Whenever I come here I eat at the bar in part because of the ambience. The only time I don't go to the bar is when they have entertainment. For reasons I don't understand the music is cranked up so loud it is hard to talk to someone at your table. The service is more informal and friendly in the bar and they will often mention options that are not on the menu. For example items on the lunch menu can be made at dinner - result is some smaller portions if you want. Price is reasonable for most items. I've made it out of there fully satisfied for less than $20. I've been there about a dozen times and have not been disappointed. Will definitely go back.
(5)
A G.
Was here a while ago with a coupon. Gave the server a good tip based on pre-coupon price. Then realized the server had already included the tip in the price. Watch for it! Food was OK. Nothing special.
(1)
Lenard T.
I ate here last Friday and it was very good. I brought for people and everybody enjoyed their food and the service was great. I usually go to their location on Grand Avenue downtown can I enjoy the nicer atmosphere of the suburban location. The Chicago location is a little less formal but I think the food is at least as good there. I'm glad I found their location.
(5)
Rebecca C.
With all the area Italian places only a stones throw away, I kind of yawn after my visit at Volare. Tasty, their ravioli is, and their gnocchi, even better. Calamari was good, not chewy. Salad was fresh, colorful and tasty. Portions are substantial and prices, generally fair. But coupled with sparse service and an old world charm that leaves me feeling like an octogenarian, is just not the method I choose to dine in. Maybe it's me, maybe it's not. After dining at Volare twice, I don't feel the need to go back. It wasn't anything in particular they did, but their competition which they simply can't beat.
(3)
Christina A.
Came here for my dad's birthday for the first time. I've always heard raving reviews on this place and I'm glad I finally checked it out. I wish I remembered our servers name, he was fantastic! Service was amazing all around. The ambience was nice. Spacious, tall ceilings, pretty decor. The food was delicious... Oysters, homemade pasta, fresh calamari. Will definitely be back!
(4)
Veronica B.
This location is in a strip mall but once you are inside, has the feel of a fancy restaurant. I had high hopes for my meal here...as my friends who arranged the dinner are huge foodies. I eat gluten free and after key questions I ordered the chicken risotto. Friends around the table ordered many delicious foods (lasagna, chicken parmesan, veal, clam sauce in red and white. All these dishes had Italian names which foster the illusion of Italy. My dish was not gluten free. Not sure which element had gluten but I had the telltale symptoms quickly. Shame on Volare for telling me one thing and then giving me food that made me sick. If you don't know where gluten is in food, do not proclaim your food is gluten free! We dined on a Monday night with plenty of tables open but the service was rushed. I wasn't finished eating my meal and they took it away! Really Dude? Are you in that big of a hurry that you take all the meals away? We definitely wanted a leisurely meal and ended up being rushed and bothered. Shame on you Volare for misreading the situation! Lastly, there was a mix up with the checks. Dining with a group of women, they had requested separate checks. Thank you Volare for accommodating us! However, I paid in cash and never got my change. Our server felt certain that I had left a 40% tip. Awkward! And embarrassing for us both. I did get my change and left my usual 20% tip. Not sure what happened with the service. A table full of older ladies might be challenging, but you need to read the situation better. What could have been a fabulous evening turned out to be rushed, awkward, (in my case) sickening.
(2)
Francine L.
We took a chance and made reservations to dine out on Valentine's Day at Volare, knowing that this might not be the most pleasant experience. But it turned out to be one of the most delicious and delightful dining experiences we've had in the last few years!. We were seated within 15 minutes of a reservation although the entire lobby was filled with patrons. Our waiter was in good spirits and attentive but not intrusive. And everything we ordered was delicious. The four of us shared the warm kale salad and the beet salad which were surprisingly different but very tasty. My husband even enjoyed the kale salad which I can't get him to eat at home. It was enough for the four of us to share. My husband had the white fish dinner which was prepared deliciously; the presentation was very attractive. Our friends had the Lasagna and the rigatoni Arriabiata which both liked very much as well. I had the eggplant Rollatini and it was prepared just the way I like it. Despite the persistent crowd of people in the lobby waiting to be seated we were not hurried through our dinner. And none of the managerial staff displayed any stress or impatience but instead made rounds among the tables asking if everything was okay. We will definitely be at the back and highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Doe L.
The restaurant was empty but service was a bit slow. I found it strange that we had to find someone and ask for a kids menu when we had three toddlers. The food was very blah. The pasta was cold when it came out and the portions are lacking. The pizza was very boring. The margherita was basically a cheese pizza (shredded cheese, not fresh mozzarella) with small strips of basil. The best thing there was the fried calamari, which was delicious. According to my sisters, this location doesn't even compare to the downtown location.
(2)
Melanie B.
I was just in Italy. "Just" meaning: I ate here with a still unpacked vacation bag sitting next to my bed. So, it's not with a poor memory that I say that the meal that I ate here was better than half of the meals I ate in Italy. Unfortunately, there are plenty of mediocre restaurants there. --they tend to be where tourists are. And unfortunately, even with Yelp (or most especially with Yelp), I was lead to a plethora of mediocre restaurants. I would like to meet all of these people who told me in their reviews that those restaurants were the best they'd ever had; I have a sneaky suspicion that these people judged them against Fazoli's. I had heard good things about the gnocchi with vodka sauce at Volare and wanted to order it, but when I heard my kids order it as well, I refused to be the table with three gnocchi orders. I settled on the salmon with fingerling potatoes. --it was more than satisfactory. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the garlic and white wine sauce was good. But, I stole bites of the neighboring plates of gnocchi and wished I'd ordered that instead. My salmon was good, but their gnocchi was exactly what I was in the mood for. Soft, light pillows of potato goodness. As for the comments that the portions were too small, nobody at my table finished their plates. I suppose, if you're comparing it to a buffet or a trough of food, it was considerably smaller, but the plates were by no means "small". Along with our meals, we ordered my son's choice of bruschetta and calamari. Bruschetta is a fairly standard item that is difficult to mess up. --Red tomatoes with a thin slice of parmesan on top and a drizzle of balsamic. Calamari was very light and thank heavens, not even a hint of chewiness. Bread was okay, but they have room for improvement there. Service was very attentive with enough humor to be enjoyable. The restaurant was dim and quiet. Would have been a good place for a date. I am sure I will be back to get my own plate of gnocchi so a date here someday will be inevitable. While I would never judge a restaurant to be authentic just because the staff was Italian, (After all, you can go to McDonald's and be served by plenty of Americans), it did add to the ambiance and experience. Admittedly, I am a sucker for Italian accents though.
(3)
Traveling Foodie S.
I went here for a family dinner reunion. The service was great. The bread basket and olive oil were delicious, above average than the usual. I had the blank ink spaghetti with seafood (shrimps, crab meat, scallops). It was so delicious and seafood were cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back.
(5)
Adele n.
My in-laws took us here for Christmas eve dinner. The food is really lovely. We shared several seafood appetizers (a cold fish salad, a grilled fish salad, and baked clams), all of which were awesome. I had the homemade ricotta gnocchi in a vodka sauce. The gnocchi were delicious, but I had entree envy for my husband's raviolis in the (better, in my opinion) marinara sauce. Our server was sweet and did a good job taking care of our large group. Only downside is that it's very large and, on the night we were there, very crowded. I don't really get the ambiance (like, why are there big TVs showing sports over the bar in a place with marble counters and dark wood?)
(4)
Tori M.
After not getting in without a 2 hour wait anywhere else on a Saturday, we called ahead here and got in within 15 minutes. I knew it was a good sign when the place was filled with actual Italians having dinner. They started us with bread with the typical oil and cheese but also accompanied it with a cup of warm marinara that you could tell was authentic and homemade. We got the white wine muscles appetizer. The muscles were very big! All appetizers can be made into a half order. For an entree I got the fettuccine (noodles made of spinach) with bolognese. The noodles were tender and fresh. The sauce wasn't the best I've EVER had but it was drill very good. Our waiter was borderline impatient but wasn't impolite. He took our leftovers and boxed them nicely at the end. VERY affordable, the two of us ate dinner with drinks for $60! My only criticism is that their "by the glass" wine selection is pretty limited. Overall though, 5 stars! Ill certainly be back!!
(5)
Timothy B.
The atmosphere was very upscale with white tablecloths and moderate lighting. The service was impeccable. Our server met our needs, offered thoughts on the menu and the days specials. The fried calamari was excellent served with a marinara sauce a wrapped lemon and Tabasco. The house salad was crisp very fresh with a very light olive oil dressing. I ordered the linguini con Vongole and asked that red sauce be spicy. It can out perfect in a large portion with some in the shell clams in the sauce. I would definitely recommend Volare.
(4)
Joanna T.
To be fair, more like 3.5 stars. Had a lovely celebration here that everyone in our party enjoyed. The servers were attentive and went out of their way to meet all of our expectations. It is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant that serves quality Italian fare, all with a smile. We had a traditional family style meal and the standouts were gnocchi, shrimp, meatballs and filet. I've been here before on a Friday night and it can be busy, and the bar is a nice place to sip your drink of choice and enjoy the pianist while waiting for your table. If ever you find yourself in the area, stop by! Salute!
(3)
Lisa L.
First time here but definitely not my last. Great table, our server Victor, was wonderful. We had the caprese salad and the special, lamb shank with risotto and tiramisu for dessert, everything was really good. Enjoy!
(5)
Jarret T.
I went there for lunch the other day and the food was very good and the service was excellent. I had the rigatoni arrabiata, which was great and was only $10 (a very reasonable price in my opinion). For an appetizer I had the bruschetta, which for $7 I thought was a little pricey considering the portion was only 4 small pieces of toasted bread with tomatoes and oil and vinegar on them. They also brought out complimentary bread and marinara sauce, which I liked as well. The service was top notch, and the busboys did a great job with refilling my water on a regular basis (I drink a lot more water with meals than the average person).
(4)
Mark C.
I was a big fan of Volare downtown... I'm not sure if that place has gone downhill like this one has since it's been a few years, but our experience was pretty poor. A few things contributed to this- like our server. He started out by recommending an $85 bottle of wine discounted to $65... Really? We will settle for the $30 thanks. And then took 10 minutes to get back to us after we figured out which bottle. Next he heard our conversation about Gratto closing and went on to brag about how much better Volare's prices are & compared to their prices-very tacky. Anyhow, homemade noodles I ordered were good - thank goodness and the others who ordered the veal were especially pleased with the polenta - decent. My meatballs, however, were sooooo bland - it was like they took unseasoned ground beef and fried it. But honestly our meals for people - bottle of $30 wine was $134 without tip. If everything was outstanding, I wouldn't complain - but... Those who know me know that bad meatballs are a dealbreaker for me. Not returning anytime soon. This was prompted on a $75 gift card, however, if someone gives me another one, I'll check out the Downtown location... I also will mention that we were there on a Monday, so seating was fine, but I would never go on a weekend as they are notorious for making you wait even though you have a reservation... last time we waited over an hour and it we found out the reason was because one of their "regulars" had shown up unexpectedly.. Really? I take it you are not interested in having more regulars...
(2)
Christina J.
The food and service are fantastic. I had the Fusilloni al Ragu de Vitello, I loved it. It was a big portion so I ended up taking leftovers (yeah, classy!)
(4)
R J.
Some of the tastiest and freshest Italian food I've ever experienced. The burrata on grilled bread w/ arugula is simple and delicious. So much flavor. Also loved the ricotta gnocchi. They are soft, flavorful and rich. Mini desserts are a great way to end a rich meal. Just a taste of some decadence. Other guests had the bracchiol and pasta w/ bolognese. Both were excellent. The food earns 5 stars. Sadly the rather brash host and our particular server whose apparent inexperience made the evening less than as elegant as it was set up to be. Other servers around us appeared far more skilled. Overall a great meal. Ambiance is quiet and beautiful. Will definitely be back.
(4)
Lisa N.
After a movie at Yorktown, I turned to Yelp for good places nearby. This is how I was introduced to Volare. I had seen the Chicago location once on an episode of Check Please and always wanted to go. So I was delighted to find out there's one right here. Anyway, the service was outstanding and the food was equally as good! This will be our go to Italian restaurant from now on. It's a little pricey but for the quality you're getting worth every penny.
(4)
Valerie J.
IDK what Thanksgiving lunch the previous reviewer had, but it must have been at a different restaurant. I'd made reservations for us to have that very same Thanksgiving meal at $28.95/pp (I thought - what a deal!) at 6:30 PM. Our waiter was a very pleasant man, though a bit kookie. First to arrive at our table was a basket of bread. Some was plain white bread, the other was covered with the same marinara sauce that accompanied the bread. Nothing here was inspired, beginning with the bread. Next up for us was the tiny salad of endives, 'pears,' pomegranates, walnuts, and blue cheese. This salad was a mess; it looked like it was just tossed on the plate. It was boring and I don't recall having any pears at all. Then came my 'mushroom and chestnut soup' - which may be one of the worst things I've ever eaten - seriously. It tasted like cardboard. I asked our waiter if it truly had mushrooms in it. He seemed uncertain but said yes... Do chestnuts taste like cardboard? Maybe... I added pepper... then crushed red pepper... then I gave up. My husband got the butternut squash risotto with 'amaretti cookies'. I don't believe it had much flavor either, nor was it much liked by either of us. The fact there were literally tiny cookies in his risotto... was just weird! I mean, hey, props for trying something different... Good thing my hubby likes cookies. But seriously - this was so dull, and risotto is so easy to make well! Unsurprisingly the far too dry turkey came with a banal gravy that could easily have come from a box. This is where our already unpleasant meal took and even odder turn. While the sweet potato and brussel sprouts were both represented, the 'truffle potato puree' was just mashed potatoes. When I told our waiter the potatoes seem to have missed their 'truffling' - if you will - he returned with a bottle of truffle oil and, right there, poured a hefty amount of oil on my potatoes... I mixed it up and yep - that is, I'm sure, what they would have done if they'd taken it in the back... but really... that was just the craziest thing in the world! Our desserts were desserts.. the flavors you would anticipate. The cannolis were probably the most interesting thing we had the whole time. What a rip off, even at 29 bux . Seriously, Volare... what were you thinking? Gah!
(1)
Beth P.
Yum! My husband and I came here last Friday after a looooonnnggg week at work. We were able to easily book a table on OpenTable. The atmosphere is kind of cool, we sat underneath the rotunda in the middle of the restaurant. We had some delicious burrata and soppresata to start with a great bottle of wine. I had the seabass with mushrooms and my husband had the pollo arrosto - both were amazing! Can't wait to try the ricotta gnocchi ala vodka sauce next time.
(5)
R S.
Service was not very attentive. More interested in chatting with another server than making sure our food was good, which brings me to the food. Chicken was overcooked and dried out. Replacement had the same problem. Gnocchi was pretty good though. Drinks were an adventure. When it was clear the server didn't know wine, I asked for sommelier. He begins looking at the list, and says it's in there somewhere. I wish he was joking. On another note, I'd heard the downtown Volare was very good. Disappointed in this location. I reserved via Open Table, and Volare marked us as a no-show. I'm glad Open Table asked me about it. Shame, shame, Volare.
(2)
Jim O.
We ate dinner there last Saturday. We had a reservation at 6:30, arrived on time, were seated quickly, and were out the door by 7:15. We won't be returning. The food, standard Italian fare, was decent. Not great, but not bad either. The waitress was attentive and personable. However, the overall experience was not a good one. The self-absorbed young hostess led us to what was absolutely the worst table in a restaurant that was half empty. We said no, and she proceeded to walk us to the second worst table. The third time was the charm. I don't take this personally since she walked the young couple who arrived after we did to Siberia. They took the table, and were gone before we were. The restaurant began to get busy, and we were very rushed. I did not feel the least bit welcomed. The restaurant seemed to have many regulars who were being treated far better than those who had wandered in for the first time, which in my case will also be the last time. In fairness the manager stopped at our table midway through the meal and asked if the food and service were good. We didn't object to anything. I was thoroughly annoyed with the hostess and saw no benefit in being confrontational about it. I wasn't looking for a comp, and I wasn't going to be coming back. We have eaten at the Volare's downtown, which was a much better experience.
