The Italian Village Restaurants
71 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL, 60603
The Italian Village Restaurants Menu
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Address :
71 W Monroe St
Chicago, IL, 60603 - Phone (312) 332-7005
- Website https://www.italianvillage-chicago.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : Yes
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Christina A.
After a very long day yesterday, myself, and two work related friends, headed to the lower level of Italian Village for a relaxing dinner. I can't believe I had never been here before and now I know I will be back time after time after time. The second we arrived we were greeted by Hans, a darling and charming man, who promptly seated us in a cozy little booth. One of our friends (who is a darling man about town) seemed to know half the restaurant that were dining, pre-symphony, and they all shared what they had chosen for dinner. One had the quail (that looked incredibly delicious). We were literally doted on by the staff and promptly ordered glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and the calamari. OH. . . the calamari! I don't think it gets much better than this! I am such a critic and a fanatic when it comes to the quality and texture of this creepy little squid and this was to die for! Not too little breading, not too much, just plain perfect. Since we were already on a great path with seafood we decided to stick with it; two of us ordered the whitefish with a white wine sauce and capers sided by fresh veggies and the other with the fish of the day. I RARELY finish a whole dinner but it took everything I had not to pick the plate up and lick it. While Italian Village features three different, varying restaurants, which I now must explore the other two, I HIGHLY recommend the quaint, cozy and friendly downstairs of this little treasure.
(5)katheryn k.
Of course It's not the greatest Italian food in the city, actually I hardly ever go to an Italian restaurant because I cook so much real Italian food at home. So when I go out to eat, I want to go for something I usually can't make at home. I did like this place though. We had really good service, me and my mom had a very nice lunch here. I had the Acorn Squash Ravioli, which was awesome and also something I never tried before. You have to go here when it's not tourist time, or rush hour. This place has been around for a long time..I hope it stays there. The last thing we need is another TGI Fridays, or chilis in the loop.
(3)Brenna M.
I can only speak for the "Village" section of this restaurant. We went there last night for a friend's birthday, and we had a nice (though slightly cramped) booth, near the "moon" (aka the back wall). The food is standard italian fare, though for the prices I kind of expected to get a little more food. Not many vegetarian options, besides three cheese ravioli or cheese filled manicotti....although there was a salad or two. Otherwise the music was nice, the place was very dim, and the service a bit slow for my taste.
(3)Olga M.
I know that the place is Chicago's Landmark and everything, but you buy better raviolis at a Dominicks store.
(1)Adam C.
I have visited this restaurant several times for lunch meetings and have always come away happy. I give the restaurant a 4, but could easily have given it a 5. The food was very good, just felt the portions were a little small, though filling. It is reasonably priced for what you get and the service was very good!
(4)Joon M.
Meh. I'm pretty snobby when it comes to Italian food. The father of one of my best friends is from Southern Italy & my ex boyfriend was from Northern Italy....neither of them would be impressed by Italian Village cuisine. The food is ok, but you can get ok at The Olive Garden. A friend has assured me that I will love Basil & it's sister restaurant Sage, both of which are on Clark in Lincoln Park. I also love the Sicilaian-esque cuisine at La Bella in Oak Park. I think the last time I went to Italian Village was after my senior prom. Mediocre food, a not yet out of the closet bf, a gorgeous dress & no carriage ride.....Good Times.
(2)Kelly H.
This place is great! Had to wait a few min for a table so grab a glass of wine at the bar. The bartender was great and made you feel like family! the tables are all tucked away in little corners so it a cozy feeling. The food was out of this whole! I def reccomend their house dressing for your salad! Will go back again and again!
(5)Rachelle G.
A regular for most that crave Italian while in the loop. Interior is cozy and you almost forget the hustle and bustle that is going on outside. Service can be hit or miss. And if you go during the holiday season when many companies are doing holiday luncheons, it can be packed to the gills as they add extra tables to accommodate the larger groups. The food is mediocre and at times lacks flavor. Portions are humongous. If I was asked to go, I probably would, but definitely not a restaurant I would go out of my way for.
(3)Jennifer T.
Someone recommended this place so my friends and I went. Now i see that it was all some horrible joke.... The line for this place was ridiculously long, but it smelled great..So at first, i was really excited. I mean why would there be such a line if their food isn't that good? We had made reservations, and still waited 20 mins. or so for a table (not that bad). We were seated, and pushed and pushed to make an order. The waitress wouldn't leave us alone to look over the menu for more than 2 mins! We made our orders and our food was served. Appetizers: Fried Calamari and Garlic Bread. -calamari was bland and def was lacking in any flavor whatsoever. -garlic bread was good, no complaints there. Main Courses: mussels, eggplant parm and lasagna -mussels were very rubbery and lacked flavor -eggplant parm was very "blah"...sauce tasted like it came out of a can and the eggplant was cut WAY TOO THICK -lasagna was def not what we expected. Which, is an odd thing to say about lasagna, because it is what it is, and kinda hard to screw up. BUT they managed it, to say the least. Maybe I just like my lasagna traditional.....who knows. Would never go back here again. Pizzeria quality food for too much money, and the wait staff pushing you out the door. *i overheard someone saying that they were using all the plates that they owned, and that's why they were trying to take plates as quickly and rudely as they were...*
(2)David R.
I don't quite understand why this place is so popular. I recently dined here for a business lunch and found the food ok but overpriced and the atmosphere more like something you find at Navy Pier than in the Loop. The fresh fish entrees were basic and well prepared. The two pasta entrees ordered were huge in size and not much better than what you find at the Olive Garden. Service is ok.
(3)Robin M.
Step back in time and enjoy old Chicago atmosphere, fantastic food, and excellent service. Since 1929, it's Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant, a must visit!
(3)Lynnzy L.
Nostalgia reigns. For vegetarians I suggest the cheese and spinach raviolis - light and quite tasty. Funky layout - we sat in the back room and although it was small and intimate the lighting was way too bright to maximize the coziness of the room. Great old world type service, Angelo our waiter was fun and on top of everything.
(4)Beverly W.
A great place for a good pasta dinner. One of the most reasonable restaurants in Chicago. Great for before or after a show. Everything is good and the service is wonderful. Highly recommend for an evening on the town.
(4)Jesster A.
This has been an old favorite ever since I was a kid - and the fact that it still exists, is still good (all 3) and even on some level remains "trendy" is in itself somewhat miraculous. I think for some of us - we give it extra credit for sentimental reasons (kind of like we did for Marshall Fields?) Still while I think everyone should experience this virtual landmark Italian restaurant - I am somewhat mortified by what happened to Dave S.'s party. That manager should probably be fired. He OWED your friend cost of the blouse. That much is given. (He loses even more points for his original bad attitude*) and if he had an ounce of class - he would have offered you all an incentive to come back (something on the house - free drinks, wine, appetizer, dessert whatever.) *While this manager showed bad judgment and an inexcusable attitude given the nature of your situation. Restaurant managers sometimes go on the defensive because it is a standard and VERY common con that people claim their clothing was ruined by some incident at their restaurants and then demand either restitution for the clothing or payment for dry cleaning bill. (In many cases, people complain later and some people actually DO sprill stuff on themselves on purpose, really!) This happens ALL the time. But in your case - not only were there 4 witnesses - and no motive - your friend herself was prima facia EVIDENCE of the damage done. How could he question THAT?! Price of blouse $75? Price of a reputation earned over half a century plus? Priceless.
(4)Chris B.
Having tried Vivere a few days earlier, we thought we'd try this third of the restuarants in the building. Where Vivere was my best meal in Chicago last week, Italian Village was the least. The food wasn't horrible but to echo another review, just very bland. Maybe the spices go to the other two resturants? I had the chicken rotolini and was dissapointed by both the lack of flavor on the fettechini alfredo (I tasted more butter than cheese) and that for the marsala I was given thigh meat that was somehow devoid of the natural flavor dark meat has. If the sauce was really supposed to have been made with a wine sherry and prosciuto, I couldn't taste either. My wife didn't think her ravioli was anything special either. We both split a canoli desert and agreed it too wasn't anything special. The service was very good though. Our waiter was very attentive. I also appreciated the atmosphere.
(2)Jeff F.
I friggin love this place! Great food, great atmosphere, great prices! And you feel less guilty for eating all those wonderful carbs drenched in meat sauce when you climb the 400 steps to get to the restaurant. (not really 400 steps but to those of us who love carbs a bit too much it can seem daunting haha)
(5)John D.
What a pleasant surprise. I found this place walking back to my hotel. I was a little confused by the three restaurants in one building but I went to the one on the top floor which is the Italian Village. Very hearty veal Parmiganna. Veal was tender. The wine list was not very imprssive but the food was great. I was sat next to a moving wheel and the decor reminded me very much of an 80's Italian place as opposed to the newvea places that seem to be popping up. I would definitely go back
(4)Duncan S.
Eh, some more recent experiences means I downgrade one star. Weird guy who seats people comes out of nowhere to take order all rushed, doesn't even say 'can I take your order?', just stands there with a pen, doesn't want questions, then gets it completely wrong when repeating it. But I'm not that nitpicky, the food seemed to be going down the crapper. Undercooked pasta, blandness, weird tastes sticking out. When the food and service aren't as good, little things like being cramped, dark, old/dirty seem to stick out more, and not as cute... -------- I only get the lasagna here, and love it every time. Other people have gotten other things and not liked it as much, once I brought a few back and got them lasagna though and they agreed with me. So they may suck at almost everything else, but I love that lasagna. I also like the atmosphere, kind of dark, feels like a nice old school Godfather place, I like going with family (older). Probably not bad for dates either.
(3)Liz G.
My fiance and I went here before seeing Wicked on Valentines Day a few years ago. The food was alright, nothing too spectacular. I'd try it again as a last resort Italian restaurant. Compared to others in the city I've had better.
(3)Antonio C.
Sometimes you get small cues for things to come, and I kicked myself for not walking away at the front door. I wished I would have eaten at Olive Garden, even though I hate that place. As you entered, there was a urine smell at the bottom of the stairs, I figured it was mustiness but you would think they would control that. Everything was bland. I have never had to add salt to my food, and my entire party found ourselves seasoning everything. The bread was nothing special, the minestrone soup tasted like it came out of a can, and the meat sauce was again bland. The waitress was pleasant and inquired about our food. I told her it was so-so and offered to remedy the situation, but what can you do when they needed a different cook? She sent the manager over, and he gave some kind of comedy routine speech, before asking what he could do for us. Upon leaving he repeated "Mille Grazie" multiple times. Won't be returning for sure. By the way, the restrooms are totally cramped, and judging from the condition of the place, I think there was seepage onto the first floor, hence the smell.
(2)Colleen S.
meh. I've been here twice and stuck to pasta with meat items both times. There's nothing special about the sauce...it's bland. I imagine it'd taste a lot like the table cloth if you went to town on that before your meal came. The little private booths are not good for groups, even if you only have a few people. It's like being in a shed. Without the lawn mowers. However, if you do get stuck in the shed, take this little gem of information with you: there's a button near the door that turns on a light just outside of the shed to get the waiter's attention. They don't tell you this, and the waiter's hardly come by if you don't flick on the light. So that's a little weird. Also, speaking of lights, there's hardly any in those booths. Which backs up my shed analogy quite nicely I think. Service was ok, once I figured out the unmarked call button. They seem to be pretty prompt with seating your pre-reserved party. Portions are gigantic, which is good only if you enjoy the food. Leaving with a container the size of a VCR full of bland pasta isn't really exciting.
(2)Amanda D.
I was on business in Chicago and was looking for a place to grab a bite before I went back to my hotel by the airport. All the restaurants I passed were either too fancy or fast food, I finally came across the Italian Village and stopped. This placed seemed good for groups and dates, so I felt a bit out of place flying single, and it seemed like the staff wanted me in and out. The ambiance was nice and the menu had several delicious dishes. They were out of the pasta I wanted, but my second choice was just as good. It literally had everything I love in it - roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes and shrimp, yum! It was fantastic. Overall, the food was great, ambiance nice, but other than that, I'm sure there's plenty of other great restaurants in Chicago that would be better. Next time I'll do my yelpsearch before heading out.
(3)Linda N.
great place. they were able to accomodate a reservation for 18 on a friday night at 8pm. so thats already awesome in my book. service was really good. the food was yummy. they have this cheese that looks like parmasean and it was sooooooooo good especially when you mixed some of it with olive oil to dip your bread. i didn't know that there were three different restaurants in this place. we had reservations at the village which was upstairs. loved the decor. it looked like we were outside. there were cute little booths and cubby holes areas that made things a bit more private. it would be a nice place to take a date.
(4)Quantas G.
De-lic-ious. Me and a friend stopped by here on the way to see Jersey Boys and were not disappointed with our meal, service, and ambiance. This joint offers cozy little nooks and intimate tables. The lighting and old Italian servers make it seem like something out of a movie. The crowd was definitely older but we lucked out on our meal. I picked the seafood ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce, she copied me and didn't regret it. Salads made tableside and fresh bread for the table just adds to the enjoyment. We didn't order any wine but did notice others getting great recommendations. Next time, vino...
(4)L M.
This has become my NEW FAVORITE Italian restaurant. I have only been there twice since I live in the burbs, but it is such a wonderful treat. The lasagna is at the top of my list and saying that I love Italian food and Lasagna would be a huge understatement. I absolutely love the adorable decor...it's sort of like if you were dreaming you were in Italy. The service was also good. Second time around the chicken parm was a little dry and the fact that they don't take reservations at The Village are the only reasons I gave it 4 stars.
(4)Jenny M.
I brought my parents here this past weekend to try La Cantina. I wasn't particularly impressed. Rose Angelis is much better for less money & you get more food!. The seafood stew that I ordered was really salty, & I like salt! Oddly enough, this place was packed when we went. I'm guessing the Italian Village makes the majority of its money from tourists who don't know anywhere else to go in the city.
(2)Amy S.
I've been to the top and main floor restaurants. Both were good, with neat decor and authentic Italian food. The top floor has crusty Italian bread with oil for dipping (I'm a huge fan of the free bread). The menu is big and has great specials. I had a wonderful pasta dish with clams and a white-wine sauce. Big portions at reasonable prices. In the top floor restaurant we were tucked away in a corner booth. The lighting is minimal, so I would imagine if you were on a date it would be really romantic. Incidentally I was with my mom and sister, but it was still a neat atmosphere. Our waiter was older and Italian and able to pronounce the menu items with the perfect accent. (I love people with accents) I will definitely go back here again...maybe I can find someone to take me here on a date! :)
(4)E T.
Let me save you the time and effort of combing through all the reviews posted on Yelp: The Italian Village is easily the worst food I have ever had in my entire life. Ever. All this place serves is overcooked store-bought pasta with watered down sauce. If you have the ability to taste, stay away from the Italian Village at all costs. If on the other hand, you can't taste and are drawn to places that smell like a nursing home, by all means, go.
(1)Jason c.
My Veal Marsala took me back to my childhood... to the days when my grandma would heat up a Swanson salisbury steak TV dinner for a quick lunch. Bleh! Go to Rose Angeli's in Lincoln park for much better food for the same price (maybe even cheaper). They get a few points for a nice atmosphere and good bread.
(2)Jonathan C.
I have only been the main, "Italian Village" restaurant. The food is very prototypical American/Italian red sauce faire. But man is it good. Portion size is great and prices are reasonable for a downtown restaurant. I like it very much as a place to enjoy a meal with friends, not quite impress-your-date-with-your-good-taste material, but a very nice place to have a meal. Service is very warm and quite good. Seating is tight, but not cramped. Decor is murals of the italian coutryside with chirstmas lights (not as bad as it sounds, but not really a delight for the senses). There is a reason this place is still in business I think. I will add more if I go to the other restaurants.
(4)Angela K.
This will always be my favorite Italian restaurant. We always go to The Village, it's so cute and the private group booths are so cool! I definitely recommend the Chicken Lemon, my favorite!
(5)Kris Z.
Went here for lunch & it was fantastic. The service was great - I had the seafood minestrone which was very good and my husband has a delicious antipasta of sorts -then the bread salad and pheasant ravioli were fabulous too. I did not particularly like the "dark" cheesecake factory decor - would have rather had something more traditional but I suppose they want to be "hip" - I'd have loved to see a dark, smoky, retro joint with the same great cuisine...
(5)Kathleen H.
I have loved this restaurant for years and have never had a problem. This is their anniversary week and every day they are offering a special for $8.50. My friends and I decided to try it today - what a mistake. We made a reservation for 1:30 which shouldn't be the rush time. It certainly wasn't as there were plenty of available tables. We ordered immediately. After waiting 30 minutes for our food to be delivered, we had to ask the waiter how much longer. But please know that those around us that had come in after us, had already been served their lunch. We ended up getting our food wrapped to go which took another 10 minutes. Let me tell you when I opened up my bag to eat the lunch at my desk, it was a huge disappointment. The piece of chicken breast had been flattened to nothing; it was hard, and the pasta that came with it had 20 small pieces. It was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen on a plate. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed. It will be a long time before I forget this experience.
(1)Erin B.
I've enjoyed myself every time I come here. The food comes in stereotypical (LARGE!) portions, and I feel that you get what you pay for. The pasta is homemade, and you can taste the difference from the boxed kind! They've got two dining areas, one downstairs, and one upstairs. If I remember correctly, the downstairs is more "kid friendly" and more of a casual dining experience, while the upstairs, is a bit more "high class." It's worth at least one trip to check it out!
(4)Mrs N.
Wow, the Olive Garden has opened a new location in Chicago and named it Italian Village! This place is as unauthentic as it gets. The veal picata was just unseasoned veal swimming in salty cornstarch gravy without any hint of fresh lemon juice. The side dish of flavorless pasta was cold and topped with what can only be described as canned tomato paste. Disgusting. Bread was stale. Service was clueless -- if I have a fork in my hand and am lifting food to my mouth, then no, you may not clear my plate yet. There are plenty of wonderful Italian restaurants in Chicago ranging from budget to lavish. Go to any one of those, not this awful imposter.
(1)Dave S.
The food here is outstanding! I was here with a rather large group and they were very attentive to us since we were spending a lot of money. I am a huge fettucinne alfredo fan and it did not dissappoint me here. We only had one main problem when they were clearing our tables. The busboys were whizzing around so fast that they spilled leftovers on the person's back who was sitting next to me. The busboy saw it and hightailed into the back room. Needless to say my friend was furious. We tried to clean her up the best we could with napkins and cold water. It was at this time that we were completely ignored when we tried to get someones attention. We finally told a waitress who told a manager and he acted almost offended that we would accuse his employee of doing something of this nature. We had four people at our table who were eyewitnesses to this. Finally the manager apologized and offered to buy her a new blouse to finish the day in. I know this was an isolated incident so I will be back here because the food rocks! It was the attitude that we could have done without. They did rectify the situation adequately in the end.
(3)Thomas S.
When reading this, bear in mind that this is the only place I've eaten in Chicago. The entree was good, but not impressive, but the dessert did impress me. We had a chocolate birthday cake and spumoni. Service was excellent and friendly. They were very helpful in getting us to our show at Ford's Theatre on time.
(4)Brian H.
Great spot to go for lunch if someone else is buying/using an expense account. Seriously good grub, which explains why they've been there forever.
(4)Caroline S.
Having worked at an Italian Resturant my boyfriend and I went in with open minds, but ready to judge. Bonus, they have a huge wine list, which is also their downfall. There is so much to look at it's hard to decide. It has a cute atmosphere but VERY commercial feeling. The food was nothing special, in fact the dishes seemed pretty simple. All in all, I had hoped for a special experience with the history being so rich and felt like I was at Olive Garden. Oh, but the led lights on the ceiling in the bar that look like stars are pretty nifty.
(2)Shasta F.
Bad customer service - they delivered to my home once before and I call them again and now they say they don't deliver! I'm only 10 blocks away and now they don't deliver! I'm never visiting this place again. The food was ok - not impressive but the pizza was good compared to most delivery pizza. The manager has made a bad judgement call.
(1)bill s.
I just don't get how some reviewers can give this place 4 or 5 stars unless they live in the middle of South Dakota (no insult intended) and the closest thing to Italian food is a can of Franco American spaghetti or Chef Boyardee ravioli.There must be hundreds of neighborhood Italian restaurants in Chicago that put this place to shame. Over the years I've been dragged here by out of area business associates. I've eaten on all 3 levels and found the food to be from embarasingly poor to mediocre on all three levels. Just because the wait staff greets you in Italian does not make the place an acceptable Italian restaurant.
(2)David F.
The food is very unpredictable here. It is good some of the time, alright some of the time, and really bad on other days. I had some fish here that seemed to be six months past its prime. The decorations are nice, but the prices are very high for the quality.
(2)J V.
The food did not impress me and I'd say it's average at best. Kinda cool they had different themes across their 3 floors.
(2)One T.
My boyfriend and I went here because I work downtown and I know he loves Italian food and had remembered seeing the big sign for it. So after walking over downtown while I was trying to remember exactly where it was we finally made it there. It was all worth it. The food was magnificant and the service was top notch. It was nice because it seems like these extremely fancy place, but you feel just as comfortable going in your casual clothes. It's probably a good date spot as they keep the upstairs dining room dark and private.
(5)Ray R.
Bad. Amongst the worst veal parmisan that I have ever had. Big portion, but mushy and flavorless. Served with a small side of bland pasta in a sauce that could be confused for tomato soup. Bread was lousy too. Salad marginal. The only highlight was the breadsticks on the bar.
(1)Cassie B.
I have only been to the top level of the three locations, though i have been to this one several times. The atmosphere is adorable, somewhat dark and with cute nooks and crannies to eat in. the food is good, though not great. It's fairly inexpensive for the location and the clientele (i see mostly theatergoers and businesspeople, tell me if i am wrong). however, i recommended it one time when someone asked me for a romantic in the loop (this was a while back) - it was the first place that popped into my head.
(3)Ji K.
My friend and I decided to come here one Friday evening after work to celebrate payday-- and we made the mistake of coming here right around 6 (instead of earlier), causing our wait to go from 10 minutes to 40 minutes. In addition, their bar was packed with uptight businessmen and theatergoers. Luckily, we went downstairs to Vivere and snagged two great seats at their bar. After a leisurely glass of wine, we went back upstairs and finally got seated. It seriously felt like a different world-- so much less hectic and a lot more comforting than that horrid staircase and entrance area. The service was really great and the food we ordered (the fried calamari, the seafood ravioli, and the linguine con frutta di mare) was all quite good. The biggest disappointment, though, was the tiramisu. It's about as inauthentic as you can get. Overall, I had a great time with my friend and there were moments that I could imagine we were in Italy (cute back mural, pretty stars and lights, and a mini "fireplace" at our table) . . . but I probably wouldn't come back. For the price, you can get a much nicer atmosphere and better food at other places in the city.
(3)M M.
I love this place! I've come here 3 times and all 3 times were completely difference experiences, as I sat on 3 different levels! Starting w/ the ground level- my friend and I ate in the bar area- I had a standard salad, menu wasn't huge, but definitely good. 2nd level, a little more expensive- more variety. I had a chicken dish. 3rd level- very nice. I had a salad w/ seared ahi tuna which was AMAZING!! This is a great place to take clients or colleagues or come for a bite to eat after work or before a show. This is a 3rd generation business which is extremely rare in the restaurant world- which speaks to the fact that this is a high-quality restaurant.
(4)elizabeth n.
I used to go here all the time with my family when I was younger and even though I haven't been in a few years, I'm sure the place is still great. As soon as you walk in you feel like you stepped into a little village in Italy. So amazing and cute. They have little village scenes painted on the walls and it's dark and there are candles everywhere. Very intimate atmosphere. The food is great from what I remember but my favorite things were the desserts. Definitely try and save room because you will be in for a treat!
(4)beth d.
I went to the upstairs restaurant at Italian Village the other night. I was not impressed at all. I thought the food was average and you can get much better at the many small Italian places across the City. The chicken soup was almost tasteless. Worst of all was the service. I felt like we were being rushed out from the minute we sat down. Waiters constantly came over to see if we were ready to order dinner, drinks and dessert even when it was obvious we hadn't opened menus yet.
(2)Hamilton R.
A tourist trap??? I am highly insulted by that comment because I was a tourist in Chicago and definitely loved the place. This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, and you can definitely feel the history in the room. We started off with a bottle of wine from their wine list that was just a few pages longer than War and Peace. I then ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which was very good, and they can also do half-orders which is very nice if you didn't bring a gargantuan appetite. I thought the service here was incredible, and it seemed like as soon as you asked for something, it was there in seconds. Amazing!! We did see one angry customer (this guy was a real jerk) who was mad when he left that his takeout food was thrown away. The wait staff then offered to make him a new order (so nice), but the angry patron refused saying he was too busy, followed by one of the great comments of all time by the waiter, "how about I just follow you out?" I think he meant that he would run after him, but out of context that was an amazingly hilarious comment. Gotta love this place!!
(4)Madeline L.
Every trip to the Italian Village is like a trip to Italy! They have Italian villages painted on the walls and there are white lights throughout the entire restaurant. It's so cute and I love the atmosphere. The food is good but nothing spectacular. The desserts are great though so make sure to save room for those.
(3)Nicola C.
This is an excellent restaurant. There are three floors and each floor is a restaurant of its own. One is more traditional pastas, another is more fancy and more expensive, then there is another floor with more fish and seafood. It is great, definitely a place to see, go with friends or family.
(5)Tina S.
Been eating at this place since working in downtown Chicago years ago - it is the best Italian and pizza in the loop! Got the opportunity to return to Chicago on business recently and was happy to find they delivered to my hotel. The bar in the basement is a hiddern gem with one of the nicest bartenders ever!
(5)Jamie H.
The food was, literally, disgusting. The service was good, but strange. I know it seems like a stupid complaint, but the service was almost TOO attentive. I felt like I was watched constantly. It wouldn't even be an issue if the food was worth it. I had the Cannelloni/manicotti, and It was horrible. My friend's meal was not much better. It's neat inside, but otherwise, it's too much money for bland, uninteresting food. I would have never even went in if I didn't find myself downtown on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it.
(2)bill s.
ohhhh maaaan. Bravisimo!!! I haven't been so orally satisfied (food-wise) in ages!! This place is excellent. Their Bruchetta is simply magnificent!!! It has a chocolate like sauce drizzled over the top of it, and it compliments the juicy tomatoes so much that it's like a symphony performing the perfect rhapsody inside of your mouth. The Manicotti is fabulous, as is the dessert. I had the Spumoni and my girlfriend had a Chocolate Sundae and both were very tasty. TheTortelli Tre Formaggi is a great dish you mayt wish to try.This place pushed some buttons with me and they just happened to be all of the right buttons. I'm telling you, even the Water is delicious at the Italian Village! The coffee is obviously not your common cup of Joe, that is obvious upon sip one. Lets not forget the wine. At the moment I cannot recall the name of the wine that I sampled, but it definately hit the spot and it was an Italian Wine. My girlfriend had the Reisling though, which I have only heard of before but had not tried, and man it was so tres magnifique that it somewhat overshadowed my wine, which was still tasty in its own right. Oh and here you will find true service and true class. The staff is properly dressed in suits and such attire. I wasn't even aware until this very moment that there were three restaurants within one, but all I know is that the one we went to(which I believe was "The Village") is very worth the trip.
(5)Jessica L.
We ate at The Village. Good but not fantastic, given the price. We had lunch reservations for noon on a Friday and they seated us right away, which was a nice surprise. But we did have to wonder how they knew they would be able to fit a party of 6 in that tiny little booth. If any of us had average or larger rears, or protruding stomachs, it never would've worked! The bread was delicious. My salad came drowned in dressing (should've asked for it on the side). Four of us ordered one of the daily specials which turned out not to be at all what we expected. The menu said it was pasta with chicken, tomatoes, and basil. They actually meant a sauce made of ground chicken, tomato chunks, and dried basil. Good, but not what we thought we were ordering. Service was pretty quick and very gracious. We were a little insulted that they gave the check to the one male in our party - hello, sexism! - but just sort of laughed it off.
(2)Takelya W.
prices are way too high for the quality i received. im talking bland bland bland! never again
(1)Tracey M.
I've passed this place many, many, many times so I was excited to finally get the opportunity to check it out. Here are the highlights: * Quaint atmosphere * Friendly and efficient service * Tasty food * Generous portions I can't think of one thing about Italian Village that sticks out as a negative. All in all, I'd dine there again.
(4)Patty R.
We have eaten here before, and we liked it, so we made a reservation for an anniversary celebration. This time, we ate in the Italian Village section, which is very charming. They seated us immediately, and we waited for the rest of our party to arrive, while we had wine and appetizers. I like that we didn't have to wait to be seated until everyone arrived. The waitstaff was very helpful and attentive. We were seated in a small private "room", where we had privacy, and I was relieved that my small grandson would not disturb other diners, as he likes to sing. The waiters asked if my grandson would like to go to the lounge and sing a song with the entertainment. He said yes, and we had one of the most fun times ever! The trio graciously played a request, and my grandson sang a verse. The patrons in the lounge kindly applauded. Best anniversary gift ever! We all ordered from the daily specials menu, and everyone enjoyed their entrée very much. Because we had two bottles of wine, I cannot recall the exact names of the dishes, but mine was a crab stuffed fish, and my husband had a lobster sauced pasta. Everyone loved the desserts, too. We felt very well taken care of, and loved all of the food and drink. This restaurant has been here forever, but it is still great, and we will be back.
(5)Katie M.
I loved the Italian Village! It was beautiful, food was great, and service prompt and friendly. Great place for a date!
(5)Lawrence Y.
I came here a looong time ago in 2007 and I finally found my way back here the other night after a show at the BOFA Theatre. The good thing is that they are open later than most restaurants. So if you are watching a show in the neighborhood, keep this place in mind. I do like their attempt to make the ambiance more authentic - strung lights, details on the wall, etc. Though some of the "buildings" did start to feel like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. But it's a beautiful day. The server we had was pretty good, came back a good amount of times, offered us dessert menus. The food, however left me a little underwhelmed. Perhaps I had purposely forgotten about it for four years. There wasn't a thing on the menu that really grabbed out at me. I'm sure it's all delicious - but maybe the menu just needs more options. Anyway, I kind of picked the "Seafood salad" like a dodgeball team would pick a fat kid - last resort. It was okay - definitely not worth getting a second time around.
(3)Melissa F.
Came here one evening for a valentines dinner. I'm sure it was more crowded than usual which is fine, but we were seated in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs when you first walk in. Awkward. Never made it to the other ends of the restaurant. The food was just normal Italian food. Nothing too special.
(3)Leo R F.
Love this place. Been to all 3 levels over the years. Old school, traditional & the best. When my wife & I have a special occasion, this is where we go. A play or just a nice dinner. We've never been disappointed. Hope they don't ruin it by "updating" anything!
(5)Jessica C.
When I was told I was going to the Italian Village for a date, I imagined an actual Italian American Community in Chicago. The disappointment was heart breaking, but why be sad when it seems to be a nice Italian restaurant. Not the authentic village I was hoping for but the terracotta village has its charms. The service and staff here are very professional and attentive, but it doesn't make up for the food. I'm not Italian in any way, but I know I can and have made better Italian dishes at home. The Shrimp Casalinga appetizer was a good dish I enjoyed the flavor, but the shrimp were small and only six of them. The dish was 12.75, so I'm not expecting a mountain of shrimp, but why not charge more for shrimp that are a better size. After that flavor became non existent at this meal. The Caesar salad was dreadful it tasted like romaine with oil and old bread, no Parmesan. The Parmesan and anchovies give a Caesar salad its flavor, I don't understand a Caesar without good Parmesan. My date had the chicken both that he also found unnecessary to eat. The entrees we ordered were chicken Marsala and veal cutlet parmigiana, both were bland. The Veal was smothered in cheese to make up for a red sauce that tasted like it wasn't worthy of passing in a High School cooking class. The food was cooked without seasoning and nothing is worse than eating a meal packed with table salt. Since I didn't find myself able to eat majority of the food, I constantly kept having sips of wine (four glasses). Despite my lack of enjoyment for the food, I thought dessert could lend some redemption. The tiramisu was watery with no flavor and bad texture. By this time I had an entire uneaten dinner, I had to send the dessert back. The chocolate moose cake that came out was nothing to help make this a better night, the glass was full of moose with a piece of cake the size of a small post it note. I've never been one of those girls to go on a date and starve, then find myself dying to go home at the end of the night to eat. This night I was that girl going home to eat leftovers and not the ones from the Italian Village.
(2)Kylie S.
I only went because of its primo location in the theatre district and I was nervous from the mixed reviews, but I had an amazing experience. I sat at the bar for awhile because I was early and the bartenders were really nice (and generous). We were seated quickly once my friends arrived and are server was incredibly cognizant of our showtime. I ordered my pasta spicy, but didn't expect it to actually be so because most Italian places don't have the same definition of "spicy" as me, but it was sooooo good. I was even sweating a little bit. I recommend.
(4)Tareq A.
This place was horrid from the atmosphere to the bill can't say anything good other than the bread was ok Service 4/10 the waiter was nice just didn't belong to that restaurant Food 2/10 out of 7 dishes soup salad appet and entrée salad was greens out of a bag with probably Kraft dressing But the meal left a bad taste and the bill was way too expensive for crappy food skip this place and Go to the grand lux ...... 10 star amazing and don't skip the benegiets
(1)Mary T.
I've been to The Village (upstairs) and Vivere (street level) several times and while neither is a favorite, I much prefer the ambiance, menu and food at Vivere. Business is what brought me to Italian Village this time, and what always brings me here. I really think this location is less than ideal for business lunches. The website describes the booths as "cozy," that's being kind - think secluded, but cramped. Our booth this visit overlooked the "refill station" or the place where they store water pitchers, silverware, glasses, etc. Of the three tables in this area, ours wasn't the worst. The worst table had to be the open table smack dab in front of that area; there's even a little wall so you can't move further away from it. Think chef's table, but instead of watching some culinary genius, you get to to be entertained by staff grabbing silverware and supplies - riveting, I know. For my lunch I ordered the agnolotti, which is a pretentious way of saying semi-round ravioli. My meal came with a choice of soup or salad, I went with the salad. The house salad dressing was good, but heavy on the chunks of iceberg lettuce. The agnolotti was adequate. The pasta portion was actually quite delicate, I just found the overall dish to be rather bland. I really hated the presentation of the dish, the sauce was on the bottom and the naked agnolotti sat on top. First of all, the exposed pasta cooled quickly, it didn't have its little sweater of sauce to keep it warm. Second, I was pushing and flipping the agnolotti around my plate to adequately sauce them, hoping not to splash myself or colleagues in the process (success!). Service was fine, but it felt a little awkward due to the booth set up. Any time our server wanted to talk to us, he had to pop his head into our little booth-cave. This meant he occassionally (and seemingly unintentionally) interrupted someone mid-sentence. Bottom line: You won't see me rushing back here of my own accord.
(2)Michael W.
My wife and I stopped here for a drink one weeknight after catching a show across the street, and I was immediately taken with the quiet atmosphere and Italian countryside murals replete with little twinkling lights set in the wall. There weren't many people at the upstairs bar on a Thursday night, but I appreciated the subdued mood. This isn't a place to impress your date with sophistication, but rather a place to relax with someone you love.
(4)Julia B.
I cant believe this place only has 3 stars. I thought the atmosphere was darling, the staff was friendly (even for a very busy night) and the food was spectacular. We were on the second floor and the decor makes you feel like you're on a romantic Italian set balcony with twinkle lights. I got the chicken rotolini which is chicken with mushrooms sauteed in a wine sauce served with fettacini...it was to die for. I loved it! This is a definite place to stop for some good Italian food.
(5)Kate P.
Came here after a show at Bank of America down the street. It was 10 o'clock on a Sunday. They seated us right away. Food was authentic and delicious. Got the seafood ravioli. Delicious!
(4)Mary M.
When I visit new cities, I like to eat at the locally owned restaurants to experience the culture of that city. I was staying downtown and the hotel desk clerk recommend the Italian Village for dinner - it was only a block from our hotel. The ambiance is quaint and charming. Looking around in the booth we were sat in, I got the feeling that at one time there was some "business" done in this restaurant (if you know what I mean). Some of the staff was extremely friendly and some was a bit aloof - love them or hate them, that's what Italians are like. I thought the food was fabulous. For anyone who's grown up in an Italian family, you'll know, it's what Italian food is - simple, unpretentious, earthy. I loved the character of the place, the personality of the staff, and the food; and the next time I'm in Chicago, I will be going back.
(5)Danny S.
This was about the only place other than McDonald's open on a Sunday night in this area of downtown Chicago and it looks like an A-class tourist trap. Went inside and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and the food. It's not the greatest Italian food I've ever had (it is pretty much still a tourist trap) but it was filling with good portions. The prices are a little steep for the quality but not that out of the ordinary for a large city. I ate upstairs with my friend but after checking out the main and lower floors kind of wish we had gone to one of the other areas. The decor in those other areas looks much more interesting so you might want to give those floors a shot.
(3)Kai B.
Good food, good service, a little too dark for my taste. Almost 5 stars, but only almost
(4)M M.
Service was good and food was great. However I think the food is overpriced but that's what I expected for downtown chicago. Major drawback was we got put in a tiny little 8x8 room in the back. There were 7 tables jammed in there and I could barely pull my chair out with the people behind me. Why were we not seated in the main dining room?? Will not be going back with so many other options in the area.
(3)Barbara d.
The host and waiters were welcoming, friendly and seemed happy to see us the moment we stepped inside. Sad that this is so refreshing, but I can't remember the last time I wasn't greeted with a gruff, "how many?" The decor was charming. So many little nooks and little private dining rooms and alcoves. It might be a little on the dark side for some, but I thought it was romantic and "cozy"--and I could see the food just fine. ;-) Pumpkin ravioli special for me and salmon for my husband. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was really good and tasted fresh. Might be a little on the expensive side, but we'd be back just for the tiramisu.
(4)Lauren W.
Good portions of great tasting Italian food in a nice atmosphere; great service. A can't beat location. The tiramisu and the wines by the glass were just average. I would go back.
(3)Peggy T.
I was invited to this restaurant for dinner with my boyfriend's grandparents. They have been going here for years after they see a show at the Chicago Theater. I was surprised to learn that this is Chicago's oldest Italian Restaurant. We ate upstairs, but I was told they have 2-3 restaurants in the same building. We were seated in a booth that was secluded in a private nook. It was cool, we were seated away from other tables, but it was right next to a busboy stand/server area. Our server was really nice and friendly, he was quite knowledgeable of the menu too. They were serving Corned Beef and cabbage for Saint Patricks day, which I was surprised about. One guest with us got it and loved it! I got a Gnocci dish with tomato cream sauce which was really good, the Gnocci was very soft and tasty. My boyfriend got the Eggplant Parmesan and that was great too. Two people in our group got the Corned Beef Sandwiches to go (so they could have them for lunch on the real Saint pattys day). They both loved them and the server even threw in salads for them too. The only con of this place is that I didnt like my wine (it was a Pinot Grigio) and my boyfriend didnt really like his either (he had a red one). Other than that, we were impressed!
(4)Ross R.
Hands down! Some of the worst food in Chicago. I've been here twice (to the basement restaurant, whatever the difference is) and both times the food was atrocious. Visit 1: I had a boar sausage and pea pasta dish that I still remember almost 2 years later because of how terrible it was. Visit 2: I had a white fish entree that was sort of strangely undercooked and otherwise terrible. The broccoli on the plate was limp and watery and I had a lovely mealy minestrone soup to start. Likewise the food is very overpriced If there were an Olive Garden near by, I would choose to dine there instead...that is saying a lot. Astonishingly terrible!
(1)Allen B.
This place has a great rustic feel. The waitstaff is fast and kind. They'll cater to your needs in every aspect from getting you a more comfortable chair to getting you a cleaner fork. The upstairs decor is beautiful. This place does a fantastic job in trying to make the customer feel as if they are dining in Italy. Their ceilings are painted like the sky with drifts of clouds. It resembles dining out on a summer night in which the sun has fallen and the only illumination guiding you is the candles that are burning on the tables. Another great aspect of the Italian Village are the dining coves. There are sections along the wall in which you are enclosed in a booth that seats 2, 4, and 6 people. Not enough to make you feel claustrophobic, but just enough to make you feel comfortable in which it'll make you want to come back and enjoy more of their italian fare.
(3)Mary H.
We ate here before the theater last night and couldn't have been more pleased. The server, Luis, was most helpful with his recommendations and getting us out on time for curtain without feeling rushed. Today I called there to ask the name of the wine I had enjoyed and he took quite a bit of time with me, offering the name and making some other recommendations as well. One thing we didn't know that we'll take advantage of next time, is that you can valet the car for $10 and they'll hold it for not only dinner but also the theater! Much more reasonable than the $36 at the self-park a block away!
(5)Amy R.
I'm giving it a 4 because I hope to go back and get the full experience. We went on a Saturday evening. Mistake #1. It was super busy and the wait was forever, but was to be expected for DT Chicago on a Saturday evening. Mistake # 2- Drinking too much wine prior to going. Having to wait in a crowded sardine packed bar area was not fun. It was really hot, loud and there was no place to sit down. The menu was extensive. I finally chose the Shrimp Linguni with broccoli which was excellent as a to go item. I was not feeling well at all and had to leave, but ended up eating it much later that evening. The shrimp and broccoli sauteed in garlic was quite tasty even cold. My hotel room didn't have a microwave. It's a quaint Chicago staple that is a must try. I hope to return, only this time to dine in.
(4)Matt T.
Had the truffle ravioli, a glass of wine (fine, two glasses of wine), a dessert, and a coffee here at the bar the other night. Service was prompt and the food was good. I didn't look around the dining room to get a feeling for the mood, but everything was just okay, not great, but just okay. I would try it again if I were in the area and needed an Italian fix, but won't go out of my way.
(3)Heather B.
We were looking for something open past 7 pm in the Loop for dinner. We heard that the Italian Village was the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago and couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat there. We were seated without delay in a tiny nook. The pasta is all hand made and they grow their own herbs. I swear the meat sauce was THE BEST I EVER HAD. We enjoyed the eggplant parm, the lasagna and the ravioli.
(5)Chris S.
This is the "room service" restaurant for the LaQuinta Hotel in downtown Chicago (1 S. Franklin) and it leaves *much* to be desired. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it set me back $26 and was worth (taste wise) about $8. The chicken was very over-cooked and dry -- a pretty amazing feat given that it was in a bath of marsala wine sauce. The sauce was pretty good, but the canned mushrooms (all four of them) were pretty blah. This was probably the worst Chicken Marsala I've ever had (and one of the most expensive!) The pasta side that came with it was tiny (maybe 1 cup?) but was okay. The bread was nothing to write home about, but I did think it was nice of them to include it. The delivery guy was very weird and actually showed up with a 'Helper" - so there were two guys at the door when I got my order. I would *not* recommend this place, nor would I eat here again.
(2)Melanie S.
This place is way past its prime. By about 30 years. My coworkers like to go here as it's close to the office, and I will usually give in and go. Next week, I plan on bringing in food from La Gondola to show them what Italian food is supposed to taste like, which is clearly not airline food like Italian Village serves up. I've tried several different things, hoping to find at least something I'd like, but it's all pretty mediocre. Granted, La Gondola has ruined me for all other Italian food, but still, this place is just really, really not good. I hate to say it since it's the oldest Italian restaurant in the city, but it needs to be put out of its misery.
(2)Frank N.
This place used to be the restaurant where my wife and I celebrated our anniversary. I've been coming here for about 13 years and sadly the last couple of times have been sub-par. The ambiance is excellent with the true Italian landscape theme with quaint and cozy seating. The last two times we were seated, we were placed in the back room with no windows and seemed more like a "kids room". We felt ignored back there and promptly asked to be seated in the main room considering I made reservations well in advance. That request was met with a snide smirk and attitude. Aside from that, I have never been disappointed in the food and wines. My wife always loved the house Cavalchino Merlot Veneto which was the house wine, but unfortunately not imported any longer. While, the menu is dicerse and plentiful, I always stick with the Mostaciolli with the spict arrabiata suace. Don't know what it is but I am addicted to it! A little bit of spice goes and long way and gets my juices flowing (For later) :)
(3)Anne F.
Salmon puttanesca was delicious - moist and tender. The escarole that is served with it was wonderful. Veal... Kinda tough.
(4)Jack K.
If you like stale, ice cold bread and Italian food that is out of a can eat here!
(1)Maria A.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a friend of mine, I came with high expectations... it was my first time in Chicago so I picked this place over many others to have dinner one of my 3 nights there. Total disappointment. The ravioli with pink sauce tasted like it could have been boiled by me from a package and sauced over with jar sauce. I tried really hard to like it, the ambiance was awesome and service excellent, but gosh they really need to work on the quality and taste of their food. I got the chance to meet one of the Chefs, as he was a friend of my friend, and this guy had such incredibly impressive credentials... I would have thought a restaurant that houses such an accomplished chef would reflect that in their menu. Lots of potential... but your food is subpar.
(2)Rachell E.
I'm NOT a fan of Italian-American food! So now that that's out of the way let me tell you all of the reasons I love The Italian Village. First of all, this is the only place I can actually eat Spaghetti. It's flavored so well, I mean the sauce, OMG the sauce is amazing. I had no need for meat or salt or pepper or anything else! Prior to having the Spaghetti at TIVR I had been avoiding pastas with red sauce althogether because I hadn't found any that actually tasted good. Thank you TIVR for popping my pasta cherry! Now moving on from the Spaghetti, have you ever had spumoni? Well even if you have, you haven't, if you haven't had it here. The flavor is so delicious, I wish they made cones to take with you. Lastly, I love TIVR because it's three friggin restaurants in one location and I can never make up my mind where I want to eat so I love having three choices in one spot. The food is tasty and the location is downtown Chicago, but the prices are mid-range!! GO!
(4)Meghan D.
I had fond memories of this place since my husband took me here on one of our first dating Valentines days together like 14 years ago. However, we recently went back last weekend and I was surprised that we EVER liked this place. The only good things about this place is it has been around a long time, so has some charm and history. Also, it is a good location if you are going to the theatre or symphony. Olive oil tastes watered down. I've had better bread. We both ordered seafood and that was probably our mistake. Fish was cooked so-so and came with a side of their veggie of the day. Steamed green beans and carrots. So blah. The veggies had no seasoning or anything on them. We added olive oil and salt pepper from the table to try and dress them up a bit, but didn't really help. For the price you are paying I expect a bit better especially the veggies. It was like someone just microwaved them and stuck them on the plate. I remember the pasta dishes tasting better, but I probably won't go back to test that theory. Hostess was friendly at the door, waitress was very attentive, but not friendly.
(2)Moni K.
I came here Tuesday night for dinner before a show at the Chicago Symphony. There are 3 different restaurants inside one ----in the basement is la Cantina, main floor is Viviere and top floor is The Village My friend and I ate at the The Village on the top floor. We both ordered the same items of the menu. She copied me. We had the Agnolotti--- supposed homemade cheese spinach filled pasta in tomato basil sauce. Pretty much a big spinach pierogi covered in tomato sauce. It was good, very generous portion. Each entree included soup or salad. We chose the salad with vinaigrette. It was very good but we each got only ONE cherry tomato. Bread was excellent. I loved the bread. Service was very attentive. Waiter very cute however I got the feeling the restaurant was trying to pass this cute boy as an Italian while I am pretty sure he was Spanish. Decor is very romantic. The string of lights around the restaurant really makes the mood. Must visit just once.
(4)Leana G.
Most delicious and flavorful Italian meal ever experienced.
(5)Ben B.
Six Facts about Italian Village (upstairs): 1. The bread is always delicious. 2. The waiters always make you feel like they have something better to do. 3. The wait time for a table is never that bad. 4. The place does feel cozy for as many people cram in there. 5. The price is reasonable, compared to a lot of Chicago Italian joints. 6. I'd go back again without hesitation. The best dish I've ever had there is the Chicken Vesuvio. It takes longer to make, but the meat just falls off the bone.
(4)Tom S.
This place is all about how it looks - Don't bother going for the food which is akin to a re-dressed frozen dinner. My seafood pasta lacked flavor. For the price - pass!
(1)Jay n.
A-ok. Solid traditional Italian food. Same today as it was 20 years ago. Great place to eat before a show.
(3)E M.
One of my faves in the city. We have only ever eaten upstairs, but have been there countless times in my 41 years here on earth :) The atmosphere is wonderful -- really old world. Only once have we ever waited for an exhorbitant amount of time, and frankly the place is so much fun to just "be" in, I've never minded waiting. Kids are treated well here, and the staff even tried to accomodate us once when we asked on a busy Friday night if we could get into one of their booths, which are scattered about the room in cute little nooks. The food is great...I usually get the lasagna which is out of this world, but I have never disliked anything I've tried. Even the olive oil and breadsticks are good. Service has always been great. The only negative thing I can think of to say is that the place is a bit cramped, so if you don't like being able to see what your neighbor is having (I think that's a good thing -- you learn about more of the food they offer that way!) then try one of the other two restaurants in the building. Again, to me this translates to "old world" italian. Nostalgia is a great thing when it's done well.
(5)Paul S.
What a comfortable or romantic depending on your situation. Very cute little private rooms for small groups (4-6). Nice lighting and decor. Very special. The food is fresh and tasty. Portions are not too big. Prices are a bit high - but seems to be true everywhere - especially downtown. Haven't eaten here in many years and I forgot how enjoyable the Italian Village was. I'll be back again soon.
(4)Lena B.
A friend and I were down on State St and decided to eat dinner at The Italian Village. She has fond memories of eating there as a child, so we went to eat at the upstairs restaurant. The ambiance was old school - narrow aisles, low lighting, crowded but private dining. A lot of families. The service was mediocre - there were extremely tan (think Karl Lagerfield) older men who did the seating and wandered around asking if the food was good and making jokes I didn't understand at all. Our waitress didn't listen to what I asked about a dish (grilled chicken & potatoes); instead, she told me that everyone confused the dish I had asked about with another dish (fettucini alfredo) and she wanted to make sure that I knew what I was asking about. I assured her that I could read and that I just wanted her opinion on the dish; she continued to tell me that the dish was not what I thought it was. So, I ordered the special - a mushroom risotto - instead. My friend ordered a crepe-like dish with meat inside. The actual food was definitely the worst Italian I've had in restaurant. The mushroom risotto was somehow both dry and greasy, and flavorless. The rice had a weirdly tacky texture. I couldn't finish it. My friend's crepe dish was supposed to have cheese on it; there was none, and it was salty but not very flavorful. Disappointing. The only truly decent thing we were served was the blue cheese dressing on my salad, which the server made sure I knew cost an extra $1.50. For two dinners and coke/diet coke, no appetizers, we paid about $45 before tip. We weren't offered dessert, which we would have liked. I will endeavor to not go back here ever again.
(1)Lia V.
Can we say adorable? This place is so cute - it seriously looks like a little Italian village. Twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling, warm and cozy atmosphere - GIANT wine list (although most of the reserve wines are ridiculously expensive) The food is classic Italian. Their red sauce is quite tasty (although of course dad's homemade is better) I got the Frutta Di Mare Linguine - if you're a seafood fan this gives you everything! Scallops, mussels, clams, squid - on top of a ton of linguine and mixed with their tangy red sauce... it was superb. Everyone else I was with got chicken parmigiana, lemon chicken, lasagna, and Alfredo - nobody had anything bad to say. A great place to relax, gather with friends and family, and fill your belly on carbs and wine :-) I bet it would be a cute place for a date as well - very dim lighting, kind of romantic.
(4)Allison C.
Touristy and bland. Italian Village gets 3 stars instead of 2 for their enjoyable decor and good service. But it's close to a 2. Their service was excellent when I came here for my friend's wedding meal. They were very sweet with the newlyweds. My first time here, my fennel sausage pasta was good. But my husband had bland, sloppy veal, and my next time there, I had frozen-aisle quality eggplant parmigiana. It's overpriced for what you get. Tourists to Chicago: you don't need to come here! Take the Brown Line to Rose Angelis. Take the Blue Line to Bueno Terra. Go to Bridgeport to any mom & pop joint. I know Italian Village is convenient, but you'll get more for your money and fresher, better food elsewhere.
(3)Rodrigo D.
First time I went here, the grilled chicken salad was great. But this last time it was pathetic. Portillos has fresh salads for half the price, so I would expect a lot more out of a 15 dollar salad. The chicken on this salad was cold, the apples were oxidized and the lettuce was not fresh. It is as if I was eating from yesterdays batch that had been sitting for a while. When I brought this up to the waiter, he quickly took it and came back with basically the same thing, but now with warm chicken. I now had heated up chicken on top of a soggy day old salad. When I brought this up to the manager, he said that he would take care of us next time we came and gave me his business card. I left the card on the table when we left. How about taking care of us right now? I will never come back to this place and will never refer anyone to this place. Come here at your own risk. The only cool thing about this place are the framed/signed photo frames of celebrities that have been there. After my third experience here, I am not sure if these celebrities ever came back for a second visit or if they ever truly came here to begin with.
(1)Alan S.
So I was told that this is one of those places that you just need to try when in Chicago. The place is quite pretty... great place to take a date... but not so much the place for a single guy to go alone and try to catch a quick bite. The service was good, and the bread was excellent. I had the risotto special... it was alright. Good size portion, but it was nothing to Yelp about (hence the 2 rather than the 3). I'd give this place another try if I go back... I think it has potential to be a 3, I just didn't choose well...
(2)Steve M.
Italian Village is the quintessential tourist trap Italian restaurant for those visiting Chicago and staying in the loop. Sure, the interior is cool, but I just couldn't help but feel like I was in a restaurant modeled after some sort of Italian Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World. (That or some scene from Lady and the Tramp, where a fat old cook and his sous chef were going to pop out of the corner and start singing "Toooniiight is the niiiiight... a most beauuutifffffll niiight....") Food was largely unimpressive given the prices, with way too many simple X in Red Sauce or Y in Alfredo Sauce choices. Service was good. We had 2 servers for our large group, and they seemed to keep everyone's beverage and food orders straightened out. If you're with the right folks, it can be a fun kitschy time. Luckily, I was. :)
(3)Amy H.
Delicious!!! The Italian Village was visit #3 in the spring-break-a-thon of visits that I received. This time, it was my aunt, uncle, and cousin. My cousin was staying at the Palmer House and my aunt and uncle drove down to see him and go for dinner (or as my aunt still says "supper.") We picked Italian Village because it was close to the Palmer House. The food was YUUUUMMY!!! My aunt and I each had the swordfish and my cousin and uncle both had steaks. All were delicious! We managed to get some dessert in our full bellies too. Creme brulee and dense chocolate cake. OMG, so drool worthy! I didn't get to look at their wine selection or try any cocktails because this was an ice tea and water dinner, but next time for sure.
(4)Ashley C.
A friend and I were here last weekend and went to the Village (upstairs restaurant). It was a busy Friday night, but we only had a very short wait for two. Our waiter was prompt and friendly, took our drink order, and brought out the fresh baked bread, which we devoured. We took plenty of time to look over the menu. I had been there once before, but sat in the lower level restaurant. Our waiter was almost TOO attentive while we were looking over the menu. Twice he came and asked if we had any questions which rather irked me. I know I have a very bad habit of reading the menu cover to cover and probably more than once as I decide what I want, but my theory is that we were in no hurry so the waiter shouldn't be either. I ordered the Meat Ravioli in the spicy Arribiata sauce and my friend ordered the Cannelloni in the cream sauce. Our order came out really quick. Thats ok, but we had just finished the loaf of bread in front of us because we thought we would have some wait between ordering and our food. Apparently not. My ravioli dish was good and a generous (but not gluttonous portion), but there wasn't anything to write home about. I had this before but this time the sauce was much spicier than normal. I drank two glasses of water just during the entree portion! I tried a bit of the Cannelloni dish and it was AMAZING! If I didn't think she'd notice, I would have tried swapping dishes. The next time I go back, I would definitely get that. Two chocolate lovers just couldn't say no to desert, not where there is a chocolate mouse one. It was great and came out in a little glass. It was very rich - and you'd definitely need to share it, but it was a nice end of the meal. I love Italian food but had overpriced meals - the prices here were reasonable.
(3)Angie M.
Quite possibly one of the grossest meals I've ever experienced. Let me lay it out for you: Five guests squeezed into a booth for 4 in a weird little cubbyhole in the back of the restaurant. My poor father had about 1/2 of a table in front of him for the meal. I'm surprised the server didn't notice how uncomfortable he was and offer to re-seat us. Speaking of servers, our waiter was the pits. He showed up for work with an obvious flu/cold situation. Is that even sanitary to serve people when you're that sick? And have no voice? His timing was all off and he creepily lingered around our table during the meal. It just felt weird. Our appetizer was a greasy and gross calamari. My baked manicotti was the most unappetizing pasta dish I've ever eaten. It was a few tubes of overcooked pasta with totally bland ricotta filling, swimming in watery tomato sauce and a huge pile of mozzarella cheese on top. And it was cold in the middle. Just all together icky. You know when your party starts talking about how good Portillo's would taste at that moment the food is not good. I won't be back. Ever.
(1)D H.
I haven't been here in ages and went for dinner this week. I have to say, I ordered the lasagna which was just okay. My date had the agnolotti. I still love the ambiance of this place, and the waiters and really pretty much everything about it.
(3)D. B.
The Italian Village has become a go-to restaurant when I visit Chicago. I've been a couple times in the last couple of years and will visit again on my next trip to Chicago. The restaurant serves good Italian food. It's nothing super fancy, but I disagree with other reviewers who say that the food is on par with chain restaurants; you can definitely tell that this food is homemade. Servers bring water and bread to your table right away and olive oil, Parmesan, seasonings, are already on each table. On past visits my friends and I have had the lasagna, seafood ravioli, eggplant Parmesan, and other "classic" Italian dishes -- all were delicious. The wine selection is decent and reasonably priced, and the desserts are pretty tasty too. The Italian Village has cute decor and an intimate atmosphere. The restaurant is decorated like a small village, with faux-finished walls, country lanes, stars, and the like. There are a number of private and semi-private rooms and booths too. Even when the place is mobbed (as it has been on my last two dinner visits), the service is sufficient and the servers are pleasant.
(4)Mike R.
Nothing special here. Food was lackluster, there are much better Italian restaurants downtown. I was there with a group for a reunion, the service was mediocre and the food was the most bland I have eaten in awhile. Being Italian myself, I know what Italian should taste like, but this was far from Italian. The Chicken was a boiled breast (it was so white it never hit a pan) with sauce on it and sprinkeld with a few capers. The veal dish was tough and not worth eating. Portions were inconsistent. Dessert, while the rum cake was tasty, the portion could not have been smaller, the cake was 1/4 thick at the thickest end. The only thing going for this restaurant is its location.
(2)Phil A.
Dynamite job. They really knocked the ball out of the park with great service, great food and great ambiance. Superb all-around. Great job.
(5)Barbara P.
I had to go to Chicago for a wedding, we had plans to go to the theatre and only had a short time to grab something to eat, just happened to pass the Italian Village and went in told them my situation (time), they did everything to get us a table fast, told our waitress our situation and wham bam, our food was there!!! Being Italian I never eat Italian food in Nebraska (only my own) because I dislike like sauces, but Italian Village had it going on, I enjoyed my meal very much, and can't wait to get back there, the staff, atmosphere and food was excellent, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
(5)Sandra M.
We came here after a show at The Goodman. It was a Sunday and we didn't think it would be crowded, so came in without a reservation. Their first question to us was if we had a reservation, and when we told them we didn't, the manager (?) told the host to sit us at a booth with an extra chair. There were 4 adults and three kids and we felt a little crowded. There were other empty tables around us, so we asked to be seated at another bigger table. The manager told us there weren't any available. They didn't make a very good first impression with me and I thought they were a little rude. I asked the rest of my party, and we all agreed on that. The chicken parmesan was ok, nothing special. The kids shared a pizza, and they really enjoyed that. The table was also a little too dark...we could have used a little more light. That was a bit annoying, since this was a family dinner, not a romantic one.
(3)Laura L.
Never over the top delicious but always nice.
(4)joe t.
Thank you to the tv show Check Please! All I can say is amazing! service at front of house sat us with our 2 year old instantly. Waiter, Richard was not only knowledgable but attentive. Best garlic bread I've had in ages and the missus loved her mussels. A+ on apps, we both opted for salad instead of soup the dressings were top notch! The wife had their homemade blu cheese which was amazing and I asked for balsamic but Richard suggested their balsamic/Italian that was to die for. It took every ounce of energy for me to not lick the plate. A++ Now we went there for pasta. My wife had the Salmon Puttanesca, which she loved. Now I was torn on what pasta to have, so.... I had the filet mignon. Holy cow, not what I expected from a place famous for pasta. Cooked to a perfect medium. Wonderful flavours and you could cut it with a butter knife. A+++ if I had anymore time, I'm sure desert wouldn't have let me down, but it was the babies bed time.... If I could give 10 stars I would! The wine list is insane, they have 40,000 bottles in stock, but I was the only one drinking so I had 2 glasses of the Pinot Noir, I could of had a whole bottle it was that good. This time we ate at "The Village" I hope they plan on seeing a lot more of us and will be trying the other two places, but they have a lot to live up to!!!!
(5)Michael S.
A Gentleman's Tale. Several years ago my then 8 year-old son asked me with some frustration: "Dad, why do you say I always have to use my manners, and I always have to be a gentleman?" (disgusted eye roll and emphasis on "always") I replied: "Because no one likes to say "No" to a gentleman." My son's eyes widened. "Oh,"... it dawned on him. "I get it." He smiled, and ever since I've been telling him, at times, to knock off the gentleman routine because "no" means "no" with me. Last week I met a Master Gentleman: Scott, the top floor bartender at Italian Village. I had time to kill at 5 p.m.-ish after a meeting nearby, so I walked up there having not been in a long while. The bar wasn't terribly crowded when I arrived, so I had the chance to observe Scott work as the bar filled quickly. And work he does. Scott personally introduces himself to every bar customer, shakes hands, looks them in the eye, and says: "I'm Scott, and you are.....?" He learns your name and....he has you!. A gentleman. As the bar became packed, I saw almost no one say "no" to Scott about a second cocktail, starting a tab, ordering an appetizer or dinner, etc. This guy is smooth! And a smart bartender, too. My second Knob Creek neat was twice the size of the first. I couldn't even finish it, but I got the point. If you want to see a true Master Gentleman Bartender work, go to IV after work and observe. This is the guy to send your sons to if you want them to learn the power of manners in action. What a pleasure. Someone raised Scott right, that's for sure.
(5)Angela B.
After yet another great time at The Village, I decided it was time to write a review... My mother & I stumbled across this place 7 years ago when I first moved to Chicago. We tried it - loved it - and I've been going back ever since. You can't get much more authentic than this... and it is one of the oldest Italian places in the city. The staff is always pleasant, the food is always great and the prices are beyond reasonable for downtown Chicago. Anytime a friend or family member comes to visit - I take them to The Italian Village... and I have heard nothing but great reviews. It is my all time favorite place in the whole city. :)
(5)R M.
this place was delightful! i loved the cute decor and ambiance inside. it was a late Sunday evening and my husband and i could not find many places dine since so many restaurants had closed by then. i'm not a big fan of Italian but you can blame that on the many bad Italian restaurants in my town of Houston, TX. My husband & I split the house salad with vinagraitte and that was delicious. I could have had a little more presentful look but an "ugly salad" is nothing to cry about. i ordered the linguine with clams and it wasn't too shabby. maybe a bit heavy on the olive oil but the clams were tasty. And yes, the noodles were cooked perfectly. I wish i had ordered the frutta di mare linguine, which is what my husband ordered. i know i am going to be craving that stuff. too bad i'm thousands of miles away :( I barely had room for dessert. i had some custard (can't remember the name). It didn't quite have a lot of flavor in it but it had a nice tart taste to it. Service was good overall. Catchy Italian music too.
(3)Mary D.
Valet parked here for The Book of Mormon and afterwards, thought what the heck, might as well eat here afterwards, since we haven't tried it yet. We were upstairs, old school decor, charming! The wait staff, amazing! Tuxedoed Matraied' how often do you see that anymore. The service was outstanding, so gracious and accommodating. The food was good and priced well. I had their homemade Manicotti, so delicate! I also tried the meatballs which were wonderful. The clams were so-so and the salad was fine but nothing unusual. This is a great place to relax and drink in the atmosphere and to feel pampered, the food we had, was for the most part, delicious. When we are in the area we will difinetly return.
(4)Sonali K.
The Village at Italian Village has a romantic yet whimsical ambience that kind of won me over...then there's the service, and I was won. My friend and I had dinner here tonight and it was my first time there. I was enamored when I walked into their second floor restaurant. There are little covered booths scattered around so you can have a romantic, private evening if you like. Every waiter greeted me with a welcoming smile and I was shown to the table where my friend was waiting immediately without anyone acting confused. The meal started with their freshly baked bread, which was good, along with their table olive oil. For dinner I ordered the minestrone soup and pizza bread (I wasn't particularly hungry this evening) and my friend got the soup and the agnolotti pasta. The minestrone soup was definitely one of the better ones I have had. It was hearty and full of vegetables and flavor and not water-down like some can be. The pizza bread was decent, nothing worth noting. What was worth noting was the service...the waiter noticed that I was using my small plate for table and olive oil for my pizza bread and immediately came over, gently scooped my food into a new and bigger plate and reset my silverware. Now THAT is service. I was impressed. I tried my friend's pasta which was also good. I'm not sure what this place is like on weekends, most likely bustling, but it was perfect for a quiet Wednesday evening to catch up with a friend. I will definitely be back here for a date night with my fiance.
(4)Cam B.
Chicjen noodle soup----very bland. Meatballs great!!! Breadsticks yummy. Waters very attentive.. I love the dark room with twinkling lights.
(4)Annette L.
Eh. That's pretty much it. Eh.
(2)Yvonne C.
Hearty Italian food, nothing fancy, big portions, and endless bread basket with yummy olive oil for dipping. I highly recommend adding meatballs to whatever you order... they're so good. :) Service was fairly prompt as well.
(3)Ronni S.
OK food, better dessert. I ate on the top level, in the bar with the twinkling lights. The atmosphere, although a bit loud (I mean, come on, it WAS a bar), was very pretty. Not my first choice for an Italian meal, but it'll do in a pinch.
(3)Dave W.
Stopped here for dinner while in Chicago for a conference. Not the best Italian food I've ever had, but the lasagna was good, service prompt and prices reasonable.
(3)Matthew L.
A baby cockroach ran across my table when I tried to eat here. Whatever happens, don't let them seat you in the tiny room in the back near the kitchen. This restaurant does advertise in the St. Peter's weekly bulletin. +1 star. God bless their little Catholic soul's
(1)Susan F.
Ok sooooo. Weird place. Wanna know why? Went here with my boyfriend, dressed nicely, no sport jacket or anything but you get the pic. They sent us back to the back room with some other couples, the room was tiny with about 5 other tables. SLowly but surely, people got up and left because they finished their meal. Well, eventually half way into our meal, everyone was gone. The waiter closed of the double doors. I honestly felt like I was in a mafia movie and some man was going to come up and shoot us. How dare they put us back there like we were still in HS or college. UHg. Food was ok, ok priced. Very awk atmosphere. Would recommend it for older bigger groups. That is why I gave it 3 stars and not 2. Good luck!
(3)Amy J.
I like this place. There are 3 different restaurants to choose from, depending on what you feel like. I've been after theatre shows so it's right near the theatre district and you can make reservations online. It's not the most authentic or unique italian food ever, but it's close by the theatres and priced right. I've been to 2 of the 3 restaurants now and I thought both were pretty good.
(4)Erin M.
4 stars for the overall experience. Food is 3 stars, but between the festive atmosphere and waiter who looks like he is from the Soprano's, Italian Village is definitely a fun dining experience. Came in at prime time on a Friday night - the place was busy but we still were seated right away.
(4)Laura I.
Typical Italian dishes in a dark setting. While the food is okay, it just all seems so typical that I can't bring myself to give it any more stars. It's a good place but nothing special.
(2)maurice s.
This is a pretty generic Italian restaurant in a city with many better options.
(2)Angie C.
Standard pasta dishes, but convenient for a sit down lunch in the Loop. Nothing spectacular, but I only tried the street level restaurant. I hear upstairs is also good.
(3)Tom C.
The Italian Village is alright Italian food. I've never been impressed or disappointed here. With so few options in the area this is a good choice if you want something reasonable and in the downtown area. Like I said earlier the food is average but the atmosphere is nice. They have valet downstairs so it's ideal if you are going to see a show.
(3)Laura S.
Great food, service without being over priced. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal.
(5)Joanne B.
We went last night before seeing Avenue Q. They do not take reservations for parties for 2 so we just walked in and tested our luck. We had around a 20 minute wait for a table. The restaurant itself is pretty with sparkling lights and rotating water wheels. Service, however, stunk. We did not know who our waiter was. We were seated and within a few minutes a waiter appeared to take our order - no drinks or anything. After placing our order another random waiter came around and asked us if we wanted anything to drink because he just saw water on our table. Our salads came within literally 5 minutes of placing our orders. Mine was dripping with garlic dressing. After that, there was a significant amount of time between that and our entrees. When we were done, we had to flag down a busboy to get our food wrapped up and a waiter to get our check. I know that they're very busy, but shouldn't they give good service to groups of 2? The reason that I'm giving yesterday's experience 3 stars is because the food was excellent. We'll probably come again only because the food is so good.
(3)Amanda D.
I went to the Village for lunch with some friends, one that had raved so I was pretty excited to go. Too bad my amped up taste buds were let down. First off, I thought the house salad dressing was too oily for an Italian dressing. It drowned the lettuce and was too heavy for my taste. My en tree was good, but nothing spectacular. With so many other fabulous restaurants in Chicago, I can't justify going somewhere that is just okay.
(3)Ashley D.
Let's just say I've never left less than 15% in my life until I went to the Italian Village. My boyfriend and I went there on a Tuesday night and had a terrible experience, an experience that I believe happens on a nightly basis for other guests. This was our first and last time dining at the Village because of poor service and terrible food. When I walked into the restaurant I was blown away by the decor and ambiance, but that quickly diminished once I sat down. Our server, like the rest of the servers, was impatient and dull. Once he found out that we weren't of age and didn't want a bottle of wine he could care less about our dinner. He honestly didn't even ask us if we wanted anything other than water and only came to take our order and ask if we wanted dessert. As I looked around the room I noticed that all of the others servers seemed to be at the same pace as ours.... slouching with their feet on the walls, talking in the middle of the dining room, and pouring bottles of wine like they were pouring themselves a beer. My biggest pep-peeve about going to Italian restaurants is when their pasta selections consist of pick your noodle and pick your sauce which is exactly what this place had. So I resulted to the specials and had the risotto, which I took 4 bites out of and decided not to waste the calories on such flavorless carbs. It was dry, no flavor, and pretty sure that they used white rice to make it. Huge disappointment on all levels. It's a shame that this historical landmark has nothing more to offer but cute decorations. If you want a true italian dining experience in the city head to Rosal's or Francesca's on Taylor street- great people, great ambiance, and more importantly, unbelievable food.
(1)Ann Y.
