. They were all really well made and yummy.. Surely will go back!
(5)
Mackenzie M.

A group of colleagues and I were in Chicago for a conference, staying in the downtown area saturated with chain restaurants. Not only is the neighborhood charming, but Rose Angelis was an amazing experience. We went on a Tuesday (half price wine night) and were pleasantly surprised. From the front, it looks tiny and empty, but is deceptively large and romantic and quaint (think Italian frescos) on the inside. Two people got the specials (make sure you listen to them). The portions are huge and the food was absolutely exceptional. I tried all 4 dishes an loved them all (even the crab ravioli and lobster casserole specials (and I don't like seafood), the spinach raviolis in brown butter sauce and the lasagna also made up our meal, wonderful as well. The service and ambience was so relaxing and pleasant that we finished up with limoncello shots. I will be coming here again on my next trip to Chicago.
(5)
Moon Beam B.

To say that this is my favorite place in the city is kind of an err, an understatement. I've lived in the neighborhood, and have celebrated every major accomplishment - figuring out a 2 wheeler to my masters degree celebration - with my family. Did I mention my parents got married there? The food is filing, always will send you home with leftovers and they carry the my Fav wine & all of their pasta is to die for.
(5)
Steven M.

We had a party for 16 and they came through. The service was top notch. Couldn't ask for anything more for a Friday night in a packed house. They started us out with brushetta. They had tiny tomato's that were cut in half piled on each piece of bread. They were delicious. They also had a spinich and cheese pizza that had lots of flavor. I was very impressed that they brought out all of our entree's at the same time and they were still hot. I had the salmon and it was huge for the 17 bucks that they charged. It was seasoned lightly was still flavourful. They were a little heavy on the zucchini though. The coffee cheese cake and the tiramisu were chocolate over load! I was very impressed and everyone at the table enjoyed their meal. This is one restaurant that I would drive into the city for.
(4)
Sheena M.

My favorite place close to Wrigleyville for Italian!!! I always have to get the strawberries for dessert! The food is always prepared fresh and is sooo good. The service is amazing and they always switch up the menu making it fun and always looking forward to the next visit! It is always nice to go before / after a Cubs game!
(5)
D. K.

Definitely a must-try. The entrees are wonderful, the patio is lovely (I highly recommend going in the summertime!), but there is one reason why I will keep coming back there.... The bread pudding is AMAZING!! I try bread pudding everywhere I go, and this might be my number 2 all-time. It comes out like a huge slice of cake with the most delicious sauce. Part of me recommends sharing it because of it's HUGE size, but then again, if it's the 2nd best bread pudding I've had, why would you share with anyone? YUM!
(4)
Dee T.

I haven't lived in Chicago since the early 2000's (how depressing does *that* sound?!?) but remember my experiences at this restaurant fondly. The back patio was the scene of many a romantic meal with my beloved, as well as casual summer outings with friends. Fast-forward to this decade (seriously, how depressing could *that* be???). My friend's bridal shower was held here recently, and given that she's one of my all-time besties, I was privy to some of the details going into the event. This space is a great idea for bridal showers for several reasons: 1) no room charge 2) patio seating 3) the restaurant is closed on Saturday afternoons, so you can have yourselves a nice little private party 4) ridonka-donk portions of good, hearty Italian food, for a pretty good price. The day was unseasonably cold and dreary with a threat of rain, so we had to move operations to the back room. It was perfect anyway - there are large skylights that opened up the space and highlighted all of the wall murals. Very cute. Getting to the food: yum, yum, delizioso, soooo much food, too. The appetizers were passed and also located on a table. We had a few different kinds of bruschetta (my favorite was the olive tapenade), grilled asparagus and portobello, and even a vegetarian pizza. I was stuffed beyond comprehension from snacking on all that good stuff, but we had yet more and more food to plow through. The meals are plated, another excellent touch for a shower-type event. We all got huge, HUGE plates of Caesar salad to start, and then our choice of the mezzaluna al burro, the rotini alla puttanesca, or the fish of the day, which was mahi-mahi. I am all over puttanesca, though the words "brown butter sauce" on the mezzaluna were beckoning...but I was not disappointed. And holy cow, I honestly got a pound of pasta for my dish, as did everyone else who ordered the pasta. The puttanesca is proper - an olive and caper explosion, punctuated with crunchy pine nuts. Do you not doubt that I couldn't turn down dessert, too? Strawberries drizzled with caramel sauce. Tiramisu, which I didn't sample, because...Italian bread pudding was also served and when I see the words "bread pudding" I just cannot turn it down. This was utter decadence - the caramel sauce was divine. To top it all off, the service was utterly perfect. We had a server, who passed the apps and tended the tables, and a hostess/waitress, who did an amazing job of corralling the ladies, directing the traffic, and pacifying a few guests who played prima donnas. What an excellent place to spend time celebrating loved ones! A five-star experience, for sure.
(5)
Chris B.

And this is my #1 for Italian, hands down. But again expensive. But the food was fantastic. For appetizers we had bruschetta (one of my favorite dishes) and it was very good, the perfect combination of tomatoes and balsamic and onions. For dinner I had some past with capers, kalamata olives, onions and a few other ingredients and it was absolutely delicious. But dessert is where this place just jumped to the first spot. I had a pear lasagna, yes that's right a pear lasagna. And on the side was homemade pumpkin ice cream (I went in November), they hand make it for each dish (so they tell me). It was decadent and incredible, words can't describe it! The atmosphere is also very cool. It's in an old house, but very large, and just gives you this homey feel, with some trendy people. I truly love this place! But I'll have to go at least 3 times to really do my review justice.
(5)
Jeff A.

When you're on business travel, it is always nice to squeeze in a great dinner that is not at a restaurant advertised all over the tourist guides. My colleague wanted to take me to one of their neighborhood spots and after this meal, I'm definitely looking forward to my next Windy City visit for some good family style Italian food! The atmosphere was great, very casual as it seems like you're having dinner at someone's home and all that really matters is you leave contently full. My salmon ravioli was fantastic and the portions huge! Our baby eggplant parmigiana was a great starter and we decided to close things with their pear lasagna dessert. Very, very good and definitely worth the try. So yes, we all left dinner very happy, extremely content and counting down the days for our next "family" visit.
(5)
Alison S.

Great food at very reasonable prices for Lincoln Park. It is not the absolute best Italian food in the city, but it has more character and lower prices than many of the nice places. Favorite items are the large salad with an array of fresh vegetables, the thinly sliced eggplant appetizer, and the pasta with walnuts, gorgonzola, and grapes. Great place for a date, but remember it's crowded and you'll have to wait on weekends. I've been here at many different times (including Valentine's Day--don't try it!!!), and I've decided the best time is at 8pm on a week day, preferably on a warm summer night when you can sit outside on the patio and have a leisurely, delicious dinner.
(5)
Julia B.

Beautiful, warm, homey Italian restaurant with delicious food and even better service. This is possibly one of the most versatile restaurants I can think of. . . I would not feel awkward coming here alone, with my family, on a romantic date, or just catching up with the girls. Their 'date night' special is a great deal. The first time I went I requested a vegan meal and the chef's choice 'vegan surprise' was absolutely amazing. I have a lot of respect for chef's that don't just throw marinara sauce on a bed of pasta and call it vegan. P.S. - That amazing tasting/looking olive oil on your table? You can buy them and take them home! I use mine all the time! yum yum yum
(5)
Barbra B.

Love the fresh basil they put on their dishes. My favorites: - Raviolini alla Maria- salmon filled raviolini in a basil pesto cream sauce with chopped kalamata olive - Bread pudding - almost anything on their nightly specials. Super cute old house converted into small dining areas. Great intimate place for a romantic date or dinner with girlfriends. They can accommodate large groups but the few times I've been there with large groups it is very difficult to hear each other. The place can get very loud and the sound just bounce around. i wish they had better insulation for noise in the large back room.
(4)
John R.

I was disappointed. The bread and seasoned olive oil deserves 5 stars. Our ceasar salad and ravioli appetizer -5 stars. The pesto and garganola ravioli dip was superb. My linguini pesatora was had a strange sauce. It was runny and flavorless around the edges of the plate and was as think and tastless as tomato paste under the pasta. The squid was so over cooked I couldn't eat it. The entree gets 2 stars. I would prefer a better prepared smaller portion, and pay more for it. The service was very friendly, but unbearably slow. I think the problem lies in the fact they just opened the outside dining and doubled the amout of tables being served. The kitchen wasn't ready to support the volume. I'll try it one more time before taking off my list.
(2)
Oskee W.

This place was awesome about 10 years ago. I still have dreams about a pumpkin ravioli I had back in the day, and their chicken vesuvio used to be the best. Unfortunately seems quality has gone downhill in the name of cost savings. For example, they don't offer the ribeye on Saturday nights - obviously they don't want to buy enough for the Saturday rush. No chicken vesuvio on weekends either - probably takes up too much of the kitchen. Their pasta dishes had a previously frozen quality to them and their sauce (only marinara - no bolognese) is clearly from a can.
(2)
Rebecca V.

My all-time favorite restaurant. I've celebrated every birthday here since I moved to the area 13 years ago, but it's not just a special occasion place - I'd eat here every week if I lived in the neighborhood! Huge portions, delicious Italian specialties. The lasagna is the end-all-be-all of lasagnas - a huge, cheesy brick. No meat, either! Yay! Their tortellinis are also fantastic. The only complaint? It's a cramped space and gets REALLY loud when it's full. And if you come any time later in the evening, be prepared to wait. - they don't take reservations and seem always full. Yes, one time we even waited 2.5 hours - that's how much we love it, though! Now we try to avoid the crowds by arriving right when they open.
(5)
James W.

Delicious. Love the stuffed chicken with risotto. Very reasonably priced for the large portions and high quality of food. My only complaint is that the food is a little slow to come out of the kitchen.
(4)
Diana P.

I wanted to love this place, esp after hearing about it from multiple people but we found it to be just okay Italian. Nothing special and flavor was blah. We ordered a vegetarian pasta and there was more sauce than pasta. Also, the eggplant came highly recommended by the waiter so we ordered it and it was extremely plain tasting. I have to say, the plate was HUGE and could feed a family of 4 but the taste just wasn't there. Atmosphere is cute, feels like you're in someone's backyard garden dining...cozy feel, not fancy. Overall, I would not come back here. I don't see how hard it is to make Italian food taste good but this place has to work on it. Service was okay too. Our waiter seemed like he was trying too hard and came across as fake and not even listening to what he was saying or what we were saying to him. If I want a robot serving me, I'd go to a drive through.
(3)
Shelly S.

It truly is a taste of Italia in Chicago. Off the beaten path, you come across this restaurant and upon first entering it seems like a tiny establishment in an old house, but as the host leads you down the hall you realize that it's actually a huge space that somehow maintains a wonderful level of intimacy. The servers are very helpful and ours definitely earned his tip with excellent service. The food was on point, filled with distinct flavors just as you would expect with well-made Italian food. I dined here for the first time with a group of 6 and three main entrees were more than enough. The desserts were equally filling and I think the next time we'll stick to just ordering the strawberries (in a delicious caramel based sauce) as a light end to a hearty, delicious meal. I cannot wait to go back here with friends or even on a date!
(5)
Kyle P.

Love this place. Been going since 94 and live down the blk. Big portions great service and just friendly staff
(5)
Chris M.

I really love the ambience and food at Rose Angelis. Located on a side street in what appears to be a house, it is a wonderful place to share a romantic meal. I took my girlfriend here last week for our 1 year anniversary. She is a vegetarian and Rose Angelis has a lot of wonderful veggie options. We split the bruschetta to start and she had the Mezzalune al burro, spinach pasta half moons stuffed with ricotta and pesto served in a seasoned brown butter sauce with sundries tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmagiana. She wasn't a big fan of the brown butter sauce but I thought it was wonderful. I had the Portobello ripiene con pollo- portobello mushroom layered with mushroom pesto, spinach and grilled chicken baked with fresh mozzarella and served with a balsamic vinegar and red wine cream sauce. I really liked this. There were two chicken breasts on top of two Portobello mushrooms. The mushroom pesto was delicious. We did pig out for desert with the bread pudding and tiramisu. I could have done without the tiramisu. The bread pudding was amazing. The Carmel sauce really made this dish. They do have a couple of nifty specials including 1/2 price wine on Tuesday and a fixed prix meal on Wednesday and Thursday. If you are looking for a great Italian restaurant with good ambience and great food, head to Rose Angelis. You won't be disappointed
(5)
Melissa K.

Our favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago! One of the best in the world!
(5)
Roxanne B.

This place is adorable, nestled in a residential area, and significantly larger than it appears from the street. I've walked past here often and wasn't even sure what it was (it kind of looks like a wine store). It immediately reminded me of something you would find actually in Italy. The service was great, and everything that our table got was delicious. It's a little pricey, but the portions are huge and worth it (I saw someone at another table get the lasagna-split it between two people at least). Perfect date spot. Or dinner with the family spot. Or anything spot.
(4)
Matthew S.

Honestly, this is my favorite restaurant in Chicago. Tucked away on Wrightwood, it is like the rest of the city doesn't exist. Parking is a total bitch in this neck of the woods, but once you've accomplished that, the rest is free sailing. Look cute in this place. Its not required, I just don't want to see ugly people ruining my favorite restaurant with sweat pants and t-shirts that talk about the latest thing you volunteered for. Go in, have a drink at the tiny little bar, and in the summer you can wait on the patio. They have a great wine list, but I always stick to chianti - call me boring. Do not fill up on booze at the bar. I hate dealing with drunk people when I walk into my favorite restaurant. Have a glass or two, and then order more with your meal. You came here to eat, not get trashed. The food is amazingly fresh - and filling. The portions aren't out of control, but you never leave hungry. Many dishes are seasonal because the ingredients are so fresh, like the pumpkin ravioli they serve in the fall! I tend to go a little early to avoid the rush - I've never been able to make a reservation for this place. I've never had to wait long though - and even then it is well worth the wait. The place is usually packed to the gills. The atmosphere is totally charming, and way bigger than it looks from the street. Lots of little rooms, with good, low lighting (read that: makes me look sexier). Frescoes on the plaster walls, no kitchy Olive Garden "We're Italian" objet d'art screaming at you. All the tables are wooden,with white table clothes, on a hard wood floor. Which is loud when you pull your chair out - but that is my only criticism. And that's just me being a wise ass. And as in many little restaurants, here you aren't squished up next to the people sitting near you. I'm 6'2", so I appreciate the leg room. The service is off the hook. Its almost like the waiters get paid extra for being attentive. I've never had a bad experience here, ever! Even the time I took my friend here when her (former) boyfriend stood her up on her birthday. The food was so good, that we were soon laughing again. She met her current husband there that night, and now they have 2 kids. That part was a total lie, but it sounded really dramatic so I added it. Though her ex did stand her up. The place was great for chatting. I'd really suggest this place for a 1st date, an anniversary, or just a night out for good Italian food. The bathrooms are super clean. As is the rest of the place. I can't wait to go again!
(5)
Katherine R.

THe night we used our gift sertificate here was a real romantic time and the right place for it was this hidden restaurant somewhere between residential living. Breads, pasta dishes we ordered were very garlicky and yet balanced out by the olive oil and vinegarette. Very intriguing and inviting here. Romantic no doubt and the staff just as fit for the moods and atmosphere. Very lightly chilled in room temperature and dimly lit that mysterious limelight feeling presence can hit you and your partner. Definitely a nice surprise here in every course and proximity of staff and spacious layout.
(3)
Team B.

Where we go when we want to celebrate Count on the Pasta di Nocci---who knew to put grapes in cream sauce? Mmmm the tiramusu... And the prices are reasonable to boot! Go there Tuesday for half-off wine. The staff is always helpful and upbeat.
(5)
Jennifer J.

LOVE this place!! It's in our neighborhood so my boyfriend and I try to take out of town guests here for dinner so they get a feel of the neighborhood. Every waiter we've had has worked there for at least 10 years. I think that really says something about a place and it's definitely reassuring as a diner. We love the ravioli appetizer with pesto. We order that every time! I love the gnocchi dish and ravioli a luigi (sp?) The duck ravioli is great as well. Gosh...any dish we've had is awesome. The portions are very large so either prepare to eat a lot with leftovers or share with someone. This goes for their desserts as well, but they are sooooo worth it. Definitely one of my favorites and I love the home-cooked and family feel to this place. We followed yelp advice and we were glad we did!
(5)
Taylor O.

This is one of the moments when you realize Yelp is right. 80+ reviews and 4 star rating with enthusiastic comments and they're spot on. At one point someone in my party was even clapping for the food. Yes, it looks like a house from the outside. Yes, thats the kind of charm only a girl could like or a bed and breakfast owner. However, unlike the restaurants I've reviewed in Bloomington, Indiana the inside was actually changed enough to make it look more like a restaurant, with painting on the walls and some sculptures to give it the old school Italian feel. Upon walking in we were situated in a small bar area with little tables where people were drinking from those little juice glasses Italians tend to serve wine in. Cute I suppose but not worth my $6. $6 in Italy would've got me a table wine bottle. We waited for a good while but an opening came and we slid in to the cozy catacombs through the narrow hallway avoiding waiters and staff zipping by. We arrived at the table, a long built-in bench one side bordering the wall. The light was low enough to make this a romantic date spot (noted for future usage). We tried the salad which was enough for 4 of us to share with large spears of cucumber, etc. We also had an appetizer pizza del giorno which had a thin crunchy crust and lots of parmesan cheese and several featured vegetables. To the main courses, we had the Manicotti special, the Rigatoni special and one huge piece of lasagna that could have come right off Garfield's Christmas Special. They did not cook this in an ordinary lasagna pan that's for sure. The pine nuts contained within the cheese meshed flavors well. The rigatoni came in a wonderful lemon cream sauce that lightened up the cream and balanced the lamb sausage. The manicotti was stuffed with a mixture of cheese but the gorgonzola gave it a nice kick. After that surprisingly we were still up for dessert and the chocolate ice cream with bananas and raspberries and a slice of cheesecake were the selections before we left satisfied. Really, I'd make the above more witty but I after I fell asleep with food coma last night. I'm starting to get hungry and there's at least a few leftovers in the fridge. Good day.
(5)
Dylan H.

I recently discovered Rose Angeli's, and I would have to say that this has to be one of the hidden gems of Chicago. It is off of the beaten path in Lincoln Park, and close to a couple of neighborhood bars. The atmosphere is very unique and welcoming. The restaurant is set in a row of residential homes, and feels very comfortable and quaint. The service is excellent, and the food is even better. This is a great place to take a date, or go to with a group of friends. It is not too pricey, and you are guaranteed to have a wonderful time!
(5)
Kimberly L.

I've been to Rose Angelis three times in the past ten years but last night was my first return visit after about an eight-year hiatus. Let me say right off the bat that it looked exactly the same as I remembered it. (Which, after so long, is a mixed bag. Freshen up the environment a smidge,would ya? It's charming but also just a bit...sad.) Anyway, we had no trouble parking, which was amazing, and when we arrived there was no wait whatsoever. The host was friendly and helpful and the waiter was very good (and fun). We were told about an amazing special for two people. A shared app, two Caesar salads, two entrees (you can pick anything on the menu) and a shared dessert for $49. That's right...not $49 each. $49 total. An awesome deal so we went for it. We chose the Insalata de Caprese: fresh mozzarella, tomato slices, fresh basil, and olive oil. If the ingredients are fresh (and they were) it's hard to go wrong. It was delish! The Caesar salads were fine but they were entirely too generous of a portion. I finished only half, anticipating the onslaught of food yet to come. (That, plus I'd enjoyed some of the fresh bread with rosemary olive oil. So I was heading into the too-full-to-touch-my-entree danger zone.) We were finishing off some bubbly Prosecco (like Italian champagne) when the entrees arrived. I'd ordered off the list of the evening specials: spinach linguine, shrimp, mushrooms, broccoli, a little cheese...quite yummy. My dining companion ordered the chicken marsala. We both quickly agreed that her dish was just okay...mine was pretty darn good. However, we had room for only a couple of bites. And dessert was coming. Ehn. I don't know if there's room...but maybe just a bite? After some debate, we decided on the pistachio ice cream with raspberries, bananas, caramel and a dab of chocolate. I suppose it had that sweet-salty thing going on but after about two bites, I was a goner. Ugh. Too much food. And the presence of the bananas was just wrong, wrong, wrong. (In my humble opinion.) I'm torn between three and four stars but for a restaurant that's been around for about 18 years now, they should be getting everything right. The marsala was super boring and the portions were just way too big. But...that wouldn't be a problem for many people, I'm guessing. So we were two people with enough food to feed a crowd, plus flowing bubbly beverages...all under $100 (not including the tip). I'll be back again, I think and will order more conservatively. Skip the marsala, folks, and go with what the waiter recommends.
(3)
Johnny R.

I tried. It's been a number of years since I had last dined here, so having received a gift certificate we had a nice dinner there last night. Now I am a little bit of a foodie, meaning I like well-spiced, though-out food, and again Rose Angelis misses the mark. I had ravioli appetizer. I liked the pesto cheese spread, but the ravioli themselves were bland and unmemorable. I then had the Duck Tortellone. The meal looks good, but doesn't get there. There is too much fluid at the bottom of the plate, they should drain the food a bit before serving it, it really detracts. The duck was underspiced. I liked the spinach. The sun dried tomatoes that topped the dish looked great, tasted a bit bitter. Now if you are not too snobby like me, and want big portions, come out to this place. If you are on the picky side, maybe too picky, then pass. I will say that draining my dish and just having a bit more flavor to the pasta and sauces would make a huge difference. John R dined 7.18.10
(2)
Wendy H.

Most of their pasta's are delicious! Especially the Ravioli alla Luigi. Cute atmosphere and spacial layout.
(4)
alicia b.

Rose angelis is a place that I found out about when they were featured on 190 north. It a house that has been turned into a fun and charming resturant. I like how you get to sit and eat in the different rooms of the "house".The one room of the house is fun becasue you get to sit and see the kitchen. The food is so good,fresh and unique I just want to eat everything.Being a veggie makes it no problem to find something to eat.There are quite a few options for veggies. We usually start out with the crazy salad that is topped with like 10 million veggies includng a blue potatoes! They pretty much just tast like dirt but they look cute. Then I will get some sort of pasta dish. My fav dish is a pasta with blue cheese sauce ,grapes,and walnuts. You may be tempted to get it minus grapes but DONT they actually go well with the blue cheesieness. The staff is really nice and they have great memory skills. Its really entertaining to hear them recite the specials. Each special could have 10-15 ingredients and they will remember all of them. Another thing I like there is when you order wine is comes in a small glass like it does in Italy.
(5)
Julie N.

Rose Angelis is my new favorite Lincoln Park Italian spot. The service is very friendly and all the wait staff is extremely helpful. A wonderful selection of authentic appetizers, pasta dishes and traditional Italian entrees that are all reasonably priced. Unfortunately, we were not too hungry, so we just ordered the appetizer special --- a whole wheat pizza topped with capers, artichoke, mushrooms, peppers, kalamata olives, covered with parmesan and mozzarella cheeses and a touch of garlic and pine nut/ tomato pesto sauce --- EXCELLENT. Although it wasnt needed, I used the house infused olive oil on the table for an extra finishing touch. We complimented our pizza with a few glasses of red wine, a nice selection with modest prices (either by the glass or bottle) served in juice glasses, just like in Italy :). We will be back soon !
(5)
Tina T.

After all the glowing reviews on yelp, I must say that I was disappointed in this restaurant. Although the place itself is beyond cute, the food is really just a bit over average. In a city laden with Italian places, I think one could do better for food. They do serve large portions at fairly inexpensive prices, but there was just something lacking in some of the dishes that we tried. Italian cooking is one of those types of cuisines that many think they can do easily. But it's just not about slapping together olive oil, spices, vegetables and pasta and calling it gourmet. It's the way one blends it all together and then adds that inexplicable touch that makes Italian cuisine memorable. For example, one of the best Italian restaurants in the area, Gaetanos in Forest Park - the chef has a way with sauces that simply astounds the taste buds. Rose Angelis, although the food is decent, seems to lack that certain something. For example, we tried two specials and one appetizer. The special wood roasted pizza, was really unacceptable to me. Just a hodgepodge of ingredients that never really came together. The salad, although huge, wasn't more than average. And the appetizer, a calamari and onion in a balsamic sauce, was the best thing we had.
(3)
Na S.

Portions are generous, especially dessert. Four people can probably share a dessert. The tomato sauce in their Ravioli alla Luigi is absolutely amazing. I didn't like the Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco (duck filled tortellone) as much in comparison.
(4)
Lyssa P.

I dont have a reason to be in this area on Wrightwood, but a friend wanted to do dinner there so I made the trek from the Red line. What a hidden little gem! The restaurant is cozy and intimate. The service was great, and it was steadily busy for a Wednesday night. We did the two for $49 special - shared an appetizer, each got a salad and entree, and split a dessert. The grilled calamari app left much to be desired. It lacked flavor and could have benefitted from a red sauce. Not sure I'm a fan of calamari unless it's fried. However, I tried one of the specials for my entree, a sausge manicotti, and it was fabulous. The noodles were baked a little much (crunchy and needed a knife), but the sauce was sweet and the sausage/filling was superb. For dessert we split the chocolate mousse, and they nailed it. Three different types of chocolate, a more than generous serving, and the white chocolate was amazing! Will definitely try this place again. But maybe not the two for $49, I definitely don't need that much food!
(4)
Joni C.

This place has got to be near the top of my list of favorite Chicago restaurants. The place looks small from the outside, but it's surprisingly big inside. It has a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel almost like you're in someone else's house waiting for home-cooked Italian food. The casualness of the place makes it great for dinner with friends and the coziness makes it perfect for a date. Our food was amazing. We started with grilled asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, then we had the Rigatone Alla Lorena and the Portobello Ripiene Con Pollo. We kept raving about the food the whole time we were eating! Another thing I fell in love with here is their Olive Oil! I couldn't stop dipping my bread in it. I think it's the best I've tasted. They sell it too which is nice. With great service, awesome food, lovely ambiance and huge portions, this gem of a place definitely deserves top rating!
(5)
Rachel G.

I went here for my birthday dinner and boy, I am glad I did! This place is cute and has great Italian food! We sat out on their patio which is enclosed so it's perfect for a warm or cool evening. I would have liked to see the inside (I heard it's very charming and romantic), but there is always a next time! We first got served bread and oil and let me say that oil is wonderful. Unlike any oil I have ever tasted....YUM! The waiter, who was very friendly, told us about all the specials and I finally decided on the manicotti while the boyfriend decided on one of the ravioli specials. We also got a ceasar salad for an appetizer to share. Trust me, it's big enough to share. Our food arrived in a timely manner and warm! The manicotti was delicious and almost melted in your mouth. My boyfriend's ravioli was full of flavor and had apples, mushrooms, cheeses, chicken, definitely an eclectic mix of ingredients but it worked! For dessert we got the expresso cheesecake and that was one of the best desserts I have ever eaten. My boyfriend who doesn't like coffee even loved it! Don't forget on tuesdays they have half priced bottles of wine (some bottles start off at $30/bottle so on tuesday it's only $15!). Total bill for one appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert and a bottle of wine $85 with tax and tip. This place was great and had so many delicious listings on their menu that we will be back!
(4)
lisa b.

I am really shocked that they cannot do the dressing on the side, even when I said I had food allergies! Really? I am very surprised that they cannot accommodate guests with special dietary needs.
(1)
Liz L.

It was 7:30pm and we needed dinner. Fast. We were hungry and didn't want to go too far. Where to go in Lincoln Park for something delicious, not too expensive on a Thursday? Rose Angelis of course. Who knew - but on Thursdays they have dinner for 2 for $49. Sound like a good deal? Wait until you hear what it includes: 1 appetizer 2 Caesar salads 2 entrees 1 dessert Seriously? That is amazing. And obviously, we partook. We were seated immediately in the adorable restaurant that used to be a house. For app, we split the pizza of the day. It was on a whole wheat flatbread with lots of roasted garlic, spinach, peppers, sundried tomato pesto, pine nuts, cheese...the flavor was delicous. Only complaint was that the texture was a little off. Around the outside, the flatbread was super crisp, like a crack, but in the middle it got mushy from all the toppings. Caesar was good, nothing remarkable, but a very generous portion size with homemade croutons. For entrees we split the ravioli with pesto cream sauce and duck tortellini. Both were great, and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The duck tortellini came in some kind of broth, which was weird, but the flavor was great so no major complaints. For dessert we split the espresso cheesecake, which was divine. Our waiter was really nice and attentive. Why four out of five stars? The food was super heavy. EVen though I only ate 1/4 of the pizza, a salad, and a few bites of each main course, and 1/3 of a slice of cheesecake, I couldn't move afterwards. I still feel full! Everything seemed to have some sort of cream sauce or cheese sauce. Sometimes I prefer my Italian food a little bit lighter. However, for a great atmosphere, good, flavorful food and huge portions, Rose Angelis can't be beat.
(4)
Ashley A.

Dang! This place was just not good. I have to say this is one of the first yelp letdowns I have experienced. I think you guys really missed the mark on this one. The best part of the meal was the house Chianti at $31/bottle and the Caesar salad -- lemony and crisp! The rest of the meal served up a major disappointment for this gal. On the suggestion of our waiter I went with the duck filled tortellone with spinach (burned) tomato and fresh mozzarella with a wine and cognac reduction. A) I love love love cheese but this was ridiculous! If I wanted clumps of cheese (I am talking about blocks of cheese through out) I would have ordered a side of mozzarella B) the cognac reduction was hardly a reduction and maybe resembled a broth soup better C) the meal just wasn't hot. I want my plates of pasta to come out steamy. My cousins had the Ravioli with the sun-dried tomato cream sauce AKA the Campbell's tomato soup sauce and the Portobello con Pollo . Blech for both. The chicken was dry and the sauce was an gross mucky-grey color. I understand that the makeup of the sauce was mushroom and balsamic but there must be something you can do to make it look like you aren't eating a hunk of chicken in the middle of a mud puddle. I am so sad to be this disappointed about this place! On the brighter side, the outdoor seating is adorable and the service was very attentive. Stick with the bread, salads and wines and you'll be alright at this little neighborhood spot.
(2)
Andrea C.

omgdeliciousnessoverloadddddddd i love love love rose angelis. i used to live on the 1100 block of wrightwood, so this was my go to italian spot. they have a huge menu and everything ive ever tried has been delicious. my personal recommendations include the ravioli and the caprese salad! but really, try anything! try it all! as many have said, the portions are quite generous... i usually leave w/a doggy bag, but always come back wanting more!
(5)
T Mir S.

One of my favorite spots in the city... before i knew about it, prolly walked by it a dozen times and didnt even look twice... its tucked away but believe me once you go there, you will never forget about it. You cant go wrong with anything on the menu. and check out these deals: Tuesday- 1/2 priced bottles of wine- this includes our reserve list! Wednesday and Thursday- Dinner for two only $49.00 includes: Shared appetizer of your choice Two caesare salads Two entrÃ©es of your choice Shared dessert I mean what more can you ask for??? save some room for dessert, they have the BEST tiramisu in town.
(5)
Bradley J.

Would have given it five stars the first time, but wasn't impressed by my entree. This time, the gnocchi was fantastic and I realized that the wine list is a pretty good value, too. Still haven't made it the end of dinner and had room for dessert, though...
(5)
Matt N.

I really want to like this place, I live near by and have tried this place about four or five times over 8 years, each time about two or three years apart. This place is so close to my house, I love Italian food and food in general but I can't bring myself to come here more than once every two or three years and here is the reason why. Atmosphere is great, for that 5/5 stars, can't be beat. My girlfriend loved sitting outside the last time we went, the inside is beautiful and very cozy great place to go on a date or with a small group of friends. the service 5/5, was very good, our server was attentive but not overly, and had a great manner. The bad, and I mean really bad is the food. As mentioned before, this is having ordered a different thing each time over 8 years because i kept thinking I was ordering the wrong thing, everyone always raved about how good it is there, I thought I was just ordering the wrong thing, but it wasn't just me, I have tried some of what everyone I have gone with has ordered and its always been borderline inedible. My girlfriend ordered the vesuvio chicken, the server said "this will take 45 minutes" we said fine, as it was a nice night and were sitting outside, the atmosphere here is great as mentioned before and I have no problem waiting for food that is good, it was a whole chicken when it arrived, not really sure what was going on with it but it wasn't good, just a portion for about five people. I had the pasta with sausage, the noodles weren't al dente they were not cooked and also enough for five people. The sausage was something from Aldi and the sauce has plagued me since I had it, I can't figure out what it was for the life of me. Huge globs of mozerralla tossed into it, and soggy, or overcooked red peppers. Im a bad cook, but can make pretty decent pasta compared to this, amazing. Its a shame because I really want this place to be good as the atmosphere is fantastic, the servers are great but the food is the worst Italian I've ever had in a restaurant.
(2)
Joe B.

Excellent food, top-notch service, and a cozy atmosphere that is straight out a movie. The movie is about this guy who wants to impress this girl by taking her to the most romantic restaurant he can think of. Naturally he pays for the whole meal because not only is it the gentlemanly thing to do, but because he knows the bill won't break him.
(5)
Steve S.

Last night I went to Rose Angelis with my girlfriend for the second time, after we fell in love with their artichoke soup our first time... I must say, this place is not remotely worth all the great reviews it's getting, for a few key reasons... On our first visit, when we loved the soup so much - only one of us liked our entree, but we decided to try it again because the soup was utterly amazing (alas, it was a special, they don't always have it). We did have a minor hiccup when we asked if we could get some different dipping for the dessert fondue because we didn't care for berries -- we were denied, but we understood because maybe those things are pre-portioned. Not the end of the world... but.... On our second visit, we did the Wednesday special - appetizer, salad, entree and dessert for $49. For our appetizer, we had prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears which were cold, and the "prosciutto" seemed more like ham lunchmeat than prosciutto.. seriously. The appetizer was weird, to say the least. For my entree, I wanted to order the steak, which comes with sun-dried tomato mashed potatoes. I asked if I could substitute sauteed vegetables (or anything else at all) for the mashed potatoes because I don't like tomatoes. The waiter checked with the chef, who denied my request "because it's one of the Chef's specialties". Seriously? You're going to let your ego and/or the purity of your dish get in the way of giving a paying customer what they're asking for? I'm sorry, but that's just offensive. I'd have been more than willing to pay a few dollars (even though I don't feel I should have to) to swap out the side, but it's not like these entrees are pre-made and it's any effort whatsoever to give me a different side. In case you're wondering: No, it wasn't busy. A "different than normal" order shouldn't throw a wrench into things. Since he wouldn't make the substitution I had the pork chop instead - it was ok, but nothing special. It wasn't particularly well seasoned, but it wasn't bad. Even with the "good deal" of a $49 full course meal for 2 - after 1 drink each, the tax, and the tip - the bill came out to $80 for food ranging from "bad" to "better than average" (my girlfriend did enjoy her pasta dish, mostly) -- not worth the expense. My biggest issue, and maybe I'm out of line here, is the absolutely ridiculous refusal to allow me to get a different side "because that dish is one of the Chef's Specialties"... Gee, how DARE I threaten the sanctity of the Chef's creation because of my personal taste... I likely won't be back to Rose Angelis ever again. There are dozens of other Italian places in Chicago.
(1)
Manisha S.

This review is SO overdue! Rose Angelis has been my favorite restaurant in Chicago since 2006. I cannot praise this restaurant enough, it's absolutely amazing. Everything I've ever had there is amazing. As a vegetarian, I love all of their unique options and variety. Their soup and special salad is always amazing. The manicotti if veggie is usually my favorite and also feeds me for at least 2 meals! I most recently went with my bf on a Wed night when they only charge $50 total for 2 salads, an app, 2 entrees and a dessert. The choc chip cheesecake is to die for. My other favorite pasta on the menu is the ravioli in the sun-dried tomato sauce. Always try to visit when in Chicago!
(5)
Jacquelyn G.

We're newbies to the 'hood and thought this place looked cute, so we checked it out over the weekend. It was jam-packed on Saturday night around 8ish and we were told it'd be about an hour wait. So we had wine in the bar area and waited. Luckily we were able to snag a seat so it wasn't so bad, though we were starving. Though they don't take reservations, Im not totally clear how they seat people because there were several people who came in after us who were seated pretty much immediately when they came in, and other people who came in after us and had to wait but they were still seated before us. Do regulars get priority? Or is there some kind of call-ahead setup? After our hour-ish wait, we were finally seated and nearly inhaled the bread and olive oil at the table. Oops. We shared the caprese for our starter which was okay, but the tomatoes were kind of mushy and the mozzarella was kind of dry. Our mains were both very good, though. I had the Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco which I absolutely loved, and my husband had the Gnocchi con Prosciutto e Albiococca Secca which was good, but it was a little too rich for me. It had all the things that I love, but it was just too much. The food wasn't the best Italian I've ever had, but it was definitely good. The portions were way too big, though. I think even if we hadn't eaten nearly the entire loaf of bread first, we still wouldn't have been able to finish our main courses. We both brought over half of ours home with us. I think next time we will share one app and one main and call it a night. The ambiance is great. It's warm and cozy but very lively, too. It definitely has that neighborhood feel and it must be a favorite given the crowds. Anxious to check out one of their weeknight specials.
(4)
Dr. J.

This is our second time visiting this little treasure hidden in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Doesn't look so inviting from the outside - but inside there is room after room of small intimate dining areas. Service was great but the food was FANTASTIC! We started off with a special salad of the day that was presented beautifully with sliced red and yellow beets, heart of palm, watermelon radish and cucumbers over the actual salad of romaine, tomato and jicama with a curry dressing. This salad is a MUST!!! Each of the four entrees at the table were terrific. I ordered a spinach pasta (in a half-moon shape) that was covered is an AMAZING brown butter, pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes and glorious parmesan. The portions were so generous that we all took home another meal of food to be enjoyed the next day. The desserts sounded fantastic but none of us saved any room for those delicacies. We were pleasantly surprised at how is reasonable the whole evening was!
(5)
Michael M.