(2)
Michael B.
Very nice, kind and friendly people. Excellent, professional service. So why only three stars? The tomato sauce. I make an excellent sauce (or so I'm told) and have been to many restaurants that make a better sauce than me. I don't skimp on the quality of the tomato and cook it slow. A good southern Italian style restaurant needs to deliver a good sauce. Since the same sauce is served on many dishes, it either succeeds or fails on multiple carriers. In my case, I couldn't finish my meal as the sauce was too salty and acidic. American and commercial grade tomato's have much more salt than Italian peeled tomato's. Maybe they need to add a little sugar to the sauce, which is typically what is done to smooth it out. In any event fix the sauce and it's easily a 4 star place with nice friendly people and otherwise good food.
(3)
Kristina D.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here last June and it couldn't have been more amazing!!! When my sisters and I were out looking for a location for the rehearsal dinner, we decided to stop in for more information at Volare Oak Brook. On the spot the event coordinator met with us and had the chef prepare small samples of each of the items available for the catering menu! It was amazing! We felt so appreciated and it was a no-brainer to choose this location after they gave us our own private tasting without a reservation. The event was absolutely perfect! Everyone raved about the food and the service! Not a single guest of ours was unhappy; and at the end of the night the bill was actually less than what we had estimated! I recommend this location for a nice lunch, dinner, or small event. The room can hold (I think) about 65 people and it is beautiful! Volare really takes to heart the "family owned and operated" way of doing things and they really truly care about each and every one of their customers. They want to make sure everyone has the best time while in their restaurants!
(5)
Susan N.
My industry club had our annual luncheon here on 12/19/14 for the second year in a row with a party of 25 or so. For the second year in a row, the banquet service was very good (Holly), the food was good albeit a bit slow in between courses and the chicken over egg-washed. Also, for the second year in a row, the bar service after was HORRIBLE. You'd think that by bellying up to the bar with 10-12 people at $100+ a round and an appropriate tip, you'd get a little attention and respect. Nay, nay. Ol' Doris there couldn't have cared less about our group. So, after paying my $100 tab, plus 20% tip, I wrote a little note on the receipt to the effect that "while we're not regulars, we shouldn't be treated any differently." Doris took the money and ran, but the incoming shift paid attention to it and saw to it we were well taken care of. Hey Doris, here's your next tip: "Quit your day job".
(2)
Anthony E.
Mediocre food and mediocre service. it was not worth the trip and I would not return.
(3)
Michael K.
This was my second time here and it did not disappoint. Both times were business dinners and we had Victor as our server both times. He is very friendly and always very accommodating. The food is great.
(3)
Tim V.
The food at Volare was very pleasant, but not what I would call outstanding. However, the staff was so attentive that is was irritating. I would barely finish chewing the last of whatever was on my plate when my plate was whisked away with interrupting noise; I had taken no more that two sips from my water when I was asked if I wanted more water. There were four of us eating together and trying to have conversation, but we could barely get a sentence out without one of us being interrupted by one server or another. We had an appetizer, salad and entree; along with our conversation, we were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes. It was not a relaxing meal. In fact I felt like we were getting the bum's rush. As far as the prices go... since everything is a la carte, Volare is in no way a two dollar sign ($$) restaurant. We looked forward to good food and relaxed conversation; we were sorely disappointed.
(2)
Kai C.
Not great. Took 30 minutes between salad and main course and the place was empty. The exec in our party paid over $1200 and closed out the check, then staff asked if we wanted coffee, then handed us each a bill for $3.50 for the coffee. Wait staff couldn't speak English or understand anything we asked. Appetizers were average, salad was soggy. Salmon was quite good. Desert lacked any nut-free choices. Will not go back. The locals in our group said this place is way overrated.
(2)
Kaci L.
Lovely ambiance, wonderful wait staff and delicious food!! The waiter made a good recommendation on a nice glass of wine, and didn't try to push me toward something expensive. The black spaghetti was very tasty and the gnocchi was to die for!! Best I have ever had! Definitely coming back if I am ever in the area.
(4)
Christina F.
The best thing I ate tonight was the french bread that came before dinner dipped in olive oil and parmesan (standard Italian appetizer you get anywhere). Seriously, folks, Olive Garden is better than this place and that s something I NEVER EVER thought I would say. I went here for a birthday party and the waiter actually insulted the birthday girl because she showed up late-- I heard they had car trouble so that's just rude. Also, the food was over priced and mediocre at best, I got pasta with crumbles of veal, peas, apparently mushrooms (though I didn't see or taste any) and a mysterious cream sauce that was tasteless and pretty much nonexistent. When my partner asked how it was, I just shook my head and thanked God I got a half order so I wouldn't spend more than $10 on a beef stroganoff minus the sauce. I could have made something better from a box, and I'm not that great a cook. The other dishes looked much better but when I tried my partner's gnocchi ala vodka the gnocchi was good but the sauce was forgettable. Also, the "specialty" pizza they brought us consisted of a cardboard like crust, salty proscuitto, artichokes, and salty mozzarella. Basically, a lot of salt on some baked bread. Nobody in the 15 person party seemed wowed by their food, several people sent most of their order back without eating more than a few bites. I think in general everyone was pretty disappointed. Perhaps the worst part though was that they passive aggressively kicked us out before closing time, our party was pretty much the only ones in the dining room so as soon as forks were set down, bus boys grabbed plates and checks were dished out. Several of the party guests joked that they shut the heat off to hint us to leave and in all honesty I think that's what happened because ten minutes after the table cleared it was FREEZING in that room! Also, just a note-- be prepared to drive around for 15 minutes and walk a ways to get to a spot or spend $3 on valet parking, they "block off" about two thirds of the surrounding parking lot. When we walked out of there, the first words out of my partner's mouth was "I don't think I'll ever go back there." With so many Italian places to choose from, skip this and head up the road to Carabba's or something.
(1)
S F.
This place is a complete joke. My husband & I had 8:15 reservations, we arrive on time yet the woman at the hostess station tells us it will be a 20 minute wait. Hmm I'm sorry, what?! Isn't that the whole point of a reservation..so you don't have to wait? Fast forward an hour (yes, an hour!), we are finally seated. If my husband weren't so hungry we would have walked out. An appalling display of carelessness by this poor excuse for a restaurant. After we are seated, the waiter tells us the manager is sending over a pizza for our wait. Fine. Thanks so much. The pizza arrives, downright flavorless & quite disgusting (I can't remember the name but it had ricotta, artichoke & tomatoes). At this point I'm starting to get more angry due to the wait & this lackluster "free" pizza. So we order our entrees, lasanga & their homemade pappardelle. Eventually these arrive...the lasanga tasted like it was straight out of the microwave and the portion was unbelievably small. The pappardelle was again, flavorless and not at all appetizing. Do you people not believe in seasoning your food?!!! Lack of something as simple as salt & pepper is unforgivable. My husband is Italian & this restaurant is a disgrace to the heritage. We could not get our check soon enough. Note to Volare- stop overbooking reservations and work on your food. We will absolutely never return.
(1)
John W.
After reading the reviews here and getting reviews from friends who loved this place, I went in wanting to do the same. From the moment we sat down and waited 15 minutes for a drink, we all knew it was going to be a long night. Ill break it up into 2 parts, food and service. Food- Calamari, very rubbery. Carpaccio, stuck to the plate as if it was sliced early in the day and put into a refrigerator. Very bland. Sausage and peppers was very good. The foccacia and marinara was the best of the appetizers. I had the Risotto di Mare and it was ok. I also tried the Spaghetti Neri and it was good. 2 had lamb chops and they were excellent. Btw, we had to ask for bread, twice. Service- From the very start when we ordered drinks and it took 15 minutes to bring 4 drinks plus glasses for wine, not very promising. The waiter came back and tossed 2 special menus on the table without announcing them. Kinda rude. We ordered 2 bottles of 33 dollar wine. He seemed more interested in emptying those knowing we would order more bottles than filling my drink and 3 others beers. My glass sat empty for over 30 minutes before he asked me. He even filled my wine glass with my drink glass sitting there empty right next to it. Not sure if he was new or knew we had a corporate card but his tip could have been way better. The Manager, assuming that was him, came by while we were all chatting and kept trying to ask us about the food. When we didnt answer, he made an odd comment and walked off. Overall, the comments about the food was average. The consensus about the service was the same, poor at best. The folks refilling our water and taking empty dishes, spot on and very polite. I would like to come back and try the lasagna or their homemade pasta dishes. I will ask for another server though.
(2)
Jie S.
It is my BFF's favorite Italian lunch place in Oakbrook area. I really loved it too after my first lunch here. I didn't have any problem with the parking as other yelpers mentioned. We were seated right way. I do like the classic decor and vaulted ceiling. All tables were occupied around us and the noise level was just at the typical restaurant level for our conversation, nothing annoying. We started with the half order of Calamari and Caprese salad. The complimentary bread with marinara sauce were served once we finished the ordering. I really liked the mixed bread in the basket. The half order Calamari came with very decent portion and tasted just right. They topped some stripes of Balsamic Vinaigrette on the Caprese which I absolutely loved. The mozzarella cheese was creamy and fresh. By the time we were done with appetizer, we were almost full. The entrees were Gamberi Rissoto and Linguine with Mussels. Both came with the huge portion. Rissoto has big tasty shrimps and fresh asparagus in the creamy rice. A bit on the heavy side for me. A dozen of Mussels around the noodles were huge and fresh. We thought they must be hand picked or something. The marinara sauce was just right for the noodles. We liked the Linguine better than the Rissoto. We packed 80% of both for dinner. We loved our waitress. A nice wait person absolutely makes a meal more enjoyable. Our waitress was asking the right questions at the right time. She asked if we needed the olive oil with cheese when the bread was served. She noticed we were talking a lot while eating the appetizers so she let us know she would hold entree off a bit so we could enjoy the appetizers more. She was awesome. The whole lunch was very pleasant for us. And we used the resaurant.com certificate which brought down the cost to $15 per person including tips. You bet I will come back very soon.
(5)
Minal J.
I met with a friend to go out to dinner for Italian. We had originally planned for Buca De Beppo but they had an hour wait. So my friend suggested this place and said it was great. I have never tried it at this location but went to the one in Chicago which i wasnt really impressed with. I said lets give it a try. We were able to be seated right away although there are no booth seats. We started off ordering the Insalata Di Mare, which was so delightful! The seafood was not fried but very light and fresh tasting with a hint of lemon and olive oil. I would recommend it for a delicious and light starter. As for the main dish, I ordered the Spaghetti Neri al Pesce, which was delicious. It had an authentic taste to it although the speghetti was black in color. The color had no effect on the taste. I would order this dish again. Most of the dishes contained pork so my choices were slim. However, i was satisfied with this dish. There was so much I had enough to take home for lunch the next day. Also, the taramisu was a perfect sized portion and was the perfect ending to the meal. I would definitely recommend this place. The customer service and staff were great. They make frequent stops to your table to make sure everything is going good. Our server was extremely polite and was humorous at times. I would definintely come back here. Thumbs up for Volare.
(5)
Dave S.
The best part of the meal was the lemon candy on the way out. Man, that was good. The rest of it? Eh, okay. Pretty decent, but not at all cheap. My wife and I split an order of Insalate Volare (that's a salad), and the salad had some greens but a lot of tiny cheese morsels (which stuck together) and circular things that were a little strange. Shallots? Scallions? Definitely not scallops. Just an okay salad at $8. There was some nice fresh bread (and some not-so-nice toasted bread) that arrived with tomato sauce. That was pleasant, though a little more for our entree would've been appreciated. Cavatelli was on the special menu, served with wild boar. Huh? Well, of course I had to give that a try. But the problem was that I was thinking "cavatappi," which is like rotini. Which is what I wanted. Not long dumplings, which is cavatelli. It was decent. The wild boar tasted like beef, I guess. There was some other vegetables in the sauce, but I wanted a stronger flavor, and what I got was kind of bland. Not worth $18. My wife's lasagna ($16) was better, with a fresh and hearty tomato flavor, lots of tender beef, and a decent amount of cheese. Nothing unusual about it, which was what she wanted. I'm not sure why some Italian restaurants have their lighting at a level where it's hard to read the menu, but Volare is one of them. Holly (our server) was friendly and polite, and displayed an impressive knowledge of all the desserts they had. (They offer smaller portions of dessert for only $3. Good thinking, Volare.) The biggest challenge was to drink all of the water before someone (or sometwo) filled it up again. The water was so cold that it proved to be a difficult task to get anywhere below the 2/3 full mark. At the end of the meal, I went for it, covering the glass with my hand, and shortly after I finished, a voice was in my ear, asking if I wanted more. My plate of cavatelli was cleared without being asked if I wanted to take any of it home. That's okay. I don't think I wanted it anymore. Volare was not a good value, but the service was pretty good. I was going to give three stars at first, but hey, if the free candy on the way out's the best part of the experience, does it really deserve that third star?
(2)
Allen C.
we are fortunate to have many fine Italian eateries in the western suburbs. Volare does not disappoint, and is highly recommended For lunch and dinner. While no superlatives are in order, the food and service is of high quality and should be in your top 10 for Italian Cuisine.
(3)
Michele S.
The husband and I came here for a nice Saturday evening dinner after a long week of work. The service was decent. The guys at the host stand were very welcoming. We arrived earlier than our reservation, and they sat us immediately without a problem. Our waiter wasn't that great, but the rest of the staff was exceptional. We barely saw our waiter for most of the meal, and he seemed annoyed when we didn't want dessert saying, "It's my job to ask." Ok, that's fine, and we don't want any! The bus boys kept our water glasses full all the time, and as soon as a dish was empty, it was quickly swept away. Awesome. The food was ok. I had the house salad to start. While the salad components were fresh and flavorful, the dressing was a bit too vinegary. I also got the homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce. The gnocchi were delicious, but the vodka sauce was very salty. That night I felt like I drank a gallon of water before bed. My husband was pleased with the minestrone soup and lasagna that he ordered. I would rate this as a very average experience. It's worth the trip once-in-awhile, but don't expect anything out of this world fantastic.
(3)
Stephen C.
Always fresh always good food & good service!
(4)
Rory M.
Ate Thanksgiving lunch at Volare. Price was $28.95 for bread, mushroom soup, risotto, turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. One of the best meals I've had in my life. Everything was amazingly fresh. You can tell that they painstakingly and lovingly prepare every single thing, including the marinara sauce for the bread, from scratch from the best ingredients. Service was outstanding and friendly. They were very busy, but the waitstaff took great care of us. Parking could be a hassle because they have very few spots, so plan on paying the $3 for valet and save yourself the trouble of looking for parking. I'll be sure to go back for a more traditional Italian meal.
(5)
Sean M.
Great service! Of course I went on valentines day, so it was slammed, but they handled it very well. While my date was in the bathroom, a man who I presume to be a manager took the time to ask me how I was and how I was enjoying my food. This sticks out to me that this company really does care about how the customers feel. And they make them feel at home.
(5)
Tee D.
My past experience with this place was good. However, today I ordered takeout with a simple pizza (prosciutto, arugula and olives) - a dish I have gotten here before several times without an issue. I show up - they give me a salad and act like I am the one with the problem. I then wait another 10 minutes when there is no one else in the restaurant and they come back with a pizza that is some butchered version of one of their signature pizzas - great - not what I ordered. No one asked me if I was satisfied or dissatisfied. Here's a clue - I was not so I left. Will not be back even though it is within walking distance of work.
(1)
Rosie M.
Great little Italian place between oak brook and Yorktown malls. We were sat immediately and greeted by the owner, something that doesn't happen often anymore. We had a bruschetta appetizer which was absolutely amazing. We had a bottle of red and an entree each. Each of us were very pleased with eveything we had. There was a cute live musician playing as well. I will definitely be back, especially in summer as they have a really nice outdoor seating area when it's warm.
(5)
Laurie H.