We went to the Italian Village before going to the Goodman. I really like how the booths are seperate rooms. Our waiter was really good. the good though was just average. I had the fettucini alfredo and Olive garden has better fettucini alfredo. The prices are not bad though and I probably will go back to try something else if I am in the area.
(3)Allen J.
I was so disappointed in my first visit here. I took a rather important out of town guest to the restaraunt- I let her pick, she picked the bottom floor. Our food was barely warm. The lemon chicken piccata was, well, the sauce particularly, was disgusting. Service was mediocre at best, and we were seated where all of the wait staff kept gathering every 5 minutes. Very disappointing.
(1)Kathryn M.
Italian Village and I go way back...all the way to sophomore formal in high school. My date and I, okay, the group of us, because let's be honest, when you're 15, you really just go where your friends go, my formal group and I decided to skip the formal (at my school the dances sucked), spend too much money on a dress, get our hair and makeup done, and head down to Italian Village. We had one of those booths that are 3/4s private. We had a great time, but you know, we were 15, what did we know? I've been for lunch and for dinner since. Decent food, nothing spectacular, but really great service. My latest visit to Italian Village was with my boyfriend before a concert. We were running a little late, but they promised that we would be in and out in less than an hour. Pretty impressive considering it was 7 on a Friday. Overall, good food, great service, and a fun/Italian-y decor.
(3)K G.
Really nice decor, it feels like being at one of the theme restaurants in Vegas or Disney where you suddenly enter a new world when walking in. I agree with the other reviews on the food. It was totally edible standard Italian but nothing unique or extraordinary. I ordered Cannelloni and it was just barely flavored ground standard meat in the crepe with some tomato sauce (very few herbs) poured on top. It was really crowded at 5pm on a Weds evening, we had to wait 1/2 hour for our table.
(3)Jim N.
The ambience in this place is really nice. I came here for lunch on a whim and I wasn't disappointed. I ordered the grilled scallops and the linguine w/ shrimp and brocolli and both were delicious. The service was great as well, but then again it wasn't very busy so there were actually idle waiters chatting and watching their customers. Overall though, I wasn't disappointed about the food or the service in general and I would definitely make a return trip again in the future.
(4)Jen K.
As one of the previous posters said their food reminds me of the Olive Garden. My food was okay but not great, but it was definitely generic. On the positive side, the service was very good. With all the other great Italian restaurants in the city next time I will try somewhere new.
(2)H E.
Just terrible. I would highly suggest avoiding The Italian Village at all costs. I have never been more disappointed in a meal and recommend you do not waste your time and money. Chicago has so many wonderful restaurants, but clearly this is not one of them.
(1)Stefanie F.
My favorite restaurant, hands down, in the city! Everything about it is charming and romantic; the atmosphere, music, and ambiance. The food is always good and they have very good wine. I recommend calling ahead, especially if you are going on Friday or Saturday evening, because it is usually packed.
(5)Jeff P.
Favorite Italian restaurant in the city. In fact, favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)S H.
I went here for lunch and sat upstairs. The upstairs is very cute--great atmosphere. The reason for the three stars is the eggplant parmesan--it was probably the most disgusting eggplant parmesan I've ever had. That said, I will probably be back, because I always know when ordering eggplant parmesan that it has the potential of being horrible. The other items on the menu sounded delicious, and the service was good. Just avoid the eggplant parm at all costs.
(3)Andrea O.
i went here with my boyfriend and wow is this place great. It's decor is quite elegant, perfect for couples. i had the chicken (don't remember what it was called) but seriously, it was the best chicken i've ever tried in my life. great service too. a bit expensive.
(5)Briana J.
Great place to have your boss take you out on the company tab. The loop location makes this a wise choice for any business meal where the main concern is eating and not closing a deal. The food is filling and the service is good. They will leave you alone to allow for conversation but they never forget about the bread or water refills.
(4)JP D.
Good food but I thought the menu and wine list was too pricey. Seems like a great place to take a client for a business dinner.
(3)Pickle P.
You know, I wasn't impressed. Italian Village is definitely promoted as a need-to-try restaurant in the city, and so I looked forward to it. My friend and I went to have a nice Italian meal and some wine after a long day, and we didn't realize how pricey it was going to be. You are given bread, but the portion sizes of the meals (even the pastas!) are very small. The wine list is EXTENSIVE, to the extent that we were extremely overwhelmed. It basically is a book. Do people actually order those $3,000 bottles of wine? Anyhow, we each had a glass, enjoyed them, ordered some pasta and shared a couple of desserts. The ambience is neat, due to its reputation as a Chicago staple, but all of the servers are male (sort of a bothersome point for me), my wallet can't handle the impact, and there isn't any available parking, so you'll have to public trans or taxi it.
(2)Alice L.
Italian Village is a great place to go if you're headed out with a large group. Now, there are three levels to this place- The Village, La Cantina, and Vivere. I've had the pleasure of eating at both The Village and Vivere. The service was superb at both places, and the seafood dishes are to die for! Overall, the food was delicious, the portions were huge, and the prices were reasonable. I look forward to trying La Cantina.
(4)Ryan R.
We came here for a team builder.. Food was good and the service staff was pretty amazing considering how many people we brought. The salmon was light and flaky and melts in your mouth. Perfect! I really liked the old school atmosphere and the downstairs bar was pretty cool.
(5)John S.
I took my entire family here after seeing the play, "Feast" at the Goodwin Theater. It was Sunday so Rosebud in the Theater District was closed. The food was overpriced. My wife's chicken vesuvio dry and bland. I had the lasagna based on the server's recommendation and it was SO SALTY. I had the Italian Village is a year and the quality has gone way down. With all of the good restaurants downtown. I will not be returning. BTW - The play was excellent..go see Feast but don't go to The Italian Village.
(1)Abhinav S.
Running off of the movie: "The Good, the Bad and the UGLY!" The good: -Nice warm bread. Complemented by good quality olive oil -Superb drinks. The pineapple martini and Bloody Mary were what we ordered. They were A grade alright -The ambiance is wonderful. Good place if you wish to bring a date, with the native music and all The bad: -Got the Three Cheese Tortelli and Agnolotti. These were just loaded with marinara sauce and were just alright. -The portions seemed a bit low as well -Breadsticks were hard and seemed a bit old The UGLYY: -Restrooms are friggin' GROSSSS. Like seriously, a dive bar might be cleaner than these restrooms, jeez -Minestrone soup was bland and pretty much sucked. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of boiled veggies in a flavorless broth End: Want to grab some drinks and warm bread in a nice cozy location? Come here. For everything else, skip this place
(3)Jamie H.
I got here a bit before my reservation and the rest of the party so I went to the bar; it was about 5:15. I ordered a drink and was given some free happy hour pizza. Quite a pleasant surprise! The pizza was great - hot and very fresh tasting! When everybody else arrived we got seated and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The bread was amazing the capreese salad was great and a good portion size. After we ordered our meal the soups and salads came out quickly. Then we waited for what seemed like a really long time for our food. We were only concerned because we had a show at 7:00. We had told the waiter in the beginning, and everything worked out time wise just fine, in the end. Everybody enjoyed their respected dishes - my seafood salad which was only about $13 on the appetizer menu was HUGE; I ate it for three meals! I also ate my dads chicken saltimbocca a few days later for leftovers and couldn't believe how amazing it still was! I initially wanted dessert and probably could have squeezed it in, but I didn't want to scarf it down so we opted just for the check. The food was great and service was on point!
(4)Beth M.
Exactly what you would expect from the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. Warm an inviting inside with creative decorating. Top-notch, attentive service. And the food, oh the food. Salad, appetizers and dessert are a must. Generous portions, classic, rich flavors. An easy walk from most of the larger attractions in Chicago that transforms you back to the "old country" instantly.
(4)Amber H.
Here's the deal. Unique, inviting ambiance with little romantic nooks for a more intimate meal. I had the eggplant parm. Eggplant was mushy which made the dish just so-so. Minestrone soup meet the "as to be expected" expectation but it ended there. Service was fantastic though there seemed to be a delay when it came to splitting our large party's bill multiple ways. The best part about this mean was who it was with. Otherwise, I think Chicago has a lot more to offer with this cuisine.
(3)Jessica S.
Pros: Service is very good Old fashioned decor Cons: The food is mediocre at best/or inedible Old fashioned decor Old menu Lack of fresh ingredients and healthy options Expensive I have been at the Village twice recently and both times were very disappointing. The first time I ordered Chicken Della Nonna which was bland, and nothing special. This last time I ordered the chicken cacciatore. The polenta was gummy and impossible to eat. The chicken wasn't cooked properly. Some of it had skin and some of it didn't and it was so unappetizing to look at that I couldn't eat it. Money down the drain. It just ticks me off when a restaurant charges a lot, but doesn't seem to care about the taste and presentation of the food. This place is riding on it's tourist/tradition coat tails and not much else.
(2)Dwain C.
I ate lunch at The Italian Village in Chicago, IL on 8/8/2015. I have to say that I find the decor of the place my favorite of any restaurant that I've been to anywhere. It's my favorite restaurant in Chicago. This time I had their Pasta Special ($25.50) which is made with lobster (and it contained quite a bit of it). This came with minestrone soup and bread. I had coffee ($3.25) and rum cake ($6.00). I never miss getting their rum cake. Eric, my server, did a fine job as well. Plus, I took photos.
(5)Cecelia K.
I went to Italian Village for a team dinner for work. The seating can be a bit cramped. If you're coming with a large group, request to sit a tables vs a booth. They had a really good wine selection and the wine director did well in providing suggestions.
(3)Mouse C.
I've eaten at Italian Village on a number of occasions, and one being today for lunch. I mostly eat at the downstairs restaurant which is La Cantina. Time and time again, they always offer a consistently good and reasonable lunch. Let me just say, their caprese salad is hands down my favorite out of any restaurant in downtown Chicago. House made burrata...creamy, rich and delicious. If you are a burrata nut like myself, then Italian Village is the place to be! Another noteworthy item is their lasagna...baked with ooey gooey cheese and served atop a hearty meat sauce - superb! One thing to avoid for lunch would be their eggplant parm, while it is very good, it is just a bit heavy and fried and has the ability to make the rest of your day pretty unproductive. All in all, IV serves up a tasty, inexpensive lunch that will leave you feeling satisfied upon returning back to work:)
(4)Mark M.
Well sitting here's bartender passed me four times, still nothing, looking at him. Five times. Leaving if they don't want my business. Hold on, turned out to be nice, Frank I hear retirement after 57 years here and another same years still here during the day. Stayed and relaxing. Thanks.
(4)Esther L.
Ordered the minestrone soup and onion soup came out. The minestrone was subpar. The vegetables were not chopped proportionately with the other small vegetables. Lasagna was salty and not traditional; it had a brown sauce and did not taste like lasagna at all. We had to ask for napkins twice before I received them. Service was not great. The decor and food had a new age Italian vibe; not a place you want to go for traditional Italian food. The bathroom is not completely wheelchair accessible. I could get in with my wheelchair but the toilet area was too narrow for my wheelchair and I don't remember there being any grab bars.
(2)Daniel K.
I went to The Village which was located upstairs after a Morrissey concert at the Civic Opera House. This place is worth going to for the ambiance, scenery, old Italian music and dressed up, old school waiters alone. I watched one of them delicately folding Napkins in almost a Butler's style uniform, which made me feel almost like I'd entered the Grand Budapest Hotel. The food served is what I'd call 'Classic Italian.' Don't come here expecting any food that is too 'outside the box' or mind blowing. Still, being the radical kind of guy I am, I thought outside the box and ordered the Rigatoni with Spicy Arrabiata sauce instead of the traditional tomato sauce - - the result was an awesome blend of taste! The mixture of creamy ricotta cheese with hot spicy tomato sauce was extravagant. I also ordered what turned out to be the perfect side dish, Spinach with Garlic. It was oozing with garlicy oil goodness and left my taste buds and my stomach feeling blessed and fulfilled. The only reason for 4 stars is due to a quarter of the menu being taken up by nasty Veal dishes - yes I'm Vegetarian, and I hate restaurants that serve Veal!
(4)Richard C.
This is better than a 3 star rating. The staff from the hostess, to the mgmt, bus boys and servers are attentive and professional. The wine captain was at our table promptly and we had a nice wine discussion. Their wine selection is superb. There were 5 of us dining. I had a Caesar salad and rack of lamb. Both were excellent. Had the banana cake for dessert and couldn't finish it. They certainly surpassed my expectations. Great dining in the loop or for the theater crowd. I'd definitely return. Thank you again to all staff and our Sommelier- great work. I tried to go back a 2nd time and they were actually closed for a week for renovations and cleaning. Darn, but cool.
(4)Joe F.
The food was quite good, but the plates were tiny. Be prepared to have to do appetizers If you come in hungry The room did have a very neat decor.
(3)Craig E.
Both the food and the atmosphere were excellent. My wife and I received more food than we could eat and it was very reasonably priced. They host many different banquets as well and the owners try hard to please their customers.
(4)Ashley R.
Very nice spot. I've eaten here 3 times so far and every experience has been great. Top class service, good food, nice surroundings. It's more American than Italian IMO. But couldn't complain about a single dish. We may have been there off-peak, but we never waited to be seated. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The combination of decor, service and attentiveness made me feel like I was eating in a much more upscale restaurant than I paid for.
(5)Denise D.
Excellent atmosphere. Servers were super attentive. Had dinner, but the highlight of the meal was the house made tiramisu!
(5)Kay G.
The Village was a good dining experience. The atmosphere was nice and intimate. I ordered the Chicken Della Nonna and loved it! My husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and although it was good, we both thought the sauce was too sweet. We both ordered salads with the meal which weren't anything special but the dressing was good. My two cons would be the water (it tasted "metal-ly") and the bathrooms which are very small and unfortunately were not clean. So overall, a nice place to visit if your in the area and looking for Italian food but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)CC K.
Amazing late night dinner with colleagues during the ASCO Congress. I had the chicken Della nonna with a cannoli for dessert (all entrees come with soup or salad). My colleagues enjoyed fresh Spinach ravioli and manicotti. We were thrilled to have such a great meal at a reasonable price!
(5)Alexy K.
Worst place I have ever been to. Went last night for my Mom's birthday dinner (She picked the place because of live music). Service was slow, food was greasy, ambiance non-existent. I would give them -5 stars if I could.
(1)Susan H.
So...Yelp is nagging me to write this review. For days, Yelp has been telling me that "Your next review awaits". Yup. That's what happens when you put up photos and don't write the review immediately LOL! The Italian Village Restaurants is a group of 3 restaurants that are all in the same building. It was established in 1927 by the Capitanini family and now the third generation is running the place. The three restaurants are "The Village" (located on the second floor), "Vivere" (located on the first floor) and "La Cantina" (located in the basement). Each restaurant has its own kitchen and its own chef. Vivere's menu is described as a more contemporary take on Italian food while La Cantina has Italian food on its menu but its specialty is steaks. We chose to eat at The Village which is an old school red sauce place. When went there on a Sunday around 6 p.m., the place was already doing a brisk business. A very friendly host greeted us and told us that we would be seated in about 10 minutes---and that's about how long it took. We were given a small booth for 2. Our waiter showed up promptly and was friendly and efficient. The decor matches the menu, which is to say that it is very old school in design. We noticed most of the people there were families or elderly couples. Looking at the customers, I could imagine that they have been coming here for years. Maybe some of them eventually moved to the 'burbs but are always drawn back here. We both started with a glass of wine. I'm not much of a wine drinker but I do like Lambrusco and was pleased to see it on the menu. My husband had a glass of Chianti. We both thought that our wines were good quality. I ordered the beef ravioli and chose a tomato sauce for it that had no meat in it. Each meal comes with either a house salad of a cup of minestrone soup. I chose the soup. My husband ordered shrimp scampi and got the house salad. He really liked his salad. My minestrone soup was delicious. It came to the table piping hot and had an abundance of stock in it which consisted of a large variety of veggies and was well seasoned. I enjoyed my ravioli however, the portion was just too much as I wasn't able to eat it all. The tomato sauce was chunky and had that homemade flavor to it with rich tomato flavor. My husband raved about the shrimp scampi. The shrimp portion was generous plus it had lots of button mushrooms which he enjoyed. He, too, couldn't finish it all. In his case, while he enjoyed it, he found the sauce to be too rich and got to a point where he couldn't eat it anymore. So...he found himself wishing that the portion had been smaller. All in all, an enjoyable dining experience. It's always nice to come across restaurants that have so much history. Here, in the DC area, that's a rare experience.
(4)Vishal B.
Finally had reason to try the food. After work came in for dinner with a group, split a large pizza with a buddy.. I should have had a pasta. The two stars is for the pizza only, it was not what I expected. I expected a rustic wood fired type gormet looking thing.. this was heavy for a thin crust, the type of cheese that gets waxy as it cools. I wont go on, just try a pasta instead. We were in this tiny room that barely fit one round table for 8. its well hidden away upstairs at the corner of the dining room.. not very well lit...
(2)Karen C.
Italian Village is one of those places that makes me say "Why haven't I gone there yet?" ... especially since I work directly across the street these days. We finally stopped in after work for dinner one night, going to the upstairs restaurant. There was a decent amount of people waiting, but we were seated within 10 minutes. This place was PACKED. And LOUD. I can see how it's a great option for large groups, they had tons of them in there. We were sat next to one of these groups at a small 2-top table, which was fine, but the space is super tight! There are little alcoves for 4-top tables, which is nice and I'm sure those diners feel tucked away and private. The food was decent... typical Italian fare & generous portions, but a little expensive for what it is, in my opinion. $18 or whatever for a bowl of noodles & sauce (no meat) is a little ridic, but when in Rome (or Italian Village, I suppose). We left stuffed & took our leftovers home, which I enjoyed for lunch the next day so that's a win! I'm glad we finally checked it out... I love the kitsch of it, you kind of feel like you've gone back in time 30-40 years & I can dig that. Everyone was super friendly, from the host to the server, and I felt right at home.
(3)Gabe C.
Whenever friends or family come to visit, I always take them here. Service is always quick, prices are very fair (considering it is downtown Chicago), and the food is very flavorful. The atmosphere is just awesome as well. They definitely live up to the expectations one would have for the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. I would have given then 5 stars, but they do not take reservations for just 2 people which stinks if you're on a date or want some good Italian food on the spur of the moment. There is also quite a few stairs you have to walk-up in order to get to the restaurant, which is a big draw back if you have someone elderly or disabled in your party.
(4)Tonya S.
My girl Dana went here as a child with her family it's a hidden gem. As I walked the restaurant it was like being in Italy every table was in a nook or corner very intimate. I just had great drinks lol!! Try the food if I didn't have dinner reservations I would've love eating there.when in Chicago again I will check it out
(4)Ashley M.
Good food, good service, cool ambiance. Pretty close quarters, and only one beer - albeit a good beer (Stella Artois).
(3)Darl B.
Not horrible. one review here stated: 'Linguine was bland and sauceless.' Hey same guy must make the lunch lasagana! look follk this is a very very old school 'classic'. BUt upstaris at least, the lunch menu coudl do wth a 'renovation' if you receive my meaning. i woudl give it three if I inflated stars like everyone else seemingly. someone has to be principled.
(2)Jessica M.
Another vintage building in the heart of the Loop! This building houses three restaurants with 86 years of history. I took my friend out for an early birthday celebration and we went with the northern Italian classic, the Village. Reservations are accepted with the other two restaurants, but not the Village. We arrived at 5:30pm and were immediately seated. We had: 1) Pizza bread was melted Mozzarella cheese with pizza sauce and herbal leaves atop five pieces of Italian bread. As good as it was, I don't recommend ordering this if you have a small party. Each table is served with a sizable basket of complimentary bread and bread sticks. That's a little too much bread before the start of a meal especially since there were only two of us. 2) Shrimp linguine with broccoli was a delightful dish. It had sautéed Gulf, jumbo-size shrimp and broccoli with olive oil and garlic over linguine. Flavors were standard and the portions were generous. My friend took half of it to go. 3) The seafood ravioli was filled with blended seafood, topped with shrimp and scallops. The seafood filling isn't distinguishable but I particularly enjoyed the creamy tomato sauce that it came in. The portions could've been finished in one session but I was too stuffed from the bread, so I also brought half of my order home. 4) Definitely saved room for dessert! We ordered the tiramisu which was rather light with very subtle flavors. The dessert was mostly rich cream with coffee powder sprinkled atop and chocolate beneath the pile. I felt the coffee powder could've used a little more emphasis. With all that in mind, it's approximately $40 per person. It's the perfect place for taking friends, dates, tourists, etc. The ambiance is comfortable with the quaintness of an Italian village.
(4)Crystal H.
I came with my 3 year old daughter. Service was great. Everyone was very friendly with my daughter. Food was average, especially for the price . The bread was cold, not even slightly warm. Our chicken rollotini was cold for as long as it took to get it. It came with fettuccine Alfredo which was just ok . I expected more from a place that says they are "Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant "
(2)Michael W.
I had the privilege to eat at the village (top floor). Food was amazing, service was awesome, environment is really cool. The service was impeccable. Our drinks were mixed well, and the waitress was always nearby to get us refills. We were seated immediately even though we were there 20 minutes before our reservation. Our waitress took very good care of us as well. The food is amazing. I got the spaghetti with spicy sauce and meatballs, then baked with mozzarella cheese. The meatballs were so good and tender. The people I was with also enjoyed their meals, but I didn't try them. The portions will fill you up for sure. Overall I strongly recommend this restaurant. I guess there's a reason they've been in business so long.
(5)Ben A.
Visited on a weeknight with some friends awhile back. We sat in an intimate enclosed seating area which was nice and comfortable. I ordered the chicken parmesan dinner. Huge portions! The chicken was moist, good amount of sauce and it also was accompanied by side of pasta. Standard Italian dish with mass of melted mozzarella cheese. Decent wine and beer selections. Service was attentive and prompt. Overall, a good Italian meal in the Loop. Nothing wow'ed me.
(3)Inigo M.
I acknowledge the "Godfather" kitsch of this place, fro the decor to the waiters to the music to the old school heavy cuisine. So why do I love it and come back here? Get an upstairs table in a corner. Ask for the gigantic wine list. It is massive and has Italian wine from all regions, vintages, price ranges etc. Let me seriously emphasize how massive it is. Order a glass of something nice and have fun with a friend or several going over this list. Order food simply off the menu. Frankly I'd recommend sticking to appetizers ad sharing small plates while you try some rare and amazing and hard to find Italian wines. Treat this place like an enoteca and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised than if you went and just had a plate of overcooked pasta and humdrum Chianti. And frankly I really like the kitsch and the oddball waiters straight out of central casting. All part of the fun.
(4)michael f.
Ate upstairs in the traditional restaurant. I had more people waiting on me than I could count. Great old world Italian restaurant like the kind I went to growing up in the 70's. Delicious!
(4)Janine K.
So, there are a number of Italian restaurants in Chicago....ok, more than a number of them, let's say a LOT!!! Some can be pricey, some more reasonable and so on.... Many of you probably recognize the sign for this place in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day off. I work a few blocks from this place and I've been here three times - apparently there are different restaurants within this restaurant/village/building but I've only been to the one which is a flight up when you walk in - I can't think of hte name of it offhand but it's just fine and I have no idea how it compares to the others. If you have a large group - I suggest making a reservation... I've done that before with no problem. The prices here for downtown Chicago are very reasonable. If you are dining in for lunch, there is a lunch section and I've ordered the meat tortellini in pesto sauce every time I've been here, though ALL of their food from salads to pasta dishes looks amazing...can't go wrong with the Italian here! For starters, you always get a basket of warm bread, breadsticks along with olive oil and parmesan cheese... SO good! If you're visiting, I suggest stopping in here for some good Italian food...if you've lived here your entire life as I have... it's definitely a place to check out, good service, reasonably priced, and overall damn good!!! Mangia! Mangia!
(4)Neil G.
In for business trip but back in October for Marathon. Was looking for a healthy pasta option (whole grain.veggies) and sometimes when you go into an established place like this, asking for something different and off-menu is frowned upon. Well, not here. Roberto made sure I got exactly what I wanted (and takeout was perfectly hot 15 minutes after I returned to hotel). The management was friendly, accommodating but most important, the food was perfect and very high quality. We will be back, many times, in October and any other time I am in Chicago.
(5)Marisa A.
Haha. I feel like I can't really hate on this place too much because it's either a joke entirely, or it just is what it is. What it is: a cheesy, outdated Italian-American restaurant near the Bank of America Theater. "Oh I'm too cold to walk anywhere else after Book of Mormon... let's just go here." Waiters are in tuxes with Italian accents (are those real?). There are shapes made out of mini light bulbs hung up on the walls. Grottos along the wall. Bread basket: White bread didn't really taste like anything. Why is the olive oil so watery? I kept wondering if they re-plate the bread from table to table since it's not good enough to eat much of, and they give you a lot. Grilled calamari: "Over-seasoned and undercooked" - my friend. "Are you cutting the tips off the heads?" Caesar salad: Fine. Chicken parmigiana: Split this with a friend and it was more than enough. Barilla-esque penne was poorly sauced, like they just spooned a little over it, not coated at all. The sauce itself was ok-- not offensive but not really restaurant quality. The chicken didn't taste like anything. Should've just eaten chia seeds and saved my fried food and cheese consumption for my next meal. I don't mean to be a jerk but I would seriously rather boil some Barilla pasta and ladle Prego on it at home. At least I wouldn't have to put on pants.
(2)Susan C.
My fiancé and I decided to go here after seeing the Book of Mormon. It was my birthday and my fiancé had never been there, so I was really excited. However, upon our arrival we were seated in a small room in the back near the kitchen. One of my favorite things about eating at the Italian Village is the atmosphere in the dining room, so I was pretty disappointed. Since my fiancé noticed I was disappointed on my special day, he asked for a new table. The staff was super supportive and changed our table right away. They were very nice about it ad did not make me feel like a jerk for asking for a new table. Besides that...The service, food, and atmosphere were perfect. My fiancé is 100% Italian and thought the Chicken parmigiana was excellent. He also couldn't get over how yummy the bread was. I highly recommend this place, not only because of the wonderful food, but because of how accommodating the staff was to me and my fiancé.
(5)Kelly K.
I'm convinced that the only reason this place does well is due to the location. There aren't any other sit down Italian places nearby, so it's really your only option. Went here with a group of co-workers. Made a reservation for 11:30am and we were seated promptly. The ambiance is fun, and makes you think for a minute that you no longer are in downtown Chicago. And that's the best part of the experience, unfortunately. Service was average. One person in our party ordered the Chicken Vesuvio, which we were told takes 30 minutes to cook. No biggie. It would have been nice to see our server within that time frame, but after dropping off the salads, we didn't see him again until lunch was served. I've had better food at the Olive Garden, to say the least. Everything is sub par for what you are paying. I ordered the baked mostoccoli and it was fine, but nothing spectacular. I don't plan on going here again unless I'm invited as part of a work function.
(2)Yvonne B.
M finally took me here after twice bringing me pizza leftovers for my dinner. The leftovers were delicious - creamiest of creamy cheese being the stand-out characteristic. M claimed that the pizza was even better fresh when the crust is hot and crispy. The Italian Village Restaurant is the top of a three-tiered restaurant conglomerate. M explained that the "fancy" restaurant is on the main level but she took me up the stairs to the casual Italian Village so she could get her pizza. The Italian Village is aptly named as it is set up with tables along a street lined with miniature buildings and topped with stringed lights. Guests could dine inside a few of the buildings but we were seated along the wall of the street area. Servers were dressed formally in tuxedos and bus people in vests. I think their style was to allow us to dine leisurely because they left us alone unless we waved them over. M got a sausage pizza and glass of chianti and I ordered a cannoli and limoncello. Although the cheese on the pizza is note-worthy, M is impressed by the sausage. In Chicago she likes that sausage pizza is made without the casings. In other places, the sausage is kept in the casings and sliced. The cannoli was wonderful. It was delicate and crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. We both liked that it wasn't saccharine.
(3)Beth P.
The food was good and the ambience was a little over the top with lights and decorations everywhere but it was definitely fun and to be expected. The service was great...we only waited 15 minutes for a table on a Saturday night at 6pm without a reservation. They were on top of it. Prices were reasonable, especially for downtown Chicago. Food was okay...my husband had chicken and mushroom pasta and I had the butternut squash chicken gnocchi. We both were happy with the quality and portions. I would go back.
(3)Margaux D.
Before I discovered Petterinos, I went to Italian Village before every Broadway in Chicago show. In high school, we took a huge trip as a group of about 45 students and the restaurant not only accommodated us but gave us excellent service. I'd recommend this to anyone who's afraid to dive in head first to Chicago's crazy culinary experiences, or to anyone looking for good Italian. When I went this summer, I found out that they have a vegetable garden on the roof and (season permitting) they'll feature certain items on their menu with their own ingredients. Talk about farm-to-fork. I love love love this place. It'll always be one of my go-to's for picky eaters, sad days when I need comforting food, and anytime I want a sure-fire knockout meal. Also, lest we forget, The Italian Village also has a themed dining room. They have little nooks for couples and the walls are completely covered with murals of Italy. Oh, and there's great mood lighting!
(5)Christine S.
The Italian Village is a pretty standard Italian joint...not great, not bad... just fine. I've been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed by the food. I've had the meat ravoli with spicy arrabiatta sauce and I thought it was pretty good. I like some heat/spice in my pasta sauce so that was perfect. The service is sometimes a little off, but it's not bad. I'm pretty sure you can pop in here without a reservation, so that's a bonus....but it also kinda says something considering you need reservations for damn near everywhere in The Loop. There's for sure better places to go for Italian food but I like the old school vibe here.
(3)Carol K.
How is it possible that this girl, who has eaten at most restaurants in the Chicago area, has never eaten at this Chicago institution?? Well that was quickly rectified the other day when a friend suggested Italian Village as the place to grab a great meal prior to us seeing a show at the Bank of America theater up the street. Know that there are three restaurants in Italian Village with the actual "Village" being on the top floor. Open since 1927- this is the oldest, continuously operating Italian restuarant in Chicago! the history is evident in the pictures on the walls but what was even more impressive to me wasmy friend who has been coming here for 30 years telling me about all the life events that have happened between these 4 walls for her personally!! Given she is a long time customer, we were treated to a little booth in the corner that is historic unto itself. My favorite feature? I guess back in the day the booth was totally closed off for privacy (must have been for the celebs or something) So if you wanted service- you would push a little button in the wall and someone would come running over. That little button evokes the same response today. The food was great! I so wanted one of their pasta dishes but I was on some crazy protein only diet so I ended up with a perfectly cooked steak and salad. And they were great in accomodating my request of a steamed veggie which isn't normally on the menu. My friend took advantage of their garlic free red sauce (they have the regular one too!) and proceeded to gobble up her manicotti. Huge portions, great service and reasonable prices. You can bet when I am in the mood for a little Italian in the loop the Italian Village will be high on my list! Guess I can cross this Chicago institution off of my "gotta go" list!
(4)Dalya H.
We have been coming to Italian Village for over 40 years. I would say the place is good, but has slipped from its former greatness. We went yesterday after a play. The valet parking is one of the best attractions as you can park for $12, leave the car and go to a show before or after dinner. The waiter, Scott, was wonderful - attentive and friendly. The whole staff was very polite and friendly. Unfortunately, the chicken broth a/ka macaroni soup, was very salty and had only macaroni in it. The house salad was very bitter, with no lettuce and lots of dark (fancy?) greens. My husband's minestrone was good. The main entrees were delicious and up to the old standard we'd become accustomed to. I had scampi casalinga which was terrific - tasty, delicious. My husband had veal parmiagana, also very good. The portions were overly adequate so whoever said they were small has a very big appetite. The restaurant itself looked nice but our booth, in particular, needed some refreshing. The atmosphere is very nice and the private booths are lovely and romantic. Bottom line, still worth the visit. We left the restaurant feeling we'd had a good meal and a pleasant experience.
(4)Keith S.
I thought I already wrote this review !! Must have dreamed it, I think I have dreamed about my mostaccioli at least twice since dining there. So here's my experience: Walked to the Italian Village from the Renaissance in about 10 degree weather, with the family, including large baby stroller. I wasn't thrilled because the last time I went there had been at least 20 years previous and I wasn't thrilled. We got there - it was Valentine's Day and it was CRAZY PACKED !! Us coming in with that huge stroller we were in everyone's way. We had decided we weren't dressed for the really fancy places here (see my tip - there are 3 restaurants in this building, each has its own character), so we thought we would go to the upstairs "Italian Village" restaurant, thinking it would be kid-friendly. Good choice. I went upstairs to get my name on the list, and the gentleman controlling the list was friendly and told us maybe a half hour. I was shocked it would be so short. There was no room for the stroller so we left it with the valet crew to look after and we all went upstairs. Our wait was closer to 40 minutes but still, on Valentine's Day, the place was completely packed and we were shoulder to shoulder. We were sat in the back corner of the bar area and started with some drinks, and our waiter came and took our orders very fast. Didn't seem very long of a wait at all for our food. I ordered the biggest thing I would think of; mostaccioli with meat sauce, meatballs, baked with cheese on top. WOW !! I have to say, as far as a meal goes, it was a masterpiece. If you have read my other reviews, I normally get the pasta with bolognese (meat sauce) but I have to say this tops them all and is so much easier to eat (no long noodles). I even tried some chicken parm, it is great. The atmosphere here was just fantastic, but I know every day is not Valentine's Day with pheromones in the air. I am sure on a normal day it's great. When we finished up I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the bill was, thanks for being friendly to our wallets. The stroller was right where we left it, I tipped the valet staff, and we went back into the cold. My only complaint - I know that was penne not mostaccioli - I saw stripes !! :)
(5)Eric F.
I give this place an extra star for Ambiance and History. The restaurant has two floors and a bar. And it is a throwback to the fifties and sixties, with its Italian lights everywhere and its many decorative extras. There are perfectly silhouetted Italian seaside village on the walls with deep blue lighting behind them. There are plastic plants and themed rooms. Every corner of this place is a piece of Kitsch Environmental Travel Art. The food is okay to good. Imagine a high end Italian place from the 60s... that's the food here. Veal, pastas, minestrone soup, Lasagna, the works. Want decent backed Mannicoti... this is the place. You crave Veal Parmigiano... this is the place. You long for cutting edge excellent Italian fare... this is not the place. Drink in the bar first. It is a trip.
(4)Tangy Marie C.
This restaurant is the bomb. The cantina on the lower floor is the greatest and service is always impeccable. Don't miss out on this gem. In the loop. Great lunch and dinner locale. Make this your special place and request "the" booth! No regrets and you'll need to take some home bcos the portions are hugh. You will return over and over. The fresh bread is to die for. Ambiance goes without saying. Enjoy the wine as well!
(5)Tori M.
Update! Finally made it here and got to experience this place in person and it was everything I had hoped for and more! The line was a little confusing because those with reservations walked up to the front while those of us without stood in the narrow stairwell waiting in line but the latter added to the 'Italian village' feel of it. We had about a 45 minute wait which was fine because it gave us the chance to hang out at the bar and watch sports. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive as was our waiter Alfredo. Our basket of warm bread never went empty and he even addressed the girls at the table as 'bella' (beautiful in Italian). As for the food, it was absolutely incredible! I got the lasagna because you don't mess with perfection but I tried a friends chicken alfredo and veal saltimbocca all of which were amazing. If you haven't been here yet, GO!
(5)Nina B.
Stopped in for a drink after the Book of Mormon. Place was empty as it was late Sunday night. I had their house made pineapple infused vodka martini and it was delicious. I would return and I'd also recommend to others. The place is upstairs, it's decorated with little lights hidden in scenes of old Italy. Slightly cheesy but pretty cute too.
(4)John K.
great place to eat authentic Italian in the loop. Not too pricey, and food is great. Very friendly staff as well.
(4)Blair M.
This was a very good restaurant, had a glass of Pinot Noir, Caesar Salad and Pasta with Bolognese sauce. Everything was very good. We were seated quickly, almost immediately. Service was quick and friendly.
(4)Sabrina H.
The food here was ok, nothing exceptional. I do wish the ambiance reflected a village more than a cheap fairytale with all the Christmas lights hanging. However, my biggest annoyance was that I was told that I would have a $3 up charge for my Caesar salad but we had to wait until we received the bill to find that my friend was up charged $11 for adding shrimp to his dish! $11!!!
(3)Kirk A.
The setting was fun...kitschy old Italian restaurant. The service was very good, and the food was just average. Good for a group, with nice secluded niche and a round table. You could most assuredly find better Italian food in Chicago.
(3)Todd W.
Excellent. Great service and the food was super. I don't know what there is about the bread and oil but I could NOT get enough. All around a really good place. It's a very old establishment but it is very charming and a fun place to visit.
(5)Lorelei C.
I Love dining at the Italian Village, Truly I do! And, once I get the names straight of the various areas/floors of the Village I will Love it even more! So, tonight on Yelp I checked in at Vivere', thinking I was actually at Vivere' and then I come home to realize I was upstairs where the twinkling lights are so that means I was at the Village. Now, I normally don't make mistakes like this but I have had a busy week with lots of dinners/nights out and I think I was a bit confused. Anyway, what I have to say about the Village is this.. Outstanding Service, I have never seen so much attentive service by an entire staff of people as I have at The Village, and upstairs was packed tonight and we came in and did;nt even have to wait for a table, we were seated in a lovely little private area... Food, pretty near perfection, everything was served in a timely manner, Now normally when I dine at The Village I have Chicken Vesuvio for The Village has the very best Chicken Vesuvio, however, tonight I opted for Veal Parmigiana, and it was a great choice.. And, yes, I was treated to another post-birthday dessert because the staff of The Village came to our table to sing me Happy Birthday! And.. in my mind it went kind of like this.. Happy Birthday to you... You're pretty old there aren't you? Be happy you're getting this cake.. Cause our chef hates to fricken bake.. And many more..:) No, Seriously, I Love the Village, and now I know I was at the Village and not at Vivere'.. It was a lovely evening, and I was kind of sad that I didn't get to sit beneath the twinkling lights and that was because all those other people were hogging my area! That's okay, I will wait till next time..:)
(5)Chris S.
Incredible experience! The Classic Italian food was fantastic and the service was impeccable. Highly recommend! I had their dinner special that was the crab stuffed sea bass, and it was delightful!
(5)Mr K.
Grabbed some dinner here while on vacation. We had previously spent several hours walking the city and shopping. On the way back to the hotel (Club Quarters) we spotted The Italian Village and decided to give it a try. This place is the epitome of an old world type italian eatery. Bottom line is that the food is very good and with very little pretense. One thing to mention is at the time they had a burrata and beefsteak tomato stack. That was single largest serving of burrata that I've ever seen and I'm not complaining.
(4)Patti L.
Best lasagna in all of Chicago. Great old world Italian atmosphere. Reliable, good service and food. Great for a pre theatre meal.
(5)Frank Z.
Ive been to the top floor of this fine establishment many times and Ive had a great meal each time. The servers are very helpful and focus on every little detail. The food will make your tongue feel like a gondola floating lazily down Venetian lagoon, you being the taste buds wrapped up like a warm blanket straight from the dryer as you recover in your hospital bed. The meatballs are awesome.
(5)michelle k.
We came here without a reservation as the restaurant we previously booked required a jacket and we didn't have one nor did I have a fancy outfit. We went uostairs (not the best if you cant climb stairs as no elevator)We were seated after a 20 min wait on a Saturday evening. We were celebrating our anniversary, and found this place to suit us nicely. We ordered minestrone soup, salad with mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto which was delicious. For the main dish we shared a special...gnocchi with chicken and butternut squash and vodka sauce. It was so delicious! Our waiter was phenomenal as well! First time and not last time I eat here. We made it just in time before we saw a show down the street at the Bank of America theatre.
(5)Paige B.
Food was very good. Had the homemade anuloti and cannoli they were both wonderful. I was dining alone and the service started out great but was not as attentive or upbeat by the end of my experience. Other wait staff appeared friendlier so I won't falt them from one waiters bad day.
(4)Gspot H.
Old School Italian Restaurant. Popular hangout for celebs and gangsters and soup was pretty good. Images posted on walls naturally of; celebs, sports athlete's, mobsters, politicians, rich, threatening and da like.. Chicken Marsala was really darn good and was true as u need 2 be if you gonna leave alive, ya know what I mean?
(4)Tim D.
Great ambiance, excellent service, great food = a good time! First time to the Italian Village, and we were not disappointed. Our wait staff were excellent, the food was very good, served hot as it should be. One of my pet hates is food served warm or near cold! If it is a cooked dish serve it at the correct temperature!!! The quality and portions were an excellent size, and the atmosphere definitely "old world" which is exactly what we were looking for. We will be back!
(4)Hailey P.
We went to the Vivere restaurant and had a very enjoyable experience. We had the Carne Affettata and enjoyed every part of that. Wish they would serve it with more crouton/bread, though. The bread was perfect for mix and matching the meats and cheeses on it. The blueberry cheese was amazing. I had the Agnolottini Di Afgiano for the main course. The taste was very earthy but I definitely enjoyed that. Also very filling. Our waiter was very attentive and wanted to make sure all our needs were taken care of. For desert I had chocolate cake and gelato. I am a chocolate lover but after such a heavy and earthy meal I actually needed up liking the strawberry gelato as a palate cleanser. The decor is very elaborate and interesting to look at.
(5)Matthew O.
Went downtown for a day at the Art Institute and shopping on State Street. Starving at 5:30 so we decided for the easiest option on a rainy first day of winter: stay in the Loop and go to a place with good atmosphere. Have always liked Italian Village but never go because Chicago has so many other great restaurants. Had to wait 30 minutes which was short for a pre-Christmas Saturday night. Staff was very friendly and warm and our waiter was excellent. 5 stars. Food came out quickly and ended up being what we expected. Over-priced, over-cooked, under seasoned. 2 stars. Chicken Rolatini was disappointing. Linguine was bland and sauceless. Chicken was waaaaaaay over-cooked and the sherry wine sauce was underwhelming. And for $18, that's not good. Still, I love the atmosphere at this place and the bread and butter helped us wipe our plates clean. Despite the disappointing preparation, we all still devoured our meals. Probably won't go back, but for that Saturday night I think we made the best choice given the circumstances.
(3)Colby M.
Food was good, service was good, had a quiet secluded booth. We had the pomedoro and carpaccio for starters, I recommend the pomedoro. The sea bass for dinner was amazing, espresso was good.
(4)Julie J.
Walked in with a friend on Saturday at 7pm... only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, and while waiting, there were seats available at the bar. We were seated right after, and asked for recommendations from the server on his favorite dishes. He had great insight and recommended two great dishes that we ordered. We both enjoyed our dinner and the atmosphere! Great location in the Loop too!
(4)Michael I.
I LOVE the Italian Village! I'm just going to get that out there now. I heard about it from the concierge at the Palmer House Hilton down the road about 10 years ago. He suggested it is one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago and all of the locals go there. He was right! There are three stories to the restaurant and each floor has a different menu and style. I gravitated to the top floor because it is their Italian bar & grill. I sat at the bar and in no time I was talking to a lot of people.... including the bartenders. This was my first visit. Every visit after that (both business and pleasure) I made sure to eat there. Most recently I was there for a guys weekend and we all went there to eat and drink. We loved it. If you have a large party, I recommend getting reservations. I have eaten at the basement level fine dining restaurant and it is also excellent. The food is well prepared and very tasty. I recommend eating here whenever you can. I guarantee you will be delighted every time! Mangia!
(5)Sanja Z.
My boyfriend and I came in very late due to his delayed flight, and they welcomed us to come in for a late night dinner. We ordered the caprese, filet mignon, grilled chicken salad and a cannoli. The food and service were amazing! I definitely recommend the cannoli and ask for Elvir to be your server! Very cozy interior. Highly recommended!!
(5)Rachel V.
I never knew Chicago Yelpers were such snobs! I was a little hesitant to try The Village after reading the mediocre reviews on here, but its proximity to the Bank of America Theater outranked the reviews, and I'm glad I went. Is this the kind of restaurant you go when you want the best Italian meal you've ever had? Probably not. But I'm pretty sure there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good Italian meal that isn't pretentious. Sometimes a girl just wants a big bowl of pasta off of a menu that doesn't require a dictionary to understand. The atmosphere is a bit kitschy, but honestly it's weirdly refreshing in a city full of modern and simplistic decor. Once we got our table, our service was excellent. Our waiter and all of the bus boys were really attentive, polite, and friendly without being intrusive. (Upon entering the restaurant, however, the hosts were kind of unfriendly, uninterested, and seemed a little overwhelmed. Plus, they tried to seat us in the "little private dining room" way in the back. I have a real problem with hosts that think they can seat young people in the crappy seating areas.) I wish I could have taken my Fettuccine Alfredo home. It could just be that I've deprived myself of this fatty, creamy, carb-overload dish for so many years, but I really think The Village has the best Alfredo sauce I've ever had.
(4)Rachel L.
So yes, I am reviewing a tourist restaurant downtown. Friends and I went there recently (why is a long sad story). Anyway, I found online that they're supposed to have gluten free options. When the waiter finally wandered over to us, I asked about them. "Are there gluten free options?" "Yes." I blink expectantly at the waiter. "Um, what are they?" As far as I can tell from the confusing quickly-stated items, your choices is you want gluten free are as follows: 1) Gluten free pasta with meat sauce 2) Some chicken dish that's 'safe' I got a salad. Also, at some point, the manager, or a manager, sort of ran up to our table and waved in our faces saying loudly, "Hi ladies!" And then he left. It was super odd.
(2)Jake B.
We went there last week I was immediately put off thinking that the appearance of the place was that kind of gaudy vegas tourist trap type stuff and it would be like a generic chain place or something. In 10 minutes, my opinion turned around. We had great service, a phenominal meal, the Sommelier (Ryan) helped me pick a wine (Nebiolo based Piedmont) that was exactly was I was looking for. Being allergic to a few kinds of seafood, I asked them to make the fruitti de mare without shrimp or scallops. The exec chef came out to make sure that there was nothing else I was allergic to, as he wanted to add some other things for me in place of the shrimp - and I was very pleased. We finished with a beautiful port that we asked Ryan to pick out for us, and again, really happy. We will be back; it is a special occasion type place for us, but we will be back.
(5)Meghan G.
I came here with my husband before seeing the Book of Mormon last night. It's just across the street from the theater, and neither of us had eaten at this Chicago institution before, so we thought it would be fun to check it out. We ate at the Village, upstairs. It was cute. Yes, overdone in a somewhat kitschy "Italian Village" theme, complete with faux-terra cotta roofs and twinkly stars in the ceiling, but honestly, I adored it. It was different from your typical super modern look, and done in a very earnest, even romantic way. The servers were all dressed in suits and bowties, and they were kind. We sat at a table for two. The restaurant is crowded and cramped, but it didn't disturb us in the least. The fresh bread was delicious, the salad was crisp with great house dressing. My seafood ravioli was a bit bland, but didn't make me ill, as creamy tomato sauces often do. My husband had the meat ravioli with the arrabbiata (spicy tomato) sauce, which he enjoyed. We also had an excellent bottle of Chianti. Overall, decent food (not the best I've ever had, but good). Great ambiance, solid service, decent prices ($68 for two entrees and a bottle of wine, in the Loop). We'd be happy to return!
(4)Adele n.
This place is a charming old Chicago institution. You're paying a premium for the charm, not the food (although food's pretty good too). The upstairs bar is a special little nook, perfect for meeting friends after work downtown to canoodle under the twinkly little lights while Scott serves up some strong drinks. It's a tad corny, but just embrace the cheese, and you'll have a great time. The staff has a great way of making me feel like a cool celebrity whenever I go here. This bar has more character than almost anywhere else to grab a drink downtown. Everything else seems sterile, boring and corporate by comparison. Food is middle-of-the-road Italian. There's an emphasis on gut-busting portion sizes, not necessarily subtle flavors or presentation. I'll skip it for dinner, but I'm sure I'll be back for appetizers and drinks again.
(3)Terri B.
As I am slightly new to the Chicago area (was born near South Philly in PA), I was craving Italian food, so thought I would try a Chicago Landmark... did you know that that a section of Monroe St. has a honorary street sign called The Italian Village Restaurant Way?... Anyway, arrived on a Sat night at 5pm and thank goodness we had reservations, it was hopping... The food was slightly disappointing though, I had the manicotti (or "man a gut" as I am used to hearing it called by South Philly Italians) with a side of meatballs. The manicotti was obviously warmed up under a broiler (that burned the ends of the tender crapes) and the meatballs were only slightly warm on the inside... Disappointing. I can say I went to this Chicago landmark, but know better to go somewhere else for good Italian food.
(2)Cathy B.
This place is stupid. The food is exactly like what I would expect from a special occasion church dinner in the Fellowship Hall of my country childhood church in the midwest. Salty soup. Stale bread. Over-dressed salad on lettuce past its prime. Cheap wine. Entrees that emphasize cheese over anything else. Just stupid and I can't believe I fell for it. OK, so the decor is fun and worth a quick look-see. But for a meal, never again. Plus, my God, where do they get their servers from? Ours started talking to our table from across the room. And, when serving, actually plopped our plates down and waved his hand listlessly across the table as he said, with a turned head, "You've got your cheese over there." Wow. Thanks. Stupid.
(1)Liz K.
I'm kinda bummed. I used to go to this place a decent amount as a kid, and it was always something special. I love the ambiance, it's still really fun to come here, but the food is just kind of "meh" now. I went here for lunch, and they have a pretty good deal on lunch specials. I got the tortellini with pesto and a cup of soup for 11.95. The soup was chicken broth with about 10 small pieces of pasta in it -- not bad, but nothing special. The pasta portion was HUGE, which is great since I love leftovers -- but the pesto seemed like something from a jar and the pasta wasn't really anything special. Overall it just tasted like weak pesto sauce and so-so pasta. A bit disappointing. I've been here for dinner before and had a better meal, so maybe I just came at an "off" time.
(3)Jassen S.
This was my first visit here. I went with an Italian Classic, the lasagna. It was extra $$ to have it baked with cheese and extra to have blue cheese dressing with my salad. Salad was the best part of the meal. Lasagna tasted like canned sauce and meat. Not good at all. Great service though and nice atmosphere but basically an Olive Garden at this point.
(1)Bharat W.
This is probably the worst Italian food I have ever had, a complete travesty in fact. Pros: The staff is very friendly and the inside decor is pretty good to. Cons: 1. The staff doesn't understand restaurant etiquette. At one point they put a cart in front of my seat blocking my exit to the restroom and it had some other table's food right next to me. 2. The chicken soup was not edible. I took one sip of the broth and it tasted worst than can product. 3. The server highly recommended the fruta di mare, made with scallops, shrimp, mussels, on pasta. The pasta was not properly cooked and the red basic italian sauce was almost flavorless. How do you get the sauce wrong??? If you want good Italian, go to La Scarolla, Sabatinos up North, Piccolo Sogno, or even Olive Garden beats this place by a mile. Don't fall into the trap for suburbanites.
(1)Samantha R.
We came here as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend's mother. She picked it out and none of us had ever been, so we decided to try it out. We had a reservation at 6 and got to the restaurant early. We told one of the managers who was seating guests that we were content to sit in the bar until six. The manager offered to seat us early, which was great! We were lead into a very crowded seating area and seated at an incredibly small table for the three of us. The table was right in the aisle and my boyfriend was getting bumped by everyone walking by. There were carts of food all over and it was very crowded. Next to us were several unattended booths that would have better suited us. We asked our server, Austin, who was very kind and knowledgeable, to see a manager so we could ask to move to another table. One of the three managers (not the one who had seated us) came to us and said, "Since you demanded to be seated early, you have to sit at this table. There is nothing we can do for you." He then walked away before any of us could say anything to him. My boyfriend's mother got up and found all of the managers and addressed them, saying how we didn't ask to be seated earlier, we could have waited, and she then singled out the rude manager. Immediately, we were re-seated in one of the surrounding booths and the rude manager kept coming over throughout our meal, but his prior rudeness left a bad taste in our mouths. Now, the food. My boyfriend's mother and I both ordered the Maine lobster alfredo and my boyfriend ordered plain fettucini. The food came with bread, salad, or soup. I ordered salad and it was very small, only a few leaves of lettuce, and the lettuce was soaking wet, not crisp as it should be. The bread was incredibly hard, very hard, actually. My fettucini with lobster, tomatoes, scallions, and mushrooms was alright, hardly worth the $26.95 it cost. It was filling and heavy, which is fine, but not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I was slightly disappointed. For three people with no drinks, it was $81, which I thought was fairly pricey. Not a good place for a quiet dinner. Very loud, cramped, okay food, and the manager really turned me off, which is a shame, because all other members of the staff were incredibly kind. I will not be returning, neither will my boyfriend's mother, as she was disappointed with the experience as well.
(2)Jackie C.
Just went there last weekend, and let me just say I had an amazing time! Great food, great service, great vibe...although I must say, I was rather disappointed in the booth they sat us in. I couldn't appreciate the outstanding scenery, creating a romantic feel. That would've been the topping on the cake, concluding a wonderful night.
(4)Jay K.
I'm going with two stars. The upstairs hasn't been updated in about fifty years but I guess that may be the attraction to some. We had reservations for five on a Friday night and as soon as we arrived we were seated. Big brownie points. Our server was excellent. More brownie points. We sat in a booth on the top tier in the back of the restaurant that had a small 'cutout' in the backrest with some kind of sculpture in it that was lighted. It made my back hot and I had to keep leaning forward to keep from getting overheated. No I couldn't move there was no place to go, our booth was packed. No brownie points. The food was average to below average in flavor and very pricy. I've had better Chicken Vesuvio at tons of joints. The thin pizza was average at best and the salad was one of the weakest salads flavor wise in recent memory One brownie point. The bar area is truly unique with it's high ceilings and what is probably the original bar. During the week they have free pizza for 'happy hour'. Four brownie points. There are dozens of Italian restaurants in the area and I wish we would tried another one.
(2)Elise K.
An average Italian restaurant that is a bit over priced for lunch, yet perfectly situated next to my building. I came here for lunch with a friend to catch up. For the price and the genre we expected to have leftovers, but portions were small. For $22 each we had a fixed price meal featuring bread, salad or soup (I had a salad), pasta entree and a dessert. The bread was warm and my small salad was pleasant enough. My pasta was fine. Nothing especially special however. The desert choice was a dry cannoli that was meager at best. I guess you get what you pay for, but after tax and tip, lunch was nearly $30 per person. Service was okay, but I honestly expected it to be both better and faster considering the lack of filled tables.
(3)Paola C.
Amazing spot, amazing food, great service and Frank Sinatra style live music. What else could a guest ask for? We loved eating at the Italian village upstairs. Here you can find the real Italian food, said by a 100% Italian. We ordered cannelloni to share and they brought one cannellone each, just awesome, smart service. Perfect. Worth a second visit.
(4)Mahsa T.
I'm giving this place two stars because I don't recommend anyone go here. I know I certainly won't be going back. While their lunch special ($8.50 I think) is a good deal for soup or salad, entree, and spumoni, it isn't such a good deal when you factor in taste, quality and portion. My chicken was just ok, but sat heavy in my stomach all day and the sauce gave me heart burn. The salad was a disappointment--looked like they took it out of a bag and put it on a plate. My coworker didn't finish his minestrone soup because he didn't like it. The spumoni was served too cold/frozen and a little tasteless for a dessert. Service was good and our large party was well taken care of, but that doesn't make up for the bad food.
(2)Linda N.
Came here for an after work function. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal but all of us (15) suffered in an amazingly overheated room. Really ruined the experience. We were on the 2nd floor and I agree with the comments on the charming decor but Id have enjoyed it more if I wasnt ready to pass out from the heat (it was THAT bad). Everyone commented on it- so it wasnt me having a moment. I had mushroom chicken risotto which was good and easily had enough for dinner the following evening. Not spectacular, not terrible. Just good, but overpriced. Guess it's the area. Comical theatrical older waiter but needs to take cues. My boss, who was paying for our meal, was justifyably perturbed with his talking over her-- he was so into his schpiel (sp?),she she couldnt get a word in to give him any direction.
(3)Rocco H.
I can't get enough of this place. I have been the the downstairs and upstairs sections, and both times were incredible. While the prior is more intimate, the later is more of a business lunch occasion. My favorite dish is far and away the lasagna. Something about the meat sauce and cheese they use make it taste so authentic and different than any thing you can make yourself or purchase. I can understand peoples sentiment that the place is outdated, but if you're looking for an old-school, classic Italian eating experience, this is the place.
(5)Jamey J.
Amazing service. Affordable prices. Great atmosphere! Perfect for a quick lunch if you work in the area. Would highly recommend!
(5)Crys A.
Oh my God...what fresh hell? This place is awful. I've been upstairs and I've been downstairs and wow, it's ALWAYS bad. Last time I was there I was with an actual Eye-talian who wanted to throw up after eating his spaghetti and meatballs. I had the fettuccine with chicken and was able to doctor it with salt and pepper and parmesean and red pepper flakes so that it was at least somewhat edible. Emphasis on somewhat. Why are people still going here? Do they have no palate? I'm trying not to be horrible but honestly, they call this Italian food? Really? No man. This ain't Italian food. This is shoot-yourself-in-the-mouth dining at it's finest. Do. Not. Want.
(1)Amy K.
Girl's Night Favorite!
(5)Mel K.
What a gem. Three level of great Italian food. I ate upstairs where they have great Italian food the way it is suppose to be made. The surprise was that they had Cacciucco (Italian fish soup) just like capino, or bouillabaisse. It was AWESOME, Full of fish, scallops, clams, and calamari. Will definitely go back next time I am in Chicago.
(5)Rachel R.
I feel as though I'm the youngest person here. The decor needs to be updated along with food. Its not the greatest place but if you have to come... eat at the bar upstairs.
(2)Sarah S.
Not the greatest Chicago has to offer, but it's decent enough. It's basically my fallback for when I'm in the area with friends, we don't have anything in particular in mind, and Italian sounds fine. I've only ever been upstairs, to "the Village." Vivere, on the ground floor, looks pretty fancy and I always feel like I'm probably under-dressed, and I've never been downstairs to La Cantina so I don't know what's going on down there. There will sometimes be people dressed up at Italian Village, but don't be fooled - I've always felt that the atmosphere was really casual, and I've gone in there in a hoodie and not felt out of place. The place is pretty cute. Kind of kitsch, but I guess that's why I like it. It's decorated to look like a little Italian village, complete with lights strung between the "buildings," a prop water wheel, and a painted backdrop. I usually go with the Three Cheese Tortelli, which is good, though I've also tried some other things that were pretty decent. Each entree comes with a soup or salad. I've only had the salad, and it was fine. The reviews on the service seem to go either way, but I think it's pretty good. Everything always comes out pretty quickly and I've always found the servers to be polite and attentive.
(3)Ed D.
I've been here multiple times and have had the chicken vesuvio, chicken parmesan, lasagna and others. Their lasagna is probably my favorite but every time I thought the food tasted really good. The ambiance is nice and the wait staff is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable for both lunch and dinner. The place always seems packed and yet we never have to wait that long. Definitely a place to visit in downtown if you like Italian food.
(4)L. S.
We went there around 5:30 pm on a Wednesday and didn't expect much of a wait. Much to our surprise, there was a 40 minute wait. No problem- we weren't that hungry to begin with and we just walked around outside. We came back 30 minutes later and checked in again with the hostess. They had already called our name, but pushed us to the top of the list! YAY! It has beautiful ambiance however, it seems that they tried to squeeze too many tables into the space. I could overhear other people's conversations and the servers were constantly running into each other. There is a large menu with reasonable prices. We filled up on the bread and olive oil waiting for our food. The lasagna was amazing, the eggplant parmesan was good. However, the chicken marsala was a bit dry and the noodles were definitely overcooked. Our server came by to check and I told him about my dish (just the noodles because they were so horrible- I hate to complain). He came back a few minutes later with another side order of noodles for me. Great service.
(4)Jeffrey K.
I've been here many times over the years for work events and such and the Village offers super size portions of rather mediocre food. The atmosphere and location are neat, if a bit over the top, and tourists and folks from the suburbs tend to flock here. They do know how to make a pretty good cocktail and have a huge selection of wines but if you are looking for truly fine food, I would encourage you to pick another card.
(1)Marianne L.
A great place for some pasta and good conversation. The special of the day - linguine with lobster and white wine sauce - was exceptional. I rarely order lobster outside of my native New England but this was cooked to perfection and plentiful in the dish. Having gotten up at 5 am and gone straight to work in the hotel, my entire consumption for the day had been a Chicago dog and some fries at lunch, and 2 cubes of cheese at a client's reception. I was starved and still had several hours of work to do back at the hotel that night. As my colleague and I left the gallery hosting the reception we started the "ok, were can we get some food" meandering. We agreed on Italian, and pulling up the Yelp app on my phone - Italian Village was highly rated and close by. Yeah, some days I'm just happy to have the gadget decide aspects of my life. Italian Village is the upstairs establishment of a stack of 3 Italian restaurants. Its also the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago dating back to 1924. The place is absolutely charming. Laid out to resemble a narrow Italian street, it is littered with little cubbyholes representing individual houses - a perfect place for small groups to have a semi-private meal. And ideal for a casual date night. I'll be back here again - and probably allow myself time to enjoy dinner here and then stroll downstairs to take in some after dinner cocktails at one of the other 2 places.
(4)Michelle M.
So many people talk about this place and rave that this place is great. The food was not that impressive at all for the price that I paid. The staff was very nice and the place has lots of room for large groups. Location is great for this restaurant which is steps away from theaters and State St shopping.
(3)Brittany P.
Last night my friend suggested going here because we both wanted wine. We ate upstairs. The atmosphere was very romantic, dim lights twinkling stars... a great location for a date and not a girl's night out. I did like how they decorated the place to look like a little village. Super cute. Now to the food. The complimentary bread was delicious! I could have eaten the entire loaf. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and my friend ordered the Ravioli with Meat Sauce. The food was okay. It was not delicious where I have to eat there again and it was not disgusting where I would never step foot in this place again. For the portion size the price was acceptable. If you are looking for atmosphere and want to have a sweet date I suggest going. But if you are looking for good Italian food don't waste your time or money.
(3)Brooke W.
Each time I go back to the Italian Village, my experience trumps the previous! Perhaps the tradition is what makes this place so great, but the consistent food quality and unbeatable service always have me returning for more. The agnolotti, the frutta di mare, the classics like lasagna and chicken parm: I've tried them all and am equally impressed. The servers always have impeccable wine knowledge, positive attitudes and a genuine concern for their jobs. The team work seems outstanding (I always have bussers, maitre d's, managers and servers waiting on my every need!). It's a Chicago staple and whether you are just visiting or a local, you won't want to pass this place up!
(5)Gary B.
We use to go to the Italian Village quite a bit since it was very close to the office. It was an average place but could seat a larger party. Nothing to really write home about. I ended up there last Tues for lunch. I chose it because I was looking to have a low key lunch were I could discuss some work items with an out of town co-worker. I do like that you can order a smaller portion of the pasta as the normal size portions are way to large for a lunch setting. The food was decent and the service pleasant. I think our server was a little put off by both of not drinking and ordering the small portions but that was what we wanted and neither of us was going to be pushed into anything. Probably won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Carlos F.
Great ambiance and delicious true Italian food. It's a come back place.
(5)James R.
I went to italian village in a group of 8. Plastic wrap was baked into our pizza and the salads were drenched in dressing. Like an overpriced, less classy olive garden. I recommend it.
(1)Cynthia C.
Ate here after a long flight back to Chicago. Me and a friend shared the mussels casino which was good... anything with bacon is good really. Although, the bacon could have been less chewy and more crispy and the mussels could have been cooked a little more so it wouldn't juice all over your hand when you ate it. For dinner, we shared a plate from the weekly special menu. (note: we ate at the lower level of the italian village) We tried the whitefish plate which was baked with a pool of tomato bisque underneath. The whitefish was simple and well cooked but i think the only real excitement to the entree was the tomato bisque beneath the fish which was soooo good! (warning: if you are lactose do not try since it is super creamy). Drinks were awesome and the atmosphere was nicely dim and cozy. Bartender is my ex-roomie so of course.. she is AWESOME!
(3)Cheska D.
This is just one of the worst Italian I've ever had. We were quite hungry after walking around chi-town and spotted this next to Pret-a-manger... I really wanted some fresh pizzas and salads...The place looked really authentic... The waiter seated us at a small and dark booth.. It smelled like pee!!! Then they gave us COLD and stale bread! :'( We ordered Angel hair with capers and pepperoni pizza... YUCK! the crust tasted so dry and like it came from Wal-mart! The pasta tasted like it came from a CAN! I mean!! wth! So disappointed!! GO TO QUARTINO's instead!!!!!! Save your money! you could cook better!
(2)P R.
Stopped in for lunch while on business. Had the meat Cannelloni - couldn't decide between the red sauce or white cream, so got one of each. Both styles were good. Another person had the sausage and said it was delicious. Service was good.
(4)Andrea H.
This place reminds me of when my parents used to take us out to dinner when we were kids. Loved the old school murals on the walls in the upstairs dining room. The servers were friendly and attentive and you just don't see enough of those stainless steel serving carts these days. Five stars for the lasagna that tastes just like mom makes (and tastes just as good the next day) and for the server leaving the extras of my manhattan in the shaker at the table after he filled up my glass.
(5)Ngoc H.
THE VILLAGE (second floor) This place is awesome. I don't care too much for the super dim lighting but the food, I have to say, is amazing. The portions are huge. I always get the lasagna with baked cheese. I guarantee you'll have leftovers after you have the salad that comes with it. The house dressing on the salad is amazing and the waiter grinds fresh black pepper onto it. I found the soups to be a little bland but all together very good. This is a good place for intimate dates, there are booths available if you want some privacy. VERY reasonably priced for being such a beautiful place downtown. LOOK OUT FOR THEM WHEN RESTAURANT WEEK IS HERE!!
(5)Michelle F.
This place is really more of a novelty restaurant ... not a place you would go to for great Italian food. You're really going for the ambiance and atmosphere. And it's in a great location downtown if you're in the city for business. It's a very cute restaurant that makes you really feel like you're in a small Italian village. I loved the low, warm lighting, the brickwork on the walls that gave the illusion of buildings and the ceiling that was painted to look like the sky. It did remind me of the Small World ride at Disney World - but in a good way, not a creepy way. The food was OK, but it was a little too standard for the cost. For appetizers, we ordered the Pizza Bread and the Grilled Calamari. Both were pretty good, but the calamari was a bit rubbery. We probably should have ordered it fried, but I guess we all wanted to try something new. We also had salads, which were pretty standard. For an entree, I ordered the Meat Ravioli, which I liked. It wasn't anything special, but I thought it was good. Overall, the Italian Village wasn't anything to write home about. It's a cute restaurant and a landmark in Chicago, so I suggest checking it out once just to experience it, but it's not the type of place you'll get cravings for. It looked like there were a lot of business people from out of town there, so it's a fun place to check out if you're on vacation or in the city for a conference, but nothing too special. I wouldn't imagine that it gets a lot of repeat business.
(3)Khadijah K.
This place is an insult to all italian food. I made the mistake of ordering one of the hardest italian dishes to perfect -- risotto. I basically had mushy rice with cheese on top. The waiter also misunderstood when I asked if she could add arugula to my salad, she added it to the risotto. Warm, limp, arugula is nasty. Staff was super friendly and helpful, but def not coming here ever again.
(1)Brooke S.
Italian Village was recommended by a friend, so when my parents were visiting from NY, we decided to try it. We were warmly welcomed, and seated in a cozy booth. From there, it went down hill. Stale breadsticks, blah bread, my dad's seafood ravioli tasted like cheese ravioli with Chef Boyardee sauce, and my mom's lasagna was dry and just not good. I had chicken parm, which was ok. I'll give this 2 stars as the salad and dressing was good.
(2)Luc L.
While the waiter was eager to assist, but the cost of having, for example, blue cheese added onto the salad or french onion soup for an extra $1.50 when ordering a lunch special? Really? Why even mention all the different salad dressings and soup selections to customers then?
(1)Zee M.
I'll have to go back and check, but I believe I was at the Village...why? Because they have Lasagna al Forno, the "home specialty" variety, that comes with bechamel. That's how we had it in West Germany and I'm amazed how difficult it is to find in the U.S. This is all I remember. But I was in Himmel and will go back!
(4)Jenna S.
I've eaten here with my mom a few times (she works in the loop) and I would say it's so-so Italian food. I've never eaten anything here that I found especially excellent, just slightly over-priced typical Italian fare. It's an OK spot for lunch because it's close to other downtown businesses, but that's about all I'd go there for. And there's a bunch of other places in the area, so I can't really justify going here anymore. The prices are too high for the mediocre food. The restaurant atmosphere is nice, though. It's designed to look like an old world Italian street restaurant - there's lots of red and white checkered table cloths, candles, etc. It's a good atmosphere, but that's about all that impressed me with the restaurant.
(2)Teresa G.
I used to really love this restaurant. I won't say the food was ever spectacular but it was good and reliable. Add that to a magical atmosphere and a fun wait staff and you have a good evening. I was actually embarassed when I took out of town friends there last evening. The servers felt like they were rushing us and pointing us to more expensive items than we asked questions about (very obviously). The kicker though was when we ordered and the food arrived in only about 10 minutes. Now I'm all for speed but ... really? Clearly the food was pre cooked and rewarmed. I had a veal combination platter that was supposed to have 3 kinds of veal preparations. They were really just one kind .... bad. Chewy, flavorless (except for the strong, strong taste of overwhelming capers). The pasta was precooked and tasteless and the $32 Osso Buco was just plain disgusting. It's a shame. Probably made me far less amenable when a couple came in at 9:30 pm with a screaming baby and proceeded to sit and drink cosmos while the baby cried. Altogether not a nice evening.
(2)Brian B.
August 2011 - Triathlon weekend - Wanted a treat - Got one of the worst meals ever. We were a party of four and ate upstairs. None of us could finish our meals because they were so bad. We had Spaghetti and meat sauce, Chicken Marsala, Lobster and seafood linguini, and Grilled Mahi Mahi with pasta. The grilled fish was Okay, but it's hard to mess up just grilling some fish with butter. The rest of the entres were almost inedible. The chicken marsala was so dry and boiled-tasting that it sucked the saliva out of my mouth. The mushrooms in the sauce were clearly canned, not fresh. The lobster pasta was just bland and icky. There was no real flavor aside from pepper and cream. The meat sauce was like something from a school cafeteria including the mystery meat. Who knows what kind of ground up mush that meat was. ICK! At least they cooked the pasta right. We complained to the waiter and he said "This is authentic Italian from Northern Italy with recipes that have been passed down through the family for generations." He went on to tell us how old the restaurant was, and how classic the meals... Worthless! There was MOLD growing on the wall in the mens room all along the top and right edge of the door frame. Thick black fuzzy mold! The restroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Eat hear at your own risk. We will never return!
(1)Appal B.
Restaurant is ok.. Food is over priced for the quality of the food. Server is not informative and the service was terrible!
(1)Panagiotis A.
Definitely one star!! I had a salad and a sandwich delivered in my room at LaGuinta Inn hotel.. The sandwich was almost burnt.. The salad just ok and the chips too oily.. If you pay cash, be prepared for no change!!!