Really good prices for large servings of food. Monster salads and always interesting specials. I like this spot because I've gone a dozen times and always enjoyed myself. But... Certain things that are a setback are that the tables are on top of each other, its tiny inside, its extremely loud inside, and they don't take reservations. Its also not close to any public transportation so unless you're from the neighborhood you're probably going to cab it. If you can handle all that, you can check it at rose angeli's and go across the street for some pre dinner cocktails at Mauve and wait for them to call you. On a weekend you could be waiting for well over an hour though. At that point you might want to just stick with the drinks or bar food will get the job done. I wouldn't recommend for a first date. I'd recommend for a couple who is from the neighborhood, but that's about it. Otherwise you might want to skip it and go to Olive Garden.
(2)
Matt M.

Rose Angelis is a gem hidden on a quiet, mostly residential stretch of Wrightwood in Lincoln Park. A cozy restaurant with a great atmosphere and great food, it's definitely my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. While waiting for your table (they don't take reservations), it's easy enough to order a couple glasses of wine and an appetizer from the bar in the entry area. Their grilled calamari is superb, served on a bed of very fresh spinach. After you're escorted to a table, it's easy to start with some of the best olive oil I've had paired with some good breads. Then it's easy to get lost in their menu, though I've found I can't go wrong with the duck tortellone. A few of their other dishes are too rich, but the tortellone perfectly balances the duck and fresh mozzarella with spinach, pine nuts, and a lighter sauce. Romantic, comfortable, and a place to always walk away full from, Rose Angelis is a great place to eat in Chicago.
(5)
Kristen H.

I had tickets with my roomie for a theater nearby, so before the show, we came here for dinner. The meal was really tasty and the service was pleasant and accommodating to our time sensitive show start time. Having heard the portions were large we family styled 3 things: the grilled asparagus spears wrapped in prosciutto that were served with grilled portobello mushrooms, herbed ricotta cheese, and a roasted red bell pepper coulis (oh my we nearly licked the plate!!) a caprese salad (fresh fresh fresh!) and the salmon filled raviolini in a basil pesto cream sauce with chopped kalamata olives (amazing flavor that had me eating more than I could handle!!!) Overall, everything was delicious and I can't wait to head back and try more.
(4)
Steve T.

I love Rose Angelis, especially Tuesdays at Rose Angelis. Every bottle of wine, including their reserve list is half price. Half price wine you say? Yes Yes, three times Yes! Wine aside, the food is really good and the atmosphere is quite enjoyable. It can get loud, but it's not too bad, and it's a great place to take a date. In terms of appetizers, I love the bruschetta - it comes out overflowing with fresh tomatoes, and is quite tasty. You should also get the caprese salad, always very fresh. I've had many of their dishes, and they always have unique specials, so I can't really say that I have one entree I always get. The last time I was there I got the spinach noodle dish with the grilled chicken and it was awesome. Beware though, the portions are ginormous. You will be leaving with leftovers. I promise.
(5)
Rick C.

I dunno, I know this place has fans. We were not one of them. We had high hopes. The place was larger than expected and we were seated quickly. We ordered the grilled calamari in the balsamic sauce. It was ok. A little soupy. Not what we expected. Our pastas is where this took a turn for the worse. I ordered the lasagna della mar. It was gross. Just flavorless artery blocking cream over overcooked pasta. One of the worst pastas I can remember. My wife's dish was equally bad. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but it was bad enough that we won't go back to try other dishes. Our waiter also disappeared for long periods of time and it took forever to get our check.
(1)
Lynn O.

I always say that if I was on "Check Please," Rose Angelis would be my spot. I love to try new restaurants, so if I go back to the same place time and time again, it's serious. Rose Angelis is a cozy restaurant that makes you feel like you're in someone's home, while feeling special enough for any occasion (I've celebrated my mom's birthday and my engagement here). It also has great outdoor space for dining al fresco in the summer, which wins huge points in my book. And the food is delicious - pine nuts galore! Seriously, there are pine nuts in almost every pasta dish, and it is awesome. Unless you have a nut allergy, in which case you should probably be careful. I've tried most things on the menu by now and my faves are the Mezzalune al burro (spinach pasta half moons stuffed with ricotta and pesto...and pine nuts) and the Tortellone anatra ubriaco (duck filled tortellone...with pine nuts). The portions are huge, the waiters are nice and the great specials keep it fresh. The only issue is that they don't take reservations, so go early or just plan to enjoy some wine at the front bar for awhile. I now compare every other Italian restaurant to Rose Angelis - and in the end, I'd always rather be here!
(5)
Alison T.

While I will come back to Rose Angelis, my last experience was not up to the standards my first visit set. My friend and I split a lobster pasta that came out cold. I asked the waitress about it and while I understood that it's a "warm" dish because they add the lobster after the pasta is cooked as to not overcook the lobster, I had to think there must be someway to have it not cool down the entire dish. It honestly tasted like it had been sitting out for 30 minutes. My friend got one of the night's specials, a pizza that sounded amazing. That was also very sub-par... the crust tasted soggy and the flavors just did not blend well together. Again, I will come back because the other dishes have been great... but my excitement over the place has subsided.
(2)
Emily B.

People=nice Atmosphere=lovely Food=ick
(2)
Jeff N.

What a great neighborhood gem! We were inivited to join our Glencoe friends at this 'spot' they found on Yelp. All the great reviews were accurate. The spot on the patio (one of the two) was quiet and intimate. The service was attentive and very knowledgeable. We both had the eggplant parmesan which was large and delicious. We will definitely come back again.
(5)
Paige O.

Yelp...you led me wrong. After reading all the fabulous reviews for Rose Angelis I decided to try it. This was one of my most disappointing dining experiences. People mention portion size, which in theory is great, but only if the food tastes good. At Rose Angelis the food does not taste great, in fact it doesn't taste like much at all. I made the mistake of ordering the Chicken Marsala, and my date ordered some type of pasta and it was horrendous as well. Both dishes (and our pizza appetizer) were under-seasoned and bland, and boy was there a lot of it, almost to the point of repulsiveness. The service was also terrible. After one bite of my food I was ready to leave and wanted the check. The waitress, however, was nowhere to be found. Ultimately we had to sit in front of monstrous portions of inedible food for thirty minutes before our waitress could be located. The bottom line: There are much better Italian restaurants in Chicago. Save your $50 and go elsewhere.
(1)
Dima M.

I used to love this place. I can't say anything bad about the food, as I have never had anything that didn't taste good there. And if you do decide to go there, against which I advise you, save room for dessert and get the bread pudding. But make sure you share it with someone as it is too big. That being said, this place is not worth your time and integrity. The reason I no longer wish to set foot in this place is because once it got on the map and allegedly Jennifer Aniston went there to dine with whoever she was dating that month, it suddenly became way more well-known. My friends and I used to go there all the time, because it used to be a nice quaint Italian restaurant with a nice crowd. Then once it got the celebrity bug, the crowd was suddenly a weird mix of star-wannabes, most of whom probably don't eat pasta if anything at all. The restaurant got caught up in all of that, and most of the staff became snooty with a horrible attitude. We had a group of 12 people dine there once, coincidentally the last time I ate there. We ran a bill of nearly $600 if not more, and of course gratuity was included, which we happily paid. Once we paid, but while we were still eating our dessert and drinking our coffee, we were asked if we can take our dessert and coffee to the bar so they can seat other people. We were outraged. How convenient to ask us to do that AFTER we paid our bill. Most people don't go out to restaurants to just eat, but to spend time with their friends, and the fact that we were rudely asked to stop socializing makes this places a no-no for me. Apparently, we had been there for an hour and a half, and according to the staff that was a generous amount of time for us to come in, eat, and leave. They have always been sticklers about reservations, which I think is rude. If you want to act like a top notch restaurant, behave like one. Telling people that they can't make reservations for groups less than 6 or whatever the number is, does not work in anyone's favor. But I suspect they love making the extra money off people who are waiting in the small waiting area, which in the winter gets too tight. The restaurant experience is not just about the food, and while the quality of the food is important, the way the customers are treated is also very important. If I just wanted to eat good food, I can order from anywhere and eat at home or in the park, but I go to restaurants for reasons other than just the food. Rose Angelis gets a big F for the way it treats its customers now. We went there before it was this big of a deal, and I am sorry that I had ever spent a penny in that place. You can get just as good, if not better food, at other Italian restaurants, and without being insulted.
(1)
Lindsey W.

This is probably one of my most favorite places in Chicago. Almost hidden, this gem is well worth the wait on the weekends. While everything on the menu is excellent and filling, I always try the specials because I fall in love with them! Very good service, expect quality time to make your decisions, discuss and don't feel rushed. Perfect for a first date or casual dinner. The olive oil and bread are to die for. The desserts are too good to turn down. The prices are perfect and you will always leave full. There's a reason so many people love this place!
(5)
Nancy D.

Fabulous food. Huge portions. I would return in an heartbeat!
(5)
Denise F.

I'm right in between 3 and 4 stars for Rose Angelis. My parents came to town a few weeks ago, and a couple co-workers recommended this place. We arrived, and had to wait 45 minutes for a table, but that was the ONLY negative part of the experience. The food was just incredible--we started with a caprese salad, which was fresh and delicious. I got one of the specials, an apple and gorgonzola-filed ravioli dish, my dad got another ravioli dish with a creamy sauce (don't remember the name!) and my mom got the fish special, which was a tilapia dish. We all tried each others' food, and every dish was spectacular. The service, wine and overall atmosphere were wonderful as well. If this was my only experience, I would hands-down have given this place a 5-star review... Fast forward two weeks...I was so excited to have discovered this place that I just HAD to bring my fiance. We went this past Saturday for an early-ish dinner (6:00 or so,) and didn't have to wait at all. We got seated, and ordered a caprese salad (it was, again, super fresh and delicious.) We told the waiter that we needed a minute to decide what we were ordering, and he disappeared for an entire half hour. No joke--we didn't even see him walking around that whole time. Flat out disappeared for 30 minutes. He finally returned and we ordered; my fiance got the duck tortellini, and I got the mezzalune de burro. The food was a little cold, and by that time the room was pretty cold as well. It was decent, but not nearly as good as the first time I went, which was incredibly disappointing. Overall, I'll probably be back because I know how good this place CAN be...it seems like it might be hit-or-miss at Rose Angelis. When it's good, it's REALLY good, and when it's bad, it's REALLY bad.
(3)
MELEK L.

Apparently I have been here before, but didn't realize it until sitting down in the back, darker half of the restaurant. I did enjoy my first visit as I did this second one, however I was not wowed enough to produce a 5 star review. We arrived at 7:30ish on Saturday night and we immediately taken to our table. Sweet! The service began quickly enough and the waiter even recommended a nice wine. Kudos to Rose Angelis for having $6.50 by the glass wines. I can dig that! The server rattled off a good number of specials (all of which sounded delicious) by heart. I ended up with a lovely dish off the menu: Tortellone anatra ubriaco- duck filled tortellone tossed with spinach, tomato and fresh mozzarella in a wine and cognac reduction topped with toasted pine nuts and parmagiana for $17. It had great flavor, fresh ingredients, and the portion was more than generous. I wish I had saved room for dessert. Maybe next time. Speaking of dessert, I had made a large tray of fruit pizza for my friend's going-away party and they generously scooped it up and took it back the kitchen cooler for me without so much as a grumble. Nice all around, but please don't make me wait 20 minutes for my second glass of wine. That just makes me cranky!
(4)
Evann G.

I walked here for lunch and it was completely empty. I guess they only recently started serving lunch, but you should really go here, because I felt kinda bad for the solo server. Although he got to sit around and read a book, so I guess that's cool. I got the gorgonzola tortelloni with walnuts and grapes. Yes, grapes. At first I was just going to ignore them, but they were just there, daring me to eat them. So I tried... and wow. Who knew grapes in pasta would be a taste sensation? Rose Angelis, I guess. I also had the quite excellent soup... I can't get their lunch menu to open right now and I have no recollection of the name, but it was very--extremely--ridiculously garlicky. Which is good if (like me) you love garlic. Not so good if you're going to be having any one-on-one conversations the rest of the day. Bonus: The olive oil is like liquid crack. I had to make it quick and service was speedy. Everything was awesome, down to the iced tea.
(4)
Lauren C.

I went here a couple of weeks ago for a friends birthday dinner, and I walked away very pleased. We came around 6:45 on a Saturday night and waited about 30 minutes for a table. There are tables in the lobby area and seating at the bar as well, so it wasn't a bad wait by any means. The restaurant is surprisingly large - we went through one huge seating area to get to our table, and there was another large seating area behind our section. The food is outstanding. Two of the people in our party ordered caprese salads, and they were big enough for the table to share. I ordered one of the evening's specials - eggplant ravioli in a tomato cream sauce, with portabello mushrooms and spinach. Amazing! I had to force myself to stop eating it, it was so good. The service was pretty good - it was incredibly busy, but our server was attentive. I would definitely come back here. It seems like it would be a great date place - good lighting, great atmosphere, and fantastic food.
(4)
Chad C.

This place is pretty good, but nothing to write home about. I had the duck torellone and also tried the gnocchi. There was a ton of mozzarella in the duck dish, which was good, but all in all it was just okay. The desserts were pretty good, but again not amazing. They had a tres leches cake ('tre latte') which I was really excited to see, but it turned out to be merely passable. But that's not to say it wasn't good, I'm just on the hunt for the best ever and this didn't even come close. The bread pudding was pretty good, mostly because it was sooo caramelly. The atmosphere was great, an old house setting with really high ceilings. I think I saw that they do take reservations, if you just walk in though you'll wait an hour on friday night. Which is not horrible, because there are two bars across the street, and the host will call your cell when your table's ready.
(3)
Amy T.

Me and my guy are poor young professionals, but we decided to splurge on a fancy-ish dinner and this came highly recommended from a coworker. Very very very impressed. The dining rooms are so romantic. The dishes are very creative and fun. I think about their heavenly bread pudding dessert almost daily - I almost killed myself trying to finish it. The only thing to watch out for is the quantity of food. The meals and desserts are huge! We were waaaaay too full when we left. Get those doggy bags!
(4)
Leah P.

I am a big fan of the food and the service at Rose Angelis! :) If you have never been here is some info: 1. If you have a party of less than 8 people, no reservations. On the weekend you either need to go Morty Seinfeld style (early bird), or really late. We were a party of two and arrived at 9:45 and there were 3 other couples that had already been waiting over an hour. We were all seated around 10:15. 2. The portions are HUGE! Two people could easily get an appetizer and split and entree. We got the Zuppa di Pesce, which was a huge thing of soup, lots of seafood. We also got the special: Manicotti stuffed with sausage and green pepper with a red sauce. The meal was a nice balance of light dish with a heavy dish. 3. No valet parking so take a cab, parking around there sucks. 4 You won't break the bank, two drinks, appetizer and two entrees only set us back $60. :) I'm going to go eat my leftovers now!
(5)
Susan M.

we tried this place one more time since we had a coupon :) too bad, i was hoping this 2nd time would be great, instead it was just as bad as the first time. food not so great, super busy and guys with lots of plates of food always running behind me, i was just waiting for something to fall on my head. atmosphere too chaotic and loud. had to ask to find waiter. we are no longer going to give it a try.
(1)
Kim S.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere here and the food. It's not the best of Italian restaurants I've been at but it also isn't one of the worst once either. The food here is very juicy and tasty, with incredible sauce. I don't feel like this restaurant is by far the best one out there, that's why I would just give 4 stars.
(4)
Julie R.

One of my favorite places to eat. It's a nice atmosphere - especially when it's not over crowded. (It can get very loud in there!) The service has always been nice and they usually have some great specials. The salads are large, heads up. I'm also a fan of any place where I can eat great pasta, bread/oil and enjoy some Prosecco with my husband.
(4)
Todd K.

This is definitely one of the top few best Italian restaurants in Chicago. It seems to be getting really popular too, which they deserve. Not only is the food amazing, but it's also a GREAT value.
(5)
Michael H.

This rating is for the ambiance. It's a dimly lit, cozy date place. The food is pretty good and the tiramasu dessert was very tasty. Is it the best italian. nope. But I told you this review is for the date-like experience.
(4)
patrice c.

i am very upset as I write this. I have a dilemma. A curse of sorts really. A wee bit of the issue is will power but I'm still upset. oh. where to begin... i just moved down the street from Rose Angelis. They 'welcomed' me to the neighborhood with that insanely decedent pudding and OMG chocolate and caramel strawberries. D@MN their hospitality. They read me the the specials when iIcall in and have my take out ready in 15 minutes. I actually have to go and wait 3 minutes while some nice neighbor buys me a lovely Chianti at the cute little bar area. really ...its upsetting ..Rose Angelis has to be the gem of MY neighborhood. YUMMY.
(5)
Carol K.

Had dinner here with friends the other night who raved about the place- but maybe Rose Angelis was having an off night as I think that there is better Italian in the city. I did like the neighborhood feel- looks like a little store front (bet its darling in the Summer) but I didn't think the food was all that great. We started with two of the special appetizers of the day (a pizza and a bruschetta) While good- they were nothing special. My lasagna was HUGE! but not particularly flavorful as it was just a couple of hunks of ricotta cheese, noodles and red sauce. The best thing at our table that night was the salmon ravioli. Here is my funny observation though-this place likes to use pine nuts- they come on everything- from the lasagna to the ravioli to the pasta special, pine nuts, pine nuts and more pine nuts! It kind of takes the specialness away from the food as if everything has red sauce, cheese and pine nuts, then the only difference is the kind of noodle that they use! For dessert, we split the bread pudding (absolutely the best I have had and brought my review up from 2 stars) strawberries dipped in caramel and some type of chocolate decadence cake. All were delicious! As for the service, the waiter was helpful, but what I found annoying, as did other members of my group, was that the busboy in his efforts to keep the table clean, kept bumping into us! I must have been elbowed twice and once when he slipped between my friend and I to grab something, I ended up with his belly in my face! Not a good experience when you are eating, I might add! They have a nice wine list- but one of my pet peeves is drinking wine out of tumblers. I suppose it is for effect (you know, little Italian country inn feeling) but I still don't like it. The bar upfront was small and friendly, just right for this place. The decor is simple -giving Rose Angelis a comfort-ability factor that is hard to beat. Street parking is usually difficult in this part of the city. My suggestion is to try the street immediately to the east of the restaurant (the one with the railroad track running through it). You can usually find a spot along there. All in all, since my fellow Yelpers have had such great experiences at this place- I will give it another shot but I must say I expected more. Maybe it really shines in the Summer months!
(3)
Robyn Y.

This review was written by my brother-in-law.
(1)
Jon B.

This is a great neighborhood place, and is REALLY affordable. I've gone here a few times with friends, but I most recently went this week for their "Recession Special", which is $12.99 surf or turf. So I ordered the steak, and was greeted about 10-15 minutes later with a steak so large I wondered if I should look around for the cow-carcass somewhere in the restaurant. Remember that piece of meat that tips over Fred Flintstone's car at the beginning of the show? That's what they bring you when you get the "turf", along with mashed sweet potatoes and asparagus. After the first half of the steak I was full, after the next quarter of the steak I was just eating on pride, and I couldn't finish the last quarter of it. I am not a guy who usually leaves food on his plate, so this is impressive. But it's not just a place to get cheap steak. Other times that I've been there, they had excellent pasta dishes, and great lasagna. They also have a great wine list with a few wines by the glass. I'd recommend any of the ports or riojas.
(5)
ethan a.

I'm going to have to agree with Moe F. I went to this quaint little place after my friend recommended it for Valentines day. I have to say, it didn't disappoint. I started my meal with Proscuitto wrapped asparagus that came with portabellos and roasted red pepper/ horseradish cream sauce. Mucho Awesome. Then I had the Gorgonzola tortolloni with walnut pesto and grapes. Very tasty, and even better when I reheated the leftovers for breakfast this morning. The portions are huge, and the price is very reasonable. They also have decent wines and fill your glass up to the brim, like they're trying to do some type of high school chemistry water tension experiment. Honestly, wine to the brim? How can I write a bad review after that?
(5)
Kel M.

My boyfriend and I came here midweek for a nice dinner. It is much larger than I expected - room after room! We shared two dishes, one being the special which was a pasta mushroom ravioli which was to DIE for. I literally can't stop thinking about it. Great service, great food, and great wine! Overall very impressed and will definitely be back!
(5)
Deann G.

I like the atmosphere (inside of an old home) but I am always cold! Turn up the heat for goodness sake! As other reviewers have mentioned, they don't take reservations so I usually try to arrive between 6 and 7 before it gets too busy. FYI - they won't seat you unless you have your entire party. All of the food is great (I especially like the thin crust pizza) but the best part about Rose Angelis is definitely the tiramisu - it's huge and it tastes like heaven!!! Last time we went, it was so big that we took it home and I had it for breakfast the next day - it was THAT good!
(4)
Love S.

My first visit to Rose Angelis came sometime in 2001. I have distinct memories of always leaving totally stuffed, hardly able to walk!! On my first visit I ate so much, I almost rolled out the door! Luckily, my friends and I lived nearby and we walked it off. A true sign that this place is delicious (or that I cannot stop myself from devouring the food). Since then I make it a point to head back to the cozy house-like atmosphere and enjoy the fantastic Italian cuisine. Dining here is like no other Italian place in Chicago. The server, Brian, that waited on my friends and I time and again has always been excellent! Rose Angelis can be romantic if that's your aim, or just a good place to enjoy great food and wine with friends and family. On to the food! I love eggplant and beefsteak tomatoes, so these lovely apps were pleasing - Melanzane miniature alla parmigiana - slices of baby eggplant baked with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella and the Insalata di Caprese- fresh mozzarella and tomato slices topped with basil and drizzled with olive oil. Without fail, I usually end up ordering my absolute favorite dish, Tortellone con salsa di noce - gorgonzola filled tortellone tossed with grapes in a walnut pesto cream sauce. I love the combination of the salty pesto cream sauce and the sweetness of the grapes. This dish is what does me in, but I somehow manage to squeeze in some of their amazing Trio of Chocolate Mousse in raspberry sauce and end it all with a cappucino!! The portions at Rose Angelis are huge, so arrive with an empty stomach and prepare to fill up!! And when it's cold and snowy out, it's the perfect place to warm your belly at!!
(5)
Katrina H.

Wear loose fitting clothes because you're going to want to eat so much , you'll be asking someone to politely ROLL YOU OUTTA There!! this is one of my FAVORITE Spots EVER!... I don't think there is one dish that I would complain about. Each item including the salad 2 people can share but Trust me.. You would rather be selfish and have them wrap it up so that you could finish it off for lunch or dinner the next day... Their desert. well.. Why don't you run an extra 6 miles the week prior to visiting this place. You will want to eat every single last bite so don't even bother trying to be cute! Wear loose fitting Clothing. You know those Cute babydoll dresses that you don't have to hold your tummy back in ? Those kind and you'll be quite all right! Don't worry about grocery shopping for the next few days either. You'll still be stuffed to the max! Enjoy!
(5)
Bill Z.

Loud, Crowded But... Still, I can easily live with this place. Some charm in the house look. Went Saturday before the winter crowd arrived. We were greeted and seated quickly. In a middle room, there was a lot of traffic to and from the larger back room. Little kids and birthday songs abound. But some bubbly settled things down. Try a bottle of Cava Rose in the summer. On to the food. It was nice splitting a Caesar salad -- I got all the anchovies on a separate plate. The food -- big portions with most very good. I go crazy for their the Rotini alla putanesca. Wow! No one ingredient dominates but all work together and a huge portion for just $13. Our party also was very impressed by the Linguini al frutti di mare , a shellfish dream and the tower of power Lasagna al forno. In the neighborhood, I would not exactly describe it as a neighborhood restaurant -- too busy and crowded, at least on the recent visit. And pity the poor rich neighbors with the comings and goings. A no reservation policy clutters up the entrance and the kind of a bar. When things are busy, don't try to catch an app and drink in the bar area. Too busy and crowded. When I peeked out I think I saw outdoor seating on the west side of the building.
(4)
Risa P.

Delicious!!! I have been here three times (three consecutive Valentine's Days) and I always look forward to it. They have ample seating but it still has a romantic vibe, you dont feel like you are on top of other patrons. I have sat in three different parts of the dining room but I liked the furthest back the best. You can see the rest of the crowd but it is quite and very romantic. Every year I get the salad from the specials menu. This salad is big enough for two and it something you wont get anywhere else. It is huge, with full pieces of cucumber, carrot and beet. The dressing is a Cesar type that has a nice bite. Once you figure out out to eat it, it is very good. I have had the half moons with brown butter sauce and have also tried the salmon ravolini. Both are rich and delicious. Also, enough to share if you would like. The basil cream sauce for the salmon dish really complimented the fish well. Also the bread and olive oil they serve before your meal is very good (but dont fill up on it!) Also, Sergio the waiter is funny and helpful when it comes to picking out a dish. This is a great place for a romantic evening for sure! Cant wait until next Valentine's Day!
(5)
David H.

Even though we've moved to the suburbs, our entire family has come here frequently since RoseAngelis opened 20 years ago. More specifically: Positives: Delicious food, romantic atmosphere without being "fancy," huge portions - we always bring home leftovers, fair pricing, historically very knowledgeable and experienced waitstaff, lots of interesting specials, AMAZING desserts (and I'm not even a dessert person), everything is made from scratch, frequent money-saving promotions, the one ultra-thin whole wheat pizza special/day is always incredible. And the last time we were there - November, 2012 - we learned that they've implemented an online system to finally take limited reservations. "Negatives": Weekend waits can be long - they now take reservations, but on a limited basis; weekends can be conversation-impaired; certain dishes unavailable on weekends; many heavy/creamy/cheesy (but nonetheless awesome and flavorful) sauces, so just chill and give up your diet for one night; weekend service can be slow (but food is delivered promptly by food runners) and sometimes difficult to flag down your waiter if you need something; sharing charge (so just accept the mindset that you'll bring home leftovers and enjoy).
(5)
Whitaker J.

I told myself I wasn't going to give it five stars...but I did. I can say without a doubt in my mind that Rose Angeli's is the most consistently pleasant dining experience I have had in this city. I have never experienced a problem here, nor have I ever tasted anything that I wouldn't want to taste again. The have the best homemade olive oil mixture for pre-meal bread dipping on the planet. Get the Caprese salad. I know it's standard, but it's also amazing. Mozarella that melts. I can't say there's a main course that I lean towards. I generally like trying their specials. Their eggplant parmesan, however, will get you full and satisfied and give you delicious left overs for the next few days. I have had the same waiter three of the dozen or so times I have been and (though I wish I knew his name) he always has the best recommendations. Being a vegetarian, I've also had a few requests at times that the staff has never been unwilling or unable to accommodate. Get dessert. You'll never be unsatisfied.
(5)
Christy Q.

I will tentatively say this is my favorite Italian food in the city! I'm still exploring Italian food and thus far this tops the list. I just couldn't give 5 stars however because I have a looong list of other Italian restaurants to try before I can commit to 5 stars. Oh, and it's not just the food, the ambiance helps too! It's in Lincoln Park in a cute brownstone building. Inside it reminds me of a house with different rooms with different decor. So cute! And don't forget about the outdoor seating in the summer. It's sweet and romantic and great for a date or even a group! I love sitting outside! Then there's just the food... oh SO good! My favorite pasta entree is Tortellone con salsa di noce- gorgonzola filled tortellone tossed with grapes in a walnut pesto cream sauce You have GOT to come here and try the food. I've even done carryout and the food is just as good (sometimes with carryout something seems missing but not here). Oh and prices aren't over the top either, which helps! Do yourself a favor and get some Italian lovin at Rose Angelis
(4)
jeff c.

Great leafy neighborhood location. You could drive by and never see it. Fantastic ambiance. Good date night or with friends. Fits any occasion. Only bad thing is they don't take reservations and its always packed. Get there before 7...
(4)
Karl M.

I have never been disappointed with the food or the service here. Parking is a 'B' but we got lucky on the Thursday before Valentines Day with a spot right in front. The special of the season [weekends excluded] was dinner for two for only $49!!! It included one appetizer, two Caesar salads, two entrees, and a shared desert. This is a phenomenal deal considering you can order your choice from the categories. We got a roasted veggie pizza appetizer that could have been enough for dinner. Absolutely delicious! For my entree it was three breasts of chicken cut thin and stuffed with risotto, veggies and cheese. Plenty of deliciousness to go around. My wife got the grilled salmon and grilled veggies. Can't go wrong with salmon. Our desert was the RICE PUDDING. Made with risotto and swimming in a vanilla sauce. This is, by FAAAAR, the best rice pudding I have ever had and I consider myself a rice pudding aficionado. It was enough for about four or five people. We also got the bread pudding, which they said they were famous for but I beg to differ on this. I am also a bread pudding aficionado and this one sucked butt. It had a caramel sauce which was delicious but the bread pudding was a little bitter and off. Again there was enough for 5 people. The wine list is extensive by the bottle and the per glass selections are very well picked out and affordable at about $6 each. We could have split an entree and desert and been stuffed with no doggy bag. The bread and oil was warm and tasty. Expect a long wait during prime times and weekends. There is a small bar in the front while you are waiting to be seated. No reservations.
(5)
Michael M.

Atmosphere: quaint but lighting isn't perfect Service: outstanding! Well informed, polite, communacative and fast. Food: i would stay away from the grilled calimari. It wasn't good at all. I would highly recommend the duck based pasta dish, which was deliscious. We were also able to amend one type of pasta so that it was served spicey rather than sweet. Overall: a decent place to eat that I would recommend. Don't expect the best but it's definately worth eating at.
(3)
Robert S.

Never had a bad experience in the ten years I have been going here. Great date restaurant, Great waitstaff. No complaints at all. Beware the wait to get a table can be long but I challenge anyone that waits to claim it wasn't worth it. If you show up early it is not too bad.
(5)
Drew M.

Best Italian food in the city. I have been many times and live in the area. Its what all Chicago restaurants should be: Cozy, friendly, great food, very knowledgeable wait staff. 5 stars.
(5)
Stephanie B.

The best Italian food we've ever had. We started with the bruschetta which was nothing special. The duck tortellone was an incredible pasta dish. Their unique Chicken Parmesan served on risotto was very different, but very good. The red sauce on it was probably the best one I've ever had. The atmosphere is great, and the restaurant is way bigger than it appears on the outside. Not a great beer selection, but it is an Italian restaurant. Would highly recommend!
(5)
Sylvia I.

Live about 4 blocks from here and didn't try it for almost a year. Every time I walked/drove past it on a weekend night, it was crazy packed with lines of people waiting. Finally I tried it on a random Tuesday night....and was BLOWN away on how amazing the food and service was. It was also not too packed, so perfect for a romantic dinner for two. TIP - All bottles of wine are half-priced on Tuesdays. Our waiter was very passionate about the food and described the specials in so much detail and enthusiasm that you wanted to order everything he listed. He was more than happy to provide his recommendations on his favorites and what he think you would like based on inputs you give him. My husband and I both told him what we typically liked, and he was very assertive in giving us each personalized recommendations...the "Ravioli alla Luigi" for me...and one of the ravioli specials stuffed with pears for my husband. The food melted in your mouth...it was that good. We also ordered one of the salads, which was more than enough to share. When our waiter asked us for desserts, we were too stuffed to order anything...even though we did let him go through the options. When we thought he was coming back to give us the bill, instead he presented us with one of the desserts on the house! He said he loved the strawberries with caramel sauce dessert so much and felt like we should try it. Wow, that's service. Well, sure enough we loved it...and ate every last strawberry and caramel sauce! Guess we weren't stuffed after all!!! I definitely recommend Rose Angelis to anyone who loves pasta and wants an intimate setting. By far my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago.
(5)
Chitown F.

Definitely my favorite Italian restaurant in the city! It is hidden away on Wrightwood and you will drive past it if your not careful. I love that it is just a residential house converted into a magnificent dining experience. Tuesdays are half off wine bottles, including the reserve list. They also change the speicals up very often and blow my mind every time. I almost always order one of the chef's specials, but the menu is not lacking anything either. The portions are huge, and perfect for lunch at work the next day. I have never had a bad experience here. Check the website out for weekly pricing specials. They used to have the NY strip for like 12 dollars and it was to die for!
(5)
Mindy S.

When a restaurant takes your name & cell number, lets you leave for a few hours, and calls you when your table is ready - that's a reputable place in my book for 2 reasons: First, they make it convenient for customers, and Second - if you have to wait a few hours for dinner, it must be good. Sometimes the second reason isn't always true, but in the case of Rose Angeli's, it certainly is. Seems like every appetizer and entree is of massive size, and equal taste and flavor. Perfect for dates, groups of friends, and in the summer - their outdoor patio is a destination worth waiting for.
(4)
Amanda P.

Absolutely incredible. Everything about this place was better than we expected. Nestled between cute 3-flats in a very quiet residential area, the restaurant looks small and quaint from the outside. I didn't expect it to go back so far! We sat in the main dining area, the last room of four in the restaurant. It was dimly lit, with candles and Italian-vista murals on all the walls. It wasn't too crowded when we sat down at 7pm on a Thursday, but it got quite busy (and loud!) throughout our meal. We started with fresh warm bread dipped in their homemade herb-infused olive oil (so wonderful!). With the $49 for Two special (avail. Wed/Thurs - awesome value), you get to order one appetizer of your choice, 2 caesar salads, 2 entrees of your choice, and 1 shared dessert of your choice. It might not sound like too much food, but IT WAS TOO MUCH FOOD. I can't believe how large the portions were! I haven't brought home that much food in a long time. To add to it all, everything we ordered was OUT OF THIS WORLD good. We really enjoyed with the pizza del giorno appetizer, and devoured our deliciously light and fresh-tasting caesar salads. After that we were full. Then our entrees came. Aged New York Strip and Manicotti del giorno. Both totally excellent, but we couldn't even make a dent. How were we supposed to eat this incredible homemade chocolate peanut butter ice cream with blackberries and bananas and caramel? Well, we found a way. We literally rolled ourselves out of there, traditional post-Italian-meal style, but it was worth it. We'll be back.
(5)
Amelia S.

Used to be my favorite restaurant in America. The wait is well worth your time (no reservations)! Their classic caprese is generous in size... huge chunks of fresh moz, basil and tomatoes. Every time I go I get the duck tortellini. It is packed with gobs of fresh mozzarella, and amazing reduction sauce, basil and grapes. They also have a great gorgonzola soup which is insanely rich but you can't stop eating it. My favorite thing would have to be their Strawberry desert. It's simplicity is the perfect end to a hearty meal. Strawberries covering a bowl that is half filled with chilled homemade caramel and then drizzled with white and dark chocolate. It's something that you have to try... and this is coming from a girl who is not a desert person. TRUST Their portions are huge and their prices are incredibly decent for their fresh cuisine. GO THERE
(5)
k e.

I adore this place. I love the hole in the wall feel of it being right in the middle of a residential area, I love all of the little rooms, and I love the deliciously rich and comforting entrees. It's perfect for date night or for cold winter's night when you have a serious craving for some heavy, comforting gnocchi in a cream sauce. Speaking of the gnocchi, it's amazing. In a mascarpone sauce with apricots and prosciutto...just remembering it makes me want another plate. I also love the duck tortellone. The generous portions means you'll be eating it for lunch the next day so enjoy!
(4)
Sammy R.

My favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. Unbelievable value for the price. The vegetarian pizza appetizer and steak bruschetta are unique and wonderful. For entree's, the lasagna is the biggest portion I have ever had and could be split amongst a table of 4. The ravioli alla luigi has an amazing sun dried tomato sauce that is to die for. But the best part of the meal was the desserts. Each one is homemade and ridiculously amazing. Each day, there is a new ice cream and the BREAD PUDDING! Wow! Super rich and would go back for that alone. Service is top notch and so is the chef!
(5)
Tammy Q.

My fiance and I went on a double date with my high school buddy and her fiance. I was really excited to try this place, given the first time we came here, it was closed. I opted for the spinach pasta with chicken -- hold the tomato sauce and add garlic and olive oil please. Um -- they must have not heard me, because that's not what came out. My fiance got the chicken marsala and it was super tasty. My friends got the veggie meals and it looked really yummy. I think I just ordered the wrong thing on the menu because I was quite disappointed. We ended the meal with a peach tart and ice cream and that was pretty delicious. I'm willing to try this place again since I've heard many great reviews.
(3)
Daniel B.

If I was going on a second date (ha I can't even get a first), this is the restaurant I would choose. It's tucked in the middle of a neighborhood, so when you walk in it feels as if you're having dinner at a friend home, as opposed to a restaurant. I think that's one of the coolest things about this place. There's a sweet little bar off to the side when you walk in, so if you have to wait you can get a drink or two. The inside can get a bit loud, but it's not any worse than any other place. The food was delicious and they had plenty of wine to compliment any meal. I wanted to try something I usually wouldn't and had their Portobello ripiene con pollo. It was fantastic with plenty of flavors and enough food to take home. The service was fantastic and our server really knew what she was talking about when it came to the wine and the ingredients in each dish. I don't recall what the woman I was with had, but I remember she loved it. For dessert we went with the Chocolate Chip Espresso Cheesecake. Holy Balls was this an AWESOME dessert and I usually hate dessert. I really hope I'll be able to go to this place again soon, but that means I need to find a date. Craigslist here I come baby!
(4)
Lisa G.