Not a great dining experience the past few times. Food is not up to par...especially for the prices they charge. My risotto was not right. The texture was off-putting. Bread was not fresh. Not sure how long this business will remain viable.
(2)
Alex M.
Made a reservation several weeks in advance of an anniversary. It was an early time at 6 pm. There were only a few people already dinning. We were seated next to the kitchen door. Clearly they never wanted me to come back. The food was average for the cost. It was a big disappointment. My experience at Olive Garden was better.
(1)
P S.
Took the family for dinner tonight. Parents and siblings had eaten here before and they spoke highly of the food and service. It is now one of their favorite Italian restaurants. So already Volare had to live up to some high expectations. Our reservations were for 7:30pm. We were seated, greeted & served promptly. The ambiance was warm and inviting. The service staff checked on us regularly, fulfilling our requests for warm bread, wine & water almost telepathically. The food arrived in a timely manner and was well proportioned. We started with the Warm Kale Salad which was enjoyable (I'm still learning to love Kale). Followed by dishes of Pollo alla Parmigiana, Risotti di Mare, Gnocchi alla Vodka, and Spaghetti Caprese with a side of Polpette. The boys ordered from the Kids Menu. Everyone loved their dishes and everything tasted like it was made fresh. Portion size were generous, but not ridiculous. All the dishes were served warm and with a little flair. Photos on Yelp of the dishes were accurate to size, style and preparation. We ended with coffee and dessert platter of assorted fruit, tiramisu, some type of ice cream cake (delicious) and an assortment of biscotti and cookies. The boys ravaged their vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed my meal and would heartily recommend Volare to others. I plan to be back and try more of the delicious menu.
(5)
Erika C.
We always have a great time here. The food and the wine list are good. The ambiance is lovely too. It never is the first place that I think of, it isn't the most glamorous destination, but I often end up here for dinner or a workday lunch with associates or girlfriends. They have many solid entree choices. The arincini appetizer is yummy. The pizza isn't my fav but it is easily skipped. I hosted my G-ma's 90th birthday party here and they did a great job despite some confusion with the initial reservation. Definitely on my go to list, when I remember them!
(4)
Lochin S.
been here so many t imes. I love everything here to eat. the mediterranean salad is to die for. always get that. then i vacilate for the entrees. my favorite is the parpardelle with bolognese sauce. the lunch portion is huge. take it home and eat it for dinner. amazingly the pasta part still has decent texture when reheated. risotto is pretty specail as well. servers are great. owner is great.
(5)
Sadie P.
Went there for New Year's Eve dinner. Had a reservation so seating was immediate. Server did a very good job. I didn't love that most appetizers involved fish in some way so we got a pizza for a starter. The pizza was delicious. My entree was a cheese sauce pasta plate and it was ok. Not great, not bad.
(3)
Steven M.
I came here to grab a quick bite before a party that was serving food. I just wanted to make sure! So we sat at the bar and I started with a couple of Chopin Cosmos! Yum! Then we had the beef carpaccio and it was really good. The shrimp cocktail was awsome though! The prawns were huge. And we finished off with the Volare salad that had all kinds of fresh veggies in it. This place is a standout in the crowded Oakbrook corridor. One of my fav's.
(5)
Chad B.
Found by accident one snowy evening and we've gone back plenty of times ever since. I think it was the first experience that brings us back. Snowy blizzard pelleting Chicagoland on a February evening. We we're out and about shopping when we decided to to got McCormick and Smicks for supper. McCormick's had closed early due to the storm and a little old man came out for a cigarette and said if you want to have a great meal head to his place called Volare. Quick left and right and there we were. My fiance and I had the entire restaurant to ourselves and there it began... The owner Benny greeted us at the door and sat us, asked how our night was and when he found out it was our first time to the restaurant..... Wine bottles, pizza appetizers, calamari, risotto, steak and pasta came flying to our table.. we ate like kings and couldn't believe how good the food was. Benny pretty much took care of the bill that night, that night has turned into many nights spent at Volare. We have always had a great time, food has always been excellent and the service impeccable. The night of our wedding rehearsal we had 30 people to feed, we chose Volare for the supper. Again amazing experience,as always the food = excellent. If you go you must try the pizza.. Its excellent. We've been a fan of Volare from the start - we take everyone who comes to visit to the place and Volare never disappoints. We've remained in contact with Benny and also frequent his Chophouse downtown called "Benny's Chophouse" again - You have to try this place. Burgers are simply the best in town!
(5)
Mary D.
Volare is fantastic. Usually a great value too. We work very close to the Oakbrook Terrace location and go here often for lunch. The service is outstanding and the food is wonderful. You really get quality and quantity for the money here. I am so glad that Volare is not close to my home, otherwise I would weigh 600 pounds. The bread is varied and served with marinara and olive oil. Usually the salad is quite good. The eggplant parm? THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD! We have had many items here, pizza, sandwiches, pastas etc.....always good. Dessert is usually good as well. They always have interesting specials too. Love this place
(4)
Lauren A.
We ordered from Volare for delivery, since we had enjoyed their food at the restaurant. We were told the food would be be delivered in under an hour. An hour an a half later, we still didn't have food, so we called the restaurant for an update. The confused girl said it would probably be another half hour. I asked to speak to a manager, who made some excuse about traffic...we do not live in the city. He assured me it would be within 10 minutes. Thirty more minutes went by before our food finally arrived.
(1)
Jill H.
I can't belive it took me so long to get to this great restaurant. I have been to the one in the city many times and was not sure they could live up to the same great food. Everything was delicous the service was great and I loved that our server was very knowledgable about the wine list. We will be back again! Thanks for bringing an authentic Italian Restaurant to the Western Burbs.
(4)
Meghan T.
Not sure if "Energetic" is the best description for the overwhelming noise level at Volare, that just gives it a positive connotation, this was anything but. After requesting booth seating, we were seated at a small round table right next to the kitchen... It was the nosiest, most distracting table in the dining room. There were dishes clanking, servers shifting in-between out table to place things down on the counters and when anything was dropped the sound was amplified. At one point we smelled food burning which was unappetizing. It was just a constant rush of the staff surrounding us going in and out of the exposed, open-style kitchen. I just thought it was a bold move for the host to seat us at the most congested table when we had requested a private, quiet booth. The food was standard, and what I would describe as upscale Olive Garden. Calamari appetizer which tasted like seasoned card board with a rubbery texture. The Cesar salad was our favorite part, but again, seemingly mediocre and I've certainly had better. We were disappointed when we later realized that the table next to us had ordered the same salad and were offered fresh ground pepper, while we were not... Seemed pretty inconsistent. For our entree we shared the "homemade" ricotta ravioli with arrabiata sauce and a side of meat balls. The meat balls were bland and the only thing seemingly homemade about the ravioli was the fresh cheese, other than that it was rubbery. For arrabiata sauce it seemed mild, I would've liked to taste more spice and flavor. By now you've probably realized that the service was poor. We saw our waiter when the order was placed and a couple times when our food was served, but he never once asked how everything was. At one point we saw a gentleman in a suit visiting tables, which we assumed was a manager. When he got to out table, he attempted to lean in and then quickly backed out, and went over to the next table. I was making eye contact with him as he ignored us and it was indeed awkward. I won't be back, like I said before-- Upscale Olive Garden and at that over-priced for noisy atmosphere, boring food and poor service.
(1)
Gina G.
I have been hearing all the rave about Volare, so i figured I'd give it a shot. It was a Friday evening and the place was packed. We ended up waiting an additional 20 min for our table after having reservations, so it didn't start out on the best track. I had the Risotto Volare, with squid ink, which you don't see to often anymore and it was very flavorful. My sister had a fillet which looked great, but was a bit overcooked for mid rare. The service was not the greatest as our server was not around much, maybe it was to busy? All in all it was just an "OK" experience, falls into just your average Italian joint.
(3)
Ric C.
Went last night because we wanted to eat outside and didn't realize you can smoke in an outdoor dinning area. (I don't think legally you can). But at Volare it seems they are catering to the smoker. This is not about food or service, its good. It's about when the table next to you lights a large cigar when you're eating dinner and the server tells us they can do that, well it's not my kind of place.
(1)
Mike P.
I came across this restaurant thanks to Yelp as I was looking for an alternative to Maggianos where a group of us was going to meet for a nice dinner. I got there with a friend that I drove with and we walked in. As only a few of us were there, we were still seated right away and waited for the others to arrive. Tom, our server, took our drink orders and made some suggestions of what to order. When everyone else arrived and got their drink orders, Tom came by and took our food orders, making a strong suggestion on their lamb entrees and also their gnoochi (which he said was homemade with ricotta cheese). Everyone placed their orders and eventually the bread came out (they served it with two loaves, one plain, the other with a light coating of tomato sauce on the top, along with a cup of some kind of tomato based sauce (marinara?) along with the olive oil and vinegar. For the first course, everyone except for me got some kind of salad (I opted for the bowl of minestrone soup). All said the salad was pretty good. My soup was piping hot and was thick with just the right amount that was served. Then we got our main course. Some ordered pasta and sauce (on the menu they have different kinds of sauces listed, one sauce/pasta they didn't list was one made with neckbones(??) which one the people in the group said was delicious). My chicken cacciatore was very good with a generous amount of pasta and sauce. It also had mushrooms and some olives in it which gave it a very good taste. Because of the large amount, I did take a doggie bag home and was able to enjoy the pasta for an additional meal. My friends also all took leftovers home which says something about their generous portions. All in all this was a great experience. I would not hesitate to go there again if I wanted a different and a quieter experience than a place like Maggianos.
(4)
Curt L.
First class option. There is the sister Volare to the one on The City. It was Wifey's birthday so we came here for a bottle of red and some pasta. (Went with the Dynamite Cab Sav from Napa.............only because our grandson's nickname in Little League is Dynamite!). We had the grilled seafood for an app.......octopus, squid, scallop and shrimp. I highly recommend. Wifey had the white clam sauce with angel hair...but substituted with shrimp. Good call. I had the pappaderelle with arriabitata (the spicy tomato sauce). Superb. The "pappa" were made in house. The staff brought over a semi freddo as a birthday 'cake". Excellent. I recommend if you love smooth creamy ice-creamy cheesy stuff. The staff also wished Wifey a Happy Birthday as we left...so good communication with the crew. Our waiter Anthony was excellent. Friendly and helpful Great place in Lombard!
(4)
J R.
Excellent food and even better service. Didn't realize this restaurant had a western suburb location and the food is just as good as the downtown location. One of my all time favs for Italian in Chicago.
(5)
LOIS B.
I have to admit, I do enjoy the food. Our servers have always been top notch. Everything we have ordered, which is usually one of the specials, has been delicious. So why not 5 stars? Parking tends to be a royal pain. Spaces are rare in their parking lot and one night I could not even get the valet to take my car. Silly me, I thought that is what a valet's job was. Dining room can be very noisy, so the smaller side room might be a better seating choice.
(4)
A M.
My gal pal wanted lunch here so I agreed to try. We arrived at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon and found the place a ghost town. One couple in the dining room were spared the overbearing tone of a brusk businesswoman and her companion who sat at the opposite end of the sunroom where we were seated. This woman was SO loud that even when she demanded they put on the overhead music (it was off) her voice still echoed. It was a very hot day that day, and yet the place had the air conditioner off! I had to ask for them to turn it on. Shocked that we had been given the 'quick lunch menu'' with prices that were quite high, we attempted to order drinks. That delay should have been the first clue that something was very very off. When they arrived they were made wrong and sending them back only delayed the waiter from coming over to get our order to the kitchen. Meanwhile, we got served a basket of two breads, and a side of some red sauce and waited. No oil, no cheese offered. Drinks on the second trip were still wrong and asking again wouldnt have solved the problem. After ten minutes with no one to return we flagged down someone cowtowing to the overly loud patron and beg her to take our order. Now a third person arrived and asked us to tell her what we wanted. We told her and after she disappeared five minutes later a waiter arrived to ask for our order. Explaining it was in already sent him away and we waited. Droning now on her cell phone, the loud woman was our source of entertainment (since we couldn't hear the music) and our wait kept climbing. Never returning to the table, I decided to rush the hostess stand and beg for our food from the kitchen. Several minutes later our food arrived. I had ordered four cheese risotto, and found the rice under/uncooked - not at all what I had hoped for. My companion had asked for an antipasti tray for a light lunch (they dont' offer it and wouldn't make it) and was talked into the gnocci with vodka sauce. We were so hungry by then complaining would have only made it worse. A man arrived at the table to say that he had checked the kitchen and our ticket time was ....22 minutes! On a Tuesday afternoon! Unbelieveable. Apologizing for the entire mess, he offered us desert on the house. We never saw a menu to chose from, and were presented with a plate of cut fruits and some soggy cookies tossed in the middle. When my friend ordered coffee, they charged us for it too! I will never go back.
(1)
Alex I.
So I went there this week with a large group and I was very impressed with our waiter (I think her name was Jodi). She helped out in every way from explaining the specials to pairing it with the drinks. I ordered a homemade cheese tortellini with arrabiata sauce and it was good but not great. I also thought the calamari was a little chewy and so did a few others. Overall, everybody seemed to really enjoy their food. This is the second time I have been here and even though it isn't the best Italian food I have ever had, the service was great. I would have given it another star if they had a better beer selection. I had a Stella but would have liked to have had any local beer like a Matilda, or a Blue Moon, or even a Fat tire but unfortunately they do not have any beer on tap. The ambiance was great and the prices were not too bad. If you are in the mood for Italian and are thinking of this place, I would say go for it because they have plenty of good dishes to pick from.
(3)
Ryan C.
I could take or leave Italian and only went because of a business lunch with our vendors. I was actually impressed walking in and seeing how nice and classy the place was. The menu isn't too terribly big, which is fine. Too much only means too many choices. It's simple and well put together. The portions are decent size. I only had a half salad, which was still a decent size. I can't say the salad blew me away, but it was what I expected. One of the people that was at the table had the eggplant Parmesan with pasta on side, which was rather large. I think I will consider that if I go again. The service was wonderful and the food came up quickly. I think that Chef Gordon Ramsey would be impressed with Volare. It's not too expensive, but it's not cheap either. They do have a full bar that is separated from the dining area. I didn't go in, but did sneak a peak.
(4)
Karen G.
This might be the best Italian restaurant outside of the city. I don't mind the drive from Palatine to Oak Brook Terrace to enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine of Volare. The service is excellent, I enjoy the interaction with the staff and the pride that is taken in delivering an enjoyable dining experience. Parking has never been a problem. Do check out the bar and outside dining during the summer months.
(4)
Ashley J.
I've eaten food from Volare a few times in the past years.. I feel like each time can be hit or miss, regardless of what one orders.. The bf and I were craving some quality takeout so we decided to try Volare since we just found out that they deliver.. we ordered the bruchetta and a pizza = $35. I was beyond annoyed when we opened the pizza box and they had forgotten to put SAUCE on the pizza?! What kind of place would do that? I called to ask if that's just how they prepare their pies, but they admitted they had made a mistake. However, there was no offer made to replace the pizza, give any type of compensation, etc. I'm really not one to ask for freebies, so I just kept it to myself. A few weeks later, we tried again - and I'm glad that we did. Pizza was correct this time, and it was actually quite good. I would have given Volare 4 stars, but I can't get over how expensive they are - 1 pizza = $26. I'd much rather order from Roberto's in Elmhurst..or of course Lou Malnatis for deep dish. Restaurant: The restaurant is very loud inside- they have vaulted ceilings that seem to make noise travel like crazy. We had a table of about 8, so our service was slow. Also, it's very dark inside. Note: their arancine is not good- soggy, and the meat tastes very strange- not cheesy at all like their menu suggests. If we do order from here again, it'd definitely be delivery/takeout than sit-down.
(3)
JoJo N.
My husband surprised me with dinner at Volare for my birthday based on its menu and Yelp reviews. We loved it!! The atmosphere is modern and inviting. The food was excellent. I ordered the gnocchi (homemade with ricotta) with homemade vodka sauce. It was the best of both I have ever had. My husband order the veal medallions and was pleased too. The main dining room can get loud, but there is a room to the side and an outdoor patio that are a bit more private. We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Vanessa S.