(1)Sam Y.
The location is key for this restaurant. Not too many options out there for dinner. I'm alway sadden by how quickly downtown area shuts down. 5pm rolls around and every business rushes to lock their doors. In any case, the food here is nothing memorable but aside from Rose Bud a block north of here, there's really nothing else.
(3)Allison L.
Oh yelpers some of these reviews make me sad, I should not read reviews of places I already like. I feel disillusioned. Italian Village has always been one of my favorites. Maybe because coming downtown with my parents was such a treat, especially going here. I've always been pleased with the food, the seafood ravioli is delish. Many of the traditional dishes ie spaghetti with meatballs or lasagna are good but not phenomenal, however in my opinion those things never are. I like the atmosphere! If you like modern, sleek places this is not for you. Yes, there are murals, yes there are twinkly lights inlaid into the wall and the ceiling. I love the tables in the little nooks. It's kitschy but cutely so. Service can be iffy, it's usually crowded, sometimes the waiters make you feel like they're just trying to turn tables. I will admit that could be better. Make sure they don't seat you in that room in the back. It's weird.
(4)Claire Y.
A group of suburbanites visiting the city for a weekend invited me out for lunch here. We walked up to the second floor dining room to find ourselves in a "village-y" atmosphere and got seated in a secluded booth. The interior decor reminded me of restaurants in Vegas - very crafty with painted pictures on the walls reminiscent of a village in Italy. Interesting, I noted and sat down. Let's get to the food: the food ranged from OK to good. My salmon puttanesca with escarole, capers and olives was delicious. no complaints there. One of our dining companions' spaghetti with meatball was just OK --- really, shouldn't this classic Italian dish be perfection at a place that calls itself "Italian Village"? The two other pasta dishes - seafood ravioli and seafood linguini - were semi-good. The service: professional (euphemism for stiff, in this case) and fairly attentive. No complaints here. Not sure that I'd come again. There is a ton of great Italian restaurants in this city (holler to Francesca's and Rosebud on Taylor!).
(3)Christina C.
Brings happy memories of a special someone and I :) It's nice cozy and a good place for meeting with a friend or someone closer. Appetizers and antipasti in a relaxing atmosphere with laughs and good conversation is what this place brings. Good lobster ravioli, fresh carpaccio, and super yum clam appetizer!!
(5)daynia S.
Avoid this place if you can. There are too many excellent options downtown, so you should not feel like you have to settle for less. A group of us ate upstairs and it was horrible. Iceberg lettuce was ice cold, lemon chicken tasted like boiled chicken in water...absolutely not a hint of lemon flavor. Cold Pat's of butter on dried out bread. I will never return. I must say this...I ate 6 months prior on the first floor and really enjoyed mushroom ravioli. Still there are too many options at a great price to ever return.
(1)Eric B.
I sponsored a department dinner here a few years ago. My best friend from college (who lives in Chicagoland) recommended it. And the Italian Village certainly has the history and reputation behind it. The staff that helped me set up the meeting was responsive, but not to the degree that other places (Catal in Downtown Disney and White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia - Wow!) have been. The food and service was good, although I wasn't thrilled with the somewhat cramped room.
(4)Samantha G.
Food was expensive. I got small portions of what I would normally think to get in large ones considering how much It cost. The staff was very polite/ had good manners. I went here with my boyfriend and was hoping for a romantic time but I got stuck elbows to elbows with a few other couples in the room by the kitchen (not my idea of a good time). Would not recommend for couples, would need a bigger party to get a better table and in result a better experience.
(1)Michael H.
The Italian Villages ("the Village" upstairs) is a great unique restaurant with very good food, spacious booths and is surprisingly kid friendly. The best word to describe it is "ambiance". Intimate and yet classy. The lighting in the place is done really well (dimmed lighting lower, but gets brighter the higher you go). There were twinkling lights tastefully placed on the walls and ceiling like you are walking through a real Italian villa at night with other little towns painted on the walls off in the distance. My wife and I were celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary over Labor Day weekend so we wanted to do something fancy, but we wanted something close to the Palmer House Hilton which is where we were staying (it's only a block and half away from the hotel). We went with our toddler daughter so we had to park the stroller in the front lobby area on a different floor than the restaurant (I was nervous about doing that, but it was fine after sitting there for over an hour). We then went upstairs which is a long narrow staircase (about 20-30 steps). Some might be bothered by that, but for me it was fun. It was like going back in time the higher you climb. We got there at 5pm on a Sunday and checked in right away and the concierge said it would be a 25-30 minute wait. The waiting area was very small with seating for only about 5 people, however the dining area is very large. I called earlier and asked if we can make reservations and they said they don't take reservations for small parties (2 people with a child), so I was disappointed we had to wait at first. Then my 19 month old daughter worked her charm and kept smiling at the concierge and she reached out for him to pick her up (she has never done that before...he must have looked like grandpa). He smiled back, squeezed her cheeks and said "your so cute". Then magically a booth opened up for us without any wait. That was so nice and appreciated because I don't think my toddler would have lasted a 30 minute wait in a crowded place. The booth was spacious with a built in light which was just enough to read the menu by. I'm a big guy (6 feet tall and 300 lbs.), so having a booth with enough room for my big gut was a very nice surprise...usually booths are like fitting 5 pounds of potatoes in a 1 pound bag for me. The food was very good and we did not have to wait at all. They had bread and olive oil on the table to start. The bread was soft and moist and delicious. We had minestrone soup which was also good. Then as soon as our soups were done, our main course came out (I like getting our food quickly especially when we dine with our daughter). I ordered Chicken Alfredo which had juicy tender chicken in that famous heart attack sauce which was amazing. My wife ordered Cheese Manicotti. It was smothered in creamy cheese sauce that she loved. They had a kids menu so my daughter had Spaghetti with tomato sauce. All of our meals were delicious. To top things off my wife got the giant 1 pound (slight exaggeration) NY cheese cake slice, which was amazing. I ordered the chocolate strata which was like a rich thick chocolate mousse pie filling in a sundae dish with real whipped cream on top. It was a chocolate lovers dream. My only complaint is they gave me a soup spoon to eat it with, but the shape of the spoon could not reach the bottom of the sundae dish. All together two adult meals, one kid meal, two sodas, and two deserts cost $67. Not bad for a fancy high quality place with excellent food and great service. One other thing that I thought was really neat is we had multiple people waiting on our table (about 5 different people). We had one main server, but they busboy also refilled our drinks and brought out the desert menus, and three other people walking by asked if we needed anything. I have never experienced that before. It was obvious that they care about their customers and service is their top priority. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Tom J.
Looks like the Italian Village Restaurants consists of 3 places: The Village, La Cantina, and Vivere. We visited The Village. I can't give it 5 stars because all my date and I purchased was a Tiramisu (dessert). The top-layer of the Tiramisu contained whipped-cream with a slight coffee-flavor accent added to it. The bottom layer was more of a sophisticated cake containing a fancy chocolate flavor more than anything else. The environment is small and perfect for an intimate one-on-one date. I wouldn't go with any more than 4 people to this restaurant due to the limited space. The waiter service was very courteous and respectful. Free bread and olive-oil were served immediately after you sit. The waiter poured you a water (watching him dump the water from the pitcher to your cup was pretty cool) and let you order. Even after they set down the bill, and you pay for it, they still served you more water if you wanted it. Overall was a nice place and nice service. Can't give any reviews on the regular dishes yet, though. We went on a Thurs evening, approx 9:30/10pm (coming from Cadillac Palace) and there was plenty of space open. There was valet parking available, but we didn't need it.
(4)Lora B.
We were in town to go to the theater and were a little early, so we just happened to stop at The Italian Village. We were actually planning on going to another Italian restaurant down the street, but it wasn't open. But I am glad they weren't. My husband and I shared a pizza and we each had a salad...it was really good. Being from New York, I am not a big fan of the deep dish pizza so we got the thin crust. It was the best pizza I have ever had in Chicago and the salad was fresh and a perfect side for the pizza! Will definitely go there again.
(5)Philly G.
The guy that came over to talk to us was kind of annoying. The top floor was decorated a bit corny. The food was great and not too expensive.
(3)D D.
We saw a show on a Saturday afternoon and decided to come here afterwards for dinner. We each ordered an entree, mostly pasta and seafood. I've been to a ton of italian restaurants, it was pretty good, nothing too memorable. The service was good, nothing above and beyond but nothing to complain about. When we first walked in it took a long time to be greeted at the host stand, it was extremely chaotic, but we had a reservation and did get seated very promptly. The ambiance in this restaurant is great, very cozy and cute. The best part of the meal was by far the dessert, it was an italian sponge cake with some type of custard. Extremely good!!!
(3)Sean D.
Maybe I'm just sentimental but I still love the upstairs. Came in with my baby boy & girlfriend and they put us in a nice quiet enclave that was both convenient and romantic. Staff was cool and fun, food was solid. It was cool to come back to a place I frequented so often with my parents with my own son.
(4)Chuck K.
Went here for lunch today. Was very impressed. Really cool setting, a nice place for a quiet lunch or dinner. They have a good number of tourist showing up here but it definitley not a chain like atmosphere. They have amazing portions and great food. Had the torteleni al pesto which was awesome. If you're looking for dinner after work and check out this place!
(4)Jessica L.
I went to the Italian Village restaurant about a week ago with a large group of people. The bread that they brought out before the meal was tasteless and so was the olive oil. I ordered the lasagna since nothing else really jumped out at me. The portion was very big and I thought it was pretty reasonably priced. It was good and I took the rest home and had it for dinner the following night. Just judging by the bread and lasagna, I can honestly say that the food was okay. Not the best, nor the worst Italian food that I've had. Although the servers were attentive to the table, they wouldn't serve one person alcohol because she forgot her ID. We were all clearly over 21 and everyone had a glass of wine. I mean, I'm sure it's just policy, but really? Additionally, we had ordered a bottle of red wine and most of us shared it, except for one person who had a different type of red wine. Once our drinks were low, the waiter came around and was refilling our glasses and without asking, he poured the wrong wine into the one person's glass would got different wine. He could've easily asked the group if we all had the same wine. Luckily, she was able to get another full glass of wine and I don't think we were charged. All in all, I would still go back if friends wanted to, but I probably wouldn't be the one to suggest it.
(3)Matt R.
Mama mia! Italian village has to be one of the most old-style italian restaurants that I have ever seen. They were celebrating 80 years and from the look of the place it's clear that it may not have changed much over the last 80 years. Definitely no change since I last was there 5 years ago, or so. Their food is still pretty good, it's just the place is kinda plain. I think the menu could use sprucing up with some more choices/options. Anyway, I had the Rotolini di Pollo. It was chicken, in a mushroom sauce with sausage inside of the chicken. Very good actually, and included a really soft/almost bland alfredo. It could have used some seasoning in the sauce, I guess. I'm more curious about Vivere on the main floor, but it was closed on Sunday (not sure what Vivere's hours are). Overall: good food, classic italian, but not a place I'd set as a destination on a regular basis. It's just kinda....dinky?
(3)Colleen C.
The ambience is good, especially for larger groups, children, etc. It's like Epcot in Chicago, Italian style. The food was not impressive, especially for the price. It was just so...standard. Service was pretty good, it's a decent stop after a show at The Schubert..ahem, LaSalle Bank Theater. But, I wouldn't be rushing around to get there anytime soon...
(3)Heather L.
Came downtown to see the Macy windows and Christkindlmarket on a cold and rainy December day. Didn't want to face the lines at the Walnut Room so brought the kids and my Mom here instead. We loved it. I hadn't been in over a decade but the cozy ambience is exactly as it was. I love all the alcoves and the intamacy and the murals and the sculpture. You definitely feel transported to someplace special. I think I was last here on a double date with my now husband back in the late 90's. On this trip, we sat in the bar area with the twinkling stars on the painted sky ceiling. Kids loved it too. Didn't actually feel like a bar area. Wait staff and manager were super friendly and great to the kids. We gobbled up two baskets of bread with olive oil and parmesan before our pizza and meatball sandwiches even got there and found ourselves a bit full. Ended up getting lunch and dinner for four out of our $60 lunch bill (including tip). That included one very yummy cocktail for yours truly. I won't say it's the best Italian I ever ate but it's good and it's classic and it is perfect for a cold and rainy December day. The place has a rather magical feel about it that fits the bill at Christmas time. Definitely an excellent alternative to the Walnut Room and other winter time family venues.
(4)Dale B.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants ever. Valet parking and a short walk to the theater.
(5)Carol J.
Dear Italian Village, Please don't serve me a pile of slop and call it Italian. Don't overcharge my friends credit card because you think we're tipsy because, um, he's in the program, I'm not. Don't serve me a salad with red onion when I tell ya I can't have them then take said salad back, remove said reds and then try to serve me the salad again. My exploding lips and fingers the minute red onion touches them are proof of your folly. I'll give you location but really, the pizza was worse than what I recall being served in a school cafeteria. What the hell is going on here? I used to love this place. The old man must be spinning in his grave!
(2)Milly P.
COCKROACH IN THE PENNE!!! We catered from the Italian Village very recently and as my friend was putting a serving of the penne on his plate, there was a giant dead cockroach in it. I don't think it is acceptable for any food establishment to serve cockroaches to their customers (do a search for "cockroach" within Italian Village, this is not the first cockroach incident here). I cringe at the thought of what I might have possibly eaten here in the past. I've always thought their food was mediocre and over-priced, but now I most definitely will not return.
(1)Val B.
We came in on a casual weekday night, and were seated promptly in a cozy room/booth in the back. Service was great - our server was prompt, quick with solicited recommendations, and cheerful - really, what more can a girl ask for? Food is just decent, nothing too exciting. The chicken in my chicken parm was a little gamey, if that's possible. However, the portions are enormous beyond belief and you'll get at least 2, if not 3, meals out of it. Overall, it's not the best Italian I've ever had - probably 3 stars. However, the service and ambiance make up for a lot.
(4)Scott C.
This review is for the Cantina at the Italian Village. We arrived after an afternoon show for an early dinner here and the place was packed - which I assume is from all of the other after-show folks. So, I'd say word to the wise to expect a crowd here between the end of the afternoon theatre shows and the evening show begins. Making a long story longer - when we arrived around 4:45 we were told that we could be seated but would need to be done by 6:00 as they had a large party and other reservations at that time. The bottom line was that the service was hurried and somewhat rude. I know that we had a time constraint but an hour and 15 minutes is still plenty of time to eat dinner. We did not need to be rushed through ordering and generally have impolite service. This was the only downside of our meal and left a bit of a bad taste in our mouths. The food itself was very good - as usual. The Italian Village cooks the basic Italian comfort food very well and it was delicious. I had the lasagna and it was filling and tasty. They didn't go light on the meat sauce for the dish and it was quite enjoyable. The portion was also appropriate, it was filling but not enough to feed an entire neighborhood in Chicago on one plate. We also had the chicken parm and the ravioli. The ravioli was excellent and an appropriate portion but the chicken parm was heavy on the cheese (sometimes making it difficult to distinguish chicken and cheese) and was a huge portion! Despite the hurried service, the food itself was good and the Cantina part of the restaurant is cozy - so that was all good. I think we'll just avoid the theatre crowd next time and hope for better service.
(3)Double L.
Of all the tasty options in Chicago not sure why anyone would ever want to come here. I think I have an idea though and it might be the same reason I have been here. There are few tasty sit down options in the Loop, especially if you aren't planning on dropping a $100+ on a meal. A former coworker was in town for business and didn't want to stray too far from his hotel, we ended up here. We eat on the second floor of this place. It is not that anything was bad it just wasn't good and considering that things don't have to be that way in Chicago I don't see the reason to go here for anything.
(2)Laura F.
We were so excited to have an Italian meal in Chicago. We were very disappointed. Being Italian, we weren't very impressed. The salad was very heavy with dressing which tasted like it came from a bottle. The chicken marsala was very dry, The spaghetti sauce was ok, the meatballs were tasty though. My son had the caesar salad and it was overly dressed, he did like the croutons which were home made but had only 3 in total. Service was friendly.
(2)Caroline A.
The Italian Village has become a Chicago institution for hearty Italian food. Located in the heart of the loop, it is great for pre-theater dining, casual business dinners and and large groups of people, including families. The interior is dark and has a very charming look (in it's own way). Very warm and cozy. It can be a warm and romantic place too as they have closed off booths that allow for privacy. Portions here are GINORMOUS, hearty and good. I agree with Dee... make sure you have pasta dishes baked with cheese! Service is always terrific... very friendly wait staff. I have been here so many times, I don't know when I'll return next. It's just one of those places you forget about all the time.. and I run past it every day!
(3)Ann T.
Went to Italian Village for the first time with my husband and my cousin. The décor was extra cute and the ambiance was energetic. Loud restaurant, but you don't have to scream to be heard. The wait staff Is fun, professional, and friendly. The food was excellent. Try the fried clams; they were delectable. We're always impressed with the elegance of the simplicity of well prepared sauces (balanced flavored, but not overpowering) paired with perfectly al dente noodles; and this was what Italian Village chefs had to offer. Outside of Minneapolis' Campiello's pasta, this is our favorite in downtown Chicago. Highly recommend it as a date place. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Carly S.
I have been numerous times to Italian Village, we always go before going to various plays. It has become like tradition to eat at the Italian Village first, we have never once been disappointed with the food or service, it is always superb. It is also great because we valet the car at the restaurant and then are able to walk to the theater and get our car afterwards which always saves us a lot of money on parking fees. I love the ambiance when you walk into the restaurant (upstairs), it is decorated with lights and its like you have stepped into a different world. We always ask for on their mini private rooms which seats about 8 and it's so cozy, you feel like you are separated from the rest of the restaurant which can be nice to make it a more intimate atmosphere. I think it is very appropriately priced for what you get and I always recommend it to people when I know they are going to be in the area. Make sure you make reservations though if going on a friday/saturday night or before a play because they tend to get booked fast.
(4)Thomas G.
Really enjoyed my experience. My waiter, Tomoso was excellent. I had the veal Marsala. It was busy even at my 10pm seating.
(5)Don O.
We were visiting from out of town and our friend had recommended Italian Village, very happy that he did. During our first visit, our son requested a vegetarian meal and the chef came to discuss the menu & preparation. The food was tasty, setting was fun and the service was friendly/attentive. The second time we came back with a reservation for 14 people - that included 11 of my son's college friends. As it turns out he brought along two more friends and the staff did not blink, they were very accommodating. We went on to have a festive evening, great meal that was reasonably priced. Grazie tante Village!
(4)Y V.
It's billed as Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant, since 1927. The food is standard Italian/Italian-American fare like beef carpaccio, caprese salad, chicken vesuvio, veal marsala, and several pasta dishes. The service is always good, the food is delicious, and I can't help but smile at the decor (think Disneyland-ish).
(4)Mary M.
Great ambiance but that's all there is to offer. Food is disgusting
(1)Stephanie M.
I am giving this a two star review, because I hated our server. This review should really have been written back in November when I had just been there, but alas, I came across the place on Yelp! today, and thought I should put in my two cents now.Our server was clearly overwhelmed by his job, and could not be bothered to allow his customers to relax when he was in their presence. Nope, it was our problem that he could not handle his job. We had just come from a fabulous time at the Oriental Theater where we had watched Les Misérables, my all time favorite musical, performed live. We were in a really nice mood. I had made a reservation for us at the upstairs part of Italian Village, knowing my dad would like it there. My parents both ordered the Chicken Vesuvio. My brother and cousin both ordered the Chicken Parmesan. I was torn between the Lasagna and the Chicken Marsala. There was like a $4.00 difference in the two items if I remember correctly, the Chicken Marsala being the more expensive of the two. The waiter started to waive his hand, motioning me to hurry up... Which made me want to ring his fucking neck. I asked him which one he preferred, and without hesitation, he said Chicken Marsala, and walked away. I was a little thrown off by his actions, it was clear that after he shared what he wanted me to get, I was no longer making the decision myself. I decided to let it go. I tried to believe it would be tastier, being that it was the pricier item, and I tried to believe that our rude waiter genuinely preferred that item because of the taste, not because it was the higher priced item. Well that was wrong. I will start by saying, the Chicken Parm, and the Chicken Vesuvio were great. Both dishes were bursting with flavors, the chicken was cooked beautifully, it was delicious. But the consensus at the table when it came to my meal, was that it tasted as rough as it looked. These mushrooms strait up, looked to be from a can or something. The colors were not nice, watery and gray. The taste was that of bland, unseasoned, over-cooked, BOILED chicken. We can safely assume that a lasagna in red sauce with beef would have had plenty of flavor. Instead, I was stuck eating this shit. My family, having the good sense of humor that they do, all just put some of their dinners on my plate. Our server never even noticed that I didn't touch my dinner. It never occurred to him to ask if I even liked the stinkin' dish! I still get angry when I think about it. I see people eating Chicken Parmesan, or Lasagna, and think about how that rude-ass waiter let his greed shine through. And the thing is, when servers recommend the less expensive item, because it really is the tastier option, it shows real character, which would not be lost on my family. We would have reflected our appreciation in our tip. And you can bet, that we reflected our appreciation for being rushed through our dinners, and more or less told what I was going to eat for dinner, in the tip that night.
(2)Nate D.
My wife and I really liked it! It's classic, kitschy and delicious! I don't like "traditional, family style" Italian---no cheese or tomato sauce please---so I asked for pasta with veggies like asparagus, peppers and spinach and what they prepared for me was AMAZING. I liked the plate clean! My wife also loved her spaghetti and meatballs. This place reeks of nostalgia, and has clearly been open so long because it's consistently good!
(4)Will H.
This is a Chicago staple and it kills me to see it only has 3 stars... I have been here with large groups and small groups, over many years and times of year. They have always been super friendly to us and provided excellent service. Their food is very flavorful, their bread is warm and delicious. I love the lasagna here, it is definitely not weight watchers, but it is delicious!. I've never had the pizza, but many of their pasta dishes and specials are all fabulous. This is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Chicago and is a fabulous place to have a meal. It's in a decent location to shows and shopping and is open fairly late. The atmosphere is amazing. a little village painted on the wall, white twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling. little alcoves and you can sit inside a building built into the room. Some people may not like these things but I find it endearing. A few other notes: - Their drink selection is expansive. - They take reservations for large groups. If you are in town, check this place out, it is my and many people I know's favorite place in downtown chicago.
(5)Caitlin S.
A star for my cute, broad shouldered waiter. A 1/2 star because I heard the pizza is really good, another 1/2 because there are literally no other restaurants open past lunch in the area which is "whack". I had fish over spinach. The fish tasted ok, pretty bland but not bad overall. The spinach also tasted ok, but it was swimming in sand. I wanted to tell my waiter. I should have told him. But another customer was pitching a bitch about her food being too spicy (that's likely in an Italian place, right) and I didn't want to make the guy's night any worse. The ambiance is kind of cute, but also quite cheesy. Some of the booths are so tiny it's uncomfortable and the drop ceiling isn't sexy, not even in the dim lights.
(2)Catherine X.
I'm kicking myself for falling for this tourist trap. I keep asking myself how this place is still in business . Is it the "atmosphere"? In that case, Rainforest Cafe has atmosphere too, but their target audience is children who have never seen a zoo before and pee on themselves. After years of living in Chicago, I think I know what the answer is: Murals. People freaking LOVE murals. Paint a gondola here, a grapevine there and it's just like being there, but cheaper than booking tickets through Expedia. I can't see any other explanation for it. The food is lacking. The last time I ordered veal parmesean it tasted like it was drenched in bitter grapes. I don't think they cooked it long enough to burn off the alcohol. The appetizers are like what you could get at any other establishment. Oh, but the one thing that is Italian is the service-- sometimes it's bad, other times it's worse, and it takes forever to get the check.
(2)Jared P.
Nothing says great restaurant like food poisoning.... Need I say more.....
(1)Adam M.
I was very disappointed with this place. My father recommended it and claimed it was great food and he would eat there at least once a week when he worked down town. Well I believed him, I thought this place would be a nice simple place to go and eat for an anniversary dinner. The wait wasn't horrible but i can say the same about the food. I ordered the baked mostacolli. Meh. It was alright but really bland. The lady ordered chicken cacciatora. It was also bland and pretty boring. It was like a piece of grilled chicken topped with some mushroom soup. The overall food and experience was disappointing. The prices don't justify the quality of food. It was busy that night so they where probably rushing out orders. Regardless, I may give them the benefit of the doubt and give them another shot but i don't see that happening anytime soon.
(2)Jason P.
My Wife and I brought her parents here during their visit to Chicago. Turned out to be the perfect choice to bring an older couple. Not that younger people won't enjoy it but it has an old school feel. My wife had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and I probably spent as much time eating out of her plate as I did mine. I had the fish special: The Red Snapper and crushed it. We also enjoyed the fact that the portions weren't crazy big like you'll find at other downtown Italian spots. Overall we really enjoyed our evening
(4)Ariel B.
Italian Village is a great little place to grab a bite while downtown without breaking the bank. The Original Italian Village is the upstairs restaurant. It's really cute with little lights and it like sitting on an Italian Piazza. We had the grilled calamari (great), shrimp pasta (great) and chicken marsala (good). The service was good, most of the servers are older, Italian men. Service is always quick and they do a good job of moving their tables. Sometimes I just want to sit a little bit longer. Overall, it's a good place in a pinch.
(3)Kate F.
I tried the lasagne (not baked with extra cheese) for the first time - it was really, really, really good. Bechamal sauce, hints of nutmeg, tons of thick, meaty sauce. I usually get the eggplant parmesan, which is very good. My dining companion ordered the agnolotti and said it may be her new favorite. The house salad with Italian dressing, while basic, is delicious. The bread is good, but standard Italian white bread.
(5)Samantha H.
The atmosphere is pretty cool; I love the little bar downstairs and the sections in the restaurant are cute. The food is mediocre and we won't go back.
(3)Brad B.
Old school Italian place with big menus and dark lighting. You expect to see Frank, Dean and Sammy in the corner booth. Oh yeah, the food is great also.
(4)Erika L.
Shame on you for the 3 star and less reviews??!! Do you not have any loyalty? Faux Chicagoans and suburbanites dragging down an institution with low yelp ratings...don't you have a democratic convention to attend? a bank to pitch a tent in front of while you collect unemployment? Next time, stick to yelping about the less than satisfactory kombucha selection at your local Whole Foods...peasants...fughgeddabout it...This place is Chicago.... Go to the village, upstairs and ask for a 'house' booth. You'll feel like you stepped into a set of It's a small, goomba world after all at Disneyland...Just fantastic, unique place...You'll have a blast. I've been coming here since I was a kid and stop in everytime I am 'home'. The greats have wined and dined here...Is it the best food next to the Amalfi coast? no. Have you been to the Amalfi coast? -probably not. It is great, Chicago, Italian fun. Bring a date, bring a friend. This is not Olive Garden...it's downtown Chicago/ 100$ + for 2. Don't forget the cannoli, a decent bottle of vino and to soak in history...ugh...I'm homesick right now.
(5)Shradha A.
I had heard such great stuff about this place. And I love the ambience but I wish they would improve food and service. Pity - it was a bad bad experience - not just once but twice. Why? 1. The servers just forget about you! It seems they only like to wait on large parties (huge tips?) 2. They can't even speak getting-by English (nor do they make an effort to respond to any questions you may have) 3. The food takes forever and doesn't look very appetizing (presentation is important to me) For vegetarians: not recommended.
(2)Jeka M.
I've been here a bunch of times (my mom loves it) and have had consistently good service and good food. It wasn't the best Italian food, but there is a wide variety of choices and the Tiramisu is some of the best I've ever had (I normally don't care much for it). It's an old restaurant and the decorations, to me, are weirdly reminiscent of the playroom my Buscia painted for me as a child, but it has a friendly character and the valet is super convenient--I've even used it without dining there. Those guys are quite helpful. :)
(3)April K.
I think over the years I've been on every level of the Italian Village, most recently on the top floor for dinner with my brother and his family. It wasn't my first choice (especially during the busy holiday season) but they wanted to stay downtown & it was one of the few places where I could get a last-minute reservation. The service was obnoxious - the server saw me on my phone (looking up train times for my brother since he'd forgotten his Metra schedule) and would not let it go. Instead of spending time needling me as some sort of poster child for the lamentable decline of manners in the 21st century, I would have preferred he pay more attention to things like our order, which he got wrong. The food was ok for tourist fare but way too salty for my taste, and left me dreaming for all the better Italian fare you can get outside the Loop. It is a serviceable place for after-work drinks but I'd leave it at that.
(2)Adam L.
Best Tiramisu Ever!!!!
(4)Anna B.
I was at Italian Village last Saturday for a friend's birthday. My experience could have been better. No one was there to greet me when I walked in the door, so I made my way to the girl at the counter. She rudely cut me off and directed me to the host. He didn't look me in the eye, also cut me off, and then turned his back to me to talk to someone else. Still not looking at me, he directed me to the table with my friends. The menu was nothing special. I was hoping for something with fresh vegetables or a seasonal selection...something other than noodles and meat in sauce. I didn't see anything. I settled on the manicotti which tasted fine, but didn't blow me away. The bread was stale, the olive oil had no flavor, and the birthday cake was cold. The cake was free, granted, but it doesn't have to be so obviously frozen. At least heat it to room temperature. I was expecting a lot more for a popular restaurant in the middle of the Loop. It was pretty disappointing.
(2)Whitney R.
Touristy and not the best soup. Good for last minute plans before a play.
(2)Mopsie B.
My family has been coming here for years, usually for lunches during a workday. I never imagined I'd be reading negative reviews from TOURISTS! This city has really changed and it's sad. The Italian Village is one of the last bastions of classy service. The maitre'd always looks like a million dollars. Many of the waiters have been there for years if not decades. Who are you people from Texas and Ohio and Brooklyn (?!) to heap a bunch of hurtful, silly comments on a place you've been to once and clearly do not understand?? It's called old-fashioned. I know that everyone these days thinks the Olive Garden and Applebee's, where they can get their Bud Lights quickly from a waitress who probably voted the same way they did in the last election and will wait on them as they order their blooming onions, is the ultimate haute cuisine, BUT... The fact is, the Italian Village is a landmark. It's one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago and it was always for Chicagoans. If you want Hard Rock or deep dish pizza then go somewhere else. This restaurant is for people who remember good manners and desire an old-fashioned experience. I just wish they wouldn't let kids and idiots in shorts in there. We went yesterday and I had a well-priced Sicilian Pino Grigio and the broccoli and shrimp pasta. My husband had the lasagna and a chianti. It was fun until some family brought their brats and were seated right behind us in their shorts and t-shirts. The little girl NEVER stopped whining. I'm really sad what Chicago has become. This used to be an elegant city with people who cared about quality and dignity. Now we have to deal with a glut of tourists who take over our streets and don't have any respect for anything that is over two years old. Go visit Disney-- I'm sure they'll have the great service and "authenticity" you're looking for!
(4)J G.
So when I clicked 2 stars it says "meh. i've experienced better." Which is exactly how I feel. The atmosphere is definitely nice, and service is good too. But the food...meh! I've honestly enjoyed my $2 frozen tv-dinner better. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing (ravioli)? But it was too doughy and bland and blah. My friend got the manicotti...same thing for her, she didn't even finish it. To be fair though, there were people at our table that loved what they got. So maybe some of us just made bad choices :( I'm picky though when it comes to Italian food, it better taste a whole lot better than anything I can pick up at a grocery store for 1/3 the price for me to REALLY enjoy it.
(2)Vern M.
Close to our hotel and serving as its room service provider, we decided, despite some of the very negative comments, to take the short walk and check out the Vilalge (upstairs) for ourselves. The first thing we noticed was, as another reviewer mentioned, the smell. While we grew accustomed to it, it was not pleasant, and almost forced us to leave. Our wait service was most professional and courteous. The salads were mixed greens - nothing special, but very pleasant side salads. The bread was fresh, but had no taste. It could have come from the corner market, and was anything but "Italian." The food portions were most ample. But I have to agree with the reviewer who characterized the quality as "meh." There was nothing special about the food at all - I've had better at the Olive Garden. I decided to go with a simple spaghetti and meatball, and found the pasta overcooked, the sauce unremarkable, and the meatball dense and tasteless. And the bill was about double what I would have paid for comparable quality elsewhere. This is an experience, but not a value. Pass this one up.
(2)Vikki V.
We love Itailan Village! Depending on our mood we can eat at any of the three restuarants located inside the building. Downstairs its quite and the food is great. The main floor has upscale, quite and intimate atmosphere with altogether different menu than the other two spots. And finally the upstairs dining area looks and feels like you're outside in a Italian sidewalk and the noise and food is plenty - just the way it should be. I highly suggest this restaurant for all the great food and atmosphere.
(5)RJ W.
There were a number of us and we called ahead to make reservations. We were shoved in the basement, a.ka. The Cantina... a.k.a. A bad Berwyn basement. The decor was right out of a bad movie...from the 70s! The food was not good and, accompanied by a really surly waiter, just one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have had in a long time. THEN, to top it all off, the VALET stole money out of our car! Granted, it was not smart to leave it there... but it is OUR car, OUR property and our money.... Just an overall really bad experience. I assure you, I will never go there again. I highly suggest you do not either...
(1)Colleen M.
The Village makes Olive Garden look like Trotter's. I'm amazed that people have given this place good reviews. I've been forced here for several work lunches but my worst experience happened when I wound up here for dinner one night. It's a long story, but basically I was stuck in the loop with a friend and we were STARVING, so we went to the closest place we could think of. I already knew that the décor was tacky, the service was pretentious, and the food was mediocre (at best), but I figured I could get something simple and be fine. I ordered the lasagna and my friend ordered the rotolini di pollo, both of which came with salads. Our salads came out immediately and then literally 2 minutes later - no joke - out came our entrees. We were stunned as we hadn't even gotten through a few bites of our salad. In fact, we hadn't even gotten bread yet. When our food came over, we told them we just got our salads and that it was kind of ridiculous that our food could already be ready. Without an apology, the waiter said "ok, I'll bring them back later." Before we could say something about not wanting our entrees to sitting around under a heat lamp, he ran off. In all honesty, we were there for a quick meal but not THAT quick. When the food came out the second time it of course looked like it had been sitting under the heat lamp. My lasagna was bland and my friends chicken had pieces that seemed raw. She didn't really realize right away, so we didn't even bother asking the waiter to take it back. At that point, we just wanted to get out of there. This place doesn't deserve to still be in business...
(1)George B.
So my friends had little time to eat before we went to the Bulls game. When you walk into the Italian Village you have three restaurants to choose from. Thank goodness we chose the right one! The space was small but the food was delicious! I had the Chicken Pasta and it was incredible! And our service was even better. We had a waitress named Anetta and she was so down to earth and incredible friendly. A Cameron Diaz look-alike!
(3)Roman M.
Went here with a co-worker for lunch. We sampled three things and shared them just to maximize our experience. Since it was lunch time, we went with the following: 1927 (Italian Sub): Was pretty good - 6.5/10 probably. The ingredients seemed tasty but it was a little skimpy - too much bread and not enough goods! Italian Beef: Also 'pretty good' but not spectacular. The peppers had a small kick to them and that was pleasing. The bread was tasty. 6/10 Meatball Sandwich: Favorite of all three. The meatballs were really tender and kind of fell apart when you took a fork to them. The sauce had a great flavor. It could have used some melted provolone but that's another story. 8/10 This leads me to my recommendation for this place. Since the marinara was good on the meatball sandwich, I'd stick with the traditional pasta dishes here, like spaghetti. I'll bet that's their sweet spot. I thought the atmosphere was pretty cool actually -although I was WAY under-dressed. Expect a lot of suit coats in this place - after all, it is in the loop.
(3)Kamila T.
The village had a decent salad.. the minestrone soup was fine - not impressive by any means. The spaghetti and meat sauce was average, the lasagna was nice and creamy but I just wasn't impressed. The decor is original.. I really mean like from when the restaurant opened. The bathroom was gross.
(2)Jay M.
Hereyee! Hereyee! Its Jay M back up in the hid-ouse once again for another review of great (and sometimes not-so-great) food from highly unhealthy restaurants that contribute to years being taken off your life. (Sorry, just got done watching the Debbie Downer skit on SNL.) So today's topic boys and girls is Italian Village. I've always wanted to go to this place since I saw Ferris, Slone and Cameron drive past on their escapade through Chi in Ferris Buellers Day off. If you missed the Italian Village cameo, rent the damn movie and fast forward to that part. Now let me get on to the damn review: This place serves great food and the vibe is pretty cool. I had the salmon and, no bs, it may have been the best salmon I ever had. Highly recommended. Although a cozy little place, Italian Village is not the "real" Italian you probably think it is going into the place. I am not a seeder and wont give any place free promo, but there's a place that starts with the word "Rose" and ends in a word that rhymes with "dud." If you can solve that, see them for authentic. Ladies and gentlemen, good talk.
(4)Andrea B.
If you love kitsch and enjoy paying higher prices for 'eh' food, this is the place for you. If not, don't go. There's much better Italian food out there, and it's cheaper. This place reminds me of Casa Bonita in Denver, without the cliff divers.
(2)Leang E.
Maybe I should have yelped this place before I went to it. My landlord says it's his favorite, but I found it to be lacking. I appreciated the intimacy of where we were seated but I found the food to be okay. We had the mussels to start out with and I had the lobster ravioli that I thought were okay. It felt pricey only because I didn't love my food. The service was okay and the portions were a good size but there's way too many Italian restaurants for me to come back to this one.
(2)Andrew C.
Went to Italian Village during the week for dinner. I found the atmosphere a little "kitschy" in the bar area of the Village, but at the same time very pleasant. The painted murals on the wall were interesting, because of their 3-D nature and the light bulbs for house lights. The waitstaff was extremely welcoming and helpful. I don't think we had to wait long for anything, be it topping off our waters or a refill of a glass of wine The food itself was delicious. We had grilled calamari which was cooked perfectly (just chewy enough). The pasta with shrimp was excellent and the chicken risotto special I ordered was very good, it took all my restraint to not eat the whole thing in one sitting! Overall, very affordable and very interesting place to eat.
(3)Delsie W.
I have been coming to the Italian Village for many years. I have never been disappointed. I had out-of-town visitors on Saturday. Of course, I selected the Italian Village to have dinner with them. We were not disappointed, My guests enjoyed their meals. The lasagna was excellent and the mussels were some of the best we have ever had. The server was very attentive and we had an enjoyable evening. We'll definitely be returning soon!
(5)Lindsey B.
I like Paul's review below: "Not EVERYTHING was bad here but the food docked at least a star and a half. Ambiance: Meh. This is like graduating from Olive Garden and coming into the city for the first time. Service: Great. Our server and host were prompt and polite Food: I'd go back to Olive Garden first." Those are pretty much the exact words I used to describe Italian Village to a co-worker this morning. "I'd go back to Olive Garden first." To which she replied, "I like Olive Garden!". Duh, me too. Find my review. Anyhow, I had the seafood ravioli which was described as "mixed seafood" in a dumpling. The seafood filling was undistinguishable. I think most of it was just whitefish. There were 3 bay scallops, itty bitty ones, sprinkled on top and 4 small shrimp evenly scattered too. I was pretty disappointed. The sauce was described as a "creamy tomato sauce", but it was really tangy and hardly creamy at all. For all that tang I'd expect a little heat or spice, but nothing. Really disappointing. The dish cost about $18. Both times I've been here I've been put in the back room. It's the smallest room I've ever seen. Seriously smaller than my bedroom, maybe 10x12. And there were 7 tables crammed in there. I was seated in the corner and had to ask the guy next to me to move a little so I could get in. Kinda ridiculous. If it weren't for the mirror they put up it'd be super claustrophobic. The service was good, though. The owner came around twice to make sure everything was good. Very friendly man and he complimented my tattoo. HA! I don't think I'll come back.
(3)Mara A.
Went here last night for my boyfriend and my 1 year anniversary. We went to "the village" and the decor was amazing. beautiful. The food on the other hand, just okay. I got the baked mostacholli and there was no flavor. We first ordered our appetizer which was the pizza bread while we were still deciding on what to get for dinner. about 5 minutes later our waiter comes back and takes our order. a couple minutes later our appetizer comes out. I took one bite before our main course came out. WHAT? i remembered ordering that no longer than two minutes ago. my guess is that is was left overs from lunch. ach. now as im eating a sworm of EMT's walk in and a man is coughing up a lunch. the place went dead. this guy is spitting and coughing up everywhere. im assuming there was food stuck in his throat but he wasnt choking....interesting. it was pretty nasty. Our waiter was pleasant, but even he was surprised when our food came out within a minute of ordering. he actually said "Fu*k, that was fast" yep it sure was. Overall, decor was wonderful, food was just under okay. I want to our to the other restaurants in the building. I'm not sure if the food will be any different. Also surprised that when I called to make a reservation for "the village" they didnt accept any. Go here for a romantic date, but dont expect much in the food.
(3)Maria D.
The food is so good and fresh that I had to post a comment on yelp. The services was fast and the way they took care of me was amazing.
(5)Ryan W.
I've been here many times over the years, and have never had a bad experience. The food is alawys fantastic, the wait staff is impeccable. I love their lasagna, chicken marsala, and their ravioli's! I do think they are better for dinner, than lunch.. but that is only because it's tough to eat so much food in the middle of the day!
(5)Jade T.
3.5 Stars NOT a good place for vegetarians. There is less than a handful of vegetarian-friendly dishes on their menu. Their soups are made from chicken broth, so watch out. Unfortunately, most dishes like the lasagna are pre-made with meat sauce, so they can't be modified. My husband and I dined here for lunch, and was slightly shocked by the prices. Definitely not cheap, even the lunch specials ($9 - $20 for entrees). We split Tortelli Tre Formaggi. My boyfriend wasn't too hungry. The waiter was nice to evenly split the salad (with our choice of dressing: french on mine, italian on his) and the entree. The Tortelli wasn't anything to rave about, but it was appetizing. The tomato-basil sauce shouldn't be confused with traditional marinara made from tomato paste. Instead, simply crushed tomatoes seasoned with basil to allow the flavors of the pasta to come through. The service, however, was great. From the moment we entered and left, we were welcomed and treated like guests. I was worried that the server would be really annoyed by us splitting an entree ("gosh, what cheapskates"), but he (Johnny) was extremely nice. It was great of him to split the salad and entree onto two separate plates instead of letting Curtis mooch off my food with a fork. Seriously, the people at Italian Village were really warm and hospitable. Thus I must up the star rating to 4 instead of 3. Italian Village is recommended for carnivores, but vegetarians need to proceed with caution.
(4)Tammy H.
Joe and I came here because he wanted spaghetti and meatballs... And instead of going to the store to buy spaghetti sauce that would end up sitting in the fridge well past the point of it going bad, we went to Italian Village. I'd been a couple times before, but this was Joe's first time. So, we walked in with no reservation and it was VERY crowded. Lots of people standing around waiting to be called and not knowing what to do. We were told it would be a 40 to 60 minute wait, and while neither of us was really starving at the time, we waited. I checked in a couple times to see how it was going and the hosts didn't seem to mind (this is a good thing) and after about 45 minutes our name was called. We were taken to this little side room and seated right in the middle at a table for two. Personally, I liked the room... But there was a couple next to us that bickered the whole time AND complained about "being seated in the side room." Our waiter was really chill and humored us in our idiocy :) Joe ordered the shrimp and broccoli... And he felt the flavors were nice and complex. I had a shrimp (even though I'm not supposed to!) and I thought it was grainy, but the brocolli and the pasta were both wonderfully seasoned. I had the fettucini (sp?) alfredo with chicken AND sausage. They have really good sausage, so I recommend it... The chicken was a little over seasoned for me, but their alfredo was spot on. It was delicious! Better than even when Leona's was good! And the noodles were nice and thick. We asked the waiter what was in it because we tasted a bit of tart and tanginess to it... He said eggnog, but then said he wasn't sure and that he'd find out for us... Turns out there is nutmeg in the alfredo... And that it is just butter, cream, nutmeg... And most likely a bit of lemon... Either way, I think it is an alfredo recipe worth trying for in my own kitchen. I've never had a bad time there, but if you're in a hurry, try somewhere else.. Or make a reservation. I've never been in a hurry here, so it's always been good :)
(4)Matt F.
I'm moving to Chicago here in about a month and upon my visit to the city i was told that the Italian Village was the place to go. Being a huge fan of the atmosphere of a restaurant this place gets a one star boost just for that. Its nice and cozy with excellent lighting and I even got to listen to Italian opera music all night! I was seated upstairs and from the moment you walk in you see all these pictures on the wall of signed pictures of celebrities that have been there. The paintings on the wall make you feel like you're entering the real Italy. The service wasn't extraordinary but it wasn't bad, the food was pretty good, i didn't think it was too overpriced for the quality.
(4)Jill S.
Looking for a great dinner before going to the theatre. We phoned ahead to see about reservations but they do not take reservations, at least for two, which most people going to the theatre need. So upon arrival when greeted by the hostess we requested a booth, she acted like she did not hear us. Then we again as going through the main seating area asked again for a booth and was told straight out "NO" even though 4 booths were open and there were plenty of "party of two" seated at booths. We were walked all the way back to a room by the kitchen that did not have even close to the same ambiance as the main part of the restaurant. It was eight tables cramped into a little room. We were right by the doorway so taking off your coat was even a chore because staff was moving in and out of the doorway. While I was hanging up my coat back in the hallway just outside this little room the hostess arrived with another couple to seat them in this little room. They took one look and said " nevermind we will go somewhere else to eat" so the hostess said "Wait!! I can find you a place in the main dining!" So is that what we had to do to get a decent seat? Why? What is their criteria? So moving on..the wait staff did well and was attentive but the quality of the food left a lot to be desired!! We ordered fish dishes. Maybe we should have stayed with pasta or pizza but even the salad dressing was out of a bottle. Most higher end places have homemade Blue Cheese dressing with great flavor and chunks of Blue Cheese but not this place. As far as the fish goes it was very bland and missing seasoning, which is crucial for fish. As far as the price goes it would be fair for most of the great places downtown but for no appetizer, one glass of wine and two fish dishes that were maybe 1 star out of 5 and no dessert spending $80 was out of line. To sum things up I believe this place knows their main patronage is theatre goers and has them trapped. They don't have to please people and the food just has to be edible.
(1)S M.
The food here is not good. Ordered the ceasar salad, eggplant parmigiana, calamari. The food is very bland.
(1)Lola S.
A friend and I stopped in after the Christkringle Mart. The bad: Cheesy decor and mediocre food. The 'salad' was a bed of greens and dressing. That's it. The lasagna was decent but nothing special. The good: Decent service. The staff was very attentive, from the busboys to the hostess to our waiter. Not worth the trip back.
(2)Erica S.
Enjoyable. Went here with some friends visiting per another friend's suggestion; him and his girlfriend really enjoy eating here. I thought it was good. We made a reservation the night of, only about two hours before, and they were able to get us in. When I walked in, we got shuffled right into our little spot for 6: in a corner table that was pretty separate from the rest of the restaurant. Very cozy, kind of small for six, especially if two in your party are over 5'10". It was nice though, a romantic interracial couple triple date (3 couples, all interracial). Got the spaghetti and meatballs and they were enjoyable; not as special as Rosebud's meatballs, but there was still great taste. I could have had a little bit more sauce on my pasta, but I'm kind of a saucy girl (in that I like sauce. I am saucy though.) I tried the canneloni that my friends got and the cream sauce was out of this world. Very good, and I am definitely not a cream sauce girl. That dish was so cheesy, so beware those who are lactose intolerant! My boyfriend got some pizza, which was also tasty. All in all, I'm not in this neighborhood enough to be all gung ho for it all the time, and I tend to try to eat where I am, so I won't be back here for awhile, but quite possibly for our interracial couple triple date
(3)Paul L.
Not EVERYTHING was bad here but the food docked at least a star and a half. Ambiance: Meh. This is like graduating from Olive Garden and coming into the city for the first time. Service: Great. Our server and host were prompt and polite Food: I'd go back to Olive Garden first. There was plenty of food but the quality was sub-par. I had the Italian Antipasto for an appetizer and it was one little piece of cheese, one shrimp, few meats and piled with olives. Presentation aside, it tasted as if it was all made the night before and left in the fridge until "order up!" Cannelloni for the main dish. I'd rather drink dirty bathwater. The cream sauce was so thick it started to congeal so I ended up eating a few bites of someone's lasagna, which was pretty good. At the end of the day, I won't be coming here again.
(2)Penny M.
I love the layout and atmosphere of The Village (upstairs restaurant). When you walk in it's as if you're walking down a street in Italy. There are strings of lights decorating the walls which makes it look lovely. Make sure you ask for a private bungalow when being seated. You'll have your own little private space. The food is great, depending on what you order. It also is not consistent. Something you can't go wrong with is the Three Cheese Tortelli- my favorite and is always so yummy!!! The lasagna is hit or miss. I go here at least once a year to celebrate my anniversary. Perfect ambiance for private parties or anniversaries.
(4)Adam M.
I have walked by this place so many times and thought it looked interesting I recently stopped by when my friend was visiting from Spain. We chose the restaurant/menu on the first floor. Since we were there for lunch we both enjoyed a half portion of pasta and it was more than enough (and almost half the price!). My friend really enjoyed the atmosphere and was pleasantly surprised when both the server and host spoke Spanish (she speaks fluent English, but has spent the last two years in Spain and was happy to rely on her native language). Overall the food was great and very well-priced for the area. Perfect portions!
(4)Maurice B.
First of all, if you've never been to Chicago before, be prepared for 20% sales tax. The overall experience was good. Our hotel recommended it as being a family friendly place. We called and were given reservations within a half hour. Once at the restaurant, we were seated quickly, given prompt service, and had a good waiter. Having a 3 year old with us made the experience a little hectic at times, but we were taken care of. The maitre-d visited our table several times, each time to talk with our little girl. She enjoyed that. Having said that, the food at Italian Village was mediocre at best. I found that my dish (lobster fettuccine) was limiting in flavor. I also had the minestrone soup, again lacking in a little flavor. Don't get me wrong, the lobster was good, I was just expecting more "pop". My daughters food was good, and my wife enjoyed her risotto. One issue was that she wanted to substitute shrimp for chicken, to which the waiter said there would be a small up charge. That up charge was 10$, a little more than what it should have been in my opinion. The tiramisu was good. Overall, we didn't drink and the bill was over 80$. The main dishes were 25-30$ each, a little high, but then again, this is Chicago, and they gotta pay the bills. Even with the friendly service, I don't think I'd go back on my next trip.
(3)Katie K.
Personally, I LOVE the ambiance of this place. The lighting and noise level are perfect for conversation...and it is quite romantic. I've been here multiple times: pre-theater, random weekday dinner, for appetizers while I'm just walking around downtown, weekend lunch, etc. Each time I am satisfied and I especially recommend the grilled calamari as an appetizer - I probably crave it at least once a week. If you go pre-theater it obviously helps to have a reservation but, often, they can squeeze you in at the bar which is also a pleasant experience. The bartenders are friendly and helpful and, overall, the whole staff knows how to time your meal so you'll still make it to the show.
(4)Chris S.
Embarrassingly bad(zero stars). My wife and I went to Italian Village tonight for dinner. The last time we were there was nearly 10 years ago. We both had fond memories of the food and atmosphere so we figured we'd revisit. What a mistake. When the highlight of the meal is the coffee, you know something's wrong. Our two entrees were both terrible with no flavor, bad presentation and a worse-than-processed flavor. Plus the room we were in was brightly lit with a huge tv. Had we had this experience 10 years ago, who knows? maybe our relationship wouldn't have lasted. It's for sure though that we have gone; now we definitely won't. They should be ashamed of themselves for the food that felt so apathetic.
(1)Gina G.
If you looking for a place with charm and personality, you've got it here! We started off with the bread and olive oil. We asked the waiter for some fresh basil and crushed red pepper to sprinkle on our oil....perfetto! We ordered from the specials, chicken risotto and fish. Each bite was savory. The service was exceptional. The manager roamed the floor checking on tables welcoming the guests. We felt very welcomed and that our business was appreciated.
(4)Ashley S.
Oh, I've got to give The Italian Village the full 5 stars! I've been here quite a few times, as it's near my apartment, and I am never disappointed. The food is reasonably priced, especially for the great quality. The staff has never been anything but polite, even when I have come in wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. I usually get the lasagna with the baked cheese on top (SO GOOD. and a little secret, it's even better left over...and I usually don't even really like pasta reheated- so save a little bit for the next day), but the last time I went there, we went out on a limb and asked them if we could get spaghetti carbonara even though we didn't see it on the menu. The waiter said, "sure, no problem" and brought out the most DELICIOUS carbonara I have ever had in my life. Oh my. I am getting hungry just thinking about it right now. Additionally, the cheesecake is amazing, and my friends got the tiramisu and the cannoli, and they both really liked each of them. Also, I just have to add, how do they manage to make plain chicken broth taste so good???? Honestly, if you enjoy Italian food, I don't really know how you can't like this place. Great food, good price, very nice and efficient staff. Even better, I've never made a reservation and I still have yet to wait at all for a table, Hopefully I can go back sometime soon! Highly recommended for dates, friends, and family :)
(5)Jon C.
I would go here again for a drink and an appetizer but think we could have done better somewhere else for actual dinner. The ambiance is great and there are three different restaurants making up the "village"- so get a drink and go to all three floors and sample a little bit of everything. Minestrone soup wasn't the best, bread could have been better, and the eggplant was cut too thick. The chicken dish with sausage and potato's was OK, and the spumoni wasn't the best... Again the ambiance is great and this should be a place everyone should visit once....
(2)Carl H.
There are three levels at this restaurant. Each level has a different menu and price range. This review is for the upper level of the Italian Village on a Saturday afternoon at 4pm. We walked in and were asked how many. He stated they had a table available but we would have to be done by 5:30pm. I understand that they probably had reservations booked but to limit the time we had in the restaraunt by telling us seemed a bit rude. The place was very busy and so was the turnover rate. Our waiters were attentive and I felt there was no issue here. I ordered the Chicken Rotolini (chicken stuffed with sausage, prosciutto, and sage with a mushroom sherry sauce. It was served with fettucini alfredo. The meal itself was mediocre. Nothing stood out about this meal that would make me want to come back. As I mentioned with the busy atomosphere they were cleaning our table off while we were still eating. As soon as my plate was finished it was gone. The busboy was reaching over the table to remove silverware that we were not using and just being a nuisance. We stopped here because it was after the Christkindl Market and we had a taste for Italian food. It was convenient, probably price appropriate for the area, but overpriced for the quality of the food.
(2)Flor O.
I love Italian food ! ate here with some co-workers and had a very good time. The private enclosed dinning tables are a plus! Very good restaurant to come celebrate an anniversary or come on a first date.
(4)Jackie P.
Love it! Just love it! Special orders? Yes please! Good food? Yes of course! I was thoroughly impressed with my food at the Italian Village. However, I was not impressed with my waiters knowledge of the wine list or wine on it for that matter. He didn't even poor the glasses right. We had five people at the table and he only poured 4.5 glasses. Ummm I'm too cute to do math but this isn't adding up to me. I loved our booth, hidden in a little corner and I loved the unlimited bread with EVOO (so bad for you but so good!)! I loved my meal. I had the seafood pasta with alfredo sauce. It was soo sweet and savory that it was order to finish it. The sauce was super yummy to. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. I must admit I felt pretty damn important in my corner booth with my wine and my friends. I enjoy that feeling and I enjoyed that the waiter let my indulge a little. This was the kind of lunch in the Loop that I have been waiting for!
(4)Sara V.
Okay first let me prejudice this review by saying that I went here on a particularly lovely first date. If I hadn't been enjoying the company so much, I may have given Italian Village only 3 stars. I'll start with the food. I had the whitefish which was delicious. He had the veal which I wasn't a huge fan of but he seemed to enjoy. Calamari appetizer was okay (I've had better. In Omaha no less) and the shrimp was, well, shrimp. Dessert, however, was AMAZING. We shared a tiramisu and I have to say (hands down, cross my heart and hope to die, hot damn) that it was the best I have EVER had. I swear they must import their cream. No way in hell did that come from anywhere in the US. Yummy. I'm still drooling over it almost 2 weeks later. Now the decor. Very cute. Intimate-ish. Thumbs up. But the service. It wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't spectacular. Our server didn't really pay that much attention to us. And I'm not talking about the "coming by the table every two minutes" attention. He just didn't seem to care that much. Not that I cared too much either. I was busy having an actual conversation with a member of the male species. I would probably go back. If I wasn't paying. And I was with someone who didn't mind me licking the souffle dish that the tiramisu came in.
(4)Kate P.
Awesome atmosphere--or, the potential. I wished the waitstaff wouldn't have been grouped up near our table almost the entire meal--they were speaking constant spanish--so distracting. The service wasn't too great. The house bread and breadsticks were disapointing--. Seems authentic Italian shouldn't skimp on bread. All that said, my seafood ravaloi was delicious. I love perfectally cooked shrimp and scallops. I won't go back because there are lots of other yummy Italian places to try! Though, I might take my parents back when they come to town so they can eat in one of the cubby tables just to see what it's like.
(2)Anna B.
If you think Maggiano's is fine dining and you think the Loop is the hotspot of the Chicago restaurant industry, then Italian Village is the place for you. My parents love this restaurant, and I love my parents, so I go to Italian Village on occasion. The food isn't very good, the service is basic, yet the place is constantly packed. Last time around I ordered the mussels in marinara sauce as an appetizer and a large grilled chicken salad for dinner. The mussels were rubbery and tasted fishy. The chicken salad appeared to have hunks of romaine mixed in with the standard baby greens (arugula, spinach, etc), which was an odd flavor combination. It also had orange wedges in it, and the seeds had not been taken out of the oranges. Blegh. Their extensive wine list leaves plenty of options for those of you who want to add a $100+ bottle of wine to your unappetizing meal, but if you want a decent, more reasonably priced wine, you will have to spend several minutes with the menu as I did. I finally settled on a $30 bottle of cote du rhone, which was quite good. I'm giving one star for this bottle of wine, which is the only way I could possibly make it through the meal.
(1)Matt P.
I think the Italian Village is pretty consistent, and usually wind up taking my parents before going to theater shows. No one really complains, and the fact that I can decompress with $8 glasses of wine helps.
(4)Thigh C.
7 stars to be exact! I think it's the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago so yes, we have to try... My brother celebrated his birthday here and it's such a dining experience. From service (yes, best service), great food I mean GREAT. From appetizer to dessert, impeccable. Portion is not too little or too much and that makes it a lot better. Fyi, there are 3 restaurants under this one roof and we chose "The Village" because they serve family style.
(5)Kristina M.
Great pasta and great wine. I love how the top floor makes you feel like you are eating in the streets of Italy and really like the atmosphere. Some of the tables are set up facing Micro systems or the dish pans, which is something no one wants to look at while eating. But also could be a lot worse. Amazing food!
(4)Mary S.
OoooooooHHHHHHH, Al Capone ate here. lol How exciting. There are three restaurants inside the Italian Village. We ate at the "La Cucina" which is in an old wine cellar. Very intriguing. We had "Az Night" here while in town for the NEA convention. Since it was a preset/prepaid menu I can't really comment on the menu choices or prices. We had a selection of three entrees to choose from. I had Tortelli, my friend had a chicken pasta dish, and my other friend had lasagna. The food was very good. The lasagna was one of the best I have ever had! The chef impressed me by coming to the table personally. He wanted to cook a gluten free meal for one of our group. What annoyed us was that the original predetermined menu was changed and no one knew why. It all worked out though since the chef made her a special meal. She said it was very good. I did not taste it since it involved eggplant. YUK! All else was fine. We took over the restaurant so service was a tad slow but not bad considering the number of people in there. All in all a lovely night out here and at the Oriental theater.
(4)Avery S.
I had a friend in town from Atlanta and we asked around for a good Italian place in the loop. We ended up at the upstairs restaurant and waited an hour, no big deal, usually that means people like the food and want to eat there. We sat at the bar for awhile and drank some decent wine and talked to the amusing bartender before being sat at the smallest most cramped table I've ever sat at. I honestly don't know how the waiters move around without spilling food all over everyone but they somehow manage it. Maybe they come from a long line of genetically altered Italian waiters or something. Anyways, I loved it. The intensely crowded restaurant gave it a very authentic feel and we were close enough to coherently hear the next table talking about transsexual strippers and such so we enjoyed the free entertainment while we ate. For me the atmosphere already made the night, but the food was scrumptious as well. I had the cannelloni with the pink sauce as the waiter suggested and it was divine. Instead of the usual pasta, it was rolled in a freshly made crepe, very interesting. It reminded me of my Italian uncle's cooking. My dinner companions also liked their entrees, although they were both pretty hungover and couldn't fully enjoy them. They brought the leftovers back to my place and left them in the fridge....bonus! If you don't mind waiting and enjoy authentic Italian food and atmosphere, stop by here. I love Italian so if anyone knows a better place let me know.
(4)Jenny T.
Mmm, mmm, mmm...I can't get enough of the Italian Village. Everything from the atmosphere to the waitstaff to the food makes me melt with delight. I'm not even kidding. Sometimes I find myself completely relaxed in one of their dimly lit booths savoring each & every bite or drink of whatever it is I have decided upon. I generally get some sort of chicken dish, but not the chicken parm. Sometimes chicken parm is just too much sauce, chicken, cheese, everything! I like lighter & more seasoned dishes. It takes much more skill & experience to make these types of dishes. Their pasta is always a good choice, but they are large portions & I generally can't stop myself from trying to devour the whole thing. This leads to no room for dessert, which is always a shame. There is a meal/combo deal here with soup or salad, entree, and dessert. I generally get this deal & enjoy a cup of decaf & taste of spumoni ice cream before heading back to my place. It may not be the most authentic Italian food (hell I lived there for months), but it is something just warms the heart & makes the company you're with seem even more lovely.
(5)Kim B.
This is a great Chicago restaurant - the food is delicious and the history of the restaurant is enough to make it worth a trip. The last time I was there, my sister and I split a delicious 4-cheese pizza at the bar. We were trying to get in and out before showtime and the staff was accommodating to our needs and requests. The service is always super friendly and quick. It's great for lunch or dinner - the location is also ideal if you are catching a show at the LaSalle Bank Theatre. The restaurant is actually 3 restaurants in one, so there is something for everyone!
(4)Amanda M.
The Italian Village is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago! When I lived in VA a few years ago, I saw a show on Food Network that featured the Village (the host ate the lasagna and the tiramisu which looked heavenly!), and when I moved to Chicago three years ago, I of course had to dine here! It so did not disappoint! There are actually three different restaurants that make up the Italian Village (one on each floor), and each one specializes in a different type of Italian cuisine. We have only eaten at the one on the second floor (actually called The Village). We've had a few dishes there, but I keep going back for the lasagna and the tiramisu. Let me be clear- i do not like tiramisu at all, but this is completely different than any other tiramisu I've ever had. It is not at all overwhelmingly espresso flavored, and whatever cream they use in it is just heavenly. We've brought a few non-tiramisu loving people here, and they all agree! Highly recommend stopping in! The don't take reservations for parties smaller than 6, I believe.
(5)rongrong z.
The atmosphere is great, private space for 4 or 6 party, Nice layout and decoration,, The food is ok, but they replace the menu with something special for every week. Had a mushroom festival yestoday I went there, love it!
(4)Beep H.
I can't believe I'm forced to give this place a star. I'm pretty sure I was lied to about anything being vegan. Our pasta was drenched in a liquid I naively assumed was water (I don't know why...), but later turned out to be the oil that was separating from the sauce. The rest of the oil was found in a half inch pond under my food. I literally ate a cup of oil for lunch. I decided I'd take the rest home to salvage it somehow, again a naive move, as four feet out the door the oil solidified into some disgusting fat/butter neon orange solid. I imagine this is what my blood vessels now look like. The take out bag DRIPPED with half liquid/half solid oil. We paid $45 for white pasta with tomato paste and five cups of oil. Please don't go here unless you hate your body. Oh, and they sat us down in some cave like booth, which originally seemed cool, until we realized it was where the waiters get place settings at. I was four inches from every waiters butt, who, by the way, were really creepy.
(1)Lanell T.
My sister and I had a TERRIBLE experience here. We had to wait in a long line at the door. Not a problem. When the host came to the back of the line to seat us ahead of others, I thought this was rather strange. When we arrived at our booth near the dark, loud, smoky bar, it all became quite clear. The booth seats had MASSIVE HOLES. Springs were POPPING OUT OF THE SEATS. I couldn't believe it! I told my sister this must be a joke! When our waitress arrived to take our order, I demanded to be seated in a better booth! The host reappeared, looking very sheepish because he had been CAUGHT trying to pull a fast one. I will NEVER return to this restaurant.
(1)Richie D.
For all the history, positive reviews, and location, this place's decor and ambiance is stellar yet the food is HORRIBLE!
(1)Sylvia I.
Cozy atmosphere and good food. I got the caprese salad for appetizer which was pretty good, and then the lasagna which is flagged as a house specialty. The lasagna was good and I had enough for leftovers. For dessert, I got the tiramasu and tried a bite of the mousse and both were a bit too rich. Would get the cannoli next time. Service was great though -- our waiter was very attentive. To qualify why I only gave 3 stars: While the lasagna was good, it wasn't SPECTACULAR so I wouldn't crave or make a special effort to come back...which is why it didn't make 4 stars. I also think that my husband can make a better home-made lasagna so I not sure again that I would go out of my way to come here again especially since they said the lasagna was their house specialty.
(3)Annette R.
We went to see a broadway show and the Village was located nearby. My husband ordered a antipasto along with his veal dish. The antipasto had 3 pieces of italian lunch meat, one shrimp , six olives and one half of an hard boiled egg. His veal dish was tough , polenta was good. I had a eggplant dish that was good. Staff was good but, the restaurant needed to be cleaned up , way too dark!
(2)Al W.
Service was a little slow but wait staff was very nice and helpful, food was better than I could imagine!
(4)Bobby B.
My family and I frequent the Italian Village every chance we get. Amazing food, wonderful ambiance and old school service. A must try!
(5)Tom L.
We stumbled upon the Village before going to a show at the Caddilac Theatre...it was a great find. The service was attentive but not pushy, the food was authentic but not overdone, and the experience was great. The atmosphere was crowded and loud, but not overpowering. The wine list wasn't phenomenal, but was adequate, the menu was not expansive but covered the Italian basics I grew up on, and my whole party agreed it was wonderful! We'd definitely go back again...and try to book in advance and get a private room!
(4)Dean K.
We order here a lot for work and they have a pretty good track record for screwing it up. They leave the cheese off of the baked pasta, forget the salads, forget the side of the pasta with the chicken or veal dishes, and they never offer to make amends of any kind except, OK, we'll bring it later. Like I want my salad an hour after I'm done with my entree. The pizza is good though and saves this restaurant from a single star.
(2)Kista W.
I love eating upstairs at Italian Village. The meatballs are so good. And, some of the best bread and olive oil with parmesan cheese in the city. (Same at all three restaurants within the village). The food isn't the best in the city, but it is good, and the atmosphere and history of it all makes this a must try in the Chi. Huge meatballs too.
(4)Irina H.
We had a family birthday lunch here, and even though the restaurant was half empty for a Saturday afternoon, they seated us right next to the waiter's station, so we were constantly listening to silverware and glasses clinking. We were rushed into ordering and then the waiter got our order wrong. At the end of the meal, he didn't ask if we wanted dessert or coffee - all we got was dessert because he didn't even stick around long enough for us to say "and coffee . . ."
(2)Janet E.
This place is only ok. There is nothing spectacular about the food. There are other authentic Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(3)Mary X.
Went here on a Friday night. First, it smells a bit musty when you enter the place. I do think the decorations are cute, but the food is really mediocre. Especially for the price ($15-20ish per entree), the food doesn't taste good. It's more greasy, oily food. Also, after we ordered non-alcoholic drinks, our waitress was completed zoned out. I don't even think she smiled at all during any of the times she came to our table. We had a bill for about $50 for 2 entrees and a coke, and I consider it a real waste of money. There were a lot of groups there, so maybe the restaurant does a good job accommodating bigger groups, but if you are looking for a place with good tasting food, this is not it.
(2)Yao L.
I went to The Village, on the second floor. The food was a 2, but I'll give them a 3 for the overall experience. Appetizer: garlic bread baked with cheese. This was probably the best item we ordered, and it was pretty tasty. Just what it sounds like, with plenty of additional cheese on top. Salad with Italian dressing, came with entree: Generic and bland, and the dressing wasn't mixed well with the salad (and I had asked for dressing on the side, which they forgot). There was one tomato slice in the entire salad. Someone else in the group got soup and said it was good, but I didn't try the soup. Three cheese tortelli: This was fine, but it wasn't as flavorful as I'd expected. Also, I wish the dish had come out hotter. Others in the group ordered lasagna (too heavy and not very good) and Rotolini di Pollo (didn't try it, but the person who ordered it didn't like it or the pasta it came with). Tiramisu: This was okay. The cream-to-cake ratio was too high and made the whole thing a little too sweet. We did finish the entire dessert, though. It was served in a round dish, kind of like how you'd be served souffle in a ramekin.
(3)Mike R.
We went before five and food was served promptly and hot. Decor is a caricature, bar area is crowded. Food is OK.
(2)Sharlene K.
The pasta is very much standard southern Italian-American fare. Nothing exciting or done particularly well. Nothing you can't get in a pizzeria and I can think of pizzerias with more exciting pastas. Very Americanized and like most Americanized Italian food, everything is better with more and more cheese and more and more portions. All myths and stereotypes - egg noodles and ketchup per Goodfellas' witness protection program. Whoever said this place was like going to Italy needs to actually go to Italy. The atmosphere and decor is like the stage setting for the "It's a Small World" ride at Disney world complete with faux roofing above your tables. Mind you, that's not a bad thing, just an observation. I think it's one of the best ways to relax in the Loop by making you feel like when you step inside, you completely forget what you left outside, but it is NOT like going to Italy. The service is hit or miss. Their wait staff in general isn't very consistent with service. People always try to theorize why the service is bad and then some say it's outstanding. I just say it's a gamble as to what happens to you.
(2)Christina K.
After a downtown event, my little band and I were confronted with the classic conundrum of Loop dining--all the good stuff is on the other sides of the river's forks. So, we marched along, pondering, when we were reminded that Italian Village is still there. For me, this was a bit of a trip down memory lane--Italian Village was on the short list of places you wanted to wind up on a date back in the '80s, and back when it represented the upper limit of a place a student could afford for a nice date. Add in the dark interior, the semi-rustic paintwork, and facets like the wonderfully enclosed semi-private cubbies, and it held its charms back in the day, certainly. So, hungry and in need to come to a decision, we gave Italian Village a shot. As decisions go, it wasn't disappointing. I got a chicken special that involved a half-bird slathered in green olives and sun-dried tomatoes that was quite tasty, and looking around, the boys seemed to enjoy their pasta and veal. It wasn't exceptional, but neither was it overly expensive, so if you're caught in a spot and can't take the time to make your way to something trendier, it's a still-solid place to grab a bite.
(3)Frank R.
In a word: DISGUSTING Follow-up word: CREEPY (maitre d'; and owner or manager) Final two words: STAY AWAY
(1)Kristen S.