I had an excellent shrimp ravioli here, with plenty left over for the next day. Seatings didn't take too long. However, our waiter was mostly inattentive, and the cannoli dessert was like no cannoli i've ever had - or would want to have. it was coated in chocolate and the filling was cream, not at all resembling ricotta. It was like cannolis for people who've never had one... just NOT right! I'll be back, but I'll likely stick to the standard tiramisu.
(4)
Kairo C.

this place was very romantic. aside from the location and the parking situation, once you land inside the place it is very romantic. the kind of place you could imagine a gent throwing his jacket over the puddle that stands between you and the door. the kind of place where all the italian guys with real italian accents make you wanna dye your hair black once and for all as well as show up no short of an endearing red chiffon dress, with short sleeves and a classy neckline. the kind of place you will not be embarrassed to smoke those skinny cigarettes. the kind of... ok you prolly get it by now... i LOVED that my waiter sorta somewhat spoke a tid bit of english. his italian accent made me want to ask, "what is that you say sir?" a million times just to hear the accent (as well as what he was really saying sure). ahhhh... he recommended the special appetizer... some sort of shear-sliced tuna tartare insalata with a zingy garlic sauce, radishes maybe, spinach.. my memory is a little foggy but i remember it was an intense dish... not for everyone's palate then the vino... good selection and reasonable... we were seated in the patio area (with the weather-proof enclosure to keep out the cold)... and the only people i saw around the restaurant at the time... either it was the weather or location that kept us isolated there, but i will never complain about having all that attention to our table alone! and my dish was PERFECTO: Raviolini alla Maria - salmon filled raviolini in a basil pesto cream sauce with chopped kalamata olive... if you get this and love salmon you will not be disappointed! i LOVED it. and it was soooooo good i couldve gorged the whole monstrous plate if there werent so many gents, or one very nice one across from me... so i saved half... and yes i ate it cold at my work the next day because there was no microwave... and it was still delicious i tried: Polenta con salsiccia del agnello - baked polenta served with homemade lamb sausage and sautÃ©ed spinach in a red wine reduction sauce.... i remember it being similarly delicious, especially the sausage... but i also remember being attached to my choice! the glasses stayed the full as well as our stomachs were! the waiter was superb and the experience was lovely. id go back in a heartbeat, if just alone to make my heartbeat...
(5)
John B.

I've been to this restaurant many times - it's a favorite of mine for special occasions. They're often crowded. If you're concerned about a long wait you usually do not have to wait much if you get there early. I've had different dishes and desserts here and every one has been pretty spectacular. It's not the cheapest restaurant in the city but it is one of the few that the value/outcome is greater than the cost. Portions tend to be large and I think I left with a doggy bag every time. Try it, I think you will really like it.
(5)
Melanie K.

One of my favorite neighborhood spots for Italian the food is always fresh, and I always find myself devouring my entire plate!!!! (never mind the carb intake) The service is amazing-there is a waiter that we always have that has been there for 10 years!!! the outdoor patio is one of the best in the city!
(4)
Matt R.

I went here on a Thursday night for a friend's birthday and was quite happy with my experience overall. Walking in was a bit bizarre as the restaurant goes back and back...and back. You notice the homey feel from the moment you enter the rear portion of the restaurant. To start out, luckily we had checked out the website in advance and noticed on Thursday nights the "Recession Special" is $50 dinner for two that includes a shared appetizer, 2 caesar salads and 2 entrees of your choosing. This is a great deal, however, they don't tell you about at the restaurant (for obvious reasons!) We started with the sauteed ravioli with Gorgonzola and pesto dip. This would not be my first recommendation for an app...it was simply sauteed cheese ravioli with nothing extra and an overpowering Gorgonzola dip. Too much strong cheese for me thanks. Our friends got the calamari which I found to be tremendous! Well spiced with a huge portion. The caesar salads that followed were standard...no points won or lost. The entrees were what secured 4 stars in my heart. We actually both ordered tortellone (what they call tortellini) dishes. First was the tortellone stuffed with porcini mushrooms and marscapone (I believe) served in a red wine cream reduction along with baby broccoli, portabella mushroom strips and dried cranberries. These tortellone were something else. There were multiple layers of flavor and they were all delicious. Second we had the tortellone stuffed with duck and served in a sweet sundried tomato sauce. I may have actually preferred the second tortellone because at points I became overwhelmed with the first. Either way, both were phenomenal. Alright enough about the food... The service was only ok. Our waitress was serviceable but I'm hoping she's only waitressing because of the economy. It is not her calling. Our water glasses were always filled and the food came out hot, but our waitress was not awesome. Rose Angelis is a very versatile spot for dinner. It would work well for a date, even a first date, a family dinner, a birthday or whatever else.
(4)
Mark M.

Each thing I tried introduced me to a new level of bliss. Great ambiance. One of the best date restaurants in Chicago. I can reccomend: Bruschetta Steak (cooked to perfection) Gnocchi Bread Pudding Coffee was a bit weak. Only bad thing I can say about the place.
(5)
J. T.

Wine list %50 off on Tues (6/30) - the reserve list included! I thought the food was very well prepared (pasta seemed home-made). The portions are very large, so be prepared to take some home. 4 of us ate entrees, split 2 desserts and had 2 bottle of wine (1 @ $15 (a simple pinot grigio) and 1 @ $35 (Simi Cab reserve)) and the bill was $180.15 (w/o tip). Pretty decent considering the amount of food and the quality of wine we had.
(4)
Don M.

This was really good. We had a large group and it was not a problem service was very good.We had a variety of appetizers and I heard no complaints. For dinner I went for the Zuppa Di Pesce, fish, mussels, shrimp, calamari and scallops simmered in spicy tomato broth. When they served me I thought something was wrong it came in a huge casserole dish. It was delicious and for $18 well worth it, and I was not going to share. Of course everyone wanted some desert. I did taste the tiramisu it was good also. I had a happy tummy but stuffed.
(4)
Dan R.

This place is way overrated. First, the food is good but not great. I mean there are exactly 5,025 Italian restaurants in Chicago and this place is just middle of the pack. I can never find something I really think sounds great. I did have the fish special the last time i was here, its OK. My main beef with this place is lack of reservations. That makes coming here on any night a crap shoot on being able to eat within 2 hours and honestly I don't have time to sit around in the too-small waiting room and then wait more for dinner to arrive. I came here recently on a Wednesday night when it was pouring outside- you would expect a short wait? Nope, half the restuarant (the front part) was closed which meant a 30 minute wait. Unaccaptable in my book for a WEDNESDAY night. Plus finding a cab can be difficult. La Escarola beats this place by a mile.
(2)
Johnny B.

Service can certainly be spotty at Rose Angelis, but the food more than makes up for it. I feel like they have such amazing unique Italian dishes, and I've loved each one I've tried. The special salad of the day is a must. One is usually enough for four people to share. It's typically a foot high pile of greens and about half a dozen delicious, sometimes unique vegetables (purple potatoes?) tossed with wonderful homemade dressing. The appetizers are fantastic too (as is their bread and flavored olive oil), so I'm almost always full by the time the entrees arrive. My go to dish is the Tortellone Con Salsa Di Noce, gorgonzola filled tortellone tossed with grapes and walnuts in a walnut pesto cream sauce. It's as special and delicious as it sounds. Cream sauces do not reheat well, so I usually need some help getting out of my chair after I've forced myself to finish every last bite of this giant plate of creamy, grapey pasta. I've heard complaints of their red sauce. I've never had it, and if it sucks, I don't know what to say - that's pretty inexcusable for a well established Italian joint. But at the same time, there are too many other amazing options to even think about plain old tomato sauce when you go to Rose Angelis.
(5)
Eazmg C.

good Italian no doubt. really good eggplant parm. be ready for some pretty large portions too.
(4)
Amanda G.

A friend of mine had suggested going to Rose Angelis. I was hesitant upon walking up to the place. The outside did not look like anything special. After walking in my mind was changed. The ambiance was great, good for a date or even dinner with the parents. The food was amazing. My family and boyfriend that I went with have not been able to stop talking about it. We were all blown away by how fresh and homemade it all tasted. Definitely will be going back.
(5)
Christel A.

FABULOUS! I am a very picky Italian eater and I love this place. Based on the other reviews the sauce may not be for you. For those who like the garlic inspired very tomatoey tasting this is right up your alley. I've been going here for a little two years now (long before it was cool) and hands down I recommend: The House Salad and it's a heaping of every leafy veggie you can think of and the house dressing is great. The Rigatoni stuffed with Ricotta (side note I'm not a big fan of Ricotta) and this is delic! Paired with the house Pinot Gringo All together about 30 bucks a person for huge portions (you can definitely share)- and well worth it! I do agree that the wait time is long, on a staurday night go at 6 or wait till a little after 8. Or even better go on a weekday.
(5)
Elizabeth P.

Tons of good food - can't go wrong! Rose definitely knows what she is doing! I have been here multiple times and hardly ever order the same thing. Everything is very good, and you get TONS of food. I usually end up sharing an entree with a friend because it's so much. I also love the pizza they have here. It's as guilt free as you can get - very thin, crunchy, wheat crust. I usually order this as an appetizer. They also have very good olive oil that my sister loved so much she bought some to take home with her. She said the woman that sold her the bottle was very nice and told her she could actually refill the bottle several times before the herbs on the inside lost their flavor. The only drawback is that this restaurant is literally a house, and it can sometimes get really loud. If they have too many groups, then it can get very loud for everybody in the restaurant. It's also usually too dark and crowded in here, which can make walking and seeing your food difficult. I would have given them 5 stars if not for this.
(4)
Heidi P.

Rose Angelis is the Eric Estrada of the restaurant world. It used to be really hot, but has gotten old and tired. The food was the same, the decor is the same, the staff is the same and white zinfandel is on the wine list. If you want a place where one entree is enough food for a family of four, this is your restaurant. The outdoor patio is pleasant. The service was decent. And unlike the 1990's, you can get a table easily without a long wait in the bar. Clearly the management believes in the motto "don't mess with a good thing" but this place needs a major overhaul to make it current. YAWN!
(3)
Wayne B.

I LOVE this place! everything about this place, food, service... Best Italian Breaed Pudding I ever tasted... mmmmmmm good.
(5)
K T.

The food is spectacular! The ambiance is also wonderful; very cozy but lively (kind of how I'd imagine an authentic cucina)! I think this place is great for bringing out-of-town guests or for any sort of celebration (and of course, date night).
(5)
Uyen D.

Such a quaint little gem in what seems like the middle of nowhere. =) I've been here twice and both times it was a pleasant experience. It is so cozy and full of personality and the wait staff is great. Our waiter was helpful in suggesting specialties and favorites and he hit the nail on the head. My favorites: 1. Tortellone anatra ubriaco - duck filled tortellini - my favorite 2. Tortellone con salsa di noce - gorgonzola filled tortellini in walnut pesto cream sauce. 3. Panzarotti con pesto e gorgonzola - sauteed cheese ravioli w/ pesto gorgonzola sauce appetizer. Their portions are huge, but save room for dessert because they always have something new and delicious to offer. I highly recommend their special bread pudding with extra caramel sauce. It's yummy! I always take home more than half of my entree and it lasts me almost 3 meals later. Yes, the wait can be long. At 7:30 pm, 1 hour for a party of 4... but hopefully you get a seat at the bar to enjoy a drink and an appetizer and it'll be perfect.
(4)
Andrew C.

Be warned if you head here, you will likely need to unbutton your pants and unbuckle your belt. This place is a classic Italian restaurant built into someone's house. The menu is extensive and intimidating at first, but once you take some time to sip a little wine and relax, the choices become a little easier. The mezzalune al burro is a favorite, the moon-shaped pasta never ceases to please my friends and me. However, the lasagna and manicotti have been known to spark fist-fights over who gets to take the left overs home. :). A little on the pricey side, but the atmosphere is comfortable (though sometimes a bit noisy). Highly recommended for a date or family visiting in town. Every person who I recommend to eat there becomes an instant fan. Try it!
(5)
Chayla B.

Fabulous. I somehow found extra room in my stomach for this place. The atmosphere is darling- I didn't feel like I was in Chicago anymore. Seems like a fun first date place; dim lights, just noisy enough, delicious food. The menu is a great size. I get frustrated with too many options. I had some portobello mushroom thing that was to die for. Seriously, to die for. My only gripe was that it took a little too long for our wine to get there. They were busy, but to me that isn't an excuse. I've been there, places need to make sure they have enough staff on hand for a Thursday night. I don't mind if it takes a while for my food to arrive, but 10 minutes for my glass of wine? No thanks. That was my only complaint, though. I will definitely be back. Plenty of times, I'm sure.
(4)
Clare K.

seriously?! i just can't believe that this place has so many great reviews. I dined here yesterday with very high hopes due to all of the hype and they just did not deliver. the service was bad. really bad. the food was OK at first (i ordered the mafaldina)...and then i tried some more later that night and really just decided that i didn't like it at all. the boy had the duck tortellini which was better than the dish i had--but not great. the reduction sauce tasted like liquor and like it had never actually been "reduced." up until this time, i have always said: "you really can't mess up pasta...it might not be GREAT, but it will never be BAD." i stand corrected. i can really think of at least 10 better italian restaurants in the city just off the top of my head. don't bother with this one.
(2)
Andrew C.

YUM!!!!! I have no idea how people can call this place expensive......Very reasonable. The tiramisu and bread pudding are delish. Great lasagna too!
(5)
Matthew R.

One of the best. Great food. Cute room. Very relaxed and cozy. Great garden. Great specials. This place is a Chicago gem..
(5)
MsAnthro P.

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. Very homey and reminiscent of real family-run restaurants in Italy. The food is rustic, not too pricey and the service, in my experiences, has always been great. I realized today how much I miss it and I definitely plan to make it back the next time I'm back in Chicago.
(4)
Barry M.

If only the food matched the great decor/atmosphere. I had the highest of hopes coming here the first time since it's within walking distance of our home and came highly recommended. The wait wasn't bad (we got lucky), the service was very good, the restaurant is beautiful and warm, but the food....how can I put it? Fairly forgettable. I think that the problem may be my perspective -- Italian food (I believe) should be fairly simple and so I agree with one of the previous reviewers that it seems that the kitchen just tries too hard. I have since given Rose Angelis 3 other tries with 3 other couples since it's so convenient, but have never been impressed with the food. I stopped ordering the chicken marsala (fairly tasteless) and while the pastas are usually solid, hardly worth a long (or short) wait. Overall, the atmosphere is wonderful and the service hasn't disappointed (thus the 3 stars), but since the food (while presented beautifully and usually good) doesn't make me say "wow, can't wait to come back," I'll sadly walk/drive by this beautiful spot next time instead of going in.
(3)
Amanda R.

I read all the reviews before I went to this place on a first date, it is VERY romantic and perfect for a first date. Very low lighting and it is set in an old house with wooden floors and arch walk ways, nice murals on the walls that bring you back to "the old country". Decently priced, it wasn't too packed because I went on a Tuesday night when they had 1/2 off bottles of wine. We started off with the bruschetta which was awesome lots of little baby grape tomatoes cut in half on fresh bread and basil topped over it. The server was amazing and very knowledgeable, I got the Portobello ripiene con pollo- portobello mushrooms and chicken, I thought the ratio of mushroom to chicken was a little off, I was wanting more mushrooms to accompany the chicken, or even some pasta in there might have been better. It was good and very filling. My date got a special with sausage and pasta, very rich, I did like that they had other things that weren't on the menu as far as soups, dinner specials and dessert specials. We got a bottle of Chianti and the server was very informed on the wine and where it came from and the fact of it being a reserve you have to put it in a carafe to open up the aromas of the wine, I liked that because I love learning anything about wines and how they are made and how they are supposed to be consumed. We shared a piece of the tiramisu and it was HUGE, very big and it was OK, I have had better. Overall I would definitely love to come back and try different dishes on a different night but its great to try, very authentic and delicious.
(4)
Richie D.

Amazing Italian food that seems like a grandmother's recipe. The daily specials are always gastronomically superb. Very cute place for a glass of wine and romantic dinner. All of their daily specials are to die for, especially when duck ravioli rolls around. Desserts are also not to pass up!
(5)
Erin T.

My parents absolutely adore this restaurant so we come here several times a year (aka I've been forced to come back due to their love). I have to say that I've changed my tune on this place. Everyone in my family seems to have their standard dishes which we all love. I'm obsessed with the gnocchi. It is simply divine. It comes in a creamy sauce with dried apricots (sounds gross, but it is REALLY delicious), prosciutto and walnuts. The portions are HUGE so I always end up with leftovers. My mom usually gets the manicotti, which seems pretty standard to me. My brother gets the gorgonzola tortellini with pesto sauce. That is probably my second favorite dish. My husband gets the rigatoni with sausage which is good but not my personal favorite. And finally, my dad tries something different on the menu every time. Probably one of my favorite parts of dining at Rose Angeli's is the dessert. They have an ENORMOUS bread pudding that I go nuts for. It comes with a warm carmel sauce that is delicious. This is definitely one of my favorite Italian restaurants.
(4)
Ariel M.

This place deserves its good reviews. We had a wonderful date night on their back patio! The food selection was incredible, everything sounded amazing adn when we saw other people's meals come out, they looked amazing and HUGE too. The Bruschetta di carne asada was outta this world, we split it and I was nearly full! We will be back to try more of their food as the place is quaint and peaceful, food excellent, adn price is right for the quality adn amount you get.
(5)
Ji K.

Cute/cozy place, superb service, delicious food, fairly inexpensive. I was having a not-so-hungry night and stupidly ordered a huge dish of very rich, baked manicotti. Needless to say, I had only one roll and had to wrap up the rest. (I'm sure the leftovers-- which I plan on devouring shortly-- will be great.) My friend, though, who is not very fond of Italian food, ordered the gnocchi special and loved it. He ate every last piece. In that sense, I'm thankful to Rose Angelis because this good Italian food experience ensures that we can come back again. Woohoo!
(4)
Diana C.

Last night was our 2nd wedding anniversary and we decided to dine here. We literally live around the corner from Rose Angelis and had been meaning to dine there. WOW! Tuesdays are half price bottles of wine! Gotta love that. The portions are out of this world 4 people could have eaten my Zuppa di Pesce. I had the whole ocean in a tomato broth with spicy polenta! My hubby had the Lasagne di mare! It was excellent. The calamari and shrimp were grilled. MMM We died and went to seafood heaven. The Italian bread pudding with buttery caramel sauce is to die for and I had to take my pulse after tasting it. We had to take leftovers home even for dessert! We are impressed with the vegetarian selection, Bravo Rose Angelis, we will be back!
(5)
Mia B.

It's very cute inside. They havea Manicotti del Giorno, which I have never seen anywhere else before. Manicotti was my favorite Italian dish growing up, so it's very exciting to know that this place has a rotating daily recipe. They have tons of vegetarian options that are just as hearty as any meat entree you can order there (I hate when the meat-free options are wimpy). I think the key is in the cheese, and boy do they know their cheese.
(4)
A S.

I never write reviews but our experience at Rose Angelis warranted one...I wish I could give this place 0.5 stars and that would only be for the service and how good the waiters make the food seem. We went there on a Saturday night for dinner and this was the WORST Italian food we have ever had - that's if you even call this Italian food. This was our wedding anniversary dinner and everything was horrible. We started out with the special pizza for appetizers - sounded amazing with its pesto sauce and sun dried tomatoes and smoked mozzarella.. However it tasted like.. Absolutely nothing.. Cardboard.. My frozen pizza from jewel seemed gourmet compared to this. My husband ordered the chicken Marsala.. And it tasted like once again.. Nothing.. No salt no garlic no pepper no nothing! I ordered some half moon spinach ravioli which was recommended by the waiter and it tasted like.. Yup nothing!! All I tasted was the boiled butter. We ate nothing.. And left with more than 3/4 of the food.. I guess I can justify my one star for the bread we had before this disastrous meal began.. Since the bread did actually taste like bread.
(1)
Christina L.

So, some of their dishes while tasty are not a revelation. The bread is boring and the caprese salad sometimes has barely orange, nearly tasteless tomatoes. Their red sauce is, well, red sauce. However, some of the dishes are to die for. I truly dream about their duck tortelone. WOW! The most amazing fresh tortelone filled with delicious duck and served with fresh mozzerella, sun dried tomatoes, regular tomato chunks and pine nuts in a cognac reduction sauce that I could seriously drink straight up. It is one of my all time favorite meals at any price - and at this price, heaven! Other must haves are the pasta with grapes and walnuts in a gorgonzola cream sauce (though you might want to split this with someone else - it can be a bit heavy after awhile) and for dessert the tiramisu or for a lighter end to your dinner try the strawberries in chocolate and caramel sauce. Other pluses: I have always had the most sincere, helpful and accommodating wait staff, good affordable wine selection (not byob, but nothing in life is perfect), and charming atmosphere. Minuses: The wait can be ridiculous. Not quite as bad in the summer because of the outdoor space but I tried going this weekend at 6:45, figuring if we got there early enough we wouldn't have to wait more than 45 min to an hour. Wrong! Over two hours we were told. And it was only 2 degrees outside! We thought it would be cold enough that everyone would be ordering take out but I guess we weren't the only ones who wanted some hearty Italian comfort food.
(4)
Kristin C.

Two Words: Bread Pudding It's the most amazing, delicious thing ever! Probably has two sticks of butter in it but I don't care. Drizzled in hot caramel sauce it's heaven in the boca. The pasta is also quite delicious. Can get crowded and loud, but a fun place to try out. Parking can also be dicey depending on the night.
(5)
Penny P.

Cute little date place. Big portions, decent wine list, and unbelievable bread pudding. To be honest, I can't even remember what I had for dinner (except that I had plenty for lunch the next day), but I still think about that bread pudding. Soooooo yummy. Sure, there are restaurants in Chicago with better Italian food. (I should know, I'm Italian). But the ambiance is good - I love eating outside - and it just feels comfortable.
(4)
Tom F.

The only reason that I did not give this place 5 stars is the wait. Oh my goodness, on a Friday or Saturday night, you will wait, and wait, and wait, and did I mention that you'll wait? My party clocked a solid 2 1/2 hours from the time we first arrived until we were seated. The no-reservation policy at this restaurant is something that really needs to be reconsidered by the management - though I imagine that they are so stuck in their ways (and certainly business hasn't suffered), that it will never happen. On a positive note, you can spend your waiting time in a constructive manner by visiting the excellent bars Maeve and Tavish, both of which are located across the street - Rose Angelis will call the bar when your table is ready, a nice touch. That said, the food here is outstanding, and almost makes the insane wait worthwhile. Everything that was ordered was fantastic - from the special "white" manicotti with salmon, to the eggplant parm, to the lasagna, to the duck tortelloni. Portions are massive, especially given the very reasonable prices, so don't be afraid to share. Our server, despite being extremely overworked, was pleasant and attentive (with the exception of the 20 or so minute wait for her to arrive with the check - it appears that Rose Angelis has adopted European custom in that regard). In conclusion, if you are looking for a delicious, reasonably-priced Italian meal, and don't mind eating at either 5:30 or 11:00 p.m., Rose Angelis is a great option!
(4)
Shradha A.

I would give it a 4 and a half stars if I could... I suggested this place to my friend after reading the awesome Yelp reviews. We had just finished moving him into his new place and were exhausted and looking forward to a quiet relaxing dinner. Here are my 0.02 on this place: 1. They don't take reservations, and are generally pretty busy, so come for an early dinner or late dinner 2. The service was great! Polite, quick, efficient. 3. The food variety was good and they did "innovation" not in an eclectic way, rather in an interesting way - what I mean is their "creativity" wasn't overwhelming. 4. We told the server we were vegetarian, and ordered the spinach ribbon noodles in arrabiata sauce. 5. We got our dish with chicken in it - but once we told them about it, the server apologized profusely - I think their training is great! It's not so much about making the mistake, it's taking the right steps to make up for it. 6. The portions are HUGE, so even though the 2 of us just shared one pasta, we had enough left to feed a 3rd person, so brought back lots home! 7. We then got the double chocolate icecream (the day's special) with caramel sauce and nuts/bananas/raspberries --- MMMMM... It was really good for the first few bites, heavenly, but then the sugar became too much. So make sure you're sharing dessert with lots of people, because again, they're huge!! 8. We sat outside and the atmosphere was very romantic. Overall, I had a good experience here and will go back for another try. Vegetarians: They actually won some award for best veg. food...
(4)
Nathan K.

This place rocks and we'll be back often. A few of the things that stood out, is how great and "fancy" the food is, but the place is very unpretentious. I was worried that my being in jeans and a baseball cap would be too dressed down, but oddly I saw about 3 other people in jeans and baseball caps dining. It's a very small place, and doesn't take reservations, so I've been warned about the wait. But at 7PM on a Saturday night we showed up and were able to sit down immediately in the outdoor patio that is slightly heated. It was a perfect night still for a patio and so that was fine choice. It would have been 45 minutes for a table inside, fyi. The bread was curiously delicious for some reason. I can't explain it, just a fantastic italian bread. The server was a little bored/tired looking, but was polite enough and the apps and food arrived extremely quickly. About half the food seemed to have some kind of fruit in it, which I think is a pretty cool (as someone else here used the word) innovation. I got some gnocchi with apricots in it, and my wife a ravioli with pears. And there were salads with apples, and other pastas with grapes. They were great meals. My only beef with the menu, was that I couldn't get a chicken parmigiana, but they had eggplant parmigiana. And they seemed to have more cream based pasta than marinara based pastas. But what we got we loved. The desert menu looked great, but we were too stuffed. We will come back here soon and get something from it. A funny thing that happened here, that has no bearing on a review was this: The patio has like maybe a dozen tables. And most of them are situated for 4 people to dine at. But when I say table, it's really 2 smaller tables butted up next to each other with 4 chairs. My wife and I were at one, and we put our sweatshirts and her purse on the extra seats/table. So this couple comes into the patio and sits in this waiting area back there. There's some benches there to just hang out and have wine and even eat an appetizer. But they were loaded (drunk). His face was bright red and looked belligerent. At some point, after they've been waiting for like 10 minutes for a table, he mosies over to another couple's table and yells back at his girlfriend that they can eat here. RIGHT NEXT TO THE OTHER COUPLE in their extra seats. Like elbow to elbow if they were to have sat down. Didn't even ask the couple or the wait staff. He's just planning on budging into these strangers meal. (The proximity would be the same as someone just joining you in a booth at a restaurant and just sitting down next to you and trying to share your table, and not even asking). The girlfriend gets him to come back, because she seems to still have some of her cognitive ability. Well the couple that was dining in this story finished their meal and left about 15 minutes later. The drunk couple then proceeds to just walk up to the now empty table and just sits down. Meanwhile there are like 3 other parties still ahead of them in line waiting to eat outside. And the drunk couple start chatting with each other, but at a volume I'd only expect of a hyperactive 3 year old. The host of the restaurant had to come up to them and ask them to return to the waiting area because people were waiting to dine here. The host handled extremely well, and the drunk couple peacefully moved to where they were supposed to be. But OMG, I've never seen someone try to pull a stunt like that. It was pretty hilarious though.
(4)
Ryan C.

This is my favorite place to get Italian food in the city. It beats all other places. The price is great for the quality of food. I have gone there so much that I have noticed that the specials don't change that often.
(5)
Amy S.

Love this place and have been going here for about 10 years. It is consistent every time. Good food, good service, interesting specials and great deserts, especially the bread pudding. This is one of the only bread puddings I LOVE. Especially if you like caramel. My favorite dish is the Tortellone con salsa di noce- gorgonzola filled tortellone tossed with grapes in a walnut pesto cream sauce. The grapes make it. It is hard to find parking but worth it! There are no reservations and the wait can get very long. Up to 1.5 hours BUT there are 2 nice bars across the street and the restaurant and these bars have a relationship. You can go over and have a drink or two or three and the will call the bars when your table is ready. Also, the have outside seating in the warmer weather. Doesn't get any better than that!
(5)
Daisy C.

We had dinner here after eloping at City Hall in downtown. It's in an old house, which along with the neighborhood, give the place a lot of character. We got there around 8:30 and had to wait about 20 min for a table. But the bar area wasn't crowded, and we ordered the bruschetta, which was very good. I had the ravioli. The sun dried tomato cream sauce was so good and the pasta perfectly al dente. He had the NY Strip. The gorgonzola was a little heavy for me, and I wasn't crazy about the sundried tomato mashed potatoes, but they tasted really good as leftovers. The portions are very generous for the price of this place. I think the bill was about $50 or less. Even if we hadn't had our "wedding" dinner here, I'd go back to Rose Angelis whenever I'm in the mood for pasta.
(5)
Garrett S.

I'm quite honestly perplexed as to how this restaurant has the reputation it does. I ordered the spinach ribbon pasta with grilled chicken and artichoke hearts. The flavor was flat and the chicken tasted like it had been reheated in a microwave. It was about what I would expect from the pizza place I ordered take out from in college, not from one of the top Italian restaurants in Chicago. My girlfriend had the chicken marsala, one of the chef's 'specials.' It was also one-dimensional and lacked seasoning. I don't know how you can mess up Italian food but they managed. Seriously, if you know how to follow a recipe, you'll end up with better Italian than they serve here.
(1)
Jennifer K.

We had a girl's night dinner here the other night. I had been wanting to try it for quite some time so I was glad when my friend suggested it. Our waitress was spot on, she knew the specials menu like the back of her hand and did not miss a beat. Portions here are immense, sharing is definitely a good idea. I enjoyed the gazpacho and had plenty of ravioli to take home for my husband for lunch. I can't wait to go back. Oh and prices are definitely reasonable. Yum!
(5)
Jennifer W.

My boyfriend and I were in the neighborhood and decided to stop here for dinner (both of us Italian food lovers). The service was good, but wasn't to thrilled about the appetizer, it was a pizza of some sort. It was rock hard. I could of used it to break a window. My dinner was good, it was pasta. Other than the appetizer, food was good.
(3)
Paulie L.

Great atmosphere, great food, etc They have whole wheat dough for their pizza.... and that's awesome by the way.
(5)
marc r.

Went to Rose Angelis last night. I had to wait 1.5 hours - for those that complain - they are pretty accurate on the waiting time - so don't complain if you make the decision to wait - aight? aight. What can I really say. The staff is on top of everything going on here. They are polite yet firm - and good god, I had no idea this place was so big. Truly a hidden gem in Chicago. The prices cannot be beat. The food is good and definitely original. Bread pudding? No need to write a lot - just get it. Im having trouble finding the correct words to describe the experience. If you haven't been there - just go. Its cheap, its better than many of the 'expensive' restaurants I have been to, and better yet - whoever you bring will be impressed with your taste. peece.
(5)
Jenny K.

My husband and I love Rose Angelis so much that we had our wedding here. Yes, you read that right. Not only is the food amazing and reasonably priced, they know how to put on a great party. Now, it may not be the perfect wedding spot for everyone; we are admittedly very chill, laid back people who wanted to have a small, casual wedding. But I would recommend it for a family party, anniversary, shower, etc. Really any party under 100 that wants great food in a homey atmosphere with great service. We are still getting rave reviews about the food 6 months after the wedding. We served eggplant parm, chicken marsala and cheese ravioli for the family-style main courses. Lots of tables got second helpings and people even brought home doggie bags of leftovers. The space is adorable and feels like someone's house. The patio in back is lovely during the summer. The wine list is great too, and according to my friends, they make a mean bloody mary. If you haven't already tried out this charming little gem, please check it out. You won't regret it.
(5)
Erica H.

I had heard a lot of things about Rose Angelis before I went a few weeks ago. Since they don't take reservations, I decided to try it on a weeknight when I had a friend visiting from out of town. We got there around 7 or so, and there was no wait. We chose to eat on the patio- which was very cute and fortunately covered. I had a pasta dish with artichokes and chicken, which was very good. The portion sizes are HUGE- I had enough for 2 more meals! I also loved the desert selection- my girfriends and I all got something different and shared. I had a piece of expresso cheesecake that was delicious (and I ate that for 2 meals also). Service was great. Only minor complaint is the wine glasses. They are tiny- like juice glasses, a la the old Italian restaurants. Could have used a decent-sized glass for my Chianti, being the alcoholic that I am :).
(5)
Julie F.

Rose Angelis is one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. The interior is very cozy and inviting. It feels like you are eating in someones living room. I've been here quite a few times and have always had a very friendly wait staff. The food is so delicious. The gorgonzola tortellini is one of my favorite meals in the entire city. If there's a long wait, you can either sit in the bar at the front of the restaurant or go to the bar across the street for a glass of wine. I recommend this restaurant to anyone.
(5)
Ryan S.

This place is awesome, I'd actually give it 4 1/2 if I could. Their specials are always delicious and offer a nice variety to their solid menu. The prices are extremely affordable and the quality is always consistent and top notch. Some of my favorites are the duck filled tortellone and the chicken/ sage/ asiago cream ravioli. There are great vegetarian options as well. I've had the desert a few times and wasn't blown away by the bread pudding, but thought the tira misu was great. Good wine list at a variety of prices. Great place to have a quiet romantic evening or a delicious dinner with family at a reasonable price.
(4)
Ro A.

Best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Every time I go, I order the weekly special pasta and it never fails to be amazing. Great for "date night" or dinner with the family. Highly recommended!
(5)
Erin C.

I have been dying to try this place for awhile now...It is located on a quiet tree lined street in LP and so adorable! They basically converted this old house into a little restaurant. The ambiance and decor are so cute and this alone will keep me coming back, appetizers, dinner or just a glass of wine. The prices are very reasonable and the food is pretty good. I say this because we ordered the pizza of the day for an appetizer and the crust was hard and awkward. Maybe it was the whole wheat crust, i don't know. But i wouldn't order the pizza again. The pasta was great though! I would definitely recommend this place to friends though! Great for a date night!
(4)
Kyung P.

If you're looking for big portions, go to Rose Angelis. There were three of us and our entrees were duck tortellini, pear tortellini, and Portobello ripiene con pollo (chicken). The two tortellini dishes were very good, but the chicken in my portobello dish was very dry. I read other reviews that raved about this dish, but my recommendation would be order one of the pastas. The dessert portions were huge too, but not good at all. We had the bread pudding and tiramisu. The bread pudding was hard, dry, and tasteless. The tirsmisu was not traditional and was practically unedible. Stay away from the desserts!!!
(3)
Sue K.

All-around comfy, cozy good food - with the vibe to ago along. Unassuming storefront in the middle of a quiet neighborhood.
(5)
Jackie P.

Fantastic authentic Italian in a casual atmosphere. Favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. Service is always terrific, the only down side to this place is they don't take reservations so a wait is common.
(4)
Robyn F.

Rose Angelis certainly takes a lot of risks, so I give them credit for that. It isn't for everybody's palette, and you definitely have to go in with an open mind. My group tried: Duck-filled tortellini with spinach, mozzarella, and pine nuts in a sweet sauce. I liked it, but the sauce can be off-putting to some. Gnocchi with apricots. Very strong flavors with heavy cream sauce. Anyway, it certainly isn't for everybody, but it's worth trying once. Plus: really big portions!
(4)
Ariel B.

Another favorite Italian restaurant in Lincoln Park. I've attended both private events and walk-in dinners at Rose Angelis. A quaint little apartment building was made into a great local restaurant. The best part about private events is that you don't have to wait a very long time for a table. We've never had a bad meal or service here, it's one of our favorite spots. Make sure to make reservations for large groups.
(5)
Charles L.

Great spot! I really enjoyed the neighborhood feel that this place had; I also really enjoyed that I was able to spend my time waiting for a table at the bar across the street having a few Shiner Bocks, waiting for a call when my table was ready! Great food and decent prices, but the real highlight is the atmosphere. Very quaint; great date spot.
(5)
Jeff G.

ate here over thanksgiving weekend for dinner on that friday. overall the quality of the food was excellent. kind of a long wait for a table but no big deal.
(4)
Sharlene K.

The funny thing about Italian food is usually it's Italian-American food and just because it isn't take-out doesn't mean it hasn't gone through the same wringer as let's say the idea of Chinese take-out as "Chinese" food. What an academic thing to say as I start off why I love this place. Rose Angelis is not Italian-American food and they do not at all specialize in Italian-American dishes, but they are incredibly delicious regional Italian food. Their food seems to be of the Northern coast variety, and even more specifically of the Emilia-Romagna style with their love of (and exceptional quality) ravioli, half-moons, and maybe a little of Tuscany with their love of simplicity and pine nuts/olive oil everywhere. I love it. This is the square stuff that I miss from home because the vast majority of Italian places in Chicago seem to specialize in Americanized Southern Italian food with overdone red sauces and bricks of soft cheese everywhere ( ::cough, cough:: deep dish pizza). Stick with anything with seafood or a basic design, and you're golden. The spinach half-moons with a brown butter sauce are amazing. I replicated that once at home, and people were stunned by how delicious and simple it is. Also strongly recommended: Gorgonzola Tortellini Duck Tortellini - it's difficult for me not to order this every time Gnocchi with Prosciutto and Apricots - the sweet and salty in perfect balance and compliment I strongly recommend against the Vesuvio and Marsala... you don't go to a really great Chinese place just to order Cashew Chicken or an awesome German place to get a hot-dog. I guess you could, but why not get their best rather than their most mediocre?
(5)
Mindy V.

LOVE IT. Atmoshpere is cute comfy italian, top notch food, huge portions and everything is good. The seafood that was in my pasta dish was so fresh and tasty. Excellent thick creamy sauces but also fresh and light tomato sauces, something for everyone. Been there many times and always like everything. Cute patio for the summer and good prices for what you get.
(4)
Christy L.

A fabulous place to take family in from out of town or a group of 4+... your portions will be huge (I ate the lasagna for 4 days), cheap but with high quality ingredients, and your service will be attentive but not overbearing. I was impressed and felt like I was at home in an Italian family's restaurant. Love love love it.
(5)
Mary M.

what a charming restaurant! i went with my boyfriend and his parents at around 8:00 on a saturday night and it was packed! they do not take reservations (unless it is a party of 8 or more). we had a considerable wait (about an hour and a half) but we enjoyed the bar area so much, that the time flew by. i love the way the wine was served in little juice glasses. great touches all over the place at rose angelis. we ordered the pizza de giorno, which was a whole wheat crust topped with spinch pesto then topped with gorgonzola cheese, bell peppers, roasted garlic, grape tomatoes, carmelized onions and grilled zucchini. i found the pizza to be delicious, sweet tasting and the whole wheat crust had a nice crunch. when we were seated at our table we were greeted by a fabulous waiter who mentioned he had been working at rose angelis for 18 years! he was very knowledgeable and gave some great recommendations. i ordered the ravioli alla luigi -ricotta filled ravioli served in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce topped with toasted pine nuts and parmagiana. probably the best pasta dish i have had in a year. and the portions are HUGE. i brough home half of my plate and i was stuffed last night! overall, a great dining experience. i would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an intimate date spot with reasonable prices. i will definitely be back!
(4)
erin k.