Fake tans, chest hair, cleavage oh my! Volare is a truly Italian experience - in every sense. 4 of us went here on a Saturday night but thought we made a wrong turn and had entered New Jersey. The bar area was loud but there wasn't much talking just gaping at the other patrons. This is a suburban restaurant but clearly everyone (most were over 50) thougt it was a club. People watching aside - at least you're guaranteed to get a good laugh - the food was excellent. Tomato bread to start, Minestrone - delicious - Mussels - I heard they were good I thought they smelled like the gorilla house - Caprese salad - fresh, Gnocchi was so light with delicious sauce. Warning: portions were huge and dessert really can't be missed - flourless cake -mmmmm. Service was decidedly just OK. If you're looking for a delicious Italian meal among Sopranos rejects head to Volare. *** Be warned - parking is a nightmare - they force you to valet and it's not free - hey at least I warned you ***
(4)
J M.
Restaurant week brought me there...good food & service will bring me back! My fav is the braciole...tender flavorful IS MY MOTHER IN YOUR KITCHEN??? Rich Italian gravy (spaghetti sauce to non-Italians) topped light fluffy gnocchi. Fresh ingredients, complex flavor layering made for so many great menu items, Try the desserts.... Good coffee thank God..... I'll go back
(5)
yoku s.
This was one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had -- no parking, had to wait even though we had a reservation, watched another couple get seated before us at a table for 4 (even tho they came in after we did) while we were seated in a tight nook. Nobody came to take our order for 20 minutes. I had to try to make eye contact and flag someone down. The only thing great about this restaurant is the bus boys / runners. They were extremely attentive with filling waters, bringing bread, clearing plates, etc. I wanted to tip them additional. For the first time ever, I wanted my food to come quickly, so I can leave ASAP. We will never, ever return. Oh and the food is decent, but not good enough for me to return.
(2)
Robert D.
ITS BACK!!! My wife and I have been going to Volare on and off since it open. There was a time that they had changed the chef and the Marinara sauce to a chunky style with large pieces of garlic and tomato. There was a noticeable change in the food quality with the chef change. Now Benny has brought in Chef Doug and the food we had tonight was what we fell in love with years ago. I had the arrabiata sauce with my pasta and it was wonderful! My wife had the angel hair with the marinara and she was delighted to have it the way she remembered it! We had the Nutella Crepe with Caramel and Hazel Nuts for dessert. The Chef was out in the dining room overlooking the tables and doing QC! Something that you don't see much of anymore. You have to go and give it a try!
(5)
Nabiha M.
There's nothing really special about Volare. It's supposed to be an Italian cuisine restaurant, but aside from pasta and a few options for pizza, there isn't much to experience here. The service was poor.. I judge this based on the fact that I was here for a friend's birthday party with my toddler and no one even brought me an extra chair for my toddler, let alone a highchair (assuming they had one). Then when I asked for a straw for my daughter's glass, it took not one, not two, not even three server's to bring the straw, we never got it! Then comes time for the check, and we all divided it up because there was a mix of cash and cards and our waiter was furious! He told us that he can do it but it takes him nearly an hour for as large as our group was, which was about 10 people and that he'll do it but we have to wait. How long does it take at a restaurant, say like The Cheesecake Factory where I've been to with more than 10 people to divide up the bills? They have us sign the receipts before we're even done with our last bit of dessert! I won't be going back, the food was mediocre and the wait-staff really threw me off. I didn't feel comfortable here at all although it seems like a great date night place with it's dim lighting and fancy decor, it's not worth it if you aren't treated well and the food isn't great. Sorry Volare, you're off my list!
(2)
Travis R.
Food was EXCELLENT!!!!!! Decore and atomosphere was ok...looked staged and not very...well... permanent. Oh, and service was very good!
(4)
Don T.
We had dinner for four tonight and each meal was very impressive..... actually outstanding. Something has changed. I hear there is a new Italian Chef kicking it up a notch. This food is homemade and made to order. NOT the FACTORY stuff you get at other "Italian" restaurants. Service was excellent too!
(5)
Jim C.
A very nice and shi shi Italian place with a lot of business people and people here celebrating special occasions but didn't think the food matched the prices. Caprese salad (3.5 stars) - looked good and generous portions of tomato and mozzarella but tomatoes didn't seem to have much taste. Okay but nothing to write home to Mama about. Sea bass special (3.25 stars) - sea bass was fresh but the accompanying ingredients and sauces just didn't seem quite right. Too bad. I love sea bass. Pastas come in ginormous portions. Bottom line: I'd probably come back to give some of the pasta dishes a try...as long as someone else is footing the bill.
(3)
Ken M.
The food and service was AWSOME!!! I came up to visit my sister from Texas and the everything was Great!!
(5)
Pizza L.
You have to try the chilean sea bass....just ate there last week and it was out of this world!!!!! Cooked perfectly, it was sinful!!!!!
(5)
Gabi V.
My boyfriend & I are big foodies & love to try new places. We came across Volare when I was looking up reviews on RPM Italian Downtown. The reviews for that place weren't so good, but we still wanted Italian & something new. So when we looked at Italian close to downtown, we came across the Volare downtown location. Went on the website & found out that there was one closer to us! So we decided to go to the Oak Brook location for lunch.. The lunch portions are huge & enough to split or just take home leftovers (which I like to do). The lunch comes with soup or salad and the entrees. Let me just tell you, Italian is my favorite food of ALL time & we usually always go to Mia Francesca in La Grange/Little Italy, but OMG this food was to die for. I had the chicken parmesan, the cheese was loaded on top of the chicken (I LOVE cheese), they gave you a big side of pasta and the chicken was all white meat & super tender! Not only is the food FANTASTIC, the staff there are very knowledgeable about every item on their menu, the specials for the day & they are super friendly & attentive. In all my experiences going to a ton of restaurants, I have never been treated so nicely before & working in the food industry, I know how hard it can be to try to keep a smile on your face & be friendly. Kevin & Mike I believe are the managers there & they always come around & ask you how your meal was & if they can get you anything. They are always super friendly!! I brought my mom in for her birthday recently & the food gets better & better every time. The second time we went, I had the creme brulee & it was amazing. I am a pastry chef & creme brulee is not my favorite dessert, but at Volare it was amazing! I will always choose Volare for my Italian food cravings & always go to this location! I am planning on having a few birthdays & Christmas parties there as well :)
(5)
Kim R.
I made a reservation at Volare last Friday. There was plenty of parking and we were seated right away. The hostess, waiter and bar staff were very friendly and efficient. We had no issues with our waiter. He checked back on us frequently. We had no complaints about the food. The bar area has live entertainment but it's a little on the small side, so it does get loud. The service was good in the bar area too. If you're into people watching, you will find it here. All-in-all...no complaints.
(4)
F K.
Interior is nice but thats about it. I had the margherita pizza and it tasted so bland. My friend had the chicken pasta and it was nuked with pasta sauce. Plus the pasta sauce wasnt even that great. It tasted like out of the bottle pasta sauce. My other friend had some other type of pasta and that was also bland. Someone else had the salmon and it tasted disgusting. Not even seasoned. Maybe I came on a bad night or something but not a great experience.
(2)
Michelle B.
I just love Volare in the city and was so excited when they opened this location. It's the same high quality food you are used to in the city but the dining room is new and so much more spacious. The service is outstanding! It's rare to get great service in the suburbs but Volare puts other restaurants to shame. I'm particularly fond of their vodka sauce. If you like chocolate you must try their chocolate ice cream it's out of this world.
(5)
Carol K.
When I crave Italian food- my favorite Italian restaurant in the city is Volare. When I heard that they were opening up another Volare out in the "burbs" I was skeptical that they could replicate the amazing menu that the original restaurant has been turning out for years. Today I got my chance to check it out. Open for just 5 weeks, Volare (this location is in Oak Brook Terrace although it comes up on Yelp as Villa Park for some reason) is worthy of the term "sister" restaurant. From the amazing food, to the impeccable service, I may have just found a way to curve my Italian cravings without the trip into the city. We started with the Volare salad, which is basically a tossed salad spruced up with hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, cheese and radishes. Mmm . . .mmm. In my humble opinion, the best thing on the menu is the 4 cheese, chicken and pea risotto. And this placed nailed it- it was a good as the one downtown. We also split the pasta of the day which had sausage, peas, onions in some kind of cream sauce over corkscrew pasta. Delicious. For dessert- try a little lemon sorbet or a tiramisu. You won't be disappointed. There is a large separate bar area and in the Summer months, a patio which will house tables and chairs to enjoy your meal outside. They also have live music Tuesday through Saturday nights. The dining room is spacious and unlike the city location, you are not crowded together but have plenty of room between the tables. There is a back area that sits 50 people and a smaller room that seats about 20. I did miss the 1950's style mobster feel of the original location. This place is new and lacks some of the character of the original location. Feels a little "cookie cutter" to me- but that is pretty much the way most things are out in the "burbs". If I had any complaint at all it was the noise level. I actually asked the manager to turn the music down a little as it was just resounding off the walls. Check it out. You'll be happy you did. For this is no "step sister" to the original. More like a suburban clone.
(4)
Eclectic N.
I have to admit that the downtown location scored better with me, but I was still pleased with the lunch that I had here with my family. I would like to give this 3.5 stars, but I didn't think it quite deserved a 4. The service was very strong, although the place was basically empty. We had her complete attention and my soda guzzling and bread noshing kids never hit bottom. The bread that they started with was kind of plain and there was no olive oil on the table (had to hunt some down). It came with a marinara sauce which I was excited about because to me Italian cooking can be made or broke by the sauce. I was not overly excited with the taste, it was kind of jar like. I then ordered some Minestrone soup - nothing special, don't bother. Luckily, my meal was with their Vodka sauce (not marinara) and I got their signature dish Gnocchi a la Vodka. Their Gnocchi was a very nice (and light) surprise. I love Gnocchi and I make my own. I know how difficult it is to perfect as you can't use too much flour (unless you want pasty bubblegum). Anyway, I make mine with potato, but they use riccota. This made them extra rich and fluffy and I didn't feel like a bloated dead walrus when I finished. The Vodka sauce was fantastic. It was a little creamier than most other restaurant sauces. The Gnocchi on it's own and the sauce on it's own were perfect. Together they were almost too rich! Still very good though. The kids had lasagna and chicken parmigiana, but they don't count. They're teenagers and they could eat their napkins and say that it's good - one son did say that mine was better, so that's probably not too good. I'm not a dessert guy, but we got some anyway. The kids loved their Oreo creation and I played it safe with Gelato (which was fresh and good). I would definitely go back because my first time there a few years ago was just too awesome (although there was a lot of wine flowing).
(3)
Fred N.
Italian restaurants in the Chicago area are like pizza, there are many and just as many opinions on what makes a good one. I'm not sure we will ever find a place everyone agrees represents good Italian food (regardless of region). Having gone to Volare with older Italian Americans on different occasions, I have heard may positive reviews of Volare's food. I have been going here for a few years and had consistent experience with the quality of the food. Their homemade pasta is completely awesome. If you are adventerous, their Risotto Volare that has squid ink infused Risotto with various shellfish, is amazing. Vodka sauce, great. Gnocchi, great. I really have liked everything on the menu. I've had very good experience with the service here, though others seem to have had different experiences, I have not seen this over many visits. I have found everything to be consistent. There are many good Italian restaurants in the Chicago area, but if you are in the vicinity of Volare, I'd give it a try.
(5)
Ed D.
One of the better, more authentic italian joints around. Not as cozy or as cool a vibe as their downtown location, but food is just as good. Service is excellent, staff is very helpful and attentive. Main dining room is a little banquet hall like, but not to the point of distraction. They space the tables nicely. Squid ink risotto was awesome. Calamari app was very good. Desserts were incredible. Especially the tiramisu. Ishmael was a top-notch waiter! Yes, from Kingpin.
(4)
alicia b.
Well if you are a cougar this is your den! I went there a couple weeks ago with my bf for dinner.It was pretty cold out and the man told us we had two choices either sit on the heated patio or in the bar where some weird dude was going to be singing.We opted for the patio since the bar was loud and super crowded with cougs and hairy dudes. After maybe 10 mins I requested to move into the suffocating bar since he forgot to inform me that everyone was going to be smoking on the patio. So gross! After moving inside and getting comfy we ordered drinks which were typica,l vodka sodas nothing special and then devoured the amazing italian bread. The menu didnt really have a whole lot on it and they didnt have eggplant parm which I was very disappointed about.I like to try the eggplant at every italian place I can find.So after being sad about that I made up my own pasta I got the little ear pasta (cant think of the name right now) with garlic, oil and broccoli. My bf ordered cheese ravs with marinara.Hes a big eater so he was bummed when his dish came out and consisted of 5 ravs.My din was ok at best not much flavor. That was my one and only trip to Valore.
(3)
John S.
I've been to Volare for dinner a few times wit my family. Volari has very quickly become my favorite Italian restaurant for many reasons. First off the staff here is always very friendly and attentive. They are great about drink refills and also don't rush you through your dinner. The atmosphere here is very elegant and inviting. Most importantly the food here is excellent. The antipasto here is a must have. All the meats on the antipasto are fresh and out of this world. They even make there own salami which is out of this world. The maranarra sauce here is nice and thick and has a nice flavor to it. Also when the food comes out it is served nice and hot . My favorite thing about eating here is ow fresh all the food is. The desserts are also very good and all home made. the Canoli's were freshly made and had a great flavor to them. I look forward to going back here many more times.
(5)
Kelly B.
1st off the Gnocchi is outstanding. This is the most authentic italian restaurant I've been to, not to mention the customer service is fantastic. I can't say enough about how great this place is. Recently had a party on their outdoor patio which has a roof and TV. Our 30+ guests had an amazing time were constantly being taken care of and loved the food. The Volare salad is a must if you go. The eggplant parmesean is one of my favorites, if I could I would eat every meal here, honestly. You cannot go wrong here!!
(5)
Tim K.
It really pains me to have to lower Volare's rating but it just isn't the same since Chef Michael left. Our lunch today was a real disappointment. The portion size of the soup that comes with entrees has been reduced to about a third of what it used to be. The pork neckbone pasta sauce was one of their best. It used to look like pulled pork. Today it was made from ground pork. It didn't taste the same. The bolognese sauce wasn't as good either. We don't remember it having little pools of oil/grease floating on top. Their best manager is no longer there. This location of Volare is in the first stages of decline. Nickle and dimeing, good people leaving, food quality going downhill. Maybe their rent went up and they are trying to cut corners. If you had never been to Volare before you might think it was pretty good. As regulars we notice the difference.
(3)
Ashley W.
Awesome!! I can Not complain . I just recently threw a baby shower there for my sister n it was amazing ! The food is the best and the pickiest eaters said they wanted to come back ! But I have to brag about the staff the GM Mike , n the servers Victor n Teresa went above n beyond to not only help me set up before the shower but kept everything running smoothly ! Servers victor n Teresa were wonderful ,they were attentive to each n every table but even just help guest get settled grabbed gifts help set up n put me at ease . Also would like to Acknowledge the bussers that worked so hard and were right there to keep everything clean and going smooth . I would definitely recommend them for any private party or shower again !!! Thanks again to all you impressed the whole baby shower party!!
(5)
Frank B.
Decor was very nice. Very good food with nice size portions.they should add a soup or salalad with the entree.otherwise very good.
(4)
James C.
I've been here for lunch several times. My review will be limited because I've only had one entree there. The Insulata Mediteranea is amazing and piled HIGH with beautifully grilled shrimp, scallops, and calamari. It is a meal and a half. I had this the first time I went there and haven't been able to order anything else since. Friends and co-workers that actually get other items on the menu are always happy with the food. The space is really nice and the service always excellent. It can get a bit loud in there though. After lunch they always bring us out a little plate with fresh fruit and other goodies. One of my favorite spots in the burbs.
(4)
Lori B.