Standard Italian fare at the Italian Village, and the ambiance is lacking (though feels like Old Chicago, certainly). We have had decent meals here but nothing spectacular to give it more than 3 stars. Definitely an institution and something you may want to try for lunch or dinner in the Loop.
(3)Kristin L.
Italian Village on Monroe, just say NO. My sister and I were just looking for a nicer place to eat before we went to go see a show at the Bank of America Theater, across the street. Thinking an hour and a half would be plenty of time, boy were we wrong! First they sat us all the way in the back of the restaurant, right next to the kitchen. It took them 15 min before we even got a menu. Then we had to wait another ten min just for our drinks (water). Food took over 45 mins to come to our table and we just ordered pasta. We expected some wonderful culinary masterpiece after it took that long, what we got was a few steps up from what you can make at home from a box. The wait staff was nice but they were slow. Yes thank you for filling my water glass 12 times but I'm hungry and water is not going to do it. Also if you are looking for a nice restaurant to take a date, this would not be the place. Well only if you wanted to dine with your grandparents. Let's just say the average age of the diners was 85. They might have 2 hours to dedicate to mushy pasta, but I don't. Horrible service and Blah food. Over priced too. Will not be back and would not recommend.
(2)Kati M.
I love this placed. My family has been coming here since I was a kid and I'm looking forward to bringing my son here as he grows up. Like a lot of people have mentioned, the first thing you notice is the atmosphere. As the oldest Italian Restaurant in Chicago, I don't think they've done much to change since they opened. The waitstaff is ridiculously attentive with a team of Captains and regular waiters. I highly recommend having a Captain's salad with your dinner, and like several of the other reviewers, I would encourage melted cheese on the pasta entree. They are also very enthusiastic about getting you what you want. If you prefer one sauce with a different pasta or meat, they are happy to work with you. While Italian Village does not have the most sophisticated Italian fare, if you are looking for a traditional old school supper club atmosphere that works for a date as well as a family meal, this is the place to go. When you make reservations, request a booth and enjoy your private dining experience. They also have a fairly comprehensive wine list.
(5)K. N.
The stuffed chicken breast I got was OK, but the gravy for it, meh. The pasta was a fettucine alfredo that could have been from Sbarro. The appetizer tray wasn't anything special. I did like their bread. All in all, too expensive, and low quality to boot.
(2)Robert M.
Last night I chose to go to the Italian Village for an early dinner before working that evening. I had not been there for some time but had thought that it would be a reliable spot for a decent meal. Usually one expects an Italian restaurant to at least serve properly prepared pasta, shockingly this was not the case. The pasta in my dish was not even as good as one would get out of a can! The description of the sauce made me think it would be light. Instead, it was an appalling goo, completely submerging the entire dish. To add insult to injury, the mushrooms on my plate obviously came from a can. I will never go back to this business again!
(1)Lisa F.
I started my new job two days before my birthday. I needed somewhere to go around my job for my birthday and my coworkers said to go here hands down. I looked it up online, saw the cute decor and that it was Italian. I had made Italian the night before so I wasn't really in the mood but it's my birthday and the place is so cute. Okay, that's where I'll go. I tell the husband to make reservations. He calls and they told him, no you won't need a reservation for 2 at 5:30 pm on a Thursday night. Okay. We arrived at 5:10 pm and there was already a wait! Hmm, ah well. Once our table was ready I was taken back by the ambiance. Oh my god, the place is so cute. I feel like I'm inside Disney World (I adore that place, FYI) so I feel like I'm at home. Oh, it's so so so cute! I made my own concoction of topping for the bread on the table. The basket didn't come with butter or anything so I used the olive oil, pepper, salt, and parmesan cheese on the table to make it edible. This worked nicely. For our appetizers I had a cup of the chicken broth with pasta and the hubs had a salad. Yeahhh, that chicken broth tasted like greasy water. Lalo's has this place beat by a land slide with chicken soup, lol. For my entree I had the tortelli. Wow. The three cheese jumbo ravioli were amazing. Very very very good. I ordered a meatball extra since I do adore meatballs. I didn't finish them; didn't much care for that at all. The husband had mostaciolli and sausage. He loved his. He was going on and on about how the sausage tasted like what his grandmother would make (Italians in S. Jersey). Ohhh, now see, I don't care for his grandmother's cooking, it's just tomato paste! And, that my friends is what the meat sauce tasted like, tomato paste. For food, hands down, I'd go back to Olive Garden. However, the reason for the 3 stars, ambiance alone. I haven't been to a nicer themed restaurant in Chi yet. This place reminds me of The Magic Time Machine in San Antonio. If we go back, I'll try the minestrone soup and maybe pizza. I just can't deal with their sauce.
(3)Lauren H.
I had been here for dinner a few times before and never been impressed (even ordering the same thing once before). However, I was taken here for lunch today and it was really good. We shared a cold and hot antipasto, which were decent. I had the whitefish al limone which was a good size portion and prepared very well. Then we shared the strati di chocolati--chocolate mousse with chocolate fudge cake-like pieces, with frangelico and brandy, topped with whipped cream. Very decadent, good to share (too rich to eat alone). We were seated in an alcove, so it was difficult to serve and clear, but I think they should have said excuse me before reaching across everyone's face, and should have made more of an attempt to avoid it (I finally started handing him the plates behind one lunch companion's back, so he would get the hint). It is not cheap though, so I would probably only go here for lunch if someone else treated.
(3)Niki C.
For an early dinner, my friend & I went here because my former boss used to (ok probably still does) come here nearly every day for lunch. Thought I'd check it out. After perusing the menus of the three separate but connected restaurants, we figured the biggest difference between the three was the print on the menus. We went upstairs. The ambiance was cozy & creative & I enjoyed that it wasn't your typical tables & chairs. Our waitstaff was attentive & pleasant enough when we asked questions. Truthfully, we were so hungry before we got out food that we ate more bread with olive oil than our actual meals. The salad that came with the meal was absolutely nothing special ... a basic iceberg lettuce & big eighths of a tomato type thing, which was disappointing. I ordered the Tortelloni, I believe. It was good, but the sauce left something to be desired. To be fair, however, they did heat up quite nicely as leftovers for lunch the next day.
(3)Nora B.
Love the thin crust pizza. I hadn't eaten at the Italian Village in years, but my parent's live in the loop and we got the best thin crust to go the other night!! I can't explain the packing container that makes it easy to carry, other than pure genius!!!! The pizza was hot, yummy, cheesy, and crispy in all the right places. The salad we ordered was great, too!! i'll have to return to dine-in to complete the review!!!
(5)Ali G.
My girlfriends and I were here on Saturday April 23, visiting from Los Angeles and had a very pleasant experience. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The service was so good we ended up staying there 3 hours!!! Thanks to the staff of Italian Village.
(5)Chiara H.
Eh. I'm an Italian food snob, and this place doesn't impress me all that much. Contrary to popular opinion, I personally find the atmosphere to be very UN-Italian-like. The decor is pretty much the most Italian thing in that restaurant. I've been there a few times (per the request of my friend, who's a huge fan), and the place still hasn't won me over. It must be because I come from an Italian family and I've been to Italy so I know what authentic Italian food tastes like. The food here is mediocre and can be best compared to Olive Garden. The last time I came here, I had clam pasta and it was gross. The clam was chewy and the pasta was dry. I noticed a weird trend: the waiters are always nice, but the waitresses are usually snobs. I would suggest other Italian places over this one.
(2)Tom T.
Just the way I love italian food; large portions, great flavor, authentic style dining room, and great service.
(5)Melissa P.
I love eating at Italian Village when I'm in Chicago. I'm surprised that some people rated this place really low but I guess people are picky sometimes. I am not saying they have the best Italian food, but I think they are better than the Olive Garden and I love the food there too. I just think Italian Village should be part of the Chicago experience if you are a tourist there. I took one of my friends there when I was showing her around town and she loved it. I always get the cheese tortelli or the lemon caper salmon but they are awesome. I've also had chicken fettuccine alfredo there before too. I think they are very reasonably priced for a restaurant downtown and the food you get is really good. I've only dined upstairs because I was told by a friend that the downstairs part is crappy but I don't know if I believe that with how nice and clean everything upstairs is every time I go in there. The waiters are always very polite and I never have to wait long to get my food. I would definitely recommend this place to tourists who want to have a romantic date night or just anyone who wants to taste Italian American cuisine because that is what this food is. I know because I grew up on Italian American food.
(5)Linnea B.
The ambiance is so old school - I love it! I really like how they have the cute little nooks for tables and the water wheel and funky old style Italian restaurant decor. Plus this is a fixture in downtown Chicago which makes it interesting anyway. The food was good if not spectacular, but just what I expected, good sauces and pasta. I tried a white sauce on half my pasta and a red sauce on the other half and enjoyed both. Overall a cozy dining experience and a nice change if you are getting "steaked" out. There are only so many steaks you can eat - even in Chicago!
(3)Daniel H.
This place has a great history and it shows. Its a very cozy type atmosphere with private booth or open table seating. The service was prompt, quick and overall great. The food was decent Italian, I wish I could say more because I really like the place, however, it is what it is. All in all, you should go at least once to make your own judgment.
(4)Dee W.
Wow - what a great place in the Loop and especially for pre-theatre dining! I love the different restaurants in the same 'village' and we ate at the Village upstairs and the decor was intimate yet fun and warm. We were catching the 7:30pm Wicked show afterwards and were seated almost immediately. Our food from appetizer to dessert came out within a 45 minute span and perfectly. If you get any pasta here from the bottom of the menu, you HAVE to get it baked with cheese - so good! We tried their lasagna, shrimp scampi and their Rotolini di Pollo. Everything was just amazingly good! Their dinner entrees come with soup or salad and for an additional $3.95, you get dessert and coffee/tea/milk, too (their Italian ice and spumoni was fantastic). Our service was impeccable and OH! If you have leftovers, you can leave them with the restaurant and pick it up after the show.
(4)Joanna L.
Not the type of place for a romantic date. It's very loud while the food was okay. I think the rooms are well decorated and very dark.
(3)Jef B.
The service here is so great, and the atmosphere is outstanding. The food was good, not the best Italian in the city, but very good if you want a nice meal in the Loop. Once I had lasagna here, about 5 years ago. I broke out in hives about an hour later and had to have an antihistamine injection in the hospital emergency room. I don't blame Italian village - it was probably some wheat in the pasta that I was allergic to. This has only happened once in my life, and I would love to know what caused it. Interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this. But I still love Italian village as a Loop dinner eatery.
(4)Carl B.
If you're a tourist who doesn't know Italian food, this is the place for you. It's a famous name and a money pit for tourists and suburbanites. They don't even know what al dente is. The alfredo is lumpy and could've been from a TV dinner. The sampler of meats, seafood and what not is very mediocre. I will give it this, though: it is pretty expensive. I'd be loath to recommend this place to an enemy.
(1)Richard D.
Ok, I gotta admit right off the bat that there is a lot of nostalgia here. I used to come here a lot when I lived in Chicago, and Mom worked dwntwn. This place is extremely familiar and brings back lots of memories. That said, we wouldn't keep coming back with each visit to town if it didn't offer something more than memories. We never eat upstairs... never have. Always in the Cantina (Grotto?), and it's atmosphere is just perfect. Yes, it's something out of Goodfellas, but so what...? That is part of the attraction. The other part of the attraction is the food. I have never had anything here that was bad. Never 5-star incredible, but always good to very good. The bar knows what a martini is, even if made with vodka. The traditional 'Italian' dishes (pasta's, parmesians, etc.) are exactly what you'd expect them to be. I had fish on my last visit, and it was perfect. The vegetables were cooked to perfection. The service was outstanding! Ok, it'a a little old fashioned, so if you're looking for swank or hip-hop go somewhere else. But if you're looking for comfort and good food... this is your place. Do Lunch. Enjoy!
(4)Daniil V.
You Should: Stay Away Sizzle: Say NO to mediocrity Juice: Service was slow, sausage & peppers were good but not great. Meh, too many choices to waste time here. Check Please: $$
(2)Jen M.
What a cute little place. It totally channels a charming Italian Village. Great dimly lit atmosphere but not overly romantic. Good thing because I was there with 3 other girls! The tomato sauce is very good. The meatballs left a little bit to be desired (I don't like that overly sausage taste to meatballs). Service was quick and efficient.
(4)Kraig K.
Nothing special and the prices, including the specials, are high at lunch. The chicken noodle soup had no chicken in it and the bread was kind of hard. A good portion came for my entree of spaghetti and meatballs but it was light on sauce and nothing special. It wasn't bad and the service was good, but I know I can do better.
(2)Escape C.
I love this place!!! My family has been going here for over 30 years. Everything is always amazing, and the service is impeccable. Andre and Frank are amazing and always cater to our every whim. We are always treated like family and will be enjoying this place for another 30 years to come. You must try the rigatoni with ground chicken tomato sauce (my fav), the steaks are amazing, and NEVER skimp on dessert!!!! Oh and tomato fest is the best!!!
(5)Jason P.
People rave and rave about this place..and I wonder why. They did not get a 4 star rating from me because the service and food just missed the mark. You can get better by going to other Italian restaurants in the city. I would say...just gets by. We had one experience where they seated us in the back room because we had a larger party and they seemed to forget about us. Seems to be a tourist trap along with a pre-theater crowd, and business people trying to have conversation. I was also not a fan of walking up the long flight of stairs.
(3)T S.
I wanted to go here for a birthday lunch for two, but they wouldn't take a reservation for less than 3. I know this place is always crowded, so a walk-in lunch celebration wouldn't be a positive experience. We'll go someplace else. Too bad. I was interested in checking out the swell decor.
(2)Alex A.
My fiancee and I love going to this romantically quaint restaurant. It has great food and great atmosphere, especially if you're looking to take someone special on a date. Enjoy!
(4)Bethany L.
My department took me here today for lunch because it was the last day of my internship. They had all been there before, but I hadn't. My boss was surprised that it was packed at lunch hour, but we had made a reservation and my supervisor had told them to put us somewhere quiet so we could chat. We got our own little coved booth! It was really neat, and there was even a button to press when we needed our waiter. Don't think we didn't use that to full effect. The ambiance here is very old school, it has a very '50s supper club vibe to it. Unfortunately, the food is only okay. One of my favorite things about Italian restaurants is bread & olive oil, but both of those were mediocre here. The ranch on my salad dressing was very watery, and my "pollo al limon" (chicken with lemon) was good, but a bit on the tart side; there was way too much lemon used in the sauce and not nearly enough cream. It was also pretty expensive, especially for lunch. Still, it seems like it'd be a great place to stop in after the opera or a show downtown. Reservations definitely recommended, though.
(3)John H.
I like Italian Village. I have been going there 30 years. The location is what makes it work most for me. The broiled squid is so delicious we order two for appetizers. Had a small dinner party here last night and it was in the Cantina (the lower level). If you want the place all to yourself make reservations just before show time and you'll have the whole place to yourself. It is intimate and small on elbow room. The village will do for a bigger group (upstairs). The eggplant Parmesan was excellent, the salads passable and the garlic dressing needs an update. The chicken Marsala was very good and stood out. The lasagna was good and large, but again, nothing special.The food is good Italian fair, but nothing to wright home to mom about. Finally, the service is OK, but strange as we kept getting different people and our waiter did not seem to speak English well. I hate leaving a 20% tip for average service and is a reason I frequent the Village less and less these days. Speed, joy and interest in your joy is what any dinner should demand. And remember, dinner for two works for the space in the Cantina, but six is to much for this space. Valet parking is excellent and only $10. Wine list is excellent and reasonably priced.
(3)Evann G.
I'm upping my review to four stars after having eaten here quite a few times. The food is not exactly groundbreaking, but it's good and hearty and comforting. (Example: The tortelli tre formaggi, which sounds pretty fancypants, is basically just cheese ravioli. But it's GOOD cheese ravioli.) The service is great, the wine is great, and the ambiance is the best. You do feel like you're hanging out in a cozy little Italian village. I love the decor. This is a fun place to come with a group, and all my friends love it.
(4)Dario C.
Totally meh. Minestrone was bland. I make better pasta at home, no problem. And they need a new water and/or ice machine filter; the water tasted like chlorine. Ambiance is cute, for sure, but the food just doesn't measure up.
(2)Mattine G.
Wow! The food is fantastic! I had the pumpkin ravioli with sage butter this evening. It was AMAZING!! The restaurant is very unique and has some great ambience.
(5)Robert S.
The food is average. I realize this place has some history and the ambiance which is why I return. So many better Italian restaurants if you're really in it for the food. Portions and service are always above par.
(3)Robert M.
Went last night, sat at the bar downstairs. Excellent services. Had the caparse salad (excellent tomota and mozzarella) Had the special (Pasta with Osso Buco). Great. Had the choclate dessert , one of the best dessert I have tried. Overall give it a shot! The oldest Italian resturant in the city.
(5)Nikki S.
Have dined here on multiple occassions. They are great for getting you in and out fast if you are catching a meal before a show. It is a small space but their food and service are great. I suggest reservations because the Cadillac Theater is located nearby so they get a huge crowd on afternoons/evenings of performances.
(4)Jolie R.
We made reservations at La Cantina for Sunday at 5:30, but when we got there a little earlier after the theatre let out, we went up to the Village and they seated us right away in the Opera Room (small room in the back with running Opera performances quietly on the flat screen). We were totally fine with that, and when we found out that La Cantina's reservation system had lost all the Sunday reservations, we were more than fine because we made a quick decision not to wait outside until La Cantina opened! They had to apologize to quite a few folks and didn't give anything away (like dessert or a free drink), which was cool with us since we got in before the madding crowd. We've been to the Village before and love the food and the ambiance and vowed to come back and try another one of the restaurants...oh well. We started out with grilled calamari - it was SO delish; we were worried there may be too much garlic in it.....but it really wasn't. the calamari was fresh and tender - enough to share for two people bent on grabbing for the gusto with their pointy forks. Hubby ordered the ravioli with sausage and marinara, but they brought him ravioli with meatballs in a spicy sauce. The maitre de noticed right away, but hubby decided to dig into the plate in front of him anyway. He was glad, too -- said the meal was terrific. It was enough for him to take about 1/2 of it home, which we polished off or dinner a few nights later. I got the Agnolloti al Pomodoro E Basilica, which is cheese/spinach ravioli in a tomato basic sauce - perfecto! The pasta was tender, the sauce dark and rich and the filling was cheesy/spinach, one of my favorites! The service was really good, given how crazy everything got with the restaurant problem downstairs. The bread could have been warm, but who am I to complain when everything else was yummy to the tummy! We still want to try La Cantina.
(5)Christian B.
Had lunch here with colleagues and the clam linguine was atrocious. Horrible.My colleagues shrimp pasta was equally bad as was the fish my other colleague ordered.
(1)Linsey C.
This cozy little Italian treasure will surely satisfy your craving for intimacy. I would rate the Hospitality as A+. However, the food was more like B-. I have definitely had much better italian food...and at much more reasonable prices. It is not entirely too expensive; I just don't feel that the food we ordered was worth the price we paid for it. However, the awesome wait staff and incredible hospitality surely made up for it. I think that the best thing I had at the Italian Village was the delicious cappuccino...which doesn't say much for an Italian restaurant...oh well. Unless I am only in the mood for a great cappuccino or some alcoholic beverages amidst a cozy, intimate atmosphere, I won't go back to the Italian Village. In my opinion, I can get much better Italian food for much better prices at a "million" other restaurants in the Chicago area.
(3)Tracy K.
I had a good time here the other night. A big group of us sat in the bar and only had apps and drinks. Our bartender, Scott, made sure we were well taken care of. I would like to come back for dinner. And whoever said that the decor is like "Its a Small World" meets Italian restaurant totally hit the nail on the head. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
(4)Laura G.
I've visited Chicago twice already, and more than likely I will go back at least once more. When I do, I WILL go back to the Italian Village. When you come in from the street entrance, you have to take the stairs on the right to get to the restaurant. It is small and busy, and, yes, the decor is cheesy: the lighting and decorations are supposed to make you feel like you're in a real Italian Village ... more like Disney, but whatever. The food was great (I had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken.) It was flavorful, with a very creamy and smooth texture, and was obviously made by individuals who knew what they were doing; these weren't dishes that were made using step-by-step instructions taped to the wall. But the REAL reason why I know I will go back is the customer service. I had never eaten somewhere where the staff, upon request, was more willing to satisfy our needs. Here's the story: My mother and father are wheat and gluten intolerant, which can make eating out difficult. Even though the restaurant hasn't finalized the gf menu, they will serve the gluten-free dishes they have. So, we mention their allergies, and the waiter says "Ok, let me see what's available tonight." Then the guy comes out with the Executive Chef! HE was the one who took our order! (If you know how hectic it can be cooking in a restaurant kitchen, you'll know that this was kind of a big thing.) We talked with the waiter and the chef as if they were our friends; they were very personable and honestly interested in the conversation. In a nutshell, he told us "Don't worry. We can give you whatever you want." And they did. :) We basically got a custom meal. Not a bad attitude from the host, the waiter, or the bus boy. It was a wonderful experience.
(5)Joscelyn M.
Not bad. Not my mom's cooking and not the best Italian in the city, but all the entrees are good, standard Italian fare. The real Italian cheesecake, though, was the best part. I'll be thinking about it...
(3)Nikkie H.
I had been dying to eat at Italian Village for the longest time, because I heard good things from my roommates. I tried to drag my boyfriend there for months, but he kept insisting it wasn't good at all. Boys, what do they know? Right? WRONG! We ate downstairs because the wait was a bit shorter. It was quite dark and we sat in a very narrow area. The couple at the table next to us were on their first, and last, date, and they were arguing a bit too loud for my taste. The food was so-so, but I did enjoy my two glasses of Pinot Grigio (yum). I definitely will not go back during a weekend, but I can see how it would be convenient if you work downtown.
(3)Kathleen C.
I love the Village (upstairs). Fun ambience (decorated to look like an Italian Village) and good service. We had our rehearsal dinner here and it was affordable and family friendly (although our table was a bit cramped). Not a fan of Vivere. We had horrible service there, and thought we saw a bug once. Ugh.
(3)Allison B.
Good, basic italian. The atmosphere is cute and nice for dates in the little alcoves. They also have a nice bar area. The chicken vesuvio is DELICIOUS! Big show crowd, if you go after 7 it's easier to get a table.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
DO NOT GO THERE!!! Horrible food across the three restaurants. Would it kill them to use at least a fresh herb or something so people don't realize they are eating frozen food?. You can tell that everything is FROZEN from SAMS or COSTCO. Nothing was fresh at all, I guess I cook better at home by adding fresh garlic and real olive oil or natural butter. We ordered the eggplant parmiggian and it was basically three slices of eggplant battered with egg and some bland sauce on top awful just awful. We also ordered the angiolottie and OMG it was just like frozen pasta from COSTCO with sauce from a jar and even the basil was from a tube or jar (only God knows). Also the "vegetables side" was simply frozen. Please DO NOT GO there!! No wonder it was a saturday night and the place was not busy at all. Maybe it is a tourist trap but as a native Chicagoan I would like to help you and just save you money. Go to the McDonald's across the street and you will be more satisfied.
(1)A B.
Can I give this no stars?! It was GOD AWFUL. To be fair we ate in the bottom restaurant but still we paid over $50 for food that tasted like it came straight from a Lean Cuisine box. No lie it was that bad. I would never in a million years come back to this place. Gross. The soup tasted like it was water with a splash of chicken broth with a noodle, my boyfriends "steak" looked like a hamburger, and so on. Nothing was even slightly decent tasting.
(1)Andy C.
I would like to give this place 2.5 stars, as i feel it is better than just a 2 star but not quite up to a 3. But i gave it a 3 because maybe it was closer to a 2.6 than a 2.4? Our experience here was OK. Saturday night, and the place was busy. We got seated and ordered the grilled calamari appetizer to start with. It was actually pretty good. Nice big squid, and semi tender even, which is rare for places in Chicago. So a good start to our meal. Our waiter was very nice and attentive, if a bit slow to come around and check on us. But we were in no hurry, so it was no big deal. My wife and i got the same thing, which we hardly ever do, and that was a big mistake. I think it was fettucini with a cream sauce aiwth lobster. Sounded SO good. But it sounded and looked way better than it tasted. It is not that it tasted bad, it just had no taste at all. There was plenty of sauce, but all i could taste was oil. The lobster pieces were pretty small too, and i spent most of my time trying to pick them out as after a few spoonfuls of pasta i did not want any more of that. We really should not have ordered the same thing, as we both left most of our dishes. But a couple of others in our group said their food was pretty good, and the lasagna (with meatballs on the side) was said to be very good. I would give this place another try, but it would not be on the top of my list.
(3)Kelly K.
My girlfriend took me here last week on a whim to cheer me up after my recent breakup. It was just what I needed! The service was excellent: Our waiter was attentive, accomodating, helpful--and easy on the eyes! I was having a hard time deciding what to order and had seen the salmon dish go by, but I wanted pasta as well. One of the staff members, an older gentleman whose name I don't recall (but he told me to just call him "George Clooney" so I'll go with that) doted on me and assured me that they could make the salmon dish however I wished, and suggested a bed of delightful olive oil angel hair pasta. Outstanding! The desserts were also very appealing, and we decided to go with the chocolate mousse, which was heavenly. The atmosphere was really charming--I love the little private alcoves all over the restaurant as well as the lighting and decor. The Bloody Mary sucked--was very watery, way too strong, and lacking any sort of seasoning. Our waiter replaced it with a glass of Chardonnay, which was much better, although awfuly sweet, but he didn't charge me for the Bloody. Overall, between the amazing food, lovely atmosphere, and oodles of doting from the hoardes of male staff, it was just what I needed. Thank you, Italian Village, for helping to heal my broken heart!
(4)Erica K.
I went here about 10 years ago, while on a rare excursion from the 'burbs to the city with my mom, and thought this was the best place ever. I revisted it Saturday night, and eh. At least I can appreciate the extent of my palate refinement over the years. I still love the decor upstairs, the little twinkling lights, and small nooks and crannies everywhere, etc. But, this time, we were shown past that, and sat in this tiny room right next to the kitchen, complete with a cheap sliding door, to block out the sounds and sights of busboys piling up the dishes outside. The room had a vineyard mural on one side, bleh painted walls on 2 sides, and a mirrored 4th wall, with a flatscreen tv playing an opera. If outside was the beautiful villa, these were the slave's quarters. It wasn't really private either, there were 4 other tables of people in there. The food was pretty mediocre. Bf got spaghetti arribiatta, I got spinach and cheese ravioli. They do have huge portions though, so i took mine home. But, surprise surprise, when I ate it for lunch today at work, they didnt put any sauce (of which there was a plentiful amount) in the take-out box, just the ravioli! So, now it is even more tasteless than before, and dry. While not as smitten as before, I still did enjoy this place. I would recommend it for the atmosphere (and wine list!), but expect mediocre generic Italian food.
(3)Bella D.
The cantina - lower level is the best! Ask for the great spaghetti with to die for "meat sauce", vesuvio potatoes, or white fish with broccolli or carrots. Their steak and shrimp entree is always great! The service and management are superb. This place has lots of chicago class and style and great italian cooking! Great place before a show or right after work. Parties for groups there are great too! Spent 2 birthday parties and 4 office parties there! Don't forget the dessert! Mousse Chocolate Di Strata & Creme Brulee!
(5)Job E.
I only had takeaway lasagna during lunch, but it was delicious and everything I could hope and dream for.
(5)Dianna X.
BARELY MEDIOCRE FOOD! HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT! SERVICE IS ON PAR WITH DENNY'S. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME HERE. You could (SADLY) have better Italian food ( and much better service) at the Olive Garden. The only thing this place has going for it is the cute decor. Went here celebrating an anniversary, we called ahead requesting one of the small villa rooms. We were told they did not accept reservations. We get there, and are told its over an hour wait for a villa room but only 25 minutes for a regular table. We opt for the less time consuming option, even though I expressed that this was a special occasion and we REALLY wanted a little villa. They sit us at a regular table, right next to an EMPTY villa room. The room remained empty for 25 minutes. They made no attempt to offer it to us. I called the manager over and asked why... he gave me some lame excuse that did not even make sense; it was obvious he was making something up. He made no apologies, and no attempt to make our evening better ( at that point we also had service issues... our waiter never brought bread, gave us the wrong salads and disappeared for 25 minutes at a time). The way the manager handled this and his overall demeanor ( it took him 15 minutes to even come over to our table and had an " I dont care" attitude) might be expected if we were ordering $10 burgers at Denny's. But for the prices this place charges? Its definitely no longer the nice place I once thought it was. Do yourself a favor, and save your money for the Italian restaurants on Taylor street. This place is NOT worth your time or money.
(1)Lily A.
If you have other options, I say take those. Sure, the decor is homey, service is decent and the waiters speak with an Italian accent. Authentic or not, ultimately we go to restaurants for the food, right? Right. Terrible. Though I do consider myself a foodie/epicure or what have you, I'll eat almost anything if I'm hungry. But their food was inedible! Cold, rock hard bread, watered down sauces, overcooked pasta that breaks into odd pieces in your mouth. Even the salad was soggy with too much vinegar, with dry chicken that stuck to the roof of my mouth. I mean, it's really hard to get a salad perfect but nearly impossible to get it terribly wrong. Oh but they did it. Two bites and I was done - so much for the $17. Maybe the chef was having a bad day, maybe my appetite wasn't there, but I'm sorry to say I don't think I would ever choose to go back to the Italian Village again.
(1)Jenaia F.
Oh, Italian Village... You really didn't live up to the hype - AT ALL. My husband and his friends raved about your food and I just didn't think it was all that. Was it ok? Sure!! But not worth the money. Don't think I will ever return, especially with so many fantastic food options in the great city that is Chicago. While there we ordered the Spaghetti Arrabiata with italian sausage - meh!! Lacked punch. We also ordered the eggplant parmigiana - total disappointment. Lacked flavor and the egg plant was a little on the soggy side. Not what you expect from a restaurant's specialty item. Good luck to you, Italian Village. You won't be seeing us again.
(3)Meghann S.
Went with my husband and my in-laws for my husband's birthday dinner last night. We were seated quickly, but as soon as the waiter discovered that we were a 4-top instead of a 6, he disappeared. Another (much nicer) waiter came and took our order and stayed with us even thought we were only a 4-top! Salads were your basic mixed greens and the bread that came as we sat down was also your basic Italian bread. I had the frutti di mare (seafood pasta). The pasta was overcooked and the sauce was not spicy like it was described in the menu. Seafood was ok and there was a decent amount of it. My husband got the lobster pasta. It was very bland. Looked like it was a fettucini alfredo, but had none of the creamy richness that you'd expect. Also there were only a very few small pieces of lobster in the dish. My in-laws looked like they enjoyed their meals. The rolled chicken dish seemed like the best meal at the table. Overall that would be about a 3 star review, but after we got home both my husband and I had pretty bad stomach distress - YUCK! 1 star it is!
(1)Apple B.
I am never disappointed when I go to Italian Village. The decorations are beautiful, and the service and people there take such great care of me when I go there for either lunch or dinner. My kids love going there for a special night out, and we have so much fun together as we eat our awesome food!!
(5)Brittany H.
I went there against yelp reviews to take my boyfriend here for his birthday. We went to La Cantina, which was supposed to be a "wine cellar" atmosphere. The room was tiny and the fish tank next to our table was so gross we couldn't look at it while we ate. When we did finally look at it, we saw the aggressive fish chasing each other which was not fun to watch. My boyfriend ordered the chop steak- the house special which seemed like disguised meatloaf. We ended up sending it back. They did give him a birthday dessert as I requested but overall the experience was not as expected.
(2)John Anthony S.
Great service to begin with. The waiter was very present, and saved me from making a very costly mistake while ordering. The manager was awesome, giving us a full history of the place. Great experience overall.
(4)Chuck S.
Very good traditional home cooked Italian Food. A staple of Chicago for years. I keep going back because I can't get enough.
(4)Stephanie B.
Italian Village has great ambiance, but the food is no better than Olive Garden. I think a fellow yelper described it as "Epcot in Chicago." I can't agree more. I got the lunch special chicken risotto- arborio rice with shallots, roasted tomatoes, garlic and white wine and roasted chicken, but I think I've made better at home. Just saying. This wasn't my first time here, but it's been years, so that tells you how often I'm inclined to dine there.
(2)Mancow M.
There is a secret that all media manipulators know: you cannot shake childhood sense memories. When Folgers coffee showed a baby in a crib people thought it was insane. When BMW showed a toddler driving a toy BMW people thought it was madness. Both companies however saw double digit growth. If you can attach an advertisement (or a sales pitch) to someone's childhood sense memory (back before they became cynical) they cannot resist it. I am like this about Italian Village. As a child my father brought me to Chicago on one of his sales trips from Kansas City along Lakeshore drive. I thought Lake Michigan was the ocean. He took me upstairs to Italian Village and told me the secrets of the world. I believed I was really in Italy. I was a very stupid child. That upstairs room at Italian Village still holds so much wonderment for me. It's so quaint and sweet and innocent. That part of our world (and that part of me) is sadly disappearing. Alfredo Capitanini was creating his recipes and starting traditions as Gandhi went to Ceylon, Showboat floated out on Broadway ,the Academy Awards was founded ,and Philo Farnsworth tinkered with TV. Alfredo knew to succeed in this big intimidating city it had to be special and no detail forgotten. As the world celebrated Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris - Alfredo was checking and double checking his menu as "Lucky Lindy" would check The Spirit of St. Louis. One False move, one single miscalculation, and they both would've come crashing down in abject failure. Both were magnificently triumphant. Great American success stories. 85 years and going strong... I believe they still have the same waitstaff. Ha! Yes, it does feel like you're on a movie set. But instead of "The Truman Show" it's "The Alfredo Show". Yes, it does feel like you've traveled back in time. Yes, the waiters are wearing uniforms and hover over you like today's soccer moms. It's a forgotten word called: service. The waiters here are surreal by today's standards. This is the way America used to be before laziness ,welfare, Obama phones ,and change. A waitstaff that actually hustles and wants to work and serve. Imagine it! Like me, our society is so loud and obnoxious now. I do wish the food had a little more punch but maybe that's just because I've been so bombarded with modern Italian food that people think must have 50 ingredients. My wife is from Italy and everything is simple like the food at Italian Village. But truthfully I do wish it was a little more spicy. Still, in my minds eye over a bottle of Vino (and I like their wine list) in the little room upstairs off to the corner with faux village lights twinkling in the frescos you will find me daydreaming of Alfredo at a small table across from me dreaming of the new Ford Model A he might be able to buy if his restaurant succeeds. 85 years on I wonder what he would think of the place today. I think he'd smile at the fact that it's EXACTLY as he left it. If it ain't broke....
(4)Robert L.
Pretty good, went to The Village but it was definitely more expensive than I thought it was going to be.
(3)Josie V.
I love that this place delivered to my hotel. When you're traveling for work, sometimes you just want room service. The veal scallopini wasn't fantastic but it was good enough. If you order a salad, the creamy garlic dressing is a must! Also, order a cannoli here, I must admit it was tasty.
(3)Lucy P.
I recently ate here with a small group (6) before hitting up a musical. Our waiter was fantastic. He knew that menu like the back of his hand and was very friendly. I ordered the agnolotti. It was honestly only OK. It didn't taste any better than frozen ravioli in a jarred pasta sauce. (Which I don't mind, but I expect a bit more from an Italian restaurant). I tasted the gnocchi and the manicotti from other people in our group and theirs were MUCH better. I was completely satisfied with my portion size, but theirs seemed noticeably larger. Especially the gnocchi. My food was OK, everyone else's food was good. Our waiter was great. 4 Stars right? Not quite. I took an issue with some "Situations" going down in the restaurant. There was a particular waiter that was taking a lot of flak from the management. Maybe he deserved it, but it didn't need to play out in public. I'm sure they thought they were being discrete, but they weren't. After the initial situation where we could tell he was getting yelled at. I saw another situation that just turned me off from this place. A manager (a reasonably tall guy) had a napkin in his hand and the waiter in question had his back to him. He reached around and rudely jammed the napkin in the guys elbow and rolled his eyes and walked away. I realize now this situation is very hard to describe, but I was really bothered by it. Management: Your customers are watching you be an ass. I don't even care if the waiter "deserved it". Don't be an ass. We're watching and we want a pleasant, not tense experience. I wouldn't make a point to go back. I'd rather go somewhere a little less....tense.
(3)Erin O.
Italian Village gets 4 stars for ambiance and experience, 3 stars for quality of food, 2 stars for value. My husband recalled Italian Village fondly, and I love Italian food, so we met a friend there last Saturday. Beware: While you wait for a table there are not many comfortable spots in which you may wait! Me and my two guests stood and waited for about an hour in the hallway that links one dining room with the other, constantly backing ourselves into the wall to make way for guests, waiters and more passing through. But once we were seated, we marveled at the comforting busyness of the restaurant, and the delightful illuminated walls and lights strung above us. I ordered the 3-Cheese Tortellini. It came with a very green and tasty side salad, and bread was complimentary. The tortellini tasted about the same as the frozen ravioli I buy at ALDI (and it's $2.29 for a very large bag). It was good, but with only six pieces to eat I wouldn't say it was good value. The garlic and tomato broth in which it was served was great for sopping up with bread. My $7.50 glass of house wine was a regret. But the service was great, and it was a good time. I would go back for a nice occasion with my husband if we find ourselves in downtown Chicago around dinnertime again.
(3)Melissa G.
We are here at the lunch hour. My good friend and colleague and I were given the special corner that we found is a horse stall. We asked for the whitefish without butter and tomatoes instead. My friend wanted plum tomatoes and I asked for regular tomatoes. Funny thing is that we also asked them sliced and . . . they did it. Nice experience . . . Great food!
(5)Dale H.
My husband and I recently found ourselves stuck in Chicago for two days after some drama at O'Hare Airport caused us to miss our connecting flight to Las Vegas. Fortunately, we got a room at the Hampton Inn Majestic, and they suggested The Villages as an option for a late evening meal. I am used to extensively researching restaurants and hotels before I go on any trip, so I was a bit apprehensive going to a restaurant I knew absolutely nothing about ... and I was pleasantly surprised! It's really a collection of three theme restaurants in one building. La Cantina, Vivere, and the Village. It was close to 10:00 when we got there so the only one open was the one upstairs - The Village. The atmosphere is kind of campy, kitschy, Disney-meets-Vegas Italian. I mean that in a good way. It's kind of fun. They have transformed that floor into a miniature Italian village with separate "buildings" / dining alcoves, painted the ceiling sky blue, and strung up white Christmas tree lights for ambiance. My husband had the pollo rotolini - thin chicken breasts rolled with sausage and prosciutto - and I had the meat ravioli. Both of our meals were absolutely delicious. There was plenty of meat in the ravioli and the pasta sauce was more savory than sweet. It would've been nice to have a bit of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, but I'm not a fan of those communal containers left on every table and used by people I don't know. Oh well. The service was excellent. The only thing I found kind of odd was the waitstaff used rolling carts to bring the food to the table and to clear dishes after a meal. I've never been anywhere that used those carts. Perhaps it's just a Chicago thing? Overall, our first meal in Chicago was very pleasant!
(4)Sarah C.
Totally unexpected. I'm sure this must be a spot loads of people know about but I had no idea it existed. In the middle of downtown, through a revolving door, and up a flight of stairs will take you from a cold Chicago winter into a space that looks like late evening in a village in Italy. You walk into "outdoor" seating, little nooks, and a soft lighting. Their grilled calamari was fantastic - especially paired with a cold Peroni. I kept it simple with their lasagne and it was so filling, just stuck right to my ribs, that it was perfect for our long walk downtown. Our waitress was absolutely lovely and had great recommendations for exactly what our tastes were. She went the extra mile to bring me a sausage to try when the boyfriend wouldn't stop raving about how amazing they were. All in all, a really nice experience.
(4)Stephanie S.
Fantastic ambiance in the upper restaurant and bar, and it's hard to find a dish you won't like - their menu, and their wine list, is extensive! I personally think their pizza is among the best in the city, too, and they have a free pizza happy hour in the bar on Monday nights. Great date spot.
(4)Patrice G.
Our favorite italian "go to" restaurant was booked, so we decided to go to an oldie, but goodie. Well, turns out, it IS an oldie, but unfortunately, ahhh, not so good. Started off with a glass of Pinot Noir, which was not very tasty. (In retrospect, I should have returned it.) The basket of bread looked good, but in fact was a stale. The dishes on the menu all sounded delicious. There were five of us, all ordering different dishes....and all of us left at least a third on our plate (including the men!) I ordered the Amish chicken with red roasted potatoes and artichokes. It came swimming in some mediocre sauce, the potatoes were hard, artichokes chewy, chicken just ok. Everyone else's dishes ranged from bad to worse. Such a prime location in the heart of a great city known for outstanding food. So disappointing!
(2)Anjelica N.
Boy do I love Italian food. If you're in the Loop of Chicago and have a hankering for some Italian - head on down to the Italian Village Restaurants. (Full disclosure: My co-worker and I enjoyed this place so much we went two nights in a row in order to experience the upstairs and downstairs! We were not disappointed!!) This establishment caters to both Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. If you visit the ground floor, the restaurant is called Vivere. This place offers Northern inspired cuisine such as lasagna layered with spanich, provolone and short rib. This floor of establishment has modern art styled architecture. The browns, reds and gold make the establishment feel more refined and fancy. If you head upstairs, you'll experience Southern cuisine - the type that we are most accustomed too. The chicken marsala is divine as well as my shrimp and mushroom risotto. The decor is more reminiscent of a quasi-authentic Italian restaurant, i.e. loud but rustic colors, hanging lights and Italian music in the background. Price-wise, the majority of main dishes ranged from $15-$30. It's not horrible, especially for Chicago. The servers were quite attentive and very friendly. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Carrie W.
So I have read many of the reviews on here.... This place is not supposed to be RPM people! This place has been in business since 1927.... What this place has seen over the years!!!!! The village is the place to eat and their bar is fantastic, best Manhattans in town... It is quaint, yet campy, and older.... But that is why it is a packed house, every time we go (week/weekend) i.e. We got in on a whim last night around five and the place was packed by the time we left.... We were there last night before a show across the street.... Rock of Ages! And we had a fantastic time, at the dinner and lastly at the show! (We always go here before a show) The service is always impeccable, always. The server we had this time around was Alberto. Very knowledgable about food and wine. Their wine by the bottle listing is huge! We chose a perfect wine to go with our simple dinner... Starting with beef carpaccio that was topped Parma and arugula. Then moved onto a constant love of ours there, cheese ravioli. Yes, we adore the cheese ravioli, and it's four cheese for that fact! My husband always gets the meat sauce and I always love their marinara sauce. They do put anchovies in the marinara sauce, and this time they may have put in too much... (And they make their own pasta!) We finished our bottle... And ended the evening with a couple of espressos and one of their house made cannoli. So go in yourself and make up your own opinion!!!!! Love this place!
(4)Sai S.
VERY RACIST ESTABLISHMENTS!! I went down to this restaurant today. The short waiter had this fake Italian restaurant and says what do you want? I said I wanted a table for two. He gives me the menu and goes back and says to another waiter " ITS A FUCKING INDIAN GUY." I really wanted to leave at that point but I stayed because I was with my manager from work. I was looking for vegetarian options and this asshole says " only veggie option is eggplant Parmesan" . But I see many salads in the menu but sine they were cheaper than his eggplant Parmesan he wasn't happy. He says a few more racist things like "all you Indians are veggies". I paid and left. I can't believe they are still in business. I HOPE TO GOD this never happens to anyone else
(1)Anika F.
If I could give this place ZERO stars I would. This was the most disgusting food I've ever had. The veal was soooo old and rubbery and smelled. My mothers fish was rank and my sister in laws eggplant tasted like it had been sitting in a closet for months. The worst of all was the service!!! Our waiter acted like he was on a sedative and when we told him our fish was bad he literally said, 'I told you not to order that'. How about not serving rotten fish! Geez. So we complain to the manager and he says he'll go to the kitchen to check and he NEVER COMES BACK. Are you kidding me? Olive Garden would've been better. Avoid this place at all costs, even if you are going to see the Book of Mormon afterward. You'd be better off going to Panera Bread and not dropping $150 on some stank ass food managed and staffed by a stuck up douchey old man acting like they know anything about customer service. The guy was wearing a maroon suit for crying out loud. No respect, no class and no cooking skills.
(1)Taylor E.
I was here 11/26/14. We had reservations in the evening for 4 people. Service was prompt. The location was convenient to Macy's and Kris Kringle mart. Servers were friendly but not fantastic. The bread was very plain and served cold. Warm would have been better. The drink list was unimpressive. The prices were fair. The portions were generous. The minestrone soup was fresh but under seasoned . The pasta with Arabiatta sauce was good. The noodles were cooked well ( al dente). The place was clean but needed decor updated. It was a decent but unmemorable meal.
(3)Michelle L.
This place was a perfect spot for my family to have lunch before the Christkindlmarket and seeing the Macy's windows. We had six people, four adults, a five year old, and an eight year old. They sat us in a 'snug' private room that had coat hooks and a large booth. Our server was so attentive - a necessity with small children (dropped straws, spills, etc.) We ordered two pizzas, a medium and large and then children's menu portions of spaghetti with butter. The spaghetti came out early so the kids could eat right away. The pizza was really good - crispy thin crust with lots of cheese and a perfect amount of toppings (green olives for us). I was worried when we arrived at 11:30 for a 12:00 reservation that the restaurant was empty. But it was 11:30! By 12: 15, it was full. I will definitely come hear again.
(4)Kristine M.
I'm not a foodie, nor Italian but I don't think that that makes me any less competent to know Italian good food. At the very least it should be seasoned, right? I can only imagine the only reason that this restaurant is still in business is because of the convenient location for tourist and show goers and most of the patrons I saw you were older Americans that are very likely to mistaken these cuisines as authentic Italian. I was taking here on a date and was a bit concerned after I read the reviews. I'm sad to say that the negative reviews we're not an exaggeration. If you sincerely want a reasonably priced, fresh, and delicious pasta I would recommend the Pasta Bowl in Lincoln Park.
(1)Rick H.
Went there for the first time today with my family. Turned out that today was their 87th Birthday. (They opened up on this day in 1927). Anyway, food was awesome, service was top notch & the decor of the restaurant was great. We had a memorable time there & we can't wait to get back there again.
(5)Ise B.
No restaurant anywhere I know is such a point of learning. No other restaurant meets my needs as a descendant of Romans. I undergo transformations. I hope Italian Village will be able to follow me in these often surprising turns of tide of battle, and often the victory depends on a successful meal here, and they do a fantastic job of figuring out what that means. My apologies for a recent incident where my use of the ladies room as a transgender male to female was objected to. It's not always possible to comfort ladies in the rest room who do not know that Illinois law protects my right to use the ladies room if my drivers license is marked female, and it is. What would I do without Italian Village? hard to imagine
(5)Brian M.
I'm glad I went. This place really is a landmark restaurant, and I hope to eat on each level at least once. However, the food on the center level is good. It's nothing more nor less. Service is very friendly and efficient. A restaurant doesn't always have to be exceptional to be a good place to gather friends and enjoy yourself.
(3)Tony F.
4 stars instead of 5 because it was my 1st time there. I'm 100% Italian and very critical when the food doesn't live up to expectations. I can't wait to go back because the food was excellent. We had our company dinner her and 24 of us were really impressed by the 4 course menu. My friends son James Giacometti Jr. is the Executive Chef. Le Cordon Bleu educated, trained in Italy and at 27 or 28 is amazingly talented. Go to this famous spot and have a great meal
(4)Christian C.
I order the Lasagna and the tiramisu and they were amazing. They prices were very reasonable and the staff were extremely friendly and professionals. Next time I'm in Chicago I must stop here again!!! (Not five stars because they forgot my appetizer).
(4)Dani S.
Visiting Chicago from Arizona for the 1st time and we found The Italian Village on Yelp and the food and service did not disappoint. We both had cocktails which were tasty, our appetizer was the house special with homemade mozzarella and tomatoes which was also tasty. We ordered chicken vesuvio (so very tasty, worth the wait for it for sure!) for my husband and I had eggplant parmesan, both were very good. But what really made for a nice dinner was the ambiance with smooth music playing in the background, warmly lit tables with a small, soft wall lamp, the walls had cute little lights within the painted scenery and the server Andrew. Andrew was very sweet and helpful, without him the food would have been, just...good, but he completed the entire package and we are very thankful for his attentiveness, kindness and friendly disposition. The bar area we sat in was a sweet little booth in the corner making it feel like it was just the 2 of us on a busy Sunday night in this restaurant. Again, thank you Andrew!
(4)Derek L.
I wish I could move this place to Toronto. I started with the Caesar Salad, made at the table. I could have just kept ordering the salad. But there was more to conquer. I had the Seafood Linguine, with every morsel of seafood perfectly fresh and perfectly cooked. You can easily tell with squid, since it goes to rubber within a day. This squid was as fresh as it gets. Another member of my party had the Panko Chicken Marsala, with shell pasta in a stunning marsala sauce. The third of my party had the Meatball Panini, which had a couple of large, garlicky, tender meatballs, cut in half with mushrooms and cheese on an Italian roll. Plan on sampling around the table if you go!
(5)Stephanie H.
I went here for the first time last night with a friend, and I had a pretty nice experience. I ordered the Angnolotti, which was good, but not phenomenal. My friend ordered the Chicken Parmesan, which was huge so be prepared. The service was really good and attentive. My friend didn't take his leftovers home since he had a long drive ahead of him, and they even made sure that nothing was wrong with his food, which I thought was nice. For being the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, I'd go back. I think the decor is also really darling. I love the "outside" feel of it. But if you're looking for RPM quality, go to RPM.
(3)Michael C.
Really surprised by the bad reviews complaining about bad service. The service was almost too good that it was creepy. There were three to four employees standing close to my table filling my water and clearing the plates as soon as I put my fork down. I don't have a huge sample size as I'm from out of town and just had my first experience, but the the frutti di mare was the best I've ever had; loaded with fresh seafood and the sauce was incredible.
(5)David A.
Great service from the minute you walk in throughout the entire meal. Extremely hot and fresh food and reasonable prices. Our favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago!!
(5)Toni F.
If you want a very traditional atmosphere with standard Italian food to match, Italian Village shouldn't disappoint. Near the theater it's a good choice for a decent, affordable meal before the show and you can valet park and leave your car for the evening. The service was very good - the food was nothing to write home about. We had the Seafood Ravioli (with not much seafood) and Eggplant Parmigiana (thick slices of slightly overcooked eggplant with a heavy sauce and not much cheese). The cheesecake was the surprise hit of the meal - delicate and full of flavor. They have an extensive wine list but were out of the Valpolicella we ordered so we were disappointed. The sommelier recommended a substitute which once we got the bill we discovered was more expensive than the one we wanted - I felt they should have given us the substitute for the same price but we didn't make an issue of it. We chose the more traditional of the three dining options available at Italian Village - next time we might try Vivere or La Cantina to see if our experience is different.
(2)Carrie C.
Old school, overloaded with sauce. This is a charming place and the service is really great but the food is just lacking. Or has too much. Case in point. I wanted the "rooftop beefsteak tomato" salad with burrata but spotted it rolling by on a cart, heavily over sauced with balsamic syrup. Heavily. That stuff is potent folks. A little drizzle is all that is needed. So, I asked for mine without. Alas,. The tomatoes were still mealy as they had obviously been refrigerated and were still very cold. Then my filet arrived- swimming in mushroom sauce. And by that I do mean swamped. It should have come on a soup plate. My husband's chicken rotelli was slightly better but tasted as if it was marinated in chicken bouillon. The best dish of the night,to be honest, was my son's chicken strips which were thinly pounded pieces of chicken breast, with perfectly crisp breading. We all should have had that with a marinara sidecar and we would have walked away happy. My other high point was the lively glass of wine from the montepulciano region. Very tasty.
(3)Georgie M.
If you are new to Chicago, you need to try Italian Village and nearby Berghoff's. Both, will introduce you to the world of "Old Chicago" dining! I first started coming to The Village in the mid eighties, and we seem to come back once a year ever since. The food is good and the experience is a trip back in time, as like to say. Back in the day, The Village was where all the important financial deals in the city of Chicago were done, or so it seemed. The secret to it's longevity, is that it's really three different restaurants, with three different menus in one. On the ground floor, you have The Village and bar area. It has an Italian grotto feel to it. It serves some good northern Italian food and the prices are very reasonable, with generous pours from the bar. Upstairs is a more formal Italian dinning called the Vivere. It reminds me of some those Taylor Street eateries. Very upscale, but without the thumb on the scale prices. Sadly, these are the only two Italian Village restaurants we have tried. There is also the La Cantina downstairs, which I know we will get to some day. LOL Enjoy!
(3)Robert L.
Went last night as it was close to my hotel. Atmosphere is old style Italian with the village setting. Went up the long stairs and was seated immediately. Ordered a drink which came quickly and the waiter took my order. My appetizer baked clams came out very quickly they were a bit over breaded for my liking. Within a minute my salad showed up. I cautioned the waiter to slow things down and that I would not be happy. Salad was fair. Greens were wilted and not crisp. As I picked at the salad the main course showed up. Went for classic veal parm. Spaghetti was over cooked and veal was a bit thick and tough. Would have expected it pounded a bit. Are about half portion was large enough bit I really could have used some time to digest. Overall prices a bit high, service was mostly attentive although the manager came by twice because my drinks were empty. Will not go back even to try the other two locations
(2)Michael T.
Traveling from out of town, had dinner tonight at the downstairs Cantina. Lasagna Al Forno was overdone and gummy. There was an extra charge for 'cheese' on the lasagna.. There was nothing special about this dinner. Staff was friendly, and service good.
(2)melinda f.
We were in booth 11, with a waiter button inside. Ronald did a great job, and even was able to get us gelotti even though downstairs restaurant was closed. They don't serve gelotti at the upstairs restaurant, they usually get from downstairs restaurant, but it was s Sunday evening and the downstairs restaurant was closed. Could not have been nicer. Food was really good. Whitefish was fresh, the tortelli, my 8 yr old loved. Grilled chicken with capers. Capellini with meatball. Anything you order will be great.
(5)Danielle P.
I ate hear with my boyfriend, we both ordered the lasagne the sauce was good but the lasagne itself was terrible! It reminded me of something you would buy out of the frozen section at the supermarket. The texture was slimy and had no flavor what so ever. I would never eat here again and would not reccomend it to anyone! Service was not too good either. Our waiter didnt check on us once to ask if we needed anything or just to see how everything was. Very disappointed!
(2)Emily C.
Definitely a Chicago institution! That being said, they are in need of an update. I came recently for lunch and it was exactly as I remembered from 20 years ago... It was so dark in there! The food was fine, but nothing blew my mind. Service was very good. 295/365
(3)Katie D.
My last meal on Earth may just be their seafood ravioli and a glass of sangria. Perfection!
(5)Nick F.
Can't say I'm a fan. I was in the Chicago Loop area over the weekend with my fiance, We went to the Willis Tower, after leaving we started to go for a little walk, we went past Giordono's Pizza and debated going their, we discussed it and agreed since we have both been their to try someplace new, We saw a Luke's beef we said sure let's try that, but they closed at 7PM, we decided to keep walking we came to the discovery everything in the loop closes early except your chain restaurants (Subway,Mcdonalds,Chipolte) we both agreed not to go to a chain while downtown, i saw the Italian Village sign and said lets go. We walked in not knowing what to expect we followed a few ladies up the stairs, and we were promptly seated the staff was VERY nice at least the first couple people were. We quickly realized we were under-dressed (sweatshirts and jeans) But figured they let us in we can stay. We sat down handed the menus and water and the waiter vanished a short time later he came back got our drink order and came back quite quickly with our drinks and bread. Good start i thought. We went ahead and ordered, i got the Lasagna which i found out came with either a salad or soup, being that we were walking around in the cold for the last hour i got soup (which was either some tomato basil? soup, or a chicken noodle soup. Bingo let's do that) My fiance got the salad. We decided to try the bread, which was hard and pretty bland. A short time later the soup and salad arrived, I got chicken broth with tiny little round noodles, Terrible! not at all what i was expecting. MY fiance said the salad was ok, but it had a variety of lettuce (purple,greens,etc) and didn't like some of the lettuce. A few minutes later the food came out, and my Lasagna or what i ordered came out, but it was not what i was expecting at all, it was a few pieces of lasagna noodles with ricotta cheese stacked like your typical lasagna then covered with meat sauce, the sauce was decent but it was extremely over powering. I ended up scraping most of the meat sauce off to eat the cheese/noodle pile it was mediocre but no where near worth the $16. My fiance's mostacocioli came out with the same large amount of meat sauce. the noodles seemed like your typical store bought noodles. We started to be humored about the food being so bad for the price. Just as we were done eating the table across from us got their food brought out, i noticed the lady had what looked like an AMAZING piece of lasagna.....what the hell did i get? Either way the $45+ Bill for 2 Plates of pasta, 1 soda and 1 Iced Tea was not how i planned my dinner. I have no problem paying for food, but this was comparable to a Fazoli's for quality. I must admit the place does look VERY nice inside so A+ for that. but D for everything else. Will not return.
(2)Bill T.
Bleesy! This place made me coin a new phrase. The food was almost aggressively bland, and the decor was incredibly cheesy. Therefore, "bleesy". We ate upstairs and the place looks like a cheap Disney version of an Italian village. I had chicken rotolini and my friend had veal marsala. The food was fine, but absolutely no flavor...it tasted like my cooking, and that's not a good thing. A little salt or pepper would have been welcome. Service was very friendly and attentive, but definitely a most forgettable meal from a food perspective. Bleesy.
(3)Danielle S.
Italian Village is far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I am Italian and surely approve, as did my family. The Italian Village upstairs is a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like your sitting outside at a restaurant in Italy. We always start out meal with the captain salad. The salad has mixed greens, red pepper, egg, fresh Parmesan, radishes, and tomato in it. They use I assume their house Italian and mix it together for you. Very very good! I usually order the lasagna, layered with meat sauce, white cream sauce and Parmesan cheese. It melts in your mouth. You are served a generous portion and I usually take some home with me. HIGHLY recommend this dish! This last visit I ordered "Pasta e Olio" a very simple Italian dish but so delicious. Angel hair pasta with olive oil and minced garlic and parsley or pepper. Although simple it was prepared perfectly and again I boxed up half of it and took it home with me. I could go on and on about the other dishes I have tried. But last I want to mention the dessert, their "Italian Rum Cake" is out of this world. Yum, yum, yum!!
(5)Erika C.
My second date with my Husband 7 years ago or so was at Italian Village. I was dressed in super sexy business attire including a beaver trimmed coat. My Husband to be was wearing (and I am not joking) Steve Martin's outfit from The Jerk; complete with hounds-tooth pants and a newsboy cap. Our 5th date was Napa Valley so let's assume that I was more impressed with Italian Village than my husband's attire, or perhaps my charming husband, who's to say? Well, Italian Village has not changed a bit. Not one bit. Not one bit since the first time I was there in 1991. The eggplant parm tastes the same, the salad is the same, the soup is the same. No progress no fundamental changes. Does it read in 2012? No. The service is great and if you want a throw back this is your place. It is a Chicago institution but sadly removed from my go to list. Nostalgia visits only.
(2)David Z.
Have to laugh at some of these reviews, people thinking they're writing the ultimate Zagat dissertation. The Village, most popular arena of the three, is not gourmet food. However, there are many positives to an experience here. How many places can you return to after 20, 40, even 60 years and feel that time stood still! Kitchy, but lovely setting. And with $12.95 three course luncheon menus, one gets more than he/she deserves. The waitstaff is very courteous and professional. The timing on the courses is just right. This place is legendary. If you want gourmet quality, go downstairs to the Vivere restaurant and pay the price!
(4)Shereene M.
That was not good! How sad.. We tried the Village upstairs because that location sounded like it had the most solid reviews. I personally think the decor is tacky but I guess it has an interesting feel. Anyway, I expected the bread to be warm. I had an Italian Mojito.. it tasted like any standard mojito. My boyfriend got the seafood ravioli (tasted not much better than Chef Boyardee) and I got the Chicken Rollatini (terrible). Both of us picked at our food and hoped for a good dessert. We got Italian lemon ice which was fine.. how can you mess that up?! Anyway, I want to say that I will give the other locations a try, but that is very unlikely. Pretty much.. a waste of $70.
(1)Shari L.
Confusing entrance. Walked into foyer area and restaurant on lower level was closed - could smell food so we climbed stairs, and that was open. Love the ambiance. White Christmas lights strung, and they have these little table nook areas that make you feel like you're in a little private hideaway. We ordered a seafood ravioli, a scampi angel hair dish and some sort of Italian crepes thing with sauce. All came with a salad that wasn't very cold, lettuce sort of wilted, Italian dressing right out of a bottle. The seafood ravioli was good, as were the crepes, but the scampi dish was very bland. Needed lots of salt and parmesan cheese to give it any flavor. Service was good, waiter friendly and attentive enough. Was catching a show so didn't have time for dessert or coffee. All in all, was good enough. Prices didn't break the bank, and the location was convenient to the theater. I'd go here again if I were wanting to catch a show, but I wouldn't be super excited about it. Very A-OK.
(3)Sherri B.
In the loop, walking distance to the AIC and Millenium Park. Popped in at 830 on a chilly Thursday night. Cute ambience, not packed, quickly seated. I ate at the upstairs restaurant, which also has a quaint bar area. This place has a lot of twinkling lights and fun alcoves tucked away for small groups. Service was attentive. I had the frutti di mari which was generous and packed with perfectly cooked seafood, not a bad deal for $24 downtown. Small but decent (and pricey) selection of wine by the glass. (My glass of Super Tuscan was 10.50) The frutti was very lightly spiced, so if the waiter asks you if you'd like it spiced say yes.
(4)Shashank S.
Nice ambience and very happy looking staff. Loved the food, everything was flavorful and fresh.
(4)Tara C.
The food here is incredible. Homemade pasta cannot be beat. Unfortunately the wait staff is less than friendly. Part of the overall dining experience is the service provided by the wait staff. The host staff greeted me warmly but my waiter barely spoke to me. Had the service been better my review would have been 4 Stars.
(3)Theresa N.
Delicious as always. Eggplant parm - outstanding. Seated immediately, super service and nice atmosphere. Really dark in here so remember that if you are bringing old folks here or people with vision problems.
(4)Marc Y.
We were downtown last night to see Motown musical and we didn't have any dinner reservations. Tried to get into Petterino's but the wait was too long so we called the Italian village they got us right in and right out in time for the play food was excellent service was fantastic!
(5)Karen F.
I've been here on visits to Chicago a few times before, and love the upstairs with the murals and twinkling lights. I love its "old school," "Old Chicago" reputation, and I love its history. Since 1927! So I suggested we meet there for a small family get-together -- my aunt used to come here when she worked downtown in the '50's. My cousin called for a reservation, and noted that my aunt cannot take stairs. But instead of turning us down, they opened the main floor dining room (closed on Sundays) to just us. They treated us like royalty! So kind and patient and friendly, and they made our night so special. I don't get to Chicago to visit my family often, so every chance I get means a lot to me... And Italian Village made it wonderful for us. The food was delicious, and the service sublime. Thank you, Roberto and Tomasso for making three ladies so happy. You really don't see that kind of treatment anymore -- it truly is "old school." In the best, most genuine way. I highly recommend The Italian Village for a treat. I'm looking forward to coming back!
(5)Michael F.
I have been here multiple times since I was a kid and have found The Italian Village to have consistent service and food. I have always gone to the Village upstairs. You have to know what to expect when coming here, Piccolo Sogno or Spiaggia, this is not. Italian Village is classic, red sauce Italian-American cuisine that has been executed well for almost 100 years. The decor is not modern and trendy, it is kitschy and old-school in the best way possible. I come here for the best lasagne in town and finish it off with a tiramisu. The wine list has a great list of well known and obscure Italian wines. The prices are very reasonable especially considering you are downtown. The waiters all seem to be lifetime employees and provide great service. This is old Chicago dining at its best, the restaurant is in its 3rd generation of family ownership and I am in the 3rd generation of my family's patronage.
(4)Alan F.
A timeless spot; this is exactly as I remember it from the 1970's, and probably little different from the day it opened in 1927. The Village (one of their three separate restaurants) occupies a long, narrow upstairs room, rather dark, illuminated by strings of little incandescent lights. Attractive separate bar area at the front. About the only concession to the 21st Century I noticed was a motion-activated paper towel dispenser in the restroom. The menu is also very traditional, with the usual south-Italian favorites; I had the seafood ravioli (with perfectly-cooked shrimp and scallops in a creamy tomato sauce), and sampled the lasagna and Italian sausage of others in my party. Everything excellent. Friendly and attentive waitress. Not handicapped-accessible, as least with regard to the Village; I'm not sure about Vivere, on the ground floor. Convenient to all public transit lines entering the Loop, and to the theater district.
(4)Eunice K.
After reading a bunch of magazines about restaurants in Chicago, I came across quite a few recommendations for Italian Village. It is supposedly one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago (from 1920s). Plus with the city being known for having such good Italian food, it was a no brainer. The bad reviews on yelp did make me hesitate a bit, but I was still optimistic! And looking back on my trip to Chicago, I would say it was one of my favorite restaurants! It was also my mom's favorite :) To start we ordered the Shrimp Casalinga ($11.95). This was a small dish of shrimp and mushrooms sauteed in a tomato sherry wine sauce. It was flavorful and yet light - perfect way to start off the evening! (portions a little too small - as you can see from the pictures) For the entree we shared the Cacciucco ($25.95) - this is a tuscan seafood stew with fennel, fish, scallops, calamari, and clams in a tomato, saffron broth. AMAZING! At first all we talk about was how delicious this dish was.. the ingredients were QUALITY. The squid, scallops, mussels, fish! Just DELICIOUS! However, after the dish had lost some of the sizzling temperature, we realized how salty it was! LOL! We ended up finishing up the entire roll of bread!!! And had to drink several bottles of water when we got back to our hotel room :( I think the stew had been stewing for too long!!! You know what I mean? haha The huge table next to us all ordered dessert.. and after seeing several cheesecakes and tiramisu, we couldn't resist and joined them! We ordered a Decaf Cappucino ($4.50) and a Tiramisu ($5.95). The Tiramisu was a little too sweet but a perfect way to end the meal! And the cappucino was also very delicious - rich and creamy! The main reason I'm giving the Italian Village 5 stars is simply due to the quality of the ingredients and the service. Service was JUST EXCEPTIONAL! We truly felt like we were being wined and dined :) We had at least 3 people checking on us constantly and I never saw the bottom of my water cup. The employees take pride in thier restaurant and seemed genuinely happy to be there! And they also didn't mind us tourists and helped us take pictures of our dinner! Definitly would recommend the Italian Village if you're ever in Chicago! :) No wonder they've been successful for so long! Bravo!
(5)David O.
These guys are evidently the only way to get Room Service at the La Quinta Hotel Downtown Chicago. That's a bloody shame cuz the dinner I had from there was just blaaahhh... I ordered a bowl of minestrone soup and a 4 cheese pizza. That set me back $35 with gratuity. I've had better meals of equal quantity for about $15 elsewhere. The pizza was pretty much lukewarm by the time it got to me. The soup, while plentiful, tasted like Progresso. I'd say avoid this place, either as room service or at the restaurant... There's a Chipotle Grill around the corner. You'll get a much better meal there, guys!
(2)Mary Kate D.
Hidden bar in the basement with quality drinks and a smaller menu. Who knew?! There used to be a piano bar down here 20 some years ago.
(4)Dana R.
My sister came into the city for lunch yesterday, and she decided to go to "The Italian Village." She had wanted to try something new and was deciding between here and another place. Let me just say, we should have just gone to the other place. We were both skeptical of ITVR from other yelpers, but we were pretty optimistic that we wouldn't be disappointed. We're fairly easy going food lovers. The interior is what most have said, cheesy looking and outdated. It smelled a little odd,but maybe that was just me. The staff was friendly, and we were greeted and seated quickly. We got there right at opening to beat a lunch crowd. The bread was tough (maybe stale?) and probably the worst that I've ever had at an Italian restaurant. We ordered an appetizer of garlic bread (we love the carbs.) and it was also the worst we've ever had. Tasted like the same bread that was at the table but with butter. It wasn't really garlicky tasting, nor did it have salt or pepper for flavor. Our salads that came with our lunches weren't much to write home about. It was a salad mix with shredded carrot on top. Maybe it was just me, but it tasted like there were lots of spines in it. (The hard crunch part of the leaf?) I did like the bleu cheese dressing. It had crumbles in it, and could have been homemade. After much debate, I settled with the lasagna. I went for the low price and had some faith in the few positive reviews that I had read from my fellow yelpers about it. It was a huge portion, I'll give them that. I was pumped to try the red and the white sauce in it. But it sucked. It tasted like something that would come frozen. The sauce was meaty, but bland. Something like a prego extra meaty sauce was in it. I didn't find anything that I liked about it at all. My sister got some type of noodles with pesto on it. She didn't say anything bad about it, but I noticed she was definitely pushing it around on her plate. During our meal more diners came in, but it seemed like there was an employee meeting going on the whole time. Lots of servers standing around in a circle and talking. It was odd. Towards the end of our meal, there was three people within a four foot radius of our table. One of the them hanging on our booth and staring us down. He even stared as we laid out the tip. Um, awkward? I didn't enjoy the food, and I know that'll I'll never come here again.
(1)Amy S.
After just checking into our hotel last weekend, one of my friends was starving and needed to eat some dinner somewhere close (she was getting a little cranky). We passed a couple of locals on the street, and I asked what they recommended. They suggested this restaurant, which was right down the street so off we went. Upon entering, it looked like a pretty classy restaurant and we were in very casual clothes, but they assured us the restaurant had no dress code and we were fine as we were. We were quickly seated and given menus shortly after. I wasn't too hungry, so I pretty much just kept my friend company while she ate. She ordered some sort of whole wheat pasta with a meat sauce. I had a few bites, as the portion size was plenty for two. It was decent, but nothing special. And definitely not worth the $20 she paid for it. I was happy with my warm bread and olive oil, which was brought to the table while we were waiting for her food. The service was good, the ambiance was nice, and they were quick which was good since I had plans with a friend less than an hour after we go there and had still had to get back to the hotel to get ready. If you're looking for an Italian where mostly tourists go, this may be your place. I, however, prefer places where the locals go and will probably not return.
(2)Bill T.
Bleesy! This place made me coin a new phrase. The food was almost aggressively bland, and the decor was incredibly cheesy. Therefore, "bleesy". We ate upstairs and the place looks like a cheap Disney version of an Italian village. I had chicken rotolini and my friend had veal marsala. The food was fine, but absolutely no flavor...it tasted like my cooking, and that's not a good thing. A little salt or pepper would have been welcome. Service was very friendly and attentive, but definitely a most forgettable meal from a food perspective. Bleesy.
(3)Shari L.