Wowza. $49.95 for a huge meal for two on Wednesday and Thursday. And by meal for two, I mean meal for two days for a family of four. Seriously huge portion sizes, like six times the size of the human stomach. Like my leftovers weigh four pounds. Like I can barely walk I'm so full. Like I couldn't even finish dessert, but was thinking about it for the next two days. Maybe I could get one of those buttons that women wear with pictures of their kids...only mine would be of the dessert that did me in.
(5)
Kris A.

More like 4.5 stars (I'm afraid of giving a 5 for some reason). This place is great - quiet, intimate, adorable. I've always had friendly, accomodating, knowledgeable wait staff. And the food? Is great. From the bread to the salad to pasta or meats, everything satisfies. And, here's the kicker - it's not even that pricey.
(4)
Theresa M.

one thing that i truly miss about chicago (besides the cubs and wrigley field) is dining at Rose Angeli's. talk about melt in your mouth pasta. i'm sittin ghere in nashville craving this as i type: Tortellone anatra ubriaco - duck filled tortellini - my favorite. everything about this place is authentic and classic. and you have to love the fact that this is situated in a cute little section on wrightwood where you can enjoy a drink either at their bar or across the street as you wait for your table. And there will be a wait, i'm not gonna lie, but it is soooo....sooooooooo worth it. go. eat. now.
(5)
Jamie W.

Great food, great service....I don't think there's such a thing as a bad meal here.
(4)
Kathleen O.

one of my FAVORITES in Chicago. Huge portions and food is excellent. The lasagna is to die for and the pasta dish with gorgomzola and grapes is amazing. Great for groups or a date. Cute place!
(5)
Kristin M.

Rose Angelis was my first non-pizza Italian dining experience since moving here to Chicago in May. It was one of those places where my bf and I kept passing by, every time saying "We have to try this place." Well what better time of year to try a cozy little Italian restaurant than Valentine's Day, also coincidentally my bf's birthday. My only regret after trying Rose Angelis is that I didn't try it sooner! Absolutely outstanding! This may go down in my book at least, as the best Italian I've ever had! And just maybe one of the best restaurants I've ever been to! On the Saturday night we went we waited 2 hours, needless to say we were starving when we finally sat down, and not a single thing we ordered disappointed. I highly recommend the homemade manicotti and you cannot eat at this place with out ordering dessert, the Italian bread pudding... Simply put the bread pudding made my toes curl! :o) One more thing I just must rave about for this establishment is the cost. When the bill came at the end of dinner, which dinner was an appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 desserts, a cappuccino and a bottle of wine, it was under $100 for the two of us. Not to mention, we had more than enough leftovers for two meals! I've neglected to mention the service only because now I feel as though I'm rambling, but if you've taken the time to read this entire review, I will tell you that the service was outstanding and very knowledgeable.
(5)
Aaron R.

Located on Wrightwood off the beaten path a little bit, in that the area is mostly residential, is this fairly large place. Though I was told this place is crazy busy most weekend nights it seemed fairly empty when we entered but slowly filled up. A fairly limited menu of pastas, salads of the caeser and green sort opened up to tortellone, fruiti di mare, and lasagna, with some standard antipasti, and chicken piccata, and some other meaty dishes, but none of your normal Italian expectations like chicken parm or spaghetti with meatballs (this is not a bad thing, just a note to those people expecting things of the sort). My duck tortellone with mozzerella in a cognac reduction was amazing! Lordey was the reduction amazing, sweet and tasting of the liquor it was a bit watery, but still delicious. Howver the amount of cheese was un-nerving. they basically just payed the tortellone over the cheese so I had no idea the cheese was ther eunder the sauce until after I ate the pasta, which meant I had four pounds of cheese just hanging out in the bowl. Strange. Anyway it was very good, and they handled a group of 10-12 well. Check it out, it was tasty!
(4)
Rich K.

Great dining experience. Sergio our waiter made the meal a 5 star event. Food was good. They have great specials during the week.
(3)
Purnima M.

An unexpected gem in Lincoln Park! It's been a while since I had Italian food that managed to be comforting, creative, and satisfying all at once. We managed to grab a corner table on the lovely patio, which is covered by a canopy of trees. Our waiter was attentive, if a little too chatty, but his recommendations were excellent. He suggested a wine pairing that was perfect for our meal. The food was uniformly tasty, with large portions, and the specials of the day were especially good. A great place for a relaxed meal.
(4)
Eldiva S.

We were cautious about his place, due to the overwhelming mix of positive and negative reviews on this & other sites. Ultimately though- we went on Wednesday night- b/c it's witihin walking distance to us and we wanted to settle the debate four ourselves as to whether this place is good or not! Here is the truth - it just is NOT GOOD, period! I I have dined in awesome restaurants & not so great ones in Italy, abroad, in NY, here,etc. and this place falls into the not so great. The best way to describe this place is as "unrefined"... and if you have never had good italian food-this may be a step up- like from frozen food or some novice cook's 1st attempt at Italian... We had the fried ravioli and pumkin soup as starters- Ravioli-not really fried-more like room temperature & dusted in breadcrumbs- it was not aldente or toasty & crunchy like I expect something fried to be. Also the sauce was ok-but not saucy- it was blue cheese on top of pesto-so you could not "dunk" your ravioli in it. Tasted average...like the cheese ravioli you find in the fridge section at at a supermarket. Pumpkin soup was too much on the savory side for our taste. For entrees my friend had the seafood lasagna- STAY AWAY from that- A SOUPY MESS- really gross looking(technical I know...) All the seafood was drowing in bland alfredo sauce w/soggy noodles... And it was 1 of the biggest portions I have ever seen served to a single human being...WOW. Friend said it tasted ok-but he would not get it again and he wished he hadn't ordered it. Husband and I love gnocchi so we each ordered the gnocchi with apricots & prociutto - sounded really good & the waiter recommended it as 1 of his favorite dishes- it was not good : (... Such an unrefined dish with humongous chuncks of peppers, apricots, scallions. I love scallions but no dish should have this many - it made the sauce look green there was so much! The gnocchi itself didn't have much flavor to it though it had a good texture to it. The sauce was also bland - according to the waiter it was just mascarpone cheese-if they had bothered to season it, it could have been a real tasty sauce... At this point, we decided to skip dessert...they sounded great like everything else, but I wanted no more disapointments....Best thing we had all night was the bread and dipping suace- oil seems to be infused with lots of herbs, olives, garlic, etc. - so it was very tasty. The setting was warm and cozy. We will not be going back and I definitely CAN NOT recommend this to others...It's a shame too - b/c the menu is pretty unique and everything sounds good. Rose Angelis- with a new chef and dish executions- you might have a shot.
(1)
Neil R.

Quite possibly my favorite Italian restaurant in the city. I've never had a bad meal here and their specials keep the menu feeling new. My most recent visit was on a Thursday night and they had an AWESOME dinner for two special. One appetizer, two salads, two entrees, one dessert and a bottle of wine. I don't remember the exact price, but if you're there on a Thursday night be sure to ask about it!
(5)
Julie H.

Bring it! Your appetite, that is, to one of my favorite spots in town for Italian. The portions are huge, so loosen up that belt buckle (or plan on bringing some pasta home for your dog)! I always start my meal with a big salad: it changes everyday but its always a gorgeous display of fresh veggies, great for sharing. WAIT, rewind! First I house on that bread because its always warm, and the olive oil bottles on the table are stuffed with fresh herbs (like rosemary and chilis) so it makes for a very tasty dip! As for the pastas, I've never had one that I didn't like - I'm pretty sure they're all delicious. Occasionally I'll try the fish of the day, often tilapia, and always yummy. And if theres room left, go for some dessert: ice cream topped with chocolate, caramel, and fruit! YUM!
(5)
Derek S.

This is another goodie for sure! Went with a large group and we all ordered different entrees and did a taste test. EVERYTHING WAS GREAT! The Tiramisu was THE BEST!!!! This is another MUST Go moment!
(5)
Niki C.

I had been here before, but didn't feel like I should rate it until I tried it again. Last night we went for a quiet pre-NYE date night (our NYE is proving to be quite the spectacle & as a result, the bf made it up to me last night). We did not wait to be seated, which was great - we must've arrived at just the right time. However, we did wait for just about everything else. & wait. & wait. Which is the only reason I'm not giving this restaurant 5 stars (well, that & the tables in the back are awfully close, which made it difficult to have an intimate conversation). The bread was yummy & the herb olive oil was delicious, although I saw another table was given fresh parmesan to add to the oil. I would have liked that, but I was not offered the option. We didn't order appetizers because we couldn't agree on one item. I was fiending for the eggplant, but the bf wasn't willing to try something new, so I didn't force it. :) We decided to order the two dishes we both were interested in (that in itself is a feat ... getting the two of us to agree on not one but TWO count 'em TWO dishes!), which were the manicotti special (delicious) & the Ravioli con Luigi. Oh good Lord. The Ravioli con Luigi. The sauce was amazing. The toasted pine nuts really gave it an extra kick of flavor that was most welcome. Even the carnivore bf loved it. I'm hoping to eat the leftovers today to see how well they keep --- & you will have leftovers --- the portions are ginormous. Since we were celebrating, we decided that even though we didn't finish our pasta, we woudl order dessert. How glad am I that we did? The strawberries served in cold caramel sauce, drizzled with white & dark chocolate were HEAVENLY. I seriously could've licked the plate clean had I not had a miniscule of self-control. Comments were made about how fun the dessert would be if we took it "to-go," but not too loudly because we didn't want to make things uncomfortable for the family next to us (see: too close tables). Our wine (Chardonnay) was good, nothing to write home about, but then again, I'm no wine guru. Our waitress was pleasant & helpful, & I'm sure that had it not been so busy, we would have received faster service (& not taken 2.5 hours to eat bread, not even half our order of pasta, & a few strawberries). Overall, I am anxious to get back here to try their other pastas & the bf commented that he'd like to bring his folks when they are in town next month (which surprised the hell outta me as he is an Italian food snob). Well done.
(4)
Alissa S.

Like big portions of great Italian food? Rose Angelis is your place. This homey Italian restaurant serves up hearty Italian goodies like duck-filled tortellone, cheese and pine nut lasagna and rotini in a spicy putanesca sauce. There are inventive pairings, like gnocchi with walnuts and apricots in a mascarpone sauce, and very traditional ones, like ravioli in a tomato cream sauce. But no matter what you order, you can sure of two things -- the food will be good, and you will have leftovers that last for days. I walked out of there with 2 1/2 lbs. of lasagna and bread pudding. Seriously. That's a lot of food for not a lot of money. This is really great place to go with a group of friends or with your significant other. However, we were in the back room, and it was LOUD. Our party of six couldn't hear anyone who wasn't to their immediate right or left. So I'd be cautious about bringing someone here on a first date, or choosing this as the place to take your out-of-town friend who you haven't seen in ages -- it's not conducive to conversation. I suppose you could wait for a table to open up in one of the smaller rooms, but since you'll probably have already waited at least a half-hour to get the first available table (we waited 45 minutes on a Friday night at 7 pm), that might not be reasonable. The only other drawback is that our service was a bit slow. The place was packed and our server had a lot of tables, so we had considerable waits between ordering our drinks and our appetizers, and again after we finished our meal and were waiting for the check. The restaurant had cleared out by that point, so we were happy to sit and chat while we waited, but the lag could be a problem for anyone who is a stickler about prompt, attentive service. Because the food was so incredibly tasty and very reasonably priced, I'll definitely be back.
(4)
rachel c.

I'll keep this short and sweet. Huge portions, definitely share. No matter how hungry you think you are, you'll have enough food for 3 people. If you eat all of one entree, you're a sick bastard. Great pasta and seafood, awesome salads to share, great $17 Pinot Noir on the wine list. Get the bread pudding for dessert- it's freakishly good. An extra plus- if you have to wait for a table, you can go across to Maeve (the bar across the street) and get a drink. Rose Angelis will call Maeve when they're ready to sit you. I've been here about 5+ times and am continually pleased. Will definitely keep going!
(4)
Flo J.

Excellent food, I love the 'special salads' but have had rude servers a few too many times...
(4)
Andrew P.

One of my favorite restraunts in Chicago because 1) everything I've ever had here has been great 2) one of the few places that always has vegetarian specials 3) their specials aren't twice as much as everything on the menu 4) the atmosphere. like eating in the back of the owner's house 5) make their own pasta They don't take resrrvations, which is also great because, with a judicious seating time (come early or during the week) you can always find a table.
(5)
- chicagobiker -.

I've been here twice now, and both times the food was excellent. It's a great date spot, and the portions are huge, so you can easily share an entree if you want. The first time I visited was a Dining Out For Life night, where proceeds went to AIDS organizations. I'm impressed by any restaurant that participates in such events, but I was even more impressed Rose Angelis' food! The duck ravioli is superb. A year later, I went again and had the seafood lasagna. Incredible! It's an all-white lasagna, with scallops, shrimp and crab in a creamy sauce. The leftovers were even better the next day! The service was a bit lacking on my second visit, but the food more than made up for it. I love the atmosphere (tucked into an old house), and the wine selection is immense. Walking in on a weekday evening can easily produce a 40 minute wait, so keep that in mind.
(5)
Ali D.

Cute homey feel to the restaurant, and our service was so friendly and personable. However, after hearing raves from friends on how it is one of their favorite Italian restaurants, I did expect more from the food. I ordered the mafaldina verde al pollo e carciofe. The dish was definitely more like chicken with a little pasta and artichokes. The chunks of chicken were overwhelmingly large and you had to look hard to find the pasta in the dish. The pieces of chicken were also way too large, like 3 bites worth instead of bite size pieces, so it became much more involved to eat, like you needed your knife for every piece. Maybe that sounds silly, but I wanted pasta that I could grab a little chicken and artichoke with in every bite! Instead it was a bowl full of chicken. The portions are so large we all took doggy bags home and we didn't stay for dessert. Everyone else loved their dishes - so maybe I'll have to give it another try. On Thursdays they have a deal for 2 people for $50 that seemed pretty good, so maybe we'll come back on a Thursday and give it another chance. But then, there are so many other places to try....
(2)
Angelique I.

By far my favorite Italian restaurant. Wonderful charming atmosphere, like eating in someone's house. Top-notch service, have been here with the parents of my boyfriend and everyone was impressed. Giant portions at reasonable prices, I always have a meal left to take home. And just amazing combinations of food. I have so many favorites on the menu but lately I've been trying the specials each time and I've never been disappointed. I really don't understand the people who are complaining about this place, but it seems based on one dish that they weren't crazy about. I say, try another! I can't imagine any restaurant would have a menu filled with items you 100% loved, but to each is own.
(5)
Halyna S.

It's such a great place for dinner. I was really impressed with Rose Angelis. Good food and service from beginning to end.
(5)
J. V.

If you are a fan of italian food that is not soaked in 300 lbs of oil....this is not your place. If you are willing to overlook the food for an adorable quaint neighborhood place to eat that has a agreat patio, you are in for a treat.....but the food is sub par.....and the menu uninspiring. 2 stars is being generous on the food but for locale and atmoshphere 4-5.
(2)
Jenna D.

My boyfriend and I had been talking about trying this place for some time and when we finally made it there last night, we were no disappointed. When we first started walking towards the back of the restaurant, we were surprised both by the size of the place and the fact that, once at our table, we still felt cozy. Our service all night was really great from our super-sweet waitress to our attentive bussers, we were really impressed. We had the Caesar salad (split it was still huge), the Ravioli alla Luigi and the Duck Filled Tortellone. All the dishes had big, big flavor and richness but I did not feel overwhelmed or overstuffed (not that I came close to finishing my dish, but you know.) We finished up with the biggest piece of bread pudding I have ever seen which was, in my opinion, extremely delicious and drenched in the best (best) best caramel sauce I have ever tasted. Lucky for all of us they are happy to wrap leftovers.
(4)
Erin V.

I went to Rose Angelis for the first time a couple weeks ago, and I absolutely loved it. It's one of those places where you want to be a "regular"; where you want the staff to know you by name. My very own Cheers! Everyone is super friendly, the ambience is so warm and welcoming, and to top it all off, the food rocks. I love Italian and have been trying to find a little place to go. (I strongly dislike chain Italian restaurants. Taking me to Olive Garden must be punishment for something I did wrong.) It's in a very residential neighborhood, which makes it even better in my opinion. If you have to work to get there, and you still want to go back all the time, that's the sign of an awesome restaurant. Update: If you go in the summer, try to sit outside. I went with some friends from D.C., and we sat outside. You are literally sitting on a driveway - the garage was right behind us. It was so adorable. We stayed for 4 hours enjoying the company and the food. I can never get enough Rose Angelis!
(5)
Jessica C.

My boyfriend and I stopped at this resturant for their Wednesday night special; dinner for 2 for $49. What a great deal! We ordered the grilled calamari to start...so delicious! You get a shared appetizer, 2 cesear salads, 2 entrees, and a shared dessert. The portions are a little big, but I can't complain because I had leftover for a week! The service was great, the food was spectacular. I will definitley be back! It's a great date spot.
(4)
Linda G.

We were thinking 60's Italian and about to go over to Club Lucky but I thought maybe give this place another chance since all the other reviews are so good. It was good. I was served a 10 lb eggplant parmisian that I've been working on for the last 3 days and my friend had the chicken vesuvio that was nice and moist. So I'll grant a higher rating because the food was much better. I need to try a more exotic dish next time.
(3)
Amy S.

I concur with the majority of Yelpers- good food (I had the gnocchi, see Brett's post), cozy space (but much larger than it looks from the front) and reasonable prices. Great little neighborhood restaurant.
(4)
m. P.

We took our high school aged kids there after many years of missing it. Boy, it's not what it used to be...no waits on a Sat. night and pasta that was downright inedible!!! I think one star is generous.
(1)
Ryan M.

I have decided to finally start yelping consistently... And Rose Angelis had to be my first review. With over 200 reviews already, it might seem like overkill; but I will never be able to say enough good things about Rose Angelis. This restaurant has a great space, consistently friendly and knowledgeable staff, and a good wine list (not the BEST, but very good). Most importantly though, Rose Angelis has the best Italian food I've had outside of Italy. Every pasta dish is entirely worthwhile; I'm partial to the ravioli alla luigi. The specials are also always really delicious. I also can't stress enough how good the staff is here. Consistently attentive and helpful, good recommendations. I hesitate to give any restaurant 5 stars, but I've eaten at Rose Angelis many times and I've never had anything but very pleasant experiences. This is my favorite restaurant in the city, and at a reasonable price.
(5)
Kristin C.

I have been waiting to come her since Valentine's Day. Since February! My boyfriend and I tried to go here on V-day but there was a 2 hour wait. So he promised me we would go and last night was the night (about time, buddy). I REALLY like this place. The decor does it for me - it is very intimate and cute. Our server was fantastic. He gave us just enough room to enjoy our meal. Another thing about the service is that even though we had to wait about 20 minutes to be seated, they explained that there was room in the restaurant but not enough wait staff. I would SO much rather sit at the bar for a solid 20 than sit at my table waiting for my server all night. A dining experience is just that, an experience. I hate feeling anxious or stressed out. We split the special salad for a starter and it was really good and different. I had the spinach pasta with artichokes and chicken and my boyfriend had the steak (another special). The portions were HUGE so we definitely took a lot home. For dessert, we split the Italian Bread Pudding. Holy SHIZZ. It was phenomenal! I will be back here. It is a great date spot and a good idea for a not TOO pricey special occasion. We also saw both Mark Prior and Ryne Sandberg. Woot! If the Cubbies like it, it's gots to be good!
(5)
Rose F.

What a great little Italian Restaurant! Visited for my first time in 11 yrs of living in this city. Don't know what took me so long, I've been hearing about it for years. Well worth the wait, for certain. A few friends and I went there for dinner last night. We had really great service wish I could remember our server's name. She took such great care of us out in the patio. It was the perfect day/evening weather for sitting in the patio enjoying some nice wine, great food and conversation. Shared the Manicotti del Giorno special along with the Mezzalune al Burro. Thank you! Highly recommend.
(4)
Nick P.

This is a romantic quaint little place off the beaten path. My wife and I had our first dinner-out here. We love it. On another note sometimes the service is slow as if they're understaffed. The Zuppa De Pesce is really awesome (a bit too spicy) but still awesome. It is HUGE and full of yummy seafood items. Overall a nice place to go and good eats.
(4)
Katie R.

I think the food and service here are solid. The atmosphere on the front patio is amazing and the back patio is pretty nice. I haven't had a chance to sit inside yet. Simple review: good, solid italian food. Lovely patio.
(4)
Laura B.

Its raining and I walk 3 blocks through puddles to get to Rose Angelis... We walk in to a charming restaurant, and three smiling faces - which was a warm welcome from the outside (yes we were the crazy ones for walking) It was early, about 5:30 and we got seated in the very back of the restaurant, and it just so happened to be 1/2 price wine bottle night - hooray! 2 bottles it is :) ha Bread was dropped, and water filled by the S.A., but we didn't get a server for about 10 minutes, which we're easy going and it was fine, and just as we started to wonder if we could get one of those 1/2 priced bottles our server came to save the day. He apologized profusely for not getting to us sooner (he has stopped to light some candles) and there was just a communication about who had us - but with his charming accent you had no choice but to forgive him! Plus, we weren't in a rush and were having fun eating bread and looking at the menu...Its such a cozy place, you can't help but relax and enjoy the time here. We also just happened to come in on one of the 4 nights the entire year that they have the special "Pear Ravioli" I'm sure there is an italian name for it, but either way - they only serve it 4 times a year, and apparently there is an email list of 500+ people who all get an email on the special day that the chef decides to make this dish! So of course, I had to get it - and it was amazing. If you go and they have that dish you must get it. And our waiter said if I didn't like the dish, let him know and he would get me whatever else I wanted! My date got the gnocchi - little pillows of delicious amazingness - perfectly made. Our server, Sergio, was the highlight of the night, so friendly and fun, and made the night better than we could have imagined. p.s. you get to drink wine out of the little juice glasses like they do in parts of Italy - which is my favorite way to drink wine! I love you RA, and I will return!
(4)
Lois A.

I've never had a bad meal here. The desserts are amazing so make sure to save room. My favorite thing from here is the Portobello mushroom, spinach and chicken dish. The red wine cream is to die for. Sooooo good and I always have a ton of food left over. The servers here are always really nice and I always have a really nice time here.
(4)
Jasbir S.

I've been avoiding Yelp for a while for fear of getting addicted and given the hours I work, that's not a good thing. That being said, this was the first place that I went to based on reading Yelp reviews and it was excellent. This is a great date restaurant. Be forewarned that the servings are very large and this is coming from someone who can eat a lot of food. The only negative thing here was the fact the wine is in pretty cheap looking glasses. Sorry, I'm not a snob, but I don't want to drink wine on a date with glasses that look like they were previously incarnated as tea glasses at a bus stand in my homeland.
(4)
J J.

Love love love. I felt like I was on the streets of Italy with the brick walls, plants. And the food was good too! I haven't been there in awhile, got to get back
(5)
Johanna C.

Rose Angelis is a great Italian restaurant. The service is so-so depending on when you go. You can't make reservations - it's first come, first served. If you are seated indoors, you walk through different rooms. You get the feeling that it's a home. The staff is friendly when they're serving you for sure but it seems like if they're too busy they're not really good about checking in on you. They always have excellent specials to offer. The menu has a lot of standard dishes with a twist. I can't remember what the exact name of the dish is but the pasta dish with gorgonzola & grapes is delicious. The portions are huge - come hungry or be ready to bring food home. They have a dessert on special with marscapone cheese, fruits and cookies which is fantastic and a must try. The mousse is very good too, served as "ice cream scoops" surrounded by a berry concoction. Parking sucks around here so you'll have to park on Ashland. If you come around 5pm you may be able to find street parking but keep in mind there is a lot of permit parking in the area so you may get ticketed.
(4)
Moe f.

Probably one of my favorite Italian places ever. It's not just that everything I have ever had here is delicious, it also has great service, it's a great bargain, and just a cute little place. I've tried at least 2/3 of the menu. I love to start with the proscuitto wrapped asparagus and the special salad that can feed 4. The gorgonzola tortolleni with walnt pesto is so decadent. And the nightly fish specials are always amazing. When I have room for dessert, I love the bread pudding or chocolate covered strawberries. Oh and the lasagna is great too. Be prepared for delicious leftovers or share an entree.
(5)
Y G.

My friend who loves food took me to Rose Angelis for dinner raving about the great Italian food they have there. I like the atmosphere for the restaurant a lot, we ended up sitting outside on the patio, it was cute. I also like to mention how hard it is to find this place, you could easily drive by it without knowing it was there. I had a pumpkin soup, which was really bland and not tasty at all. My pasta was also really bland and not flavorful. I'm not sure if I'll be returning because I didn't have a good first experience, but maybe I'll go back and give it a second chance.
(2)
Matt G.

This is my new favorite Italian restaurant. The portions are generous, the entrees are delicious, the price is right and the wine selection is excellent. With a good variety of meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes to choose from, there's something for everyone.
(5)
Margo M.

I feel bad giving this place only 2 stars since I've heard so many good things about it. I've only been here once, but sadly, I do not plan to go back unless dragged by friends. My food was....not good. I had the Portobello ripiene con pollo - it sounded so promising! But alas, no. The friends I went with all ordered pasta dishes, and they were all happy with their food. Maybe I should have stuck with the pasta.... oh, and I should mention that at some point our waitress dissappeared, so it took us quite awhile to get our bill. Two good things about this place - the ambiance is very nice and the desserts we tried (tiramisu and chocolate chip cheesecake) were delicious.
(2)
Matthew B.

I went on a summer Monday late evening for some of the best Italian that I've had in the city. While the storefront is unassuming, the restaurant is quite large, extending back through several rooms and also serving on two patios adjacent to the building. The back patio where we dined was sublime, and the setting just perfect. Our waiter was attentive and personable without seeming overly pushy. And the food: The eggplant appetizer is amazing, and much better than the bruschetta. Salmon raviolini in a pesto and olive sauce were excellent, and for dessert a wonderful pistachio ice cream with fruit, chocolate, and caramel. It's a homemade pasta place, so get the pasta, not the meat or fish! Would I take a date here? Yes. Family? Yes. Friends in town? Yes. Any possible excuse to go again? YES.
(5)
Jenny M.

There's nothing I like better than an inexpensive, unassuming Italian meal. My husband & I took my parents & my sister & her fiance here for dinner. The total bill for us was $150 without tip & we ordered wine, appetizers, entrees, desserts, & cappuccinos! On top of that, the portions are huge & it's relatively easy to find parking. You have to get the fried ravioli or split a salad for an appetizer. Their linguini frutti de mare is so satisfying & is big enough for two meals. If you get here early on the weekends, there's usually no wait for a table. The alfresco option in the summer is also really nice.
(5)
bill t.

Best Italian food in Chicago. The wait sucks and the service is only OK. But we're all there for the food.
(4)
Melissa K.

I was sadly disappointed with this place. One of my girlfriends raved about it over and over again so I decided to take my boyfriend there for our anniversary. Big mistake. I had heard you would have to wait, and luckily that didn't happen. That was one of the two nice things I have to say. We didn't wait and our appetizer (eggplant Parmesan) was excellent. Everything else left much to be desired. We asked our waitress to recommend a nice red wine. Well it was awful. Don't get me wrong, I'm no wine snob, but even after a glass when wine starts going down a bit easier it didn't happen. I had a look of death each time I would sip my wine. My boyfriends face wasn't much better. The actual meal itself was also mediocre at best. I could barely eat what I had ordered. We were debating dessert but we waited 35 minutes after we'd finished our meal to have someone take our plates away and for our waitress to return. By this point we just wanted to leave. While the house Rose Angelis sits in is very cute and quaint, I don't think I will be returning. There are far better places in this city.
(1)
Lisa S.

We have been on a search for good pasta for a few weeks now... The reviews of Rose Angelis have been consistent which prompted us to make a visit. The portions are huge, from appetizer to entree to dessert you'll not leave hungry. Yet, the big walk away is the value for your meal. 1-round of drinks, appetizer, entrees for us both, and a desert only set us back $65.00 which we thought was a steal for the quality and quantity of the meal. While this isn't the best italian we've ever had, the menu is filled with variety of dishes either of us would be happy with on any evening. This is a neighborhood gem that is a great alternative to heading downtown.
(4)
rachel g.

Quaint, romantic, delicious. Went with my husband, before we were married, with 2 other couples. Had a few drinks at the bar across the street while we waited for a table. Rose Angelis called the bar where we were waiting (I think it was Merlot?) when our table was ready, how much better customer service can you ask for people? We drank great wine and ate lots of flavorful foods with warm ambiance and fun company. It was a royal time had by all. As I recall, I was a little tipsy from the bar and then the wine, the service matched the food, and was above par as well. This place has a unique feel that can not be replicated or faked, it feels inviting for real - check it out, great place for a date.
(4)
Sarah A.

This place was recommended to me by a friend and i must say it was delicious! The service was great and we got a great Thursday special. Quiet, romantic atmosphere, good wine choices.
(4)
Jillian D.

whenever my mom comes to town, i don't need to ask where we're going for dinner because it's a given. oh rose angelis, you are such a delight!! nothing i've ordered has ever disappointed. and i've never been able to finish anything i've ordered either! what is not to love? its like dining in your grandmother's home...if your grandmother owned a country cottage in tuscany. the wine is served in juice glasses. the food is fresh, fragrant and filling. the portions plentiful. and you always leave warm and happy :) must tries: - calabrese panini (lunch only) - tortellone con salsa di noce (tortellini with grapes and walnuts) - tortellone anatra ubriaco (duck filled tortellini) - gnocchi con prosciutto e albiococca secca (homemade gnocchi with apricots and prosciutto) - bread pudding (share it. you wont regret it!!!!)
(5)
Ang R.

Some of the dishes are great, some are just blah. The unusual balsamic vinegarette is very nice, as is the panzarotti appetizer. As a special, I've had chicken vesuvio ravioli, which is spectacular. But the mafaldina is only so-so, and some of the specials border on ridiculous with the number of ingredients. Roseangelis does have a fantastic outdoor seating area, though, which makes sitting through some of the poorer dishes worth it.
(3)
Erin c.

So it was a blizzard, and also our anniversary. We wanted to go someplace romantic, yet not too pricey, really close by. we found it. It was a little noisy and not very private, but the food was worth it. We had a wonderful anniversary and we will definitely go back! Maybe tonight now that I'm thinking of it :-)
(4)
Dan N.

Took my girlfriend here for her birthday last night and it was AMAZING! Really cool, authentic italian place--good, romantic ambience if that's what you are looking for. Although I'm not generally a fan of Italian food, I really enjoyed the food here. The waiter recommended the duck filled tortellini (as his favorite dish on the menu) which I ordered. While I enjoyed the dish (especially the tortellini and the huge chunks of fresh mozzerala), I didn't think the sauce was that great. My girlfriend ordered some ricotta filled spinach pasta dish--I forget what it was called but it was fantastic! Portions here are HUGE so there is really no need to order any apps, plus the infused olive oil they give you with the break is delicious. So yea, if you want a romantic night out (and really not that expensive--depending on wine consumption) give Rose Angelis a try--you will not be disappointed.
(4)
Joshua M.

This place is a solid good eat. I want to go back and explore more of the menu... but over all a very good experience.
(4)
s y.

This place is awesome. The food is delicious and unique, its huge but very romantic, our waitress was excellent, and the portions were so big we ate them for three days. Very cozy and yum! I'll be back.
(5)
Jenna H.

While I am biased against most Italian restaurants thanks to my family's great homemade cooking, buuuut I was craving Italian this Saturday & read the great reviews for the local joint. Unfortunately, I have a couple gripes after my first dinner here that I believe are legitimate: 1. The bread was cold. & not the nice crusty-on-the-outside, soft-and-fluffy-on-the-inside type. But rather thin-chewy crust with (chilled) chewy insides. 2. The salad was drrrrrrrenched in dressing, & a creamy balsamic (which I don't mind) but it lacked the punchy balsamic flavor & was really bland. 3. The tortellone in my "tortellone con salsa di noce" was not al dente, but hard, typical of frozen pasta. It was also much too heavy to enjoy beyond three (literally) bites. The gorgonzola cheese filling, whole walnuts, & cream sauce (while it sounded delicious!) was just an overload, & for the stomach, not the senses. Much too heavy. On the plus side, the staff was very warm & friendly, and the atmosphere was nice for a casual date, dinner with friends... but loud. It was nearly impossible to hear the server despite the close quarters. This was a pretty big miss. Not sure I'd give it another try.
(2)
de s.

good food, large portions, great atmosphere and prices are absolutely fine
(4)
Diana N.

Service is good. This restaurant is huge. If you go for dinner later in the evening (like NY'ers do :) then you won't worry about having to wait long for a table (they don't take reservations on weekends). The portions are HUGE. I saw most of the people around us wrap their food to take home. I got the duck tortellini dish and was not pleased because the sauce was too sweet and the duck filling in the tortellini was extremely dry. Am also convinced that the food made me sick later that evening.
(3)
Nate S.

Eating here is like eating at Cold Stone Creamery. The flavors in their pasta dishes are very rich, very sensual, and very innovative ... Some of them, like the gorgonzola filled tortellone, even cross over the savory line and could be considered dessert pastas. I like restaurants that take risks and have big, bold flavors, particuarly in the Italian category, which so often disappoints. Still, eat there too much, and I'm guessing that it could become a bit much, and although the menu is very vegetarian friendly, most of the options must be pretty high in fat and calories. A good place to treat yourself once or twice this fall as the weather starts to cool down.
(4)
Stephanie H.

I have been wanting to try this place for a while. I was satisfied with my dining experience. The only downfall was the slow service, we sat for quite a while before he came back to take our wine order, and then waited a while for him to bring our wine. The food was Great! They were running a special for 2: 1 appetizer, 2 Caesar salads, 2 entrees, 1 dessert $40. What a deal!! (The waiter said this was on Wed only for the month of March...) The calamari was really good (large portion), Caesar and caprese salads good, the New York w/ Gorgonzola and sauteed onions was great and the Chicken w/ spinach and mushroom also great. The dessert!!! yum. Chocolate Mousse and the Chocolate Chunk Cheesecake. I loved the atmosphere, we were in the back room, the lighting was dim...it was kind of romantic, great date place. I look forward to planning my next visit. Cheers!
(4)
Laurel B.

I came here last night with my boyfriend for NYE, and we were extremely happy when we left! The bread pudding is AMAZING!!! The deal was good, $130 for two people: a bottle of wine, appetizer, cesar salad, main course, dessert, and a champagne toast at midnight. Our server was wonderful. She helped us pick out a bottle of wine and was very intent on making sure we were happy with our choice. She seemed to be pretty busy, but we got just as much attention as if we were her only table. Just before midnight, the bussers brought around party favors and hats for everyone. The atmosphere, the service, and the food were all wonderful. Plus, the portions were gigantic, so we were able to finish our main courses this afternoon for lunch. Bonus!
(5)
christine a.

Hands down, best authentic southern italian comfort food restaurant in Chicago! Service is great, pasta is homemade including some of the best manicotti and lasagna I have ever tasted.
(5)
Mindy M.

Wonderful food, great staff and so much bigger than it looks. The entire first floor has seating, including 2 outdoor areas that are perfectly lit for dinner. Great date place or for a friendly gathering. They have a meal 2 for $50 on Wednesday and Thursday that's amazing. Homemade pasta, bread, and the olive oil for the bread is very flavorful. I live in the neighborhood and will definitely go back to this place frequently.
(5)
Alex M.

I went to Rose Angelis with a friend on a recommendation from my father. It was the best recommendation he ever gave me. My friend and I sat outside, it was a nice night, a little cool, but still gorgeous. We ordered a bottle of Pinot Grigio, skipped the appetizers, and went right to the main course - my friend ordered the tri-colored spinach pasta, and I ordered the duck-filled tortellini. Holy hell. My dish was utterly amazing, and sizeable too. The duck-filled tortellini comes with spinach, fresh mozzarella, and diced tomatoes, all within this incredible, sweet wine sauce. My friend's dish was equally tasty, and her pasta was filled with riccotta cheese. For dessert, we ordered the Italian bread pudding with caramel sauce. Oh my lord. I'm not a big dessert person, but this was delicious. There was a scoop of white chocolate ice cream right in the middle of the pudding, perfectly balancing out the warmth of the caramel sauce. I also ordered a limoncello, which I've never tried before, which was phenomenal. It is a homemade limoncello which takes months of preparation (as our knowledgeable waiter informed us) and is an absolute treat for the customer. It was probably one of the smoothest things I've ever tasted. This was the most perfect dinner I've ever had. I live in Boston, but I will definitely be coming back to Rose Angelis at some point, no matter what it takes.
(5)
beth m.

Delicious with a capital D. this is another place i make sure to visit when i head back home. its inexpensive and sooooo good. nice sized portions and they always have great specials. the ravioli ala luigi is my favorite as well as the mezzaluna al burro. however, if they have the pear ravioli as a special... get that!!!!!! the bread and oil is so simple yet SO good. the bread pudding is amazing!!!! and the strawberries with caramel drizzle is outstanding.
(5)
David M.