My Father & I treated friends to a fabulous evening Saturday night. The food and service was top notch.I had lasagna & a side of rapini which was delicious & enough for 2 more meals take-home. Our guests were "old world" Italians so I really took a chance bringing them to an italian restaurant .They commented that the fettaccine alfredo sauce was good enough to "lick the bowl" (don't worry...they didn't). We had drinks,appetizers,entrees & desserts-all excellent. *Lemon sorbet for dessert was my favorite.Price was extremely reasonable ($$) especially since we all loved the food & were treated like royalty (despite the restaurant being very crowded). Now let me comment on the entertainment.........wow! Diva Montel gave a world class performance (I was told she is there certain Thursdays & Saturdays but call ahead or check Diva's website to be sure). Do yourself (and your guests) a favor, make reservations for a great dinner & see her perform. You won't be sorry & can e-thank me later!!! PS- I only review and pass along the best, don't have time to comment on the rest.... Ciao for now!
(5)
Julie A.
Sorry I wasn't impressed. AA started off with calamari.. nest thing we ordered. The cares was average. The cheesecake on nieces pizza was hard, and my risotto had a thick cream sauce which is just not a personal fav. Nothing stood out. There are many other Italian places in the area to frequent..won't be back for dinner.
(2)
Chris L.
Mediterranean salad is awesome. Penne with Vodka sauce is great
(4)
Yurgen Y.
It was expensive. Fancy. Me, not so much. My fault.
(1)
Kristina B.
okay - i've raved about this place in the past, as my first experience was great. my second experience? not so much. here's why. my friend and i were seated immediately on a friday at 7pm, which was nice. it was during lent, so we wanted to go somewhere with many meatless options, and this seemed perfect. we asked our waiter for a martini list, and he promptly told us that they didn't have one, but that he could "make whatever you want". okay.... nice, i guess, but i would have guessed that a place with such a large bar area has a martini list. i like to have options to choose from, you know? when i asked if he could do an apple martini, he thought about it for a little and then said "i think so". whatever happened to being able to make whatever we wanted??!! first came the bread - along with a giant piece of hair on the plate. gross. our waiter took it away after we brought it to his attention, and promptly brought us another. what a way to start your meal. we ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and when they brought us our appetizer plates, mine was dirty. not dirty like, went through the dishwasher and there's dried food on the plate, dirty like someone JUST used the plate, they dipped it in hot water and then gave it to me. double gross. when i showed our waiter, he said "what is going on here?" i replied "you tell me!". our calamari was really nothing special - i remember it tasting much better the first time i had it. also, they serve it with cocktail sauce instead of marinara - i find that a bit odd. my main course was good - ricotta gnocchi in a vodka sauce. their pasta is pretty great, and it's sometimes hard to find a good ricotta gnocchi. our dessert was great, it was a layered kind of semifreddo type dish with great texture and flavor. after we were about halfway through our dessert, a server came by with some gelato, dropped it at our table, and left without saying a word. our waiter came by a few minutes later, saw our looks of confusion, and then announced loudly "the dessert, it's from me... you know, for the hair". ugggh, thanks for reminding me, and telling the whole dining room about it. awesome. we got our check, and normally i don't analyze it before putting down a credit card, but for some reason, i did this time. good thing i did, because our waiter charged us for the dessert that was supposedly from him, and he also charged us for shots of sambuca that we never had. overall not a great experience - i probably will never go back, which is sad because i liked it so much the first time. sorry volare - get your stuff together!!!
(2)
Jen F.
I've been here twice. The first time was on Valentine's day 2011. It took us 1.5 hours to receive our meal, and the server was rude. The second time I came here (three nights ago), the server said his eyesight was poor and couldn't read our driver's licenses when he carded us for our drinks. Thus, another server came over and read our IDs, and then made us say the day we were born and how old we were out loud. I am 22-years-old and my fiance is 26. She said that we looked like babies. I ordered a vodka and tonic with greygoose vodka. They brought me absolute vodka. I told them I ordered greygoose, and they were extremely rude about it. HORRIBLE SERVICE. I will never go back.
(1)
gladys l.
Enjoyed the food but most of all really enjoyed the bar service (walk-in dinner with no reservations) and option to order 1/2 orders on all pasta dishes. Big winner for me! Reservations a must.
(4)
Michael D.
In early December 2011 two of my friends and I lunched at Volare in Oak Brook Terrance. It was my first time there and had been recommended by one of my companions who had been there previously. I found the restaurant to be very comfortable and well appointed that included white table cloths. Our server was Holly who was very friendly and informative. For an antipasto we shared the sausage and peppers, which we all thought was excellent. One of my friends had the lasagna and said that it was delicious. My other friend and I both had the braciole that was served on a bed of polenta and was one of the lunch specials. This dish was very well prepared and tasty. The braciole was tender and very flavorful, and the polenta was cooked just right. A little problem occurred with the timing of the servings. While part way through eating the sausage and peppers, a couple of servers not including Holly brought out the main dishes. We said that were not ready for those dishes and they were brought back to the kitchen. We were later served the main dishes, but by that time my braciole was cool. I explained the situation to Holly who immediately said she would comp me, but I refused saying that my intention was merely an FYI to avoid future mistakes. Holly then persuaded us to accept an order of tiramisu on the house. Well, who could refuse that dessert? Good thing we didn't because it was very well prepared and delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant for the quality of the food, the ambiance, and the responsive service. I very much look forward to going there for dinner. Based on my single experience I give Volare four and a half stars and not five because of the kitchen mix-up. However, this was a very close call because Holly, who was extremely professional and accommodating, did a great job in dealing with the problem.
(4)
Kristen D.
If you call this place a cougar den, you are sadly mistaken. It's a sausage factory. A big, fat, sweaty, cigar smoking sausage factory. Cougars take note - stick to Redstone!
(2)
Eliz G.
I had my bridal shower here a few months ago, and the whole experience from start to finish was flawless. I met with Jeremy a few months prior to the event, and he prepared a full tasting of all of the menu items for myself and my mom. We were able to pick everything we wanted for the shower, and he was able to work within our budget. We selected the gnocchi with the vodka sauce, veal milanese, chicken limone, fried calamari, rotolini di melanzane, soup, salad and desserts. The food was outstanding. The gnocchi and the veal was probably the best I had in a long time. The service was perfect. Teresa is an amazing server.... she made sure all of our guests were happy! I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, and the prices were reasonable for what you get. The shower was perfect. Thank you for a great experience!
(5)
D T.
Ok 3.5. Warning- I always bring my husband in fear of being mobbed by 50 something's in black leather coats. Ladies they're ruthless and relentless. I'm half your age and you're chubby. Stop right there before I break out the insults and hurt your feelings. We like it in the summer so we can sit outside. Inside is very loud. I mean probably the loudest restaurant I have ever been to. This must be from the hey-yo Italians rolling in in their Cadillac's. (The parking lot is ALL Caddies. Hilarious) Now I'm Italian, but holy hell where do they all come from around here????? I like their seafood salad, but order EASY garlic. I am addicted to garlic and not easily affected, but whoa baby. This takes weeks to get out of your mouth! I usually order a few apps and this as a meal due to their lack of fish options. I can only eat their Whitefish so many times. However, if I'm eating pasta it's hands down the gnocchi or shhhh the 8 finger cavatelli. Not on the menu, but they like us. h and LOVE you can pick from tons of pastas and choose your sauce! Pizzas are EXCELLENT. I never had one until the owner sent over a complimentary cheese pizza. Holy hell, fresh mozzarella oozing everywhere and just perfect! Now I order it quite often! You'll know the owner...well-dressed Italian man schmoozing with everyone. He is a really nice guy. They could change their wine list and please serve your white colder please. It's almost room temp and I look like white trash dumping ice cubes in it. I can't go w/out mentioning one incident. Sat outside last summer, and I'd say 75% of the tables had kids. An obnoxious couple light up a cigar and the woman is lighting her cigarette w/ another, and another. Gross AND illegal. So I had a 10 top next to me with 5 young kids and we were both glaring at them. Look of death. I look around and every table is, children or not. At one point I think my husband was kind of holding me down, which was probably a good idea. So the uber tacky couple is CLEARLY aware of the hatred for them, but they're puffing away. Tables start asking to be moved, etc. and the manager does nothing!!! He''s really nice, maybe too nice. Then a female, maybe asst. GM comes and rolls her eyes at me like can you believe the big deal people are making. Yes I can and it's illegal idiot. I was dumbfounded it took an hour to resolve this insanity.
(3)
Elton R.
Stopped by on a whim and we were glad we did, no reservations but we were seated right away, Victor was our waiter and he did an OUTSTANDING job!! He made several recommendations that were spot on and great, his wine suggestion was spot on for our meal. Food was above chain level and very fresh but Victor made the evening great for us, we would return just on his service. Manager Kevin also stopped by the table and asked about the meal and chatted for a bit making us feel welcomed. We would return.
(4)
April W.
I went here last night for a birthday party that was a sit down family style dinner. Most of the food was fabulous. I had the gnochhi in vodka sauce and it was superb. The service was impeccable, especially Eric and the Ozzie Guillen look a like waiter. The appetizers were also great, we had the pizza and the eggplant dish that was sort of like manicotti but with the eggplant as the pasta.I wasn't in love with the penne and the sauce that it came with it, but it was not bad, it just was not my preference. Two things made this a 3 star and not a 4 star. One the bathroom was disgusting, dirty, unswept and the garbage cans were not emptied, not once in the 5 hours or so that we were there. Two, we went to the lounge area after wards and it was a riot, picture a place where Betty Loren Maltese would hang out. All ethnic italian types dancing, kind of a cruise ship atmosphere. BUT, I was paying upwards of 10 dollars a drink, kettle and club sode with a splash of cran. I had 5 and was not even buzzed. It was one of the worst drinks I had ever had, but could not switch, because I did not want to get sick. The Kettle was SOOOOOOO obvioulsy watered down and the club soda was flat and old tasting. Hey Volare, you need to replace the gas on your gun, clean your gun, and stop watering down your booze. Any other place that I am paying upwards of ten bucks for a drink, I would have certainly been buzzed after 2 drinks, let alone 5. Also, get rid of the creepy bald guy in the pin strip shirt that was creeping on my younger sisters. While he was somewhat entertaining, it is not cool or funny to take a young girls drink and hide it by your own drink. What was he trying to do Ruffie her??? Weird. Definatly a place I would go back to, but I would probably stick to beer or wine instead of 10 dollar water.
(3)
Deb M.
The best Italian food in the Western Suburbs and I've tried them all. Authentic, large portions. The food is unsurpassed. Every time I have dined here the service has been wonderful. Yes the Italian patrons are interesting and yes the noise is a little loud in the dining room. But if you want truly wonderful italian cuisine, this is the choice to make. Do not waste your time and money at Harry Careys or other "italian" restaurants. There is no comparison.
(4)
Kate S.
My family and I have been here several times. Each time we have been greeted with a smile and a big hello as soon as we walk through the door. Our servers have always been super and have been very helpful when it comes to trying out a new dish. If you ever see the stuffed pears as one of their special appetizers for the night, be sure to get it as it was to die for. The gnocchi is nice and light as it is made with ricotta cheese and the veal chops are huge. We always have leftovers. Parking does tend to be a hassle unless you do go early.
(4)
Lee B.
Well another great Italian restaurant that I have found, with help from my son, the food was impeccable, the service was outstanding the decore was very pleasing the staff was very attentive, if you like Italian food this is the place just come early to avoid the rush.
(5)
T D.
Thanks yelpers for reviewing and recommending. The food is delish and so was the vodka sauce that Michelle B. recommended. Service was incredible and the waitstaff knew their menu well. I just wish this place wasn't so busy and noisy, just goes to show you that this place is doing it right.
(4)
Eric Y.
We went on the recommendation of some friends. We were not disappointed! It is located in an unassuming strip mall and the room was quite nice, with high ceilings, large windows, and also a nice looking outdoor seating area that was quite popular on this night. There is a large menu. We had some appetizers. The cold seafood salad was delicious. The octopus was super tender. It was so tasty that I would have loved to see more of it and less calamari, conch and shrimp, but these were good also. We had the arancini which were very good, as good as any I have had. They had a little meat in them which is unusual but very tasty. We asked the waiter for recommendations and he was spot on. We were informed of "unlisted specials" which were veal ossobucco and brasciola. I had the veal ossobucco which was served over saffron risotto. Wow, that was excellent. A large portion, savory and the rich tomato sauce went very well with the risotto. The brasciola, braised flank steak roll with egg and sausage was also delicious, the beef tender and holding together well with nice beef flavor despite the long cooking. Homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce delicious, nicely al dente and rich. The veal milanese was less successful, arriving as an impressively large piece of meat but the breading was not crisp or savory. Angel hair pasta with alfredo and crab legs was a huge portion of pasta but very ordinary in taste and the crab legs were skimpy. The salads were generous and fresh. Desserts were good but not outstanding. These included a too tart peach sorbet and a very nice apple tart. Overall, we were very pleased.
(4)
Shirley I.
This was our second visit & it didn't live up to our first. We were seated at the very first table in the dining room: busy, noisy, & affected by the coldness of the entrance. On our last visit, my husband claimed the minestrone soup was the best he had ever had. Based on that, we all ordered it. It was lukewarm at best and seemed to not be the same recipe; we should have returned it, but our waiter wasn't around. When he did return, we commented on it and he expressed surprise, but no apology. We weren't asked whether we wanted a second bottle of wine when ours was finished. Bread wasn't refilled. Our dinners were tasty, but we felt rushed to vacate our table after the food was cleared. Based on this experience, we won't rush back.
(2)
kathy b.
everyone who knows this place in the city is soooo jealous they have opened one up right by me. agree with all the above reviews except the decor "cookie cutter" I totaly disagree. The bar is terrific the view in to the kitchen and the area in between the diners is unique. solid service outstanding food - no franchise here and it shows. great wine list its got it all. Had a large group for a celebration and we have never had better service. the cold food is served on cold plates the hot food is on HOT plates. the volare risoto is not to be missed. and what about the fresh bread thats served. you have to try one of the pizzas for an app. its truly the kind you have in Italy the ingrediants are superb if your kids appreciate good dining I would recommend taking them there for lunch its a bit less in price.
(5)
David O.
We were seated in the bar area even though we had a reservation which normally would be OK but someone was smoking near the doors where we were sitting. They had a side area closed off where it looked like a covered beer garden. The problem was that they were letting people smoke right next to the door which was only 10 feet away from our table. Nobody likes to eat around smoke. It was difficult to get an idea of how the food tasted. I would ask to be seated in the dining area only. The server was great, good wines but I can't fairly review the food since smoke was in our face pretty much the whole time we were there. Bummer cuz I was looking forward to it and heard some good stuff.
(3)
Jim R.
Second visit to the restaurant and it did not disappoint. Service was very attentive but not pushy. Excellent food and variety. The wine list gave us a good variety of wines. There were six of us, and we did not want to leave quite yet so we went to the bar to have a drink. Unfortunately they had live music that was very loud to the point you could not carry on a conversation. So if you want to continue the evening! I would recommend staying at your table.
(4)
Ron Z.
We thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Volare on a recent frozen Saturday night. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable. Our party of 4 loved pretty much every dish. Bruchetta appetizer and Volare salads were very good. The main courses were definitely the highlight. The sea bass is every bit as delicious as it's hyped to be. The ravioli was also very tasty with a wonderful red sauce. Chicken parm was also terrific with a flavorful and marvelously spiced red sauce. A risotta dish with chicken, peas and four cheeses was also delicious although the richness of the cheese makes this a dish best eaten more sparingly. It was still great as a leftover. While the food was most enjoyable, there are a couple things you should consider. We visited on a very crowded night and had to wait about 35 minutes past our reservation time. The bar, with a piano player/singer was a nice place to pass the time. When we were finally seated, we were put in the side room, that has large doors opening into the main room, which is used for large crowds and banquets. With two large party groups next to us, the noise was pretty extreme. All in all, however, it was a very enjoyable experience and we will surely be back.