Confusing entrance. Walked into foyer area and restaurant on lower level was closed - could smell food so we climbed stairs, and that was open. Love the ambiance. White Christmas lights strung, and they have these little table nook areas that make you feel like you're in a little private hideaway. We ordered a seafood ravioli, a scampi angel hair dish and some sort of Italian crepes thing with sauce. All came with a salad that wasn't very cold, lettuce sort of wilted, Italian dressing right out of a bottle. The seafood ravioli was good, as were the crepes, but the scampi dish was very bland. Needed lots of salt and parmesan cheese to give it any flavor. Service was good, waiter friendly and attentive enough. Was catching a show so didn't have time for dessert or coffee. All in all, was good enough. Prices didn't break the bank, and the location was convenient to the theater. I'd go here again if I were wanting to catch a show, but I wouldn't be super excited about it. Very A-OK.
(3)Sherri B.
In the loop, walking distance to the AIC and Millenium Park. Popped in at 830 on a chilly Thursday night. Cute ambience, not packed, quickly seated. I ate at the upstairs restaurant, which also has a quaint bar area. This place has a lot of twinkling lights and fun alcoves tucked away for small groups. Service was attentive. I had the frutti di mari which was generous and packed with perfectly cooked seafood, not a bad deal for $24 downtown. Small but decent (and pricey) selection of wine by the glass. (My glass of Super Tuscan was 10.50) The frutti was very lightly spiced, so if the waiter asks you if you'd like it spiced say yes.
(4)Shashank S.
Nice ambience and very happy looking staff. Loved the food, everything was flavorful and fresh.
(4)Tara C.
The food here is incredible. Homemade pasta cannot be beat. Unfortunately the wait staff is less than friendly. Part of the overall dining experience is the service provided by the wait staff. The host staff greeted me warmly but my waiter barely spoke to me. Had the service been better my review would have been 4 Stars.
(3)Theresa N.
Delicious as always. Eggplant parm - outstanding. Seated immediately, super service and nice atmosphere. Really dark in here so remember that if you are bringing old folks here or people with vision problems.
(4)Marc Y.
We were downtown last night to see Motown musical and we didn't have any dinner reservations. Tried to get into Petterino's but the wait was too long so we called the Italian village they got us right in and right out in time for the play food was excellent service was fantastic!
(5)Neil G.
In for business trip but back in October for Marathon. Was looking for a healthy pasta option (whole grain.veggies) and sometimes when you go into an established place like this, asking for something different and off-menu is frowned upon. Well, not here. Roberto made sure I got exactly what I wanted (and takeout was perfectly hot 15 minutes after I returned to hotel). The management was friendly, accommodating but most important, the food was perfect and very high quality. We will be back, many times, in October and any other time I am in Chicago.
(5)Kay G.
The Village was a good dining experience. The atmosphere was nice and intimate. I ordered the Chicken Della Nonna and loved it! My husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and although it was good, we both thought the sauce was too sweet. We both ordered salads with the meal which weren't anything special but the dressing was good. My two cons would be the water (it tasted "metal-ly") and the bathrooms which are very small and unfortunately were not clean. So overall, a nice place to visit if your in the area and looking for Italian food but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back.
(3)Karen F.
I've been here on visits to Chicago a few times before, and love the upstairs with the murals and twinkling lights. I love its "old school," "Old Chicago" reputation, and I love its history. Since 1927! So I suggested we meet there for a small family get-together -- my aunt used to come here when she worked downtown in the '50's. My cousin called for a reservation, and noted that my aunt cannot take stairs. But instead of turning us down, they opened the main floor dining room (closed on Sundays) to just us. They treated us like royalty! So kind and patient and friendly, and they made our night so special. I don't get to Chicago to visit my family often, so every chance I get means a lot to me... And Italian Village made it wonderful for us. The food was delicious, and the service sublime. Thank you, Roberto and Tomasso for making three ladies so happy. You really don't see that kind of treatment anymore -- it truly is "old school." In the best, most genuine way. I highly recommend The Italian Village for a treat. I'm looking forward to coming back!
(5)Brittany H.
I went there against yelp reviews to take my boyfriend here for his birthday. We went to La Cantina, which was supposed to be a "wine cellar" atmosphere. The room was tiny and the fish tank next to our table was so gross we couldn't look at it while we ate. When we did finally look at it, we saw the aggressive fish chasing each other which was not fun to watch. My boyfriend ordered the chop steak- the house special which seemed like disguised meatloaf. We ended up sending it back. They did give him a birthday dessert as I requested but overall the experience was not as expected.
(2)Michael F.
I have been here multiple times since I was a kid and have found The Italian Village to have consistent service and food. I have always gone to the Village upstairs. You have to know what to expect when coming here, Piccolo Sogno or Spiaggia, this is not. Italian Village is classic, red sauce Italian-American cuisine that has been executed well for almost 100 years. The decor is not modern and trendy, it is kitschy and old-school in the best way possible. I come here for the best lasagne in town and finish it off with a tiramisu. The wine list has a great list of well known and obscure Italian wines. The prices are very reasonable especially considering you are downtown. The waiters all seem to be lifetime employees and provide great service. This is old Chicago dining at its best, the restaurant is in its 3rd generation of family ownership and I am in the 3rd generation of my family's patronage.
(4)Alan F.
A timeless spot; this is exactly as I remember it from the 1970's, and probably little different from the day it opened in 1927. The Village (one of their three separate restaurants) occupies a long, narrow upstairs room, rather dark, illuminated by strings of little incandescent lights. Attractive separate bar area at the front. About the only concession to the 21st Century I noticed was a motion-activated paper towel dispenser in the restroom. The menu is also very traditional, with the usual south-Italian favorites; I had the seafood ravioli (with perfectly-cooked shrimp and scallops in a creamy tomato sauce), and sampled the lasagna and Italian sausage of others in my party. Everything excellent. Friendly and attentive waitress. Not handicapped-accessible, as least with regard to the Village; I'm not sure about Vivere, on the ground floor. Convenient to all public transit lines entering the Loop, and to the theater district.
(4)Mel K.
What a gem. Three level of great Italian food. I ate upstairs where they have great Italian food the way it is suppose to be made. The surprise was that they had Cacciucco (Italian fish soup) just like capino, or bouillabaisse. It was AWESOME, Full of fish, scallops, clams, and calamari. Will definitely go back next time I am in Chicago.
(5)Rachel R.
I feel as though I'm the youngest person here. The decor needs to be updated along with food. Its not the greatest place but if you have to come... eat at the bar upstairs.
(2)CC K.
Amazing late night dinner with colleagues during the ASCO Congress. I had the chicken Della nonna with a cannoli for dessert (all entrees come with soup or salad). My colleagues enjoyed fresh Spinach ravioli and manicotti. We were thrilled to have such a great meal at a reasonable price!
(5)Alexy K.
Worst place I have ever been to. Went last night for my Mom's birthday dinner (She picked the place because of live music). Service was slow, food was greasy, ambiance non-existent. I would give them -5 stars if I could.
(1)Eunice K.
After reading a bunch of magazines about restaurants in Chicago, I came across quite a few recommendations for Italian Village. It is supposedly one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago (from 1920s). Plus with the city being known for having such good Italian food, it was a no brainer. The bad reviews on yelp did make me hesitate a bit, but I was still optimistic! And looking back on my trip to Chicago, I would say it was one of my favorite restaurants! It was also my mom's favorite :) To start we ordered the Shrimp Casalinga ($11.95). This was a small dish of shrimp and mushrooms sauteed in a tomato sherry wine sauce. It was flavorful and yet light - perfect way to start off the evening! (portions a little too small - as you can see from the pictures) For the entree we shared the Cacciucco ($25.95) - this is a tuscan seafood stew with fennel, fish, scallops, calamari, and clams in a tomato, saffron broth. AMAZING! At first all we talk about was how delicious this dish was.. the ingredients were QUALITY. The squid, scallops, mussels, fish! Just DELICIOUS! However, after the dish had lost some of the sizzling temperature, we realized how salty it was! LOL! We ended up finishing up the entire roll of bread!!! And had to drink several bottles of water when we got back to our hotel room :( I think the stew had been stewing for too long!!! You know what I mean? haha The huge table next to us all ordered dessert.. and after seeing several cheesecakes and tiramisu, we couldn't resist and joined them! We ordered a Decaf Cappucino ($4.50) and a Tiramisu ($5.95). The Tiramisu was a little too sweet but a perfect way to end the meal! And the cappucino was also very delicious - rich and creamy! The main reason I'm giving the Italian Village 5 stars is simply due to the quality of the ingredients and the service. Service was JUST EXCEPTIONAL! We truly felt like we were being wined and dined :) We had at least 3 people checking on us constantly and I never saw the bottom of my water cup. The employees take pride in thier restaurant and seemed genuinely happy to be there! And they also didn't mind us tourists and helped us take pictures of our dinner! Definitly would recommend the Italian Village if you're ever in Chicago! :) No wonder they've been successful for so long! Bravo!
(5)Kylie S.
I only went because of its primo location in the theatre district and I was nervous from the mixed reviews, but I had an amazing experience. I sat at the bar for awhile because I was early and the bartenders were really nice (and generous). We were seated quickly once my friends arrived and are server was incredibly cognizant of our showtime. I ordered my pasta spicy, but didn't expect it to actually be so because most Italian places don't have the same definition of "spicy" as me, but it was sooooo good. I was even sweating a little bit. I recommend.
(4)Melanie S.
This place is way past its prime. By about 30 years. My coworkers like to go here as it's close to the office, and I will usually give in and go. Next week, I plan on bringing in food from La Gondola to show them what Italian food is supposed to taste like, which is clearly not airline food like Italian Village serves up. I've tried several different things, hoping to find at least something I'd like, but it's all pretty mediocre. Granted, La Gondola has ruined me for all other Italian food, but still, this place is just really, really not good. I hate to say it since it's the oldest Italian restaurant in the city, but it needs to be put out of its misery.
(2)Dana R.
My sister came into the city for lunch yesterday, and she decided to go to "The Italian Village." She had wanted to try something new and was deciding between here and another place. Let me just say, we should have just gone to the other place. We were both skeptical of ITVR from other yelpers, but we were pretty optimistic that we wouldn't be disappointed. We're fairly easy going food lovers. The interior is what most have said, cheesy looking and outdated. It smelled a little odd,but maybe that was just me. The staff was friendly, and we were greeted and seated quickly. We got there right at opening to beat a lunch crowd. The bread was tough (maybe stale?) and probably the worst that I've ever had at an Italian restaurant. We ordered an appetizer of garlic bread (we love the carbs.) and it was also the worst we've ever had. Tasted like the same bread that was at the table but with butter. It wasn't really garlicky tasting, nor did it have salt or pepper for flavor. Our salads that came with our lunches weren't much to write home about. It was a salad mix with shredded carrot on top. Maybe it was just me, but it tasted like there were lots of spines in it. (The hard crunch part of the leaf?) I did like the bleu cheese dressing. It had crumbles in it, and could have been homemade. After much debate, I settled with the lasagna. I went for the low price and had some faith in the few positive reviews that I had read from my fellow yelpers about it. It was a huge portion, I'll give them that. I was pumped to try the red and the white sauce in it. But it sucked. It tasted like something that would come frozen. The sauce was meaty, but bland. Something like a prego extra meaty sauce was in it. I didn't find anything that I liked about it at all. My sister got some type of noodles with pesto on it. She didn't say anything bad about it, but I noticed she was definitely pushing it around on her plate. During our meal more diners came in, but it seemed like there was an employee meeting going on the whole time. Lots of servers standing around in a circle and talking. It was odd. Towards the end of our meal, there was three people within a four foot radius of our table. One of the them hanging on our booth and staring us down. He even stared as we laid out the tip. Um, awkward? I didn't enjoy the food, and I know that'll I'll never come here again.
(1)Amy S.
After just checking into our hotel last weekend, one of my friends was starving and needed to eat some dinner somewhere close (she was getting a little cranky). We passed a couple of locals on the street, and I asked what they recommended. They suggested this restaurant, which was right down the street so off we went. Upon entering, it looked like a pretty classy restaurant and we were in very casual clothes, but they assured us the restaurant had no dress code and we were fine as we were. We were quickly seated and given menus shortly after. I wasn't too hungry, so I pretty much just kept my friend company while she ate. She ordered some sort of whole wheat pasta with a meat sauce. I had a few bites, as the portion size was plenty for two. It was decent, but nothing special. And definitely not worth the $20 she paid for it. I was happy with my warm bread and olive oil, which was brought to the table while we were waiting for her food. The service was good, the ambiance was nice, and they were quick which was good since I had plans with a friend less than an hour after we go there and had still had to get back to the hotel to get ready. If you're looking for an Italian where mostly tourists go, this may be your place. I, however, prefer places where the locals go and will probably not return.
(2)Michael I.
I LOVE the Italian Village! I'm just going to get that out there now. I heard about it from the concierge at the Palmer House Hilton down the road about 10 years ago. He suggested it is one of the best Italian restaurants in Chicago and all of the locals go there. He was right! There are three stories to the restaurant and each floor has a different menu and style. I gravitated to the top floor because it is their Italian bar & grill. I sat at the bar and in no time I was talking to a lot of people.... including the bartenders. This was my first visit. Every visit after that (both business and pleasure) I made sure to eat there. Most recently I was there for a guys weekend and we all went there to eat and drink. We loved it. If you have a large party, I recommend getting reservations. I have eaten at the basement level fine dining restaurant and it is also excellent. The food is well prepared and very tasty. I recommend eating here whenever you can. I guarantee you will be delighted every time! Mangia!
(5)Sanja Z.
My boyfriend and I came in very late due to his delayed flight, and they welcomed us to come in for a late night dinner. We ordered the caprese, filet mignon, grilled chicken salad and a cannoli. The food and service were amazing! I definitely recommend the cannoli and ask for Elvir to be your server! Very cozy interior. Highly recommended!!
(5)Rachel V.
I never knew Chicago Yelpers were such snobs! I was a little hesitant to try The Village after reading the mediocre reviews on here, but its proximity to the Bank of America Theater outranked the reviews, and I'm glad I went. Is this the kind of restaurant you go when you want the best Italian meal you've ever had? Probably not. But I'm pretty sure there's absolutely nothing wrong with a good Italian meal that isn't pretentious. Sometimes a girl just wants a big bowl of pasta off of a menu that doesn't require a dictionary to understand. The atmosphere is a bit kitschy, but honestly it's weirdly refreshing in a city full of modern and simplistic decor. Once we got our table, our service was excellent. Our waiter and all of the bus boys were really attentive, polite, and friendly without being intrusive. (Upon entering the restaurant, however, the hosts were kind of unfriendly, uninterested, and seemed a little overwhelmed. Plus, they tried to seat us in the "little private dining room" way in the back. I have a real problem with hosts that think they can seat young people in the crappy seating areas.) I wish I could have taken my Fettuccine Alfredo home. It could just be that I've deprived myself of this fatty, creamy, carb-overload dish for so many years, but I really think The Village has the best Alfredo sauce I've ever had.
(4)Rachel L.
So yes, I am reviewing a tourist restaurant downtown. Friends and I went there recently (why is a long sad story). Anyway, I found online that they're supposed to have gluten free options. When the waiter finally wandered over to us, I asked about them. "Are there gluten free options?" "Yes." I blink expectantly at the waiter. "Um, what are they?" As far as I can tell from the confusing quickly-stated items, your choices is you want gluten free are as follows: 1) Gluten free pasta with meat sauce 2) Some chicken dish that's 'safe' I got a salad. Also, at some point, the manager, or a manager, sort of ran up to our table and waved in our faces saying loudly, "Hi ladies!" And then he left. It was super odd.
(2)Jake B.
We went there last week I was immediately put off thinking that the appearance of the place was that kind of gaudy vegas tourist trap type stuff and it would be like a generic chain place or something. In 10 minutes, my opinion turned around. We had great service, a phenominal meal, the Sommelier (Ryan) helped me pick a wine (Nebiolo based Piedmont) that was exactly was I was looking for. Being allergic to a few kinds of seafood, I asked them to make the fruitti de mare without shrimp or scallops. The exec chef came out to make sure that there was nothing else I was allergic to, as he wanted to add some other things for me in place of the shrimp - and I was very pleased. We finished with a beautiful port that we asked Ryan to pick out for us, and again, really happy. We will be back; it is a special occasion type place for us, but we will be back.
(5)Meghan G.
I came here with my husband before seeing the Book of Mormon last night. It's just across the street from the theater, and neither of us had eaten at this Chicago institution before, so we thought it would be fun to check it out. We ate at the Village, upstairs. It was cute. Yes, overdone in a somewhat kitschy "Italian Village" theme, complete with faux-terra cotta roofs and twinkly stars in the ceiling, but honestly, I adored it. It was different from your typical super modern look, and done in a very earnest, even romantic way. The servers were all dressed in suits and bowties, and they were kind. We sat at a table for two. The restaurant is crowded and cramped, but it didn't disturb us in the least. The fresh bread was delicious, the salad was crisp with great house dressing. My seafood ravioli was a bit bland, but didn't make me ill, as creamy tomato sauces often do. My husband had the meat ravioli with the arrabbiata (spicy tomato) sauce, which he enjoyed. We also had an excellent bottle of Chianti. Overall, decent food (not the best I've ever had, but good). Great ambiance, solid service, decent prices ($68 for two entrees and a bottle of wine, in the Loop). We'd be happy to return!
(4)Adele n.
This place is a charming old Chicago institution. You're paying a premium for the charm, not the food (although food's pretty good too). The upstairs bar is a special little nook, perfect for meeting friends after work downtown to canoodle under the twinkly little lights while Scott serves up some strong drinks. It's a tad corny, but just embrace the cheese, and you'll have a great time. The staff has a great way of making me feel like a cool celebrity whenever I go here. This bar has more character than almost anywhere else to grab a drink downtown. Everything else seems sterile, boring and corporate by comparison. Food is middle-of-the-road Italian. There's an emphasis on gut-busting portion sizes, not necessarily subtle flavors or presentation. I'll skip it for dinner, but I'm sure I'll be back for appetizers and drinks again.
(3)Terri B.
As I am slightly new to the Chicago area (was born near South Philly in PA), I was craving Italian food, so thought I would try a Chicago Landmark... did you know that that a section of Monroe St. has a honorary street sign called The Italian Village Restaurant Way?... Anyway, arrived on a Sat night at 5pm and thank goodness we had reservations, it was hopping... The food was slightly disappointing though, I had the manicotti (or "man a gut" as I am used to hearing it called by South Philly Italians) with a side of meatballs. The manicotti was obviously warmed up under a broiler (that burned the ends of the tender crapes) and the meatballs were only slightly warm on the inside... Disappointing. I can say I went to this Chicago landmark, but know better to go somewhere else for good Italian food.
(2)Cathy B.
This place is stupid. The food is exactly like what I would expect from a special occasion church dinner in the Fellowship Hall of my country childhood church in the midwest. Salty soup. Stale bread. Over-dressed salad on lettuce past its prime. Cheap wine. Entrees that emphasize cheese over anything else. Just stupid and I can't believe I fell for it. OK, so the decor is fun and worth a quick look-see. But for a meal, never again. Plus, my God, where do they get their servers from? Ours started talking to our table from across the room. And, when serving, actually plopped our plates down and waved his hand listlessly across the table as he said, with a turned head, "You've got your cheese over there." Wow. Thanks. Stupid.
(1)Liz K.
I'm kinda bummed. I used to go to this place a decent amount as a kid, and it was always something special. I love the ambiance, it's still really fun to come here, but the food is just kind of "meh" now. I went here for lunch, and they have a pretty good deal on lunch specials. I got the tortellini with pesto and a cup of soup for 11.95. The soup was chicken broth with about 10 small pieces of pasta in it -- not bad, but nothing special. The pasta portion was HUGE, which is great since I love leftovers -- but the pesto seemed like something from a jar and the pasta wasn't really anything special. Overall it just tasted like weak pesto sauce and so-so pasta. A bit disappointing. I've been here for dinner before and had a better meal, so maybe I just came at an "off" time.
(3)Jassen S.
This was my first visit here. I went with an Italian Classic, the lasagna. It was extra $$ to have it baked with cheese and extra to have blue cheese dressing with my salad. Salad was the best part of the meal. Lasagna tasted like canned sauce and meat. Not good at all. Great service though and nice atmosphere but basically an Olive Garden at this point.
(1)Bharat W.
This is probably the worst Italian food I have ever had, a complete travesty in fact. Pros: The staff is very friendly and the inside decor is pretty good to. Cons: 1. The staff doesn't understand restaurant etiquette. At one point they put a cart in front of my seat blocking my exit to the restroom and it had some other table's food right next to me. 2. The chicken soup was not edible. I took one sip of the broth and it tasted worst than can product. 3. The server highly recommended the fruta di mare, made with scallops, shrimp, mussels, on pasta. The pasta was not properly cooked and the red basic italian sauce was almost flavorless. How do you get the sauce wrong??? If you want good Italian, go to La Scarolla, Sabatinos up North, Piccolo Sogno, or even Olive Garden beats this place by a mile. Don't fall into the trap for suburbanites.
(1)Ise B.
No restaurant anywhere I know is such a point of learning. No other restaurant meets my needs as a descendant of Romans. I undergo transformations. I hope Italian Village will be able to follow me in these often surprising turns of tide of battle, and often the victory depends on a successful meal here, and they do a fantastic job of figuring out what that means. My apologies for a recent incident where my use of the ladies room as a transgender male to female was objected to. It's not always possible to comfort ladies in the rest room who do not know that Illinois law protects my right to use the ladies room if my drivers license is marked female, and it is. What would I do without Italian Village? hard to imagine
(5)Brian M.
I'm glad I went. This place really is a landmark restaurant, and I hope to eat on each level at least once. However, the food on the center level is good. It's nothing more nor less. Service is very friendly and efficient. A restaurant doesn't always have to be exceptional to be a good place to gather friends and enjoy yourself.
(3)Jamey J.
Amazing service. Affordable prices. Great atmosphere! Perfect for a quick lunch if you work in the area. Would highly recommend!
(5)Crys A.
Oh my God...what fresh hell? This place is awful. I've been upstairs and I've been downstairs and wow, it's ALWAYS bad. Last time I was there I was with an actual Eye-talian who wanted to throw up after eating his spaghetti and meatballs. I had the fettuccine with chicken and was able to doctor it with salt and pepper and parmesean and red pepper flakes so that it was at least somewhat edible. Emphasis on somewhat. Why are people still going here? Do they have no palate? I'm trying not to be horrible but honestly, they call this Italian food? Really? No man. This ain't Italian food. This is shoot-yourself-in-the-mouth dining at it's finest. Do. Not. Want.
(1)Amy K.
Girl's Night Favorite!
(5)Sarah S.
Not the greatest Chicago has to offer, but it's decent enough. It's basically my fallback for when I'm in the area with friends, we don't have anything in particular in mind, and Italian sounds fine. I've only ever been upstairs, to "the Village." Vivere, on the ground floor, looks pretty fancy and I always feel like I'm probably under-dressed, and I've never been downstairs to La Cantina so I don't know what's going on down there. There will sometimes be people dressed up at Italian Village, but don't be fooled - I've always felt that the atmosphere was really casual, and I've gone in there in a hoodie and not felt out of place. The place is pretty cute. Kind of kitsch, but I guess that's why I like it. It's decorated to look like a little Italian village, complete with lights strung between the "buildings," a prop water wheel, and a painted backdrop. I usually go with the Three Cheese Tortelli, which is good, though I've also tried some other things that were pretty decent. Each entree comes with a soup or salad. I've only had the salad, and it was fine. The reviews on the service seem to go either way, but I think it's pretty good. Everything always comes out pretty quickly and I've always found the servers to be polite and attentive.
(3)Ed D.
I've been here multiple times and have had the chicken vesuvio, chicken parmesan, lasagna and others. Their lasagna is probably my favorite but every time I thought the food tasted really good. The ambiance is nice and the wait staff is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable for both lunch and dinner. The place always seems packed and yet we never have to wait that long. Definitely a place to visit in downtown if you like Italian food.
(4)L. S.
We went there around 5:30 pm on a Wednesday and didn't expect much of a wait. Much to our surprise, there was a 40 minute wait. No problem- we weren't that hungry to begin with and we just walked around outside. We came back 30 minutes later and checked in again with the hostess. They had already called our name, but pushed us to the top of the list! YAY! It has beautiful ambiance however, it seems that they tried to squeeze too many tables into the space. I could overhear other people's conversations and the servers were constantly running into each other. There is a large menu with reasonable prices. We filled up on the bread and olive oil waiting for our food. The lasagna was amazing, the eggplant parmesan was good. However, the chicken marsala was a bit dry and the noodles were definitely overcooked. Our server came by to check and I told him about my dish (just the noodles because they were so horrible- I hate to complain). He came back a few minutes later with another side order of noodles for me. Great service.
(4)Melissa F.
Came here one evening for a valentines dinner. I'm sure it was more crowded than usual which is fine, but we were seated in the hallway at the bottom of the stairs when you first walk in. Awkward. Never made it to the other ends of the restaurant. The food was just normal Italian food. Nothing too special.
(3)Leo R F.
Love this place. Been to all 3 levels over the years. Old school, traditional & the best. When my wife & I have a special occasion, this is where we go. A play or just a nice dinner. We've never been disappointed. Hope they don't ruin it by "updating" anything!
(5)Marianne L.
A great place for some pasta and good conversation. The special of the day - linguine with lobster and white wine sauce - was exceptional. I rarely order lobster outside of my native New England but this was cooked to perfection and plentiful in the dish. Having gotten up at 5 am and gone straight to work in the hotel, my entire consumption for the day had been a Chicago dog and some fries at lunch, and 2 cubes of cheese at a client's reception. I was starved and still had several hours of work to do back at the hotel that night. As my colleague and I left the gallery hosting the reception we started the "ok, were can we get some food" meandering. We agreed on Italian, and pulling up the Yelp app on my phone - Italian Village was highly rated and close by. Yeah, some days I'm just happy to have the gadget decide aspects of my life. Italian Village is the upstairs establishment of a stack of 3 Italian restaurants. Its also the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago dating back to 1924. The place is absolutely charming. Laid out to resemble a narrow Italian street, it is littered with little cubbyholes representing individual houses - a perfect place for small groups to have a semi-private meal. And ideal for a casual date night. I'll be back here again - and probably allow myself time to enjoy dinner here and then stroll downstairs to take in some after dinner cocktails at one of the other 2 places.
(4)Patty R.
We have eaten here before, and we liked it, so we made a reservation for an anniversary celebration. This time, we ate in the Italian Village section, which is very charming. They seated us immediately, and we waited for the rest of our party to arrive, while we had wine and appetizers. I like that we didn't have to wait to be seated until everyone arrived. The waitstaff was very helpful and attentive. We were seated in a small private "room", where we had privacy, and I was relieved that my small grandson would not disturb other diners, as he likes to sing. The waiters asked if my grandson would like to go to the lounge and sing a song with the entertainment. He said yes, and we had one of the most fun times ever! The trio graciously played a request, and my grandson sang a verse. The patrons in the lounge kindly applauded. Best anniversary gift ever! We all ordered from the daily specials menu, and everyone enjoyed their entrée very much. Because we had two bottles of wine, I cannot recall the exact names of the dishes, but mine was a crab stuffed fish, and my husband had a lobster sauced pasta. Everyone loved the desserts, too. We felt very well taken care of, and loved all of the food and drink. This restaurant has been here forever, but it is still great, and we will be back.
(5)Katie M.
I loved the Italian Village! It was beautiful, food was great, and service prompt and friendly. Great place for a date!
(5)Lawrence Y.
I came here a looong time ago in 2007 and I finally found my way back here the other night after a show at the BOFA Theatre. The good thing is that they are open later than most restaurants. So if you are watching a show in the neighborhood, keep this place in mind. I do like their attempt to make the ambiance more authentic - strung lights, details on the wall, etc. Though some of the "buildings" did start to feel like Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. But it's a beautiful day. The server we had was pretty good, came back a good amount of times, offered us dessert menus. The food, however left me a little underwhelmed. Perhaps I had purposely forgotten about it for four years. There wasn't a thing on the menu that really grabbed out at me. I'm sure it's all delicious - but maybe the menu just needs more options. Anyway, I kind of picked the "Seafood salad" like a dodgeball team would pick a fat kid - last resort. It was okay - definitely not worth getting a second time around.
(3)Jessica C.
When I was told I was going to the Italian Village for a date, I imagined an actual Italian American Community in Chicago. The disappointment was heart breaking, but why be sad when it seems to be a nice Italian restaurant. Not the authentic village I was hoping for but the terracotta village has its charms. The service and staff here are very professional and attentive, but it doesn't make up for the food. I'm not Italian in any way, but I know I can and have made better Italian dishes at home. The Shrimp Casalinga appetizer was a good dish I enjoyed the flavor, but the shrimp were small and only six of them. The dish was 12.75, so I'm not expecting a mountain of shrimp, but why not charge more for shrimp that are a better size. After that flavor became non existent at this meal. The Caesar salad was dreadful it tasted like romaine with oil and old bread, no Parmesan. The Parmesan and anchovies give a Caesar salad its flavor, I don't understand a Caesar without good Parmesan. My date had the chicken both that he also found unnecessary to eat. The entrees we ordered were chicken Marsala and veal cutlet parmigiana, both were bland. The Veal was smothered in cheese to make up for a red sauce that tasted like it wasn't worthy of passing in a High School cooking class. The food was cooked without seasoning and nothing is worse than eating a meal packed with table salt. Since I didn't find myself able to eat majority of the food, I constantly kept having sips of wine (four glasses). Despite my lack of enjoyment for the food, I thought dessert could lend some redemption. The tiramisu was watery with no flavor and bad texture. By this time I had an entire uneaten dinner, I had to send the dessert back. The chocolate moose cake that came out was nothing to help make this a better night, the glass was full of moose with a piece of cake the size of a small post it note. I've never been one of those girls to go on a date and starve, then find myself dying to go home at the end of the night to eat. This night I was that girl going home to eat leftovers and not the ones from the Italian Village.
(2)Mary T.
I've been to The Village (upstairs) and Vivere (street level) several times and while neither is a favorite, I much prefer the ambiance, menu and food at Vivere. Business is what brought me to Italian Village this time, and what always brings me here. I really think this location is less than ideal for business lunches. The website describes the booths as "cozy," that's being kind - think secluded, but cramped. Our booth this visit overlooked the "refill station" or the place where they store water pitchers, silverware, glasses, etc. Of the three tables in this area, ours wasn't the worst. The worst table had to be the open table smack dab in front of that area; there's even a little wall so you can't move further away from it. Think chef's table, but instead of watching some culinary genius, you get to to be entertained by staff grabbing silverware and supplies - riveting, I know. For my lunch I ordered the agnolotti, which is a pretentious way of saying semi-round ravioli. My meal came with a choice of soup or salad, I went with the salad. The house salad dressing was good, but heavy on the chunks of iceberg lettuce. The agnolotti was adequate. The pasta portion was actually quite delicate, I just found the overall dish to be rather bland. I really hated the presentation of the dish, the sauce was on the bottom and the naked agnolotti sat on top. First of all, the exposed pasta cooled quickly, it didn't have its little sweater of sauce to keep it warm. Second, I was pushing and flipping the agnolotti around my plate to adequately sauce them, hoping not to splash myself or colleagues in the process (success!). Service was fine, but it felt a little awkward due to the booth set up. Any time our server wanted to talk to us, he had to pop his head into our little booth-cave. This meant he occassionally (and seemingly unintentionally) interrupted someone mid-sentence. Bottom line: You won't see me rushing back here of my own accord.
(2)Michael W.
My wife and I stopped here for a drink one weeknight after catching a show across the street, and I was immediately taken with the quiet atmosphere and Italian countryside murals replete with little twinkling lights set in the wall. There weren't many people at the upstairs bar on a Thursday night, but I appreciated the subdued mood. This isn't a place to impress your date with sophistication, but rather a place to relax with someone you love.
(4)Julia B.
I cant believe this place only has 3 stars. I thought the atmosphere was darling, the staff was friendly (even for a very busy night) and the food was spectacular. We were on the second floor and the decor makes you feel like you're on a romantic Italian set balcony with twinkle lights. I got the chicken rotolini which is chicken with mushrooms sauteed in a wine sauce served with fettacini...it was to die for. I loved it! This is a definite place to stop for some good Italian food.
(5)Kate P.
Came here after a show at Bank of America down the street. It was 10 o'clock on a Sunday. They seated us right away. Food was authentic and delicious. Got the seafood ravioli. Delicious!
(4)Mary M.
When I visit new cities, I like to eat at the locally owned restaurants to experience the culture of that city. I was staying downtown and the hotel desk clerk recommend the Italian Village for dinner - it was only a block from our hotel. The ambiance is quaint and charming. Looking around in the booth we were sat in, I got the feeling that at one time there was some "business" done in this restaurant (if you know what I mean). Some of the staff was extremely friendly and some was a bit aloof - love them or hate them, that's what Italians are like. I thought the food was fabulous. For anyone who's grown up in an Italian family, you'll know, it's what Italian food is - simple, unpretentious, earthy. I loved the character of the place, the personality of the staff, and the food; and the next time I'm in Chicago, I will be going back.
(5)Danny S.
This was about the only place other than McDonald's open on a Sunday night in this area of downtown Chicago and it looks like an A-class tourist trap. Went inside and was pleasantly surprised by the atmosphere and the food. It's not the greatest Italian food I've ever had (it is pretty much still a tourist trap) but it was filling with good portions. The prices are a little steep for the quality but not that out of the ordinary for a large city. I ate upstairs with my friend but after checking out the main and lower floors kind of wish we had gone to one of the other areas. The decor in those other areas looks much more interesting so you might want to give those floors a shot.
(3)Kai B.
Good food, good service, a little too dark for my taste. Almost 5 stars, but only almost
(4)M M.
Service was good and food was great. However I think the food is overpriced but that's what I expected for downtown chicago. Major drawback was we got put in a tiny little 8x8 room in the back. There were 7 tables jammed in there and I could barely pull my chair out with the people behind me. Why were we not seated in the main dining room?? Will not be going back with so many other options in the area.
(3)Barbara d.
The host and waiters were welcoming, friendly and seemed happy to see us the moment we stepped inside. Sad that this is so refreshing, but I can't remember the last time I wasn't greeted with a gruff, "how many?" The decor was charming. So many little nooks and little private dining rooms and alcoves. It might be a little on the dark side for some, but I thought it was romantic and "cozy"--and I could see the food just fine. ;-) Pumpkin ravioli special for me and salmon for my husband. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was really good and tasted fresh. Might be a little on the expensive side, but we'd be back just for the tiramisu.
(4)Lauren W.
Good portions of great tasting Italian food in a nice atmosphere; great service. A can't beat location. The tiramisu and the wines by the glass were just average. I would go back.
(3)Peggy T.
I was invited to this restaurant for dinner with my boyfriend's grandparents. They have been going here for years after they see a show at the Chicago Theater. I was surprised to learn that this is Chicago's oldest Italian Restaurant. We ate upstairs, but I was told they have 2-3 restaurants in the same building. We were seated in a booth that was secluded in a private nook. It was cool, we were seated away from other tables, but it was right next to a busboy stand/server area. Our server was really nice and friendly, he was quite knowledgeable of the menu too. They were serving Corned Beef and cabbage for Saint Patricks day, which I was surprised about. One guest with us got it and loved it! I got a Gnocci dish with tomato cream sauce which was really good, the Gnocci was very soft and tasty. My boyfriend got the Eggplant Parmesan and that was great too. Two people in our group got the Corned Beef Sandwiches to go (so they could have them for lunch on the real Saint pattys day). They both loved them and the server even threw in salads for them too. The only con of this place is that I didnt like my wine (it was a Pinot Grigio) and my boyfriend didnt really like his either (he had a red one). Other than that, we were impressed!
(4)Ross R.
Hands down! Some of the worst food in Chicago. I've been here twice (to the basement restaurant, whatever the difference is) and both times the food was atrocious. Visit 1: I had a boar sausage and pea pasta dish that I still remember almost 2 years later because of how terrible it was. Visit 2: I had a white fish entree that was sort of strangely undercooked and otherwise terrible. The broccoli on the plate was limp and watery and I had a lovely mealy minestrone soup to start. Likewise the food is very overpriced If there were an Olive Garden near by, I would choose to dine there instead...that is saying a lot. Astonishingly terrible!
(1)Allen B.
This place has a great rustic feel. The waitstaff is fast and kind. They'll cater to your needs in every aspect from getting you a more comfortable chair to getting you a cleaner fork. The upstairs decor is beautiful. This place does a fantastic job in trying to make the customer feel as if they are dining in Italy. Their ceilings are painted like the sky with drifts of clouds. It resembles dining out on a summer night in which the sun has fallen and the only illumination guiding you is the candles that are burning on the tables. Another great aspect of the Italian Village are the dining coves. There are sections along the wall in which you are enclosed in a booth that seats 2, 4, and 6 people. Not enough to make you feel claustrophobic, but just enough to make you feel comfortable in which it'll make you want to come back and enjoy more of their italian fare.
(3)Mary H.
We ate here before the theater last night and couldn't have been more pleased. The server, Luis, was most helpful with his recommendations and getting us out on time for curtain without feeling rushed. Today I called there to ask the name of the wine I had enjoyed and he took quite a bit of time with me, offering the name and making some other recommendations as well. One thing we didn't know that we'll take advantage of next time, is that you can valet the car for $10 and they'll hold it for not only dinner but also the theater! Much more reasonable than the $36 at the self-park a block away!
(5)Amy R.
I'm giving it a 4 because I hope to go back and get the full experience. We went on a Saturday evening. Mistake #1. It was super busy and the wait was forever, but was to be expected for DT Chicago on a Saturday evening. Mistake # 2- Drinking too much wine prior to going. Having to wait in a crowded sardine packed bar area was not fun. It was really hot, loud and there was no place to sit down. The menu was extensive. I finally chose the Shrimp Linguni with broccoli which was excellent as a to go item. I was not feeling well at all and had to leave, but ended up eating it much later that evening. The shrimp and broccoli sauteed in garlic was quite tasty even cold. My hotel room didn't have a microwave. It's a quaint Chicago staple that is a must try. I hope to return, only this time to dine in.
(4)Matt T.
Had the truffle ravioli, a glass of wine (fine, two glasses of wine), a dessert, and a coffee here at the bar the other night. Service was prompt and the food was good. I didn't look around the dining room to get a feeling for the mood, but everything was just okay, not great, but just okay. I would try it again if I were in the area and needed an Italian fix, but won't go out of my way.
(3)Heather B.
We were looking for something open past 7 pm in the Loop for dinner. We heard that the Italian Village was the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago and couldn't pass up the opportunity to eat there. We were seated without delay in a tiny nook. The pasta is all hand made and they grow their own herbs. I swear the meat sauce was THE BEST I EVER HAD. We enjoyed the eggplant parm, the lasagna and the ravioli.
(5)Chris S.
This is the "room service" restaurant for the LaQuinta Hotel in downtown Chicago (1 S. Franklin) and it leaves *much* to be desired. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and it set me back $26 and was worth (taste wise) about $8. The chicken was very over-cooked and dry -- a pretty amazing feat given that it was in a bath of marsala wine sauce. The sauce was pretty good, but the canned mushrooms (all four of them) were pretty blah. This was probably the worst Chicken Marsala I've ever had (and one of the most expensive!) The pasta side that came with it was tiny (maybe 1 cup?) but was okay. The bread was nothing to write home about, but I did think it was nice of them to include it. The delivery guy was very weird and actually showed up with a 'Helper" - so there were two guys at the door when I got my order. I would *not* recommend this place, nor would I eat here again.
(2)Tareq A.
This place was horrid from the atmosphere to the bill can't say anything good other than the bread was ok Service 4/10 the waiter was nice just didn't belong to that restaurant Food 2/10 out of 7 dishes soup salad appet and entrée salad was greens out of a bag with probably Kraft dressing But the meal left a bad taste and the bill was way too expensive for crappy food skip this place and Go to the grand lux ...... 10 star amazing and don't skip the benegiets
(1)Frank N.
This place used to be the restaurant where my wife and I celebrated our anniversary. I've been coming here for about 13 years and sadly the last couple of times have been sub-par. The ambiance is excellent with the true Italian landscape theme with quaint and cozy seating. The last two times we were seated, we were placed in the back room with no windows and seemed more like a "kids room". We felt ignored back there and promptly asked to be seated in the main room considering I made reservations well in advance. That request was met with a snide smirk and attitude. Aside from that, I have never been disappointed in the food and wines. My wife always loved the house Cavalchino Merlot Veneto which was the house wine, but unfortunately not imported any longer. While, the menu is dicerse and plentiful, I always stick with the Mostaciolli with the spict arrabiata suace. Don't know what it is but I am addicted to it! A little bit of spice goes and long way and gets my juices flowing (For later) :)
(3)Anne F.
Salmon puttanesca was delicious - moist and tender. The escarole that is served with it was wonderful. Veal... Kinda tough.
(4)Jack K.
If you like stale, ice cold bread and Italian food that is out of a can eat here!
(1)Maria A.
This restaurant was highly recommended by a friend of mine, I came with high expectations... it was my first time in Chicago so I picked this place over many others to have dinner one of my 3 nights there. Total disappointment. The ravioli with pink sauce tasted like it could have been boiled by me from a package and sauced over with jar sauce. I tried really hard to like it, the ambiance was awesome and service excellent, but gosh they really need to work on the quality and taste of their food. I got the chance to meet one of the Chefs, as he was a friend of my friend, and this guy had such incredibly impressive credentials... I would have thought a restaurant that houses such an accomplished chef would reflect that in their menu. Lots of potential... but your food is subpar.
(2)Rachell E.
I'm NOT a fan of Italian-American food! So now that that's out of the way let me tell you all of the reasons I love The Italian Village. First of all, this is the only place I can actually eat Spaghetti. It's flavored so well, I mean the sauce, OMG the sauce is amazing. I had no need for meat or salt or pepper or anything else! Prior to having the Spaghetti at TIVR I had been avoiding pastas with red sauce althogether because I hadn't found any that actually tasted good. Thank you TIVR for popping my pasta cherry! Now moving on from the Spaghetti, have you ever had spumoni? Well even if you have, you haven't, if you haven't had it here. The flavor is so delicious, I wish they made cones to take with you. Lastly, I love TIVR because it's three friggin restaurants in one location and I can never make up my mind where I want to eat so I love having three choices in one spot. The food is tasty and the location is downtown Chicago, but the prices are mid-range!! GO!
(4)Tina S.
Been eating at this place since working in downtown Chicago years ago - it is the best Italian and pizza in the loop! Got the opportunity to return to Chicago on business recently and was happy to find they delivered to my hotel. The bar in the basement is a hiddern gem with one of the nicest bartenders ever!
(5)Meghan D.
I had fond memories of this place since my husband took me here on one of our first dating Valentines days together like 14 years ago. However, we recently went back last weekend and I was surprised that we EVER liked this place. The only good things about this place is it has been around a long time, so has some charm and history. Also, it is a good location if you are going to the theatre or symphony. Olive oil tastes watered down. I've had better bread. We both ordered seafood and that was probably our mistake. Fish was cooked so-so and came with a side of their veggie of the day. Steamed green beans and carrots. So blah. The veggies had no seasoning or anything on them. We added olive oil and salt pepper from the table to try and dress them up a bit, but didn't really help. For the price you are paying I expect a bit better especially the veggies. It was like someone just microwaved them and stuck them on the plate. I remember the pasta dishes tasting better, but I probably won't go back to test that theory. Hostess was friendly at the door, waitress was very attentive, but not friendly.
(2)Moni K.
I came here Tuesday night for dinner before a show at the Chicago Symphony. There are 3 different restaurants inside one ----in the basement is la Cantina, main floor is Viviere and top floor is The Village My friend and I ate at the The Village on the top floor. We both ordered the same items of the menu. She copied me. We had the Agnolotti--- supposed homemade cheese spinach filled pasta in tomato basil sauce. Pretty much a big spinach pierogi covered in tomato sauce. It was good, very generous portion. Each entree included soup or salad. We chose the salad with vinaigrette. It was very good but we each got only ONE cherry tomato. Bread was excellent. I loved the bread. Service was very attentive. Waiter very cute however I got the feeling the restaurant was trying to pass this cute boy as an Italian while I am pretty sure he was Spanish. Decor is very romantic. The string of lights around the restaurant really makes the mood. Must visit just once.
(4)Leana G.
Most delicious and flavorful Italian meal ever experienced.
(5)Ben B.
Six Facts about Italian Village (upstairs): 1. The bread is always delicious. 2. The waiters always make you feel like they have something better to do. 3. The wait time for a table is never that bad. 4. The place does feel cozy for as many people cram in there. 5. The price is reasonable, compared to a lot of Chicago Italian joints. 6. I'd go back again without hesitation. The best dish I've ever had there is the Chicken Vesuvio. It takes longer to make, but the meat just falls off the bone.
(4)E M.
One of my faves in the city. We have only ever eaten upstairs, but have been there countless times in my 41 years here on earth :) The atmosphere is wonderful -- really old world. Only once have we ever waited for an exhorbitant amount of time, and frankly the place is so much fun to just "be" in, I've never minded waiting. Kids are treated well here, and the staff even tried to accomodate us once when we asked on a busy Friday night if we could get into one of their booths, which are scattered about the room in cute little nooks. The food is great...I usually get the lasagna which is out of this world, but I have never disliked anything I've tried. Even the olive oil and breadsticks are good. Service has always been great. The only negative thing I can think of to say is that the place is a bit cramped, so if you don't like being able to see what your neighbor is having (I think that's a good thing -- you learn about more of the food they offer that way!) then try one of the other two restaurants in the building. Again, to me this translates to "old world" italian. Nostalgia is a great thing when it's done well.
(5)Samantha R.
We came here as a Christmas gift for my boyfriend's mother. She picked it out and none of us had ever been, so we decided to try it out. We had a reservation at 6 and got to the restaurant early. We told one of the managers who was seating guests that we were content to sit in the bar until six. The manager offered to seat us early, which was great! We were lead into a very crowded seating area and seated at an incredibly small table for the three of us. The table was right in the aisle and my boyfriend was getting bumped by everyone walking by. There were carts of food all over and it was very crowded. Next to us were several unattended booths that would have better suited us. We asked our server, Austin, who was very kind and knowledgeable, to see a manager so we could ask to move to another table. One of the three managers (not the one who had seated us) came to us and said, "Since you demanded to be seated early, you have to sit at this table. There is nothing we can do for you." He then walked away before any of us could say anything to him. My boyfriend's mother got up and found all of the managers and addressed them, saying how we didn't ask to be seated earlier, we could have waited, and she then singled out the rude manager. Immediately, we were re-seated in one of the surrounding booths and the rude manager kept coming over throughout our meal, but his prior rudeness left a bad taste in our mouths. Now, the food. My boyfriend's mother and I both ordered the Maine lobster alfredo and my boyfriend ordered plain fettucini. The food came with bread, salad, or soup. I ordered salad and it was very small, only a few leaves of lettuce, and the lettuce was soaking wet, not crisp as it should be. The bread was incredibly hard, very hard, actually. My fettucini with lobster, tomatoes, scallions, and mushrooms was alright, hardly worth the $26.95 it cost. It was filling and heavy, which is fine, but not as flavorful as I thought it would be. I was slightly disappointed. For three people with no drinks, it was $81, which I thought was fairly pricey. Not a good place for a quiet dinner. Very loud, cramped, okay food, and the manager really turned me off, which is a shame, because all other members of the staff were incredibly kind. I will not be returning, neither will my boyfriend's mother, as she was disappointed with the experience as well.
(2)Jackie C.
Just went there last weekend, and let me just say I had an amazing time! Great food, great service, great vibe...although I must say, I was rather disappointed in the booth they sat us in. I couldn't appreciate the outstanding scenery, creating a romantic feel. That would've been the topping on the cake, concluding a wonderful night.
(4)Jay K.
I'm going with two stars. The upstairs hasn't been updated in about fifty years but I guess that may be the attraction to some. We had reservations for five on a Friday night and as soon as we arrived we were seated. Big brownie points. Our server was excellent. More brownie points. We sat in a booth on the top tier in the back of the restaurant that had a small 'cutout' in the backrest with some kind of sculpture in it that was lighted. It made my back hot and I had to keep leaning forward to keep from getting overheated. No I couldn't move there was no place to go, our booth was packed. No brownie points. The food was average to below average in flavor and very pricy. I've had better Chicken Vesuvio at tons of joints. The thin pizza was average at best and the salad was one of the weakest salads flavor wise in recent memory One brownie point. The bar area is truly unique with it's high ceilings and what is probably the original bar. During the week they have free pizza for 'happy hour'. Four brownie points. There are dozens of Italian restaurants in the area and I wish we would tried another one.
(2)Elise K.
An average Italian restaurant that is a bit over priced for lunch, yet perfectly situated next to my building. I came here for lunch with a friend to catch up. For the price and the genre we expected to have leftovers, but portions were small. For $22 each we had a fixed price meal featuring bread, salad or soup (I had a salad), pasta entree and a dessert. The bread was warm and my small salad was pleasant enough. My pasta was fine. Nothing especially special however. The desert choice was a dry cannoli that was meager at best. I guess you get what you pay for, but after tax and tip, lunch was nearly $30 per person. Service was okay, but I honestly expected it to be both better and faster considering the lack of filled tables.
(3)Paola C.
Amazing spot, amazing food, great service and Frank Sinatra style live music. What else could a guest ask for? We loved eating at the Italian village upstairs. Here you can find the real Italian food, said by a 100% Italian. We ordered cannelloni to share and they brought one cannellone each, just awesome, smart service. Perfect. Worth a second visit.
(4)Mahsa T.
I'm giving this place two stars because I don't recommend anyone go here. I know I certainly won't be going back. While their lunch special ($8.50 I think) is a good deal for soup or salad, entree, and spumoni, it isn't such a good deal when you factor in taste, quality and portion. My chicken was just ok, but sat heavy in my stomach all day and the sauce gave me heart burn. The salad was a disappointment--looked like they took it out of a bag and put it on a plate. My coworker didn't finish his minestrone soup because he didn't like it. The spumoni was served too cold/frozen and a little tasteless for a dessert. Service was good and our large party was well taken care of, but that doesn't make up for the bad food.
(2)David O.
These guys are evidently the only way to get Room Service at the La Quinta Hotel Downtown Chicago. That's a bloody shame cuz the dinner I had from there was just blaaahhh... I ordered a bowl of minestrone soup and a 4 cheese pizza. That set me back $35 with gratuity. I've had better meals of equal quantity for about $15 elsewhere. The pizza was pretty much lukewarm by the time it got to me. The soup, while plentiful, tasted like Progresso. I'd say avoid this place, either as room service or at the restaurant... There's a Chipotle Grill around the corner. You'll get a much better meal there, guys!
(2)Mary Kate D.
Hidden bar in the basement with quality drinks and a smaller menu. Who knew?! There used to be a piano bar down here 20 some years ago.
(4)Linda N.
Came here for an after work function. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meal but all of us (15) suffered in an amazingly overheated room. Really ruined the experience. We were on the 2nd floor and I agree with the comments on the charming decor but Id have enjoyed it more if I wasnt ready to pass out from the heat (it was THAT bad). Everyone commented on it- so it wasnt me having a moment. I had mushroom chicken risotto which was good and easily had enough for dinner the following evening. Not spectacular, not terrible. Just good, but overpriced. Guess it's the area. Comical theatrical older waiter but needs to take cues. My boss, who was paying for our meal, was justifyably perturbed with his talking over her-- he was so into his schpiel (sp?),she she couldnt get a word in to give him any direction.
(3)Rocco H.
I can't get enough of this place. I have been the the downstairs and upstairs sections, and both times were incredible. While the prior is more intimate, the later is more of a business lunch occasion. My favorite dish is far and away the lasagna. Something about the meat sauce and cheese they use make it taste so authentic and different than any thing you can make yourself or purchase. I can understand peoples sentiment that the place is outdated, but if you're looking for an old-school, classic Italian eating experience, this is the place.
(5)Steve M.
Italian Village is the quintessential tourist trap Italian restaurant for those visiting Chicago and staying in the loop. Sure, the interior is cool, but I just couldn't help but feel like I was in a restaurant modeled after some sort of Italian Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World. (That or some scene from Lady and the Tramp, where a fat old cook and his sous chef were going to pop out of the corner and start singing "Toooniiight is the niiiiight... a most beauuutifffffll niiight....") Food was largely unimpressive given the prices, with way too many simple X in Red Sauce or Y in Alfredo Sauce choices. Service was good. We had 2 servers for our large group, and they seemed to keep everyone's beverage and food orders straightened out. If you're with the right folks, it can be a fun kitschy time. Luckily, I was. :)
(3)Amy H.
Delicious!!! The Italian Village was visit #3 in the spring-break-a-thon of visits that I received. This time, it was my aunt, uncle, and cousin. My cousin was staying at the Palmer House and my aunt and uncle drove down to see him and go for dinner (or as my aunt still says "supper.") We picked Italian Village because it was close to the Palmer House. The food was YUUUUMMY!!! My aunt and I each had the swordfish and my cousin and uncle both had steaks. All were delicious! We managed to get some dessert in our full bellies too. Creme brulee and dense chocolate cake. OMG, so drool worthy! I didn't get to look at their wine selection or try any cocktails because this was an ice tea and water dinner, but next time for sure.
(4)Ashley C.
A friend and I were here last weekend and went to the Village (upstairs restaurant). It was a busy Friday night, but we only had a very short wait for two. Our waiter was prompt and friendly, took our drink order, and brought out the fresh baked bread, which we devoured. We took plenty of time to look over the menu. I had been there once before, but sat in the lower level restaurant. Our waiter was almost TOO attentive while we were looking over the menu. Twice he came and asked if we had any questions which rather irked me. I know I have a very bad habit of reading the menu cover to cover and probably more than once as I decide what I want, but my theory is that we were in no hurry so the waiter shouldn't be either. I ordered the Meat Ravioli in the spicy Arribiata sauce and my friend ordered the Cannelloni in the cream sauce. Our order came out really quick. Thats ok, but we had just finished the loaf of bread in front of us because we thought we would have some wait between ordering and our food. Apparently not. My ravioli dish was good and a generous (but not gluttonous portion), but there wasn't anything to write home about. I had this before but this time the sauce was much spicier than normal. I drank two glasses of water just during the entree portion! I tried a bit of the Cannelloni dish and it was AMAZING! If I didn't think she'd notice, I would have tried swapping dishes. The next time I go back, I would definitely get that. Two chocolate lovers just couldn't say no to desert, not where there is a chocolate mouse one. It was great and came out in a little glass. It was very rich - and you'd definitely need to share it, but it was a nice end of the meal. I love Italian food but had overpriced meals - the prices here were reasonable.
(3)Jamie H.
The food was, literally, disgusting. The service was good, but strange. I know it seems like a stupid complaint, but the service was almost TOO attentive. I felt like I was watched constantly. It wouldn't even be an issue if the food was worth it. I had the Cannelloni/manicotti, and It was horrible. My friend's meal was not much better. It's neat inside, but otherwise, it's too much money for bland, uninteresting food. I would have never even went in if I didn't find myself downtown on a Sunday. Honestly not worth it.
(2)Tracey M.
I've passed this place many, many, many times so I was excited to finally get the opportunity to check it out. Here are the highlights: * Quaint atmosphere * Friendly and efficient service * Tasty food * Generous portions I can't think of one thing about Italian Village that sticks out as a negative. All in all, I'd dine there again.
(4)Angie M.
Quite possibly one of the grossest meals I've ever experienced. Let me lay it out for you: Five guests squeezed into a booth for 4 in a weird little cubbyhole in the back of the restaurant. My poor father had about 1/2 of a table in front of him for the meal. I'm surprised the server didn't notice how uncomfortable he was and offer to re-seat us. Speaking of servers, our waiter was the pits. He showed up for work with an obvious flu/cold situation. Is that even sanitary to serve people when you're that sick? And have no voice? His timing was all off and he creepily lingered around our table during the meal. It just felt weird. Our appetizer was a greasy and gross calamari. My baked manicotti was the most unappetizing pasta dish I've ever eaten. It was a few tubes of overcooked pasta with totally bland ricotta filling, swimming in watery tomato sauce and a huge pile of mozzarella cheese on top. And it was cold in the middle. Just all together icky. You know when your party starts talking about how good Portillo's would taste at that moment the food is not good. I won't be back. Ever.
(1)D H.
I haven't been here in ages and went for dinner this week. I have to say, I ordered the lasagna which was just okay. My date had the agnolotti. I still love the ambiance of this place, and the waiters and really pretty much everything about it.
(3)D. B.
The Italian Village has become a go-to restaurant when I visit Chicago. I've been a couple times in the last couple of years and will visit again on my next trip to Chicago. The restaurant serves good Italian food. It's nothing super fancy, but I disagree with other reviewers who say that the food is on par with chain restaurants; you can definitely tell that this food is homemade. Servers bring water and bread to your table right away and olive oil, Parmesan, seasonings, are already on each table. On past visits my friends and I have had the lasagna, seafood ravioli, eggplant Parmesan, and other "classic" Italian dishes -- all were delicious. The wine selection is decent and reasonably priced, and the desserts are pretty tasty too. The Italian Village has cute decor and an intimate atmosphere. The restaurant is decorated like a small village, with faux-finished walls, country lanes, stars, and the like. There are a number of private and semi-private rooms and booths too. Even when the place is mobbed (as it has been on my last two dinner visits), the service is sufficient and the servers are pleasant.
(4)Mike R.
Nothing special here. Food was lackluster, there are much better Italian restaurants downtown. I was there with a group for a reunion, the service was mediocre and the food was the most bland I have eaten in awhile. Being Italian myself, I know what Italian should taste like, but this was far from Italian. The Chicken was a boiled breast (it was so white it never hit a pan) with sauce on it and sprinkeld with a few capers. The veal dish was tough and not worth eating. Portions were inconsistent. Dessert, while the rum cake was tasty, the portion could not have been smaller, the cake was 1/4 thick at the thickest end. The only thing going for this restaurant is its location.
(2)Phil A.
Dynamite job. They really knocked the ball out of the park with great service, great food and great ambiance. Superb all-around. Great job.
(5)Barbara P.
I had to go to Chicago for a wedding, we had plans to go to the theatre and only had a short time to grab something to eat, just happened to pass the Italian Village and went in told them my situation (time), they did everything to get us a table fast, told our waitress our situation and wham bam, our food was there!!! Being Italian I never eat Italian food in Nebraska (only my own) because I dislike like sauces, but Italian Village had it going on, I enjoyed my meal very much, and can't wait to get back there, the staff, atmosphere and food was excellent, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!
(5)Sandra M.
We came here after a show at The Goodman. It was a Sunday and we didn't think it would be crowded, so came in without a reservation. Their first question to us was if we had a reservation, and when we told them we didn't, the manager (?) told the host to sit us at a booth with an extra chair. There were 4 adults and three kids and we felt a little crowded. There were other empty tables around us, so we asked to be seated at another bigger table. The manager told us there weren't any available. They didn't make a very good first impression with me and I thought they were a little rude. I asked the rest of my party, and we all agreed on that. The chicken parmesan was ok, nothing special. The kids shared a pizza, and they really enjoyed that. The table was also a little too dark...we could have used a little more light. That was a bit annoying, since this was a family dinner, not a romantic one.
(3)Laura L.
Never over the top delicious but always nice.
(4)joe t.
Thank you to the tv show Check Please! All I can say is amazing! service at front of house sat us with our 2 year old instantly. Waiter, Richard was not only knowledgable but attentive. Best garlic bread I've had in ages and the missus loved her mussels. A+ on apps, we both opted for salad instead of soup the dressings were top notch! The wife had their homemade blu cheese which was amazing and I asked for balsamic but Richard suggested their balsamic/Italian that was to die for. It took every ounce of energy for me to not lick the plate. A++ Now we went there for pasta. My wife had the Salmon Puttanesca, which she loved. Now I was torn on what pasta to have, so.... I had the filet mignon. Holy cow, not what I expected from a place famous for pasta. Cooked to a perfect medium. Wonderful flavours and you could cut it with a butter knife. A+++ if I had anymore time, I'm sure desert wouldn't have let me down, but it was the babies bed time.... If I could give 10 stars I would! The wine list is insane, they have 40,000 bottles in stock, but I was the only one drinking so I had 2 glasses of the Pinot Noir, I could of had a whole bottle it was that good. This time we ate at "The Village" I hope they plan on seeing a lot more of us and will be trying the other two places, but they have a lot to live up to!!!!
(5)Michael S.
A Gentleman's Tale. Several years ago my then 8 year-old son asked me with some frustration: "Dad, why do you say I always have to use my manners, and I always have to be a gentleman?" (disgusted eye roll and emphasis on "always") I replied: "Because no one likes to say "No" to a gentleman." My son's eyes widened. "Oh,"... it dawned on him. "I get it." He smiled, and ever since I've been telling him, at times, to knock off the gentleman routine because "no" means "no" with me. Last week I met a Master Gentleman: Scott, the top floor bartender at Italian Village. I had time to kill at 5 p.m.-ish after a meeting nearby, so I walked up there having not been in a long while. The bar wasn't terribly crowded when I arrived, so I had the chance to observe Scott work as the bar filled quickly. And work he does. Scott personally introduces himself to every bar customer, shakes hands, looks them in the eye, and says: "I'm Scott, and you are.....?" He learns your name and....he has you!. A gentleman. As the bar became packed, I saw almost no one say "no" to Scott about a second cocktail, starting a tab, ordering an appetizer or dinner, etc. This guy is smooth! And a smart bartender, too. My second Knob Creek neat was twice the size of the first. I couldn't even finish it, but I got the point. If you want to see a true Master Gentleman Bartender work, go to IV after work and observe. This is the guy to send your sons to if you want them to learn the power of manners in action. What a pleasure. Someone raised Scott right, that's for sure.
(5)Angela B.
After yet another great time at The Village, I decided it was time to write a review... My mother & I stumbled across this place 7 years ago when I first moved to Chicago. We tried it - loved it - and I've been going back ever since. You can't get much more authentic than this... and it is one of the oldest Italian places in the city. The staff is always pleasant, the food is always great and the prices are beyond reasonable for downtown Chicago. Anytime a friend or family member comes to visit - I take them to The Italian Village... and I have heard nothing but great reviews. It is my all time favorite place in the whole city. :)
(5)R M.
this place was delightful! i loved the cute decor and ambiance inside. it was a late Sunday evening and my husband and i could not find many places dine since so many restaurants had closed by then. i'm not a big fan of Italian but you can blame that on the many bad Italian restaurants in my town of Houston, TX. My husband & I split the house salad with vinagraitte and that was delicious. I could have had a little more presentful look but an "ugly salad" is nothing to cry about. i ordered the linguine with clams and it wasn't too shabby. maybe a bit heavy on the olive oil but the clams were tasty. And yes, the noodles were cooked perfectly. I wish i had ordered the frutta di mare linguine, which is what my husband ordered. i know i am going to be craving that stuff. too bad i'm thousands of miles away :( I barely had room for dessert. i had some custard (can't remember the name). It didn't quite have a lot of flavor in it but it had a nice tart taste to it. Service was good overall. Catchy Italian music too.
(3)Mary D.
Valet parked here for The Book of Mormon and afterwards, thought what the heck, might as well eat here afterwards, since we haven't tried it yet. We were upstairs, old school decor, charming! The wait staff, amazing! Tuxedoed Matraied' how often do you see that anymore. The service was outstanding, so gracious and accommodating. The food was good and priced well. I had their homemade Manicotti, so delicate! I also tried the meatballs which were wonderful. The clams were so-so and the salad was fine but nothing unusual. This is a great place to relax and drink in the atmosphere and to feel pampered, the food we had, was for the most part, delicious. When we are in the area we will difinetly return.
(4)Sonali K.
The Village at Italian Village has a romantic yet whimsical ambience that kind of won me over...then there's the service, and I was won. My friend and I had dinner here tonight and it was my first time there. I was enamored when I walked into their second floor restaurant. There are little covered booths scattered around so you can have a romantic, private evening if you like. Every waiter greeted me with a welcoming smile and I was shown to the table where my friend was waiting immediately without anyone acting confused. The meal started with their freshly baked bread, which was good, along with their table olive oil. For dinner I ordered the minestrone soup and pizza bread (I wasn't particularly hungry this evening) and my friend got the soup and the agnolotti pasta. The minestrone soup was definitely one of the better ones I have had. It was hearty and full of vegetables and flavor and not water-down like some can be. The pizza bread was decent, nothing worth noting. What was worth noting was the service...the waiter noticed that I was using my small plate for table and olive oil for my pizza bread and immediately came over, gently scooped my food into a new and bigger plate and reset my silverware. Now THAT is service. I was impressed. I tried my friend's pasta which was also good. I'm not sure what this place is like on weekends, most likely bustling, but it was perfect for a quiet Wednesday evening to catch up with a friend. I will definitely be back here for a date night with my fiance.
(4)Cam B.
Chicjen noodle soup----very bland. Meatballs great!!! Breadsticks yummy. Waters very attentive.. I love the dark room with twinkling lights.
(4)Michelle M.
So many people talk about this place and rave that this place is great. The food was not that impressive at all for the price that I paid. The staff was very nice and the place has lots of room for large groups. Location is great for this restaurant which is steps away from theaters and State St shopping.
(3)Brittany P.
Last night my friend suggested going here because we both wanted wine. We ate upstairs. The atmosphere was very romantic, dim lights twinkling stars... a great location for a date and not a girl's night out. I did like how they decorated the place to look like a little village. Super cute. Now to the food. The complimentary bread was delicious! I could have eaten the entire loaf. I ordered the Chicken Marsala and my friend ordered the Ravioli with Meat Sauce. The food was okay. It was not delicious where I have to eat there again and it was not disgusting where I would never step foot in this place again. For the portion size the price was acceptable. If you are looking for atmosphere and want to have a sweet date I suggest going. But if you are looking for good Italian food don't waste your time or money.
(3)Brooke W.
Each time I go back to the Italian Village, my experience trumps the previous! Perhaps the tradition is what makes this place so great, but the consistent food quality and unbeatable service always have me returning for more. The agnolotti, the frutta di mare, the classics like lasagna and chicken parm: I've tried them all and am equally impressed. The servers always have impeccable wine knowledge, positive attitudes and a genuine concern for their jobs. The team work seems outstanding (I always have bussers, maitre d's, managers and servers waiting on my every need!). It's a Chicago staple and whether you are just visiting or a local, you won't want to pass this place up!
(5)Jeffrey K.
I've been here many times over the years for work events and such and the Village offers super size portions of rather mediocre food. The atmosphere and location are neat, if a bit over the top, and tourists and folks from the suburbs tend to flock here. They do know how to make a pretty good cocktail and have a huge selection of wines but if you are looking for truly fine food, I would encourage you to pick another card.
(1)John Anthony S.
Great service to begin with. The waiter was very present, and saved me from making a very costly mistake while ordering. The manager was awesome, giving us a full history of the place. Great experience overall.
(4)Chuck S.
Very good traditional home cooked Italian Food. A staple of Chicago for years. I keep going back because I can't get enough.
(4)Stephanie B.
Italian Village has great ambiance, but the food is no better than Olive Garden. I think a fellow yelper described it as "Epcot in Chicago." I can't agree more. I got the lunch special chicken risotto- arborio rice with shallots, roasted tomatoes, garlic and white wine and roasted chicken, but I think I've made better at home. Just saying. This wasn't my first time here, but it's been years, so that tells you how often I'm inclined to dine there.
(2)Gary B.
We use to go to the Italian Village quite a bit since it was very close to the office. It was an average place but could seat a larger party. Nothing to really write home about. I ended up there last Tues for lunch. I chose it because I was looking to have a low key lunch were I could discuss some work items with an out of town co-worker. I do like that you can order a smaller portion of the pasta as the normal size portions are way to large for a lunch setting. The food was decent and the service pleasant. I think our server was a little put off by both of not drinking and ordering the small portions but that was what we wanted and neither of us was going to be pushed into anything. Probably won't be back anytime soon.
(3)Carlos F.
Great ambiance and delicious true Italian food. It's a come back place.
(5)James R.
I went to italian village in a group of 8. Plastic wrap was baked into our pizza and the salads were drenched in dressing. Like an overpriced, less classy olive garden. I recommend it.
(1)Cynthia C.
Ate here after a long flight back to Chicago. Me and a friend shared the mussels casino which was good... anything with bacon is good really. Although, the bacon could have been less chewy and more crispy and the mussels could have been cooked a little more so it wouldn't juice all over your hand when you ate it. For dinner, we shared a plate from the weekly special menu. (note: we ate at the lower level of the italian village) We tried the whitefish plate which was baked with a pool of tomato bisque underneath. The whitefish was simple and well cooked but i think the only real excitement to the entree was the tomato bisque beneath the fish which was soooo good! (warning: if you are lactose do not try since it is super creamy). Drinks were awesome and the atmosphere was nicely dim and cozy. Bartender is my ex-roomie so of course.. she is AWESOME!
(3)Cheska D.
This is just one of the worst Italian I've ever had. We were quite hungry after walking around chi-town and spotted this next to Pret-a-manger... I really wanted some fresh pizzas and salads...The place looked really authentic... The waiter seated us at a small and dark booth.. It smelled like pee!!! Then they gave us COLD and stale bread! :'( We ordered Angel hair with capers and pepperoni pizza... YUCK! the crust tasted so dry and like it came from Wal-mart! The pasta tasted like it came from a CAN! I mean!! wth! So disappointed!! GO TO QUARTINO's instead!!!!!! Save your money! you could cook better!
(2)P R.
Stopped in for lunch while on business. Had the meat Cannelloni - couldn't decide between the red sauce or white cream, so got one of each. Both styles were good. Another person had the sausage and said it was delicious. Service was good.
(4)Andrea H.
This place reminds me of when my parents used to take us out to dinner when we were kids. Loved the old school murals on the walls in the upstairs dining room. The servers were friendly and attentive and you just don't see enough of those stainless steel serving carts these days. Five stars for the lasagna that tastes just like mom makes (and tastes just as good the next day) and for the server leaving the extras of my manhattan in the shaker at the table after he filled up my glass.
(5)Ngoc H.
THE VILLAGE (second floor) This place is awesome. I don't care too much for the super dim lighting but the food, I have to say, is amazing. The portions are huge. I always get the lasagna with baked cheese. I guarantee you'll have leftovers after you have the salad that comes with it. The house dressing on the salad is amazing and the waiter grinds fresh black pepper onto it. I found the soups to be a little bland but all together very good. This is a good place for intimate dates, there are booths available if you want some privacy. VERY reasonably priced for being such a beautiful place downtown. LOOK OUT FOR THEM WHEN RESTAURANT WEEK IS HERE!!
(5)Michelle F.