When people ask me where to take a girl on a date on the North Side, I always recommend Rose Angelis. This place is the ultimate date place. Great food/ service/ drinks/ atmosphere. I've been going to Rose Angelis for about 6 years now and have tried something different every time and have never been disappointed. My favorite is the duck tortellini and the tirramisou for desert. The possibilities for dinner on the North Side are endless but based off of ambiance alone, you should give Rose Angelis a look for the simple fact that it's set in a Chicago apartment building with the kitchen on the 2nd floor! Try this place out, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Lee W.

I think something might be wrong with me. Everyone I know is OBSESSED with Rose Angelis, but I don't think it's really anything that great. The trouble is, it's my bf's FAVORITE restaurant (he swears by the duck tortellini) and therefore I have to play nice and come here every once in awhile. Fortunately, they have a great riesling that I love and the special salad (always chock full of fresh veggies) is good and always makes me feel like I'm actually eating healthy for once. However I can't find an entree I like (and believe me, I've tried almost all of 'em.) The eggplant parm has turned into my go-to dish because it's pretty good -- and might even taste better re-heated the next day. It's a HUGE piece -- I'm a big eater and I easily have lunch for two the next day. Insider tip: Whenever I've been here during prime hours I've always had to wait at least an hour and a half. Now, I just go later on -- practically when I would have gotten seated had I come around 8 -- and get right in.
(3)
Doug R.

This place is great! I love the decor and the family run atmosphere. I have been here 3 times lately and the servers have been very knowledgeable. They also kid friendly, which can be tough to find in a place where the food is this good.
(4)
Ravi B.

If you favor quantity, then look no further than Rose Angelis. The portions are enormous--and reasonably priced to boot. But if you're in the quality camp, then you'd be better served going elsewhere. After reading all the reviews I was expecting to find a gem. Instead I only found a polished lump of coal--or maybe 4 lumps--the portions, as I said, were enormous. This place is the Wizard of Oz of Italian Restaurants--look on the surface and you'll be awed--but dig a little deeper, and you'll find nothing but a hoax in the form of a large bowl of twisty tie pasta with chunks of grilled chicken & non-descript sauce. oh well, at least the wine was good.
(2)
Ren H.

This is a great place to take a date! It looks tiny from the outside but it's actually 4 rooms deep! The atmosphere is very romantic, with dimmed lighting and paintings on the walls. The waitstaff is extremely friendly and attentive, constantly checking in and making sure that you are comfortable and have everything you need. The food is awesome! I had a dish that was chicken, portabello mushrooms, and cheese in a red wine cream sauce, it was amazing! They have a great selection of wines as well. This is one of my new favorite restaurants!
(5)
Robyn S.

Think Gourmet Food at "Real-People" prices. The dishes are flavorful, unique, not to mention beautiful. This place is truly for those who love the whole dining experience. It may be a little pricey, but ultimately you get a lot for your dollar. I have tried a new dish/salad/desert on every visit and have loved them all. The wine bar is great and if you happen to get to chat with the owners/staff, they are absolute gems. This is one of my most favorite restaurants out of all the places I've been.
(5)
jalissa h.

I'll keep this short, because I don't want to overwhelm an already overwhelmed review list. But, basically, if you want warm, generous, amazing Italian food with a lot of options...even for a veggie, like me... you found it! The dishes are huge, which is only bad in that I can never finish and many of their creamier sauces don't reheat well. Their raviolis are always imaginitive and WONDERFUL. The lasagna, which I ordered the third visit there, looks heavy as sin, but somehow they manage to almost whip the cheese into light lovely bliss. Their salads are always fresh, well presented, and a nice tower of produce and texture. And the strawberries...or bread pudding... or BOTH are the perfect ending...if you have room!
(5)
Carrie K.

My favorite restaurant ever! Great atmosphere and great food. Great wait staff - friendly and fast. This place is great for dinner with friends or to visit before getting engaged (like I did)!
(5)
Steve C.

I came across this place a couple years ago when i happened to move around the corner. Now im in there at least once a week. Never had anything on the menu i wasn't happy with. Fav's include the pumpkin soup when they have it on special, and almost any pasta dish... dont miss the bread pudding either. Ive never seen a place more filled with yuppie couples in my life; a notorious first date/ engagement/ anniversary place. I may be biased here, but the staff is always friendly...and lets not forget about the cute redhead behind the bar.
(5)
Benjamin B.

Yes, the wait can be long, but you are effectively waiting for two meals as the portions are ginormous. Get a salad to share and then go to town on the excellent entrees.
(4)
Jason c.

My girlfriend and I came here for our 1 year anniversary and the food was excellent. Its surpising how big the place really is once you get in. I had the Portabella and Chicken special and it was amazing. The portions are huge and I saw almost everyone walk out with tomorrow's lunch. They could use a bigger beer selection for us non-winos. My girfriend's wine was delicious though. I would only give about 4 stars for the service because we did have to wait for about 70 minutes (on primetime Saturday evening). But they have a decent bar area for waiting and the service was friendly. They should consider allowing reservations though.
(5)
Marissa D.

i'm not sure what all the hype is about. i was very excited to dine here after reading the great reviews, and also due to the fact that if george would let me, i would eat at italian restaurants every night of the week...so adding a new one to my list is always a good thing. however, none of the food here was memorable. service was so-so...atmosphere was also so-so. however i did appreciate their 1/2 price bottle of wine special...especially since my parents decided to order a bottle of brunello. can't go wrong with brunello. besides that, nothing stuck out as "wow, that is really good!" or "i really like the feel of this place." in fact, i was so unenthused that i didn't even order dessert...which rarely happens. there are so many great italian restaurants in chicago that my italian family enjoys - piccolo sogno, piazza bella, tarantino's, merlo on maple. unfortunately rose angelis is not one of them...so i probably won't be back.
(2)
Rachelle G.

Rose Angelis has been on my list of restaurants to visit for quite some time and I had the opportunity to visit this past weekend. Maybe I set my expectations too high after reading most of the rave reviews from Yelp and other sources bc I was disappointed w/ our meal. We ordered the linguini w/ seafood and marinara and chicken marsala. The linguini was ok but lacking, no wow factor. I will give credit to the fact that the dish was truly loaded with humongous pieces of shrimp, squid, mussels, etc. The chicken marsala was definitely not what I had expected, the sauce was watery and in addition to the standard mushrooms you expect w/ marsala, it also came with vegetables you would expect with a primavera. Caprese salad was good, but can you really mess up a caprese? I was also surprised to find out that they had no calamari appetizer, as this is standard fare in most Italian restaurants. Service was great, we felt welcomed from the moment we stepped in to the moment we left. Definitely have to agree with others who mentioned that the restaurant is humongous, especially since the front room can be a bit deceiving. An ok restaurant but definitely not one I will go out of my way to dine at as there are better Italian restaurants in the city.
(2)
Elizabeth M.

The setting of this restaurant is exquisite. I loved the ambience and the waiters were very knowledgable and helpful. I had the smoked salkmon manicotti special. My friend and I shared the aggplant appitizer for a start and it was DELICIOUS. The only reasons I did not give this four stars was the the Tirimisu (someone else said it was the best they ever had) was dissappointing...too thick instead of light ant airy. Also, the wine is served in little tumblers, like child juice glasses. I am sure htis is to be different but I like my wine in a wine glass thank you very much. Other thatn that a WONDERFUL experience.
(4)
Kristine W.

Probably the best Italian joint in town. Reasonable too. You cannot loose with the duck tortelone. I brought my future in-laws from the East Coast and they were wowed with everything. Such a nice atmosphere and a great wait staff.
(5)
Rapture C.

I'll keep this short and sweet. Fantastic main dishes, great service, a wonderful atmosphere to take your honey, and vegetarian friendly if you swing that way. My only complaint is that they need to offer half bottles of wine in something that isn't a desert wine. We're not all alchy's, people. Wonderful place...makes my heart warm just thinking about it.
(5)
Dylan G.

Wow, it's either hit or miss on Yelp for Rose Angelis, isn't it? While I just returned with my girlfriend to Chicago for a weekend visit, Rose Angelis was always my favorite Italian restaurant in the city (this would have been well before Jennifer Aniston apparently ruined it for at least one Yelper out there). At least in my experience, the ambiance has always been cozy and wonderful, with all of these great little separate rooms in the converted house to eat in. I've been there a handful of times and have never sat in the same room twice. Since it had been years since my last visit, I was worried that this time would be a let down, especially after reading some of the scathing reviews here. I mean, come on people, giving a restaurant ONE star when you admit the food was great just because you were asked to wrap things up? The staff must have been fuming at you. Well anyway, a few nights ago I finally got to return with my girlfriend and a couple of other friends. Our cab was running late, so my friend and his wife were seated without us (which rarely happens at restaurants anymore... you usually get a whole lot of drama for something like that). Upon our arrival, we ordered a few half bottles of a delicious Italian champagne and a carefully constructed tower of an appetizer salad for the whole table. I've always loved the salads on RA's specials menu because they are full of colorful, tasty vegetables (this particular salad even sold me on beets, for god's sake!). The decision on my entree had been made months, even years before, though there were a few specials that almost swerved me. Regardless, I went with my old favorite, tortellini con salsa di noce (gorgonzola filled tortellini tossed with grapes in a walnut pesto cream sauce). Fantastic, even though it had more grapes than any human needs in one sitting. The best thing about Rose Angelis is that the portion sizes allow you to share everything with your table. So, when the food arrived, we all plated up mini-dishes for everyone to share. My girlfriend had the chicken Marsala, which had to have been three pounds of chicken, perfect for sharing and combining with everyone else's pasta. My friend and his wife had, respectively, the gnocchi with prosciutto in a marscapone sauce, and the ravioli alla Luigi. While the ravioli was standard but still delicious, the gnocchi has knocked my tortellini out of the top spot of Must Have dishes when I return next time. I was proud of my friends for being determined to save room for dessert, because I was dead set on having the bread pudding. A massive slab of chocolaty goodness soaking in a pool of warm caramel sauce... I have dreams of this dessert. My friend's pecan pie was good, if insanely rich. The coffee wasn't anything to write home about, but serviceable (it tasted a little burnt). So, a massive appetizer salad, two half bottles of wine, a few other drinks, four entrees big enough to take home a couple of leftover meals, 3 coffees and an espresso, and two HUGE desserts for $150 pre-tip? Worth every penny. I came close to deducting one star because you still can't make a reservation here. Coming in from out-of-town, I like having a little peace of mind knowing that I don't have to worry that we might get shut out of some of my favorite places. I guess I'd just tell the curious to go on a Sunday night, as it seems to be their least busy time.
(5)
Amanda A.

This restaurant is one of my absolute favorites! Whenever I have guests in town, this is where I recommend. Everyone can find michigan avenue, but this quaint find offers amazing authentic italian food, impecible service, and large portions for one forth of the cost of any big name chain italian restaurant. I always leave full and never disappointed
(5)
Susan L.

Rose Angelis is a beautiful, neighborhood sit-down Italian restaurant. Great if you live nearby, but I don't think it's worth a special trip.
(4)
Chris K.

Great authentic italian. BIG food. Go hungry.
(4)
Katie C.

Great Italian food without all the fuss. Very quick wait at the bar on a Friday night. Good wine, and the bartender poured a mean Makers and Coke. When our table was ready we walked all the way back into the back room and I couldn't believe how big the place is. We had to wait a bit for our waiter (that's why I took off a star....we had to ask the water guy to get our waiter for another round of drinks). I got the nightly special (manicotti with Chicken) and my boyfriend got the duck. I was a little disappointed that they don't serve steak or lasagna on Fridays or Saturdays. I guess it just takes too much time to cook??? Over all it's a little gem. We filled up with bread, soup, salad, and couldn't finish even half of our meal. Great left-overs! We will have to go back to try the bread pudding that everyone is raving about!
(4)
Derek G.

Great spot for date night. I've been here three times and the food never disappoints. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable, and the ambiance is cozy and inviting. If possible, try to get outside seating.
(5)
Eric B.

Rose Angelis is one of my favorite Italian restaurants on the North Side. I'm a creature of habit here - duck tortellini, every time, all the time. And why not? It is delicious and, to my knowledge, sui generis in Chicago. So every time I am here, I order duck tortellini and I am happy. If you order it, you will be too. The minestrone here is good, but is really more of a vegetable soup - there is no pasta - so consider yourself warned. Skip the appetizers and save room for dessert. The caramel drenched strawberries are out of this world, as is the trio of chocolate mousse. You should definitely order both. The cocktails are fine - well made but not spectacular - but the wine list is a hidden treasure. you'll find an amazing Barolo or Amarone at too good to be true prices. They also have a small but quality selection of Amaros, if you need one for the road. I try to go here one or two times every summer, because their outdoor seating is extensive - two patios - but intimate and gorgeous. The food is just as delicious in the colder months, but it can get very loud inside when it is crowded. Al fresco dining makes for a lovely romantic evening. Arrive with your squeeze and live la dolce vita.
(4)
Shannon K.

Service is great, but food is sub-par. There are definitely better options for Italian in the neighborhood. The only redeeming quality is the large portions- you'll have enough food for the next three days.
(3)
Mel R.

The Italian bread pudding is heavenly and portions are enormous.
(5)
Michelle W.

Everything about this restaurant is heavenly. We ordered the "couples"/two-person deal: shared app, two entrees, shared dessert. Went with four people, so we got to try a lot of different things! For apps, the steak bruschetta was really tasty -- meat was well cooked, perfect portion to share. We also ordered the calamari -- so fresh and light, and an unbelievably large portion. We couldn't even finish it with four people. I had the gnocchi with apricot and prosciutto in a cream sauce. It was warm, comforting, soft, gooey delicious. Again, portions were huge and I took over half the entree home. My sister tried the duck tortellini with spinach and tomatoes -- delicious! The tomatoes brighten up the duck, and you can tell the pasta is fresh. For desert, we had the pear lasagna. The slices of pear help the lasagna keep its shape, and it came with an amazing, deep caramel sauce. The portion was huge and we couldn't even finish it. The atmosphere is lively and welcoming. Great place for groups or dates!
(4)
lisa k.

This place never dissappoints. I took my family there last night for dinner. They couldn't believe the portion sizes. My only complaint was the salad that is served with all the yummy fresh vegetables cannot come without the dressing. I know it holds it together, however none of us cared for it. I also hated to do this, but they brought a wine out at first that was not complimentary to my palate and they suggested another wine and replaced. So very nice of them. All in all, you can't go wrong and the atmosphere, food and ambiance are superb!
(4)
Padma A.

Party of 9 celebrated a friends b'day, not impressed with the food or desserts. The ambiance is sort of old world homey feel with dimly lit rooms in a house. We ordered the bruschetta, salad and mussels(exceptionally tasty) for appetizers with our wine. Main course, we all shared the entrees.My husband and i got the chicken marsala which needed some salt and seasoning, our friends ordered the eggplant Parmesan and manacotti which were ok. Huge disappointment was the desserts, we ordered everything on the menu and only the bread pudding was edible, everything else was below standard. Certainly not going back because we a have way better Italian in Little Italy.
(3)
Christopher M.

Fantastic Wednesday and Thursday night specials! Their dinner for two special is shared appetizer, two Caesar salads, two entrees, and shared dessert - all for $59, which is a steal. The food is excellent, though on the rich side, and they have an impressive and well priced wine list. The reason I knocked off one star was the spotty service. They are packed on these nights because the special is so good, but they didn't have enough wait staff to keep up. Hopefully they hire more people to keep up with demand. 321/365
(4)
Toni L.

Finally stopped in, and wish we would have sooner... Their portions are big! Lucked out tonight as they had salmon as the fish of the day, it was huge and amazing! Served with veggies. Hubs had the gnocchi, tasty and we took most of it home since we tried to finish the fish since it's too hard to reheat once you get it home. Desert was really good too... Their take on carrot cake/tiramisu. Huge portion again... Looking forward to visiting again in the summer on their patio.
(4)
Ben B.

Cute little restaurant. Good food. Giant portions. Rose Angelis is in the middle of nowhere. It exists in an old house in a sleepy neighborhood. As you walk through several rooms, each is darker than the last. We dined in the room all the way at the back, and it was nicely dim and romantic. The tables are a little weird. They seemed rough and sticky. Was there wax on it? Some other substance? I wasn't a fan of whatever decoration left them strangely gunky. There's a casual vibe here. Most of the employees are in black T-shirts. The decorations aren't really fancy. They look like your aunt's attempt to recreate her visit to Rome. I wasn't a fan of the fact that the wine came in regular glasses. I know it's not necessary to drink wine out of a long-stemmed glass, but it helps elevate the meal, psychologically speaking. My glass of pinot noir wasn't great. I did love the music. Sinatra, Nat Cole, Louis Armstrong. Oldies but goodies. Let's get to the food... * Bruschetta di Carne Asada ($12.95) Toasted Italian bread topped with grilled skirt steak,mixed greens, sauteed onions and sliced grape tomato, drizzled with a spicy cilantro aioli. Holy Lord, this was AMAZING. It's worth coming here just for this appetizer. It smells like the best Mexican food you've ever eaten. The steak is amazingly moist and tender. Just melts in your mouth. Legitmately, one of the best things I've eaten in Chicago. * Rigatone alla Lorena ($18.95) Rigatone tossed with Italian sausage, roasted red bell peppers, spinach and mozzarella cheese in an aglio e olio sauce with seasoned bread crumbs. As other have said, the portion is HUGE. I was only able to knock back about a third of this before throwing in the towel. The pasta came out insanely hot, so don't just start shoveling it in your face. While I liked the pasta, the sausage was a bit game-y. The sauce was quite good. I brought it home for leftovers. * Donatella ($7.95) Vanilla pound cake in warm caramel sauce with white chocolate ice cream and strawberries. I didn't like the pound cake. It had a really weird, almost chalky consistency. The ice cream had an interesting texture and tasted great with the caramel sauce and strawberries. I really liked Rose Angelis and I'm sure I'll be back for more. This is well worth the detour to a sleepy neighborhood!
(4)
Peter H.

This is my wife's favorite Italian place in Chicago. I had never been there. I understand why she likes it. Their pasta is executed well and Ina very thought provoking way. Including a brown butter sauce on one of their pastas. We will be back.
(4)
Stacy T.

Went to eat tonight... Cesar salad was soggy and no taste. The chicken with Panko was not edible. Overwhelming pesto and over cooked risotto. The chicken was over cooked and was sent back.
(1)
Rose A.

The worst!! If you want big portions of bad Italian, this is your place. The steak bruschetta did not make sense. The seafood linguini was off and fishy. The eggplant parmigiana was flavorless and resembled a brick of mush. The service was inattentive, uncomfortable, and nonexistent. The bus service was the best part and that was ok. Don't go.
(1)
Adam A.

Always a great experience. ravioli ala Luigi and the estanza wine were amazing. get a tiramisu, a must. get tiramisu, must. Trust me.
(4)
Marjorie F.

I have been coming here for years. There are a lot of things that I like about this place and other things that could use a little work. Room for improvement... ~ Parking: It's hard to find parking. How about valet service? ~ Alcohol selection: My cousin isn't a wine drinker, so he ordered a whiskey sour. They didn't have the fixin's for a whiskey sour. Huh? He also tried to order another mixed drink (can't remember what), which they also did not have the ingredients on hand. ~ Food: There were a couple of items on the menu that were not available for that evening. I wished that we knew this before we ordered. Again, it was my cousin the whiskey-drinker who attempted to order something they didn't have. Poor guy. What I liked... ~ Service: Sergio and his team were on top of everything - refills on drinks, water, and whatever we needed. He was very friendly. ~ Ambience: The restaurant is small and quaint. Our large group was seated in a semi-private area. It made my cousin's 30th birthday celebration feel even more special. ~ Food: Everyone in our group enjoyed their entrees - mostly pasta. For me, it wasn't the best Italian meal I have ever had, but it was pretty good. Overall, I think this place is OK. It's close to home, so I'm sure I'll be back.
(3)
Mickey H.

Great Italian spot in a Lincoln Park neighborhood. I'm surprised this place has the draw that it does, but it's worth stepping off the main streets to come visit. Food is great, tough to choose between the awesome sounding specials and the decent spread on the menu. Wine selection is a little limited but we went with a good bottle. Its great they offer a variety of samples before you make your selection, just ask the wait staff. Waiters were very friendly, good insight into the menu and very attentive to when glasses needed to be filled. A little loud in the back room, but I like the environment quite a bit. Overall, our foursome walked away very full and very happy with our selections. Price was great for what you get. Go check it out.
(4)
Kelly S.

Things that would garner 5 stars - find a way to temper the noise level by adding some textiles or something. It's VERY noisy and hard to hear the server and your dinner partners talking. Make a tidge more room in between the tables so everyone feels a little more private/romantic. Aside from that stuff, the food is absolutely, rock star fantastic. Great wine selection and the pricing on the food is good with large portions. Service was a little rushed - they were super busy. Our server didn't like it when one of my group asked a quick clarifying question about the special as he was reading the script to describe it. Told him to wait to the end so he could describe all of the specials!
(4)
Bree N.

I went into the meal on an already full stomach, so I split the Mezzalune al Burro. The portion sizes are large, so it was the perfect amount for me to eat. But once I tasted it I wished that I could eat the whole thing. The brown buttered taste gave it a hint of sweetness that was unexpected but delicious - every single bite was good. Would highly recommend this dish, but everyone else in my group liked their meals as well.
(5)
Philip F.

Atmosphere-Awesome, service-outstanding, food-tremendous, bread pudding- to flipp'n die for! Great experience for a little hidden gem in Lincoln Park!
(5)
Rob M.

No joke! Hands down the best italian I have had. Fantastic service, portions that would choke Linda Lovelace and all around delicious. Had a group of 6 that were late for the reservation, and they were beyond cordial. This is literally my new FAV in Chicago. Please do yourself a favor and dine here. Had to add: desert is awesome as well!
(5)
Davis J.

Rose Angelis is pretty solid. I wouldn't say that it is totally amazing, but it is a charming place--albeit perhaps a bit overpriced for what it is. Perhaps you are paying for the atmosphere. I do like that the menu has veggie options--this is one of the few Italian restaurants where veggies play any role at all. Anyway, it's a good bet but it isn't going to rock your world.
(3)
Winona P.

Hubby and I went here before seeing Million Dollar Quartet. Rose Angelis was recommended to us by a friend who used to live in the area. It did not disappoint!! Easy reservations online, very friendly and accommodating staff, and a very nice covered outdoor dining area. After reading several reviews here on Yelp, I made sure to get the carne asada bruschetta - WOW. You must get this!! Hubby and I split one of the daily specials, large shells stuffed with chicken, spinach, and ricotta cheese. After the appetizer, splitting the entree was just enough food (no place to store leftovers as we were headed right to the theater after that). If we are back in the area, we will definitely return!!
(4)
Mark F.

Took the family here as everyone was wanting some Italian food. Took a while to find, as this place sits on a VERY narrow street in a residential area. And, finding a place to park can be a real chore, as we ended up parking about 2 blocks from the restaurant. First thing I noticed upon walking through the door...this place is loud, very LOUD. A wine bar is in front when you walk through the door, and it's full of hipsters, sipping on vino, trying to talk over the person standing next to them., whom are also trying to talk over the person standing next to them, and so on. I had a hard time hearing the waiter describe the specials, or even my wife across the table. But, that's the only negative comment I have for this place. The food was excellent! Items on the menu are slightly different versions of what you may find at your main stream restos. Everything was fresh, unique and full of flavor. The portions were of good size, and the service was was excellent, excellent, EXCELLENT. We had a waiter, a bus boy...No. Wait, 2 bus boys. Or was it 3? Not sure really. All I can say is , I never had to ask for anything, or hunt a server down, a they were constantly checking on or table. If your looking for a quiet, romantic evening...go elsewhere. If your looking for good food and service, and would rather look at your date, rather than listen to them...Rose Angelis is a good selection.
(4)
Claudia F.

I am so extremely sad that I am writing such a bad review. I have been coming to this place for 10 years and this last visit was not the best. The server was great. The patio was nice but the food was not good what so ever. I felt terrible because I was raving about this place to my in laws and was not impressed at all. Not the place it used to be. Last time I was here was 4 years ago before last night. Not going to be returning.
(2)
Gwen B.

What a cute, homey little Italian restaurant in Lincoln park! I love the decor, adorable and not chain-like at all. It was absolutely PACKED (we came here on a Saturday) so luckily we had made reservations. People were waiting for tables for awhile it seemed. The server was awesome to start so naturally that gave us a great impression. Funny, friendly, and great recommendations. A few of us got the duck filled tortellini (my husband and I split one of these) which was good but nothing special. The gnocchi with prosciutto however was AMAZING. It was probably the best plate of gnocchi I've ever had, although the dish is very rich so I recommend ordering another item to share. Overall I would definitely recommend Rose Angelis! Great for a romantic date night.
(4)
Evelina L.

Apparently Thursday nights are a great deal at Rose Angelis - 2 eat for $50 (app, salads, 2 entries and 1 dessert) and 3 eat for $75 (app, salads, 3 entries and 1 dessert), etc etc. You get the picture, I hope. But, with the portion sizes that get served at that restaurant - can actually be enough for several more meals. Aside from the large portions, like the biggest that I have ever seen in an Italian restaurant, outside of Buco di Beppo - nothing else stood out. (actually, lasagna might have been bigger than at di Beppo's) The three of us shared the steak bruschetta appetizer - good flavors but lots of dried out meat. Caesar salads were decent. 3 entries were the lasagna, duck tortellini and the pork chop. Lasagna was one of the best plain lasagna's we've had (that's why this place actually got 3 stars). Duck tortellini was decent, but nothing to write home about. Pork chop, stuffed with apples, sounded like a great concept - but the dryness of the chop and the brick (polenta) next to it, couldn't be overcome. Had tres leches for dessert - it was almost the size of the lasagna and was much heavier than a typical tres leches. I know, I know - that's what we get for ordering tres leches in an italian restaurant, but nothing else sounded good. Service - we knew what we wanted to order within 2 minutes...but somehow our meal still took 2.5 hours. I wouldn't mind this on a Fri/Sat, but it was just too slow for a Thursday. It took about 15 min for anyone to talk to us and another 10-15 to get our wine. We ate on the patio and it was beautiful. Patio and Lasagna pulled this place into 3 stars, but most likely I will not be going back.
(3)
Hanna W.

Our server was absolutely amazing. He had perfect timing and I never felt rushed. Ambiance is so cozy perfect for date night! Portions are massive 1app 1 entree and 1 dessert is more than enough food for two people. We took home leftovers of entree and dessert. Bruschetta carne asada - I wish we just did two orders of this I could eat it every day Pesce de mare was not the best some scallops were cold and the calamari was hard (possibly over cooked?) But overall I would order it again. Im a sucker for seafood Rice pudding is massive and has tons of raisings which I loved If you've never had it order grappa
(4)
Eric M. R.

I had the Rigatone alla Lorena and it was very good! I'm a sucker for Italian sausage and if you are too, I highly recommend this dish.
(4)
Bruce M.

Had the Lasagna al Forno....delicious. But everything I've had here has been very very very tasty. The portions are HUGE. I split an appetizer and an entrÃ©e with a friend, a friend who normally eats a lot and doesn't leave a crumb on his plate, and about half was left after we both had eaten our fill. Didn't get to the desserts this time...maybe next time. Only open for dinner. Best to get there on the early side, if you can. Eat outside if the weather allows. Servers know their stuff. They're there when you want them. Reasonable scrumptious Italian food.
(5)
Peter L.

Awesome! Feels like you are in an italian family's living room. No tvs, quiet, very good service. Love the homemade olive oil and bread. Pasta is incredible and good portions for a very fair price.
(5)
Brittany P.

One of my favorite Italian places in the city! I've been coming here for a few years now. Very charming atmosphere, great food and friendly service. Portion sizes are massive so don't expect to leave here hungry.
(5)
Marcus J.

Soooo many disappointing moments so little time. We decided to eat at this place because of our prior experience here over 5 months ago for Valentine's Day. I had no idea service could change at an establishment from excellent to nauseating in that short time. For starters we made a reservation for 715. I always thought a reservation meant what's in the word "reserve" until today. We stood in the crowded front area for 15 to 20 mins while the obviously new hostess did nothing to seat us expeditiously. After the irritating wait with a reservation we ordered dishes that took less than 5 minutes to arrive at our table this means one of two things either the food was ready made or microwaved you make the choice. We ordered cokes to drink and was served them classlessly out of a can, yes classlessly a new spin on a word that describes this place now. Coke is fine out of a can but not when you're pretending to be a fancy Italian restaurant. The only reason I am giving this establishment more than one star is because of the memory of our first visit which we didn't make a reservation for and received better service on a Saturday. We will never be wasting our money on this place again and if I were you neither would I.
(2)
Ashish P.

Good food, homely and lively atmosphere, vegetarian friendly. Large portions. Limited wine list. Food is prepared fresh so expect wait time after ordering. Came here for date night, pleasant experience. Service bit slow. Would return again. Good place for large parties.
(4)
James Z.

This is a perfect place for eat a lot and when I say a lot means huge portions, the only bad thing, that is really annoying, is the music, very old and too boring this was my 3rd time here and i listen the same boring songs, i was like... really?
(4)
Stefan S.

Atmosphere. That's what this place has. Its dim lit and fresco Italian wall murals are nice. The knowledgeable waiters are great too. The prices are excellent for Lincoln Park. Most entrees fall under $20. It can be casual (people in shorts with t-shirts) or people dressed up. It was very dim lighting, so you'd never know. One group got up as they were leaving and did a Buffalo Bills Football chant, quite loudly. So again, this is atmosphere, fun and upbeat. The food leaves room to improve. The arugula salad was nice and could be shared. Everyone was so-so on their entrees. The chicken marsala lacked flavor in the sauce. I mentioned this to the waiter, he said, "the chefs don't season it with salt, and they leave it up to the guests to add salt." I then asked him, why are there no salt shakers on the table? He said "because it allows them to clear a table faster." So that interaction doesn't make sense...the chefs let it go out under seasoned? Anyways, you get my drift. The waiter was kind enough to comp the chicken, but still an odd interaction. The patio looked neat, but it was rainy outside so we didn't go. I would come back for appetizers and wine, but that's about it.
(2)
J. R.

The food, the server, the ambiance, the staff - Excellent. My only regret is we were not informed of the Thursday pre-fixe deal. Our orders were already placed when five minutes later we heard the host describing the pre-fixe to all other groups. Suggestion: it would be nice if the server would ask if we were apprised of the Thursday pre-fixe special. Dishes: the seafood in my linguini was not the freshest. Also, the dish lacked a bit of salt. Note to diners: there are no salt & pepper mills on any of the tables. My partner enjoyed his Marsala chicken. The chipotle chocolate ice cream with caramel was fantastic. Overall, a very pleasant, low key experience and we will return very soon.
(4)
Kyle W.

I'm from New York and my Mom's side of the family is Italian, so I'm picky about my Italian food. In my humble opinion, Rose Angelis is one of the best - if not the best - place to go for Italian in The Chi. It's a neighborhood restaurant with multiple, smaller rooms so the experience is intimate. The servers are excellent. It can get busy on weekends, so try to make a reservation. I almost always order one of the pastas, and you really can't go wrong. It's not just your standard Italian American fare that you could prepare yourself, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the unique combinations of ingredients. And lots of vegetarian options. The desserts are heavenly too. It's not cheap, but worth it for a special night out. Book it.
(5)
J K.

Amazing wine list, very minimal markup. Service was great and the food was incredible. Go.
(5)
Dougie M.

Food was perfect, surroundings pleasantly rustic Italian, the ambience candlelit and romantic (without too much PDAs). Service was relaxed but very efficient and the portions a great size for quality and price. The only negative was upon leaving the restaurant when a large of staff sat around the bar area talking loudly - it would have been nice to have been bid 'Good night' especially after leaving a decent tip. Having said that, I'd definitely go again - it's the kinda place you take your parents to or perhaps your partner. Very welcoming.
(4)
Gisele G.

One star only, because the bread pudding was good. We were celebrating my 19 year old Marine sons engagement to his beautiful girlfriend and his soon departure to Japan. Leaving on Friday. 6 of us. I ordered lugunie with seafood suppose to be a wine sauce with light marinara. My son ordered the same.thing. When the dish arrived, my Italian exhusband looked at it and said , that's not lugunie, it's spaghetti. It was Spaghetti with heavy red sauce with some rubbery tough shrimp and rubbery, chewy calamari thrown in, there were also 3 clams which were good, probably because they had a clam appetizer special! I ate the clams and a few bites of this huge dish , enough to feed a small family. In my eyes, quality over quantity!!! Here is my biggest problem!!! My son and I barely ate our dimners, the other four ate their dinner! It was obvious that we didn't enjoy that dish, but the waiter never asked, was everything oaky? Was something wrong with the faux lugunie? He did give us a complimentary dessert, but we had already ordered the desserts we wanted. I.had them wrap the dish to go, to give to someone homeless, ended up throwing it in the backyard for the raccoons to eat. Cherry topper of my experience, I had horrifiing indigestion, to about 3 in the morning and was up all night!! So giving this restaurant 1 star is beyond generous!! Gg
(1)
David R.

Solid food, cheerful service, enormous portions, and a cute, cozy atmosphere, especially on a very cold night. Everything that I ate was good, not necessarily great, but very enjoyable: mushroom soup; the daily fish special of tilapia in beurre blanc with roasted vegetables; the rigatone alla Lorena, with Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, spinach, and mozzarella in a marinara sauce (substituted at my request for the oil and garlic sauce listed on the menu); and the bread pudding with caramel sauce. Even the complimentary bread with herb-infused olive oil was quite pleasing. In particular, the bread pudding and rigatone were stunning in scale. What they placed in front of me was not a bowl of pasta with some sausage and vegetables; it was a bowl of sausage dotted conservatively with pasta. This is not necessarily a good thing, although I did make two dinners out of the leftovers. Holy hell. Then to finish off the gluttony, the bread pudding was ridiculously large; I shared it with my wife but it could have served a table of four. All in all, it's a great choice for various occasions. The value is high and parking is not as difficult as you might think.
(4)
Chicago I.

Consistently fantastic! We go a few times a year and have never been disappointed. There are always 1/2 dozen creative specials. I don't think we've ever not ordered at least one dish off of the specials list and they're always delicious. Wine list is good with descent prices. Service is always super-friendly and fun -- they always seem to know the exact amount of attention to make a perfect dining experience whatever the occasion (i.e., romantic evening or night out with family and friends). It's a Chicago staple that I hope never goes away. A real gem.
(5)
Angelica V.

I can't get enough of this place. My fiancÃ© and I have officially made this place our anniversary spot. Their homemade pasta is out of this world. I seriously can't make up my mind with which dish is best. However, I will do everyone a favor and share that their steak bruschetta is THE BEST!!! Seriously, do not leave there without trying it. Hope you enjoy the food, the ambiance, and the amazing customer service. I know we have thus far.
(5)
Sol A.

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food here is always great, and the portions are large. I can hold my own at the dinner table, and I always end up taking some home. Entrees: I recommend the manicotti (it changes by the day but is always good), the pear ravioli (when they have it), the eggplant parmesan, and the duck tortellone. Dessert: The bread pudding, Just get it. The staff is good as well. There seems to be limited turnover here. I've been eating here for the past 6-7 years, and I see many of the same faces. It makes me think that they treat their staff well, which is always a plus, and it means that the staff knows what they're doing. I really enjoy the atmosphere too. It can be a little noisy when it's packed, but it never interferes with my dining experience. I like that it's dimly lit...it makes things feel more intimate. I will say that it can be very difficult to find parking in the neighborhood. Other than that, I can't think of anything negative to say about the place.
(5)
Kristine N.

This is such a cute restaurant in what seems to be an old house. It's secluded, hard to find, and the parking is a disaster. Service was excellent. Our glasses were never empty and our plates were always cleared in a timely manner. The servers were very knowledgable and were great at informing us since it was our first time. We got a bottle of wine for the table which was decently priced around $40. We ordered the special flatbread as an appetizer. It was crispy and full of fresh vegetables. For our main courses we ordered the seafood soup, lasagna, and some white wine pasta. The portions are huge! After the appetizer and complimentary bread, we each had about 2 portions for leftovers. We ordered the bread pudding afterwards to add to the growing waistline and this chocolate bread pudding is the best thing I have put in my mouth in a long time. The slice was as big as two fists, first of all. It was drizzled in some caramel sauce.... Yummmmm... Amazing food, huge portions, decent prices, great service... But it's busy and parking sucks.
(4)
Tiff K.

Antipasti and salad was good. I did not care for the duck tortellini and wish the server actually asked how we liked the food. I barely ate my entree and ended up giving my boxed food to a friend. Would have like the chance to switch to a different entree.
(3)
josh f.

I probably should give Rose Angelis four stars because it's a bit of a hassle to get to and the food isn't mind-blowingly original. However, I'm posting a photo of the lasagna. Excuse the washed-out photo with flash, but it was hard to capture the sheer magnitude. It was even more delicious than it is big (had a total of three meals out of it). Their wine list is fantastic and reasonable, plus full bar. Staff are professional and nice. Owner gave us a ride home during that huge blizzard a few years ago. The ambience is priceless, and maybe not what you want every time you go out, but every once in a while you feel truly fortunate such a place exists in the city. Other things I've had which were delicious are pumpkin ravioli (it was a special), gnocchi, and a few other standard pasta dishes. Everything is a little more special than your average Italian restaurant.
(5)
Salil G.

Came in and didn't have to wait! Super excited to get seated quickly and enjoy the great food. Ravioli was just spot on perfect. Can't wait to go back. Great Italian food!
(5)
Helene P.

This has always been one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants with the BEST lasagna in town and a salad to die for. Everyone we've ever taken has loved the restaurant, many have returned numerous times. Our service couldn't have been better but last night we were placed in one of their smaller rooms when a large group sat down, the poetry was a bit odd but when they started singing songs the volume was not tolerable. We left our table and paid our check away from the noise. Management was extremely apologetic, not sure how to have handled this.
(5)
Konstantin G.