(4)
Rathi J.
we loved volare in the city, and were super excited about finding it in this new location! this one was a lot more spacious than the original-- we weren't sure if it was that way only because it was a stormy thursday night; it also looked much more modern with a cheesecake factory feel inside. the service was prompt and friendly. the menu looked identical to the city menu so we were very happy. half bottle wines are the greatest thing every invented; while my finace missed that we had been brought the wrong one, it was the perfect amount of a delicious wine anyway. the mushroom pizza was fantastic-- very simple, but tasty. the gnocchi with arrabiata and the cheese tortellini with salmon sauce were both hits with us. overall, a great restaurant we will happily visit again!
(4)
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Address :1919 S Meyers Rd
Oakbrook Terrace, IL, 60181
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Eric B.
Whenever I come here I eat at the bar in part because of the ambience. The only time I don't go to the bar is when they have entertainment. For reasons I don't understand the music is cranked up so loud it is hard to talk to someone at your table. The service is more informal and friendly in the bar and they will often mention options that are not on the menu. For example items on the lunch menu can be made at dinner - result is some smaller portions if you want. Price is reasonable for most items. I've made it out of there fully satisfied for less than $20. I've been there about a dozen times and have not been disappointed. Will definitely go back.
(5)A G.
Was here a while ago with a coupon. Gave the server a good tip based on pre-coupon price. Then realized the server had already included the tip in the price. Watch for it! Food was OK. Nothing special.
(1)Lenard T.
I ate here last Friday and it was very good. I brought for people and everybody enjoyed their food and the service was great. I usually go to their location on Grand Avenue downtown can I enjoy the nicer atmosphere of the suburban location. The Chicago location is a little less formal but I think the food is at least as good there. I'm glad I found their location.
(5)Rebecca C.
With all the area Italian places only a stones throw away, I kind of yawn after my visit at Volare. Tasty, their ravioli is, and their gnocchi, even better. Calamari was good, not chewy. Salad was fresh, colorful and tasty. Portions are substantial and prices, generally fair. But coupled with sparse service and an old world charm that leaves me feeling like an octogenarian, is just not the method I choose to dine in. Maybe it's me, maybe it's not. After dining at Volare twice, I don't feel the need to go back. It wasn't anything in particular they did, but their competition which they simply can't beat.
(3)Christina A.
Came here for my dad's birthday for the first time. I've always heard raving reviews on this place and I'm glad I finally checked it out. I wish I remembered our servers name, he was fantastic! Service was amazing all around. The ambience was nice. Spacious, tall ceilings, pretty decor. The food was delicious... Oysters, homemade pasta, fresh calamari. Will definitely be back!
(4)Veronica B.
This location is in a strip mall but once you are inside, has the feel of a fancy restaurant. I had high hopes for my meal here...as my friends who arranged the dinner are huge foodies. I eat gluten free and after key questions I ordered the chicken risotto. Friends around the table ordered many delicious foods (lasagna, chicken parmesan, veal, clam sauce in red and white. All these dishes had Italian names which foster the illusion of Italy. My dish was not gluten free. Not sure which element had gluten but I had the telltale symptoms quickly. Shame on Volare for telling me one thing and then giving me food that made me sick. If you don't know where gluten is in food, do not proclaim your food is gluten free! We dined on a Monday night with plenty of tables open but the service was rushed. I wasn't finished eating my meal and they took it away! Really Dude? Are you in that big of a hurry that you take all the meals away? We definitely wanted a leisurely meal and ended up being rushed and bothered. Shame on you Volare for misreading the situation! Lastly, there was a mix up with the checks. Dining with a group of women, they had requested separate checks. Thank you Volare for accommodating us! However, I paid in cash and never got my change. Our server felt certain that I had left a 40% tip. Awkward! And embarrassing for us both. I did get my change and left my usual 20% tip. Not sure what happened with the service. A table full of older ladies might be challenging, but you need to read the situation better. What could have been a fabulous evening turned out to be rushed, awkward, (in my case) sickening.
(2)Francine L.
We took a chance and made reservations to dine out on Valentine's Day at Volare, knowing that this might not be the most pleasant experience. But it turned out to be one of the most delicious and delightful dining experiences we've had in the last few years!. We were seated within 15 minutes of a reservation although the entire lobby was filled with patrons. Our waiter was in good spirits and attentive but not intrusive. And everything we ordered was delicious. The four of us shared the warm kale salad and the beet salad which were surprisingly different but very tasty. My husband even enjoyed the kale salad which I can't get him to eat at home. It was enough for the four of us to share. My husband had the white fish dinner which was prepared deliciously; the presentation was very attractive. Our friends had the Lasagna and the rigatoni Arriabiata which both liked very much as well. I had the eggplant Rollatini and it was prepared just the way I like it. Despite the persistent crowd of people in the lobby waiting to be seated we were not hurried through our dinner. And none of the managerial staff displayed any stress or impatience but instead made rounds among the tables asking if everything was okay. We will definitely be at the back and highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Doe L.
The restaurant was empty but service was a bit slow. I found it strange that we had to find someone and ask for a kids menu when we had three toddlers. The food was very blah. The pasta was cold when it came out and the portions are lacking. The pizza was very boring. The margherita was basically a cheese pizza (shredded cheese, not fresh mozzarella) with small strips of basil. The best thing there was the fried calamari, which was delicious. According to my sisters, this location doesn't even compare to the downtown location.
(2)Melanie B.
I was just in Italy. "Just" meaning: I ate here with a still unpacked vacation bag sitting next to my bed. So, it's not with a poor memory that I say that the meal that I ate here was better than half of the meals I ate in Italy. Unfortunately, there are plenty of mediocre restaurants there. --they tend to be where tourists are. And unfortunately, even with Yelp (or most especially with Yelp), I was lead to a plethora of mediocre restaurants. I would like to meet all of these people who told me in their reviews that those restaurants were the best they'd ever had; I have a sneaky suspicion that these people judged them against Fazoli's. I had heard good things about the gnocchi with vodka sauce at Volare and wanted to order it, but when I heard my kids order it as well, I refused to be the table with three gnocchi orders. I settled on the salmon with fingerling potatoes. --it was more than satisfactory. The salmon was cooked perfectly and the garlic and white wine sauce was good. But, I stole bites of the neighboring plates of gnocchi and wished I'd ordered that instead. My salmon was good, but their gnocchi was exactly what I was in the mood for. Soft, light pillows of potato goodness. As for the comments that the portions were too small, nobody at my table finished their plates. I suppose, if you're comparing it to a buffet or a trough of food, it was considerably smaller, but the plates were by no means "small". Along with our meals, we ordered my son's choice of bruschetta and calamari. Bruschetta is a fairly standard item that is difficult to mess up. --Red tomatoes with a thin slice of parmesan on top and a drizzle of balsamic. Calamari was very light and thank heavens, not even a hint of chewiness. Bread was okay, but they have room for improvement there. Service was very attentive with enough humor to be enjoyable. The restaurant was dim and quiet. Would have been a good place for a date. I am sure I will be back to get my own plate of gnocchi so a date here someday will be inevitable. While I would never judge a restaurant to be authentic just because the staff was Italian, (After all, you can go to McDonald's and be served by plenty of Americans), it did add to the ambiance and experience. Admittedly, I am a sucker for Italian accents though.
(3)Traveling Foodie S.
I went here for a family dinner reunion. The service was great. The bread basket and olive oil were delicious, above average than the usual. I had the blank ink spaghetti with seafood (shrimps, crab meat, scallops). It was so delicious and seafood were cooked perfectly. I would definitely come back.
(5)Adele n.
My in-laws took us here for Christmas eve dinner. The food is really lovely. We shared several seafood appetizers (a cold fish salad, a grilled fish salad, and baked clams), all of which were awesome. I had the homemade ricotta gnocchi in a vodka sauce. The gnocchi were delicious, but I had entree envy for my husband's raviolis in the (better, in my opinion) marinara sauce. Our server was sweet and did a good job taking care of our large group. Only downside is that it's very large and, on the night we were there, very crowded. I don't really get the ambiance (like, why are there big TVs showing sports over the bar in a place with marble counters and dark wood?)
(4)Tori M.
After not getting in without a 2 hour wait anywhere else on a Saturday, we called ahead here and got in within 15 minutes. I knew it was a good sign when the place was filled with actual Italians having dinner. They started us with bread with the typical oil and cheese but also accompanied it with a cup of warm marinara that you could tell was authentic and homemade. We got the white wine muscles appetizer. The muscles were very big! All appetizers can be made into a half order. For an entree I got the fettuccine (noodles made of spinach) with bolognese. The noodles were tender and fresh. The sauce wasn't the best I've EVER had but it was drill very good. Our waiter was borderline impatient but wasn't impolite. He took our leftovers and boxed them nicely at the end. VERY affordable, the two of us ate dinner with drinks for $60! My only criticism is that their "by the glass" wine selection is pretty limited. Overall though, 5 stars! Ill certainly be back!!
(5)Timothy B.
The atmosphere was very upscale with white tablecloths and moderate lighting. The service was impeccable. Our server met our needs, offered thoughts on the menu and the days specials. The fried calamari was excellent served with a marinara sauce a wrapped lemon and Tabasco. The house salad was crisp very fresh with a very light olive oil dressing. I ordered the linguini con Vongole and asked that red sauce be spicy. It can out perfect in a large portion with some in the shell clams in the sauce. I would definitely recommend Volare.
(4)Joanna T.
To be fair, more like 3.5 stars. Had a lovely celebration here that everyone in our party enjoyed. The servers were attentive and went out of their way to meet all of our expectations. It is a gem of a neighborhood restaurant that serves quality Italian fare, all with a smile. We had a traditional family style meal and the standouts were gnocchi, shrimp, meatballs and filet. I've been here before on a Friday night and it can be busy, and the bar is a nice place to sip your drink of choice and enjoy the pianist while waiting for your table. If ever you find yourself in the area, stop by! Salute!
(3)Lisa L.
First time here but definitely not my last. Great table, our server Victor, was wonderful. We had the caprese salad and the special, lamb shank with risotto and tiramisu for dessert, everything was really good. Enjoy!
(5)Jarret T.
I went there for lunch the other day and the food was very good and the service was excellent. I had the rigatoni arrabiata, which was great and was only $10 (a very reasonable price in my opinion). For an appetizer I had the bruschetta, which for $7 I thought was a little pricey considering the portion was only 4 small pieces of toasted bread with tomatoes and oil and vinegar on them. They also brought out complimentary bread and marinara sauce, which I liked as well. The service was top notch, and the busboys did a great job with refilling my water on a regular basis (I drink a lot more water with meals than the average person).
(4)Mark C.
I was a big fan of Volare downtown... I'm not sure if that place has gone downhill like this one has since it's been a few years, but our experience was pretty poor. A few things contributed to this- like our server. He started out by recommending an $85 bottle of wine discounted to $65... Really? We will settle for the $30 thanks. And then took 10 minutes to get back to us after we figured out which bottle. Next he heard our conversation about Gratto closing and went on to brag about how much better Volare's prices are & compared to their prices-very tacky. Anyhow, homemade noodles I ordered were good - thank goodness and the others who ordered the veal were especially pleased with the polenta - decent. My meatballs, however, were sooooo bland - it was like they took unseasoned ground beef and fried it. But honestly our meals for people - bottle of $30 wine was $134 without tip. If everything was outstanding, I wouldn't complain - but... Those who know me know that bad meatballs are a dealbreaker for me. Not returning anytime soon. This was prompted on a $75 gift card, however, if someone gives me another one, I'll check out the Downtown location... I also will mention that we were there on a Monday, so seating was fine, but I would never go on a weekend as they are notorious for making you wait even though you have a reservation... last time we waited over an hour and it we found out the reason was because one of their "regulars" had shown up unexpectedly.. Really? I take it you are not interested in having more regulars...
(2)Christina J.
The food and service are fantastic. I had the Fusilloni al Ragu de Vitello, I loved it. It was a big portion so I ended up taking leftovers (yeah, classy!)
(4)R J.
Some of the tastiest and freshest Italian food I've ever experienced. The burrata on grilled bread w/ arugula is simple and delicious. So much flavor. Also loved the ricotta gnocchi. They are soft, flavorful and rich. Mini desserts are a great way to end a rich meal. Just a taste of some decadence. Other guests had the bracchiol and pasta w/ bolognese. Both were excellent. The food earns 5 stars. Sadly the rather brash host and our particular server whose apparent inexperience made the evening less than as elegant as it was set up to be. Other servers around us appeared far more skilled. Overall a great meal. Ambiance is quiet and beautiful. Will definitely be back.
(4)Lisa N.
After a movie at Yorktown, I turned to Yelp for good places nearby. This is how I was introduced to Volare. I had seen the Chicago location once on an episode of Check Please and always wanted to go. So I was delighted to find out there's one right here. Anyway, the service was outstanding and the food was equally as good! This will be our go to Italian restaurant from now on. It's a little pricey but for the quality you're getting worth every penny.
(4)Valerie J.
IDK what Thanksgiving lunch the previous reviewer had, but it must have been at a different restaurant. I'd made reservations for us to have that very same Thanksgiving meal at $28.95/pp (I thought - what a deal!) at 6:30 PM. Our waiter was a very pleasant man, though a bit kookie. First to arrive at our table was a basket of bread. Some was plain white bread, the other was covered with the same marinara sauce that accompanied the bread. Nothing here was inspired, beginning with the bread. Next up for us was the tiny salad of endives, 'pears,' pomegranates, walnuts, and blue cheese. This salad was a mess; it looked like it was just tossed on the plate. It was boring and I don't recall having any pears at all. Then came my 'mushroom and chestnut soup' - which may be one of the worst things I've ever eaten - seriously. It tasted like cardboard. I asked our waiter if it truly had mushrooms in it. He seemed uncertain but said yes... Do chestnuts taste like cardboard? Maybe... I added pepper... then crushed red pepper... then I gave up. My husband got the butternut squash risotto with 'amaretti cookies'. I don't believe it had much flavor either, nor was it much liked by either of us. The fact there were literally tiny cookies in his risotto... was just weird! I mean, hey, props for trying something different... Good thing my hubby likes cookies. But seriously - this was so dull, and risotto is so easy to make well! Unsurprisingly the far too dry turkey came with a banal gravy that could easily have come from a box. This is where our already unpleasant meal took and even odder turn. While the sweet potato and brussel sprouts were both represented, the 'truffle potato puree' was just mashed potatoes. When I told our waiter the potatoes seem to have missed their 'truffling' - if you will - he returned with a bottle of truffle oil and, right there, poured a hefty amount of oil on my potatoes... I mixed it up and yep - that is, I'm sure, what they would have done if they'd taken it in the back... but really... that was just the craziest thing in the world! Our desserts were desserts.. the flavors you would anticipate. The cannolis were probably the most interesting thing we had the whole time. What a rip off, even at 29 bux . Seriously, Volare... what were you thinking? Gah!
(1)Beth P.
Yum! My husband and I came here last Friday after a looooonnnggg week at work. We were able to easily book a table on OpenTable. The atmosphere is kind of cool, we sat underneath the rotunda in the middle of the restaurant. We had some delicious burrata and soppresata to start with a great bottle of wine. I had the seabass with mushrooms and my husband had the pollo arrosto - both were amazing! Can't wait to try the ricotta gnocchi ala vodka sauce next time.
(5)R S.
Service was not very attentive. More interested in chatting with another server than making sure our food was good, which brings me to the food. Chicken was overcooked and dried out. Replacement had the same problem. Gnocchi was pretty good though. Drinks were an adventure. When it was clear the server didn't know wine, I asked for sommelier. He begins looking at the list, and says it's in there somewhere. I wish he was joking. On another note, I'd heard the downtown Volare was very good. Disappointed in this location. I reserved via Open Table, and Volare marked us as a no-show. I'm glad Open Table asked me about it. Shame, shame, Volare.
(2)Jim O.