This place is really more of a novelty restaurant ... not a place you would go to for great Italian food. You're really going for the ambiance and atmosphere. And it's in a great location downtown if you're in the city for business. It's a very cute restaurant that makes you really feel like you're in a small Italian village. I loved the low, warm lighting, the brickwork on the walls that gave the illusion of buildings and the ceiling that was painted to look like the sky. It did remind me of the Small World ride at Disney World - but in a good way, not a creepy way. The food was OK, but it was a little too standard for the cost. For appetizers, we ordered the Pizza Bread and the Grilled Calamari. Both were pretty good, but the calamari was a bit rubbery. We probably should have ordered it fried, but I guess we all wanted to try something new. We also had salads, which were pretty standard. For an entree, I ordered the Meat Ravioli, which I liked. It wasn't anything special, but I thought it was good. Overall, the Italian Village wasn't anything to write home about. It's a cute restaurant and a landmark in Chicago, so I suggest checking it out once just to experience it, but it's not the type of place you'll get cravings for. It looked like there were a lot of business people from out of town there, so it's a fun place to check out if you're on vacation or in the city for a conference, but nothing too special. I wouldn't imagine that it gets a lot of repeat business.
(3)Khadijah K.
This place is an insult to all italian food. I made the mistake of ordering one of the hardest italian dishes to perfect -- risotto. I basically had mushy rice with cheese on top. The waiter also misunderstood when I asked if she could add arugula to my salad, she added it to the risotto. Warm, limp, arugula is nasty. Staff was super friendly and helpful, but def not coming here ever again.
(1)Brooke S.
Italian Village was recommended by a friend, so when my parents were visiting from NY, we decided to try it. We were warmly welcomed, and seated in a cozy booth. From there, it went down hill. Stale breadsticks, blah bread, my dad's seafood ravioli tasted like cheese ravioli with Chef Boyardee sauce, and my mom's lasagna was dry and just not good. I had chicken parm, which was ok. I'll give this 2 stars as the salad and dressing was good.
(2)Luc L.
While the waiter was eager to assist, but the cost of having, for example, blue cheese added onto the salad or french onion soup for an extra $1.50 when ordering a lunch special? Really? Why even mention all the different salad dressings and soup selections to customers then?
(1)Zee M.
I'll have to go back and check, but I believe I was at the Village...why? Because they have Lasagna al Forno, the "home specialty" variety, that comes with bechamel. That's how we had it in West Germany and I'm amazed how difficult it is to find in the U.S. This is all I remember. But I was in Himmel and will go back!
(4)Jenna S.
I've eaten here with my mom a few times (she works in the loop) and I would say it's so-so Italian food. I've never eaten anything here that I found especially excellent, just slightly over-priced typical Italian fare. It's an OK spot for lunch because it's close to other downtown businesses, but that's about all I'd go there for. And there's a bunch of other places in the area, so I can't really justify going here anymore. The prices are too high for the mediocre food. The restaurant atmosphere is nice, though. It's designed to look like an old world Italian street restaurant - there's lots of red and white checkered table cloths, candles, etc. It's a good atmosphere, but that's about all that impressed me with the restaurant.
(2)Teresa G.
I used to really love this restaurant. I won't say the food was ever spectacular but it was good and reliable. Add that to a magical atmosphere and a fun wait staff and you have a good evening. I was actually embarassed when I took out of town friends there last evening. The servers felt like they were rushing us and pointing us to more expensive items than we asked questions about (very obviously). The kicker though was when we ordered and the food arrived in only about 10 minutes. Now I'm all for speed but ... really? Clearly the food was pre cooked and rewarmed. I had a veal combination platter that was supposed to have 3 kinds of veal preparations. They were really just one kind .... bad. Chewy, flavorless (except for the strong, strong taste of overwhelming capers). The pasta was precooked and tasteless and the $32 Osso Buco was just plain disgusting. It's a shame. Probably made me far less amenable when a couple came in at 9:30 pm with a screaming baby and proceeded to sit and drink cosmos while the baby cried. Altogether not a nice evening.
(2)Brian B.
August 2011 - Triathlon weekend - Wanted a treat - Got one of the worst meals ever. We were a party of four and ate upstairs. None of us could finish our meals because they were so bad. We had Spaghetti and meat sauce, Chicken Marsala, Lobster and seafood linguini, and Grilled Mahi Mahi with pasta. The grilled fish was Okay, but it's hard to mess up just grilling some fish with butter. The rest of the entres were almost inedible. The chicken marsala was so dry and boiled-tasting that it sucked the saliva out of my mouth. The mushrooms in the sauce were clearly canned, not fresh. The lobster pasta was just bland and icky. There was no real flavor aside from pepper and cream. The meat sauce was like something from a school cafeteria including the mystery meat. Who knows what kind of ground up mush that meat was. ICK! At least they cooked the pasta right. We complained to the waiter and he said "This is authentic Italian from Northern Italy with recipes that have been passed down through the family for generations." He went on to tell us how old the restaurant was, and how classic the meals... Worthless! There was MOLD growing on the wall in the mens room all along the top and right edge of the door frame. Thick black fuzzy mold! The restroom looked like it hadn't been cleaned in years. Eat hear at your own risk. We will never return!
(1)Appal B.
Restaurant is ok.. Food is over priced for the quality of the food. Server is not informative and the service was terrible!
(1)Panagiotis A.
Definitely one star!! I had a salad and a sandwich delivered in my room at LaGuinta Inn hotel.. The sandwich was almost burnt.. The salad just ok and the chips too oily.. If you pay cash, be prepared for no change!!!
(1)Sam Y.
The location is key for this restaurant. Not too many options out there for dinner. I'm alway sadden by how quickly downtown area shuts down. 5pm rolls around and every business rushes to lock their doors. In any case, the food here is nothing memorable but aside from Rose Bud a block north of here, there's really nothing else.
(3)Allison L.
Oh yelpers some of these reviews make me sad, I should not read reviews of places I already like. I feel disillusioned. Italian Village has always been one of my favorites. Maybe because coming downtown with my parents was such a treat, especially going here. I've always been pleased with the food, the seafood ravioli is delish. Many of the traditional dishes ie spaghetti with meatballs or lasagna are good but not phenomenal, however in my opinion those things never are. I like the atmosphere! If you like modern, sleek places this is not for you. Yes, there are murals, yes there are twinkly lights inlaid into the wall and the ceiling. I love the tables in the little nooks. It's kitschy but cutely so. Service can be iffy, it's usually crowded, sometimes the waiters make you feel like they're just trying to turn tables. I will admit that could be better. Make sure they don't seat you in that room in the back. It's weird.
(4)Michael H.
The Italian Villages ("the Village" upstairs) is a great unique restaurant with very good food, spacious booths and is surprisingly kid friendly. The best word to describe it is "ambiance". Intimate and yet classy. The lighting in the place is done really well (dimmed lighting lower, but gets brighter the higher you go). There were twinkling lights tastefully placed on the walls and ceiling like you are walking through a real Italian villa at night with other little towns painted on the walls off in the distance. My wife and I were celebrating our 15 year wedding anniversary over Labor Day weekend so we wanted to do something fancy, but we wanted something close to the Palmer House Hilton which is where we were staying (it's only a block and half away from the hotel). We went with our toddler daughter so we had to park the stroller in the front lobby area on a different floor than the restaurant (I was nervous about doing that, but it was fine after sitting there for over an hour). We then went upstairs which is a long narrow staircase (about 20-30 steps). Some might be bothered by that, but for me it was fun. It was like going back in time the higher you climb. We got there at 5pm on a Sunday and checked in right away and the concierge said it would be a 25-30 minute wait. The waiting area was very small with seating for only about 5 people, however the dining area is very large. I called earlier and asked if we can make reservations and they said they don't take reservations for small parties (2 people with a child), so I was disappointed we had to wait at first. Then my 19 month old daughter worked her charm and kept smiling at the concierge and she reached out for him to pick her up (she has never done that before...he must have looked like grandpa). He smiled back, squeezed her cheeks and said "your so cute". Then magically a booth opened up for us without any wait. That was so nice and appreciated because I don't think my toddler would have lasted a 30 minute wait in a crowded place. The booth was spacious with a built in light which was just enough to read the menu by. I'm a big guy (6 feet tall and 300 lbs.), so having a booth with enough room for my big gut was a very nice surprise...usually booths are like fitting 5 pounds of potatoes in a 1 pound bag for me. The food was very good and we did not have to wait at all. They had bread and olive oil on the table to start. The bread was soft and moist and delicious. We had minestrone soup which was also good. Then as soon as our soups were done, our main course came out (I like getting our food quickly especially when we dine with our daughter). I ordered Chicken Alfredo which had juicy tender chicken in that famous heart attack sauce which was amazing. My wife ordered Cheese Manicotti. It was smothered in creamy cheese sauce that she loved. They had a kids menu so my daughter had Spaghetti with tomato sauce. All of our meals were delicious. To top things off my wife got the giant 1 pound (slight exaggeration) NY cheese cake slice, which was amazing. I ordered the chocolate strata which was like a rich thick chocolate mousse pie filling in a sundae dish with real whipped cream on top. It was a chocolate lovers dream. My only complaint is they gave me a soup spoon to eat it with, but the shape of the spoon could not reach the bottom of the sundae dish. All together two adult meals, one kid meal, two sodas, and two deserts cost $67. Not bad for a fancy high quality place with excellent food and great service. One other thing that I thought was really neat is we had multiple people waiting on our table (about 5 different people). We had one main server, but they busboy also refilled our drinks and brought out the desert menus, and three other people walking by asked if we needed anything. I have never experienced that before. It was obvious that they care about their customers and service is their top priority. I highly recommend this restaurant!!!
(5)Claire Y.
A group of suburbanites visiting the city for a weekend invited me out for lunch here. We walked up to the second floor dining room to find ourselves in a "village-y" atmosphere and got seated in a secluded booth. The interior decor reminded me of restaurants in Vegas - very crafty with painted pictures on the walls reminiscent of a village in Italy. Interesting, I noted and sat down. Let's get to the food: the food ranged from OK to good. My salmon puttanesca with escarole, capers and olives was delicious. no complaints there. One of our dining companions' spaghetti with meatball was just OK --- really, shouldn't this classic Italian dish be perfection at a place that calls itself "Italian Village"? The two other pasta dishes - seafood ravioli and seafood linguini - were semi-good. The service: professional (euphemism for stiff, in this case) and fairly attentive. No complaints here. Not sure that I'd come again. There is a ton of great Italian restaurants in this city (holler to Francesca's and Rosebud on Taylor!).
(3)Christina C.
Brings happy memories of a special someone and I :) It's nice cozy and a good place for meeting with a friend or someone closer. Appetizers and antipasti in a relaxing atmosphere with laughs and good conversation is what this place brings. Good lobster ravioli, fresh carpaccio, and super yum clam appetizer!!
(5)daynia S.
Avoid this place if you can. There are too many excellent options downtown, so you should not feel like you have to settle for less. A group of us ate upstairs and it was horrible. Iceberg lettuce was ice cold, lemon chicken tasted like boiled chicken in water...absolutely not a hint of lemon flavor. Cold Pat's of butter on dried out bread. I will never return. I must say this...I ate 6 months prior on the first floor and really enjoyed mushroom ravioli. Still there are too many options at a great price to ever return.
(1)Eric B.
I sponsored a department dinner here a few years ago. My best friend from college (who lives in Chicagoland) recommended it. And the Italian Village certainly has the history and reputation behind it. The staff that helped me set up the meeting was responsive, but not to the degree that other places (Catal in Downtown Disney and White Dog Cafe in Philadelphia - Wow!) have been. The food and service was good, although I wasn't thrilled with the somewhat cramped room.
(4)Samantha G.
Food was expensive. I got small portions of what I would normally think to get in large ones considering how much It cost. The staff was very polite/ had good manners. I went here with my boyfriend and was hoping for a romantic time but I got stuck elbows to elbows with a few other couples in the room by the kitchen (not my idea of a good time). Would not recommend for couples, would need a bigger party to get a better table and in result a better experience.
(1)Tom J.
Looks like the Italian Village Restaurants consists of 3 places: The Village, La Cantina, and Vivere. We visited The Village. I can't give it 5 stars because all my date and I purchased was a Tiramisu (dessert). The top-layer of the Tiramisu contained whipped-cream with a slight coffee-flavor accent added to it. The bottom layer was more of a sophisticated cake containing a fancy chocolate flavor more than anything else. The environment is small and perfect for an intimate one-on-one date. I wouldn't go with any more than 4 people to this restaurant due to the limited space. The waiter service was very courteous and respectful. Free bread and olive-oil were served immediately after you sit. The waiter poured you a water (watching him dump the water from the pitcher to your cup was pretty cool) and let you order. Even after they set down the bill, and you pay for it, they still served you more water if you wanted it. Overall was a nice place and nice service. Can't give any reviews on the regular dishes yet, though. We went on a Thurs evening, approx 9:30/10pm (coming from Cadillac Palace) and there was plenty of space open. There was valet parking available, but we didn't need it.
(4)Lora B.
We were in town to go to the theater and were a little early, so we just happened to stop at The Italian Village. We were actually planning on going to another Italian restaurant down the street, but it wasn't open. But I am glad they weren't. My husband and I shared a pizza and we each had a salad...it was really good. Being from New York, I am not a big fan of the deep dish pizza so we got the thin crust. It was the best pizza I have ever had in Chicago and the salad was fresh and a perfect side for the pizza! Will definitely go there again.
(5)Philly G.
The guy that came over to talk to us was kind of annoying. The top floor was decorated a bit corny. The food was great and not too expensive.
(3)D D.
We saw a show on a Saturday afternoon and decided to come here afterwards for dinner. We each ordered an entree, mostly pasta and seafood. I've been to a ton of italian restaurants, it was pretty good, nothing too memorable. The service was good, nothing above and beyond but nothing to complain about. When we first walked in it took a long time to be greeted at the host stand, it was extremely chaotic, but we had a reservation and did get seated very promptly. The ambiance in this restaurant is great, very cozy and cute. The best part of the meal was by far the dessert, it was an italian sponge cake with some type of custard. Extremely good!!!
(3)Sean D.
Maybe I'm just sentimental but I still love the upstairs. Came in with my baby boy & girlfriend and they put us in a nice quiet enclave that was both convenient and romantic. Staff was cool and fun, food was solid. It was cool to come back to a place I frequented so often with my parents with my own son.
(4)Ryan R.
We came here for a team builder.. Food was good and the service staff was pretty amazing considering how many people we brought. The salmon was light and flaky and melts in your mouth. Perfect! I really liked the old school atmosphere and the downstairs bar was pretty cool.
(5)John S.
I took my entire family here after seeing the play, "Feast" at the Goodwin Theater. It was Sunday so Rosebud in the Theater District was closed. The food was overpriced. My wife's chicken vesuvio dry and bland. I had the lasagna based on the server's recommendation and it was SO SALTY. I had the Italian Village is a year and the quality has gone way down. With all of the good restaurants downtown. I will not be returning. BTW - The play was excellent..go see Feast but don't go to The Italian Village.
(1)Abhinav S.
Running off of the movie: "The Good, the Bad and the UGLY!" The good: -Nice warm bread. Complemented by good quality olive oil -Superb drinks. The pineapple martini and Bloody Mary were what we ordered. They were A grade alright -The ambiance is wonderful. Good place if you wish to bring a date, with the native music and all The bad: -Got the Three Cheese Tortelli and Agnolotti. These were just loaded with marinara sauce and were just alright. -The portions seemed a bit low as well -Breadsticks were hard and seemed a bit old The UGLYY: -Restrooms are friggin' GROSSSS. Like seriously, a dive bar might be cleaner than these restrooms, jeez -Minestrone soup was bland and pretty much sucked. Nothing fancy, just a bunch of boiled veggies in a flavorless broth End: Want to grab some drinks and warm bread in a nice cozy location? Come here. For everything else, skip this place
(3)Jamie H.
I got here a bit before my reservation and the rest of the party so I went to the bar; it was about 5:15. I ordered a drink and was given some free happy hour pizza. Quite a pleasant surprise! The pizza was great - hot and very fresh tasting! When everybody else arrived we got seated and ordered some drinks and appetizers. The bread was amazing the capreese salad was great and a good portion size. After we ordered our meal the soups and salads came out quickly. Then we waited for what seemed like a really long time for our food. We were only concerned because we had a show at 7:00. We had told the waiter in the beginning, and everything worked out time wise just fine, in the end. Everybody enjoyed their respected dishes - my seafood salad which was only about $13 on the appetizer menu was HUGE; I ate it for three meals! I also ate my dads chicken saltimbocca a few days later for leftovers and couldn't believe how amazing it still was! I initially wanted dessert and probably could have squeezed it in, but I didn't want to scarf it down so we opted just for the check. The food was great and service was on point!
(4)Beth M.
Exactly what you would expect from the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. Warm an inviting inside with creative decorating. Top-notch, attentive service. And the food, oh the food. Salad, appetizers and dessert are a must. Generous portions, classic, rich flavors. An easy walk from most of the larger attractions in Chicago that transforms you back to the "old country" instantly.
(4)Amber H.
Here's the deal. Unique, inviting ambiance with little romantic nooks for a more intimate meal. I had the eggplant parm. Eggplant was mushy which made the dish just so-so. Minestrone soup meet the "as to be expected" expectation but it ended there. Service was fantastic though there seemed to be a delay when it came to splitting our large party's bill multiple ways. The best part about this mean was who it was with. Otherwise, I think Chicago has a lot more to offer with this cuisine.
(3)Jessica S.
Pros: Service is very good Old fashioned decor Cons: The food is mediocre at best/or inedible Old fashioned decor Old menu Lack of fresh ingredients and healthy options Expensive I have been at the Village twice recently and both times were very disappointing. The first time I ordered Chicken Della Nonna which was bland, and nothing special. This last time I ordered the chicken cacciatore. The polenta was gummy and impossible to eat. The chicken wasn't cooked properly. Some of it had skin and some of it didn't and it was so unappetizing to look at that I couldn't eat it. Money down the drain. It just ticks me off when a restaurant charges a lot, but doesn't seem to care about the taste and presentation of the food. This place is riding on it's tourist/tradition coat tails and not much else.
(2)Dwain C.
I ate lunch at The Italian Village in Chicago, IL on 8/8/2015. I have to say that I find the decor of the place my favorite of any restaurant that I've been to anywhere. It's my favorite restaurant in Chicago. This time I had their Pasta Special ($25.50) which is made with lobster (and it contained quite a bit of it). This came with minestrone soup and bread. I had coffee ($3.25) and rum cake ($6.00). I never miss getting their rum cake. Eric, my server, did a fine job as well. Plus, I took photos.
(5)Cecelia K.
I went to Italian Village for a team dinner for work. The seating can be a bit cramped. If you're coming with a large group, request to sit a tables vs a booth. They had a really good wine selection and the wine director did well in providing suggestions.
(3)Mouse C.
I've eaten at Italian Village on a number of occasions, and one being today for lunch. I mostly eat at the downstairs restaurant which is La Cantina. Time and time again, they always offer a consistently good and reasonable lunch. Let me just say, their caprese salad is hands down my favorite out of any restaurant in downtown Chicago. House made burrata...creamy, rich and delicious. If you are a burrata nut like myself, then Italian Village is the place to be! Another noteworthy item is their lasagna...baked with ooey gooey cheese and served atop a hearty meat sauce - superb! One thing to avoid for lunch would be their eggplant parm, while it is very good, it is just a bit heavy and fried and has the ability to make the rest of your day pretty unproductive. All in all, IV serves up a tasty, inexpensive lunch that will leave you feeling satisfied upon returning back to work:)
(4)Mark M.
Well sitting here's bartender passed me four times, still nothing, looking at him. Five times. Leaving if they don't want my business. Hold on, turned out to be nice, Frank I hear retirement after 57 years here and another same years still here during the day. Stayed and relaxing. Thanks.
(4)Esther L.
Ordered the minestrone soup and onion soup came out. The minestrone was subpar. The vegetables were not chopped proportionately with the other small vegetables. Lasagna was salty and not traditional; it had a brown sauce and did not taste like lasagna at all. We had to ask for napkins twice before I received them. Service was not great. The decor and food had a new age Italian vibe; not a place you want to go for traditional Italian food. The bathroom is not completely wheelchair accessible. I could get in with my wheelchair but the toilet area was too narrow for my wheelchair and I don't remember there being any grab bars.
(2)Daniel K.
I went to The Village which was located upstairs after a Morrissey concert at the Civic Opera House. This place is worth going to for the ambiance, scenery, old Italian music and dressed up, old school waiters alone. I watched one of them delicately folding Napkins in almost a Butler's style uniform, which made me feel almost like I'd entered the Grand Budapest Hotel. The food served is what I'd call 'Classic Italian.' Don't come here expecting any food that is too 'outside the box' or mind blowing. Still, being the radical kind of guy I am, I thought outside the box and ordered the Rigatoni with Spicy Arrabiata sauce instead of the traditional tomato sauce - - the result was an awesome blend of taste! The mixture of creamy ricotta cheese with hot spicy tomato sauce was extravagant. I also ordered what turned out to be the perfect side dish, Spinach with Garlic. It was oozing with garlicy oil goodness and left my taste buds and my stomach feeling blessed and fulfilled. The only reason for 4 stars is due to a quarter of the menu being taken up by nasty Veal dishes - yes I'm Vegetarian, and I hate restaurants that serve Veal!
(4)Richard C.
This is better than a 3 star rating. The staff from the hostess, to the mgmt, bus boys and servers are attentive and professional. The wine captain was at our table promptly and we had a nice wine discussion. Their wine selection is superb. There were 5 of us dining. I had a Caesar salad and rack of lamb. Both were excellent. Had the banana cake for dessert and couldn't finish it. They certainly surpassed my expectations. Great dining in the loop or for the theater crowd. I'd definitely return. Thank you again to all staff and our Sommelier- great work. I tried to go back a 2nd time and they were actually closed for a week for renovations and cleaning. Darn, but cool.
(4)Joe F.
The food was quite good, but the plates were tiny. Be prepared to have to do appetizers If you come in hungry The room did have a very neat decor.
(3)Craig E.
Both the food and the atmosphere were excellent. My wife and I received more food than we could eat and it was very reasonably priced. They host many different banquets as well and the owners try hard to please their customers.
(4)Ashley R.
Very nice spot. I've eaten here 3 times so far and every experience has been great. Top class service, good food, nice surroundings. It's more American than Italian IMO. But couldn't complain about a single dish. We may have been there off-peak, but we never waited to be seated. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The combination of decor, service and attentiveness made me feel like I was eating in a much more upscale restaurant than I paid for.
(5)Denise D.
Excellent atmosphere. Servers were super attentive. Had dinner, but the highlight of the meal was the house made tiramisu!
(5)Susan H.
So...Yelp is nagging me to write this review. For days, Yelp has been telling me that "Your next review awaits". Yup. That's what happens when you put up photos and don't write the review immediately LOL! The Italian Village Restaurants is a group of 3 restaurants that are all in the same building. It was established in 1927 by the Capitanini family and now the third generation is running the place. The three restaurants are "The Village" (located on the second floor), "Vivere" (located on the first floor) and "La Cantina" (located in the basement). Each restaurant has its own kitchen and its own chef. Vivere's menu is described as a more contemporary take on Italian food while La Cantina has Italian food on its menu but its specialty is steaks. We chose to eat at The Village which is an old school red sauce place. When went there on a Sunday around 6 p.m., the place was already doing a brisk business. A very friendly host greeted us and told us that we would be seated in about 10 minutes---and that's about how long it took. We were given a small booth for 2. Our waiter showed up promptly and was friendly and efficient. The decor matches the menu, which is to say that it is very old school in design. We noticed most of the people there were families or elderly couples. Looking at the customers, I could imagine that they have been coming here for years. Maybe some of them eventually moved to the 'burbs but are always drawn back here. We both started with a glass of wine. I'm not much of a wine drinker but I do like Lambrusco and was pleased to see it on the menu. My husband had a glass of Chianti. We both thought that our wines were good quality. I ordered the beef ravioli and chose a tomato sauce for it that had no meat in it. Each meal comes with either a house salad of a cup of minestrone soup. I chose the soup. My husband ordered shrimp scampi and got the house salad. He really liked his salad. My minestrone soup was delicious. It came to the table piping hot and had an abundance of stock in it which consisted of a large variety of veggies and was well seasoned. I enjoyed my ravioli however, the portion was just too much as I wasn't able to eat it all. The tomato sauce was chunky and had that homemade flavor to it with rich tomato flavor. My husband raved about the shrimp scampi. The shrimp portion was generous plus it had lots of button mushrooms which he enjoyed. He, too, couldn't finish it all. In his case, while he enjoyed it, he found the sauce to be too rich and got to a point where he couldn't eat it anymore. So...he found himself wishing that the portion had been smaller. All in all, an enjoyable dining experience. It's always nice to come across restaurants that have so much history. Here, in the DC area, that's a rare experience.
(4)Vishal B.
Finally had reason to try the food. After work came in for dinner with a group, split a large pizza with a buddy.. I should have had a pasta. The two stars is for the pizza only, it was not what I expected. I expected a rustic wood fired type gormet looking thing.. this was heavy for a thin crust, the type of cheese that gets waxy as it cools. I wont go on, just try a pasta instead. We were in this tiny room that barely fit one round table for 8. its well hidden away upstairs at the corner of the dining room.. not very well lit...
(2)Karen C.
Italian Village is one of those places that makes me say "Why haven't I gone there yet?" ... especially since I work directly across the street these days. We finally stopped in after work for dinner one night, going to the upstairs restaurant. There was a decent amount of people waiting, but we were seated within 10 minutes. This place was PACKED. And LOUD. I can see how it's a great option for large groups, they had tons of them in there. We were sat next to one of these groups at a small 2-top table, which was fine, but the space is super tight! There are little alcoves for 4-top tables, which is nice and I'm sure those diners feel tucked away and private. The food was decent... typical Italian fare & generous portions, but a little expensive for what it is, in my opinion. $18 or whatever for a bowl of noodles & sauce (no meat) is a little ridic, but when in Rome (or Italian Village, I suppose). We left stuffed & took our leftovers home, which I enjoyed for lunch the next day so that's a win! I'm glad we finally checked it out... I love the kitsch of it, you kind of feel like you've gone back in time 30-40 years & I can dig that. Everyone was super friendly, from the host to the server, and I felt right at home.
(3)Gabe C.
Whenever friends or family come to visit, I always take them here. Service is always quick, prices are very fair (considering it is downtown Chicago), and the food is very flavorful. The atmosphere is just awesome as well. They definitely live up to the expectations one would have for the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago. I would have given then 5 stars, but they do not take reservations for just 2 people which stinks if you're on a date or want some good Italian food on the spur of the moment. There is also quite a few stairs you have to walk-up in order to get to the restaurant, which is a big draw back if you have someone elderly or disabled in your party.
(4)Tonya S.
My girl Dana went here as a child with her family it's a hidden gem. As I walked the restaurant it was like being in Italy every table was in a nook or corner very intimate. I just had great drinks lol!! Try the food if I didn't have dinner reservations I would've love eating there.when in Chicago again I will check it out
(4)Ashley M.
Good food, good service, cool ambiance. Pretty close quarters, and only one beer - albeit a good beer (Stella Artois).
(3)Jessica M.
Another vintage building in the heart of the Loop! This building houses three restaurants with 86 years of history. I took my friend out for an early birthday celebration and we went with the northern Italian classic, the Village. Reservations are accepted with the other two restaurants, but not the Village. We arrived at 5:30pm and were immediately seated. We had: 1) Pizza bread was melted Mozzarella cheese with pizza sauce and herbal leaves atop five pieces of Italian bread. As good as it was, I don't recommend ordering this if you have a small party. Each table is served with a sizable basket of complimentary bread and bread sticks. That's a little too much bread before the start of a meal especially since there were only two of us. 2) Shrimp linguine with broccoli was a delightful dish. It had sautéed Gulf, jumbo-size shrimp and broccoli with olive oil and garlic over linguine. Flavors were standard and the portions were generous. My friend took half of it to go. 3) The seafood ravioli was filled with blended seafood, topped with shrimp and scallops. The seafood filling isn't distinguishable but I particularly enjoyed the creamy tomato sauce that it came in. The portions could've been finished in one session but I was too stuffed from the bread, so I also brought half of my order home. 4) Definitely saved room for dessert! We ordered the tiramisu which was rather light with very subtle flavors. The dessert was mostly rich cream with coffee powder sprinkled atop and chocolate beneath the pile. I felt the coffee powder could've used a little more emphasis. With all that in mind, it's approximately $40 per person. It's the perfect place for taking friends, dates, tourists, etc. The ambiance is comfortable with the quaintness of an Italian village.
(4)Crystal H.
I came with my 3 year old daughter. Service was great. Everyone was very friendly with my daughter. Food was average, especially for the price . The bread was cold, not even slightly warm. Our chicken rollotini was cold for as long as it took to get it. It came with fettuccine Alfredo which was just ok . I expected more from a place that says they are "Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant "
(2)Michael W.
I had the privilege to eat at the village (top floor). Food was amazing, service was awesome, environment is really cool. The service was impeccable. Our drinks were mixed well, and the waitress was always nearby to get us refills. We were seated immediately even though we were there 20 minutes before our reservation. Our waitress took very good care of us as well. The food is amazing. I got the spaghetti with spicy sauce and meatballs, then baked with mozzarella cheese. The meatballs were so good and tender. The people I was with also enjoyed their meals, but I didn't try them. The portions will fill you up for sure. Overall I strongly recommend this restaurant. I guess there's a reason they've been in business so long.
(5)Ben A.
Visited on a weeknight with some friends awhile back. We sat in an intimate enclosed seating area which was nice and comfortable. I ordered the chicken parmesan dinner. Huge portions! The chicken was moist, good amount of sauce and it also was accompanied by side of pasta. Standard Italian dish with mass of melted mozzarella cheese. Decent wine and beer selections. Service was attentive and prompt. Overall, a good Italian meal in the Loop. Nothing wow'ed me.
(3)Inigo M.
I acknowledge the "Godfather" kitsch of this place, fro the decor to the waiters to the music to the old school heavy cuisine. So why do I love it and come back here? Get an upstairs table in a corner. Ask for the gigantic wine list. It is massive and has Italian wine from all regions, vintages, price ranges etc. Let me seriously emphasize how massive it is. Order a glass of something nice and have fun with a friend or several going over this list. Order food simply off the menu. Frankly I'd recommend sticking to appetizers ad sharing small plates while you try some rare and amazing and hard to find Italian wines. Treat this place like an enoteca and you might find yourself pleasantly surprised than if you went and just had a plate of overcooked pasta and humdrum Chianti. And frankly I really like the kitsch and the oddball waiters straight out of central casting. All part of the fun.
(4)michael f.
Ate upstairs in the traditional restaurant. I had more people waiting on me than I could count. Great old world Italian restaurant like the kind I went to growing up in the 70's. Delicious!
(4)Janine K.
So, there are a number of Italian restaurants in Chicago....ok, more than a number of them, let's say a LOT!!! Some can be pricey, some more reasonable and so on.... Many of you probably recognize the sign for this place in the movie Ferris Bueller's Day off. I work a few blocks from this place and I've been here three times - apparently there are different restaurants within this restaurant/village/building but I've only been to the one which is a flight up when you walk in - I can't think of hte name of it offhand but it's just fine and I have no idea how it compares to the others. If you have a large group - I suggest making a reservation... I've done that before with no problem. The prices here for downtown Chicago are very reasonable. If you are dining in for lunch, there is a lunch section and I've ordered the meat tortellini in pesto sauce every time I've been here, though ALL of their food from salads to pasta dishes looks amazing...can't go wrong with the Italian here! For starters, you always get a basket of warm bread, breadsticks along with olive oil and parmesan cheese... SO good! If you're visiting, I suggest stopping in here for some good Italian food...if you've lived here your entire life as I have... it's definitely a place to check out, good service, reasonably priced, and overall damn good!!! Mangia! Mangia!
(4)Christian C.
I order the Lasagna and the tiramisu and they were amazing. They prices were very reasonable and the staff were extremely friendly and professionals. Next time I'm in Chicago I must stop here again!!! (Not five stars because they forgot my appetizer).
(4)Darl B.
Not horrible. one review here stated: 'Linguine was bland and sauceless.' Hey same guy must make the lunch lasagana! look follk this is a very very old school 'classic'. BUt upstaris at least, the lunch menu coudl do wth a 'renovation' if you receive my meaning. i woudl give it three if I inflated stars like everyone else seemingly. someone has to be principled.
(2)Marisa A.
Haha. I feel like I can't really hate on this place too much because it's either a joke entirely, or it just is what it is. What it is: a cheesy, outdated Italian-American restaurant near the Bank of America Theater. "Oh I'm too cold to walk anywhere else after Book of Mormon... let's just go here." Waiters are in tuxes with Italian accents (are those real?). There are shapes made out of mini light bulbs hung up on the walls. Grottos along the wall. Bread basket: White bread didn't really taste like anything. Why is the olive oil so watery? I kept wondering if they re-plate the bread from table to table since it's not good enough to eat much of, and they give you a lot. Grilled calamari: "Over-seasoned and undercooked" - my friend. "Are you cutting the tips off the heads?" Caesar salad: Fine. Chicken parmigiana: Split this with a friend and it was more than enough. Barilla-esque penne was poorly sauced, like they just spooned a little over it, not coated at all. The sauce itself was ok-- not offensive but not really restaurant quality. The chicken didn't taste like anything. Should've just eaten chia seeds and saved my fried food and cheese consumption for my next meal. I don't mean to be a jerk but I would seriously rather boil some Barilla pasta and ladle Prego on it at home. At least I wouldn't have to put on pants.
(2)Susan C.
My fiancé and I decided to go here after seeing the Book of Mormon. It was my birthday and my fiancé had never been there, so I was really excited. However, upon our arrival we were seated in a small room in the back near the kitchen. One of my favorite things about eating at the Italian Village is the atmosphere in the dining room, so I was pretty disappointed. Since my fiancé noticed I was disappointed on my special day, he asked for a new table. The staff was super supportive and changed our table right away. They were very nice about it ad did not make me feel like a jerk for asking for a new table. Besides that...The service, food, and atmosphere were perfect. My fiancé is 100% Italian and thought the Chicken parmigiana was excellent. He also couldn't get over how yummy the bread was. I highly recommend this place, not only because of the wonderful food, but because of how accommodating the staff was to me and my fiancé.
(5)Kelly K.
I'm convinced that the only reason this place does well is due to the location. There aren't any other sit down Italian places nearby, so it's really your only option. Went here with a group of co-workers. Made a reservation for 11:30am and we were seated promptly. The ambiance is fun, and makes you think for a minute that you no longer are in downtown Chicago. And that's the best part of the experience, unfortunately. Service was average. One person in our party ordered the Chicken Vesuvio, which we were told takes 30 minutes to cook. No biggie. It would have been nice to see our server within that time frame, but after dropping off the salads, we didn't see him again until lunch was served. I've had better food at the Olive Garden, to say the least. Everything is sub par for what you are paying. I ordered the baked mostoccoli and it was fine, but nothing spectacular. I don't plan on going here again unless I'm invited as part of a work function.
(2)Yvonne B.
M finally took me here after twice bringing me pizza leftovers for my dinner. The leftovers were delicious - creamiest of creamy cheese being the stand-out characteristic. M claimed that the pizza was even better fresh when the crust is hot and crispy. The Italian Village Restaurant is the top of a three-tiered restaurant conglomerate. M explained that the "fancy" restaurant is on the main level but she took me up the stairs to the casual Italian Village so she could get her pizza. The Italian Village is aptly named as it is set up with tables along a street lined with miniature buildings and topped with stringed lights. Guests could dine inside a few of the buildings but we were seated along the wall of the street area. Servers were dressed formally in tuxedos and bus people in vests. I think their style was to allow us to dine leisurely because they left us alone unless we waved them over. M got a sausage pizza and glass of chianti and I ordered a cannoli and limoncello. Although the cheese on the pizza is note-worthy, M is impressed by the sausage. In Chicago she likes that sausage pizza is made without the casings. In other places, the sausage is kept in the casings and sliced. The cannoli was wonderful. It was delicate and crispy on the outside and cheesy on the inside. We both liked that it wasn't saccharine.
(3)Beth P.
The food was good and the ambience was a little over the top with lights and decorations everywhere but it was definitely fun and to be expected. The service was great...we only waited 15 minutes for a table on a Saturday night at 6pm without a reservation. They were on top of it. Prices were reasonable, especially for downtown Chicago. Food was okay...my husband had chicken and mushroom pasta and I had the butternut squash chicken gnocchi. We both were happy with the quality and portions. I would go back.
(3)Margaux D.
Before I discovered Petterinos, I went to Italian Village before every Broadway in Chicago show. In high school, we took a huge trip as a group of about 45 students and the restaurant not only accommodated us but gave us excellent service. I'd recommend this to anyone who's afraid to dive in head first to Chicago's crazy culinary experiences, or to anyone looking for good Italian. When I went this summer, I found out that they have a vegetable garden on the roof and (season permitting) they'll feature certain items on their menu with their own ingredients. Talk about farm-to-fork. I love love love this place. It'll always be one of my go-to's for picky eaters, sad days when I need comforting food, and anytime I want a sure-fire knockout meal. Also, lest we forget, The Italian Village also has a themed dining room. They have little nooks for couples and the walls are completely covered with murals of Italy. Oh, and there's great mood lighting!
(5)Rick H.
Went there for the first time today with my family. Turned out that today was their 87th Birthday. (They opened up on this day in 1927). Anyway, food was awesome, service was top notch & the decor of the restaurant was great. We had a memorable time there & we can't wait to get back there again.
(5)Carol K.
How is it possible that this girl, who has eaten at most restaurants in the Chicago area, has never eaten at this Chicago institution?? Well that was quickly rectified the other day when a friend suggested Italian Village as the place to grab a great meal prior to us seeing a show at the Bank of America theater up the street. Know that there are three restaurants in Italian Village with the actual "Village" being on the top floor. Open since 1927- this is the oldest, continuously operating Italian restuarant in Chicago! the history is evident in the pictures on the walls but what was even more impressive to me wasmy friend who has been coming here for 30 years telling me about all the life events that have happened between these 4 walls for her personally!! Given she is a long time customer, we were treated to a little booth in the corner that is historic unto itself. My favorite feature? I guess back in the day the booth was totally closed off for privacy (must have been for the celebs or something) So if you wanted service- you would push a little button in the wall and someone would come running over. That little button evokes the same response today. The food was great! I so wanted one of their pasta dishes but I was on some crazy protein only diet so I ended up with a perfectly cooked steak and salad. And they were great in accomodating my request of a steamed veggie which isn't normally on the menu. My friend took advantage of their garlic free red sauce (they have the regular one too!) and proceeded to gobble up her manicotti. Huge portions, great service and reasonable prices. You can bet when I am in the mood for a little Italian in the loop the Italian Village will be high on my list! Guess I can cross this Chicago institution off of my "gotta go" list!
(4)Dalya H.
We have been coming to Italian Village for over 40 years. I would say the place is good, but has slipped from its former greatness. We went yesterday after a play. The valet parking is one of the best attractions as you can park for $12, leave the car and go to a show before or after dinner. The waiter, Scott, was wonderful - attentive and friendly. The whole staff was very polite and friendly. Unfortunately, the chicken broth a/ka macaroni soup, was very salty and had only macaroni in it. The house salad was very bitter, with no lettuce and lots of dark (fancy?) greens. My husband's minestrone was good. The main entrees were delicious and up to the old standard we'd become accustomed to. I had scampi casalinga which was terrific - tasty, delicious. My husband had veal parmiagana, also very good. The portions were overly adequate so whoever said they were small has a very big appetite. The restaurant itself looked nice but our booth, in particular, needed some refreshing. The atmosphere is very nice and the private booths are lovely and romantic. Bottom line, still worth the visit. We left the restaurant feeling we'd had a good meal and a pleasant experience.
(4)Keith S.
I thought I already wrote this review !! Must have dreamed it, I think I have dreamed about my mostaccioli at least twice since dining there. So here's my experience: Walked to the Italian Village from the Renaissance in about 10 degree weather, with the family, including large baby stroller. I wasn't thrilled because the last time I went there had been at least 20 years previous and I wasn't thrilled. We got there - it was Valentine's Day and it was CRAZY PACKED !! Us coming in with that huge stroller we were in everyone's way. We had decided we weren't dressed for the really fancy places here (see my tip - there are 3 restaurants in this building, each has its own character), so we thought we would go to the upstairs "Italian Village" restaurant, thinking it would be kid-friendly. Good choice. I went upstairs to get my name on the list, and the gentleman controlling the list was friendly and told us maybe a half hour. I was shocked it would be so short. There was no room for the stroller so we left it with the valet crew to look after and we all went upstairs. Our wait was closer to 40 minutes but still, on Valentine's Day, the place was completely packed and we were shoulder to shoulder. We were sat in the back corner of the bar area and started with some drinks, and our waiter came and took our orders very fast. Didn't seem very long of a wait at all for our food. I ordered the biggest thing I would think of; mostaccioli with meat sauce, meatballs, baked with cheese on top. WOW !! I have to say, as far as a meal goes, it was a masterpiece. If you have read my other reviews, I normally get the pasta with bolognese (meat sauce) but I have to say this tops them all and is so much easier to eat (no long noodles). I even tried some chicken parm, it is great. The atmosphere here was just fantastic, but I know every day is not Valentine's Day with pheromones in the air. I am sure on a normal day it's great. When we finished up I was pleasantly surprised by how reasonable the bill was, thanks for being friendly to our wallets. The stroller was right where we left it, I tipped the valet staff, and we went back into the cold. My only complaint - I know that was penne not mostaccioli - I saw stripes !! :)
(5)Eric F.
I give this place an extra star for Ambiance and History. The restaurant has two floors and a bar. And it is a throwback to the fifties and sixties, with its Italian lights everywhere and its many decorative extras. There are perfectly silhouetted Italian seaside village on the walls with deep blue lighting behind them. There are plastic plants and themed rooms. Every corner of this place is a piece of Kitsch Environmental Travel Art. The food is okay to good. Imagine a high end Italian place from the 60s... that's the food here. Veal, pastas, minestrone soup, Lasagna, the works. Want decent backed Mannicoti... this is the place. You crave Veal Parmigiano... this is the place. You long for cutting edge excellent Italian fare... this is not the place. Drink in the bar first. It is a trip.
(4)Tangy Marie C.
This restaurant is the bomb. The cantina on the lower floor is the greatest and service is always impeccable. Don't miss out on this gem. In the loop. Great lunch and dinner locale. Make this your special place and request "the" booth! No regrets and you'll need to take some home bcos the portions are hugh. You will return over and over. The fresh bread is to die for. Ambiance goes without saying. Enjoy the wine as well!
(5)Tori M.
Update! Finally made it here and got to experience this place in person and it was everything I had hoped for and more! The line was a little confusing because those with reservations walked up to the front while those of us without stood in the narrow stairwell waiting in line but the latter added to the 'Italian village' feel of it. We had about a 45 minute wait which was fine because it gave us the chance to hang out at the bar and watch sports. The bartenders were very friendly and attentive as was our waiter Alfredo. Our basket of warm bread never went empty and he even addressed the girls at the table as 'bella' (beautiful in Italian). As for the food, it was absolutely incredible! I got the lasagna because you don't mess with perfection but I tried a friends chicken alfredo and veal saltimbocca all of which were amazing. If you haven't been here yet, GO!
(5)Nina B.
Stopped in for a drink after the Book of Mormon. Place was empty as it was late Sunday night. I had their house made pineapple infused vodka martini and it was delicious. I would return and I'd also recommend to others. The place is upstairs, it's decorated with little lights hidden in scenes of old Italy. Slightly cheesy but pretty cute too.
(4)John K.
great place to eat authentic Italian in the loop. Not too pricey, and food is great. Very friendly staff as well.
(4)Blair M.
This was a very good restaurant, had a glass of Pinot Noir, Caesar Salad and Pasta with Bolognese sauce. Everything was very good. We were seated quickly, almost immediately. Service was quick and friendly.
(4)Sabrina H.
The food here was ok, nothing exceptional. I do wish the ambiance reflected a village more than a cheap fairytale with all the Christmas lights hanging. However, my biggest annoyance was that I was told that I would have a $3 up charge for my Caesar salad but we had to wait until we received the bill to find that my friend was up charged $11 for adding shrimp to his dish! $11!!!
(3)Kirk A.
The setting was fun...kitschy old Italian restaurant. The service was very good, and the food was just average. Good for a group, with nice secluded niche and a round table. You could most assuredly find better Italian food in Chicago.
(3)Todd W.
Excellent. Great service and the food was super. I don't know what there is about the bread and oil but I could NOT get enough. All around a really good place. It's a very old establishment but it is very charming and a fun place to visit.
(5)Lorelei C.
I Love dining at the Italian Village, Truly I do! And, once I get the names straight of the various areas/floors of the Village I will Love it even more! So, tonight on Yelp I checked in at Vivere', thinking I was actually at Vivere' and then I come home to realize I was upstairs where the twinkling lights are so that means I was at the Village. Now, I normally don't make mistakes like this but I have had a busy week with lots of dinners/nights out and I think I was a bit confused. Anyway, what I have to say about the Village is this.. Outstanding Service, I have never seen so much attentive service by an entire staff of people as I have at The Village, and upstairs was packed tonight and we came in and did;nt even have to wait for a table, we were seated in a lovely little private area... Food, pretty near perfection, everything was served in a timely manner, Now normally when I dine at The Village I have Chicken Vesuvio for The Village has the very best Chicken Vesuvio, however, tonight I opted for Veal Parmigiana, and it was a great choice.. And, yes, I was treated to another post-birthday dessert because the staff of The Village came to our table to sing me Happy Birthday! And.. in my mind it went kind of like this.. Happy Birthday to you... You're pretty old there aren't you? Be happy you're getting this cake.. Cause our chef hates to fricken bake.. And many more..:) No, Seriously, I Love the Village, and now I know I was at the Village and not at Vivere'.. It was a lovely evening, and I was kind of sad that I didn't get to sit beneath the twinkling lights and that was because all those other people were hogging my area! That's okay, I will wait till next time..:)
(5)Chris S.
Incredible experience! The Classic Italian food was fantastic and the service was impeccable. Highly recommend! I had their dinner special that was the crab stuffed sea bass, and it was delightful!
(5)Mr K.
Grabbed some dinner here while on vacation. We had previously spent several hours walking the city and shopping. On the way back to the hotel (Club Quarters) we spotted The Italian Village and decided to give it a try. This place is the epitome of an old world type italian eatery. Bottom line is that the food is very good and with very little pretense. One thing to mention is at the time they had a burrata and beefsteak tomato stack. That was single largest serving of burrata that I've ever seen and I'm not complaining.
(4)Patti L.
Best lasagna in all of Chicago. Great old world Italian atmosphere. Reliable, good service and food. Great for a pre theatre meal.
(5)Frank Z.
Ive been to the top floor of this fine establishment many times and Ive had a great meal each time. The servers are very helpful and focus on every little detail. The food will make your tongue feel like a gondola floating lazily down Venetian lagoon, you being the taste buds wrapped up like a warm blanket straight from the dryer as you recover in your hospital bed. The meatballs are awesome.
(5)michelle k.
We came here without a reservation as the restaurant we previously booked required a jacket and we didn't have one nor did I have a fancy outfit. We went uostairs (not the best if you cant climb stairs as no elevator)We were seated after a 20 min wait on a Saturday evening. We were celebrating our anniversary, and found this place to suit us nicely. We ordered minestrone soup, salad with mozzarella, tomato and basil pesto which was delicious. For the main dish we shared a special...gnocchi with chicken and butternut squash and vodka sauce. It was so delicious! Our waiter was phenomenal as well! First time and not last time I eat here. We made it just in time before we saw a show down the street at the Bank of America theatre.
(5)Paige B.
Food was very good. Had the homemade anuloti and cannoli they were both wonderful. I was dining alone and the service started out great but was not as attentive or upbeat by the end of my experience. Other wait staff appeared friendlier so I won't falt them from one waiters bad day.
(4)Gspot H.
Old School Italian Restaurant. Popular hangout for celebs and gangsters and soup was pretty good. Images posted on walls naturally of; celebs, sports athlete's, mobsters, politicians, rich, threatening and da like.. Chicken Marsala was really darn good and was true as u need 2 be if you gonna leave alive, ya know what I mean?
(4)Tim D.
Great ambiance, excellent service, great food = a good time! First time to the Italian Village, and we were not disappointed. Our wait staff were excellent, the food was very good, served hot as it should be. One of my pet hates is food served warm or near cold! If it is a cooked dish serve it at the correct temperature!!! The quality and portions were an excellent size, and the atmosphere definitely "old world" which is exactly what we were looking for. We will be back!
(4)Hailey P.
We went to the Vivere restaurant and had a very enjoyable experience. We had the Carne Affettata and enjoyed every part of that. Wish they would serve it with more crouton/bread, though. The bread was perfect for mix and matching the meats and cheeses on it. The blueberry cheese was amazing. I had the Agnolottini Di Afgiano for the main course. The taste was very earthy but I definitely enjoyed that. Also very filling. Our waiter was very attentive and wanted to make sure all our needs were taken care of. For desert I had chocolate cake and gelato. I am a chocolate lover but after such a heavy and earthy meal I actually needed up liking the strawberry gelato as a palate cleanser. The decor is very elaborate and interesting to look at.
(5)Matthew O.
Went downtown for a day at the Art Institute and shopping on State Street. Starving at 5:30 so we decided for the easiest option on a rainy first day of winter: stay in the Loop and go to a place with good atmosphere. Have always liked Italian Village but never go because Chicago has so many other great restaurants. Had to wait 30 minutes which was short for a pre-Christmas Saturday night. Staff was very friendly and warm and our waiter was excellent. 5 stars. Food came out quickly and ended up being what we expected. Over-priced, over-cooked, under seasoned. 2 stars. Chicken Rolatini was disappointing. Linguine was bland and sauceless. Chicken was waaaaaaay over-cooked and the sherry wine sauce was underwhelming. And for $18, that's not good. Still, I love the atmosphere at this place and the bread and butter helped us wipe our plates clean. Despite the disappointing preparation, we all still devoured our meals. Probably won't go back, but for that Saturday night I think we made the best choice given the circumstances.
(3)Colby M.
Food was good, service was good, had a quiet secluded booth. We had the pomedoro and carpaccio for starters, I recommend the pomedoro. The sea bass for dinner was amazing, espresso was good.
(4)Julie J.
Walked in with a friend on Saturday at 7pm... only had to wait about 10 minutes for a table, and while waiting, there were seats available at the bar. We were seated right after, and asked for recommendations from the server on his favorite dishes. He had great insight and recommended two great dishes that we ordered. We both enjoyed our dinner and the atmosphere! Great location in the Loop too!
(4)Melissa G.
We are here at the lunch hour. My good friend and colleague and I were given the special corner that we found is a horse stall. We asked for the whitefish without butter and tomatoes instead. My friend wanted plum tomatoes and I asked for regular tomatoes. Funny thing is that we also asked them sliced and . . . they did it. Nice experience . . . Great food!
(5)Sai S.
VERY RACIST ESTABLISHMENTS!! I went down to this restaurant today. The short waiter had this fake Italian restaurant and says what do you want? I said I wanted a table for two. He gives me the menu and goes back and says to another waiter " ITS A FUCKING INDIAN GUY." I really wanted to leave at that point but I stayed because I was with my manager from work. I was looking for vegetarian options and this asshole says " only veggie option is eggplant Parmesan" . But I see many salads in the menu but sine they were cheaper than his eggplant Parmesan he wasn't happy. He says a few more racist things like "all you Indians are veggies". I paid and left. I can't believe they are still in business. I HOPE TO GOD this never happens to anyone else
(1)Mancow M.
There is a secret that all media manipulators know: you cannot shake childhood sense memories. When Folgers coffee showed a baby in a crib people thought it was insane. When BMW showed a toddler driving a toy BMW people thought it was madness. Both companies however saw double digit growth. If you can attach an advertisement (or a sales pitch) to someone's childhood sense memory (back before they became cynical) they cannot resist it. I am like this about Italian Village. As a child my father brought me to Chicago on one of his sales trips from Kansas City along Lakeshore drive. I thought Lake Michigan was the ocean. He took me upstairs to Italian Village and told me the secrets of the world. I believed I was really in Italy. I was a very stupid child. That upstairs room at Italian Village still holds so much wonderment for me. It's so quaint and sweet and innocent. That part of our world (and that part of me) is sadly disappearing. Alfredo Capitanini was creating his recipes and starting traditions as Gandhi went to Ceylon, Showboat floated out on Broadway ,the Academy Awards was founded ,and Philo Farnsworth tinkered with TV. Alfredo knew to succeed in this big intimidating city it had to be special and no detail forgotten. As the world celebrated Lindbergh's flight from New York to Paris - Alfredo was checking and double checking his menu as "Lucky Lindy" would check The Spirit of St. Louis. One False move, one single miscalculation, and they both would've come crashing down in abject failure. Both were magnificently triumphant. Great American success stories. 85 years and going strong... I believe they still have the same waitstaff. Ha! Yes, it does feel like you're on a movie set. But instead of "The Truman Show" it's "The Alfredo Show". Yes, it does feel like you've traveled back in time. Yes, the waiters are wearing uniforms and hover over you like today's soccer moms. It's a forgotten word called: service. The waiters here are surreal by today's standards. This is the way America used to be before laziness ,welfare, Obama phones ,and change. A waitstaff that actually hustles and wants to work and serve. Imagine it! Like me, our society is so loud and obnoxious now. I do wish the food had a little more punch but maybe that's just because I've been so bombarded with modern Italian food that people think must have 50 ingredients. My wife is from Italy and everything is simple like the food at Italian Village. But truthfully I do wish it was a little more spicy. Still, in my minds eye over a bottle of Vino (and I like their wine list) in the little room upstairs off to the corner with faux village lights twinkling in the frescos you will find me daydreaming of Alfredo at a small table across from me dreaming of the new Ford Model A he might be able to buy if his restaurant succeeds. 85 years on I wonder what he would think of the place today. I think he'd smile at the fact that it's EXACTLY as he left it. If it ain't broke....
(4)Robert L.
Pretty good, went to The Village but it was definitely more expensive than I thought it was going to be.
(3)Josie V.
I love that this place delivered to my hotel. When you're traveling for work, sometimes you just want room service. The veal scallopini wasn't fantastic but it was good enough. If you order a salad, the creamy garlic dressing is a must! Also, order a cannoli here, I must admit it was tasty.
(3)Lucy P.
I recently ate here with a small group (6) before hitting up a musical. Our waiter was fantastic. He knew that menu like the back of his hand and was very friendly. I ordered the agnolotti. It was honestly only OK. It didn't taste any better than frozen ravioli in a jarred pasta sauce. (Which I don't mind, but I expect a bit more from an Italian restaurant). I tasted the gnocchi and the manicotti from other people in our group and theirs were MUCH better. I was completely satisfied with my portion size, but theirs seemed noticeably larger. Especially the gnocchi. My food was OK, everyone else's food was good. Our waiter was great. 4 Stars right? Not quite. I took an issue with some "Situations" going down in the restaurant. There was a particular waiter that was taking a lot of flak from the management. Maybe he deserved it, but it didn't need to play out in public. I'm sure they thought they were being discrete, but they weren't. After the initial situation where we could tell he was getting yelled at. I saw another situation that just turned me off from this place. A manager (a reasonably tall guy) had a napkin in his hand and the waiter in question had his back to him. He reached around and rudely jammed the napkin in the guys elbow and rolled his eyes and walked away. I realize now this situation is very hard to describe, but I was really bothered by it. Management: Your customers are watching you be an ass. I don't even care if the waiter "deserved it". Don't be an ass. We're watching and we want a pleasant, not tense experience. I wouldn't make a point to go back. I'd rather go somewhere a little less....tense.
(3)Erin O.
Italian Village gets 4 stars for ambiance and experience, 3 stars for quality of food, 2 stars for value. My husband recalled Italian Village fondly, and I love Italian food, so we met a friend there last Saturday. Beware: While you wait for a table there are not many comfortable spots in which you may wait! Me and my two guests stood and waited for about an hour in the hallway that links one dining room with the other, constantly backing ourselves into the wall to make way for guests, waiters and more passing through. But once we were seated, we marveled at the comforting busyness of the restaurant, and the delightful illuminated walls and lights strung above us. I ordered the 3-Cheese Tortellini. It came with a very green and tasty side salad, and bread was complimentary. The tortellini tasted about the same as the frozen ravioli I buy at ALDI (and it's $2.29 for a very large bag). It was good, but with only six pieces to eat I wouldn't say it was good value. The garlic and tomato broth in which it was served was great for sopping up with bread. My $7.50 glass of house wine was a regret. But the service was great, and it was a good time. I would go back for a nice occasion with my husband if we find ourselves in downtown Chicago around dinnertime again.
(3)Tony F.
4 stars instead of 5 because it was my 1st time there. I'm 100% Italian and very critical when the food doesn't live up to expectations. I can't wait to go back because the food was excellent. We had our company dinner her and 24 of us were really impressed by the 4 course menu. My friends son James Giacometti Jr. is the Executive Chef. Le Cordon Bleu educated, trained in Italy and at 27 or 28 is amazingly talented. Go to this famous spot and have a great meal
(4)Dale H.
My husband and I recently found ourselves stuck in Chicago for two days after some drama at O'Hare Airport caused us to miss our connecting flight to Las Vegas. Fortunately, we got a room at the Hampton Inn Majestic, and they suggested The Villages as an option for a late evening meal. I am used to extensively researching restaurants and hotels before I go on any trip, so I was a bit apprehensive going to a restaurant I knew absolutely nothing about ... and I was pleasantly surprised! It's really a collection of three theme restaurants in one building. La Cantina, Vivere, and the Village. It was close to 10:00 when we got there so the only one open was the one upstairs - The Village. The atmosphere is kind of campy, kitschy, Disney-meets-Vegas Italian. I mean that in a good way. It's kind of fun. They have transformed that floor into a miniature Italian village with separate "buildings" / dining alcoves, painted the ceiling sky blue, and strung up white Christmas tree lights for ambiance. My husband had the pollo rotolini - thin chicken breasts rolled with sausage and prosciutto - and I had the meat ravioli. Both of our meals were absolutely delicious. There was plenty of meat in the ravioli and the pasta sauce was more savory than sweet. It would've been nice to have a bit of Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top, but I'm not a fan of those communal containers left on every table and used by people I don't know. Oh well. The service was excellent. The only thing I found kind of odd was the waitstaff used rolling carts to bring the food to the table and to clear dishes after a meal. I've never been anywhere that used those carts. Perhaps it's just a Chicago thing? Overall, our first meal in Chicago was very pleasant!
(4)Sarah C.
Totally unexpected. I'm sure this must be a spot loads of people know about but I had no idea it existed. In the middle of downtown, through a revolving door, and up a flight of stairs will take you from a cold Chicago winter into a space that looks like late evening in a village in Italy. You walk into "outdoor" seating, little nooks, and a soft lighting. Their grilled calamari was fantastic - especially paired with a cold Peroni. I kept it simple with their lasagne and it was so filling, just stuck right to my ribs, that it was perfect for our long walk downtown. Our waitress was absolutely lovely and had great recommendations for exactly what our tastes were. She went the extra mile to bring me a sausage to try when the boyfriend wouldn't stop raving about how amazing they were. All in all, a really nice experience.
(4)Stephanie S.
Fantastic ambiance in the upper restaurant and bar, and it's hard to find a dish you won't like - their menu, and their wine list, is extensive! I personally think their pizza is among the best in the city, too, and they have a free pizza happy hour in the bar on Monday nights. Great date spot.
(4)Patrice G.
Our favorite italian "go to" restaurant was booked, so we decided to go to an oldie, but goodie. Well, turns out, it IS an oldie, but unfortunately, ahhh, not so good. Started off with a glass of Pinot Noir, which was not very tasty. (In retrospect, I should have returned it.) The basket of bread looked good, but in fact was a stale. The dishes on the menu all sounded delicious. There were five of us, all ordering different dishes....and all of us left at least a third on our plate (including the men!) I ordered the Amish chicken with red roasted potatoes and artichokes. It came swimming in some mediocre sauce, the potatoes were hard, artichokes chewy, chicken just ok. Everyone else's dishes ranged from bad to worse. Such a prime location in the heart of a great city known for outstanding food. So disappointing!
(2)Anjelica N.
Boy do I love Italian food. If you're in the Loop of Chicago and have a hankering for some Italian - head on down to the Italian Village Restaurants. (Full disclosure: My co-worker and I enjoyed this place so much we went two nights in a row in order to experience the upstairs and downstairs! We were not disappointed!!) This establishment caters to both Northern and Southern Italian cuisine. If you visit the ground floor, the restaurant is called Vivere. This place offers Northern inspired cuisine such as lasagna layered with spanich, provolone and short rib. This floor of establishment has modern art styled architecture. The browns, reds and gold make the establishment feel more refined and fancy. If you head upstairs, you'll experience Southern cuisine - the type that we are most accustomed too. The chicken marsala is divine as well as my shrimp and mushroom risotto. The decor is more reminiscent of a quasi-authentic Italian restaurant, i.e. loud but rustic colors, hanging lights and Italian music in the background. Price-wise, the majority of main dishes ranged from $15-$30. It's not horrible, especially for Chicago. The servers were quite attentive and very friendly. I highly recommend this place!
(4)Carrie W.
So I have read many of the reviews on here.... This place is not supposed to be RPM people! This place has been in business since 1927.... What this place has seen over the years!!!!! The village is the place to eat and their bar is fantastic, best Manhattans in town... It is quaint, yet campy, and older.... But that is why it is a packed house, every time we go (week/weekend) i.e. We got in on a whim last night around five and the place was packed by the time we left.... We were there last night before a show across the street.... Rock of Ages! And we had a fantastic time, at the dinner and lastly at the show! (We always go here before a show) The service is always impeccable, always. The server we had this time around was Alberto. Very knowledgable about food and wine. Their wine by the bottle listing is huge! We chose a perfect wine to go with our simple dinner... Starting with beef carpaccio that was topped Parma and arugula. Then moved onto a constant love of ours there, cheese ravioli. Yes, we adore the cheese ravioli, and it's four cheese for that fact! My husband always gets the meat sauce and I always love their marinara sauce. They do put anchovies in the marinara sauce, and this time they may have put in too much... (And they make their own pasta!) We finished our bottle... And ended the evening with a couple of espressos and one of their house made cannoli. So go in yourself and make up your own opinion!!!!! Love this place!
(4)Anika F.
If I could give this place ZERO stars I would. This was the most disgusting food I've ever had. The veal was soooo old and rubbery and smelled. My mothers fish was rank and my sister in laws eggplant tasted like it had been sitting in a closet for months. The worst of all was the service!!! Our waiter acted like he was on a sedative and when we told him our fish was bad he literally said, 'I told you not to order that'. How about not serving rotten fish! Geez. So we complain to the manager and he says he'll go to the kitchen to check and he NEVER COMES BACK. Are you kidding me? Olive Garden would've been better. Avoid this place at all costs, even if you are going to see the Book of Mormon afterward. You'd be better off going to Panera Bread and not dropping $150 on some stank ass food managed and staffed by a stuck up douchey old man acting like they know anything about customer service. The guy was wearing a maroon suit for crying out loud. No respect, no class and no cooking skills.
(1)Taylor E.
I was here 11/26/14. We had reservations in the evening for 4 people. Service was prompt. The location was convenient to Macy's and Kris Kringle mart. Servers were friendly but not fantastic. The bread was very plain and served cold. Warm would have been better. The drink list was unimpressive. The prices were fair. The portions were generous. The minestrone soup was fresh but under seasoned . The pasta with Arabiatta sauce was good. The noodles were cooked well ( al dente). The place was clean but needed decor updated. It was a decent but unmemorable meal.
(3)Michelle L.
This place was a perfect spot for my family to have lunch before the Christkindlmarket and seeing the Macy's windows. We had six people, four adults, a five year old, and an eight year old. They sat us in a 'snug' private room that had coat hooks and a large booth. Our server was so attentive - a necessity with small children (dropped straws, spills, etc.) We ordered two pizzas, a medium and large and then children's menu portions of spaghetti with butter. The spaghetti came out early so the kids could eat right away. The pizza was really good - crispy thin crust with lots of cheese and a perfect amount of toppings (green olives for us). I was worried when we arrived at 11:30 for a 12:00 reservation that the restaurant was empty. But it was 11:30! By 12: 15, it was full. I will definitely come hear again.
(4)Kristine M.
I'm not a foodie, nor Italian but I don't think that that makes me any less competent to know Italian good food. At the very least it should be seasoned, right? I can only imagine the only reason that this restaurant is still in business is because of the convenient location for tourist and show goers and most of the patrons I saw you were older Americans that are very likely to mistaken these cuisines as authentic Italian. I was taking here on a date and was a bit concerned after I read the reviews. I'm sad to say that the negative reviews we're not an exaggeration. If you sincerely want a reasonably priced, fresh, and delicious pasta I would recommend the Pasta Bowl in Lincoln Park.
(1)Christine S.
The Italian Village is a pretty standard Italian joint...not great, not bad... just fine. I've been here a couple of times and have never been disappointed by the food. I've had the meat ravoli with spicy arrabiatta sauce and I thought it was pretty good. I like some heat/spice in my pasta sauce so that was perfect. The service is sometimes a little off, but it's not bad. I'm pretty sure you can pop in here without a reservation, so that's a bonus....but it also kinda says something considering you need reservations for damn near everywhere in The Loop. There's for sure better places to go for Italian food but I like the old school vibe here.
(3)Dani S.
Visiting Chicago from Arizona for the 1st time and we found The Italian Village on Yelp and the food and service did not disappoint. We both had cocktails which were tasty, our appetizer was the house special with homemade mozzarella and tomatoes which was also tasty. We ordered chicken vesuvio (so very tasty, worth the wait for it for sure!) for my husband and I had eggplant parmesan, both were very good. But what really made for a nice dinner was the ambiance with smooth music playing in the background, warmly lit tables with a small, soft wall lamp, the walls had cute little lights within the painted scenery and the server Andrew. Andrew was very sweet and helpful, without him the food would have been, just...good, but he completed the entire package and we are very thankful for his attentiveness, kindness and friendly disposition. The bar area we sat in was a sweet little booth in the corner making it feel like it was just the 2 of us on a busy Sunday night in this restaurant. Again, thank you Andrew!
(4)Derek L.
I wish I could move this place to Toronto. I started with the Caesar Salad, made at the table. I could have just kept ordering the salad. But there was more to conquer. I had the Seafood Linguine, with every morsel of seafood perfectly fresh and perfectly cooked. You can easily tell with squid, since it goes to rubber within a day. This squid was as fresh as it gets. Another member of my party had the Panko Chicken Marsala, with shell pasta in a stunning marsala sauce. The third of my party had the Meatball Panini, which had a couple of large, garlicky, tender meatballs, cut in half with mushrooms and cheese on an Italian roll. Plan on sampling around the table if you go!
(5)Stephanie H.
I went here for the first time last night with a friend, and I had a pretty nice experience. I ordered the Angnolotti, which was good, but not phenomenal. My friend ordered the Chicken Parmesan, which was huge so be prepared. The service was really good and attentive. My friend didn't take his leftovers home since he had a long drive ahead of him, and they even made sure that nothing was wrong with his food, which I thought was nice. For being the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, I'd go back. I think the decor is also really darling. I love the "outside" feel of it. But if you're looking for RPM quality, go to RPM.
(3)Michael C.
Really surprised by the bad reviews complaining about bad service. The service was almost too good that it was creepy. There were three to four employees standing close to my table filling my water and clearing the plates as soon as I put my fork down. I don't have a huge sample size as I'm from out of town and just had my first experience, but the the frutti di mare was the best I've ever had; loaded with fresh seafood and the sauce was incredible.
(5)David A.
Great service from the minute you walk in throughout the entire meal. Extremely hot and fresh food and reasonable prices. Our favorite place to eat Italian in Chicago!!
(5)Toni F.
If you want a very traditional atmosphere with standard Italian food to match, Italian Village shouldn't disappoint. Near the theater it's a good choice for a decent, affordable meal before the show and you can valet park and leave your car for the evening. The service was very good - the food was nothing to write home about. We had the Seafood Ravioli (with not much seafood) and Eggplant Parmigiana (thick slices of slightly overcooked eggplant with a heavy sauce and not much cheese). The cheesecake was the surprise hit of the meal - delicate and full of flavor. They have an extensive wine list but were out of the Valpolicella we ordered so we were disappointed. The sommelier recommended a substitute which once we got the bill we discovered was more expensive than the one we wanted - I felt they should have given us the substitute for the same price but we didn't make an issue of it. We chose the more traditional of the three dining options available at Italian Village - next time we might try Vivere or La Cantina to see if our experience is different.
(2)Carrie C.
Old school, overloaded with sauce. This is a charming place and the service is really great but the food is just lacking. Or has too much. Case in point. I wanted the "rooftop beefsteak tomato" salad with burrata but spotted it rolling by on a cart, heavily over sauced with balsamic syrup. Heavily. That stuff is potent folks. A little drizzle is all that is needed. So, I asked for mine without. Alas,. The tomatoes were still mealy as they had obviously been refrigerated and were still very cold. Then my filet arrived- swimming in mushroom sauce. And by that I do mean swamped. It should have come on a soup plate. My husband's chicken rotelli was slightly better but tasted as if it was marinated in chicken bouillon. The best dish of the night,to be honest, was my son's chicken strips which were thinly pounded pieces of chicken breast, with perfectly crisp breading. We all should have had that with a marinara sidecar and we would have walked away happy. My other high point was the lively glass of wine from the montepulciano region. Very tasty.
(3)Georgie M.
If you are new to Chicago, you need to try Italian Village and nearby Berghoff's. Both, will introduce you to the world of "Old Chicago" dining! I first started coming to The Village in the mid eighties, and we seem to come back once a year ever since. The food is good and the experience is a trip back in time, as like to say. Back in the day, The Village was where all the important financial deals in the city of Chicago were done, or so it seemed. The secret to it's longevity, is that it's really three different restaurants, with three different menus in one. On the ground floor, you have The Village and bar area. It has an Italian grotto feel to it. It serves some good northern Italian food and the prices are very reasonable, with generous pours from the bar. Upstairs is a more formal Italian dinning called the Vivere. It reminds me of some those Taylor Street eateries. Very upscale, but without the thumb on the scale prices. Sadly, these are the only two Italian Village restaurants we have tried. There is also the La Cantina downstairs, which I know we will get to some day. LOL Enjoy!
(3)Robert L.
Went last night as it was close to my hotel. Atmosphere is old style Italian with the village setting. Went up the long stairs and was seated immediately. Ordered a drink which came quickly and the waiter took my order. My appetizer baked clams came out very quickly they were a bit over breaded for my liking. Within a minute my salad showed up. I cautioned the waiter to slow things down and that I would not be happy. Salad was fair. Greens were wilted and not crisp. As I picked at the salad the main course showed up. Went for classic veal parm. Spaghetti was over cooked and veal was a bit thick and tough. Would have expected it pounded a bit. Are about half portion was large enough bit I really could have used some time to digest. Overall prices a bit high, service was mostly attentive although the manager came by twice because my drinks were empty. Will not go back even to try the other two locations
(2)Michael T.
Traveling from out of town, had dinner tonight at the downstairs Cantina. Lasagna Al Forno was overdone and gummy. There was an extra charge for 'cheese' on the lasagna.. There was nothing special about this dinner. Staff was friendly, and service good.