Really liked Angelis, second time here and will come back. Amazing food, very generous portions. None of us was able to finish them (same last time).You actually are having a very tasty food and a great service at Angelis. Desert was also good, would love to know where they get the strawberries from. Gnocchi - are a must to try here, all salads that we tried - super fresh and delicios.
(5)
Jen W.

This place was wonderful!! The artichoke soup was divine and the Gorgonzola pasta dish was fabulous
(5)
Bridget E.

I have only been here once but the food was outstanding and for an Italian restaurant in Chicago, the portions they give are huge!! Even desert should be slip at least 3 ways because after the meal you'll have here, there will barely be room for desert. But you have to get it. I mean, come on. It's desert.
(4)
Shan D.

Great neighborhood Italian spot. The portions are generous and the prices are reasonable. The duck tortellini is amazing.
(4)
MV M.

Great food from top to bottom of the menu! Came with my wife and 3 year old and they were very accommodating and kind. The place looks small from the outside but has lots of tables as you go back. Their specials have never failed us and they have great deals on their website as well. The servers are very good and never rush you. I haven't had a problem getting street parking, but this is the only potential downer so would recommend leaving a little earlier to make sure you find a spot close by. Plan on making this place a regular stop for our family.
(5)
P S.

Great Great place. Impresses us each time we go there.
(5)
Eric G.

Nothing but great things to say about this cozy neighborhood Italian restaurant. This was our first time there but we were with a couple that had been many times before. We started with the steak bruschetta which was amazing. The flavor a were vibrant and the steak was cooked just right. Next came the main course. I opted for the pumpkin stuffed ravioli special and my girlfriend got the chicken and spinach manicotti special. Both were good spins on traditional Italian dishes. These portions are huge so don't be afraid to get one entrÃ©e for two people. We will definitely be coming back!
(5)
Janelle M.

Everything in this place was fabulous from start to finish! The wine was good and the food was amazing!! There were so many great options on the menu I had a hard time trying to decide. Our server was great!
(5)
Kathy S.

I really thought I would like this place so I was surprised at how much I didn't. I'm wondering if it was an off day. There were 8 of us so we all got to try some of each of the dishes and nothing stood out. The duck tortellini that many have raved about did nothing for us. The best dish that we tried was one of the specials but even that was not anything note-worthy. We also tried two desserts. The special which included a pear pastry and caramel sauce was tasty. However, the tiramisu was not good at all and had a layer of fudge towards the bottom which was just odd. It may have been the worst tiramisu I ever had. The server was fine for the most part but one of the people in our group wanted to take her dessert to go and the server said no, saying that he couldn't because it had ice cream on it. She then asked if she could just get the pastry part and omit the ice cream and our server still said that was not allowed. He wasn't being mean about it but it was just a weird experience. This place had so much potential but I don't see myself coming back.
(2)
M H.

Stopped in on Saturday with a friend for dinner. The waiter suggested a special salad as a starter that sounded appealing. Two bites into the salad we noticed a cockroach crawling out from the middle if the plate. When we spoke to the manager he said that the cooks had noticed cockroaches around but thought they were just shipped in on one of the delivery boxes. Completely discussing, I will NEVER go back.
(1)
Mary N.

Perfection. Staff is EXTREMELY knowledgable about the food served at the restaurant. They have a script they memorize about the specials and it's really impressive. Great atmosphere and outdoor dining. Date night, girls night, or family spot. Always my top choice and I live right down the block :) I get the Cesar Salad with the seafood pasta
(5)
Jennifer S.

For Italian food in Chicago this is the place to go! The food is pretty good and I love the charming building that it's in. Great date spot but make sure your not in a hurry, my only complaint is the service is pretty slow although everyone is really friendly. It was packed but I didn't find it to be overly loud unlike some other yelpers. Will definitely be back in the summer to try out the patio!
(4)
Mith R.

Beautiful atmosphere, mediocre food. Half price wine on Tuesdays. Overall just so-so. The bread pudding I'd solid if you're in the mood for desert.
(3)
Kavi P.

We were looking for a really romantic and outdoor setting. This place was perfect! The wine was great and the staff were friendly. I was happy with my meal...but the meal the bf got was a bit disappointing. He had the tortellini filled with duck. I was expecting it to be just as great as my dish...however it was no where near so. The dish was extremely watery (probably an inch worth or liquid) that caused the dish to just be off. After reading the description, we expected something different. Maybe it was one bad experience, not sure. Would be willing to try this place again....
(2)
Abina G.

One of my favorite Italian restuarants. I love a good story, too. Two lawyers quit their day jobs and opened a restaurant. The restaurant is still popular years later and the food is always on point. On Fridays and Saturday nights you may have a wait, but they have decent wine selection and appetizers. The salads are always fresh and bountiful. The menu rotates for entrees, the seafood pastas and Pollo Al Vesuvio are staples. The Zupo de Pesce - a favorite. Desert - the strawberries with homemade caramel. Yes, the rest of the crew loves the bread pudding.They also have outdoor seating.
(5)
Erin M.

I like to explore different areas of the city and different restaurants, this is one place I continue to go back to!! Amazing food! We shared an appetizer, salad, and entree, and each of us had leftovers for 2 more lunches! Quality of food is top notch! Definitely recommend the ravioli!!!
(5)
Rosemary V.

Traditional Italian food with a touch of modern and here's why I loved it: Service: It was six of us, we had no reservations and they sat us fairly quickly. Our waitress was sweet and had a soothing voice. She explained the specials with such details and passion that I was sold when she described the manicotti dish I ended up choosing. She even recommended specific wines based on each person's entree. Also, we never once felt rushed and were able to really enjoy our last meal in Chicago, in fact, they were starting to close by the time we payed the bill, but they never once rushed us. They also have many of their dishes in a gluten free version which was great for my friend who doesn't eat gluten. Food: We ordered the bruscheta and mussels for appetizer and they were amazing! The mussels came in this red spicy sauce that was so good we were dipping the bread in it. I ordered the manicotti special which was stuffed with spinach, ricotta cheese and walnut . This was to die for ! The rest of my friends ordered the steak, rigatoni, the ravioli stuffed with duck and a couple of other dishes I can't quite remember. They were all delicious and the portions were big. Now, were were too stuffed to order dessert but we decided to look at the menu anyway and ended up caving in and ordering 2 desserts to share. We ordered the bread pudding which was covered in caramel sauce and a pear cake which came with pumpkin ice cream. The bread pudding was huge and enough to share between 3-5 people. All I can say is that we all experienced multiple food orgasm from these desserts. If you don't eat a lot, you should skip the appetizers just so that you can order dessert. I'm so making this place a must next time I come to Chicago.
(5)
G A.

Very surprised with all the 5 star reviews. Perfection? Best Italian restaurant?Superb????? I am starting to worry about the palettes of Chicagoans. I found this restaurant to be nothing special. It's OK food in a fun local spot. There is much better Italian food other places in the city and suburbs.
(3)
Marcela R.

I don't give it 5 stars because parking around them sucks. But the place is very cute and their food is delicious and generous portions. Also on Thursdays they have a great deal for dinner.
(4)
Emily D.

Delicious food, generous portions, wonderful atmosphere. Great for dates, family dinner, or friend reunions. Service is wonderful.
(4)
Joey F.

This is a cool place with great service. They do have huge portions. I got the lasagna last time I was here and it was as big as my face. The food is good, but not amazing.
(4)
David B.

Overall the experience was so so. I did enjoy the ambiance, it was very romantic and you could tell that the place was nice. The pasta was very fresh which I thoroughly enjoyed. They had a great selection of wine and for being a very busy evening, they were pretty quick. I did however think everything else was lackluster. Nothing stood out as much as I had hoped it would. The portion sizes were great but again, the food was just so so. I would recommend going there for maybe drinks but can't say the food was my favorite.
(3)
Keith O.

Superb!! Our first visit there and it will hardly be our last. Unique atmosphere, awesome service, amazing food. Truly one of our favorite dining experiences ever. We enjoyed the Thursday night dinner for two fixed price special and started with the Bruschetta di Carne Asada which was spectacular. Our entrees, the Tortellone Con Salsa di Noce & Rigatone alla Lorena, were both out of this world, and the bread pudding with their homemade caramel sauce was unlike anything we've eaten. Followed it up by seeing the Million Dollar Quartet. What a night!!!! Can't wait to go back!!!
(5)
Jeffrey Z.

My wife and I were excited to try this place, as we'd heard great things. We knew we had to save room for the bread pudding, so we didn't bother with any appetizers, soup, or salad. My wife got the duck tortellini. It was very unique and pretty good but didn't wow us. I ordered the manicotti that was a daily special. It featured cheese, spinach, and chicken. Overall, it was good. The cheese was a bit too smokey for my liking and the chicken was a little dry, but the sauce and pasta were great. Onto dessert, we had been hearing how amazing the bread pudding is, so that's what we went with. It had incredible flavors and layering. The butterscotch sauce was divine. It was very rich though, and some vanilla ice cream would have been perfect to break up the richness. Our waitress was very friendly, but they didn't seem to have enough servers for how busy they were. We seemed to always be waiting for her to come to our table. The atmosphere was very nice and rustic, although it was louder than we anticipated. We would definitely like to go back and try some more of the dishes and hopefully have an even better overall experience.
(3)
Doug v.

Neighborhood Gem: Check Romantic, Italian ambiance: Check Excellent wine list: Check Single entree servings big enough to feed four: Check 5-Star service: Check Someone to introduce Chef to a salt cellar: Priceless.
(2)
Joseph C.

Well, if you're in the mood for large portions of faux Italian style food, this is your place. We ordered the lasagna, and in instead of high quality ingredients, skill and taste, out came a loaf of cheese and macaroni (flat pasta) that was meant to feed a post-apocalyptic band of refugees. Large and tasteless. We also ordered the rigatoni with sausage. All that was tasted was the oil used to sautÃ© the dish in. What bothers me is this place could be amazing. The building itself is picturesque and the neighborhood setting priceless. Skip it unless try make sown changes like bringing in an Italian chef. . .
(2)
Jessy M.

My favorite restaurant for the past 9 years! Everything is amazing and I can never pass up the bread pudding.
(5)
Steph H.

Oh my goodness this place is a hidden gem! Went for a friend's birthday and it was delightful, but it's also a perfect spot for a date night, dark n cozy. I got the Gorgonzola stuffed pasta with walnuts covered with delicious creamy sauce! Sooo good and tasted just as good as left overs! Huge portions, too!
(5)
Tasha B.

We like to visit Rose Angelis for dinner as it's close and good, but we also chose to have our rehearsal dinner here and it was fantastic. We did our own little 'taste testing' a month or so before and had placed our order with the restaurant. They set us up outside and it felt intimate and comfortable for a party of 28. The food and wine were hot and delicious and the prices were very reasonable for what a normal rehearsal dinner could be. It was a great experience and I'm so glad we chose Rose Angelis.
(4)
Kasey G.

One of the best Italian restaurants in the city. Particularly great for vegetarians (plenty of meat options too), great menu, awesome ambiance for either a date, family gathering, or group of friends. Service was good but not great. Nice staff, just a little slow.
(4)
Taylor O.

Really, really great Italian food in my neighborhood! Before coming in, I had no idea the restaurant was actually quite large and extended all the way back. We had a great meal and a nicely paired bottle of wine. Our server was animated and very knowledgable about everything on the menu. All of us loved our food and had plenty of leftovers.
(5)
Derek S.

This place used to be awesome, not sure what happened with the food quality or the cooks, but it's taken a rough turn. I know a few people who have gone in the last year, and we went with a group for New Years, and it was really bad. Just not worth it, with so many good italian spots in the area. Haven't heard anyone say anything good about this place since 2012. Whats going on over there? Lock it up!
(1)
Ginger P.

I love this neighborhood gem... it's all wonderful. And they have a great outside.
(5)
Boris S.

Out of the way on a residential street, but worth a trip. Make sure to SHARE portions, as staff doesn't tell you that they are huge. That's the only reason for 4 stars instead of 5.
(4)
Shannon R.

Unbelievable! I have lived less than a block from here for almost a year and just tried it for the first time last night. The service was superb. Very accommodating and attentive. Great spot for friends or a date. Huge portions! It's a great atmosphere and amazing food!
(5)
miguel u.

I was in the Lincoln Park area , when searching for Italian food and needless to say, I definitely found an excellent spot! Very romantic and home welcoming location. The food portions are enormous and exquisite. Their tiramisu is the best I have ever had!
(5)
Marco H.

This is a nice and unassuming neighborhood Italian restaurant that is full of surprises (more on that later). Our waiter was very knowledgable of all the dishes and service was quick and attentive. It's actually a romantic place, dimly lit and definitely not pretentious. Good casual date place. My wife and I were here for our anniversary. Now the surprises. Of course every good italian restaurant has a bottle of olive oil on the table. Check. But I found this olive oil to be really tasty - hints of red peppers, garlic, fennel? and maybe even some bell peppers. Next, we ordered the calamari, and it's wasn't what we were expecting. The calamari isn't deep fried, but instead cooked with spinach, red onions and sliced and mixed together in a sauce. At first I was dissapointed (my taste buds were expecting the usual deep fried version) but with each bite I grew to love it. Before long, that app was gone. Next, my wife ordered the linguine mare which is shrimp, mussels, calamari and scallops mixed in a red sauce. Not too heavy and quite tasty. I ordered the Mezzalune al Burro: half moon spinach pasta stuffed with ricotta in a sweet brown butter sauce with pine nuts and sun dried tomatoes. Again, not to heavy and quite tasty. To finish this great meal off, we tried the chocolate mousse: 1 giant scoop of white chocolate and 2 giant scoops of chocolate. (i suggest you get the raspberry sauce on the side, it's a little tart). All in all, Rose Angelis serves up some great italian food. Expect to be surprised. tip: the portions here are huge (including the appetizer) so pace yourself. And One wednesdays/thursdays, there's a $49.99 special for two people that includes 1 app, 1 large salad, 2 entrees and 1 dessert. And unlike most places, you can pick anything from the main menu. Such a great deal.
(4)
Robby K.

I'm not used to Italian this good being from Fort Worth, TX. So this was quite a treat. Friends in town showed us this quiet tucked-away bistro. I had the veal ravioli and was blown away...very large portions. Pretty pricey...house pinot noir was $45 a bottle and worth it.
(5)
Barry M.

Waited a long time to finally try this place and was terribly disappointed. We have lived in Chicago for over a decade and many people have told me to try Rose Angelis. Last night we gave it a shot and it was pretty awful. Above all the food really lacked taste and depth and each dish that came out was really soupy. The sauces all had a watery tasteless consistency. When we told the waiter how we felt he just smiled as if he knew and said the chef doesn't use salt. Additionally, the chef refuses to make any changes. We simply asked if we could have the dressing on the side, or a different dressing with the special salad and the waiter said the chef refuses to make any changes whatsoever. I wasn't asking for a reinvention of his menu, just some dressing on the side. After so many years of waiting to try this place, I wish I had waited a lot longer. It's just not that good.
(2)
Charlie S.

Always incredible. Amazing staff and menu, worth every dime.
(5)
Tara M.

This is a great place for dinner. We used to live near here and took our guests out to eat here. There is typically a wait, but its worth it. I would go to Lincoln Park on a weekend and eat there, that's how good it is (I wouldn't go into the city for many things if I didn't have to!)
(5)
Emily C.

Great Wednesday night special. For $55 for two people you get an app, two salads, two entrees and a dessert. For the apps, I would recommend the pizza. It was a special the night we were there and delicious. We did not really like the grilled calamari. It came out in little slivers with a huge portion of spinach. I just didn't care for the sauce. We tried a chicken dish and the duck tortellini for our entrees. Both were good, but neither blew us away. They were extremely rich. Someone else tried the lasagna and that was fantastic. The bread pudding here was one of the best I've ever had. It came sitting in an amazing caramel sauce that tasted like Garrett's popcorn. It was the best thing we had all night. We all left stuffed and with leftovers to take home. Wine prices were extremely reasonable. Service was spotty. It took a long time for someone to come to our table and a long time for them to bring us our wine. They were extremely busy because of the special, but I still thought it took too long. 262/365
(3)
Christine O.

My husband and I came to Rose Angelis for my birthday this year, and I can say with confidence that this is my absolute favorite Italian restaurant. Not only is their food thoughtfully prepared, but the portions are huge and will fulfill any cravings/longings you may have for rich, comforting pasta. We both agreed that we could have easily split one entree (which were reasonably priced, between $10-14 each if I remember correctly). Also, the portion of tiramisu we received was HUGE. So decadent and yummy. We will be back!
(5)
Sam S.

Honestly the most heavenly pasta dish I've ever eaten. I'm vegetarian and was skeptical of this dish at first but I now have dreams of bathing in their browned butter sauce. MUST ORDER YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT
(5)
Sarah C.

Love Rose Angelis - we used to come here when we lived in the neighborhood and were so relieved to find that the quality of the food, the ambiance, and the friendly, knowledgeable servers haven't changed a bit. Highly recommend.
(5)
John C.

A really great neighborhood restaurant that truly understands what is meant by rustic Italian food. We had a bit of a wait as we were a walk-in, but it wasn't crazy and we were told about the timing. While waiting we had an order of the bruschetta. The tomatoes were home grown. Truly amazing. We then had the grilled calamari. A very different preparation as the calamari was julienned. Very tender, but it did need a bit of salt. The pasta dishes were truly awesome, and huge. My son ordered the lasagna. We make our own lasagna. This was almost as good as my wife's. The portion was large enough for 4, but it was fantastic. I had the rigatoni alla lorena. No disappointments at all. The rigatoni were like homemade, and cooked al dente. My wife had the tortellone anatra, which was exquisite. Very affordable, casual, yet friendly neighborhood ambiance. We waited for the patio which was worth the wait. You won't go wrong with Rose Angeli's.
(4)
Tom C.

Nice outdoor atmosphere, friendly customer service, and fresh food.
(4)
Amanda P.

Best Italian food I have had in the city. Tues- half off wine Wed and Thurs- Shared App, two salads, two entrÃ©es, and shared dessert (bourbon balsamic ice cream is to die for) for $50 Great service too!
(5)
Lauren F.

After reading all the great reviews on Yelp I was really excited to visit Rose Angelis for dinner on a Friday night...but I have to say that I was a little disappointed. The olive oil is delicious, I could eat that with bread all night long, and we had one of their special salads that had gorgonzola, pears, and mixed greens that was great...but those were really the only two things that wowed us. I had the duck-filled tortellone and it just didn't do it for me. I felt like the duck and really the dish as a whole was lacking in flavor. On the opposite end of the spectrum, my boyfriend ordered a special, Chicken Vesuvio filled ravioli, and the flavors in there were strong and did not go well together. There was an overpowering lemon taste to the dish and as much as I love lemon, it just did not work. For dessert we tried the tiramisu and that was lackluster as well...it tasted a lot more like a cake than tiramisu, the chocolate layer was very dense and not my favorite. They also serve their wine from mini water glasses, just very odd and made me feel like I was at some truck stop diner drinking a $3 bottle of wine. Rose Angelis is a very cute, intimate dinner spot and maybe we'll give them another try someday....but I'm sad to say that our first visit was not very impressive.
(3)
Julie K.

I stopped in for dinner here just as the restaurant opened for dinner and was treated like royalty. On certain nights, there is a dinner special for 2 with a good price for 2 entrees, a shared appetizer and shared dessert which makes a meal quite affordable. The waitstaff were excellent, explaining each menu item and answering questions completely. The portions are HUGE. Even the Caesar salad was easily enough for 2 or even 3 people. I had the seafood linguini in a red sauce with mussels, shrimp, scallops, and squid. It was heavy on the squid which was somewhat chewy and light on everything else (including the noodles). The elements of the dishes were high quality and fresh. However, absolutely nothing was prepared with salt (including the dressing on the Caesar salad) and there are no salt and pepper shakers on the table. After asking for and then waiting for the salt shaker, I had to empty about a quarter of it into the pasta dish to make it edible. Once seasoned, I could appreciate the tomato flavor of the sauce. Same thing with the Caesar salad. Once it was seasoned, it tasted like Caesar salad. This same problem has been reported by other reviewers. I am a doctor, so I get the whole effort to provide healthier food. But not salting food enough to appreciate the flavors of the other ingredients is just stupid. Then, if the chef elects to commit this error, not making salt shakers readily available on the table is just inexcusable. When I end up paying over $50 for salad, entree, and a glass of wine, I expect my food to be adequately seasoned. So, although the waitstaff was perfect and the ambience lovely, I will not be back until the chef learns how to season food properly.
(3)
Joe L.

My parents loved this place. So my Mom had 2 of the best meals she has had in a while and her eggplant parm here was it. I love this place, feels like you are going to grandmom's house for dinner. Portions are huge (I got 3 take home boxes at home right now) Price is not too bad. for 4 of us, with 2 apts drinks and dinners $140. Can't beat that. I had their version of Chicken Parm, it was more like a Chicken Parm Stuffed Shell. I was not a fan of the Risotto and didn't like the fact I told the server it wasn't any good and asked for a side of pasta that I had to pay for. So that knocks it down a star. Other then that, it's great and I will be back
(4)
Brittany M.

I've wanted to try this place for a long time. I finally did and I was very pleased with it. I loved the dÃ©cor and the comfy atmosphere. The restaurant was surprisingly bigger than I expected, which is nice to know for future visits. Large portions, friendly staff, and tasty food. We started with the Bruschetta di Carne Asada, which was very tasty and something different than the typical Italian appetizer (make sure to ask for extra pepper when they bring it out). We split the Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco and Pollo al Vesuvio for our main course. The Pollo al Vesuvio was delicious, very flavorful and cooked perfectly. This takes 45 minutes to prepare but well worth the wait. The Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco (duck filled tortellini) lacked a little flavor. I did enjoy the sauce on the tortellini, lots of veggies and cheese. The tiramisu was huge and it was okay, I enjoyed the mousse filling in it. The perfect date night restaurant, I will defiantly be back!
(5)
Bryan M.

Off the charts good! Went with the Gorgonzola tortellini, with grapes, walnuts, Parmesan, and this excellent cream sauce. Oh my gosh! Awesome. Don't eat too much bread (though it is good), and don't worry about salad, etc. Entrees are healthy in proportion. I also understand the Luigi Ravioli is excellent. We went with some people who used to live in Chicago, and found this place a number of years ago, and frequented it frequently. They gave us their history, and we were worried that they were overselling it. They weren't. It's very good! Great staff. A bit noisy. I'd definitely go back.
(5)
Hannah J.

I love the ambiance of Rose Angelis. It is tucked on a residential block and is cozy and quiet. Inside is a romantic feel. The food is delicious and the portions are huge! I cannot wait to go again!
(5)
Amy L.

One of the best Italian places in Chicago! The staff is friendly and efficient, the food is excellent, and the outdoor seating in lovely. Awesome date place!
(5)
Sheldon P.

Great service great food great price big portions don't fill up on bread cause you have big meal ahead of you.
(5)
Suzanne B.

YES YES YES AND YES, II have been here four or five times now and have loved it every time. I usually take the servers recommendations on one of the chef's specials or new dishes. Last time I had a gorgonzola sauce pasta dish with grapes in it. I was a little weary of grapes with pasta but it was one of the best pasta dishes I have ever had. I hope they have it when I go back again. The service is sometimes slow but I didn't mark them off for it because I think it;s more of a take your time dinner place and they don't want to rush you. It's more the style of the place than bad service so just be aware when you go there. That or let them know you are in a hurry if you are trying to make it so a movie or something after. Great wind selection and the bartender seemed very knowledgeable when talking to us about them before we were seated. I wish I remembered my servers name, he answered so many questions for the five of us while I know he had other people to take care of as well. Very patient. Keep doing what your doing Rose Angelis!
(5)
Erik G.

Lovers of quality cuisine beware. Rose Angelis is obviously a charming and beloved local venue. It's dark halls and shaded garden set a friendly and intimate tone. If restaurants were judged solely on ambience, Rose Angelis would never have a problem. My girlfriend and I dined there last night. It was her second time and my third. My first experience a few years ago was rock solid. My second go-round a year ago, I left wondering whether they were slipping. Last night, unfortunately, was the last time I will ever, EVER eat at Rose Angelis. Why? The food was just God-awful. Veering from poor to downright repellant. Here's a perfect example: we actually left much of the grilled calamari uneaten. Who does that? Nobody. Because grilled calamari is delicious. But when it tastes rubbery, bland and soaked in mystery broth, it really isn't. Not so much grilled as it was boiled and drowned in this watery brown broth with its fellow victim, a pile of mushy, lifeless spinach, the only reason so much of this appetizer ended up in our stomachs was because my girlfriend and I were famished by the time we had arrived and had ran out of bread. And then the salad we ordered to share. Yikes. Basically, it was a Caesar salad sort of encased in an odd assortment of large, unseasoned lettuce leaves, turnip coins and cucumber spears. This tee-pee of vegetables was visually impressive but its taste ranged from ordinary to bland. With no seasoning and no dressing but the Caesar portion inside, the Rose Angelis diner is invited to gnaw on raw vegetables like Tarzan or waste half the salad. But the epic fail of the evening was my girlfriend's Chicken Marsala. The mystery broth was back with a vengeance. It suffused her dish and mine. Chicken Marsala is not soup and everywhere else I've ever had it, it was served on a plate. This was served in a large bowl. The chicken was water-logged and utterly devoid of taste. The vegetables that adjoined it in the bowl were like perfectly-preserved drowning victims washed up on a beach, gently drying in the waning sunlight. My girlfriend basically gave up after about five bites and when I sampled it, I was surprised she had lasted that long. For an encore, my girlfriend became nauseated and just wanted to leave. Thanks for serving my girlfriend crap and making me pay $90 for the privilege, Rose Angelis. I won't forget it. I had ordered the rigatoni and it wasn't much better - redeemed only by the fact that the savory sausage coins it featured had almost certainly been created offsite and had somehow weathered the storm of this chef's madness. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't rigatoni supposed to occur in a creamy to slightly chunky viscous, even cheesy tomato sauce? This was like rigatoni soup. The brown mystery broth had not only taken over my girlfriend's dish but had flooded mine, too. I managed to get through about a third of it before I couldn't take any more. The wine was good - I had three glasses. The staff was warm and welcoming. Our waiter was especially pleasant. If they had had a different chef, the evening would have turned out splendidly. But the food was just that bad. So, if you and your date have lost the power of taste, perhaps in an unfortunate accident, I can highly recommend Rose Angelis. If not, take it from me - stay away.
(1)
Michelle M.

Cozy, great food, decent pricing, welcoming atmosphere, and the nicest server I've encountered in a long time... I WILL go back to Rose Angelis! I came here for a birthday dinner. They sat a whopping 25 of us in their back room area, and were so accommodating as we tried to squeeze more and more people in as they arrived. You can't go wrong ordering any of their pasta dishes. The lasagna is HUGE and can last you for days in leftovers. Everyone there enjoyed their food. This place would be perfect not only for a huge group, but for a romantic date as well. It's for everyone. As a restaurant with various small rooms, you definitely get that "at home" private dining experience. I love Rose Angelis! The staff is top notch.
(5)
Angela B.

No. I am giving this place 2 stars because my friends and I experienced 5 star service and wine...and the ambiance was great. But the food was definitely a huge 0. Here's what we ordered 1lb porkchop (me) 2 specials: Grilled Tilapia and veggies Spinach stuffed manicotti We all tasted everything and here are our thoughts: TIlapia: tasted like it was cooked on a dirty grill and had NO SEASONING. NONE. NONE. Manicotti: could have been from stouffers. The shells were too al dente and there was nothing special/spectacular about the filling Porkchop: disaster...it's hard to explain...it just was not good. I didn't come stuffed with apples or fennel, just onions. The spinach was the best part of the dish and even that was not that good. I have never not finished a plate of food at a restaurant in my life and I took two bites of this thing and was done. Our server felt really bad that no one liked their food and bought over strawberries in an interesting caramel sauce---those were delicious. This place is not cheap so I would advise you to invest elsewhere if you are craving Italian. These misses were just too bad.
(2)
Michelle L.

Went to dinner here with a couple of friends last summer. Really cute place inside and great atmosphere! The outside was adorable, but the mosquitoes were terrible. The food was pretty good but a little bland. I have definitely had better in the city. I will say the bread pudding was awesome!!
(3)
Aislinn F.

This review is long overdue but the food was so bad that I am making a point to write a review. As a caveat, in general, I think that a lot of Chicago restaurants are over-hyped and most people think they're good b/c they haven't lived in SF or NYC before where food is REALLY good, 99% of the time. Most food in Chicago is good b/c it's carb-heaven and fatty. Having said that, it's *really* hard to get Italian wrong. I've made homemade pasta, homemade sauces, etc, that taste 100x better than what I had at Rose Angelis. Considering all of the positive reviews, I was a bit shocked. My caesar salad was something out a bag - not fresh croutons, stale romaine lettuce, and a generic, clearly not homemade dressing. Then the pasta!! I ordered what was advertised as pesto pasta. What came out was pasta with basil leaves. It had absolutely no flavor (at least add some garlic and salt!). I usually devour Italian food and I had three bites and couldn't finish it, it was that bad. I rarely ever send food back but had to send this back. Overall, very disappointing experience. My boyfriend ordered a seafood dish and that was also subpar but not as bad as my salad + pasta experience. Will not be going back.
(1)
Christine L.

We ate outside and the atmosphere was perfect, not to crowded and very ideal. And portions are giant which is always a plus!
(5)
Nicole W.

As always, the food at Rose Angelis was phenomenal. However, when we arrived to be seated, we waited about 10 minutes before someone was able to pull it together to seat us. Once seated, the server seemed stretched thin. She was VERY nice, but overwhelmed it seemed. The cardinal sins of not checking on drinks (which we would probably would have had another had anyone asked) and having to wait for the bill and the receipt were also committed. I have been here many times, but my dining partner had not been there. He commented on how poor the service was, but that the food made up for it.
(4)
S L.

My husband and I come here often. The food is so plentiful that at times we'll only order appetizers and share them. My recommendations are the carne asada bruschetta. It's addictive! Next would be the grilled calamari. They are large, steak like pieces. Dessert? The ESPRESSO CHEESECAKE! It is a must if you are having dessert here! It's a favorite. Your belly will thank you! Rose Angelis is a staple in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, but there are plenty of patrons who come in from out of town. The patio is beautiful on a warm, summer day. Looking forward to being out there soon.
(5)
Jeremy G.

I love Rose Angelis. LOVE it. I took my parents here when they visited Chicago - my mom wants to come back every time they're in town. I've taken my girlfriend there on dates - she loves it as much as I do. There's nothing better, in my mind, then the lasagna. It's huge, but more importantly, it's just the best I've had. I don't even need to write much more about it - it's just great. Desserts are also consistently delicious. Can't go wrong, they're really good. Now, that being said, I will caution you: I really did NOT like their putanesca (too salty), and I've been burned twice because I've wanted alla fruiti de mare (i.e. seafood), I think because it was too fishy. But the ambiance, prices, portions, and staff are more than enough to keep me coming.
(4)
Casey C.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. The atmosphere, the food, the wine and the prices are great. Prices are amazing as the entrees are enormous and I usually end up having lunch for the next day. Service has always been top notch and the specials have never disappointed.
(5)
Rodger W.

Really enjoyed the Zuppa di Pesce. Very flavorful and loaded with seafood. Also, the insalada of the day was top notch. The server was excellent, the prices reasonable, and the portions are huge. I understand that most people like huge portions, but the food was so good that it was not necessary given the reasonable prices. Also, the patio was very nice on a warm early autumn day. I will be back.
(4)
Lucas C.

the first time i visited rose angelis was over 10 years ago and was absolutely impressed with the quality of the food and atmosphere. it has been a couple of years since i last visited the restaurant and i have to say that i do not intend on returning. i think that they maybe they have added more tables and it is detracting from the quality of service and the feeling of an intimate atmosphere. inside it is noisy and crowded. one woman's chair was so close to the men's room entrance that it was practically impossible not to brush up against her when i went to use it. the bar area in the front was literally shoulder to shoulder. the patio is much more quiet and the tables aren't quiet so close together. service was the most disappointing, it was slow and did not feel personalized for the price level of the restaurant. it took 10 minutes to get our first drinks and it got slower from there. from start to finish it took an hour and a half, and most of it was spent waiting to get attention from our server. the food quality is still very good. i thought the red sauce lacked a lot of flavor and would suggest that it only be ordered with an entree that has a flavorful meat. the brown sauce is pretty much perfect and so was their eggplant.
(1)
Bryan B.

Rose Angelis is definitely a place to take out-of-towners as it is not all touristy. This is a place they'd never find on their own. And you will not find a place like this in the 'burbs either. Excellent. ambiance. A vintage residential-looking building with odd traffic flow and funky spaces for tables. The garden dining space is off-the-hook excellent. The food options and quality very very high. Many vegetarian options as well. Creativity is significantly higher tan you might expect.
(4)
Sarah Beth B.

We headed here for a slightly delayed valentine's day dinner, and were't disappointed with our date night at all. The dark back room is perfect for a date, as evidenced by all the couples there, even though our early reservation time meant there were a lot of kids at the tables near the front. They brought us lots of yummy bread to start, which is an immediate way to earn yourself an instant two stars in my book. For our food, we decided to split some kind of special salad to start. It was, sadly, quite a disappointment. WAY underdressed, and all the veggies were ENORMOUS. The presentation was cool, but I always prefer something delicious and manageable to beautiful. Chopped and tossed with more dressing, it would have been a star. Our mains, however, more than made up for any disappointment. I got gnocchi with roasted chicken, dates, sun-dried tomatoes, and cream sauce, and... some more delicious stuff. The gnocchi were light as air, a perfect complement to the rich toppings. My boyfriend got my favorite dish on the menu, the duck tortollini. I dream about this stuff. Served with spinach, tomatoes, a rich broth and plenty of cheese on top, this is a perfect dish. There's TONS of food, but that's ok, because it tastes even better the next day. We were in a rush to make it to a show, so we didn't stay for dessert, but our awesome server made sure we were out of there with perfect timing, so all in all, it was a perfect end to a great meal.
(4)
Emily B.

This place is the epitome of hidden gem. You'd think this place would be slammed since it's in the heart of Depaul, but it turns out the co-eds aren't interested in eating home-cooked, authentic Italian food, tucked away in a cute little house, with huge portions at reasonable prices. Did I mention our left overs lasted for 3 days?
(4)
Anthony T.

WOW what cant i say about this place! i came to Chicago to see the Mets Vs Cubs on Saturday and we needed a place to go eat at. we attempted to book a reservation at another location which was booked and we decided to take a subway ride and found ourselves at Rose Angelis! this restaurant is very GREAT. the environmental and the neighborhood was very good and cozy. they were VERY nice every staff member who worked there. it's a very nice home style restaurant great for groups and families. they give you bread and olive oil dip which is VERY delicious! between my group of friends' we got pasta and steak. well i was the one who got the NY Style Steak and it was DELICIOUS! the food is not even as expensive as we come from NYC we are used to expensive food. to the food it was slamming if you ever go i suggest you get that! their food portions are very plentiful! you will be able to leave and take some food home as well. me and our friends are very friendly so we were joking around with the staff and they loved us. we even got a free dessert on the house! we are HIGHLY pleased with this restaurant and highly suggest anyone in Chicago or visiting Chicago MUST go visit here! we are going to be coming here next time we are in Chicago!
(5)
Parisa H.

My husband and I have been here several times and loved the food. their wed/thursday specials are awesome and totally worth it! The food is always consistently delicious and the portions are HUGE! my friend and I rented out their private space for our husbands birthdays and had about 20 people there. Everything was great, they even printed out specialized menus. Service was on top of everything and working with Brian planning the event was super easy and stress free. Not to mention the food was great as always. I'd definitely go back and have another gathering there.
(5)
Lynn K.

I have heard AMAZING things about this place for the past three years. We were finally in the neighborhood and gave it a try. We went on a Sunday night and the place was quasi busy, but not busy enough for the poor service we received. We were seated with about a ten minute wait, in a Tundra like attachment and approached by our sever. I was away from the table, so she came back about 5 minutes after I returned. She took our order and I was happily awaiting our food. During the 20 minute + wait, I over head another server talk about all of these fabulous specials occurring that night. I asked for the manager and told him how our server neglected to tell us about these and his response in a nutshell was "I can bring you out ravioli, but at this point does it really matter' No was my answer and his. Our food eventually came was was HORRIBLE. I thought the experience thus far was so terrible why even bother to mention how awful our food was. We ate, paid (full price) and left. I called when I got home to voice my shock over the experience and spoke with Brian, who was RUDE beyond words. He offered a $25 gift card...(why would I want to go back ?!???!?!??) and I said thanks but no, you had one first impressions and it was lost. He then said said " have a great week and hung up on me. I would never go back nor would I encourage others to visit. The food, service and environment was far subpar than any other Italian place in the city. Not to mention the rude employee, Brian. Find another place!!!!
(1)
Lee R.

Things got off to a disorganized start, but eventually the service caught up and the food was wonderful. A lovely evening in the garden, low noise, pleasant surroundings.
(4)
Robyn O.

Best sit-down Italian food in Chicago! As a foodie who's lived in Italy and tried Italian food throughout the world, I have pretty high standards, and Rose Angelis meets them all. The ambiance is romantic and authentic, and the staff is attentive without bombarding you. I try and find every excuse to come here, whether on a date with someone special, with the family, or for a special occasion. Go on a Tuesday for 1/2-priced wine or on a Thursday for a dinner for 2 special for a good price and lots of delicious food! You honestly can't go wrong with anything on the menu from the veggie pizza special to the caprese salad to the chicken marsala to the pumpkin filled ravioli. My favorite dish is the lasagna, though- best I've had since eating in Florence (but the portion is enormous so definitely split it!). If you still have room, the bread pudding isn't so bad either... Come hungry and enjoy- you won't regret it!
(5)
Stella W.