We ate dinner there last Saturday. We had a reservation at 6:30, arrived on time, were seated quickly, and were out the door by 7:15. We won't be returning. The food, standard Italian fare, was decent. Not great, but not bad either. The waitress was attentive and personable. However, the overall experience was not a good one. The self-absorbed young hostess led us to what was absolutely the worst table in a restaurant that was half empty. We said no, and she proceeded to walk us to the second worst table. The third time was the charm. I don't take this personally since she walked the young couple who arrived after we did to Siberia. They took the table, and were gone before we were. The restaurant began to get busy, and we were very rushed. I did not feel the least bit welcomed. The restaurant seemed to have many regulars who were being treated far better than those who had wandered in for the first time, which in my case will also be the last time. In fairness the manager stopped at our table midway through the meal and asked if the food and service were good. We didn't object to anything. I was thoroughly annoyed with the hostess and saw no benefit in being confrontational about it. I wasn't looking for a comp, and I wasn't going to be coming back. We have eaten at the Volare's downtown, which was a much better experience.
(2)Michael B.
Very nice, kind and friendly people. Excellent, professional service. So why only three stars? The tomato sauce. I make an excellent sauce (or so I'm told) and have been to many restaurants that make a better sauce than me. I don't skimp on the quality of the tomato and cook it slow. A good southern Italian style restaurant needs to deliver a good sauce. Since the same sauce is served on many dishes, it either succeeds or fails on multiple carriers. In my case, I couldn't finish my meal as the sauce was too salty and acidic. American and commercial grade tomato's have much more salt than Italian peeled tomato's. Maybe they need to add a little sugar to the sauce, which is typically what is done to smooth it out. In any event fix the sauce and it's easily a 4 star place with nice friendly people and otherwise good food.
(3)Kristina D.
We had our wedding rehearsal dinner here last June and it couldn't have been more amazing!!! When my sisters and I were out looking for a location for the rehearsal dinner, we decided to stop in for more information at Volare Oak Brook. On the spot the event coordinator met with us and had the chef prepare small samples of each of the items available for the catering menu! It was amazing! We felt so appreciated and it was a no-brainer to choose this location after they gave us our own private tasting without a reservation. The event was absolutely perfect! Everyone raved about the food and the service! Not a single guest of ours was unhappy; and at the end of the night the bill was actually less than what we had estimated! I recommend this location for a nice lunch, dinner, or small event. The room can hold (I think) about 65 people and it is beautiful! Volare really takes to heart the "family owned and operated" way of doing things and they really truly care about each and every one of their customers. They want to make sure everyone has the best time while in their restaurants!
(5)Susan N.
My industry club had our annual luncheon here on 12/19/14 for the second year in a row with a party of 25 or so. For the second year in a row, the banquet service was very good (Holly), the food was good albeit a bit slow in between courses and the chicken over egg-washed. Also, for the second year in a row, the bar service after was HORRIBLE. You'd think that by bellying up to the bar with 10-12 people at $100+ a round and an appropriate tip, you'd get a little attention and respect. Nay, nay. Ol' Doris there couldn't have cared less about our group. So, after paying my $100 tab, plus 20% tip, I wrote a little note on the receipt to the effect that "while we're not regulars, we shouldn't be treated any differently." Doris took the money and ran, but the incoming shift paid attention to it and saw to it we were well taken care of. Hey Doris, here's your next tip: "Quit your day job".
(2)Anthony E.
Mediocre food and mediocre service. it was not worth the trip and I would not return.
(3)Michael K.
This was my second time here and it did not disappoint. Both times were business dinners and we had Victor as our server both times. He is very friendly and always very accommodating. The food is great.
(3)Tim V.
The food at Volare was very pleasant, but not what I would call outstanding. However, the staff was so attentive that is was irritating. I would barely finish chewing the last of whatever was on my plate when my plate was whisked away with interrupting noise; I had taken no more that two sips from my water when I was asked if I wanted more water. There were four of us eating together and trying to have conversation, but we could barely get a sentence out without one of us being interrupted by one server or another. We had an appetizer, salad and entree; along with our conversation, we were in and out of the restaurant in 45 minutes. It was not a relaxing meal. In fact I felt like we were getting the bum's rush. As far as the prices go... since everything is a la carte, Volare is in no way a two dollar sign ($$) restaurant. We looked forward to good food and relaxed conversation; we were sorely disappointed.
(2)Kai C.
Not great. Took 30 minutes between salad and main course and the place was empty. The exec in our party paid over $1200 and closed out the check, then staff asked if we wanted coffee, then handed us each a bill for $3.50 for the coffee. Wait staff couldn't speak English or understand anything we asked. Appetizers were average, salad was soggy. Salmon was quite good. Desert lacked any nut-free choices. Will not go back. The locals in our group said this place is way overrated.
(2)Kaci L.
Lovely ambiance, wonderful wait staff and delicious food!! The waiter made a good recommendation on a nice glass of wine, and didn't try to push me toward something expensive. The black spaghetti was very tasty and the gnocchi was to die for!! Best I have ever had! Definitely coming back if I am ever in the area.
(4)Christina F.
The best thing I ate tonight was the french bread that came before dinner dipped in olive oil and parmesan (standard Italian appetizer you get anywhere). Seriously, folks, Olive Garden is better than this place and that s something I NEVER EVER thought I would say. I went here for a birthday party and the waiter actually insulted the birthday girl because she showed up late-- I heard they had car trouble so that's just rude. Also, the food was over priced and mediocre at best, I got pasta with crumbles of veal, peas, apparently mushrooms (though I didn't see or taste any) and a mysterious cream sauce that was tasteless and pretty much nonexistent. When my partner asked how it was, I just shook my head and thanked God I got a half order so I wouldn't spend more than $10 on a beef stroganoff minus the sauce. I could have made something better from a box, and I'm not that great a cook. The other dishes looked much better but when I tried my partner's gnocchi ala vodka the gnocchi was good but the sauce was forgettable. Also, the "specialty" pizza they brought us consisted of a cardboard like crust, salty proscuitto, artichokes, and salty mozzarella. Basically, a lot of salt on some baked bread. Nobody in the 15 person party seemed wowed by their food, several people sent most of their order back without eating more than a few bites. I think in general everyone was pretty disappointed. Perhaps the worst part though was that they passive aggressively kicked us out before closing time, our party was pretty much the only ones in the dining room so as soon as forks were set down, bus boys grabbed plates and checks were dished out. Several of the party guests joked that they shut the heat off to hint us to leave and in all honesty I think that's what happened because ten minutes after the table cleared it was FREEZING in that room! Also, just a note-- be prepared to drive around for 15 minutes and walk a ways to get to a spot or spend $3 on valet parking, they "block off" about two thirds of the surrounding parking lot. When we walked out of there, the first words out of my partner's mouth was "I don't think I'll ever go back there." With so many Italian places to choose from, skip this and head up the road to Carabba's or something.
(1)S F.
This place is a complete joke. My husband & I had 8:15 reservations, we arrive on time yet the woman at the hostess station tells us it will be a 20 minute wait. Hmm I'm sorry, what?! Isn't that the whole point of a reservation..so you don't have to wait? Fast forward an hour (yes, an hour!), we are finally seated. If my husband weren't so hungry we would have walked out. An appalling display of carelessness by this poor excuse for a restaurant. After we are seated, the waiter tells us the manager is sending over a pizza for our wait. Fine. Thanks so much. The pizza arrives, downright flavorless & quite disgusting (I can't remember the name but it had ricotta, artichoke & tomatoes). At this point I'm starting to get more angry due to the wait & this lackluster "free" pizza. So we order our entrees, lasanga & their homemade pappardelle. Eventually these arrive...the lasanga tasted like it was straight out of the microwave and the portion was unbelievably small. The pappardelle was again, flavorless and not at all appetizing. Do you people not believe in seasoning your food?!!! Lack of something as simple as salt & pepper is unforgivable. My husband is Italian & this restaurant is a disgrace to the heritage. We could not get our check soon enough. Note to Volare- stop overbooking reservations and work on your food. We will absolutely never return.
(1)John W.
After reading the reviews here and getting reviews from friends who loved this place, I went in wanting to do the same. From the moment we sat down and waited 15 minutes for a drink, we all knew it was going to be a long night. Ill break it up into 2 parts, food and service. Food- Calamari, very rubbery. Carpaccio, stuck to the plate as if it was sliced early in the day and put into a refrigerator. Very bland. Sausage and peppers was very good. The foccacia and marinara was the best of the appetizers. I had the Risotto di Mare and it was ok. I also tried the Spaghetti Neri and it was good. 2 had lamb chops and they were excellent. Btw, we had to ask for bread, twice. Service- From the very start when we ordered drinks and it took 15 minutes to bring 4 drinks plus glasses for wine, not very promising. The waiter came back and tossed 2 special menus on the table without announcing them. Kinda rude. We ordered 2 bottles of 33 dollar wine. He seemed more interested in emptying those knowing we would order more bottles than filling my drink and 3 others beers. My glass sat empty for over 30 minutes before he asked me. He even filled my wine glass with my drink glass sitting there empty right next to it. Not sure if he was new or knew we had a corporate card but his tip could have been way better. The Manager, assuming that was him, came by while we were all chatting and kept trying to ask us about the food. When we didnt answer, he made an odd comment and walked off. Overall, the comments about the food was average. The consensus about the service was the same, poor at best. The folks refilling our water and taking empty dishes, spot on and very polite. I would like to come back and try the lasagna or their homemade pasta dishes. I will ask for another server though.
(2)Jie S.
It is my BFF's favorite Italian lunch place in Oakbrook area. I really loved it too after my first lunch here. I didn't have any problem with the parking as other yelpers mentioned. We were seated right way. I do like the classic decor and vaulted ceiling. All tables were occupied around us and the noise level was just at the typical restaurant level for our conversation, nothing annoying. We started with the half order of Calamari and Caprese salad. The complimentary bread with marinara sauce were served once we finished the ordering. I really liked the mixed bread in the basket. The half order Calamari came with very decent portion and tasted just right. They topped some stripes of Balsamic Vinaigrette on the Caprese which I absolutely loved. The mozzarella cheese was creamy and fresh. By the time we were done with appetizer, we were almost full. The entrees were Gamberi Rissoto and Linguine with Mussels. Both came with the huge portion. Rissoto has big tasty shrimps and fresh asparagus in the creamy rice. A bit on the heavy side for me. A dozen of Mussels around the noodles were huge and fresh. We thought they must be hand picked or something. The marinara sauce was just right for the noodles. We liked the Linguine better than the Rissoto. We packed 80% of both for dinner. We loved our waitress. A nice wait person absolutely makes a meal more enjoyable. Our waitress was asking the right questions at the right time. She asked if we needed the olive oil with cheese when the bread was served. She noticed we were talking a lot while eating the appetizers so she let us know she would hold entree off a bit so we could enjoy the appetizers more. She was awesome. The whole lunch was very pleasant for us. And we used the resaurant.com certificate which brought down the cost to $15 per person including tips. You bet I will come back very soon.
(5)Minal J.
I met with a friend to go out to dinner for Italian. We had originally planned for Buca De Beppo but they had an hour wait. So my friend suggested this place and said it was great. I have never tried it at this location but went to the one in Chicago which i wasnt really impressed with. I said lets give it a try. We were able to be seated right away although there are no booth seats. We started off ordering the Insalata Di Mare, which was so delightful! The seafood was not fried but very light and fresh tasting with a hint of lemon and olive oil. I would recommend it for a delicious and light starter. As for the main dish, I ordered the Spaghetti Neri al Pesce, which was delicious. It had an authentic taste to it although the speghetti was black in color. The color had no effect on the taste. I would order this dish again. Most of the dishes contained pork so my choices were slim. However, i was satisfied with this dish. There was so much I had enough to take home for lunch the next day. Also, the taramisu was a perfect sized portion and was the perfect ending to the meal. I would definitely recommend this place. The customer service and staff were great. They make frequent stops to your table to make sure everything is going good. Our server was extremely polite and was humorous at times. I would definintely come back here. Thumbs up for Volare.
(5)Dave S.
The best part of the meal was the lemon candy on the way out. Man, that was good. The rest of it? Eh, okay. Pretty decent, but not at all cheap. My wife and I split an order of Insalate Volare (that's a salad), and the salad had some greens but a lot of tiny cheese morsels (which stuck together) and circular things that were a little strange. Shallots? Scallions? Definitely not scallops. Just an okay salad at $8. There was some nice fresh bread (and some not-so-nice toasted bread) that arrived with tomato sauce. That was pleasant, though a little more for our entree would've been appreciated. Cavatelli was on the special menu, served with wild boar. Huh? Well, of course I had to give that a try. But the problem was that I was thinking "cavatappi," which is like rotini. Which is what I wanted. Not long dumplings, which is cavatelli. It was decent. The wild boar tasted like beef, I guess. There was some other vegetables in the sauce, but I wanted a stronger flavor, and what I got was kind of bland. Not worth $18. My wife's lasagna ($16) was better, with a fresh and hearty tomato flavor, lots of tender beef, and a decent amount of cheese. Nothing unusual about it, which was what she wanted. I'm not sure why some Italian restaurants have their lighting at a level where it's hard to read the menu, but Volare is one of them. Holly (our server) was friendly and polite, and displayed an impressive knowledge of all the desserts they had. (They offer smaller portions of dessert for only $3. Good thinking, Volare.) The biggest challenge was to drink all of the water before someone (or sometwo) filled it up again. The water was so cold that it proved to be a difficult task to get anywhere below the 2/3 full mark. At the end of the meal, I went for it, covering the glass with my hand, and shortly after I finished, a voice was in my ear, asking if I wanted more. My plate of cavatelli was cleared without being asked if I wanted to take any of it home. That's okay. I don't think I wanted it anymore. Volare was not a good value, but the service was pretty good. I was going to give three stars at first, but hey, if the free candy on the way out's the best part of the experience, does it really deserve that third star?
(2)Allen C.
we are fortunate to have many fine Italian eateries in the western suburbs. Volare does not disappoint, and is highly recommended For lunch and dinner. While no superlatives are in order, the food and service is of high quality and should be in your top 10 for Italian Cuisine.
(3)Michele S.
The husband and I came here for a nice Saturday evening dinner after a long week of work. The service was decent. The guys at the host stand were very welcoming. We arrived earlier than our reservation, and they sat us immediately without a problem. Our waiter wasn't that great, but the rest of the staff was exceptional. We barely saw our waiter for most of the meal, and he seemed annoyed when we didn't want dessert saying, "It's my job to ask." Ok, that's fine, and we don't want any! The bus boys kept our water glasses full all the time, and as soon as a dish was empty, it was quickly swept away. Awesome. The food was ok. I had the house salad to start. While the salad components were fresh and flavorful, the dressing was a bit too vinegary. I also got the homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce. The gnocchi were delicious, but the vodka sauce was very salty. That night I felt like I drank a gallon of water before bed. My husband was pleased with the minestrone soup and lasagna that he ordered. I would rate this as a very average experience. It's worth the trip once-in-awhile, but don't expect anything out of this world fantastic.
(3)Stephen C.
Always fresh always good food & good service!
(4)Rory M.
Ate Thanksgiving lunch at Volare. Price was $28.95 for bread, mushroom soup, risotto, turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie. One of the best meals I've had in my life. Everything was amazingly fresh. You can tell that they painstakingly and lovingly prepare every single thing, including the marinara sauce for the bread, from scratch from the best ingredients. Service was outstanding and friendly. They were very busy, but the waitstaff took great care of us. Parking could be a hassle because they have very few spots, so plan on paying the $3 for valet and save yourself the trouble of looking for parking. I'll be sure to go back for a more traditional Italian meal.
(5)Sean M.
Great service! Of course I went on valentines day, so it was slammed, but they handled it very well. While my date was in the bathroom, a man who I presume to be a manager took the time to ask me how I was and how I was enjoying my food. This sticks out to me that this company really does care about how the customers feel. And they make them feel at home.
(5)Tee D.