(2)melinda f.
We were in booth 11, with a waiter button inside. Ronald did a great job, and even was able to get us gelotti even though downstairs restaurant was closed. They don't serve gelotti at the upstairs restaurant, they usually get from downstairs restaurant, but it was s Sunday evening and the downstairs restaurant was closed. Could not have been nicer. Food was really good. Whitefish was fresh, the tortelli, my 8 yr old loved. Grilled chicken with capers. Capellini with meatball. Anything you order will be great.
(5)Danielle P.
I ate hear with my boyfriend, we both ordered the lasagne the sauce was good but the lasagne itself was terrible! It reminded me of something you would buy out of the frozen section at the supermarket. The texture was slimy and had no flavor what so ever. I would never eat here again and would not reccomend it to anyone! Service was not too good either. Our waiter didnt check on us once to ask if we needed anything or just to see how everything was. Very disappointed!
(2)Emily C.
Definitely a Chicago institution! That being said, they are in need of an update. I came recently for lunch and it was exactly as I remembered from 20 years ago... It was so dark in there! The food was fine, but nothing blew my mind. Service was very good. 295/365
(3)Katie D.
My last meal on Earth may just be their seafood ravioli and a glass of sangria. Perfection!
(5)Nick F.
Can't say I'm a fan. I was in the Chicago Loop area over the weekend with my fiance, We went to the Willis Tower, after leaving we started to go for a little walk, we went past Giordono's Pizza and debated going their, we discussed it and agreed since we have both been their to try someplace new, We saw a Luke's beef we said sure let's try that, but they closed at 7PM, we decided to keep walking we came to the discovery everything in the loop closes early except your chain restaurants (Subway,Mcdonalds,Chipolte) we both agreed not to go to a chain while downtown, i saw the Italian Village sign and said lets go. We walked in not knowing what to expect we followed a few ladies up the stairs, and we were promptly seated the staff was VERY nice at least the first couple people were. We quickly realized we were under-dressed (sweatshirts and jeans) But figured they let us in we can stay. We sat down handed the menus and water and the waiter vanished a short time later he came back got our drink order and came back quite quickly with our drinks and bread. Good start i thought. We went ahead and ordered, i got the Lasagna which i found out came with either a salad or soup, being that we were walking around in the cold for the last hour i got soup (which was either some tomato basil? soup, or a chicken noodle soup. Bingo let's do that) My fiance got the salad. We decided to try the bread, which was hard and pretty bland. A short time later the soup and salad arrived, I got chicken broth with tiny little round noodles, Terrible! not at all what i was expecting. MY fiance said the salad was ok, but it had a variety of lettuce (purple,greens,etc) and didn't like some of the lettuce. A few minutes later the food came out, and my Lasagna or what i ordered came out, but it was not what i was expecting at all, it was a few pieces of lasagna noodles with ricotta cheese stacked like your typical lasagna then covered with meat sauce, the sauce was decent but it was extremely over powering. I ended up scraping most of the meat sauce off to eat the cheese/noodle pile it was mediocre but no where near worth the $16. My fiance's mostacocioli came out with the same large amount of meat sauce. the noodles seemed like your typical store bought noodles. We started to be humored about the food being so bad for the price. Just as we were done eating the table across from us got their food brought out, i noticed the lady had what looked like an AMAZING piece of lasagna.....what the hell did i get? Either way the $45+ Bill for 2 Plates of pasta, 1 soda and 1 Iced Tea was not how i planned my dinner. I have no problem paying for food, but this was comparable to a Fazoli's for quality. I must admit the place does look VERY nice inside so A+ for that. but D for everything else. Will not return.
(2)Danielle S.
Italian Village is far my favorite restaurant in Chicago. I am Italian and surely approve, as did my family. The Italian Village upstairs is a cozy atmosphere that makes you feel like your sitting outside at a restaurant in Italy. We always start out meal with the captain salad. The salad has mixed greens, red pepper, egg, fresh Parmesan, radishes, and tomato in it. They use I assume their house Italian and mix it together for you. Very very good! I usually order the lasagna, layered with meat sauce, white cream sauce and Parmesan cheese. It melts in your mouth. You are served a generous portion and I usually take some home with me. HIGHLY recommend this dish! This last visit I ordered "Pasta e Olio" a very simple Italian dish but so delicious. Angel hair pasta with olive oil and minced garlic and parsley or pepper. Although simple it was prepared perfectly and again I boxed up half of it and took it home with me. I could go on and on about the other dishes I have tried. But last I want to mention the dessert, their "Italian Rum Cake" is out of this world. Yum, yum, yum!!
(5)Erika C.
My second date with my Husband 7 years ago or so was at Italian Village. I was dressed in super sexy business attire including a beaver trimmed coat. My Husband to be was wearing (and I am not joking) Steve Martin's outfit from The Jerk; complete with hounds-tooth pants and a newsboy cap. Our 5th date was Napa Valley so let's assume that I was more impressed with Italian Village than my husband's attire, or perhaps my charming husband, who's to say? Well, Italian Village has not changed a bit. Not one bit. Not one bit since the first time I was there in 1991. The eggplant parm tastes the same, the salad is the same, the soup is the same. No progress no fundamental changes. Does it read in 2012? No. The service is great and if you want a throw back this is your place. It is a Chicago institution but sadly removed from my go to list. Nostalgia visits only.
(2)David Z.
Have to laugh at some of these reviews, people thinking they're writing the ultimate Zagat dissertation. The Village, most popular arena of the three, is not gourmet food. However, there are many positives to an experience here. How many places can you return to after 20, 40, even 60 years and feel that time stood still! Kitchy, but lovely setting. And with $12.95 three course luncheon menus, one gets more than he/she deserves. The waitstaff is very courteous and professional. The timing on the courses is just right. This place is legendary. If you want gourmet quality, go downstairs to the Vivere restaurant and pay the price!
(4)Shereene M.
That was not good! How sad.. We tried the Village upstairs because that location sounded like it had the most solid reviews. I personally think the decor is tacky but I guess it has an interesting feel. Anyway, I expected the bread to be warm. I had an Italian Mojito.. it tasted like any standard mojito. My boyfriend got the seafood ravioli (tasted not much better than Chef Boyardee) and I got the Chicken Rollatini (terrible). Both of us picked at our food and hoped for a good dessert. We got Italian lemon ice which was fine.. how can you mess that up?! Anyway, I want to say that I will give the other locations a try, but that is very unlikely. Pretty much.. a waste of $70.
(1)Andrew C.
Went to Italian Village during the week for dinner. I found the atmosphere a little "kitschy" in the bar area of the Village, but at the same time very pleasant. The painted murals on the wall were interesting, because of their 3-D nature and the light bulbs for house lights. The waitstaff was extremely welcoming and helpful. I don't think we had to wait long for anything, be it topping off our waters or a refill of a glass of wine The food itself was delicious. We had grilled calamari which was cooked perfectly (just chewy enough). The pasta with shrimp was excellent and the chicken risotto special I ordered was very good, it took all my restraint to not eat the whole thing in one sitting! Overall, very affordable and very interesting place to eat.
(3)Delsie W.
I have been coming to the Italian Village for many years. I have never been disappointed. I had out-of-town visitors on Saturday. Of course, I selected the Italian Village to have dinner with them. We were not disappointed, My guests enjoyed their meals. The lasagna was excellent and the mussels were some of the best we have ever had. The server was very attentive and we had an enjoyable evening. We'll definitely be returning soon!
(5)Lindsey B.
I like Paul's review below: "Not EVERYTHING was bad here but the food docked at least a star and a half. Ambiance: Meh. This is like graduating from Olive Garden and coming into the city for the first time. Service: Great. Our server and host were prompt and polite Food: I'd go back to Olive Garden first." Those are pretty much the exact words I used to describe Italian Village to a co-worker this morning. "I'd go back to Olive Garden first." To which she replied, "I like Olive Garden!". Duh, me too. Find my review. Anyhow, I had the seafood ravioli which was described as "mixed seafood" in a dumpling. The seafood filling was undistinguishable. I think most of it was just whitefish. There were 3 bay scallops, itty bitty ones, sprinkled on top and 4 small shrimp evenly scattered too. I was pretty disappointed. The sauce was described as a "creamy tomato sauce", but it was really tangy and hardly creamy at all. For all that tang I'd expect a little heat or spice, but nothing. Really disappointing. The dish cost about $18. Both times I've been here I've been put in the back room. It's the smallest room I've ever seen. Seriously smaller than my bedroom, maybe 10x12. And there were 7 tables crammed in there. I was seated in the corner and had to ask the guy next to me to move a little so I could get in. Kinda ridiculous. If it weren't for the mirror they put up it'd be super claustrophobic. The service was good, though. The owner came around twice to make sure everything was good. Very friendly man and he complimented my tattoo. HA! I don't think I'll come back.
(3)Kate F.
I tried the lasagne (not baked with extra cheese) for the first time - it was really, really, really good. Bechamal sauce, hints of nutmeg, tons of thick, meaty sauce. I usually get the eggplant parmesan, which is very good. My dining companion ordered the agnolotti and said it may be her new favorite. The house salad with Italian dressing, while basic, is delicious. The bread is good, but standard Italian white bread.
(5)Mara A.
Went here last night for my boyfriend and my 1 year anniversary. We went to "the village" and the decor was amazing. beautiful. The food on the other hand, just okay. I got the baked mostacholli and there was no flavor. We first ordered our appetizer which was the pizza bread while we were still deciding on what to get for dinner. about 5 minutes later our waiter comes back and takes our order. a couple minutes later our appetizer comes out. I took one bite before our main course came out. WHAT? i remembered ordering that no longer than two minutes ago. my guess is that is was left overs from lunch. ach. now as im eating a sworm of EMT's walk in and a man is coughing up a lunch. the place went dead. this guy is spitting and coughing up everywhere. im assuming there was food stuck in his throat but he wasnt choking....interesting. it was pretty nasty. Our waiter was pleasant, but even he was surprised when our food came out within a minute of ordering. he actually said "Fu*k, that was fast" yep it sure was. Overall, decor was wonderful, food was just under okay. I want to our to the other restaurants in the building. I'm not sure if the food will be any different. Also surprised that when I called to make a reservation for "the village" they didnt accept any. Go here for a romantic date, but dont expect much in the food.
(3)Jade T.
3.5 Stars NOT a good place for vegetarians. There is less than a handful of vegetarian-friendly dishes on their menu. Their soups are made from chicken broth, so watch out. Unfortunately, most dishes like the lasagna are pre-made with meat sauce, so they can't be modified. My husband and I dined here for lunch, and was slightly shocked by the prices. Definitely not cheap, even the lunch specials ($9 - $20 for entrees). We split Tortelli Tre Formaggi. My boyfriend wasn't too hungry. The waiter was nice to evenly split the salad (with our choice of dressing: french on mine, italian on his) and the entree. The Tortelli wasn't anything to rave about, but it was appetizing. The tomato-basil sauce shouldn't be confused with traditional marinara made from tomato paste. Instead, simply crushed tomatoes seasoned with basil to allow the flavors of the pasta to come through. The service, however, was great. From the moment we entered and left, we were welcomed and treated like guests. I was worried that the server would be really annoyed by us splitting an entree ("gosh, what cheapskates"), but he (Johnny) was extremely nice. It was great of him to split the salad and entree onto two separate plates instead of letting Curtis mooch off my food with a fork. Seriously, the people at Italian Village were really warm and hospitable. Thus I must up the star rating to 4 instead of 3. Italian Village is recommended for carnivores, but vegetarians need to proceed with caution.
(4)Thigh C.
7 stars to be exact! I think it's the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago so yes, we have to try... My brother celebrated his birthday here and it's such a dining experience. From service (yes, best service), great food I mean GREAT. From appetizer to dessert, impeccable. Portion is not too little or too much and that makes it a lot better. Fyi, there are 3 restaurants under this one roof and we chose "The Village" because they serve family style.
(5)Tammy H.
Joe and I came here because he wanted spaghetti and meatballs... And instead of going to the store to buy spaghetti sauce that would end up sitting in the fridge well past the point of it going bad, we went to Italian Village. I'd been a couple times before, but this was Joe's first time. So, we walked in with no reservation and it was VERY crowded. Lots of people standing around waiting to be called and not knowing what to do. We were told it would be a 40 to 60 minute wait, and while neither of us was really starving at the time, we waited. I checked in a couple times to see how it was going and the hosts didn't seem to mind (this is a good thing) and after about 45 minutes our name was called. We were taken to this little side room and seated right in the middle at a table for two. Personally, I liked the room... But there was a couple next to us that bickered the whole time AND complained about "being seated in the side room." Our waiter was really chill and humored us in our idiocy :) Joe ordered the shrimp and broccoli... And he felt the flavors were nice and complex. I had a shrimp (even though I'm not supposed to!) and I thought it was grainy, but the brocolli and the pasta were both wonderfully seasoned. I had the fettucini (sp?) alfredo with chicken AND sausage. They have really good sausage, so I recommend it... The chicken was a little over seasoned for me, but their alfredo was spot on. It was delicious! Better than even when Leona's was good! And the noodles were nice and thick. We asked the waiter what was in it because we tasted a bit of tart and tanginess to it... He said eggnog, but then said he wasn't sure and that he'd find out for us... Turns out there is nutmeg in the alfredo... And that it is just butter, cream, nutmeg... And most likely a bit of lemon... Either way, I think it is an alfredo recipe worth trying for in my own kitchen. I've never had a bad time there, but if you're in a hurry, try somewhere else.. Or make a reservation. I've never been in a hurry here, so it's always been good :)
(4)Matt F.
I'm moving to Chicago here in about a month and upon my visit to the city i was told that the Italian Village was the place to go. Being a huge fan of the atmosphere of a restaurant this place gets a one star boost just for that. Its nice and cozy with excellent lighting and I even got to listen to Italian opera music all night! I was seated upstairs and from the moment you walk in you see all these pictures on the wall of signed pictures of celebrities that have been there. The paintings on the wall make you feel like you're entering the real Italy. The service wasn't extraordinary but it wasn't bad, the food was pretty good, i didn't think it was too overpriced for the quality.
(4)Kristina M.
Great pasta and great wine. I love how the top floor makes you feel like you are eating in the streets of Italy and really like the atmosphere. Some of the tables are set up facing Micro systems or the dish pans, which is something no one wants to look at while eating. But also could be a lot worse. Amazing food!
(4)Jill S.
Looking for a great dinner before going to the theatre. We phoned ahead to see about reservations but they do not take reservations, at least for two, which most people going to the theatre need. So upon arrival when greeted by the hostess we requested a booth, she acted like she did not hear us. Then we again as going through the main seating area asked again for a booth and was told straight out "NO" even though 4 booths were open and there were plenty of "party of two" seated at booths. We were walked all the way back to a room by the kitchen that did not have even close to the same ambiance as the main part of the restaurant. It was eight tables cramped into a little room. We were right by the doorway so taking off your coat was even a chore because staff was moving in and out of the doorway. While I was hanging up my coat back in the hallway just outside this little room the hostess arrived with another couple to seat them in this little room. They took one look and said " nevermind we will go somewhere else to eat" so the hostess said "Wait!! I can find you a place in the main dining!" So is that what we had to do to get a decent seat? Why? What is their criteria? So moving on..the wait staff did well and was attentive but the quality of the food left a lot to be desired!! We ordered fish dishes. Maybe we should have stayed with pasta or pizza but even the salad dressing was out of a bottle. Most higher end places have homemade Blue Cheese dressing with great flavor and chunks of Blue Cheese but not this place. As far as the fish goes it was very bland and missing seasoning, which is crucial for fish. As far as the price goes it would be fair for most of the great places downtown but for no appetizer, one glass of wine and two fish dishes that were maybe 1 star out of 5 and no dessert spending $80 was out of line. To sum things up I believe this place knows their main patronage is theatre goers and has them trapped. They don't have to please people and the food just has to be edible.
(1)Erica S.
Enjoyable. Went here with some friends visiting per another friend's suggestion; him and his girlfriend really enjoy eating here. I thought it was good. We made a reservation the night of, only about two hours before, and they were able to get us in. When I walked in, we got shuffled right into our little spot for 6: in a corner table that was pretty separate from the rest of the restaurant. Very cozy, kind of small for six, especially if two in your party are over 5'10". It was nice though, a romantic interracial couple triple date (3 couples, all interracial). Got the spaghetti and meatballs and they were enjoyable; not as special as Rosebud's meatballs, but there was still great taste. I could have had a little bit more sauce on my pasta, but I'm kind of a saucy girl (in that I like sauce. I am saucy though.) I tried the canneloni that my friends got and the cream sauce was out of this world. Very good, and I am definitely not a cream sauce girl. That dish was so cheesy, so beware those who are lactose intolerant! My boyfriend got some pizza, which was also tasty. All in all, I'm not in this neighborhood enough to be all gung ho for it all the time, and I tend to try to eat where I am, so I won't be back here for awhile, but quite possibly for our interracial couple triple date
(3)Paul L.
Not EVERYTHING was bad here but the food docked at least a star and a half. Ambiance: Meh. This is like graduating from Olive Garden and coming into the city for the first time. Service: Great. Our server and host were prompt and polite Food: I'd go back to Olive Garden first. There was plenty of food but the quality was sub-par. I had the Italian Antipasto for an appetizer and it was one little piece of cheese, one shrimp, few meats and piled with olives. Presentation aside, it tasted as if it was all made the night before and left in the fridge until "order up!" Cannelloni for the main dish. I'd rather drink dirty bathwater. The cream sauce was so thick it started to congeal so I ended up eating a few bites of someone's lasagna, which was pretty good. At the end of the day, I won't be coming here again.
(2)Penny M.
I love the layout and atmosphere of The Village (upstairs restaurant). When you walk in it's as if you're walking down a street in Italy. There are strings of lights decorating the walls which makes it look lovely. Make sure you ask for a private bungalow when being seated. You'll have your own little private space. The food is great, depending on what you order. It also is not consistent. Something you can't go wrong with is the Three Cheese Tortelli- my favorite and is always so yummy!!! The lasagna is hit or miss. I go here at least once a year to celebrate my anniversary. Perfect ambiance for private parties or anniversaries.
(4)Maurice B.
First of all, if you've never been to Chicago before, be prepared for 20% sales tax. The overall experience was good. Our hotel recommended it as being a family friendly place. We called and were given reservations within a half hour. Once at the restaurant, we were seated quickly, given prompt service, and had a good waiter. Having a 3 year old with us made the experience a little hectic at times, but we were taken care of. The maitre-d visited our table several times, each time to talk with our little girl. She enjoyed that. Having said that, the food at Italian Village was mediocre at best. I found that my dish (lobster fettuccine) was limiting in flavor. I also had the minestrone soup, again lacking in a little flavor. Don't get me wrong, the lobster was good, I was just expecting more "pop". My daughters food was good, and my wife enjoyed her risotto. One issue was that she wanted to substitute shrimp for chicken, to which the waiter said there would be a small up charge. That up charge was 10$, a little more than what it should have been in my opinion. The tiramisu was good. Overall, we didn't drink and the bill was over 80$. The main dishes were 25-30$ each, a little high, but then again, this is Chicago, and they gotta pay the bills. Even with the friendly service, I don't think I'd go back on my next trip.
(3)Samantha H.
The atmosphere is pretty cool; I love the little bar downstairs and the sections in the restaurant are cute. The food is mediocre and we won't go back.
(3)Brad B.
Old school Italian place with big menus and dark lighting. You expect to see Frank, Dean and Sammy in the corner booth. Oh yeah, the food is great also.
(4)Katie K.
Personally, I LOVE the ambiance of this place. The lighting and noise level are perfect for conversation...and it is quite romantic. I've been here multiple times: pre-theater, random weekday dinner, for appetizers while I'm just walking around downtown, weekend lunch, etc. Each time I am satisfied and I especially recommend the grilled calamari as an appetizer - I probably crave it at least once a week. If you go pre-theater it obviously helps to have a reservation but, often, they can squeeze you in at the bar which is also a pleasant experience. The bartenders are friendly and helpful and, overall, the whole staff knows how to time your meal so you'll still make it to the show.
(4)Chris S.
Embarrassingly bad(zero stars). My wife and I went to Italian Village tonight for dinner. The last time we were there was nearly 10 years ago. We both had fond memories of the food and atmosphere so we figured we'd revisit. What a mistake. When the highlight of the meal is the coffee, you know something's wrong. Our two entrees were both terrible with no flavor, bad presentation and a worse-than-processed flavor. Plus the room we were in was brightly lit with a huge tv. Had we had this experience 10 years ago, who knows? maybe our relationship wouldn't have lasted. It's for sure though that we have gone; now we definitely won't. They should be ashamed of themselves for the food that felt so apathetic.
(1)Ashley S.
Oh, I've got to give The Italian Village the full 5 stars! I've been here quite a few times, as it's near my apartment, and I am never disappointed. The food is reasonably priced, especially for the great quality. The staff has never been anything but polite, even when I have come in wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. I usually get the lasagna with the baked cheese on top (SO GOOD. and a little secret, it's even better left over...and I usually don't even really like pasta reheated- so save a little bit for the next day), but the last time I went there, we went out on a limb and asked them if we could get spaghetti carbonara even though we didn't see it on the menu. The waiter said, "sure, no problem" and brought out the most DELICIOUS carbonara I have ever had in my life. Oh my. I am getting hungry just thinking about it right now. Additionally, the cheesecake is amazing, and my friends got the tiramisu and the cannoli, and they both really liked each of them. Also, I just have to add, how do they manage to make plain chicken broth taste so good???? Honestly, if you enjoy Italian food, I don't really know how you can't like this place. Great food, good price, very nice and efficient staff. Even better, I've never made a reservation and I still have yet to wait at all for a table, Hopefully I can go back sometime soon! Highly recommended for dates, friends, and family :)
(5)Jon C.
I would go here again for a drink and an appetizer but think we could have done better somewhere else for actual dinner. The ambiance is great and there are three different restaurants making up the "village"- so get a drink and go to all three floors and sample a little bit of everything. Minestrone soup wasn't the best, bread could have been better, and the eggplant was cut too thick. The chicken dish with sausage and potato's was OK, and the spumoni wasn't the best... Again the ambiance is great and this should be a place everyone should visit once....
(2)Carl H.
There are three levels at this restaurant. Each level has a different menu and price range. This review is for the upper level of the Italian Village on a Saturday afternoon at 4pm. We walked in and were asked how many. He stated they had a table available but we would have to be done by 5:30pm. I understand that they probably had reservations booked but to limit the time we had in the restaraunt by telling us seemed a bit rude. The place was very busy and so was the turnover rate. Our waiters were attentive and I felt there was no issue here. I ordered the Chicken Rotolini (chicken stuffed with sausage, prosciutto, and sage with a mushroom sherry sauce. It was served with fettucini alfredo. The meal itself was mediocre. Nothing stood out about this meal that would make me want to come back. As I mentioned with the busy atomosphere they were cleaning our table off while we were still eating. As soon as my plate was finished it was gone. The busboy was reaching over the table to remove silverware that we were not using and just being a nuisance. We stopped here because it was after the Christkindl Market and we had a taste for Italian food. It was convenient, probably price appropriate for the area, but overpriced for the quality of the food.
(2)Flor O.
I love Italian food ! ate here with some co-workers and had a very good time. The private enclosed dinning tables are a plus! Very good restaurant to come celebrate an anniversary or come on a first date.
(4)Gina G.
If you looking for a place with charm and personality, you've got it here! We started off with the bread and olive oil. We asked the waiter for some fresh basil and crushed red pepper to sprinkle on our oil....perfetto! We ordered from the specials, chicken risotto and fish. Each bite was savory. The service was exceptional. The manager roamed the floor checking on tables welcoming the guests. We felt very welcomed and that our business was appreciated.
(4)Jackie P.
Love it! Just love it! Special orders? Yes please! Good food? Yes of course! I was thoroughly impressed with my food at the Italian Village. However, I was not impressed with my waiters knowledge of the wine list or wine on it for that matter. He didn't even poor the glasses right. We had five people at the table and he only poured 4.5 glasses. Ummm I'm too cute to do math but this isn't adding up to me. I loved our booth, hidden in a little corner and I loved the unlimited bread with EVOO (so bad for you but so good!)! I loved my meal. I had the seafood pasta with alfredo sauce. It was soo sweet and savory that it was order to finish it. The sauce was super yummy to. Everyone else seemed to enjoy their meals as well. I must admit I felt pretty damn important in my corner booth with my wine and my friends. I enjoy that feeling and I enjoyed that the waiter let my indulge a little. This was the kind of lunch in the Loop that I have been waiting for!
(4)Sara V.
Okay first let me prejudice this review by saying that I went here on a particularly lovely first date. If I hadn't been enjoying the company so much, I may have given Italian Village only 3 stars. I'll start with the food. I had the whitefish which was delicious. He had the veal which I wasn't a huge fan of but he seemed to enjoy. Calamari appetizer was okay (I've had better. In Omaha no less) and the shrimp was, well, shrimp. Dessert, however, was AMAZING. We shared a tiramisu and I have to say (hands down, cross my heart and hope to die, hot damn) that it was the best I have EVER had. I swear they must import their cream. No way in hell did that come from anywhere in the US. Yummy. I'm still drooling over it almost 2 weeks later. Now the decor. Very cute. Intimate-ish. Thumbs up. But the service. It wasn't that it was bad, it just wasn't spectacular. Our server didn't really pay that much attention to us. And I'm not talking about the "coming by the table every two minutes" attention. He just didn't seem to care that much. Not that I cared too much either. I was busy having an actual conversation with a member of the male species. I would probably go back. If I wasn't paying. And I was with someone who didn't mind me licking the souffle dish that the tiramisu came in.
(4)Kate P.
Awesome atmosphere--or, the potential. I wished the waitstaff wouldn't have been grouped up near our table almost the entire meal--they were speaking constant spanish--so distracting. The service wasn't too great. The house bread and breadsticks were disapointing--. Seems authentic Italian shouldn't skimp on bread. All that said, my seafood ravaloi was delicious. I love perfectally cooked shrimp and scallops. I won't go back because there are lots of other yummy Italian places to try! Though, I might take my parents back when they come to town so they can eat in one of the cubby tables just to see what it's like.
(2)Anna B.
If you think Maggiano's is fine dining and you think the Loop is the hotspot of the Chicago restaurant industry, then Italian Village is the place for you. My parents love this restaurant, and I love my parents, so I go to Italian Village on occasion. The food isn't very good, the service is basic, yet the place is constantly packed. Last time around I ordered the mussels in marinara sauce as an appetizer and a large grilled chicken salad for dinner. The mussels were rubbery and tasted fishy. The chicken salad appeared to have hunks of romaine mixed in with the standard baby greens (arugula, spinach, etc), which was an odd flavor combination. It also had orange wedges in it, and the seeds had not been taken out of the oranges. Blegh. Their extensive wine list leaves plenty of options for those of you who want to add a $100+ bottle of wine to your unappetizing meal, but if you want a decent, more reasonably priced wine, you will have to spend several minutes with the menu as I did. I finally settled on a $30 bottle of cote du rhone, which was quite good. I'm giving one star for this bottle of wine, which is the only way I could possibly make it through the meal.
(1)Matt P.
I think the Italian Village is pretty consistent, and usually wind up taking my parents before going to theater shows. No one really complains, and the fact that I can decompress with $8 glasses of wine helps.
(4)Mary S.
OoooooooHHHHHHH, Al Capone ate here. lol How exciting. There are three restaurants inside the Italian Village. We ate at the "La Cucina" which is in an old wine cellar. Very intriguing. We had "Az Night" here while in town for the NEA convention. Since it was a preset/prepaid menu I can't really comment on the menu choices or prices. We had a selection of three entrees to choose from. I had Tortelli, my friend had a chicken pasta dish, and my other friend had lasagna. The food was very good. The lasagna was one of the best I have ever had! The chef impressed me by coming to the table personally. He wanted to cook a gluten free meal for one of our group. What annoyed us was that the original predetermined menu was changed and no one knew why. It all worked out though since the chef made her a special meal. She said it was very good. I did not taste it since it involved eggplant. YUK! All else was fine. We took over the restaurant so service was a tad slow but not bad considering the number of people in there. All in all a lovely night out here and at the Oriental theater.
(4)S M.
The food here is not good. Ordered the ceasar salad, eggplant parmigiana, calamari. The food is very bland.
(1)Lola S.
A friend and I stopped in after the Christkringle Mart. The bad: Cheesy decor and mediocre food. The 'salad' was a bed of greens and dressing. That's it. The lasagna was decent but nothing special. The good: Decent service. The staff was very attentive, from the busboys to the hostess to our waiter. Not worth the trip back.
(2)Avery S.
I had a friend in town from Atlanta and we asked around for a good Italian place in the loop. We ended up at the upstairs restaurant and waited an hour, no big deal, usually that means people like the food and want to eat there. We sat at the bar for awhile and drank some decent wine and talked to the amusing bartender before being sat at the smallest most cramped table I've ever sat at. I honestly don't know how the waiters move around without spilling food all over everyone but they somehow manage it. Maybe they come from a long line of genetically altered Italian waiters or something. Anyways, I loved it. The intensely crowded restaurant gave it a very authentic feel and we were close enough to coherently hear the next table talking about transsexual strippers and such so we enjoyed the free entertainment while we ate. For me the atmosphere already made the night, but the food was scrumptious as well. I had the cannelloni with the pink sauce as the waiter suggested and it was divine. Instead of the usual pasta, it was rolled in a freshly made crepe, very interesting. It reminded me of my Italian uncle's cooking. My dinner companions also liked their entrees, although they were both pretty hungover and couldn't fully enjoy them. They brought the leftovers back to my place and left them in the fridge....bonus! If you don't mind waiting and enjoy authentic Italian food and atmosphere, stop by here. I love Italian so if anyone knows a better place let me know.
(4)Jenny T.
Mmm, mmm, mmm...I can't get enough of the Italian Village. Everything from the atmosphere to the waitstaff to the food makes me melt with delight. I'm not even kidding. Sometimes I find myself completely relaxed in one of their dimly lit booths savoring each & every bite or drink of whatever it is I have decided upon. I generally get some sort of chicken dish, but not the chicken parm. Sometimes chicken parm is just too much sauce, chicken, cheese, everything! I like lighter & more seasoned dishes. It takes much more skill & experience to make these types of dishes. Their pasta is always a good choice, but they are large portions & I generally can't stop myself from trying to devour the whole thing. This leads to no room for dessert, which is always a shame. There is a meal/combo deal here with soup or salad, entree, and dessert. I generally get this deal & enjoy a cup of decaf & taste of spumoni ice cream before heading back to my place. It may not be the most authentic Italian food (hell I lived there for months), but it is something just warms the heart & makes the company you're with seem even more lovely.
(5)Kim B.
This is a great Chicago restaurant - the food is delicious and the history of the restaurant is enough to make it worth a trip. The last time I was there, my sister and I split a delicious 4-cheese pizza at the bar. We were trying to get in and out before showtime and the staff was accommodating to our needs and requests. The service is always super friendly and quick. It's great for lunch or dinner - the location is also ideal if you are catching a show at the LaSalle Bank Theatre. The restaurant is actually 3 restaurants in one, so there is something for everyone!
(4)Adam M.
I have walked by this place so many times and thought it looked interesting I recently stopped by when my friend was visiting from Spain. We chose the restaurant/menu on the first floor. Since we were there for lunch we both enjoyed a half portion of pasta and it was more than enough (and almost half the price!). My friend really enjoyed the atmosphere and was pleasantly surprised when both the server and host spoke Spanish (she speaks fluent English, but has spent the last two years in Spain and was happy to rely on her native language). Overall the food was great and very well-priced for the area. Perfect portions!
(4)RJ W.
There were a number of us and we called ahead to make reservations. We were shoved in the basement, a.ka. The Cantina... a.k.a. A bad Berwyn basement. The decor was right out of a bad movie...from the 70s! The food was not good and, accompanied by a really surly waiter, just one of the most disappointing dining experiences I have had in a long time. THEN, to top it all off, the VALET stole money out of our car! Granted, it was not smart to leave it there... but it is OUR car, OUR property and our money.... Just an overall really bad experience. I assure you, I will never go there again. I highly suggest you do not either...
(1)Erika L.
Shame on you for the 3 star and less reviews??!! Do you not have any loyalty? Faux Chicagoans and suburbanites dragging down an institution with low yelp ratings...don't you have a democratic convention to attend? a bank to pitch a tent in front of while you collect unemployment? Next time, stick to yelping about the less than satisfactory kombucha selection at your local Whole Foods...peasants...fughgeddabout it...This place is Chicago.... Go to the village, upstairs and ask for a 'house' booth. You'll feel like you stepped into a set of It's a small, goomba world after all at Disneyland...Just fantastic, unique place...You'll have a blast. I've been coming here since I was a kid and stop in everytime I am 'home'. The greats have wined and dined here...Is it the best food next to the Amalfi coast? no. Have you been to the Amalfi coast? -probably not. It is great, Chicago, Italian fun. Bring a date, bring a friend. This is not Olive Garden...it's downtown Chicago/ 100$ + for 2. Don't forget the cannoli, a decent bottle of vino and to soak in history...ugh...I'm homesick right now.
(5)Shradha A.
I had heard such great stuff about this place. And I love the ambience but I wish they would improve food and service. Pity - it was a bad bad experience - not just once but twice. Why? 1. The servers just forget about you! It seems they only like to wait on large parties (huge tips?) 2. They can't even speak getting-by English (nor do they make an effort to respond to any questions you may have) 3. The food takes forever and doesn't look very appetizing (presentation is important to me) For vegetarians: not recommended.
(2)Jeka M.
I've been here a bunch of times (my mom loves it) and have had consistently good service and good food. It wasn't the best Italian food, but there is a wide variety of choices and the Tiramisu is some of the best I've ever had (I normally don't care much for it). It's an old restaurant and the decorations, to me, are weirdly reminiscent of the playroom my Buscia painted for me as a child, but it has a friendly character and the valet is super convenient--I've even used it without dining there. Those guys are quite helpful. :)
(3)April K.
I think over the years I've been on every level of the Italian Village, most recently on the top floor for dinner with my brother and his family. It wasn't my first choice (especially during the busy holiday season) but they wanted to stay downtown & it was one of the few places where I could get a last-minute reservation. The service was obnoxious - the server saw me on my phone (looking up train times for my brother since he'd forgotten his Metra schedule) and would not let it go. Instead of spending time needling me as some sort of poster child for the lamentable decline of manners in the 21st century, I would have preferred he pay more attention to things like our order, which he got wrong. The food was ok for tourist fare but way too salty for my taste, and left me dreaming for all the better Italian fare you can get outside the Loop. It is a serviceable place for after-work drinks but I'd leave it at that.
(2)Adam L.
Best Tiramisu Ever!!!!
(4)Bobby B.
My family and I frequent the Italian Village every chance we get. Amazing food, wonderful ambiance and old school service. A must try!
(5)Tom L.
We stumbled upon the Village before going to a show at the Caddilac Theatre...it was a great find. The service was attentive but not pushy, the food was authentic but not overdone, and the experience was great. The atmosphere was crowded and loud, but not overpowering. The wine list wasn't phenomenal, but was adequate, the menu was not expansive but covered the Italian basics I grew up on, and my whole party agreed it was wonderful! We'd definitely go back again...and try to book in advance and get a private room!
(4)Dean K.
We order here a lot for work and they have a pretty good track record for screwing it up. They leave the cheese off of the baked pasta, forget the salads, forget the side of the pasta with the chicken or veal dishes, and they never offer to make amends of any kind except, OK, we'll bring it later. Like I want my salad an hour after I'm done with my entree. The pizza is good though and saves this restaurant from a single star.
(2)Kista W.
I love eating upstairs at Italian Village. The meatballs are so good. And, some of the best bread and olive oil with parmesan cheese in the city. (Same at all three restaurants within the village). The food isn't the best in the city, but it is good, and the atmosphere and history of it all makes this a must try in the Chi. Huge meatballs too.
(4)Irina H.
We had a family birthday lunch here, and even though the restaurant was half empty for a Saturday afternoon, they seated us right next to the waiter's station, so we were constantly listening to silverware and glasses clinking. We were rushed into ordering and then the waiter got our order wrong. At the end of the meal, he didn't ask if we wanted dessert or coffee - all we got was dessert because he didn't even stick around long enough for us to say "and coffee . . ."
(2)Janet E.
This place is only ok. There is nothing spectacular about the food. There are other authentic Italian restaurants in Chicago.
(3)Mary X.
Went here on a Friday night. First, it smells a bit musty when you enter the place. I do think the decorations are cute, but the food is really mediocre. Especially for the price ($15-20ish per entree), the food doesn't taste good. It's more greasy, oily food. Also, after we ordered non-alcoholic drinks, our waitress was completed zoned out. I don't even think she smiled at all during any of the times she came to our table. We had a bill for about $50 for 2 entrees and a coke, and I consider it a real waste of money. There were a lot of groups there, so maybe the restaurant does a good job accommodating bigger groups, but if you are looking for a place with good tasting food, this is not it.
(2)Yao L.
I went to The Village, on the second floor. The food was a 2, but I'll give them a 3 for the overall experience. Appetizer: garlic bread baked with cheese. This was probably the best item we ordered, and it was pretty tasty. Just what it sounds like, with plenty of additional cheese on top. Salad with Italian dressing, came with entree: Generic and bland, and the dressing wasn't mixed well with the salad (and I had asked for dressing on the side, which they forgot). There was one tomato slice in the entire salad. Someone else in the group got soup and said it was good, but I didn't try the soup. Three cheese tortelli: This was fine, but it wasn't as flavorful as I'd expected. Also, I wish the dish had come out hotter. Others in the group ordered lasagna (too heavy and not very good) and Rotolini di Pollo (didn't try it, but the person who ordered it didn't like it or the pasta it came with). Tiramisu: This was okay. The cream-to-cake ratio was too high and made the whole thing a little too sweet. We did finish the entire dessert, though. It was served in a round dish, kind of like how you'd be served souffle in a ramekin.
(3)Mike R.
We went before five and food was served promptly and hot. Decor is a caricature, bar area is crowded. Food is OK.
(2)Sharlene K.
The pasta is very much standard southern Italian-American fare. Nothing exciting or done particularly well. Nothing you can't get in a pizzeria and I can think of pizzerias with more exciting pastas. Very Americanized and like most Americanized Italian food, everything is better with more and more cheese and more and more portions. All myths and stereotypes - egg noodles and ketchup per Goodfellas' witness protection program. Whoever said this place was like going to Italy needs to actually go to Italy. The atmosphere and decor is like the stage setting for the "It's a Small World" ride at Disney world complete with faux roofing above your tables. Mind you, that's not a bad thing, just an observation. I think it's one of the best ways to relax in the Loop by making you feel like when you step inside, you completely forget what you left outside, but it is NOT like going to Italy. The service is hit or miss. Their wait staff in general isn't very consistent with service. People always try to theorize why the service is bad and then some say it's outstanding. I just say it's a gamble as to what happens to you.
(2)T S.
I wanted to go here for a birthday lunch for two, but they wouldn't take a reservation for less than 3. I know this place is always crowded, so a walk-in lunch celebration wouldn't be a positive experience. We'll go someplace else. Too bad. I was interested in checking out the swell decor.
(2)Alex A.
My fiancee and I love going to this romantically quaint restaurant. It has great food and great atmosphere, especially if you're looking to take someone special on a date. Enjoy!
(4)Christina K.
After a downtown event, my little band and I were confronted with the classic conundrum of Loop dining--all the good stuff is on the other sides of the river's forks. So, we marched along, pondering, when we were reminded that Italian Village is still there. For me, this was a bit of a trip down memory lane--Italian Village was on the short list of places you wanted to wind up on a date back in the '80s, and back when it represented the upper limit of a place a student could afford for a nice date. Add in the dark interior, the semi-rustic paintwork, and facets like the wonderfully enclosed semi-private cubbies, and it held its charms back in the day, certainly. So, hungry and in need to come to a decision, we gave Italian Village a shot. As decisions go, it wasn't disappointing. I got a chicken special that involved a half-bird slathered in green olives and sun-dried tomatoes that was quite tasty, and looking around, the boys seemed to enjoy their pasta and veal. It wasn't exceptional, but neither was it overly expensive, so if you're caught in a spot and can't take the time to make your way to something trendier, it's a still-solid place to grab a bite.
(3)Frank R.
In a word: DISGUSTING Follow-up word: CREEPY (maitre d'; and owner or manager) Final two words: STAY AWAY
(1)Kristin L.
Italian Village on Monroe, just say NO. My sister and I were just looking for a nicer place to eat before we went to go see a show at the Bank of America Theater, across the street. Thinking an hour and a half would be plenty of time, boy were we wrong! First they sat us all the way in the back of the restaurant, right next to the kitchen. It took them 15 min before we even got a menu. Then we had to wait another ten min just for our drinks (water). Food took over 45 mins to come to our table and we just ordered pasta. We expected some wonderful culinary masterpiece after it took that long, what we got was a few steps up from what you can make at home from a box. The wait staff was nice but they were slow. Yes thank you for filling my water glass 12 times but I'm hungry and water is not going to do it. Also if you are looking for a nice restaurant to take a date, this would not be the place. Well only if you wanted to dine with your grandparents. Let's just say the average age of the diners was 85. They might have 2 hours to dedicate to mushy pasta, but I don't. Horrible service and Blah food. Over priced too. Will not be back and would not recommend.
(2)Jef B.
The service here is so great, and the atmosphere is outstanding. The food was good, not the best Italian in the city, but very good if you want a nice meal in the Loop. Once I had lasagna here, about 5 years ago. I broke out in hives about an hour later and had to have an antihistamine injection in the hospital emergency room. I don't blame Italian village - it was probably some wheat in the pasta that I was allergic to. This has only happened once in my life, and I would love to know what caused it. Interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this. But I still love Italian village as a Loop dinner eatery.
(4)Kati M.
I love this placed. My family has been coming here since I was a kid and I'm looking forward to bringing my son here as he grows up. Like a lot of people have mentioned, the first thing you notice is the atmosphere. As the oldest Italian Restaurant in Chicago, I don't think they've done much to change since they opened. The waitstaff is ridiculously attentive with a team of Captains and regular waiters. I highly recommend having a Captain's salad with your dinner, and like several of the other reviewers, I would encourage melted cheese on the pasta entree. They are also very enthusiastic about getting you what you want. If you prefer one sauce with a different pasta or meat, they are happy to work with you. While Italian Village does not have the most sophisticated Italian fare, if you are looking for a traditional old school supper club atmosphere that works for a date as well as a family meal, this is the place to go. When you make reservations, request a booth and enjoy your private dining experience. They also have a fairly comprehensive wine list.
(5)K. N.
The stuffed chicken breast I got was OK, but the gravy for it, meh. The pasta was a fettucine alfredo that could have been from Sbarro. The appetizer tray wasn't anything special. I did like their bread. All in all, too expensive, and low quality to boot.
(2)Robert M.
Last night I chose to go to the Italian Village for an early dinner before working that evening. I had not been there for some time but had thought that it would be a reliable spot for a decent meal. Usually one expects an Italian restaurant to at least serve properly prepared pasta, shockingly this was not the case. The pasta in my dish was not even as good as one would get out of a can! The description of the sauce made me think it would be light. Instead, it was an appalling goo, completely submerging the entire dish. To add insult to injury, the mushrooms on my plate obviously came from a can. I will never go back to this business again!
(1)Kristen S.
Standard Italian fare at the Italian Village, and the ambiance is lacking (though feels like Old Chicago, certainly). We have had decent meals here but nothing spectacular to give it more than 3 stars. Definitely an institution and something you may want to try for lunch or dinner in the Loop.
(3)Carl B.
If you're a tourist who doesn't know Italian food, this is the place for you. It's a famous name and a money pit for tourists and suburbanites. They don't even know what al dente is. The alfredo is lumpy and could've been from a TV dinner. The sampler of meats, seafood and what not is very mediocre. I will give it this, though: it is pretty expensive. I'd be loath to recommend this place to an enemy.
(1)Lisa F.
I started my new job two days before my birthday. I needed somewhere to go around my job for my birthday and my coworkers said to go here hands down. I looked it up online, saw the cute decor and that it was Italian. I had made Italian the night before so I wasn't really in the mood but it's my birthday and the place is so cute. Okay, that's where I'll go. I tell the husband to make reservations. He calls and they told him, no you won't need a reservation for 2 at 5:30 pm on a Thursday night. Okay. We arrived at 5:10 pm and there was already a wait! Hmm, ah well. Once our table was ready I was taken back by the ambiance. Oh my god, the place is so cute. I feel like I'm inside Disney World (I adore that place, FYI) so I feel like I'm at home. Oh, it's so so so cute! I made my own concoction of topping for the bread on the table. The basket didn't come with butter or anything so I used the olive oil, pepper, salt, and parmesan cheese on the table to make it edible. This worked nicely. For our appetizers I had a cup of the chicken broth with pasta and the hubs had a salad. Yeahhh, that chicken broth tasted like greasy water. Lalo's has this place beat by a land slide with chicken soup, lol. For my entree I had the tortelli. Wow. The three cheese jumbo ravioli were amazing. Very very very good. I ordered a meatball extra since I do adore meatballs. I didn't finish them; didn't much care for that at all. The husband had mostaciolli and sausage. He loved his. He was going on and on about how the sausage tasted like what his grandmother would make (Italians in S. Jersey). Ohhh, now see, I don't care for his grandmother's cooking, it's just tomato paste! And, that my friends is what the meat sauce tasted like, tomato paste. For food, hands down, I'd go back to Olive Garden. However, the reason for the 3 stars, ambiance alone. I haven't been to a nicer themed restaurant in Chi yet. This place reminds me of The Magic Time Machine in San Antonio. If we go back, I'll try the minestrone soup and maybe pizza. I just can't deal with their sauce.
(3)Lauren H.
I had been here for dinner a few times before and never been impressed (even ordering the same thing once before). However, I was taken here for lunch today and it was really good. We shared a cold and hot antipasto, which were decent. I had the whitefish al limone which was a good size portion and prepared very well. Then we shared the strati di chocolati--chocolate mousse with chocolate fudge cake-like pieces, with frangelico and brandy, topped with whipped cream. Very decadent, good to share (too rich to eat alone). We were seated in an alcove, so it was difficult to serve and clear, but I think they should have said excuse me before reaching across everyone's face, and should have made more of an attempt to avoid it (I finally started handing him the plates behind one lunch companion's back, so he would get the hint). It is not cheap though, so I would probably only go here for lunch if someone else treated.
(3)Niki C.
For an early dinner, my friend & I went here because my former boss used to (ok probably still does) come here nearly every day for lunch. Thought I'd check it out. After perusing the menus of the three separate but connected restaurants, we figured the biggest difference between the three was the print on the menus. We went upstairs. The ambiance was cozy & creative & I enjoyed that it wasn't your typical tables & chairs. Our waitstaff was attentive & pleasant enough when we asked questions. Truthfully, we were so hungry before we got out food that we ate more bread with olive oil than our actual meals. The salad that came with the meal was absolutely nothing special ... a basic iceberg lettuce & big eighths of a tomato type thing, which was disappointing. I ordered the Tortelloni, I believe. It was good, but the sauce left something to be desired. To be fair, however, they did heat up quite nicely as leftovers for lunch the next day.
(3)Nora B.
Love the thin crust pizza. I hadn't eaten at the Italian Village in years, but my parent's live in the loop and we got the best thin crust to go the other night!! I can't explain the packing container that makes it easy to carry, other than pure genius!!!! The pizza was hot, yummy, cheesy, and crispy in all the right places. The salad we ordered was great, too!! i'll have to return to dine-in to complete the review!!!
(5)Ali G.
My girlfriends and I were here on Saturday April 23, visiting from Los Angeles and had a very pleasant experience. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. The service was so good we ended up staying there 3 hours!!! Thanks to the staff of Italian Village.
(5)Chiara H.
Eh. I'm an Italian food snob, and this place doesn't impress me all that much. Contrary to popular opinion, I personally find the atmosphere to be very UN-Italian-like. The decor is pretty much the most Italian thing in that restaurant. I've been there a few times (per the request of my friend, who's a huge fan), and the place still hasn't won me over. It must be because I come from an Italian family and I've been to Italy so I know what authentic Italian food tastes like. The food here is mediocre and can be best compared to Olive Garden. The last time I came here, I had clam pasta and it was gross. The clam was chewy and the pasta was dry. I noticed a weird trend: the waiters are always nice, but the waitresses are usually snobs. I would suggest other Italian places over this one.
(2)Tom T.
Just the way I love italian food; large portions, great flavor, authentic style dining room, and great service.
(5)Melissa P.
I love eating at Italian Village when I'm in Chicago. I'm surprised that some people rated this place really low but I guess people are picky sometimes. I am not saying they have the best Italian food, but I think they are better than the Olive Garden and I love the food there too. I just think Italian Village should be part of the Chicago experience if you are a tourist there. I took one of my friends there when I was showing her around town and she loved it. I always get the cheese tortelli or the lemon caper salmon but they are awesome. I've also had chicken fettuccine alfredo there before too. I think they are very reasonably priced for a restaurant downtown and the food you get is really good. I've only dined upstairs because I was told by a friend that the downstairs part is crappy but I don't know if I believe that with how nice and clean everything upstairs is every time I go in there. The waiters are always very polite and I never have to wait long to get my food. I would definitely recommend this place to tourists who want to have a romantic date night or just anyone who wants to taste Italian American cuisine because that is what this food is. I know because I grew up on Italian American food.
(5)Linnea B.
The ambiance is so old school - I love it! I really like how they have the cute little nooks for tables and the water wheel and funky old style Italian restaurant decor. Plus this is a fixture in downtown Chicago which makes it interesting anyway. The food was good if not spectacular, but just what I expected, good sauces and pasta. I tried a white sauce on half my pasta and a red sauce on the other half and enjoyed both. Overall a cozy dining experience and a nice change if you are getting "steaked" out. There are only so many steaks you can eat - even in Chicago!
(3)Daniel H.
This place has a great history and it shows. Its a very cozy type atmosphere with private booth or open table seating. The service was prompt, quick and overall great. The food was decent Italian, I wish I could say more because I really like the place, however, it is what it is. All in all, you should go at least once to make your own judgment.
(4)Dee W.
Wow - what a great place in the Loop and especially for pre-theatre dining! I love the different restaurants in the same 'village' and we ate at the Village upstairs and the decor was intimate yet fun and warm. We were catching the 7:30pm Wicked show afterwards and were seated almost immediately. Our food from appetizer to dessert came out within a 45 minute span and perfectly. If you get any pasta here from the bottom of the menu, you HAVE to get it baked with cheese - so good! We tried their lasagna, shrimp scampi and their Rotolini di Pollo. Everything was just amazingly good! Their dinner entrees come with soup or salad and for an additional $3.95, you get dessert and coffee/tea/milk, too (their Italian ice and spumoni was fantastic). Our service was impeccable and OH! If you have leftovers, you can leave them with the restaurant and pick it up after the show.
(4)Joanna L.
Not the type of place for a romantic date. It's very loud while the food was okay. I think the rooms are well decorated and very dark.
(3)Richard D.
Ok, I gotta admit right off the bat that there is a lot of nostalgia here. I used to come here a lot when I lived in Chicago, and Mom worked dwntwn. This place is extremely familiar and brings back lots of memories. That said, we wouldn't keep coming back with each visit to town if it didn't offer something more than memories. We never eat upstairs... never have. Always in the Cantina (Grotto?), and it's atmosphere is just perfect. Yes, it's something out of Goodfellas, but so what...? That is part of the attraction. The other part of the attraction is the food. I have never had anything here that was bad. Never 5-star incredible, but always good to very good. The bar knows what a martini is, even if made with vodka. The traditional 'Italian' dishes (pasta's, parmesians, etc.) are exactly what you'd expect them to be. I had fish on my last visit, and it was perfect. The vegetables were cooked to perfection. The service was outstanding! Ok, it'a a little old fashioned, so if you're looking for swank or hip-hop go somewhere else. But if you're looking for comfort and good food... this is your place. Do Lunch. Enjoy!
(4)Daniil V.
You Should: Stay Away Sizzle: Say NO to mediocrity Juice: Service was slow, sausage & peppers were good but not great. Meh, too many choices to waste time here. Check Please: $$
(2)Jen M.
What a cute little place. It totally channels a charming Italian Village. Great dimly lit atmosphere but not overly romantic. Good thing because I was there with 3 other girls! The tomato sauce is very good. The meatballs left a little bit to be desired (I don't like that overly sausage taste to meatballs). Service was quick and efficient.
(4)Kraig K.
Nothing special and the prices, including the specials, are high at lunch. The chicken noodle soup had no chicken in it and the bread was kind of hard. A good portion came for my entree of spaghetti and meatballs but it was light on sauce and nothing special. It wasn't bad and the service was good, but I know I can do better.
(2)Escape C.
I love this place!!! My family has been going here for over 30 years. Everything is always amazing, and the service is impeccable. Andre and Frank are amazing and always cater to our every whim. We are always treated like family and will be enjoying this place for another 30 years to come. You must try the rigatoni with ground chicken tomato sauce (my fav), the steaks are amazing, and NEVER skimp on dessert!!!! Oh and tomato fest is the best!!!
(5)Jason P.
People rave and rave about this place..and I wonder why. They did not get a 4 star rating from me because the service and food just missed the mark. You can get better by going to other Italian restaurants in the city. I would say...just gets by. We had one experience where they seated us in the back room because we had a larger party and they seemed to forget about us. Seems to be a tourist trap along with a pre-theater crowd, and business people trying to have conversation. I was also not a fan of walking up the long flight of stairs.
(3)Bethany L.
My department took me here today for lunch because it was the last day of my internship. They had all been there before, but I hadn't. My boss was surprised that it was packed at lunch hour, but we had made a reservation and my supervisor had told them to put us somewhere quiet so we could chat. We got our own little coved booth! It was really neat, and there was even a button to press when we needed our waiter. Don't think we didn't use that to full effect. The ambiance here is very old school, it has a very '50s supper club vibe to it. Unfortunately, the food is only okay. One of my favorite things about Italian restaurants is bread & olive oil, but both of those were mediocre here. The ranch on my salad dressing was very watery, and my "pollo al limon" (chicken with lemon) was good, but a bit on the tart side; there was way too much lemon used in the sauce and not nearly enough cream. It was also pretty expensive, especially for lunch. Still, it seems like it'd be a great place to stop in after the opera or a show downtown. Reservations definitely recommended, though.
(3)John H.
I like Italian Village. I have been going there 30 years. The location is what makes it work most for me. The broiled squid is so delicious we order two for appetizers. Had a small dinner party here last night and it was in the Cantina (the lower level). If you want the place all to yourself make reservations just before show time and you'll have the whole place to yourself. It is intimate and small on elbow room. The village will do for a bigger group (upstairs). The eggplant Parmesan was excellent, the salads passable and the garlic dressing needs an update. The chicken Marsala was very good and stood out. The lasagna was good and large, but again, nothing special.The food is good Italian fair, but nothing to wright home to mom about. Finally, the service is OK, but strange as we kept getting different people and our waiter did not seem to speak English well. I hate leaving a 20% tip for average service and is a reason I frequent the Village less and less these days. Speed, joy and interest in your joy is what any dinner should demand. And remember, dinner for two works for the space in the Cantina, but six is to much for this space. Valet parking is excellent and only $10. Wine list is excellent and reasonably priced.
(3)Evann G.
I'm upping my review to four stars after having eaten here quite a few times. The food is not exactly groundbreaking, but it's good and hearty and comforting. (Example: The tortelli tre formaggi, which sounds pretty fancypants, is basically just cheese ravioli. But it's GOOD cheese ravioli.) The service is great, the wine is great, and the ambiance is the best. You do feel like you're hanging out in a cozy little Italian village. I love the decor. This is a fun place to come with a group, and all my friends love it.
(4)Dario C.
Totally meh. Minestrone was bland. I make better pasta at home, no problem. And they need a new water and/or ice machine filter; the water tasted like chlorine. Ambiance is cute, for sure, but the food just doesn't measure up.
(2)Jolie R.
We made reservations at La Cantina for Sunday at 5:30, but when we got there a little earlier after the theatre let out, we went up to the Village and they seated us right away in the Opera Room (small room in the back with running Opera performances quietly on the flat screen). We were totally fine with that, and when we found out that La Cantina's reservation system had lost all the Sunday reservations, we were more than fine because we made a quick decision not to wait outside until La Cantina opened! They had to apologize to quite a few folks and didn't give anything away (like dessert or a free drink), which was cool with us since we got in before the madding crowd. We've been to the Village before and love the food and the ambiance and vowed to come back and try another one of the restaurants...oh well. We started out with grilled calamari - it was SO delish; we were worried there may be too much garlic in it.....but it really wasn't. the calamari was fresh and tender - enough to share for two people bent on grabbing for the gusto with their pointy forks. Hubby ordered the ravioli with sausage and marinara, but they brought him ravioli with meatballs in a spicy sauce. The maitre de noticed right away, but hubby decided to dig into the plate in front of him anyway. He was glad, too -- said the meal was terrific. It was enough for him to take about 1/2 of it home, which we polished off or dinner a few nights later. I got the Agnolloti al Pomodoro E Basilica, which is cheese/spinach ravioli in a tomato basic sauce - perfecto! The pasta was tender, the sauce dark and rich and the filling was cheesy/spinach, one of my favorites! The service was really good, given how crazy everything got with the restaurant problem downstairs. The bread could have been warm, but who am I to complain when everything else was yummy to the tummy! We still want to try La Cantina.
(5)Christian B.
Had lunch here with colleagues and the clam linguine was atrocious. Horrible.My colleagues shrimp pasta was equally bad as was the fish my other colleague ordered.
(1)Linsey C.
This cozy little Italian treasure will surely satisfy your craving for intimacy. I would rate the Hospitality as A+. However, the food was more like B-. I have definitely had much better italian food...and at much more reasonable prices. It is not entirely too expensive; I just don't feel that the food we ordered was worth the price we paid for it. However, the awesome wait staff and incredible hospitality surely made up for it. I think that the best thing I had at the Italian Village was the delicious cappuccino...which doesn't say much for an Italian restaurant...oh well. Unless I am only in the mood for a great cappuccino or some alcoholic beverages amidst a cozy, intimate atmosphere, I won't go back to the Italian Village. In my opinion, I can get much better Italian food for much better prices at a "million" other restaurants in the Chicago area.
(3)Tracy K.
I had a good time here the other night. A big group of us sat in the bar and only had apps and drinks. Our bartender, Scott, made sure we were well taken care of. I would like to come back for dinner. And whoever said that the decor is like "Its a Small World" meets Italian restaurant totally hit the nail on the head. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing.
(4)Mattine G.
Wow! The food is fantastic! I had the pumpkin ravioli with sage butter this evening. It was AMAZING!! The restaurant is very unique and has some great ambience.
(5)Robert S.
The food is average. I realize this place has some history and the ambiance which is why I return. So many better Italian restaurants if you're really in it for the food. Portions and service are always above par.
(3)Amanda M.
The Italian Village is my favorite Italian restaurant in Chicago! When I lived in VA a few years ago, I saw a show on Food Network that featured the Village (the host ate the lasagna and the tiramisu which looked heavenly!), and when I moved to Chicago three years ago, I of course had to dine here! It so did not disappoint! There are actually three different restaurants that make up the Italian Village (one on each floor), and each one specializes in a different type of Italian cuisine. We have only eaten at the one on the second floor (actually called The Village). We've had a few dishes there, but I keep going back for the lasagna and the tiramisu. Let me be clear- i do not like tiramisu at all, but this is completely different than any other tiramisu I've ever had. It is not at all overwhelmingly espresso flavored, and whatever cream they use in it is just heavenly. We've brought a few non-tiramisu loving people here, and they all agree! Highly recommend stopping in! The don't take reservations for parties smaller than 6, I believe.
(5)rongrong z.
The atmosphere is great, private space for 4 or 6 party, Nice layout and decoration,, The food is ok, but they replace the menu with something special for every week. Had a mushroom festival yestoday I went there, love it!
(4)Beep H.
I can't believe I'm forced to give this place a star. I'm pretty sure I was lied to about anything being vegan. Our pasta was drenched in a liquid I naively assumed was water (I don't know why...), but later turned out to be the oil that was separating from the sauce. The rest of the oil was found in a half inch pond under my food. I literally ate a cup of oil for lunch. I decided I'd take the rest home to salvage it somehow, again a naive move, as four feet out the door the oil solidified into some disgusting fat/butter neon orange solid. I imagine this is what my blood vessels now look like. The take out bag DRIPPED with half liquid/half solid oil. We paid $45 for white pasta with tomato paste and five cups of oil. Please don't go here unless you hate your body. Oh, and they sat us down in some cave like booth, which originally seemed cool, until we realized it was where the waiters get place settings at. I was four inches from every waiters butt, who, by the way, were really creepy.
(1)Lanell T.
My sister and I had a TERRIBLE experience here. We had to wait in a long line at the door. Not a problem. When the host came to the back of the line to seat us ahead of others, I thought this was rather strange. When we arrived at our booth near the dark, loud, smoky bar, it all became quite clear. The booth seats had MASSIVE HOLES. Springs were POPPING OUT OF THE SEATS. I couldn't believe it! I told my sister this must be a joke! When our waitress arrived to take our order, I demanded to be seated in a better booth! The host reappeared, looking very sheepish because he had been CAUGHT trying to pull a fast one. I will NEVER return to this restaurant.
(1)Richie D.
For all the history, positive reviews, and location, this place's decor and ambiance is stellar yet the food is HORRIBLE!
(1)Maria D.
The food is so good and fresh that I had to post a comment on yelp. The services was fast and the way they took care of me was amazing.
(5)Ryan W.
I've been here many times over the years, and have never had a bad experience. The food is alawys fantastic, the wait staff is impeccable. I love their lasagna, chicken marsala, and their ravioli's! I do think they are better for dinner, than lunch.. but that is only because it's tough to eat so much food in the middle of the day!
(5)Sylvia I.
Cozy atmosphere and good food. I got the caprese salad for appetizer which was pretty good, and then the lasagna which is flagged as a house specialty. The lasagna was good and I had enough for leftovers. For dessert, I got the tiramasu and tried a bite of the mousse and both were a bit too rich. Would get the cannoli next time. Service was great though -- our waiter was very attentive. To qualify why I only gave 3 stars: While the lasagna was good, it wasn't SPECTACULAR so I wouldn't crave or make a special effort to come back...which is why it didn't make 4 stars. I also think that my husband can make a better home-made lasagna so I not sure again that I would go out of my way to come here again especially since they said the lasagna was their house specialty.
(3)Annette R.
We went to see a broadway show and the Village was located nearby. My husband ordered a antipasto along with his veal dish. The antipasto had 3 pieces of italian lunch meat, one shrimp , six olives and one half of an hard boiled egg. His veal dish was tough , polenta was good. I had a eggplant dish that was good. Staff was good but, the restaurant needed to be cleaned up , way too dark!
(2)Al W.
Service was a little slow but wait staff was very nice and helpful, food was better than I could imagine!
(4)Laura G.
I've visited Chicago twice already, and more than likely I will go back at least once more. When I do, I WILL go back to the Italian Village. When you come in from the street entrance, you have to take the stairs on the right to get to the restaurant. It is small and busy, and, yes, the decor is cheesy: the lighting and decorations are supposed to make you feel like you're in a real Italian Village ... more like Disney, but whatever. The food was great (I had the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken.) It was flavorful, with a very creamy and smooth texture, and was obviously made by individuals who knew what they were doing; these weren't dishes that were made using step-by-step instructions taped to the wall. But the REAL reason why I know I will go back is the customer service. I had never eaten somewhere where the staff, upon request, was more willing to satisfy our needs. Here's the story: My mother and father are wheat and gluten intolerant, which can make eating out difficult. Even though the restaurant hasn't finalized the gf menu, they will serve the gluten-free dishes they have. So, we mention their allergies, and the waiter says "Ok, let me see what's available tonight." Then the guy comes out with the Executive Chef! HE was the one who took our order! (If you know how hectic it can be cooking in a restaurant kitchen, you'll know that this was kind of a big thing.) We talked with the waiter and the chef as if they were our friends; they were very personable and honestly interested in the conversation. In a nutshell, he told us "Don't worry. We can give you whatever you want." And they did. :) We basically got a custom meal. Not a bad attitude from the host, the waiter, or the bus boy. It was a wonderful experience.
(5)Joscelyn M.
Not bad. Not my mom's cooking and not the best Italian in the city, but all the entrees are good, standard Italian fare. The real Italian cheesecake, though, was the best part. I'll be thinking about it...
(3)Nikkie H.
I had been dying to eat at Italian Village for the longest time, because I heard good things from my roommates. I tried to drag my boyfriend there for months, but he kept insisting it wasn't good at all. Boys, what do they know? Right? WRONG! We ate downstairs because the wait was a bit shorter. It was quite dark and we sat in a very narrow area. The couple at the table next to us were on their first, and last, date, and they were arguing a bit too loud for my taste. The food was so-so, but I did enjoy my two glasses of Pinot Grigio (yum). I definitely will not go back during a weekend, but I can see how it would be convenient if you work downtown.
(3)Kathleen C.
I love the Village (upstairs). Fun ambience (decorated to look like an Italian Village) and good service. We had our rehearsal dinner here and it was affordable and family friendly (although our table was a bit cramped). Not a fan of Vivere. We had horrible service there, and thought we saw a bug once. Ugh.
(3)Allison B.
Good, basic italian. The atmosphere is cute and nice for dates in the little alcoves. They also have a nice bar area. The chicken vesuvio is DELICIOUS! Big show crowd, if you go after 7 it's easier to get a table.
(3)Meatdowntown C.
DO NOT GO THERE!!! Horrible food across the three restaurants. Would it kill them to use at least a fresh herb or something so people don't realize they are eating frozen food?. You can tell that everything is FROZEN from SAMS or COSTCO. Nothing was fresh at all, I guess I cook better at home by adding fresh garlic and real olive oil or natural butter. We ordered the eggplant parmiggian and it was basically three slices of eggplant battered with egg and some bland sauce on top awful just awful. We also ordered the angiolottie and OMG it was just like frozen pasta from COSTCO with sauce from a jar and even the basil was from a tube or jar (only God knows). Also the "vegetables side" was simply frozen. Please DO NOT GO there!! No wonder it was a saturday night and the place was not busy at all. Maybe it is a tourist trap but as a native Chicagoan I would like to help you and just save you money. Go to the McDonald's across the street and you will be more satisfied.
(1)A B.
Can I give this no stars?! It was GOD AWFUL. To be fair we ate in the bottom restaurant but still we paid over $50 for food that tasted like it came straight from a Lean Cuisine box. No lie it was that bad. I would never in a million years come back to this place. Gross. The soup tasted like it was water with a splash of chicken broth with a noodle, my boyfriends "steak" looked like a hamburger, and so on. Nothing was even slightly decent tasting.
(1)Andy C.
I would like to give this place 2.5 stars, as i feel it is better than just a 2 star but not quite up to a 3. But i gave it a 3 because maybe it was closer to a 2.6 than a 2.4? Our experience here was OK. Saturday night, and the place was busy. We got seated and ordered the grilled calamari appetizer to start with. It was actually pretty good. Nice big squid, and semi tender even, which is rare for places in Chicago. So a good start to our meal. Our waiter was very nice and attentive, if a bit slow to come around and check on us. But we were in no hurry, so it was no big deal. My wife and i got the same thing, which we hardly ever do, and that was a big mistake. I think it was fettucini with a cream sauce aiwth lobster. Sounded SO good. But it sounded and looked way better than it tasted. It is not that it tasted bad, it just had no taste at all. There was plenty of sauce, but all i could taste was oil. The lobster pieces were pretty small too, and i spent most of my time trying to pick them out as after a few spoonfuls of pasta i did not want any more of that. We really should not have ordered the same thing, as we both left most of our dishes. But a couple of others in our group said their food was pretty good, and the lasagna (with meatballs on the side) was said to be very good. I would give this place another try, but it would not be on the top of my list.
(3)Kelly K.
My girlfriend took me here last week on a whim to cheer me up after my recent breakup. It was just what I needed! The service was excellent: Our waiter was attentive, accomodating, helpful--and easy on the eyes! I was having a hard time deciding what to order and had seen the salmon dish go by, but I wanted pasta as well. One of the staff members, an older gentleman whose name I don't recall (but he told me to just call him "George Clooney" so I'll go with that) doted on me and assured me that they could make the salmon dish however I wished, and suggested a bed of delightful olive oil angel hair pasta. Outstanding! The desserts were also very appealing, and we decided to go with the chocolate mousse, which was heavenly. The atmosphere was really charming--I love the little private alcoves all over the restaurant as well as the lighting and decor. The Bloody Mary sucked--was very watery, way too strong, and lacking any sort of seasoning. Our waiter replaced it with a glass of Chardonnay, which was much better, although awfuly sweet, but he didn't charge me for the Bloody. Overall, between the amazing food, lovely atmosphere, and oodles of doting from the hoardes of male staff, it was just what I needed. Thank you, Italian Village, for helping to heal my broken heart!
(4)Erica K.
I went here about 10 years ago, while on a rare excursion from the 'burbs to the city with my mom, and thought this was the best place ever. I revisted it Saturday night, and eh. At least I can appreciate the extent of my palate refinement over the years. I still love the decor upstairs, the little twinkling lights, and small nooks and crannies everywhere, etc. But, this time, we were shown past that, and sat in this tiny room right next to the kitchen, complete with a cheap sliding door, to block out the sounds and sights of busboys piling up the dishes outside. The room had a vineyard mural on one side, bleh painted walls on 2 sides, and a mirrored 4th wall, with a flatscreen tv playing an opera. If outside was the beautiful villa, these were the slave's quarters. It wasn't really private either, there were 4 other tables of people in there. The food was pretty mediocre. Bf got spaghetti arribiatta, I got spinach and cheese ravioli. They do have huge portions though, so i took mine home. But, surprise surprise, when I ate it for lunch today at work, they didnt put any sauce (of which there was a plentiful amount) in the take-out box, just the ravioli! So, now it is even more tasteless than before, and dry. While not as smitten as before, I still did enjoy this place. I would recommend it for the atmosphere (and wine list!), but expect mediocre generic Italian food.
(3)Bella D.
The cantina - lower level is the best! Ask for the great spaghetti with to die for "meat sauce", vesuvio potatoes, or white fish with broccolli or carrots. Their steak and shrimp entree is always great! The service and management are superb. This place has lots of chicago class and style and great italian cooking! Great place before a show or right after work. Parties for groups there are great too! Spent 2 birthday parties and 4 office parties there! Don't forget the dessert! Mousse Chocolate Di Strata & Creme Brulee!
(5)Job E.
I only had takeaway lasagna during lunch, but it was delicious and everything I could hope and dream for.
(5)Robert M.
Went last night, sat at the bar downstairs. Excellent services. Had the caparse salad (excellent tomota and mozzarella) Had the special (Pasta with Osso Buco). Great. Had the choclate dessert , one of the best dessert I have tried. Overall give it a shot! The oldest Italian resturant in the city.