One of my faves italian place in the city. Intimate/cozy settings since the restaurant is literally inside a house. The pasta are freshly home made. The food is really tasty, and prices are very reasonable! If you come on a friday, they have a friday only chicken dish. They literally cut up the whole chicken, baked it in over with some olive oil and sides together. Soo tender and juicy!
(4)
Jeremy L.

I joined Yelp specifically to review Rose Angelis. This is by far, my favorite restaurant in all the land. The food, staff and restaurant in a converted house on Wrightwood is simply the best. Imagine your favorite type of movie and substitute. Mine is romantic comedy. Rose Angelis is like the scene in the rom com when the boy and girl (or boy and boy) finally realize they should be together and everything is lovely and fun. That is Rose Angelis: lovely and fun. When the professional server comes to your table to tell you all the amazing specials, bring a pad of paper to write them down. Musts: Get the special salad. Whatever you do, get it. It is a salad volcano. Any of the pasta dishes will be great. Get wine, you have to, it is Italian place. For dessert: you will probably be way too stuffed, but just keep going. The strawberries in caramel is a perfect way to end the evening. One thing about Rose Angelis, you can't just go once. - Enjoying Rose Angelis since 2007
(5)
Christopher R.

Front of the house was lacking again. Sort of as if they are reinventing the seating chart and entire spatial layout each time you come in. The food was excellent, as always, but the service is making the experience much less than worth the wait. Hope they get it figured out. We saw a number of frustrated would-be patrons give up and leave while there were still plenty of empty tables. Made no sense and felt like something less than what we were used to in the past.
(2)
Susan F.

Came back again and had the minestrone soup, caprese salad, and Zuppa de Pesce. ALL DELICIOUS-O. The soup was better than any minestrone I've ever had. Let's just say it was nothing like Campbell's soup. It was hearty and had depth. The caprese salad comes with 4 large tomatoes and 4 equally large pieces of mozz--as it should :) The fish broil was HUGE. It came out in a pot bigger than my head. I think that 3-4 people could share this. There were mussels, shrimp, white fish (I think), chunks of polenta, and octopus/squid. It was spicy and left us full, but not stuffed. I would highly recommend it! The service was lacking on a late Friday night, but the food was still amazing.
(5)
Dan L.

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. Such a cool hidden location in a quiet residential neighborhood. Have gone here many times over the years and never disappointed. The service is top notch and they go out of their way to make you feel like you are at home. Going in their dining room is like going to a friends house to eat. I always get a pasta when I am there but the girlled calamari and asparagus are great apps. Wine list is extensive and not that expensive. They do a great job with specials as well. I like that you can now make reservations for 2 but if there is a wait a cool bar called Maeve is across the street. I always recommend this place to friends going on dates. Will continue to go here once-twice a year
(5)
Katie T.

I finally made it!!! Everything was super fresh and amazing. Every special the waitress described sounded like a flavor symphony. I will be back and bring all my friends.
(5)
Julie Z.

3 stars for my first trip but I'm expecting to be able to give a better review the next time around. This restaurant was once a house. I personally love thinking about what the rooms used to be and who lived there. Lame, I know but it feels homey and comfortable. There are several rooms to eat it. I ate in the largest dining area. I came on a whim on a random night. Service was attentive and friendly. Menu: Caesar salad: big enough for two and delicious. Calamari: cut thick in a spicy balsamic sauce. Interesting flavors which also means delicious. It was a hit. Duck pasta: Eh. I should have ordered something more standard...like start with a pasta in a tomato based sauce. This is why I want to go back. The duck pasta was the only thing I didn't really like. The wine selection is average but do-able. Great for dates, family nights, and groups of friends.
(4)
M M.

We had wanted to try this restaurant for a very long time. We just did and it was a terrible meal!! All the sauces were watery and flavorless. The place was old and very dirty. I'm surprised the restaurant has been in business for all these years. Save your time and money and go somewhere else!
(1)
Jean W.

The manicotti and the spinach pasta were great. Definitely worth the wait and the price.
(4)
Dave V.

Nice neighborhood spot with good Italian food and reasonable prices. The Gorgonzola stuffed tortellini with grapes and walnt pesto was nice. And awesome desserts. The pear lasagna , caramel sauce and pumpkin ice cream was very good and enough for 2 minimum. Friendly helpful service. Got there on a Sunday at 430. People waiting to get in and it was full by the time we left.
(4)
He And She I.

If you want to get old-fashioned service from a knowledgeable waitstaff, get a reservation at Rose Angelis, sit back, and enjoy. The wine is good, the atmosphere is great, except for the noise level. Prices are extremely reasonable for the metro area, and the presentation is inventive. Enjoy! (But plan on spending a little time looking for street parking.)
(5)
Jim S.

I had high hopes and had heard of this place for years. The rooms were nice enough, somewhat dim and noisy - could use some acoustic adjustments. Food was not so good. Our appetizer ( grilled calamari ) was large slices of large calamari body that seemed more boiled rubbery, and tastless than grilled and flavorful. Maybe that's me, as I am used to smaller squid that is tender and quickly grilled full of flavor. This was definitely over done and served in a heavy, almost gravy sauce that killed what calamari flavor was present.Ordered linguini with mixed seafood for main course. First mussel I tasted had turned, so didn't even try the others, The whole thing was overdone, tiny rubbery scallops, rubbery calamari rings. Shrimp was ok. , but slightly overdone as well - even the linguini was a bit soft and over done, beyond al dente for sure. The red sauce in the dish was good with decent fresh taste but lacking in seasoning. Nice neighborhood feel and good location, maybe stop in for wine and salad or bruschetta but steer away from seafood
(2)
Angela M.

Rose Angelis was disappointingly average. Part of the problem is that it was hyped up quite a bit as being awesome, both by a couple of my friends who I was dining with and by random acquaintances I unexpectedly ran into outside the restaurant on our way in. The service was prompt and our server was very friendly. Not knowledgeable about the wine list, though. No biggie - he asked someone and got back to my friends quickly with a wine I think they all enjoyed. The real problem was the food. It had no taste whatsoever. Totally bland. We had an underwhelming plate of mussels in an underwhelming (see: tasteless) red sauce as an appetizer. Then I had a completely tasteless piece of grilled salmon in a tasteless red pepper cream sauce with tasteless roasted vegetables for dinner. At lease I could take solace in ordering something healthy, right? Except for the cream sauce? I sampled my friend's pumpkin ravioli, which our waiter claimed was "to die for". There were some good bits in there, like walnuts and some cinnamon flavor, but it was all but washed out by a completely flavorless white sauce. All the calories, but none of the flavor. Not worth it. I was still able to enjoy the dining experience and many of my friends claimed their food was really good. Definitely disappointing for a recommended Italian place in the city. Not worth the trip back from the suburbs or the prices for sure.
(3)
Jason K.

I went here for a quiet double date night. Something about finding a wonderful hole in the wall in a pleasant neighborhood is always heart warming. Our waiter was excellent. Always attentive to our needs but never pushy or hurrying us. We followed his recommendations and each dish was delicious. Perhaps the olive based pasta was a little strong for my liking but the gnocchi in the cream sauce is a must and the deserts were large and filling.
(5)
Amanda F.

The lasagna is the size of a square tissue box, yet the wine glasses are the size of a Tylenol bottle. Bizarre portions aside....Rose Angelis is great! The menu, pricing, and staff were fantastic compliments to great Italian food. My friend had the Lasagna, which he will be eating for the next week, and I had the Duck tortellini. The $13 monstrous Lasagna needed a little more meat, but it was full of ricotta and flavorful pasta sauce. The duck had a smoky flavor that complimented the sweet of the pine nuts and sauteed spinach. The cheese didn't exactly mix well with the soupiness of the wine sauce, so I probably would have chosen more a drier, grated Parmesan than a melted Mozzarella. Still, it was yummy. The bread was nothing special. The tiramasu drizzled with a sweet cream sauce over top isn't as traditional as what I am used to, but it was still very tasty. I've ordered an entire pan of it for a party once, and it was a BIG hit. The menu was diverse and substantial. I was a little hard pressed to find lighter Italian fare, so make sure you are ready for huge portions and a lot of cheese. Rose Angelis is a real gem in Lincoln Park. There is nothing else like it. The back seating area is a little loud, but it is still intimate. I've heard there is also a very nice patio. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)
Candace R.

I just moved right around the corner from Rose Angelis and am SO excited that I can call this a neighborhood spot! The atmosphere is cozy, rustic, and old-school Italian. The food is amazing and our server was extremely thorough, friendly, and attentive. The only thing that prevented a 5 star rating was the initial wait to be seated (it wasn't busy, but we waited about 15 minutes for someone to come to the front and seat us). But this definitely wouldn't steer me away from coming back here again because everything else was completely above my expectations. See you soon!
(4)
Jami S.

My friend had a surprise bday party for his girlfriend here a week ago. We had a large group, probably around 20ish people and sat outside in the terrace. The service was great, for only having 1 server and all those people eating dinner. She was friendly and attentive to our large group. The food was good too. My boyfriend and I both had pasta and they were great. The caprese salad was my fav! Great neighborhood restaurant and we will def be back!
(4)
Kelly L.

This restaurant is destination worthy. We ate outside on a beautiful evening, surrounded by other diners who seemed to be enjoying themselves beneath the romantic stringed lighting as much as our party. We started with a bottle of Montepulciano and the baked eggplant appetizer, which was delicious. My sister and her fiance ordered flavorful pasta dishes, both AMPLE amounts. Although the portions were huge, one has to remember that this is an Italian restaurant! Yay for leftovers:-) I had the Zuppe de Pesce, extremely flavorful and chock full of tender pieces of seafood. Definitely make a stop here. I can only assume that any dish you order will be more than delicious. The menu definitely offers more than enough, but the waiter will fill you in on the ample amount of specials for the day- everything is so fresh!
(4)
Eumi C.

I love Italian food, and homemade pasta the most. Some of the pastas were yummy, and some were bland and not as good as I had imagined in my head. The linguine was good, but we altered it by adding a spicy marinara sauce. The special braised short rib ravioli was good, but the sauce was kind of sweet. We got a pear dessert and it was interesting, but there was a LOT of caramel on it. The pumpkin ice cream was more of a sorbet and kind of icy instead of nice and creamy. The tiramisu was strange... fat layer of fudge on the bottom...which I have never seen before.... The server. He was the most un-humorless odd awkward awkward (2 awkwards necessary) guy ever. He was telling us the specials, and I was asking my friend something and he stopped talking, almost in a, "can I continue, you're being rude" fashion. He blamed the kitchen for a lot of things when he didn't want to accommodate simple things; ie) getting a couple spicy peppers, not letting us pack a dessert that we wanted to go because the kitchen wouldn't allow it. WHAT?!?! Anyways, I don't know if it was on off night, or the server was just a weirdo. I might try it again with a smaller group (we had 8) and see if there is a difference.
(3)
Adrianer G.

Inedible food. Filthy dining room. Factory assembly line service. Disney style Italian atmosphere. I've been hearing about this place for a long time and, after many years living, eating, & loving life in Chicago, I finally tried it. Never ever ever again. This place is a WASTE OF REAL ESTATE in a great food town! There are countless GREAT Italian restaurants here. This is NOT one of them. Please, do the neighborhood and real Italian food lovers a favor and get while the getting is good. Then a real restaurant can move in.
(1)
Tal R.

First time last night and it was quite the surprise. After filling up on bread and bruschetta I ordered the Lasagna. I will have food till Tuesday. The portions are enormous! It is not super expensive either, my entree was $15.95. Only downside is they dont take reservations but that is obvisouly looked over
(5)
Chowhound C.

Aside from the sparse parking and weak air conditioner, this place is obviously doing things right to be celebrating their 20th anniversary. They take simple ingredients and turn them into, well.......anything but simple. One thing for certain is the bread pudding is beyond words can describe. Cake-like and buttery, yet savory and sweet, this concoction of goodness is bathing in a silky caramel sauce. Yes, the entrees were good, but the main event for me was the bread pudding, duh! -Chowhound Chick chowhoundchick.blogspot.â€¦
(4)
Chris M.

I'm going to give this place 5 stars, although I'm not too harsh of a critic. The dishes me and my girlfriend had were both individually, the best and unique Italian dishes we had ever tried. Totally impressed! I had the salmon filled raviolini in a basil pesto cream sauce with chopped kalamata olive. Full of flavor! She, one of the specials, "Manicotti del Giorno" which was really unique. The service was grade. Server didn't rush us, and guided us through the menu, and recommended wines. The atmosphere is perfect for a casual date. I really like the prices at this place. Every plate is generally under $20, and the all glasses of wine are $7. You get much more here for your dollar than other places on par. Would def recommend, and would def go back.
(5)
Christina G.

When I moved to Chicago here 5 years ago, one of my friends, a life-long Chicagoan (actually a Skokie-an, now a Chicagoan), told me she and her husband's favorate Italian place was Rose Angelis. I never had the chance to come until last night though. I came with 3 friends, and FYI they don't take reservations, so it's first come, first serve. We came at 7pm on a Saturday, and were told the wait was 45 minutes, actually turned out to be an hour. We were seated in the first small room, which I think was probably quieter than the main dining area, as there were only 4 tables in this room. So that was great. Our waitress was hilarious, kind of theatrical, and really nice. There was a good 40 minutes that she kind of seemed to disappear and we could have used another glass of wine. I had the red house zinfandel, which was really good. The olive oil was awesome! With the bread of course. One friend ordered the lasagna, which he loved, and another friend ordered gorgonzola tortellini which she also liked. Two of us ordered the special for the night, which was a linguini with duck sausage, a cream asiago sauce, and spinach, bell peppers, and mushrooms. It was ok. The sauce was really heavy and the duck sausage just tasted a little weird to me, and I generally love duck, but I guess sausage is different. Could have used more vegetables in the dish. Also, this is kind of weird, but the only steak on the menu is NOT available on Friday/Saturday nights, which I thought was not only strange, but disappointing for my friend, who had his heart set on the dish. Everyone got doggie bags, except me, and I thought the waitress was going to cry from disappointment. I definitely want to come back to try some different dishes.
(3)
Chicago L.

Love this place! Lucky me, It's also across the street from my house so that helps :) Wonderful menu and wine list and always smiles from the staff. They don't take reservations but you can give them your number and go across the street for a drink!
(5)
Michael B.

Food was delicious. I had the Rigatoni Alla Lorena and highly recommend it. Atmosphere was quaint and a nice date spot.
(5)
Sarah M.

I didn't like right off the bat how they didn't seat us even though we had 6 out of our 8 party there. The food is delicious and I recommend you split the dish otherwise you'll have a lot of left overs to take home. We had a party of 8 but they didn't include tip like the menu said it would which was a little confusing.
(3)
Marisa V.

A hidden gem in the heart of Lincoln Park. Come hungry - the portions are massive! But here quantity does not sacrifice quality. Everything was amazing, and there is something for everyone. I got the lasagna and it lasted me 3 meals! My mom got the Salmon Pesto Ravioli, boyfriend ordered the Duck Fettuccine and my grandma got the Shrimp and Scallops pasta. All dishes were fantastic and everyone was blown away by the taste. This is a delicious, cheap spot. Perfect for out-of-towners, parents, date night, etc. Go here now!!!
(4)
Jeff R.

As I mentioned on Monday, Erica and I went to Rose Angelis for a Valentine's Day dinner. We had never been and had only heard good things. What made it even better was the dinner special for two, that included a bottle of prosecco, an appetizer, two salads, two mains and a dessert. Unfortunately the value may have been the best part of the evening, besides the company of course, since our food was only so-so. Oh well, it wasn't the first time a neighborhood Italian spot has dissapointed, and since they are still full most nights I guess I'm in the minority. The place is cute enough, set inside an old house that feels as if they've been there forever. I was surprised how far back it went, and how many seats were actually there. Everyone talks about the romantic charm and feel, but I'd say it just feels quaint and old fashioned. Old does not necessarily mean romantic and charming. Our service was very good and attentive, always filling glasses and removing plates as necessary. The food however was disappointing. Our appetizer was one of the specials, a pizza topped with all sorts of good stuff - sun dried tomatoes, cheese, pine nuts, mushrooms and a tomato pesto spread. It's hard to explain but the pizza was not that tasty. I loved the crust, and each ingredient was fresh, but the total flavor package did not work for me. It certainly was filling, we left a few pieces on the table to make room for the entrees. Our cesar salad course came next. It was fine and plenty large, the dressing was not overpowering. For our entrees I chose spinach pasta half-moon filled with ricota, served in a brown butter sauce. Erica ordered a seafood linguine in red sauce. My pasta was the best dish we ordered all night, with plenty of flavor and well cooked pasta. The sauce was a little sweet for me, but it tasted better the following day. Erica's dish did not have good flavors, with a very watery and lackluster red sauce over undercooked pasta. The seafood was fine, though hard to tell since the red sauce was so bland. Our dessert selection was great though: chocolate fondue. It came with some fruit, pound cake and cheese cake. If I had my way there would have been some marshmallows, but even so, it was very good (with many tables around us inspecting our choice). I don't mean to sound like a downer, since we had a nice evening at a local spot with good service and value. We were dissapointed with the food, especially after all the good things we had heard. It happens, but with so many "cute" Italian restaurants in the city it's hard to say we'll be back soon. I'm glad we ended on high note, and after all, the only thing that matters on Feb 14 is the person sitting in the seat across from you.
(2)
Becca S.

Absolutely delicious. I strolled in on a Tuesday night with a girlfriend for dinner and it everything was amazing. To start (not including the loaf of bread I scarfed down), we shared a special salad. I can't remember what it was called, but I'd go back and just get that for my dinner. It was an "everything but the kitchen sink" salad, but with unusual and delicious items, not eggs and chickpeas. Purple potato? Don't mind if I do. Cucumber cut like a pickle? I'll take that! For my main I had the egg plant parm. It was the size of half the table which is probably the only negative I have about the restaurant. I'm not a huge fan of leftovers. I'd rather be given a portion that a normal human can eat in one sitting. We had split a bottle of wine before we got there so I didn't get anything to drink, but I won't make that mistake again! I can't foresee ever saving room for dessert though. The food is too good.
(5)
Lynn R.

Things I hate: pretentious, fancy pants Italian. Things I love: Rose Angelis. I've been to Italian places where you get 1 ravioli with such beautiful plating that you're supposed to weep openly. And I've left those same places thinking I would've rather went to Olive Garden. Rose Angelis does Italian right. Well-made food, traditional recipes, and heaping portions of it! I want Italian where I have to seriously consider unbuttoning my pants and Miss Angelis fits the bill. The place is tucked away in Lakeview. A few years ago, I lived three blocks away and never heard of it (my bf gets all the credit for introducing me to this hidden gem). Rose Angelis is the chameleon of restaurants - come here for a romantic date (which I've done), a casual dinner with a group of friends (done that too), or a non-touristy restaurant spot to impress out-of-towners (and check). The regular menu is phenom; but pay close attention the specials. I think everytime I've come here, I've ordered one of their specials. If they're offering the manicotti, go for it. I'd consider giving up my future first born child for the manicotti. They use some kind of mozzarella that has a little bit of smokiness to it and enhances the overall flavor of such a simple dish. The Duck torellone is amazing too and if you're overwhelmed and don't know what to choose, this is a great go-to. And yes, some people have complained about the wait as Rose Angelis doesn't take reservations. But haven't you heard the expression "good things come to those who wait"? Besides, if you give them your cell phone number, you can skip over to Maeve, the bar next door, and have a few pre-dinner drinks and they'll call you when your table is ready. Oh oh! One last awesome thing : you WILL have leftovers.
(5)
Michael H.

You really need to disregard all previous review, except for the great ones (nasty reviewers are usually just crabasses anyway). After my second visit this weekend, I believe that I am qualified to make an educated review. Zuppa di Pesce is ridiculously awesome. There is a ton of seafood, and the spice is perfect. Bruschetta di Carne Asada is no doubt one of the best things on the menu. No explanations, just order it. Should you be a vegetarian, who are you kidding wearing all that leather, just order it, you'll be glad you did. Pork Chop Ripiene con Polenta e Spinaci was awesome too. I cannot stress enough how this is the best place for Italian in the city of Chicago. If you don't visit Rose Angelis you probably still live with your parents, and put ranch dressing on everything. You know what I mean...
(5)
Christine and Ronnie W.

I love this place. Seriously, ever time I go, I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside. The staff is awesome, the food is amazing, and the bread pudding.... don't even get me started on that. Even if you don't typically enjoy bread pudding, order it. The caramel sauce is beyond words. And it's absolutely huge. I can't eat bread pudding anywhere else now. I have been spoiled for life. Parking can be tricky, but they take reservations now, even for small groups, so that is a major plus!
(5)
N C.

BOTTOM LINE: great atmosphere and excellent pasta. great for dinner with friends Any of the pastas are good; avoid the pizza. Not BYOB.
(4)
Michelle N.

I no longer live in Chicago, but was very much looking forward to my Birthday Celebration at Rose Angeli's while I was back in town. As usual, the food was quite good - with one exception. We mostly all ordered the prixe fixe dinner which came with a caesar salad. The caesar salad was very disappointing. They gave you a plate of lettuce, with some croutons, and dressing on the side. Caesar should really be pre mixed with the dressing - not so easy to do on your own at the table. The service on the other hand, was very disappointing. One of the managers, Brian, was still setting up our table when we arrived (10 minutes before the reservation). He was rude to us and practically kept pushing us out of the way when we tried to make our way back to the table to wait (b/c the area up front in the restaurant was too crowded to wait). Our server was also rather "absent" the entire night. She seemed quite overwhelmed with serving a large table (17 people) and didn't really know how to be attentive to the table. It probably didn't help that she knew she was including a set "tip" amount with the bill, so her service didn't really have to be all that great and she would still receive a good tip for the overall table. Overall, not the best experience and wouldn't recommend it based on service alone to a large group.
(2)
Jess L.

Some of the best gnocchi ever, hands down. Cute decor with a neighborhoody feel. A bit pricey but elegant in style.
(4)
Noor B.

Great little gem located in the heart of Lincoln Park. It's in a converted 3 story walk-up on Wrightwood with a red striped awning- you can't miss it. Once inside, you'll find a bar to the right with plenty of Italian wines and a patio to the left. Directely ahead is room after room of dining space. I love the first room where you can look directly into the kitchen to see the Chef preparing your meal. The Chef is also one of the co-owners. My personal favorite is the classic salad which includes everything under the kitchen sink with a delicious curry spiced dressing. Anything pasta is amazing- particularly the lasagna. Be warned, however, the portions are huge! This is a great date place where you could come, enjoy a bottle of wine (certain nights are 1/2 off bottles) split a salad and entree and call it a night!
(4)
David H.

Amazing neighborhood joint in Lincoln park. Great food, great service. One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago and a must stop when I visit good friends there.
(5)
Dev S.

Awesome Awesome Italian food. Staff is very helpful and friendly. Portion sizes are huge. Well worth the money.
(5)
Frederick W.

This is the place you didn't even know you were looking for, but are so happy you finally found your way to, that you can't wait to go back again...and again!
(5)
Liz W.

My husband and I were looking for a nice little romantic place to eat and this came recommended so we gave it a whirl. I agree the decor is a little over the top but it was still very quaint romantic with our mood going in. We found them to be very friendly and accomodating and our waitress was very on the ball with service and suggestions which we always appreciate. I was ODing from all the heavy food I had eaten over the weekend and decided to go lighter. James had some incredible tasting lasagna but I went lower carb with a portabello, chicken, spinach and fresh mozzarella layered creation. It was very flavorful and tasty but I admit I was jealous of the lasagna. I really liked the selections of wine by the glass (as James does not partake) and I chose a very nice pinot noir which made me happy. Dessert made up for any sadness over lasagna, it was chocolate fondue with strawberries, bananas, blackberries, pound cake and Amaretto cheesecake for dipping. Gah, all my good intentions went right out the window. I did not regret a bite of it.
(4)
Sara S.

Yum!! What a cool place with extraordinary food! I've been told by a few people that it's a favorite of theirs- it seems people either love it, or haven't heard of it. It's on a quiet neighborhood street in an old house- as soon as you walk in you know it's gonna be an authentic experience. We walked in at 8p on a Friday and were told it would be a 45 min wait, so we sat at the bar and ordered a bottle of wine. About 30 min later we were seated in the back area. It was cozy and romantic but also bustling with activity. It reminded me of a mix between quartinos and Paris club restaurant with a family feel. Now onto the food... The olive oil you get on the table is infused with thyme and garlic, so it's very tasty. We skipped on appetizers and desserts because we heard the entrees were so big. I got the chicken florentine. Very good- reminded me of a chicken Kiev with spinach and cheese inside. The risotto that came with it was good, but not the best I ever had. My bf was the clear winner with the special he ordered- mushroom tortalini with cream sauce of mushroom and cranberry. He devoured it and loved every minute of it. I usually don't like cream sauces but I kept stealing bites. Overall, a fun, cozy place with great food!
(4)
Sarah S.

Last night my boyfriend and I went to Rose Angelis for dinner. It is a frequent date spot for us because it's close to home and we are guaranteed to have leftovers for a least a couple of meals. We always order the pizza appetizer which is a MUST! Each time it varies a bit because they use different ingredients but the one thing that is consistent is that it tastes delicious. It has a thin wheat crust that is crispy. It is then covered with fresh veggies and cheese and topped with fresh Parmesan cheese. I ordered the special pasta of the day which was very good and James ordered the special manicotti which was four tubes filled with Italian sausage and peppers. Although we did not save room for dessert, I highly recommend ordering their bread pudding. It is a thick piece of crunchy layered bread with hints of chocolate served in a pool of warm caramel. So delicious! This is a great date night spot.
(4)
julie l.

Rose Angelis is awesome in every way. The place is intimate yet big. If you go in the warmer months, the patio is among the city's cutest. Don't let the prices fool you- any entree is twice the portion size of elsewhere. This way I can eat here all the time by dividing the price in half and considering it two incredibly affordable meals. The food. The food is divine. It is exactly the right balance of something traditional and something interesting. The weekly soups are a must. My go-to dinner is the Pollo alla Marsala- layers of chicken breast and portobello in the most delicious sauce. I need to stop writing this review now because I have to figure out who will go there with me tonight immediately. Seriously.
(5)
Jonathan T.

This place is a great find. The restaurant itself is a little vintage building tucked away on Wrightwood near Southport. It's really intimate so it's an obvious choice for dates. I forget when, but they used to have one night per week that you could get an appetizer, two entrees and a dessert for just $50. I'm not sure they do it anymore, but if so, it's a good opportunity to try the restaurant.
(5)
Ry O.

Yelp, this is important ..... please make sure the owners get this review. What happened to the lamb sausage and polenta dish? I've been coming here every now and again for the past few years.... and I *always* get the lamb sausage and polenta, *always*. The lamb sausage and polenta is the reason I've brought so many people to your establishment (by people, I mean the five-star reviews below). Yesterday, after we were seated and given bread, I realized I didn't see the lamb sausage dish so I started to worry whether bread and water alone would constitute a meal. Fortunately, I talked myself into the duck tortellini which kept me from leaving dinner hungry... But it didn't feel right. Something was wrong. I miss eating baby sheep stuffed into casings, and I was hoping at least for some closure. What happened?
(5)
Vic C.

When walking up to the restaurant you,feel as though you are walking into a one room hole in the wall..... Little do you now that this place goes all the way back to the following streets alley. Good food (Linguini alla Mare was delicious). Good atmosphere. Reasonably priced. Good spot to go to if you're looking for a restaurant in the middle of LP.
(3)
Brooke L.

Wonderful neighborhood spot! Portions are extremely generous. Service is great. Cozy, family-feel space.
(4)
Katie Q.

Maybe it's because I hadn't been to an Italian restaurant in a long time and had been craving a delicious pasta dish, or maybe it was just because Rose Angelis really is that good. Either way, had a wonderful experience here. Seemingly small when you walk in, it opens to a much larger space, yet the atmosphere somehow maintains an intimate and charming aura. Dim lit and cozy, it creates a great vibe for a date as well as any occasion. The food was excellent - we ordered(on special) the gnocchi which was simply amazing, as well as the steak. Loved it, can't wait to go back and I've been recommending it to everyone.
(5)
Nichole M.

I am a little torn. I want to give it 3.5 stars I think. This was a very cute Italian restaurant. A nice boy took me here when we were looking for a nice place to have dinner after work. He told me that this restaurant has the best lasagna he has ever had. I, of course, having an Italian mother who specializes in lasagna could not order lasagna. I did try a bite and it was quite tasty. It had no meat in it and still was very flavorful, that is impressive. I had the ravioli filled with ricotta. Now, generally, ravioli is ravioli, but the sauce on this ravioli was delicious and the ravioli was cooked perfectly. While, I was not wowed, I really did enjoy it. I like the atmosphere of this restaurant. We sat outside, which was really nice. Now, the reason for the 3 instead of the 4, I didn't like the server. I don't know why, but he just rubbed me the wrong way. He was nice, but almost pushy or something. I can't really point out exactly why he bothered me. And while the food was very good, it was nothing to rave about. Hence, the 3 (or 3.5, if they would allow me to rate it that). I will try this place again and try a more unique dish perhaps, to get the full experience.
(3)
Ramya P.

Rich rich richie rich! Forget about your new years' resolution to try n eat healthy when you decide to come here. Seriously, wear pants that have a hidden elastic panel and you'll thank me. I'm not talking about the greasy messy fattiness. I'm referring to the cheesy, flavorful and hearty dishes that a grandma in an Tuscan village would cook. When you pull out a slice of the pizza, the mozzarella is so stretchy and stringy that you'll be wanting to order everything in the menu and not worry about its consequences. The tortelini with gorgonzola, lasagna and the eggplant parmesan which can be considered traditional Italian dishes are brought to life in a whole different way. Most of their pasta are prepared in-house and you can taste the freshness. The service was fantastic for our large table and our waiter did an exceptional job in reciting a huge list of special items not in the menu. Then, why just four stars you ask... The bread pudding. Its too caramelly sweet and rich for my palate. I really enjoyed the Tiramisu though. Definitely a place that's worthy of all the rave reviews.
(4)
Lori M.

Go on a Thursday when you can get the special. You will roll out of there so fat and happy, you won't know what to do with yourself.
(4)
Erin K.

Super duper amazing!! The duck tortellini thing is just outta this world.
(5)
Brick W.

My wife and I work multiple jobs, and own our own business... We eat out a lot... The staff at Rose Angelis are amazing, and they do have a lot to deal with in such a compact place with so many tables. They manage every time to make us feel like we are the most important diners in the restaurant the two times we've been there, that's pretty amazing in our book. The food is equally as amazing as the staff that serves it. The options manage to walk that fine line between comfort, and eclectic creative fare, and they're huge portions. I couldn't imagine this place legitimately disappointing anyone. It really is a gem of a restaurant and I've read they have some amazing vegetarian options. In whole it's amazing food, amazing people, amazing specials and values, and if your lucky you, while waiting on a taxi in the front bar area, might be invited to an impromptu wine tasting by some of the staff. We'll be going back, and taking lots of friends with us, you probably should too.
(5)
Allison C.

Incredible! This is a special occassion place, be prepared to wait for awhile, as they only take reservations for groups of 8 or more. But man, is it worth it! The olive oil has been infused with rosemary and other fresh herbs, and it's so delicious with their fresh baked bread. The pastas are all homemade, and the sauces robust. My husband had duck filled ravioli. The portions are HUGE! It's pricier than the average restaurant, but it's reasonable for the portions and quality of what you get. For dessert, we had arugula ice cream. Sounds weird, but it was so good.
(5)
Brett F.

Ahhh lovely, lovely Rose Angelis!!! When I lived in the neighborhood, I'd visit and mangia at least once a week in your comfy and adorable confines. These days I'm no longer a Lincoln Parker, but still find myself dreaming often of your Tortellone Anatra Ubriaco - translation: absolutely fabulous duck filled tortellone with fresh tomato, mozzarella and shaved parmesan floating delicately in a boozy frenzy of the bold and beautiful wine and cognac reduction. Orgasmic duck, duck, pasta aside... Rose Angelis serves up plenty more tasty, rustic fare in this off-the-beaten-path charming, comfortable setting. Set long and narrow in what almost appears to be an old living space, you'll find this to be a excellent and really versatile spot for making an impression... family dinners, first dates, special occasions, it just works here. Not fancy, but definitely muted and charismatic enough to be a really pleasurable experience. Funny Carol K. mentions their penchant for pine nuts... it's so true!! Rose Angelis is nutty for the SS Pine Nut (ahoy!)... so yeah, I hope you like 'em! If not, just ask for them to be removed but here's a little taste of what you can look forward to, the "Brett favs" if you will... I. Mezzalune al burro- spinach pasta half moons stuffed with ricotta and pesto served in a seasoned brown butter sauce with sundried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and parmagiana // To Die For! Really! Creamy, cheesy, decadent, filling... everything a true pasta dinner should be, and more! II. Zuppa di Pesce- fresh fish, mussels, shrimp, calamari and scallops simmered in a spicy tomato broth with polenta and farfalle // Ask for it extra spicy, I always do... Mmm the spicy is so sweeet, ya know? Let the sweat build up and bead on your brow; there's nothing like eating an Italian meal like a sweaty Goomba, with food like this you should, at minimum, look the part. III. Gnocchi con Prosciutto e Albiococca Secca- potato pasta served in a mascarpone cream sauce with dried apricots, prosciutto, scallions and walnuts. // Mama Mia! Little pillows of love... like soft, zaftig Double D's... you know you wanna put your head up on 'em. Or shove 'em in your mouth. Nasty Girl! The perfect balance of tangy and sweet, just like someone else I know. If that hasn't whet your appetite enough, you may want to scan their website for the recent addition of a weekday lunch menu and evening "recession relief" specials. Items like surf and turf ($12.94) or a full dinner for two including appetizer, entrÃ©e and dessert ($49) are a few of the tasty perks... looks like (good) sex on a plate just got cheap. Holla! A word to the wise: Rose Angelis only takes reservations for parties larger than 8, and even then you're not guaranteed you won't be lingering in the bar for a bit prior to being seated. I guess what they say it's true, good things are worth the wait. Order a glass of Chianti and pull up a bar stool, Babe, you're in for a treat!!
(4)
jeanmarie c.

Oh YUM. Went here when staying with Allie B. This place was just around the block and had delicious food, super attentive service, and reasonable prices. Reading over the reviews, I'm not quite sure what the one stars are all about. Our group of friends had the pasta w/grapes, the manicotti special (chicken, spinach, sundried tomatoes), and the pesto ravioli (? or something) with sundried tomatoes and toasted pine nuts. All were excellent. We also overate on bread (I could drink that dipping sauce w/a straw!) and then foolishly ordered a giant dessert. It was the strata with all sorts of fresh fruit and orange marscapone. It was so decadent that we are coming back asap with our fellow out of town guests! Why four stars? Because I wonder if the service/food varies so I'm going -- for the good of fellow yelpers -- undertake a study to determine whether it's just as delicious when I go back. This group will have some vegetarians so it should be a good test! Other things you should know: the water refill guy was ON his game tonight. He was checking on the food, refilling all glasses less than 75% full (a hyper pessimist--the glass can never be too full??), and offering to wrap food all while clearing the table. Our waitress was friendly, offered candid advice (steering us away from one of the specials), and was attentive. I apologize if this doens't make total sense flow-wise. I'm still in a food coma. Can't wait to go back!
(4)
Kathleen M.

My boyfriend and I go to Rose Angelis all the time. We are both very picky and plain eaters and each time the servers go out of their way to accommodate us! We live on Wrightwood so it's an easy place for us to love. The service and drinks are wonderful.
(5)
Rafael V.

Just really disappointing ... To put it politely. This was probably my worst Italian experince in Chicago (if you can even really call this food Italian - chipotle mayo? Cilantro vinaigrette? Can you say Identity crisis?). Lets start with what really matters, the Food. Everything we had was underwhleming, if not almost inedibile. The eggplant parmesan was a soggy mess of mushy eggplant smothered in a watery, bland poor excuse for a marinara sauce (which seeemed to appear on 90% of the menu along with Ricotta for some uncreative reason) , mozzerela and parmesan cheese that were obviously out of a bag. Nothing looked or seemed fresh. We managed to eat about half of this dish and gave it back. Next because we were already so disappointed, we decided to share one pasta and play it safe. We ordered a seafood pasta - linguine and shellfish in a white wine sauce. You really can't go wrong right? Wrong! The pasta was overcooked and swimming in a soupy mess of even more watery tomato sauce than the last horrible version we had on the first course. Worse, the seafood was obviously frozen and just really not worthy of a restaurat with the price points at this place. But at least they didn't forget to put a heaping handful of that parmesan from a bag on this seafood soup. This place either breaks or isn't aware of any of the basic rules of Italian food - like no cheese on shellfish. We made it through about a third of this dish because we were hungry until we resigned ourselves to quitting while we were ahead. Check please! Service: warma and friendly staff. I just wish they didn't seem so allof as to the poor quality of the food. Atmosphere: cozy. I can see why people like this place, but don't hypnotized by te quaintness of this place. Bad food is bad.
(2)
Jimbo M.

I freakin' love this place. Second time going there in a few months w/ the Mrs, which should say enough, and both times I've ordered the same dish, which should also serve as a compliment in itself. The bruschetta is awesome, definitely the best way to start off your meal. For the entree I have ordered the tortellone con salsa di noce each time, which is ridiculously good. I'll have to force myself to try something new the next time I'm in there, which will be soon I'm sure, but if you haven't been yet give it a shot. The atmosphere is great, perfect for dates or small groups. You'll probably have to drive or take a cab, which is it's only downfall, since it's not exactly in an ideal spot for CTA travel, but doesn't take away from the fact that it's a 5-star review and is my most recommended restaurant in Lincoln Park. BOOM.
(5)
Michael E.