(5)Nikki S.
Have dined here on multiple occassions. They are great for getting you in and out fast if you are catching a meal before a show. It is a small space but their food and service are great. I suggest reservations because the Cadillac Theater is located nearby so they get a huge crowd on afternoons/evenings of performances.
(4)Dianna X.
BARELY MEDIOCRE FOOD! HORRIBLE MANAGEMENT! SERVICE IS ON PAR WITH DENNY'S. DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME HERE. You could (SADLY) have better Italian food ( and much better service) at the Olive Garden. The only thing this place has going for it is the cute decor. Went here celebrating an anniversary, we called ahead requesting one of the small villa rooms. We were told they did not accept reservations. We get there, and are told its over an hour wait for a villa room but only 25 minutes for a regular table. We opt for the less time consuming option, even though I expressed that this was a special occasion and we REALLY wanted a little villa. They sit us at a regular table, right next to an EMPTY villa room. The room remained empty for 25 minutes. They made no attempt to offer it to us. I called the manager over and asked why... he gave me some lame excuse that did not even make sense; it was obvious he was making something up. He made no apologies, and no attempt to make our evening better ( at that point we also had service issues... our waiter never brought bread, gave us the wrong salads and disappeared for 25 minutes at a time). The way the manager handled this and his overall demeanor ( it took him 15 minutes to even come over to our table and had an " I dont care" attitude) might be expected if we were ordering $10 burgers at Denny's. But for the prices this place charges? Its definitely no longer the nice place I once thought it was. Do yourself a favor, and save your money for the Italian restaurants on Taylor street. This place is NOT worth your time or money.
(1)Lily A.
If you have other options, I say take those. Sure, the decor is homey, service is decent and the waiters speak with an Italian accent. Authentic or not, ultimately we go to restaurants for the food, right? Right. Terrible. Though I do consider myself a foodie/epicure or what have you, I'll eat almost anything if I'm hungry. But their food was inedible! Cold, rock hard bread, watered down sauces, overcooked pasta that breaks into odd pieces in your mouth. Even the salad was soggy with too much vinegar, with dry chicken that stuck to the roof of my mouth. I mean, it's really hard to get a salad perfect but nearly impossible to get it terribly wrong. Oh but they did it. Two bites and I was done - so much for the $17. Maybe the chef was having a bad day, maybe my appetite wasn't there, but I'm sorry to say I don't think I would ever choose to go back to the Italian Village again.
(1)Jenaia F.
Oh, Italian Village... You really didn't live up to the hype - AT ALL. My husband and his friends raved about your food and I just didn't think it was all that. Was it ok? Sure!! But not worth the money. Don't think I will ever return, especially with so many fantastic food options in the great city that is Chicago. While there we ordered the Spaghetti Arrabiata with italian sausage - meh!! Lacked punch. We also ordered the eggplant parmigiana - total disappointment. Lacked flavor and the egg plant was a little on the soggy side. Not what you expect from a restaurant's specialty item. Good luck to you, Italian Village. You won't be seeing us again.
(3)Meghann S.
Went with my husband and my in-laws for my husband's birthday dinner last night. We were seated quickly, but as soon as the waiter discovered that we were a 4-top instead of a 6, he disappeared. Another (much nicer) waiter came and took our order and stayed with us even thought we were only a 4-top! Salads were your basic mixed greens and the bread that came as we sat down was also your basic Italian bread. I had the frutti di mare (seafood pasta). The pasta was overcooked and the sauce was not spicy like it was described in the menu. Seafood was ok and there was a decent amount of it. My husband got the lobster pasta. It was very bland. Looked like it was a fettucini alfredo, but had none of the creamy richness that you'd expect. Also there were only a very few small pieces of lobster in the dish. My in-laws looked like they enjoyed their meals. The rolled chicken dish seemed like the best meal at the table. Overall that would be about a 3 star review, but after we got home both my husband and I had pretty bad stomach distress - YUCK! 1 star it is!
(1)Apple B.
I am never disappointed when I go to Italian Village. The decorations are beautiful, and the service and people there take such great care of me when I go there for either lunch or dinner. My kids love going there for a special night out, and we have so much fun together as we eat our awesome food!!
(5)Joon M.
Meh. I'm pretty snobby when it comes to Italian food. The father of one of my best friends is from Southern Italy & my ex boyfriend was from Northern Italy....neither of them would be impressed by Italian Village cuisine. The food is ok, but you can get ok at The Olive Garden. A friend has assured me that I will love Basil & it's sister restaurant Sage, both of which are on Clark in Lincoln Park. I also love the Sicilaian-esque cuisine at La Bella in Oak Park. I think the last time I went to Italian Village was after my senior prom. Mediocre food, a not yet out of the closet bf, a gorgeous dress & no carriage ride.....Good Times.
(2)Kelly H.
This place is great! Had to wait a few min for a table so grab a glass of wine at the bar. The bartender was great and made you feel like family! the tables are all tucked away in little corners so it a cozy feeling. The food was out of this whole! I def reccomend their house dressing for your salad! Will go back again and again!
(5)Christina A.
After a very long day yesterday, myself, and two work related friends, headed to the lower level of Italian Village for a relaxing dinner. I can't believe I had never been here before and now I know I will be back time after time after time. The second we arrived we were greeted by Hans, a darling and charming man, who promptly seated us in a cozy little booth. One of our friends (who is a darling man about town) seemed to know half the restaurant that were dining, pre-symphony, and they all shared what they had chosen for dinner. One had the quail (that looked incredibly delicious). We were literally doted on by the staff and promptly ordered glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and the calamari. OH. . . the calamari! I don't think it gets much better than this! I am such a critic and a fanatic when it comes to the quality and texture of this creepy little squid and this was to die for! Not too little breading, not too much, just plain perfect. Since we were already on a great path with seafood we decided to stick with it; two of us ordered the whitefish with a white wine sauce and capers sided by fresh veggies and the other with the fish of the day. I RARELY finish a whole dinner but it took everything I had not to pick the plate up and lick it. While Italian Village features three different, varying restaurants, which I now must explore the other two, I HIGHLY recommend the quaint, cozy and friendly downstairs of this little treasure.
(5)katheryn k.
Of course It's not the greatest Italian food in the city, actually I hardly ever go to an Italian restaurant because I cook so much real Italian food at home. So when I go out to eat, I want to go for something I usually can't make at home. I did like this place though. We had really good service, me and my mom had a very nice lunch here. I had the Acorn Squash Ravioli, which was awesome and also something I never tried before. You have to go here when it's not tourist time, or rush hour. This place has been around for a long time..I hope it stays there. The last thing we need is another TGI Fridays, or chilis in the loop.
(3)Brenna M.
I can only speak for the "Village" section of this restaurant. We went there last night for a friend's birthday, and we had a nice (though slightly cramped) booth, near the "moon" (aka the back wall). The food is standard italian fare, though for the prices I kind of expected to get a little more food. Not many vegetarian options, besides three cheese ravioli or cheese filled manicotti....although there was a salad or two. Otherwise the music was nice, the place was very dim, and the service a bit slow for my taste.
(3)Olga M.
I know that the place is Chicago's Landmark and everything, but you buy better raviolis at a Dominicks store.
(1)Adam C.
I have visited this restaurant several times for lunch meetings and have always come away happy. I give the restaurant a 4, but could easily have given it a 5. The food was very good, just felt the portions were a little small, though filling. It is reasonably priced for what you get and the service was very good!
(4)Rachelle G.
A regular for most that crave Italian while in the loop. Interior is cozy and you almost forget the hustle and bustle that is going on outside. Service can be hit or miss. And if you go during the holiday season when many companies are doing holiday luncheons, it can be packed to the gills as they add extra tables to accommodate the larger groups. The food is mediocre and at times lacks flavor. Portions are humongous. If I was asked to go, I probably would, but definitely not a restaurant I would go out of my way for.
(3)Jennifer T.
Someone recommended this place so my friends and I went. Now i see that it was all some horrible joke.... The line for this place was ridiculously long, but it smelled great..So at first, i was really excited. I mean why would there be such a line if their food isn't that good? We had made reservations, and still waited 20 mins. or so for a table (not that bad). We were seated, and pushed and pushed to make an order. The waitress wouldn't leave us alone to look over the menu for more than 2 mins! We made our orders and our food was served. Appetizers: Fried Calamari and Garlic Bread. -calamari was bland and def was lacking in any flavor whatsoever. -garlic bread was good, no complaints there. Main Courses: mussels, eggplant parm and lasagna -mussels were very rubbery and lacked flavor -eggplant parm was very "blah"...sauce tasted like it came out of a can and the eggplant was cut WAY TOO THICK -lasagna was def not what we expected. Which, is an odd thing to say about lasagna, because it is what it is, and kinda hard to screw up. BUT they managed it, to say the least. Maybe I just like my lasagna traditional.....who knows. Would never go back here again. Pizzeria quality food for too much money, and the wait staff pushing you out the door. *i overheard someone saying that they were using all the plates that they owned, and that's why they were trying to take plates as quickly and rudely as they were...*
(2)David R.
I don't quite understand why this place is so popular. I recently dined here for a business lunch and found the food ok but overpriced and the atmosphere more like something you find at Navy Pier than in the Loop. The fresh fish entrees were basic and well prepared. The two pasta entrees ordered were huge in size and not much better than what you find at the Olive Garden. Service is ok.
(3)Robin M.
Step back in time and enjoy old Chicago atmosphere, fantastic food, and excellent service. Since 1929, it's Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant, a must visit!
(3)maurice s.
This is a pretty generic Italian restaurant in a city with many better options.
(2)Angie C.
Standard pasta dishes, but convenient for a sit down lunch in the Loop. Nothing spectacular, but I only tried the street level restaurant. I hear upstairs is also good.
(3)Jesster A.
This has been an old favorite ever since I was a kid - and the fact that it still exists, is still good (all 3) and even on some level remains "trendy" is in itself somewhat miraculous. I think for some of us - we give it extra credit for sentimental reasons (kind of like we did for Marshall Fields?) Still while I think everyone should experience this virtual landmark Italian restaurant - I am somewhat mortified by what happened to Dave S.'s party. That manager should probably be fired. He OWED your friend cost of the blouse. That much is given. (He loses even more points for his original bad attitude*) and if he had an ounce of class - he would have offered you all an incentive to come back (something on the house - free drinks, wine, appetizer, dessert whatever.) *While this manager showed bad judgment and an inexcusable attitude given the nature of your situation. Restaurant managers sometimes go on the defensive because it is a standard and VERY common con that people claim their clothing was ruined by some incident at their restaurants and then demand either restitution for the clothing or payment for dry cleaning bill. (In many cases, people complain later and some people actually DO sprill stuff on themselves on purpose, really!) This happens ALL the time. But in your case - not only were there 4 witnesses - and no motive - your friend herself was prima facia EVIDENCE of the damage done. How could he question THAT?! Price of blouse $75? Price of a reputation earned over half a century plus? Priceless.
(4)Chris B.
Having tried Vivere a few days earlier, we thought we'd try this third of the restuarants in the building. Where Vivere was my best meal in Chicago last week, Italian Village was the least. The food wasn't horrible but to echo another review, just very bland. Maybe the spices go to the other two resturants? I had the chicken rotolini and was dissapointed by both the lack of flavor on the fettechini alfredo (I tasted more butter than cheese) and that for the marsala I was given thigh meat that was somehow devoid of the natural flavor dark meat has. If the sauce was really supposed to have been made with a wine sherry and prosciuto, I couldn't taste either. My wife didn't think her ravioli was anything special either. We both split a canoli desert and agreed it too wasn't anything special. The service was very good though. Our waiter was very attentive. I also appreciated the atmosphere.
(2)Jeff F.
I friggin love this place! Great food, great atmosphere, great prices! And you feel less guilty for eating all those wonderful carbs drenched in meat sauce when you climb the 400 steps to get to the restaurant. (not really 400 steps but to those of us who love carbs a bit too much it can seem daunting haha)
(5)Lynnzy L.
Nostalgia reigns. For vegetarians I suggest the cheese and spinach raviolis - light and quite tasty. Funky layout - we sat in the back room and although it was small and intimate the lighting was way too bright to maximize the coziness of the room. Great old world type service, Angelo our waiter was fun and on top of everything.
(4)Beverly W.
A great place for a good pasta dinner. One of the most reasonable restaurants in Chicago. Great for before or after a show. Everything is good and the service is wonderful. Highly recommend for an evening on the town.
(4)Duncan S.
Eh, some more recent experiences means I downgrade one star. Weird guy who seats people comes out of nowhere to take order all rushed, doesn't even say 'can I take your order?', just stands there with a pen, doesn't want questions, then gets it completely wrong when repeating it. But I'm not that nitpicky, the food seemed to be going down the crapper. Undercooked pasta, blandness, weird tastes sticking out. When the food and service aren't as good, little things like being cramped, dark, old/dirty seem to stick out more, and not as cute... -------- I only get the lasagna here, and love it every time. Other people have gotten other things and not liked it as much, once I brought a few back and got them lasagna though and they agreed with me. So they may suck at almost everything else, but I love that lasagna. I also like the atmosphere, kind of dark, feels like a nice old school Godfather place, I like going with family (older). Probably not bad for dates either.
(3)Liz G.
My fiance and I went here before seeing Wicked on Valentines Day a few years ago. The food was alright, nothing too spectacular. I'd try it again as a last resort Italian restaurant. Compared to others in the city I've had better.
(3)Antonio C.
Sometimes you get small cues for things to come, and I kicked myself for not walking away at the front door. I wished I would have eaten at Olive Garden, even though I hate that place. As you entered, there was a urine smell at the bottom of the stairs, I figured it was mustiness but you would think they would control that. Everything was bland. I have never had to add salt to my food, and my entire party found ourselves seasoning everything. The bread was nothing special, the minestrone soup tasted like it came out of a can, and the meat sauce was again bland. The waitress was pleasant and inquired about our food. I told her it was so-so and offered to remedy the situation, but what can you do when they needed a different cook? She sent the manager over, and he gave some kind of comedy routine speech, before asking what he could do for us. Upon leaving he repeated "Mille Grazie" multiple times. Won't be returning for sure. By the way, the restrooms are totally cramped, and judging from the condition of the place, I think there was seepage onto the first floor, hence the smell.
(2)Colleen S.
meh. I've been here twice and stuck to pasta with meat items both times. There's nothing special about the sauce...it's bland. I imagine it'd taste a lot like the table cloth if you went to town on that before your meal came. The little private booths are not good for groups, even if you only have a few people. It's like being in a shed. Without the lawn mowers. However, if you do get stuck in the shed, take this little gem of information with you: there's a button near the door that turns on a light just outside of the shed to get the waiter's attention. They don't tell you this, and the waiter's hardly come by if you don't flick on the light. So that's a little weird. Also, speaking of lights, there's hardly any in those booths. Which backs up my shed analogy quite nicely I think. Service was ok, once I figured out the unmarked call button. They seem to be pretty prompt with seating your pre-reserved party. Portions are gigantic, which is good only if you enjoy the food. Leaving with a container the size of a VCR full of bland pasta isn't really exciting.
(2)Amanda D.
I was on business in Chicago and was looking for a place to grab a bite before I went back to my hotel by the airport. All the restaurants I passed were either too fancy or fast food, I finally came across the Italian Village and stopped. This placed seemed good for groups and dates, so I felt a bit out of place flying single, and it seemed like the staff wanted me in and out. The ambiance was nice and the menu had several delicious dishes. They were out of the pasta I wanted, but my second choice was just as good. It literally had everything I love in it - roasted garlic, sun dried tomatoes and shrimp, yum! It was fantastic. Overall, the food was great, ambiance nice, but other than that, I'm sure there's plenty of other great restaurants in Chicago that would be better. Next time I'll do my yelpsearch before heading out.
(3)Linda N.
great place. they were able to accomodate a reservation for 18 on a friday night at 8pm. so thats already awesome in my book. service was really good. the food was yummy. they have this cheese that looks like parmasean and it was sooooooooo good especially when you mixed some of it with olive oil to dip your bread. i didn't know that there were three different restaurants in this place. we had reservations at the village which was upstairs. loved the decor. it looked like we were outside. there were cute little booths and cubby holes areas that made things a bit more private. it would be a nice place to take a date.
(4)Quantas G.
De-lic-ious. Me and a friend stopped by here on the way to see Jersey Boys and were not disappointed with our meal, service, and ambiance. This joint offers cozy little nooks and intimate tables. The lighting and old Italian servers make it seem like something out of a movie. The crowd was definitely older but we lucked out on our meal. I picked the seafood ravioli in a creamy tomato sauce, she copied me and didn't regret it. Salads made tableside and fresh bread for the table just adds to the enjoyment. We didn't order any wine but did notice others getting great recommendations. Next time, vino...
(4)L M.
This has become my NEW FAVORITE Italian restaurant. I have only been there twice since I live in the burbs, but it is such a wonderful treat. The lasagna is at the top of my list and saying that I love Italian food and Lasagna would be a huge understatement. I absolutely love the adorable decor...it's sort of like if you were dreaming you were in Italy. The service was also good. Second time around the chicken parm was a little dry and the fact that they don't take reservations at The Village are the only reasons I gave it 4 stars.
(4)Amy J.
I like this place. There are 3 different restaurants to choose from, depending on what you feel like. I've been after theatre shows so it's right near the theatre district and you can make reservations online. It's not the most authentic or unique italian food ever, but it's close by the theatres and priced right. I've been to 2 of the 3 restaurants now and I thought both were pretty good.
(4)Amy S.
I've been to the top and main floor restaurants. Both were good, with neat decor and authentic Italian food. The top floor has crusty Italian bread with oil for dipping (I'm a huge fan of the free bread). The menu is big and has great specials. I had a wonderful pasta dish with clams and a white-wine sauce. Big portions at reasonable prices. In the top floor restaurant we were tucked away in a corner booth. The lighting is minimal, so I would imagine if you were on a date it would be really romantic. Incidentally I was with my mom and sister, but it was still a neat atmosphere. Our waiter was older and Italian and able to pronounce the menu items with the perfect accent. (I love people with accents) I will definitely go back here again...maybe I can find someone to take me here on a date! :)
(4)E T.
Let me save you the time and effort of combing through all the reviews posted on Yelp: The Italian Village is easily the worst food I have ever had in my entire life. Ever. All this place serves is overcooked store-bought pasta with watered down sauce. If you have the ability to taste, stay away from the Italian Village at all costs. If on the other hand, you can't taste and are drawn to places that smell like a nursing home, by all means, go.
(1)Jason c.
My Veal Marsala took me back to my childhood... to the days when my grandma would heat up a Swanson salisbury steak TV dinner for a quick lunch. Bleh! Go to Rose Angeli's in Lincoln park for much better food for the same price (maybe even cheaper). They get a few points for a nice atmosphere and good bread.
(2)Jonathan C.
I have only been the main, "Italian Village" restaurant. The food is very prototypical American/Italian red sauce faire. But man is it good. Portion size is great and prices are reasonable for a downtown restaurant. I like it very much as a place to enjoy a meal with friends, not quite impress-your-date-with-your-good-taste material, but a very nice place to have a meal. Service is very warm and quite good. Seating is tight, but not cramped. Decor is murals of the italian coutryside with chirstmas lights (not as bad as it sounds, but not really a delight for the senses). There is a reason this place is still in business I think. I will add more if I go to the other restaurants.
(4)Angela K.
This will always be my favorite Italian restaurant. We always go to The Village, it's so cute and the private group booths are so cool! I definitely recommend the Chicken Lemon, my favorite!
(5)Erin M.
4 stars for the overall experience. Food is 3 stars, but between the festive atmosphere and waiter who looks like he is from the Soprano's, Italian Village is definitely a fun dining experience. Came in at prime time on a Friday night - the place was busy but we still were seated right away.
(4)Laura I.
Typical Italian dishes in a dark setting. While the food is okay, it just all seems so typical that I can't bring myself to give it any more stars. It's a good place but nothing special.
(2)Kathleen H.
I have loved this restaurant for years and have never had a problem. This is their anniversary week and every day they are offering a special for $8.50. My friends and I decided to try it today - what a mistake. We made a reservation for 1:30 which shouldn't be the rush time. It certainly wasn't as there were plenty of available tables. We ordered immediately. After waiting 30 minutes for our food to be delivered, we had to ask the waiter how much longer. But please know that those around us that had come in after us, had already been served their lunch. We ended up getting our food wrapped to go which took another 10 minutes. Let me tell you when I opened up my bag to eat the lunch at my desk, it was a huge disappointment. The piece of chicken breast had been flattened to nothing; it was hard, and the pasta that came with it had 20 small pieces. It was the most pathetic thing I have ever seen on a plate. Needless to say, I am extremely disappointed. It will be a long time before I forget this experience.
(1)Annette L.
Eh. That's pretty much it. Eh.
(2)Yvonne C.
Hearty Italian food, nothing fancy, big portions, and endless bread basket with yummy olive oil for dipping. I highly recommend adding meatballs to whatever you order... they're so good. :) Service was fairly prompt as well.
(3)Ronni S.
OK food, better dessert. I ate on the top level, in the bar with the twinkling lights. The atmosphere, although a bit loud (I mean, come on, it WAS a bar), was very pretty. Not my first choice for an Italian meal, but it'll do in a pinch.
(3)Dave W.
Stopped here for dinner while in Chicago for a conference. Not the best Italian food I've ever had, but the lasagna was good, service prompt and prices reasonable.
(3)Matthew L.
A baby cockroach ran across my table when I tried to eat here. Whatever happens, don't let them seat you in the tiny room in the back near the kitchen. This restaurant does advertise in the St. Peter's weekly bulletin. +1 star. God bless their little Catholic soul's
(1)Susan F.
Ok sooooo. Weird place. Wanna know why? Went here with my boyfriend, dressed nicely, no sport jacket or anything but you get the pic. They sent us back to the back room with some other couples, the room was tiny with about 5 other tables. SLowly but surely, people got up and left because they finished their meal. Well, eventually half way into our meal, everyone was gone. The waiter closed of the double doors. I honestly felt like I was in a mafia movie and some man was going to come up and shoot us. How dare they put us back there like we were still in HS or college. UHg. Food was ok, ok priced. Very awk atmosphere. Would recommend it for older bigger groups. That is why I gave it 3 stars and not 2. Good luck!
(3)Tom C.
The Italian Village is alright Italian food. I've never been impressed or disappointed here. With so few options in the area this is a good choice if you want something reasonable and in the downtown area. Like I said earlier the food is average but the atmosphere is nice. They have valet downstairs so it's ideal if you are going to see a show.
(3)Laura S.
Great food, service without being over priced. Everyone at our table enjoyed their meal.
(5)Joanne B.
We went last night before seeing Avenue Q. They do not take reservations for parties for 2 so we just walked in and tested our luck. We had around a 20 minute wait for a table. The restaurant itself is pretty with sparkling lights and rotating water wheels. Service, however, stunk. We did not know who our waiter was. We were seated and within a few minutes a waiter appeared to take our order - no drinks or anything. After placing our order another random waiter came around and asked us if we wanted anything to drink because he just saw water on our table. Our salads came within literally 5 minutes of placing our orders. Mine was dripping with garlic dressing. After that, there was a significant amount of time between that and our entrees. When we were done, we had to flag down a busboy to get our food wrapped up and a waiter to get our check. I know that they're very busy, but shouldn't they give good service to groups of 2? The reason that I'm giving yesterday's experience 3 stars is because the food was excellent. We'll probably come again only because the food is so good.
(3)Amanda D.
I went to the Village for lunch with some friends, one that had raved so I was pretty excited to go. Too bad my amped up taste buds were let down. First off, I thought the house salad dressing was too oily for an Italian dressing. It drowned the lettuce and was too heavy for my taste. My en tree was good, but nothing spectacular. With so many other fabulous restaurants in Chicago, I can't justify going somewhere that is just okay.
(3)K G.
Really nice decor, it feels like being at one of the theme restaurants in Vegas or Disney where you suddenly enter a new world when walking in. I agree with the other reviews on the food. It was totally edible standard Italian but nothing unique or extraordinary. I ordered Cannelloni and it was just barely flavored ground standard meat in the crepe with some tomato sauce (very few herbs) poured on top. It was really crowded at 5pm on a Weds evening, we had to wait 1/2 hour for our table.
(3)Jim N.
The ambience in this place is really nice. I came here for lunch on a whim and I wasn't disappointed. I ordered the grilled scallops and the linguine w/ shrimp and brocolli and both were delicious. The service was great as well, but then again it wasn't very busy so there were actually idle waiters chatting and watching their customers. Overall though, I wasn't disappointed about the food or the service in general and I would definitely make a return trip again in the future.
(4)Ashley D.
Let's just say I've never left less than 15% in my life until I went to the Italian Village. My boyfriend and I went there on a Tuesday night and had a terrible experience, an experience that I believe happens on a nightly basis for other guests. This was our first and last time dining at the Village because of poor service and terrible food. When I walked into the restaurant I was blown away by the decor and ambiance, but that quickly diminished once I sat down. Our server, like the rest of the servers, was impatient and dull. Once he found out that we weren't of age and didn't want a bottle of wine he could care less about our dinner. He honestly didn't even ask us if we wanted anything other than water and only came to take our order and ask if we wanted dessert. As I looked around the room I noticed that all of the others servers seemed to be at the same pace as ours.... slouching with their feet on the walls, talking in the middle of the dining room, and pouring bottles of wine like they were pouring themselves a beer. My biggest pep-peeve about going to Italian restaurants is when their pasta selections consist of pick your noodle and pick your sauce which is exactly what this place had. So I resulted to the specials and had the risotto, which I took 4 bites out of and decided not to waste the calories on such flavorless carbs. It was dry, no flavor, and pretty sure that they used white rice to make it. Huge disappointment on all levels. It's a shame that this historical landmark has nothing more to offer but cute decorations. If you want a true italian dining experience in the city head to Rosal's or Francesca's on Taylor street- great people, great ambiance, and more importantly, unbelievable food.
(1)Ann Y.
We went to the Italian Village before going to the Goodman. I really like how the booths are seperate rooms. Our waiter was really good. the good though was just average. I had the fettucini alfredo and Olive garden has better fettucini alfredo. The prices are not bad though and I probably will go back to try something else if I am in the area.
(3)Allen J.
I was so disappointed in my first visit here. I took a rather important out of town guest to the restaraunt- I let her pick, she picked the bottom floor. Our food was barely warm. The lemon chicken piccata was, well, the sauce particularly, was disgusting. Service was mediocre at best, and we were seated where all of the wait staff kept gathering every 5 minutes. Very disappointing.
(1)Kathryn M.
Italian Village and I go way back...all the way to sophomore formal in high school. My date and I, okay, the group of us, because let's be honest, when you're 15, you really just go where your friends go, my formal group and I decided to skip the formal (at my school the dances sucked), spend too much money on a dress, get our hair and makeup done, and head down to Italian Village. We had one of those booths that are 3/4s private. We had a great time, but you know, we were 15, what did we know? I've been for lunch and for dinner since. Decent food, nothing spectacular, but really great service. My latest visit to Italian Village was with my boyfriend before a concert. We were running a little late, but they promised that we would be in and out in less than an hour. Pretty impressive considering it was 7 on a Friday. Overall, good food, great service, and a fun/Italian-y decor.
(3)Jen K.
As one of the previous posters said their food reminds me of the Olive Garden. My food was okay but not great, but it was definitely generic. On the positive side, the service was very good. With all the other great Italian restaurants in the city next time I will try somewhere new.
(2)H E.
Just terrible. I would highly suggest avoiding The Italian Village at all costs. I have never been more disappointed in a meal and recommend you do not waste your time and money. Chicago has so many wonderful restaurants, but clearly this is not one of them.
(1)Stefanie F.
My favorite restaurant, hands down, in the city! Everything about it is charming and romantic; the atmosphere, music, and ambiance. The food is always good and they have very good wine. I recommend calling ahead, especially if you are going on Friday or Saturday evening, because it is usually packed.
(5)Jeff P.
Favorite Italian restaurant in the city. In fact, favorite restaurant in the city.
(5)S H.
I went here for lunch and sat upstairs. The upstairs is very cute--great atmosphere. The reason for the three stars is the eggplant parmesan--it was probably the most disgusting eggplant parmesan I've ever had. That said, I will probably be back, because I always know when ordering eggplant parmesan that it has the potential of being horrible. The other items on the menu sounded delicious, and the service was good. Just avoid the eggplant parm at all costs.
(3)Andrea O.
i went here with my boyfriend and wow is this place great. It's decor is quite elegant, perfect for couples. i had the chicken (don't remember what it was called) but seriously, it was the best chicken i've ever tried in my life. great service too. a bit expensive.
(5)Briana J.
Great place to have your boss take you out on the company tab. The loop location makes this a wise choice for any business meal where the main concern is eating and not closing a deal. The food is filling and the service is good. They will leave you alone to allow for conversation but they never forget about the bread or water refills.
(4)JP D.
Good food but I thought the menu and wine list was too pricey. Seems like a great place to take a client for a business dinner.
(3)Pickle P.
You know, I wasn't impressed. Italian Village is definitely promoted as a need-to-try restaurant in the city, and so I looked forward to it. My friend and I went to have a nice Italian meal and some wine after a long day, and we didn't realize how pricey it was going to be. You are given bread, but the portion sizes of the meals (even the pastas!) are very small. The wine list is EXTENSIVE, to the extent that we were extremely overwhelmed. It basically is a book. Do people actually order those $3,000 bottles of wine? Anyhow, we each had a glass, enjoyed them, ordered some pasta and shared a couple of desserts. The ambience is neat, due to its reputation as a Chicago staple, but all of the servers are male (sort of a bothersome point for me), my wallet can't handle the impact, and there isn't any available parking, so you'll have to public trans or taxi it.
(2)Alice L.
Italian Village is a great place to go if you're headed out with a large group. Now, there are three levels to this place- The Village, La Cantina, and Vivere. I've had the pleasure of eating at both The Village and Vivere. The service was superb at both places, and the seafood dishes are to die for! Overall, the food was delicious, the portions were huge, and the prices were reasonable. I look forward to trying La Cantina.
(4)Erin B.
I've enjoyed myself every time I come here. The food comes in stereotypical (LARGE!) portions, and I feel that you get what you pay for. The pasta is homemade, and you can taste the difference from the boxed kind! They've got two dining areas, one downstairs, and one upstairs. If I remember correctly, the downstairs is more "kid friendly" and more of a casual dining experience, while the upstairs, is a bit more "high class." It's worth at least one trip to check it out!
(4)David F.
The food is very unpredictable here. It is good some of the time, alright some of the time, and really bad on other days. I had some fish here that seemed to be six months past its prime. The decorations are nice, but the prices are very high for the quality.
(2)J V.
The food did not impress me and I'd say it's average at best. Kinda cool they had different themes across their 3 floors.
(2)One T.
My boyfriend and I went here because I work downtown and I know he loves Italian food and had remembered seeing the big sign for it. So after walking over downtown while I was trying to remember exactly where it was we finally made it there. It was all worth it. The food was magnificant and the service was top notch. It was nice because it seems like these extremely fancy place, but you feel just as comfortable going in your casual clothes. It's probably a good date spot as they keep the upstairs dining room dark and private.
(5)Ray R.
Bad. Amongst the worst veal parmisan that I have ever had. Big portion, but mushy and flavorless. Served with a small side of bland pasta in a sauce that could be confused for tomato soup. Bread was lousy too. Salad marginal. The only highlight was the breadsticks on the bar.
(1)Cassie B.
I have only been to the top level of the three locations, though i have been to this one several times. The atmosphere is adorable, somewhat dark and with cute nooks and crannies to eat in. the food is good, though not great. It's fairly inexpensive for the location and the clientele (i see mostly theatergoers and businesspeople, tell me if i am wrong). however, i recommended it one time when someone asked me for a romantic in the loop (this was a while back) - it was the first place that popped into my head.
(3)Ji K.
My friend and I decided to come here one Friday evening after work to celebrate payday-- and we made the mistake of coming here right around 6 (instead of earlier), causing our wait to go from 10 minutes to 40 minutes. In addition, their bar was packed with uptight businessmen and theatergoers. Luckily, we went downstairs to Vivere and snagged two great seats at their bar. After a leisurely glass of wine, we went back upstairs and finally got seated. It seriously felt like a different world-- so much less hectic and a lot more comforting than that horrid staircase and entrance area. The service was really great and the food we ordered (the fried calamari, the seafood ravioli, and the linguine con frutta di mare) was all quite good. The biggest disappointment, though, was the tiramisu. It's about as inauthentic as you can get. Overall, I had a great time with my friend and there were moments that I could imagine we were in Italy (cute back mural, pretty stars and lights, and a mini "fireplace" at our table) . . . but I probably wouldn't come back. For the price, you can get a much nicer atmosphere and better food at other places in the city.
(3)M M.
I love this place! I've come here 3 times and all 3 times were completely difference experiences, as I sat on 3 different levels! Starting w/ the ground level- my friend and I ate in the bar area- I had a standard salad, menu wasn't huge, but definitely good. 2nd level, a little more expensive- more variety. I had a chicken dish. 3rd level- very nice. I had a salad w/ seared ahi tuna which was AMAZING!! This is a great place to take clients or colleagues or come for a bite to eat after work or before a show. This is a 3rd generation business which is extremely rare in the restaurant world- which speaks to the fact that this is a high-quality restaurant.
(4)elizabeth n.
I used to go here all the time with my family when I was younger and even though I haven't been in a few years, I'm sure the place is still great. As soon as you walk in you feel like you stepped into a little village in Italy. So amazing and cute. They have little village scenes painted on the walls and it's dark and there are candles everywhere. Very intimate atmosphere. The food is great from what I remember but my favorite things were the desserts. Definitely try and save room because you will be in for a treat!
(4)beth d.
I went to the upstairs restaurant at Italian Village the other night. I was not impressed at all. I thought the food was average and you can get much better at the many small Italian places across the City. The chicken soup was almost tasteless. Worst of all was the service. I felt like we were being rushed out from the minute we sat down. Waiters constantly came over to see if we were ready to order dinner, drinks and dessert even when it was obvious we hadn't opened menus yet.
(2)Hamilton R.
A tourist trap??? I am highly insulted by that comment because I was a tourist in Chicago and definitely loved the place. This is the oldest Italian restaurant in Chicago, and you can definitely feel the history in the room. We started off with a bottle of wine from their wine list that was just a few pages longer than War and Peace. I then ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which was very good, and they can also do half-orders which is very nice if you didn't bring a gargantuan appetite. I thought the service here was incredible, and it seemed like as soon as you asked for something, it was there in seconds. Amazing!! We did see one angry customer (this guy was a real jerk) who was mad when he left that his takeout food was thrown away. The wait staff then offered to make him a new order (so nice), but the angry patron refused saying he was too busy, followed by one of the great comments of all time by the waiter, "how about I just follow you out?" I think he meant that he would run after him, but out of context that was an amazingly hilarious comment. Gotta love this place!!
(4)Madeline L.
Every trip to the Italian Village is like a trip to Italy! They have Italian villages painted on the walls and there are white lights throughout the entire restaurant. It's so cute and I love the atmosphere. The food is good but nothing spectacular. The desserts are great though so make sure to save room for those.
(3)Nicola C.
This is an excellent restaurant. There are three floors and each floor is a restaurant of its own. One is more traditional pastas, another is more fancy and more expensive, then there is another floor with more fish and seafood. It is great, definitely a place to see, go with friends or family.
(5)Caroline S.
Having worked at an Italian Resturant my boyfriend and I went in with open minds, but ready to judge. Bonus, they have a huge wine list, which is also their downfall. There is so much to look at it's hard to decide. It has a cute atmosphere but VERY commercial feeling. The food was nothing special, in fact the dishes seemed pretty simple. All in all, I had hoped for a special experience with the history being so rich and felt like I was at Olive Garden. Oh, but the led lights on the ceiling in the bar that look like stars are pretty nifty.
(2)Shasta F.
Bad customer service - they delivered to my home once before and I call them again and now they say they don't deliver! I'm only 10 blocks away and now they don't deliver! I'm never visiting this place again. The food was ok - not impressive but the pizza was good compared to most delivery pizza. The manager has made a bad judgement call.
(1)bill s.
ohhhh maaaan. Bravisimo!!! I haven't been so orally satisfied (food-wise) in ages!! This place is excellent. Their Bruchetta is simply magnificent!!! It has a chocolate like sauce drizzled over the top of it, and it compliments the juicy tomatoes so much that it's like a symphony performing the perfect rhapsody inside of your mouth. The Manicotti is fabulous, as is the dessert. I had the Spumoni and my girlfriend had a Chocolate Sundae and both were very tasty. TheTortelli Tre Formaggi is a great dish you mayt wish to try.This place pushed some buttons with me and they just happened to be all of the right buttons. I'm telling you, even the Water is delicious at the Italian Village! The coffee is obviously not your common cup of Joe, that is obvious upon sip one. Lets not forget the wine. At the moment I cannot recall the name of the wine that I sampled, but it definately hit the spot and it was an Italian Wine. My girlfriend had the Reisling though, which I have only heard of before but had not tried, and man it was so tres magnifique that it somewhat overshadowed my wine, which was still tasty in its own right. Oh and here you will find true service and true class. The staff is properly dressed in suits and such attire. I wasn't even aware until this very moment that there were three restaurants within one, but all I know is that the one we went to(which I believe was "The Village") is very worth the trip.
(5)Jessica L.
We ate at The Village. Good but not fantastic, given the price. We had lunch reservations for noon on a Friday and they seated us right away, which was a nice surprise. But we did have to wonder how they knew they would be able to fit a party of 6 in that tiny little booth. If any of us had average or larger rears, or protruding stomachs, it never would've worked! The bread was delicious. My salad came drowned in dressing (should've asked for it on the side). Four of us ordered one of the daily specials which turned out not to be at all what we expected. The menu said it was pasta with chicken, tomatoes, and basil. They actually meant a sauce made of ground chicken, tomato chunks, and dried basil. Good, but not what we thought we were ordering. Service was pretty quick and very gracious. We were a little insulted that they gave the check to the one male in our party - hello, sexism! - but just sort of laughed it off.
(2)Takelya W.
prices are way too high for the quality i received. im talking bland bland bland! never again
(1)Mrs N.
Wow, the Olive Garden has opened a new location in Chicago and named it Italian Village! This place is as unauthentic as it gets. The veal picata was just unseasoned veal swimming in salty cornstarch gravy without any hint of fresh lemon juice. The side dish of flavorless pasta was cold and topped with what can only be described as canned tomato paste. Disgusting. Bread was stale. Service was clueless -- if I have a fork in my hand and am lifting food to my mouth, then no, you may not clear my plate yet. There are plenty of wonderful Italian restaurants in Chicago ranging from budget to lavish. Go to any one of those, not this awful imposter.
(1)Dave S.
The food here is outstanding! I was here with a rather large group and they were very attentive to us since we were spending a lot of money. I am a huge fettucinne alfredo fan and it did not dissappoint me here. We only had one main problem when they were clearing our tables. The busboys were whizzing around so fast that they spilled leftovers on the person's back who was sitting next to me. The busboy saw it and hightailed into the back room. Needless to say my friend was furious. We tried to clean her up the best we could with napkins and cold water. It was at this time that we were completely ignored when we tried to get someones attention. We finally told a waitress who told a manager and he acted almost offended that we would accuse his employee of doing something of this nature. We had four people at our table who were eyewitnesses to this. Finally the manager apologized and offered to buy her a new blouse to finish the day in. I know this was an isolated incident so I will be back here because the food rocks! It was the attitude that we could have done without. They did rectify the situation adequately in the end.
(3)Chuck K.
Went here for lunch today. Was very impressed. Really cool setting, a nice place for a quiet lunch or dinner. They have a good number of tourist showing up here but it definitley not a chain like atmosphere. They have amazing portions and great food. Had the torteleni al pesto which was awesome. If you're looking for dinner after work and check out this place!
(4)Jessica L.
I went to the Italian Village restaurant about a week ago with a large group of people. The bread that they brought out before the meal was tasteless and so was the olive oil. I ordered the lasagna since nothing else really jumped out at me. The portion was very big and I thought it was pretty reasonably priced. It was good and I took the rest home and had it for dinner the following night. Just judging by the bread and lasagna, I can honestly say that the food was okay. Not the best, nor the worst Italian food that I've had. Although the servers were attentive to the table, they wouldn't serve one person alcohol because she forgot her ID. We were all clearly over 21 and everyone had a glass of wine. I mean, I'm sure it's just policy, but really? Additionally, we had ordered a bottle of red wine and most of us shared it, except for one person who had a different type of red wine. Once our drinks were low, the waiter came around and was refilling our glasses and without asking, he poured the wrong wine into the one person's glass would got different wine. He could've easily asked the group if we all had the same wine. Luckily, she was able to get another full glass of wine and I don't think we were charged. All in all, I would still go back if friends wanted to, but I probably wouldn't be the one to suggest it.
(3)Matt R.
Mama mia! Italian village has to be one of the most old-style italian restaurants that I have ever seen. They were celebrating 80 years and from the look of the place it's clear that it may not have changed much over the last 80 years. Definitely no change since I last was there 5 years ago, or so. Their food is still pretty good, it's just the place is kinda plain. I think the menu could use sprucing up with some more choices/options. Anyway, I had the Rotolini di Pollo. It was chicken, in a mushroom sauce with sausage inside of the chicken. Very good actually, and included a really soft/almost bland alfredo. It could have used some seasoning in the sauce, I guess. I'm more curious about Vivere on the main floor, but it was closed on Sunday (not sure what Vivere's hours are). Overall: good food, classic italian, but not a place I'd set as a destination on a regular basis. It's just kinda....dinky?
(3)Colleen C.
The ambience is good, especially for larger groups, children, etc. It's like Epcot in Chicago, Italian style. The food was not impressive, especially for the price. It was just so...standard. Service was pretty good, it's a decent stop after a show at The Schubert..ahem, LaSalle Bank Theater. But, I wouldn't be rushing around to get there anytime soon...
(3)Heather L.
Came downtown to see the Macy windows and Christkindlmarket on a cold and rainy December day. Didn't want to face the lines at the Walnut Room so brought the kids and my Mom here instead. We loved it. I hadn't been in over a decade but the cozy ambience is exactly as it was. I love all the alcoves and the intamacy and the murals and the sculpture. You definitely feel transported to someplace special. I think I was last here on a double date with my now husband back in the late 90's. On this trip, we sat in the bar area with the twinkling stars on the painted sky ceiling. Kids loved it too. Didn't actually feel like a bar area. Wait staff and manager were super friendly and great to the kids. We gobbled up two baskets of bread with olive oil and parmesan before our pizza and meatball sandwiches even got there and found ourselves a bit full. Ended up getting lunch and dinner for four out of our $60 lunch bill (including tip). That included one very yummy cocktail for yours truly. I won't say it's the best Italian I ever ate but it's good and it's classic and it is perfect for a cold and rainy December day. The place has a rather magical feel about it that fits the bill at Christmas time. Definitely an excellent alternative to the Walnut Room and other winter time family venues.
(4)Dale B.
This is one of the best Italian restaurants ever. Valet parking and a short walk to the theater.
(5)Carol J.
Dear Italian Village, Please don't serve me a pile of slop and call it Italian. Don't overcharge my friends credit card because you think we're tipsy because, um, he's in the program, I'm not. Don't serve me a salad with red onion when I tell ya I can't have them then take said salad back, remove said reds and then try to serve me the salad again. My exploding lips and fingers the minute red onion touches them are proof of your folly. I'll give you location but really, the pizza was worse than what I recall being served in a school cafeteria. What the hell is going on here? I used to love this place. The old man must be spinning in his grave!
(2)Milly P.
COCKROACH IN THE PENNE!!! We catered from the Italian Village very recently and as my friend was putting a serving of the penne on his plate, there was a giant dead cockroach in it. I don't think it is acceptable for any food establishment to serve cockroaches to their customers (do a search for "cockroach" within Italian Village, this is not the first cockroach incident here). I cringe at the thought of what I might have possibly eaten here in the past. I've always thought their food was mediocre and over-priced, but now I most definitely will not return.
(1)Val B.
We came in on a casual weekday night, and were seated promptly in a cozy room/booth in the back. Service was great - our server was prompt, quick with solicited recommendations, and cheerful - really, what more can a girl ask for? Food is just decent, nothing too exciting. The chicken in my chicken parm was a little gamey, if that's possible. However, the portions are enormous beyond belief and you'll get at least 2, if not 3, meals out of it. Overall, it's not the best Italian I've ever had - probably 3 stars. However, the service and ambiance make up for a lot.
(4)Scott C.
This review is for the Cantina at the Italian Village. We arrived after an afternoon show for an early dinner here and the place was packed - which I assume is from all of the other after-show folks. So, I'd say word to the wise to expect a crowd here between the end of the afternoon theatre shows and the evening show begins. Making a long story longer - when we arrived around 4:45 we were told that we could be seated but would need to be done by 6:00 as they had a large party and other reservations at that time. The bottom line was that the service was hurried and somewhat rude. I know that we had a time constraint but an hour and 15 minutes is still plenty of time to eat dinner. We did not need to be rushed through ordering and generally have impolite service. This was the only downside of our meal and left a bit of a bad taste in our mouths. The food itself was very good - as usual. The Italian Village cooks the basic Italian comfort food very well and it was delicious. I had the lasagna and it was filling and tasty. They didn't go light on the meat sauce for the dish and it was quite enjoyable. The portion was also appropriate, it was filling but not enough to feed an entire neighborhood in Chicago on one plate. We also had the chicken parm and the ravioli. The ravioli was excellent and an appropriate portion but the chicken parm was heavy on the cheese (sometimes making it difficult to distinguish chicken and cheese) and was a huge portion! Despite the hurried service, the food itself was good and the Cantina part of the restaurant is cozy - so that was all good. I think we'll just avoid the theatre crowd next time and hope for better service.
(3)Double L.
Of all the tasty options in Chicago not sure why anyone would ever want to come here. I think I have an idea though and it might be the same reason I have been here. There are few tasty sit down options in the Loop, especially if you aren't planning on dropping a $100+ on a meal. A former coworker was in town for business and didn't want to stray too far from his hotel, we ended up here. We eat on the second floor of this place. It is not that anything was bad it just wasn't good and considering that things don't have to be that way in Chicago I don't see the reason to go here for anything.
(2)Laura F.
We were so excited to have an Italian meal in Chicago. We were very disappointed. Being Italian, we weren't very impressed. The salad was very heavy with dressing which tasted like it came from a bottle. The chicken marsala was very dry, The spaghetti sauce was ok, the meatballs were tasty though. My son had the caesar salad and it was overly dressed, he did like the croutons which were home made but had only 3 in total. Service was friendly.
(2)Caroline A.
The Italian Village has become a Chicago institution for hearty Italian food. Located in the heart of the loop, it is great for pre-theater dining, casual business dinners and and large groups of people, including families. The interior is dark and has a very charming look (in it's own way). Very warm and cozy. It can be a warm and romantic place too as they have closed off booths that allow for privacy. Portions here are GINORMOUS, hearty and good. I agree with Dee... make sure you have pasta dishes baked with cheese! Service is always terrific... very friendly wait staff. I have been here so many times, I don't know when I'll return next. It's just one of those places you forget about all the time.. and I run past it every day!
(3)Ann T.
Went to Italian Village for the first time with my husband and my cousin. The décor was extra cute and the ambiance was energetic. Loud restaurant, but you don't have to scream to be heard. The wait staff Is fun, professional, and friendly. The food was excellent. Try the fried clams; they were delectable. We're always impressed with the elegance of the simplicity of well prepared sauces (balanced flavored, but not overpowering) paired with perfectly al dente noodles; and this was what Italian Village chefs had to offer. Outside of Minneapolis' Campiello's pasta, this is our favorite in downtown Chicago. Highly recommend it as a date place. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Carly S.
I have been numerous times to Italian Village, we always go before going to various plays. It has become like tradition to eat at the Italian Village first, we have never once been disappointed with the food or service, it is always superb. It is also great because we valet the car at the restaurant and then are able to walk to the theater and get our car afterwards which always saves us a lot of money on parking fees. I love the ambiance when you walk into the restaurant (upstairs), it is decorated with lights and its like you have stepped into a different world. We always ask for on their mini private rooms which seats about 8 and it's so cozy, you feel like you are separated from the rest of the restaurant which can be nice to make it a more intimate atmosphere. I think it is very appropriately priced for what you get and I always recommend it to people when I know they are going to be in the area. Make sure you make reservations though if going on a friday/saturday night or before a play because they tend to get booked fast.
(4)Thomas G.
Really enjoyed my experience. My waiter, Tomoso was excellent. I had the veal Marsala. It was busy even at my 10pm seating.
(5)Don O.
We were visiting from out of town and our friend had recommended Italian Village, very happy that he did. During our first visit, our son requested a vegetarian meal and the chef came to discuss the menu & preparation. The food was tasty, setting was fun and the service was friendly/attentive. The second time we came back with a reservation for 14 people - that included 11 of my son's college friends. As it turns out he brought along two more friends and the staff did not blink, they were very accommodating. We went on to have a festive evening, great meal that was reasonably priced. Grazie tante Village!
(4)Y V.
It's billed as Chicago's oldest Italian restaurant, since 1927. The food is standard Italian/Italian-American fare like beef carpaccio, caprese salad, chicken vesuvio, veal marsala, and several pasta dishes. The service is always good, the food is delicious, and I can't help but smile at the decor (think Disneyland-ish).
(4)Mary M.
Great ambiance but that's all there is to offer. Food is disgusting
(1)Stephanie M.
I am giving this a two star review, because I hated our server. This review should really have been written back in November when I had just been there, but alas, I came across the place on Yelp! today, and thought I should put in my two cents now.Our server was clearly overwhelmed by his job, and could not be bothered to allow his customers to relax when he was in their presence. Nope, it was our problem that he could not handle his job. We had just come from a fabulous time at the Oriental Theater where we had watched Les Misérables, my all time favorite musical, performed live. We were in a really nice mood. I had made a reservation for us at the upstairs part of Italian Village, knowing my dad would like it there. My parents both ordered the Chicken Vesuvio. My brother and cousin both ordered the Chicken Parmesan. I was torn between the Lasagna and the Chicken Marsala. There was like a $4.00 difference in the two items if I remember correctly, the Chicken Marsala being the more expensive of the two. The waiter started to waive his hand, motioning me to hurry up... Which made me want to ring his fucking neck. I asked him which one he preferred, and without hesitation, he said Chicken Marsala, and walked away. I was a little thrown off by his actions, it was clear that after he shared what he wanted me to get, I was no longer making the decision myself. I decided to let it go. I tried to believe it would be tastier, being that it was the pricier item, and I tried to believe that our rude waiter genuinely preferred that item because of the taste, not because it was the higher priced item. Well that was wrong. I will start by saying, the Chicken Parm, and the Chicken Vesuvio were great. Both dishes were bursting with flavors, the chicken was cooked beautifully, it was delicious. But the consensus at the table when it came to my meal, was that it tasted as rough as it looked. These mushrooms strait up, looked to be from a can or something. The colors were not nice, watery and gray. The taste was that of bland, unseasoned, over-cooked, BOILED chicken. We can safely assume that a lasagna in red sauce with beef would have had plenty of flavor. Instead, I was stuck eating this shit. My family, having the good sense of humor that they do, all just put some of their dinners on my plate. Our server never even noticed that I didn't touch my dinner. It never occurred to him to ask if I even liked the stinkin' dish! I still get angry when I think about it. I see people eating Chicken Parmesan, or Lasagna, and think about how that rude-ass waiter let his greed shine through. And the thing is, when servers recommend the less expensive item, because it really is the tastier option, it shows real character, which would not be lost on my family. We would have reflected our appreciation in our tip. And you can bet, that we reflected our appreciation for being rushed through our dinners, and more or less told what I was going to eat for dinner, in the tip that night.
(2)Nate D.
My wife and I really liked it! It's classic, kitschy and delicious! I don't like "traditional, family style" Italian---no cheese or tomato sauce please---so I asked for pasta with veggies like asparagus, peppers and spinach and what they prepared for me was AMAZING. I liked the plate clean! My wife also loved her spaghetti and meatballs. This place reeks of nostalgia, and has clearly been open so long because it's consistently good!
(4)Will H.
This is a Chicago staple and it kills me to see it only has 3 stars... I have been here with large groups and small groups, over many years and times of year. They have always been super friendly to us and provided excellent service. Their food is very flavorful, their bread is warm and delicious. I love the lasagna here, it is definitely not weight watchers, but it is delicious!. I've never had the pizza, but many of their pasta dishes and specials are all fabulous. This is one of the oldest Italian restaurants in Chicago and is a fabulous place to have a meal. It's in a decent location to shows and shopping and is open fairly late. The atmosphere is amazing. a little village painted on the wall, white twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling. little alcoves and you can sit inside a building built into the room. Some people may not like these things but I find it endearing. A few other notes: - Their drink selection is expansive. - They take reservations for large groups. If you are in town, check this place out, it is my and many people I know's favorite place in downtown chicago.
(5)Caitlin S.
A star for my cute, broad shouldered waiter. A 1/2 star because I heard the pizza is really good, another 1/2 because there are literally no other restaurants open past lunch in the area which is "whack". I had fish over spinach. The fish tasted ok, pretty bland but not bad overall. The spinach also tasted ok, but it was swimming in sand. I wanted to tell my waiter. I should have told him. But another customer was pitching a bitch about her food being too spicy (that's likely in an Italian place, right) and I didn't want to make the guy's night any worse. The ambiance is kind of cute, but also quite cheesy. Some of the booths are so tiny it's uncomfortable and the drop ceiling isn't sexy, not even in the dim lights.
(2)Catherine X.
I'm kicking myself for falling for this tourist trap. I keep asking myself how this place is still in business . Is it the "atmosphere"? In that case, Rainforest Cafe has atmosphere too, but their target audience is children who have never seen a zoo before and pee on themselves. After years of living in Chicago, I think I know what the answer is: Murals. People freaking LOVE murals. Paint a gondola here, a grapevine there and it's just like being there, but cheaper than booking tickets through Expedia. I can't see any other explanation for it. The food is lacking. The last time I ordered veal parmesean it tasted like it was drenched in bitter grapes. I don't think they cooked it long enough to burn off the alcohol. The appetizers are like what you could get at any other establishment. Oh, but the one thing that is Italian is the service-- sometimes it's bad, other times it's worse, and it takes forever to get the check.
(2)Jared P.
Nothing says great restaurant like food poisoning.... Need I say more.....
(1)Adam M.
I was very disappointed with this place. My father recommended it and claimed it was great food and he would eat there at least once a week when he worked down town. Well I believed him, I thought this place would be a nice simple place to go and eat for an anniversary dinner. The wait wasn't horrible but i can say the same about the food. I ordered the baked mostacolli. Meh. It was alright but really bland. The lady ordered chicken cacciatora. It was also bland and pretty boring. It was like a piece of grilled chicken topped with some mushroom soup. The overall food and experience was disappointing. The prices don't justify the quality of food. It was busy that night so they where probably rushing out orders. Regardless, I may give them the benefit of the doubt and give them another shot but i don't see that happening anytime soon.
(2)Anna B.
I was at Italian Village last Saturday for a friend's birthday. My experience could have been better. No one was there to greet me when I walked in the door, so I made my way to the girl at the counter. She rudely cut me off and directed me to the host. He didn't look me in the eye, also cut me off, and then turned his back to me to talk to someone else. Still not looking at me, he directed me to the table with my friends. The menu was nothing special. I was hoping for something with fresh vegetables or a seasonal selection...something other than noodles and meat in sauce. I didn't see anything. I settled on the manicotti which tasted fine, but didn't blow me away. The bread was stale, the olive oil had no flavor, and the birthday cake was cold. The cake was free, granted, but it doesn't have to be so obviously frozen. At least heat it to room temperature. I was expecting a lot more for a popular restaurant in the middle of the Loop. It was pretty disappointing.
(2)Whitney R.
Touristy and not the best soup. Good for last minute plans before a play.
(2)Jason P.
My Wife and I brought her parents here during their visit to Chicago. Turned out to be the perfect choice to bring an older couple. Not that younger people won't enjoy it but it has an old school feel. My wife had the angel hair pasta with shrimp and I probably spent as much time eating out of her plate as I did mine. I had the fish special: The Red Snapper and crushed it. We also enjoyed the fact that the portions weren't crazy big like you'll find at other downtown Italian spots. Overall we really enjoyed our evening
(4)Ariel B.
Italian Village is a great little place to grab a bite while downtown without breaking the bank. The Original Italian Village is the upstairs restaurant. It's really cute with little lights and it like sitting on an Italian Piazza. We had the grilled calamari (great), shrimp pasta (great) and chicken marsala (good). The service was good, most of the servers are older, Italian men. Service is always quick and they do a good job of moving their tables. Sometimes I just want to sit a little bit longer. Overall, it's a good place in a pinch.
(3)Mopsie B.
My family has been coming here for years, usually for lunches during a workday. I never imagined I'd be reading negative reviews from TOURISTS! This city has really changed and it's sad. The Italian Village is one of the last bastions of classy service. The maitre'd always looks like a million dollars. Many of the waiters have been there for years if not decades. Who are you people from Texas and Ohio and Brooklyn (?!) to heap a bunch of hurtful, silly comments on a place you've been to once and clearly do not understand?? It's called old-fashioned. I know that everyone these days thinks the Olive Garden and Applebee's, where they can get their Bud Lights quickly from a waitress who probably voted the same way they did in the last election and will wait on them as they order their blooming onions, is the ultimate haute cuisine, BUT... The fact is, the Italian Village is a landmark. It's one of the oldest restaurants in Chicago and it was always for Chicagoans. If you want Hard Rock or deep dish pizza then go somewhere else. This restaurant is for people who remember good manners and desire an old-fashioned experience. I just wish they wouldn't let kids and idiots in shorts in there. We went yesterday and I had a well-priced Sicilian Pino Grigio and the broccoli and shrimp pasta. My husband had the lasagna and a chianti. It was fun until some family brought their brats and were seated right behind us in their shorts and t-shirts. The little girl NEVER stopped whining. I'm really sad what Chicago has become. This used to be an elegant city with people who cared about quality and dignity. Now we have to deal with a glut of tourists who take over our streets and don't have any respect for anything that is over two years old. Go visit Disney-- I'm sure they'll have the great service and "authenticity" you're looking for!
(4)J G.
So when I clicked 2 stars it says "meh. i've experienced better." Which is exactly how I feel. The atmosphere is definitely nice, and service is good too. But the food...meh! I've honestly enjoyed my $2 frozen tv-dinner better. Maybe I ordered the wrong thing (ravioli)? But it was too doughy and bland and blah. My friend got the manicotti...same thing for her, she didn't even finish it. To be fair though, there were people at our table that loved what they got. So maybe some of us just made bad choices :( I'm picky though when it comes to Italian food, it better taste a whole lot better than anything I can pick up at a grocery store for 1/3 the price for me to REALLY enjoy it.
(2)George B.
So my friends had little time to eat before we went to the Bulls game. When you walk into the Italian Village you have three restaurants to choose from. Thank goodness we chose the right one! The space was small but the food was delicious! I had the Chicken Pasta and it was incredible! And our service was even better. We had a waitress named Anetta and she was so down to earth and incredible friendly. A Cameron Diaz look-alike!
(3)Vern M.
Close to our hotel and serving as its room service provider, we decided, despite some of the very negative comments, to take the short walk and check out the Vilalge (upstairs) for ourselves. The first thing we noticed was, as another reviewer mentioned, the smell. While we grew accustomed to it, it was not pleasant, and almost forced us to leave. Our wait service was most professional and courteous. The salads were mixed greens - nothing special, but very pleasant side salads. The bread was fresh, but had no taste. It could have come from the corner market, and was anything but "Italian." The food portions were most ample. But I have to agree with the reviewer who characterized the quality as "meh." There was nothing special about the food at all - I've had better at the Olive Garden. I decided to go with a simple spaghetti and meatball, and found the pasta overcooked, the sauce unremarkable, and the meatball dense and tasteless. And the bill was about double what I would have paid for comparable quality elsewhere. This is an experience, but not a value. Pass this one up.
(2)Vikki V.
We love Itailan Village! Depending on our mood we can eat at any of the three restuarants located inside the building. Downstairs its quite and the food is great. The main floor has upscale, quite and intimate atmosphere with altogether different menu than the other two spots. And finally the upstairs dining area looks and feels like you're outside in a Italian sidewalk and the noise and food is plenty - just the way it should be. I highly suggest this restaurant for all the great food and atmosphere.
(5)Colleen M.
The Village makes Olive Garden look like Trotter's. I'm amazed that people have given this place good reviews. I've been forced here for several work lunches but my worst experience happened when I wound up here for dinner one night. It's a long story, but basically I was stuck in the loop with a friend and we were STARVING, so we went to the closest place we could think of. I already knew that the décor was tacky, the service was pretentious, and the food was mediocre (at best), but I figured I could get something simple and be fine. I ordered the lasagna and my friend ordered the rotolini di pollo, both of which came with salads. Our salads came out immediately and then literally 2 minutes later - no joke - out came our entrees. We were stunned as we hadn't even gotten through a few bites of our salad. In fact, we hadn't even gotten bread yet. When our food came over, we told them we just got our salads and that it was kind of ridiculous that our food could already be ready. Without an apology, the waiter said "ok, I'll bring them back later." Before we could say something about not wanting our entrees to sitting around under a heat lamp, he ran off. In all honesty, we were there for a quick meal but not THAT quick. When the food came out the second time it of course looked like it had been sitting under the heat lamp. My lasagna was bland and my friends chicken had pieces that seemed raw. She didn't really realize right away, so we didn't even bother asking the waiter to take it back. At that point, we just wanted to get out of there. This place doesn't deserve to still be in business...
(1)Roman M.
Went here with a co-worker for lunch. We sampled three things and shared them just to maximize our experience. Since it was lunch time, we went with the following: 1927 (Italian Sub): Was pretty good - 6.5/10 probably. The ingredients seemed tasty but it was a little skimpy - too much bread and not enough goods! Italian Beef: Also 'pretty good' but not spectacular. The peppers had a small kick to them and that was pleasing. The bread was tasty. 6/10 Meatball Sandwich: Favorite of all three. The meatballs were really tender and kind of fell apart when you took a fork to them. The sauce had a great flavor. It could have used some melted provolone but that's another story. 8/10 This leads me to my recommendation for this place. Since the marinara was good on the meatball sandwich, I'd stick with the traditional pasta dishes here, like spaghetti. I'll bet that's their sweet spot. I thought the atmosphere was pretty cool actually -although I was WAY under-dressed. Expect a lot of suit coats in this place - after all, it is in the loop.
(3)Kamila T.
The village had a decent salad.. the minestrone soup was fine - not impressive by any means. The spaghetti and meat sauce was average, the lasagna was nice and creamy but I just wasn't impressed. The decor is original.. I really mean like from when the restaurant opened. The bathroom was gross.
(2)Jay M.
Hereyee! Hereyee! Its Jay M back up in the hid-ouse once again for another review of great (and sometimes not-so-great) food from highly unhealthy restaurants that contribute to years being taken off your life. (Sorry, just got done watching the Debbie Downer skit on SNL.) So today's topic boys and girls is Italian Village. I've always wanted to go to this place since I saw Ferris, Slone and Cameron drive past on their escapade through Chi in Ferris Buellers Day off. If you missed the Italian Village cameo, rent the damn movie and fast forward to that part. Now let me get on to the damn review: This place serves great food and the vibe is pretty cool. I had the salmon and, no bs, it may have been the best salmon I ever had. Highly recommended. Although a cozy little place, Italian Village is not the "real" Italian you probably think it is going into the place. I am not a seeder and wont give any place free promo, but there's a place that starts with the word "Rose" and ends in a word that rhymes with "dud." If you can solve that, see them for authentic. Ladies and gentlemen, good talk.
(4)Andrea B.
If you love kitsch and enjoy paying higher prices for 'eh' food, this is the place for you. If not, don't go. There's much better Italian food out there, and it's cheaper. This place reminds me of Casa Bonita in Denver, without the cliff divers.
(2)Leang E.
Maybe I should have yelped this place before I went to it. My landlord says it's his favorite, but I found it to be lacking. I appreciated the intimacy of where we were seated but I found the food to be okay. We had the mussels to start out with and I had the lobster ravioli that I thought were okay. It felt pricey only because I didn't love my food. The service was okay and the portions were a good size but there's way too many Italian restaurants for me to come back to this one.
(2)Jenny M.
I brought my parents here this past weekend to try La Cantina. I wasn't particularly impressed. Rose Angelis is much better for less money & you get more food!. The seafood stew that I ordered was really salty, & I like salt! Oddly enough, this place was packed when we went. I'm guessing the Italian Village makes the majority of its money from tourists who don't know anywhere else to go in the city.
(2)John D.
What a pleasant surprise. I found this place walking back to my hotel. I was a little confused by the three restaurants in one building but I went to the one on the top floor which is the Italian Village. Very hearty veal Parmiganna. Veal was tender. The wine list was not very imprssive but the food was great. I was sat next to a moving wheel and the decor reminded me very much of an 80's Italian place as opposed to the newvea places that seem to be popping up. I would definitely go back
(4)Kris Z.
Went here for lunch & it was fantastic. The service was great - I had the seafood minestrone which was very good and my husband has a delicious antipasta of sorts -then the bread salad and pheasant ravioli were fabulous too. I did not particularly like the "dark" cheesecake factory decor - would have rather had something more traditional but I suppose they want to be "hip" - I'd have loved to see a dark, smoky, retro joint with the same great cuisine...
(5)Thomas S.
When reading this, bear in mind that this is the only place I've eaten in Chicago. The entree was good, but not impressive, but the dessert did impress me. We had a chocolate birthday cake and spumoni. Service was excellent and friendly. They were very helpful in getting us to our show at Ford's Theatre on time.
(4)Brian H.
Great spot to go for lunch if someone else is buying/using an expense account. Seriously good grub, which explains why they've been there forever.
(4)bill s.
I just don't get how some reviewers can give this place 4 or 5 stars unless they live in the middle of South Dakota (no insult intended) and the closest thing to Italian food is a can of Franco American spaghetti or Chef Boyardee ravioli.There must be hundreds of neighborhood Italian restaurants in Chicago that put this place to shame. Over the years I've been dragged here by out of area business associates. I've eaten on all 3 levels and found the food to be from embarasingly poor to mediocre on all three levels. Just because the wait staff greets you in Italian does not make the place an acceptable Italian restaurant.
(2)Paul S.
What a comfortable or romantic depending on your situation. Very cute little private rooms for small groups (4-6). Nice lighting and decor. Very special. The food is fresh and tasty. Portions are not too big. Prices are a bit high - but seems to be true everywhere - especially downtown. Haven't eaten here in many years and I forgot how enjoyable the Italian Village was. I'll be back again soon.
(4)Lena B.
A friend and I were down on State St and decided to eat dinner at The Italian Village. She has fond memories of eating there as a child, so we went to eat at the upstairs restaurant. The ambiance was old school - narrow aisles, low lighting, crowded but private dining. A lot of families. The service was mediocre - there were extremely tan (think Karl Lagerfield) older men who did the seating and wandered around asking if the food was good and making jokes I didn't understand at all. Our waitress didn't listen to what I asked about a dish (grilled chicken & potatoes); instead, she told me that everyone confused the dish I had asked about with another dish (fettucini alfredo) and she wanted to make sure that I knew what I was asking about. I assured her that I could read and that I just wanted her opinion on the dish; she continued to tell me that the dish was not what I thought it was. So, I ordered the special - a mushroom risotto - instead. My friend ordered a crepe-like dish with meat inside. The actual food was definitely the worst Italian I've had in restaurant. The mushroom risotto was somehow both dry and greasy, and flavorless. The rice had a weirdly tacky texture. I couldn't finish it. My friend's crepe dish was supposed to have cheese on it; there was none, and it was salty but not very flavorful. Disappointing. The only truly decent thing we were served was the blue cheese dressing on my salad, which the server made sure I knew cost an extra $1.50. For two dinners and coke/diet coke, no appetizers, we paid about $45 before tip. We weren't offered dessert, which we would have liked. I will endeavor to not go back here ever again.
(1)Tom S.
This place is all about how it looks - Don't bother going for the food which is akin to a re-dressed frozen dinner. My seafood pasta lacked flavor. For the price - pass!
(1)Jay n.
A-ok. Solid traditional Italian food. Same today as it was 20 years ago. Great place to eat before a show.
(3)Lia V.
Can we say adorable? This place is so cute - it seriously looks like a little Italian village. Twinkle lights hanging from the ceiling, warm and cozy atmosphere - GIANT wine list (although most of the reserve wines are ridiculously expensive) The food is classic Italian. Their red sauce is quite tasty (although of course dad's homemade is better) I got the Frutta Di Mare Linguine - if you're a seafood fan this gives you everything! Scallops, mussels, clams, squid - on top of a ton of linguine and mixed with their tangy red sauce... it was superb. Everyone else I was with got chicken parmigiana, lemon chicken, lasagna, and Alfredo - nobody had anything bad to say. A great place to relax, gather with friends and family, and fill your belly on carbs and wine :-) I bet it would be a cute place for a date as well - very dim lighting, kind of romantic.
(4)Allison C.
Touristy and bland. Italian Village gets 3 stars instead of 2 for their enjoyable decor and good service. But it's close to a 2. Their service was excellent when I came here for my friend's wedding meal. They were very sweet with the newlyweds. My first time here, my fennel sausage pasta was good. But my husband had bland, sloppy veal, and my next time there, I had frozen-aisle quality eggplant parmigiana. It's overpriced for what you get. Tourists to Chicago: you don't need to come here! Take the Brown Line to Rose Angelis. Take the Blue Line to Bueno Terra. Go to Bridgeport to any mom & pop joint. I know Italian Village is convenient, but you'll get more for your money and fresher, better food elsewhere.
(3)Rodrigo D.
First time I went here, the grilled chicken salad was great. But this last time it was pathetic. Portillos has fresh salads for half the price, so I would expect a lot more out of a 15 dollar salad. The chicken on this salad was cold, the apples were oxidized and the lettuce was not fresh. It is as if I was eating from yesterdays batch that had been sitting for a while. When I brought this up to the waiter, he quickly took it and came back with basically the same thing, but now with warm chicken. I now had heated up chicken on top of a soggy day old salad. When I brought this up to the manager, he said that he would take care of us next time we came and gave me his business card. I left the card on the table when we left. How about taking care of us right now? I will never come back to this place and will never refer anyone to this place. Come here at your own risk. The only cool thing about this place are the framed/signed photo frames of celebrities that have been there. After my third experience here, I am not sure if these celebrities ever came back for a second visit or if they ever truly came here to begin with.
(1)Alan S.
So I was told that this is one of those places that you just need to try when in Chicago. The place is quite pretty... great place to take a date... but not so much the place for a single guy to go alone and try to catch a quick bite. The service was good, and the bread was excellent. I had the risotto special... it was alright. Good size portion, but it was nothing to Yelp about (hence the 2 rather than the 3). I'd give this place another try if I go back... I think it has potential to be a 3, I just didn't choose well...
(2)