This place is many things, but probably should be considered a good date place....well a good casual date place....noise level subtracts from any possibility of a romantic aspect, but don't let that deter you. Tucked away in a neigborhood...reminds me of places in NYC. This particular evening I has heading to a private party and my date has made a huge fruit pizza......yes, that is what I wrote....I never heard of a fruit pizza, but there we were....about to get a table and asked if they could store it in one of their coolers....which they said yes immediately.....add a star! We got a table in the back of the establishment which I'd say you should sit there at all costs....tables by the kitchen allow for WAY too much traffic. The back is darker and more intimate in my opinion. Wine to start....a light salad and then entrees...I had a pasta with chicken which was very good and my date had a pasta dish as well, though for the life of me I cannot remember what it was. She indicated it was good and I tried it and agreed. The place is a buzz with conversation and activity and if you decide to hit this place at the last minute do it before 8pm....we made a last minute choice to come here and hauled butt to get there before 8...15 minutes before 8 we were seated....I had reservation at another restaurant at 8:30 so I walked out to call and cancel and the front was packed with folks waiting for tables. The service was good, albeit not consistent except for the water refills. We asked for refills on wine only to wait a tad more than should be expected. Also, they had a lot of specials that night....like 7 and the waiter spouted all of them off....I cannot believe they remember all of those details...impressive. Wine was served in tumblers which is cool in my opinion, though a yelp friend of mine disagrees. But I have to admit it allows for a much smaller glass of wine. If I could give this place a half star I'd almost say this was a 3.5 rather than a 4....good food, but not fantastic...except for the portions.....service and noise took away, but still a place you should try.
(4)
Erica B.

Very nice find! Thank you Craig from Paul Mitchell for recommending. Had grilled asparagus... Yummy. Then Caesar salad, highly recommended. Then Manicotti for dinner. Split everything, and still had leftovers! Huge portions. We were too full to try the chocolate mouse trio.
(5)
Stacy S.

Have enjoyed and recommended this restaurant for years. Sad to say I no longer have the same opinion. The food was nothing but items covered in olive oil. Heavy oil! Would have stuck to the olive oil and bread if I knew that is what we were getting. Strong hopes for a better future but will personally not be there again with my husband.
(1)
Ellie M.

From the street this looks like a tiny hole in the wall but inside it surprises you with the amount of space and romantic ambience it holds! A co-worker had mentioned how great this place was and boy was he correct! On Wednesdays and Thursdays they have a Special $49 complete meal for two, including app of your choice, two ceasar salads and two entree's of your choice. It is an incredible value, the portions are HUGE! I mean like, you will have lunch and even maybe dinner the next day!!! The entree's of our choice were The Duck Tortellini and Gnocchi Prosciutto. Both were out of this world! The wait staff were as friendly as can be. A great place for date night but not for children, just not too many choices for kids unless you have an adventurous lil eater! A must go back for sure!
(5)
Alan M.

We arrived at Rose Angelis at 7:30, figuring we'd wait in the bar for 20-30 minutes. We were seated almost immediately... what a treat! For those who haven't been here (and I'm presuming that's most of you, or you wouldn't be searching for reviews of the restaurant on Yelp! now, would you?) Rose Angelis appears rather small from the street front, but it goes back farther than you can imagine. The restaurant is set up kind of like a train... one room, after another room, after another room, ad infinitum. As the matre'd walked us back to our table, in the far back, we walked through room after room, admiring the offerings we saw on the tables as we passed through each room. Passing from room-to-room we were bombarded with delicious aromas and vistas of beautifully prepared foods, by the time we finally arrived at our table (a bus transfer and a cab ride) we were properly salivating. We were not disappointed. We ordered a winsome Chianti, and started with a salad of mixed greens, heirloom cherry tomatoes, and a wonderful dressing. We followed with eggplant Parmesan, zuppa de pesce, duck tortellini, and special of the day ravioli with a cherry & pinenut dressing. I have to forewarn you. Bring your appetites, Rose Angelis doesn't know how to prepare anything small. I'm not a small guy... I have a good appetite, and rarely leave anything on my plate. We all took our meals home in doggy-containers (and the poor dog didn't get any of it).. for second and THIRD meals! Honestly, if we'd been eating sparingly, the four of us could have shared the eggplant Parmesan alone.... it was large enough to feed a small third-world country. Now... you'd think after all that food we wouldn't have enough room for dessert. And you'd be right, but that didn't stop us from sharing a Tiramisu. It was really a Tiramisu Tower!... About 8 inches tall, and about 4 inches square, it was a meal in itself. And while it didn't taste at all like a traditional Tiramisu... (no ladyfingers, very little rum flavour)... it was a treat of another style. Dense (like cheesecake), and flavourful throughout. Rose Angelis isn't a cheap night... (not after you've added a bottle of wine... or two... and dessert)... but for the amount of food they serve you, it's actually a great value... and the food was delicioso!! I'd go again, and this time I'd share an entree!
(4)
Lauren B.

What a charming and delicious restaurant. We stumbled upon it a few years ago after seeing it mentioned as one of the best hidden gems in Chicago. So true! I've been a handful of times and loved every dish. The portions are HUGE and usually last two to three meals. They recently started accepting online reservations which is a great bonus, because as of a year go I don't think they were accepting reservations at all. Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Wilm F.

This place has it together. Great food, great ambiance, and great price. My favorite is the lasagna. The Thing looked like a brick it was so huge. You have to try their dessert. The bread pudding hits the spot. Great date place.. Nice and cozy. Can't go wrong with anything on the menu. The service is great. The waiter/waitress will leave you impressed if you visit you'll know what I mean. I suggest making reservations if not you can always wait while drinking their good wine
(5)
Rosie H.

This is a cozy, lovely place. Eight of us, including two teenage boys, found this food inedible. Several of us only ate two or three three bites. Some of the issues: ingredients unidentifiable by taste, way too many ingredients in some dishes, conglomerations of ingredients that did not compliment each other, too salty, tasteless sauces, loaded with cheese and spinach. No culinary finesse. Huge portions,mostly uneaten. Not one of us took leftovers.
(2)
J F.

I've never done a review on Yelp and frankly never used my Yelp account for anything other than finding restaurants' locations but the food was so unbelievably bad (Fri 4/6) I felt compelled to say something and I wish Yelp allowed for zero star ratings. I'm new to Chicago but this is easily the worst restaurant I've been to in the city thus far. I grew up in NJ pizzerias and casual American Neapolitan style restaurants and I recognize, even appreciate localized American versions of the classics but this was just bad cooking. First the pros: The service was good. They were Friday-night slammed but still really cool and kept the flow going. Location..let's face it it's right there...super convenient for anyone that lives in the neighborhood and the idea of walking to the restaurant is attractive. The cons: The location must be the reason this place is still in business because the main detraction, and the only one that really matters, is that the food is awful. First off, the beauty of all Italian cuisines is the simplicity. Fish simply grilled, pasta with good oil and fresh herbs, steak with little or no seasoning, fresh cheeses with tomatoes, etc. These guys just don't get that. The had a beautiful calamari with a perfect sear on it and then covered (ruined) it with gobs of cheap gooey cheese, spinach (which gave off all it's water into the dish), raisins and God knows what else. I say this is not Italian cooking but more to the point this wouldn't work in any style. Every dish was truly a dog's dinner--everything thrown into a pan and cooked together. Also, someone needs to explain to the chef about draining the pasta. A little pasta water to help the sauce stick is expected but all four plates on our table were floating. Couple this with the spinach in every dish and the food was floating in a half-inch of water. The only plate that didn't have water was the Caprese salad, which should have, caused by them using non-fresh mozzarella cheese. Honestly, not only was the worst Italian I've ever had, it's the worst restaurant I've been to in Chicago. Not only was it untrue to it's roots the food is just plain horrid.
(1)
Annie N.

When someone asks you to dinner, the last thing you want to say is "eww I don't like Italian food". And if that someone happens to be a beloved ex-roommate who will soon leave for Argentina for a year, you should better put on a happy smile and oblige. But thank God, she picked Rose Angelis. And I now I have her to thank for helping me find this lovely neighborhood charm. The outside of Rose Angelis might make you think this place is tinny, but rest assure, it goes on and on and on, and you'll for sure have enough space. They only take reservation for party of 8 or more, but go anyway, they're busy but accommodating. Our waiter was very friendly and sweet. He was patient enough to wait for our group to slowly show up. Their menu, for me, is pretty standard Italian restaurant food. I had the Mezzalune al Burro, which was spinach pasta stuffed with cheese in brown butter sauce. I enjoyed it, but I thought it could have used a little bit more flavor. I could barely finished half of my dish, because I ate too much bread before dinner... but it wasn't my fault. They had the best olive oil I've ever tasted - there were tons of herbs in it, which rosemary was one of them, and they all made the oil DELICIOUS! Our waiter made a small mistake with my friend's apertizer, and he made it up by giving us free desert. Strawberries in caramel and chocolate sauce, need I say more? Order it! Actually, order 2 and skip dinner. It's totally worth it! Everything was lovely, from the host, our waiter, the deco to the food. The place was very cozy and Italian-esque. It was dim inside, so there's potential for romantic date if you're looking for that. Great place, I'd recommend to anyone.
(5)
Jean C.

After a co-worker had recommended this restaurant over a year ago, we finally made it for date night! The wait around 7:30 was about 45 minutes on a Friday night was not that bad. The restaurant is deceivingly big. The store front is small but the restaurant is very deep! We got seated toward the back of the restaurant at a four top. The menu was not big but packed full of many delicious options. It was already difficult to decide and then the server told us the specials for the evening. As if I didn't have a hard time deciding. We ended up starting with the special grilled calamari bruschetta appetizer with lasagna for the hubs and the tortellone anatra ubriaco. The appetizer was awesome. The spicy aioli sauce on top of the perfectly grilled calamari was a nice touch. There were 5 pieces and very filling. The bread did fall apart so it was better to eat with a fork and knife. The entrees arrived some time after the appetizer and placed in front if me was a beautiful sight. Pockets of pasta stuffed with duck, topped with shaved Parmesan, sun dried tomatoes, spinach and a wonderful sauce. The pasta was decadent but not rich. Hubs lasagna was a massive piece, about 5 inches tall and 7 inches wide. It was the biggest I have ever seen. We both dug in and all conversation ceased. The portions are so big that we both didn't even make a dent when we stopped. The majority of the meal was brought home. Service was good although at times it seemed he might have been in the weeds. The food was excellent and the prices very reasonable. It is noisy though and my one other complaint is that their chicken vesuvio and steak are unavailable on Friday and Saturday. I will definitely be coming back. There are so many other items I just have to try!
(4)
Ben K.

I had been hearing about this place forever and finally made it in. Unfortunately, for us the meal didn't live up to expectations. We had: -Soup of the day: a garlic mushroom cream soup. This was our highlight of the meal. Rich, silky texture and full of flavor. Would definitely have this again -Salad special: an unbelievably awkward compendium of mostly unchopped vegetables. Literally we had 8 inch long carrots in here, along with full romaine leaves and other full size veggies. It's like they forgot their knife skills in the kitchen. The dressing was also thin and fairly flavorless. Very challenging to eat with a fork and knife and also not delicious. -Linguine al frutti di mare: the pasta was nice and fresh, and perfectly al dente but the sauce was just not particularly exciting and I believe underseasoned. The seafood itself also lacked seasoning. Seriously, I've never seen my wife fail to finish all the shellfish on her plate before. -Stuffed manicotti: a solid dish, pasta deliciously stuffed with cheese and baked to golden crispness. Pretty heavy, but I knew that going in. Also a very nice bolognese on here. So yeah... not an absolute disaster but definitely just underwhelming for us. Too bad, because we are right around the corner and it'd be nice to have a standout go-to italian joint.
(3)
Amy R.

I always found Italian in Chicago to be way overrated. It was expensive, heavy and uninteresting. Rose Angelis was NONE of that. I had there delicious manicotti. The ambiance was romantic and quaint, but not so much so that it was uncomfortable to eat with a couple of friends.
(4)
Leslie P.

My boyfriend took me to Rose Angelis on our second date, and I think I fell in love with him right then for taking me here! My mother is 100% Italian, so I've had my fair share of Italian food. Rose Angelis was truly delicious. We started with a bottle of wine because it was half-price wine that night. We also had the bruschetta, and the tomatoes were extremely fresh. The olive oil for the bread was also very light and tasty. For entrees, I had the Rigatoni alla Lorena and my boyfriend had the specialty ravioli. My rigatoni was outstanding. I don't like heavy sauces, and this was lightly seasoned in garlic & olive oil with spinach and sun dried tomatoes. There also was at leastttt a whole Italian sausage mixed in the pasta. The pasta was also cooked exactly as pasta should be -- not too soft or hard. In addition, there was so much pasta there, I had enough for leftovers for lunch and dinner the next day!! I tasted my boyfriend's ravioli with sun-dried tomato sauce, and it was also very tasty. In addition to the food being delectable, the ambience is so romantic. It's an intimate little house-turned-restaurant. It seems small from the outside, but it actually is pretty deep and holds several tables. Finally, for Lincoln Park, Rose Angelis is a steal. Each giant entree was around $15, so for our bottle of wine, bruschetta, and two entrees, our bill was only $65. Overall, Rose Angelis is, as my mother says, al dente -- cooked to perfection!
(5)
Carly B.

I ate here recently with a few friends and was really impressed with some of the entrees, and really unimpressed by others. 4 stars though because the service was really top notch. I had the caprese salad (delicious!), appetizer eggplant (which was AWESOME), and the Tortellone Con Salsa di Noce (gorgonzola filled tortellone tossed with grapes in a walnut pesto cream sauce, which was phenomenally tasty!). One of my friends had the Chicken Marsala, and it really had no flavor! Disappointing. The portions are huge and we totally over-ordered, but we all had leftovers for days. And the price was more than reasonable.
(4)
holly r.

Rose Angelis always gets it right!!! This place trumps all for good Italian food. The food is always amazing, fresh and unique (salad/dressing and pizza specials are always changing and never disappointing). The customer service is spot on (polite, friendly waitstaff and no unusual up charges for special requests). The atmosphere is cozy and inviting. Finally, the prices are extremely reasonable for the quality that you get....not an attribute easily found these days!
(5)
First L.

This is typed with a heavy heart and an even heavier stomach. This used to be a great place, but the food combinations are now baffling. A recent visit left a bad taste...literally. Service was awesome, as ususal. Prompt, professional, and smooth even on a busy night. Drinks and wine also excellent, as usual. But the menu has veered off-course. Too many ingredients (all good quality independently) in the dishes. The Pizza Del Giorno was good as we waited for a table. The soup of the day - a garlic and mushroom cream-based soup sounded fantastic. When it arrived, however, it was little more than a bowl of flavorless brown, watery cream with melted cheese glopped in the middle. But the salad was ok. On to the entrees. Ugh. Frutti Di Mare was more like F**ing Night Mare. Yes, the linguini was fresh and there was not a single thing wrong with any individual ingredient. But the white wine and tomato sauce was bland at best and there was too much of it compared to the rest of the dish, so it swamped the dish. To be very fair, our excellent server suggested a different sauce - agli olio with some pesto - that I ignored to my stomach's detriment. Again, to be clear, the quality of the food was very good - the squid was properly prepared, the mussels were perfectly open, the shrimp were completely (but not over) cooked. The dish was as if someone felt they had to fill the entire pasta dish with something and, well, tonight it was bland tomato sauce. Dish Two: Duck filled pasta with a cognac creme sauce. How could you possibly screw this up? Oh, add too many ingredients. The pasta itself was very good, as was the duck. The sauce was also very good, but undercooked (a reduction should not appear as a broth in the bottom of the dish, but rather have a thicker consistency that slightly adheres to the pasta...or so I've been told). The mozzerella balls and giant scoop of grated cheese and spinach ALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT. Great pasta, good sauce (even if under cooked) could easily stand alone as a fantastic, if rich, dish. Put the spinach on the side if you have to (perhaps they did not blanch the spinach or sauteed it with the sauce and that's what watered it down?). As with this entirely too long review, the chef should have stopped about 1/3 of the way in each of his or her recipes. KISS (Keep It Simple S******d). So lemme sum up: SERVICE and BAR, excellent FOOD INGREDIENT QUALITY, good AMBIANCE, very intimate, romantic PRESENTATION and ENTREES, negative five stars.
(2)
Charley F.

This place really is the best neighborhood Italian spot in the city. I have been here many times by now and continue to go more and more now that I live only 4 blocks away. The shortest way to put it - Amazing food, amazing service, amazing ambiance all for an amazing price. I have tried their Gnocci a few times now which is one of my favorites with dried apricots, prosciutto, scallions and walnuts - it has that sweet and salty balance that I love in a dish. On top of great quality food the have extremely knowledgable servers who are always happy and upbeat. Definitely ask your server for their suggestions!! They have never steered me wrong.
(5)
Susan D.

Did the 2 eat for $50 (app, salads, entrees and dessert) on a thurs, which was a really good deal, and the food was delicious.
(4)
Ellarey M.

Came here with my sister and brother-in-law for dinner on a Friday night. We requested to sit outside and were told it would be just a minute for them to get a table ready for us. It ended up being almost 10 minutes, and when they finally seated us, there were 3 empty tables, so I'm not sure what the hold up was. It also took a lengthy amount of time to get our bill and credit card returned. Our waitress was very nice though, just not the fastest. On to the food. Delish. I'm a big fan of their infused olive oil, which they serve with above-par bread. I had the ravioli with ricotta and sun dried tomato cream sauce, and wholly enjoyed it. I will visit again, and hopefully they will have an interesting filled-pasta special next time.
(4)
Adam M.

I took a date here a few days ago and we both really enjoyed the place. The place is HUGE, which from my glance on the outside, didn't seem to be the case. The food was pretty good (I didn't like what I had ordered, but it had nothing to do with the quality) and the service was great. I'm fairly certain the guy waiting on us was one of the owners. Very friendly, detailed, and joked around a bit with us which was refreshing. My really only complaints with the place really was that when you order a pop, they just give you a can and a glass. Definitely not the only place that does this, but just a general pet peeve of mine. Not too sure why. So nothing really wrong with the place. I'd recommend it for a date or just in general for dinner. They do open up at 5pm as just a warning if you plan on showing up before then.
(4)
Sophie M.

Come hungry and leave smiling like a Cheshire Cat. Try the specials. The food and service were great. I am picky about fruite de mare but I give credit where it is due. It was good! The atmosphere is inviting and the staff were very nice and honest. I asked about why the steak was not served on Friday and Saturday, our server explained due to the oven being used so much it will take longer. Honesty, I love it. We will go back and try the steaks during the week.
(4)
Joyce C.

Why does this place have so many stars? I don't understand... This is one of the very few occasions that Yelp has steered us wrong. So we get there and the place is an old house that was re-worked into a restaurant, which I thought was interesting. There is enough parking outside for a weeknight, and we got seated right away. So far, so good. We get the menu, looked it over, decided on an app and two entrees. We got the grilled Calamari all Griglia, which was grilled calamari with balsamic sauce and vegetables as the app. The calamari was overcooked, the vegetables were soggy, and there was way too much sauce. The sauce was also greasy. Not great, but whatever. Then for our entrees the hubs ordered the Gnocchi con Prosciutto e Albiococca secca - long winded for gnocchi with cream sauce. I ordered the special seafood lasagna that is supposedly offered only on the weekends, but happened to be a special that was offered that day. Awesome I thought, because not many places offer seafood lasagna... but eeeeek if I only knew what I was getting into.... The dishes came out and there were big portions of white creamy concoctions served in large white bowls. After digging into both dishes we realized both dishes were soupy, like they were swimming in heavy cream. Not a big deal, we figured the cream would set in a couple of minutes because the dishes were hot. Well, they never set. After a bite of each, well, it turned out not only did we get mouthfuls of watery creamy pasta with overcooked mushy noodles, but it was bland as heck. GROSS. We tried our very best to eat the pasta, but couldn't get past the taste or the texture of either dish. We gave up and left the majority of the dishes intact and untouched. Then to add insult to our injury, we received the bill. $60 for a very disappointing meal. BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
(1)
Eric L.

GO! GO! GO! GO! GO! My Fiance's and I favorite Italian food in Chicago! Such unique and savory dishes. I recommend the brown-butter pasta, the Gorgonzola and grape pasta, or the Duck filled pasta in a cognac reduction sauce. They also start you off with a bread basket and they have a home-seasoned olive oil that put other oils to shame (I actually saw an inferior oil leaving in tears*). The restaurant is huge and first come first served, though I've never had a wait. They two outdoor patios (which are beautiful) and a very friendly and helpful staff. Do I really need to keep writing this review? You should already be on the way there...... Seriously, go already. *that was a lie, but only kinda.
(5)
Charlie B.

I have been to this place on and off over the years, and it continues to deliver. This isn't hte fanciest or best food in the city, but it is really consistent. I take my Midwestern family members here when they visit and it is a legend in my family now. They love unique, but not too unique items. They love the huge portions, the value and the quality of the food. Bread pudding rocks and I have to get it every time now. Two of us split it, took it home, heated it up once already and there is still a big serving left. One of my favs in Chicago that keeps on keepin' on...
(5)
Nicole K.

Words cannot express how highly I think of this place. The food is to die for and I have always had excellent service. I take my friends here, my boyfriend, my mom. Everyone is always amazed. Recently, we threw a baby shower for a party of about 20, which I know from experience is a server's nightmare. The guy who waited on us was patient, professional and fast. Thank you!
(5)
Joe P.

I just don't get it. Maybe I hit Rose Angelis on the wrong night, but I found the food to be mediocre. More than that, we had the waitress recommend a wine for us, and it was one of the worst wines I have ever had. At first I thought that it might have been corked, but it wasn't, it was just awful. The only reason I gave it two stars instead of one is that the space is really cute.
(2)
liz d.

I was about to lose it the other afternoon, in search of a good Italian joint open during lunch. Came across Rose Angelis, which I'd been to years before. Spotted their reasonably lunch menu and stepped on in. This place is set up in what appears to be a large large house. It gives it a homey feel when you walk into a bar/waiting area. There was someone waiting for us when we walked in and they sat us right away. The lunch menu includes a few pasta, salads, some panninis, and a few apps. Of course bread and some delicious oil were offered right away, followed by offered some parm cheese. I never pass that up. I tried a creamy pasta w/ Gorgonzola, walnuts, topped with plenty of Parmesan cheese. Although I wanted to, I physically could not finish it. That made me happy later on when I ate the leftovers. My S.O. had the roast beef pannini which he said was just as scrumptious. The service here is impeccable. Could not ask for anything more at a restaurant. I also read on a poster that on Thursdays, you can get a $49 dinner for 2. An appetizer to share, a salad, 2 main courses, and a dessert. What an awesome deal! Guess I'll just have to come back.....
(5)
Ross F.

Great spot for a date- not too pricey and the food is great. It is in a low key neighborhood setting so parking can be tough but it is definitely worth it.
(4)
D l.

My favorite restaurant on the planet... and yes I've been to over 25 other countries. Always wonderful food... cute atmosphere... great service! You must order the bread pudding for dessert - my absolute favorite dessert!
(5)
Emily N.

This restaurant is delicious. When you first walk in it's a little weird, there is a shabby like bar and you picture the restaurant to be tiny. Once you are led back it is a whole new world listerally! It is huge and totally gives you the feeling of being in an authentic amazing, hole in the wall restaurant in Italy. The portions are huge and the food is delicious!!!!! They have a recession special going on that is $49 for a 5 course meal that could feed an army. I split it with my date. Highly recommend this restaurant!
(5)
M M.

Great date spot!! It is really cute and it has a romantic, intimate atmosphere. I had the chicken vesuvio, a favorite of mine at Italian restaurants, and my date had veal- which was really good as well. There have a cute little bar up front where we had a drink while we waited for our table. The dessert that I must mention was a banana-cheese dessert. I can't remember the exact name but all I can say is -ORDER IT!
(4)
Holly M.

A perfect date spot on a Lincoln Park residential street. The decor is very rustic, lots of wood tables packed into a rehabbed home. The wine is served in traditional Italian short glasses and the portions are huge! My favorites are perfect for sharing since they are both very rich. The tortellini stuffed with gorgonzola cheese, is swimming in a gorgonzola sauce and served with toasted walnuts and grapes. Heavenly! The lasagna is more of a billowy pie type of thing, the layers somehow are all baked together and oozing with cheese!
(4)
Elizabeth T.

i am in love with this place. you are crazy if you don't love it too. the food is to die for, the service is excellent, and yes, you might have to wait for a table on a saturday night but go early or have a drink. it's unpretentious and i appreciate that so i'll wait every time. the lasagna is big enough to eat for four or five meals, the duck tortellini is the best meal i have ever eaten and the desserts are killer. if they would let me, i would lick the plates for the caramel sauce and raspberry sauce. it's not crazy expensive and it's the only place i would spend $100 on an amazing dinner and drinks for us and not feel the least bit guilty about it. plus, then you get left overs! :)
(5)
Rich F.

Every time I eat here I'm reminded of why I love this place: cozy non-pretentious atmosphere, short wine glasses and generous portions of excellent pasta. I always enjoy the duck tortellini with the simple Mista salad before. The lasagna is vegetarian and one of the best in the City. Plus, the outdoor seating in the summer is great for relaxing and sipping wine.
(4)
Eileen O.

This is one of my favorite places to take out-of-town guests. The atmosphere is very charming and the service is consistently great. I recommend sitting outside during the summer and sitting in the back room in the winter. I've been eating here for 6+ years and can't say I've ever had a bad experience. The food is simple, fresh and affordable.
(4)
Jacobim M.

One of my favorite new places to eat. I have only been here twice but I will be putting Rose Angelis into my frequently visited restaurant queue. I appreciate the fresh ingredients used in the 5 dishes I have tried. I ordered fish both times (Salmon and Trout). Incredibly fresh and grilled with some zucchini, tomatoes and squash I believe. My wife ordered the eggplant with mozzarella the first time and raviolis stuffed with ricotta and topped with pine nuts sun and dried tomatoes in a creamy sauce. The duck stuffed tortellini was ordered by a friend so I got a chance to try that also. Everything was awesome!! The service was prompt and to top it off their desserts were outstanding. Blueberry ice cream with fresh bananas, raspberry drizzled in caramel and some kind of pie crust crumbs I believe. The other dessert we tried was the Strata and it was 2 walnut cookies with orange flavored marscapone cheese (think cheese cake filling) and fresh fruit sandwiched between. Awesome!
(5)
Kira L.

Love Rose Angelis! Great date place, great food, great service, and great atmosphere. I go here everytime I can and just love it. It's so good. My boyfriend and I go here on special occasions and get the bruschetta of course, the salmon ravioli, the chicken tortellini and the tiramisu. Perfecto!
(5)
Emily N.

This adorable Italian restaurant is the perfect date restaurant. The atmosphere couldn't be better and the waiters are so friendly. The bruschetta is absolutely amazing and our dinners were fab! I was there for my boyfriend's birthday so I asked the waiter to bring the tiramisu with a candle in it and it was delicious. 5 stars all the way.
(5)
elizabeth n.

Rose Angelis is one of my favorite Italian restaurants in the city. The decor of the charming restaurant creates the perfect date atmosphere, and the food is amazing! The salmon ravioli is my favorite and is so good you have to eat the entire thing. But you must leave room for dessert because the tiramisu is ubbelievable!
(5)
J P.

Been hearing great things about this place for years, finally got a chance to try it out. Was outstanding.. Everything that we ordered looked and tasted great. Prices were decent, service was above average. Loved the atmosphere as well.
(5)
Ann F.

I have yet to find a better Chicago establishment than Rose Angelis. I've dined here numerous times and have always had above average food and service. All of their pasta dishes are amazing. My all-time favorite dish is the "mezzalune al burro," which consists of spinach ravioli pasta with sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts in a light butter sauce. Their marinara sauce is excellent. They also have unique specials every night. Unfortunately, I can't comment on the desserts because I'm always too full to try them. Perhaps one of these days I'll save room. The atmosphere is cozy; perfect for a date or a group. I've brought many people to this restaurant and no one has ever said anything but good things. Five stars!
(5)
Dan R.

good neighborhhod italian restaurant
(4)
A P.

The best Italian food in US for under $20. This is an excellent place for vegetarians like me. Everything we have had is excellent and beyond our expectations. Very cute place to nice date or b-day dinner. Our favorite dishes are brushetta with fresh ingredients, and raviolli with gorgonzola sauce and grapes. Yumm. My husband orders the pasta with sausage. We recommended this place to all our friends and they love it.
(5)
Gabby S.

I've been to Rose Angelis at least a dozen times and overall have had wonder experiences. During the summer when tomatoes are in season, their caprese salad is my favorite (they are more than generous with the mozz). And what you read about the bread pudding is true, it is delicious (and humongous). It can get a little loud and the waits can be ridiculous, but worth it in my book.
(4)
Emily B.

yum, yum, yum! good food with huge portions at good prices. good wine at good prices. and very knowledgeable and helpful wait staff. highly recommend this place.
(4)
Dave S.

Whoa daddy this place was great! Thank you to all of you Yelpers for the fine suggestions. This is a true neighborhood place as it is nestled into tows of houses. If you blink, you miss it as me and my cab driver did. It looks very small from the front waiting area but it is actually really big inside. Our waiter was very attentive and very knowledgeable. My lasagna was outstanding!!!!! the only complaint was the great big hair I found on the edge of my bread plate, which I found after I poured the oil. With the amazing food I can easily dismiss that. I can see coming back for more1
(4)
Lo S.

Great date spot.... it is very dark and quiet- the menu is extensive but they are missing a few key items- like veal- which I feel should be a staple at every Italian restaurant! I would highly recommend the walnut cream desert...very good! I had the chicken vesuvio which was amazing!! Highly recommend!
(4)
Audra S.

This quaint store-front restaurant could be easily missed on Wrightwood, but make sure you find it: you won't be disappointed. The dimly lit restaurant is a cozy setting for a date, yet welcoming enough for a large party; the downside is it can be rather noisy indoors. The outdoor patio is fantastic and reminiscent of Italian cafes. The food is delicious and very reasonably priced, with most entrees running between $9 and $15. Do not skip dessert -- the tiramisu is phenomenal!
(4)
Aaron R.

So I've always felt that the food at Rose Angelis was a little "plain", but I read these reviews the other day and decided to give it another change. I tried the duck tortellini that many people seem to like and now I know what everyone is talking about...this dish is incredible. we also had a great waiter, which made our meal even more enjoyable. My one complaint is that they only take reservations for large groups.
(4)
Ronnie R.

Its Wed and I dont really want to go out right!? So as always I get talked into going for dinner (not hard at all!) and we decide on Rose Angelis, which of course I race over to check on Yelp to find out the Jackanory (story) which is super-good all-round (bar the odd wine-suggestions which we know is a more preferred taste than that of food in any case!). We get there and get a table right away and eat our provebials off for 2 hours (It was so bloody good :) ) I had everything suggested in the other reviews, so nothing new to add! The waitress had asked me how I heard about such and such and I let her know about Yelp which she was v.grateful for beacuse they had been wondering how so many people had heard about the eggplant salad etc, but I felt a little bit like a rat, like I shouldnt have told her as now they will know its us bloody Yelpers and its no longer a secret! JK ! Later I talked to the chef who showed me around his place and was just all round nice and also happy with the info that he could find in here(I told him about the occasional shameless self-promoters!) and that he would be very impressed by the set- standard that we so far have nearly all agreed on. So well done Rose!, You have made it into my first ten reviews with a perfect ten i.e a high five!
(5)
Dee W.

This unassuming little restaurant boasts a nice little garden patio for the summer. I especially appreciate the seasonal specials. Try their pear ravioli, great! My regular favorite is the pressed duck tortelloni while my friend prefers the mezzalune al burro. But my favorite pasta dish is, by far, the tortellini con salsa di noche (gorgonzola stuffed pasta in a cream sauce dotted with grapes and walnuts) and then, there's dessert - The strawberries sitting in a bed of caramel and drizzled with white and dark chocolate make a great end, especially when paired with their moscato
(4)
a w.

This is my favorite place to get some great lasagna. This place has a very comfy feel to it and a great menu, with tons of delicious options.
(4)
A. M.

Rose Angelis is worth the wait - especially on a cold winter night. I prefer to start w/ the caprese salad or one of their pizza appetizers. For my meal, I always get either the zuppe de pesce or the lasagna. Both always bring oohs and ahhs from my dining companions. The zuppe de pesce is served in a huge cauldron. I usually end up taking 3/4 home with me! It's very spicy, but very tasty - chock full of sea critters. The lasagna is absolutely gigantic. I once suggested my bf and I split an order (how dare I!). We looked silly when we barely eat 1/2 of 1 order between the two of us. I never would have ordered it if I hadn't read about it on yelp, but the bread pudding is amazing. I'm a chocolate girl, but this might be my favorite dessert ever, and that is saying a lot! I think the little glasses they serve the wine in are cute - very authentic. Yeah, they have some annoying policies (no resv., and they are so strict on everyone being there when you are seated), but get over it - the food is worth it!
(4)
Carly M.

This adorable little Italian restaurant is probably my absolute favorite in the City. And there are some good Italian places! But they have the best bruschetta ever and I had the salmon ravioli which was beyond amazing! It was absolutely delicious and they have the best tiramisu. If I could give this place 10 stars I would!
(5)
Kathleen M.

This is hands-down the best Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at. They have absolutely mouth watering food -- my favorites are the Caprese, the Mezzalune pasta and the raspberry-chocolate dessert. I was practically dreaming about the place after my first visit. The service is just mediocre but I will continue to go back because the food was so delicious. I would recommend calling ahead to see how long the wait is. Weekdays are also less busy.
(5)
K M.

Really great food, friendly staff, adorable space! It looks like its good for dates and large groups alike! I had the lasagna and it was heavenly, and HUGE, it definitely fed me for a couple of days. I think prices were reasonable too, although I don't quite remember what it cost because I was splitting a bottle of wine with a friend and we had split another earlier in the evening! Ahh me and my alcoholic law school friends :)
(5)
Brent W.

non-desript, obsure locale, food just the opposite: ate here for the first time in ~ 5 yrs...had been twice before, both good experiences. we chose to dine alfresco on the patio, which was a very nice, quaint & peaceful setting. we split a salad they were featuring that night and it was stunning in appearance and quite tasty with lot's of ingredients (fire grilled squash, pine nuts, vitelottes aka purple potato, to name a few)...it could have fed four tbh. my wife chose one of the ravioli dishes and it was fantastic. i went with the frutti di mare, which was excellent and packed with just-out-of-the-water fresh scallops, shrimp, calamari and mussels. they definitely don't skimp on the entree portions either, they could easily 1/2 the portion and it would suffice. This is a great spot...they have some traditional italian fare as well as a few unique dishes all their own as well. highly recommended.
(4)
Julia B.

Now this is a great Italian place-the cute little patio out front is great in the summer. You may have a hard time finding it-but if you look hard enough you will surely be back for more. The ravioli is great and the selection of wines is very large. The prices are pretty resonable. Two people can probably have a full meal for around$25 each maybe.
(4)
Paul R.

My review of Rose Angelis is below. Please check out my other restaurant reviews at: jsdiningandcooking.blogsâ€¦ I also write short stories based on my travels to Vietnam and 40 some other countries at: unusual-perspective-on-eâ€¦ This neighborhood Italian joint offers large portions of solid, standard and somewhat innovative Italian food. It is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago. This is a very romantic restaurant. It feels like you are eating in a home. The entrance has a warm, cute bar with some tables where you can enjoy a drink as you wait for your table. There is also a nice outdoor area off to the left of the bar entrance. The restaurant opens up into 3 additional adjoining rooms that give you the feeling that you are moving through a home. The tables are close together and the restaurant fits in with its location between 2 homes on a quiet side street. For appetizers, I really enjoy the bruschetta and the "special" whole wheat pizza. The vegetable laden pizza had a very tasty wheat crust that added to, rather than detracted from the pizza. In addition, I highly recommend the minestrone soup. I am not even a big fan of minestrone soup but it will definitely be the appetizer I order the next time I visit the restaurant. The grilled calamari steaks sauted with spinach and onions in a spicy balsamic sauce with toast points is solid and the sauce really makes this dish. The menu is heavy on pasta but the chicken marsala and fish specials are very good also. On the innovative side, the duck filled tortellini is one of those rare "must try" entrees on a menu that immediately catches your eye. The wine and cognac reduction sauce is a good accompaniment to the flavors of the duck and the spinach, mozzarella, and tomato that are layered throughout the dish. Rose Angelis specializes in different types of ravioli's. I have been particularly impressed with the salmon filled ravioli and the ever changing special ravioli. On other occasions, I have enjoyed the pumpkin filled ravioli and the cherry, walnut and portobella mushroom ravioli. The linguini al frutti di mare features fresh linguini served in a tomato white wine sauce with mussels, shrimp, calamari and scallop garnished with parmagiana cheese. It is one of the best renditions of this dish I have had as the home-made pasta is outstanding. On the down side, I wasn't blown away by the asparagus wrapped in prosciutto appetizer and thought the huge portion of lasagna was awfully cheesy, but lacking in taste. The appetizer salad for the table was nothing special. For dessert, the bread pudding with caramel sauce is enough for 3-4 people and is one of my favorite deserts in Chicago. The strawberries in caramel and the chocolate mousse assortment are also very good. The service is excellent and the servers here are ripe with suggestions. Most of the servers have a "flavorful" persona that suits the environment of the restaurant. This is not a formal atmosphere and this comes through in the personalities of the servers. On my last visit, we had 3 appetizers, 3 entrees and a dessert for 81$ plus tax and tip. We had 5 people eating but did a lot of sharing because the portions are so large and we still left with a take home bag. We only had 2 drinks total so that helped keep the price low. I don't think you will find many other restaurants in Chicago that give you large quantities of good food at such great prices.
(5)

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Address : 1314 W Wrightwood Ave
Chicago, IL, 60614
Phone (773) 296-0081
Website https://www.roseangelis.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 : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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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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Rose Angelis

1314 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL, 60614

Rose Angelis Menu

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