My past experience with this place was good. However, today I ordered takeout with a simple pizza (prosciutto, arugula and olives) - a dish I have gotten here before several times without an issue. I show up - they give me a salad and act like I am the one with the problem. I then wait another 10 minutes when there is no one else in the restaurant and they come back with a pizza that is some butchered version of one of their signature pizzas - great - not what I ordered. No one asked me if I was satisfied or dissatisfied. Here's a clue - I was not so I left. Will not be back even though it is within walking distance of work.
(1)Rosie M.
Great little Italian place between oak brook and Yorktown malls. We were sat immediately and greeted by the owner, something that doesn't happen often anymore. We had a bruschetta appetizer which was absolutely amazing. We had a bottle of red and an entree each. Each of us were very pleased with eveything we had. There was a cute live musician playing as well. I will definitely be back, especially in summer as they have a really nice outdoor seating area when it's warm.
(5)Laurie H.
Not a great dining experience the past few times. Food is not up to par...especially for the prices they charge. My risotto was not right. The texture was off-putting. Bread was not fresh. Not sure how long this business will remain viable.
(2)Alex M.
Made a reservation several weeks in advance of an anniversary. It was an early time at 6 pm. There were only a few people already dinning. We were seated next to the kitchen door. Clearly they never wanted me to come back. The food was average for the cost. It was a big disappointment. My experience at Olive Garden was better.
(1)P S.
Took the family for dinner tonight. Parents and siblings had eaten here before and they spoke highly of the food and service. It is now one of their favorite Italian restaurants. So already Volare had to live up to some high expectations. Our reservations were for 7:30pm. We were seated, greeted & served promptly. The ambiance was warm and inviting. The service staff checked on us regularly, fulfilling our requests for warm bread, wine & water almost telepathically. The food arrived in a timely manner and was well proportioned. We started with the Warm Kale Salad which was enjoyable (I'm still learning to love Kale). Followed by dishes of Pollo alla Parmigiana, Risotti di Mare, Gnocchi alla Vodka, and Spaghetti Caprese with a side of Polpette. The boys ordered from the Kids Menu. Everyone loved their dishes and everything tasted like it was made fresh. Portion size were generous, but not ridiculous. All the dishes were served warm and with a little flair. Photos on Yelp of the dishes were accurate to size, style and preparation. We ended with coffee and dessert platter of assorted fruit, tiramisu, some type of ice cream cake (delicious) and an assortment of biscotti and cookies. The boys ravaged their vanilla ice cream. I enjoyed my meal and would heartily recommend Volare to others. I plan to be back and try more of the delicious menu.
(5)Erika C.
We always have a great time here. The food and the wine list are good. The ambiance is lovely too. It never is the first place that I think of, it isn't the most glamorous destination, but I often end up here for dinner or a workday lunch with associates or girlfriends. They have many solid entree choices. The arincini appetizer is yummy. The pizza isn't my fav but it is easily skipped. I hosted my G-ma's 90th birthday party here and they did a great job despite some confusion with the initial reservation. Definitely on my go to list, when I remember them!
(4)Lochin S.
been here so many t imes. I love everything here to eat. the mediterranean salad is to die for. always get that. then i vacilate for the entrees. my favorite is the parpardelle with bolognese sauce. the lunch portion is huge. take it home and eat it for dinner. amazingly the pasta part still has decent texture when reheated. risotto is pretty specail as well. servers are great. owner is great.
(5)Sadie P.
Went there for New Year's Eve dinner. Had a reservation so seating was immediate. Server did a very good job. I didn't love that most appetizers involved fish in some way so we got a pizza for a starter. The pizza was delicious. My entree was a cheese sauce pasta plate and it was ok. Not great, not bad.
(3)Steven M.
I came here to grab a quick bite before a party that was serving food. I just wanted to make sure! So we sat at the bar and I started with a couple of Chopin Cosmos! Yum! Then we had the beef carpaccio and it was really good. The shrimp cocktail was awsome though! The prawns were huge. And we finished off with the Volare salad that had all kinds of fresh veggies in it. This place is a standout in the crowded Oakbrook corridor. One of my fav's.
(5)Chad B.
Found by accident one snowy evening and we've gone back plenty of times ever since. I think it was the first experience that brings us back. Snowy blizzard pelleting Chicagoland on a February evening. We we're out and about shopping when we decided to to got McCormick and Smicks for supper. McCormick's had closed early due to the storm and a little old man came out for a cigarette and said if you want to have a great meal head to his place called Volare. Quick left and right and there we were. My fiance and I had the entire restaurant to ourselves and there it began... The owner Benny greeted us at the door and sat us, asked how our night was and when he found out it was our first time to the restaurant..... Wine bottles, pizza appetizers, calamari, risotto, steak and pasta came flying to our table.. we ate like kings and couldn't believe how good the food was. Benny pretty much took care of the bill that night, that night has turned into many nights spent at Volare. We have always had a great time, food has always been excellent and the service impeccable. The night of our wedding rehearsal we had 30 people to feed, we chose Volare for the supper. Again amazing experience,as always the food = excellent. If you go you must try the pizza.. Its excellent. We've been a fan of Volare from the start - we take everyone who comes to visit to the place and Volare never disappoints. We've remained in contact with Benny and also frequent his Chophouse downtown called "Benny's Chophouse" again - You have to try this place. Burgers are simply the best in town!
(5)Mary D.
Volare is fantastic. Usually a great value too. We work very close to the Oakbrook Terrace location and go here often for lunch. The service is outstanding and the food is wonderful. You really get quality and quantity for the money here. I am so glad that Volare is not close to my home, otherwise I would weigh 600 pounds. The bread is varied and served with marinara and olive oil. Usually the salad is quite good. The eggplant parm? THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD! We have had many items here, pizza, sandwiches, pastas etc.....always good. Dessert is usually good as well. They always have interesting specials too. Love this place
(4)Lauren A.
We ordered from Volare for delivery, since we had enjoyed their food at the restaurant. We were told the food would be be delivered in under an hour. An hour an a half later, we still didn't have food, so we called the restaurant for an update. The confused girl said it would probably be another half hour. I asked to speak to a manager, who made some excuse about traffic...we do not live in the city. He assured me it would be within 10 minutes. Thirty more minutes went by before our food finally arrived.
(1)Jill H.
I can't belive it took me so long to get to this great restaurant. I have been to the one in the city many times and was not sure they could live up to the same great food. Everything was delicous the service was great and I loved that our server was very knowledgable about the wine list. We will be back again! Thanks for bringing an authentic Italian Restaurant to the Western Burbs.
(4)Meghan T.
Not sure if "Energetic" is the best description for the overwhelming noise level at Volare, that just gives it a positive connotation, this was anything but. After requesting booth seating, we were seated at a small round table right next to the kitchen... It was the nosiest, most distracting table in the dining room. There were dishes clanking, servers shifting in-between out table to place things down on the counters and when anything was dropped the sound was amplified. At one point we smelled food burning which was unappetizing. It was just a constant rush of the staff surrounding us going in and out of the exposed, open-style kitchen. I just thought it was a bold move for the host to seat us at the most congested table when we had requested a private, quiet booth. The food was standard, and what I would describe as upscale Olive Garden. Calamari appetizer which tasted like seasoned card board with a rubbery texture. The Cesar salad was our favorite part, but again, seemingly mediocre and I've certainly had better. We were disappointed when we later realized that the table next to us had ordered the same salad and were offered fresh ground pepper, while we were not... Seemed pretty inconsistent. For our entree we shared the "homemade" ricotta ravioli with arrabiata sauce and a side of meat balls. The meat balls were bland and the only thing seemingly homemade about the ravioli was the fresh cheese, other than that it was rubbery. For arrabiata sauce it seemed mild, I would've liked to taste more spice and flavor. By now you've probably realized that the service was poor. We saw our waiter when the order was placed and a couple times when our food was served, but he never once asked how everything was. At one point we saw a gentleman in a suit visiting tables, which we assumed was a manager. When he got to out table, he attempted to lean in and then quickly backed out, and went over to the next table. I was making eye contact with him as he ignored us and it was indeed awkward. I won't be back, like I said before-- Upscale Olive Garden and at that over-priced for noisy atmosphere, boring food and poor service.
(1)Gina G.
I have been hearing all the rave about Volare, so i figured I'd give it a shot. It was a Friday evening and the place was packed. We ended up waiting an additional 20 min for our table after having reservations, so it didn't start out on the best track. I had the Risotto Volare, with squid ink, which you don't see to often anymore and it was very flavorful. My sister had a fillet which looked great, but was a bit overcooked for mid rare. The service was not the greatest as our server was not around much, maybe it was to busy? All in all it was just an "OK" experience, falls into just your average Italian joint.
(3)Ric C.
Went last night because we wanted to eat outside and didn't realize you can smoke in an outdoor dinning area. (I don't think legally you can). But at Volare it seems they are catering to the smoker. This is not about food or service, its good. It's about when the table next to you lights a large cigar when you're eating dinner and the server tells us they can do that, well it's not my kind of place.
(1)Mike P.
I came across this restaurant thanks to Yelp as I was looking for an alternative to Maggianos where a group of us was going to meet for a nice dinner. I got there with a friend that I drove with and we walked in. As only a few of us were there, we were still seated right away and waited for the others to arrive. Tom, our server, took our drink orders and made some suggestions of what to order. When everyone else arrived and got their drink orders, Tom came by and took our food orders, making a strong suggestion on their lamb entrees and also their gnoochi (which he said was homemade with ricotta cheese). Everyone placed their orders and eventually the bread came out (they served it with two loaves, one plain, the other with a light coating of tomato sauce on the top, along with a cup of some kind of tomato based sauce (marinara?) along with the olive oil and vinegar. For the first course, everyone except for me got some kind of salad (I opted for the bowl of minestrone soup). All said the salad was pretty good. My soup was piping hot and was thick with just the right amount that was served. Then we got our main course. Some ordered pasta and sauce (on the menu they have different kinds of sauces listed, one sauce/pasta they didn't list was one made with neckbones(??) which one the people in the group said was delicious). My chicken cacciatore was very good with a generous amount of pasta and sauce. It also had mushrooms and some olives in it which gave it a very good taste. Because of the large amount, I did take a doggie bag home and was able to enjoy the pasta for an additional meal. My friends also all took leftovers home which says something about their generous portions. All in all this was a great experience. I would not hesitate to go there again if I wanted a different and a quieter experience than a place like Maggianos.
(4)Curt L.
First class option. There is the sister Volare to the one on The City. It was Wifey's birthday so we came here for a bottle of red and some pasta. (Went with the Dynamite Cab Sav from Napa.............only because our grandson's nickname in Little League is Dynamite!). We had the grilled seafood for an app.......octopus, squid, scallop and shrimp. I highly recommend. Wifey had the white clam sauce with angel hair...but substituted with shrimp. Good call. I had the pappaderelle with arriabitata (the spicy tomato sauce). Superb. The "pappa" were made in house. The staff brought over a semi freddo as a birthday 'cake". Excellent. I recommend if you love smooth creamy ice-creamy cheesy stuff. The staff also wished Wifey a Happy Birthday as we left...so good communication with the crew. Our waiter Anthony was excellent. Friendly and helpful Great place in Lombard!
(4)J R.
Excellent food and even better service. Didn't realize this restaurant had a western suburb location and the food is just as good as the downtown location. One of my all time favs for Italian in Chicago.
(5)LOIS B.
I have to admit, I do enjoy the food. Our servers have always been top notch. Everything we have ordered, which is usually one of the specials, has been delicious. So why not 5 stars? Parking tends to be a royal pain. Spaces are rare in their parking lot and one night I could not even get the valet to take my car. Silly me, I thought that is what a valet's job was. Dining room can be very noisy, so the smaller side room might be a better seating choice.
(4)A M.
My gal pal wanted lunch here so I agreed to try. We arrived at 3pm on a Tuesday afternoon and found the place a ghost town. One couple in the dining room were spared the overbearing tone of a brusk businesswoman and her companion who sat at the opposite end of the sunroom where we were seated. This woman was SO loud that even when she demanded they put on the overhead music (it was off) her voice still echoed. It was a very hot day that day, and yet the place had the air conditioner off! I had to ask for them to turn it on. Shocked that we had been given the 'quick lunch menu'' with prices that were quite high, we attempted to order drinks. That delay should have been the first clue that something was very very off. When they arrived they were made wrong and sending them back only delayed the waiter from coming over to get our order to the kitchen. Meanwhile, we got served a basket of two breads, and a side of some red sauce and waited. No oil, no cheese offered. Drinks on the second trip were still wrong and asking again wouldnt have solved the problem. After ten minutes with no one to return we flagged down someone cowtowing to the overly loud patron and beg her to take our order. Now a third person arrived and asked us to tell her what we wanted. We told her and after she disappeared five minutes later a waiter arrived to ask for our order. Explaining it was in already sent him away and we waited. Droning now on her cell phone, the loud woman was our source of entertainment (since we couldn't hear the music) and our wait kept climbing. Never returning to the table, I decided to rush the hostess stand and beg for our food from the kitchen. Several minutes later our food arrived. I had ordered four cheese risotto, and found the rice under/uncooked - not at all what I had hoped for. My companion had asked for an antipasti tray for a light lunch (they dont' offer it and wouldn't make it) and was talked into the gnocci with vodka sauce. We were so hungry by then complaining would have only made it worse. A man arrived at the table to say that he had checked the kitchen and our ticket time was ....22 minutes! On a Tuesday afternoon! Unbelieveable. Apologizing for the entire mess, he offered us desert on the house. We never saw a menu to chose from, and were presented with a plate of cut fruits and some soggy cookies tossed in the middle. When my friend ordered coffee, they charged us for it too! I will never go back.
(1)Alex I.
So I went there this week with a large group and I was very impressed with our waiter (I think her name was Jodi). She helped out in every way from explaining the specials to pairing it with the drinks. I ordered a homemade cheese tortellini with arrabiata sauce and it was good but not great. I also thought the calamari was a little chewy and so did a few others. Overall, everybody seemed to really enjoy their food. This is the second time I have been here and even though it isn't the best Italian food I have ever had, the service was great. I would have given it another star if they had a better beer selection. I had a Stella but would have liked to have had any local beer like a Matilda, or a Blue Moon, or even a Fat tire but unfortunately they do not have any beer on tap. The ambiance was great and the prices were not too bad. If you are in the mood for Italian and are thinking of this place, I would say go for it because they have plenty of good dishes to pick from.
(3)Ryan C.
I could take or leave Italian and only went because of a business lunch with our vendors. I was actually impressed walking in and seeing how nice and classy the place was. The menu isn't too terribly big, which is fine. Too much only means too many choices. It's simple and well put together. The portions are decent size. I only had a half salad, which was still a decent size. I can't say the salad blew me away, but it was what I expected. One of the people that was at the table had the eggplant Parmesan with pasta on side, which was rather large. I think I will consider that if I go again. The service was wonderful and the food came up quickly. I think that Chef Gordon Ramsey would be impressed with Volare. It's not too expensive, but it's not cheap either. They do have a full bar that is separated from the dining area. I didn't go in, but did sneak a peak.
(4)Karen G.
This might be the best Italian restaurant outside of the city. I don't mind the drive from Palatine to Oak Brook Terrace to enjoy the authentic Italian cuisine of Volare. The service is excellent, I enjoy the interaction with the staff and the pride that is taken in delivering an enjoyable dining experience. Parking has never been a problem. Do check out the bar and outside dining during the summer months.
(4)Ashley J.
I've eaten food from Volare a few times in the past years.. I feel like each time can be hit or miss, regardless of what one orders.. The bf and I were craving some quality takeout so we decided to try Volare since we just found out that they deliver.. we ordered the bruchetta and a pizza = $35. I was beyond annoyed when we opened the pizza box and they had forgotten to put SAUCE on the pizza?! What kind of place would do that? I called to ask if that's just how they prepare their pies, but they admitted they had made a mistake. However, there was no offer made to replace the pizza, give any type of compensation, etc. I'm really not one to ask for freebies, so I just kept it to myself. A few weeks later, we tried again - and I'm glad that we did. Pizza was correct this time, and it was actually quite good. I would have given Volare 4 stars, but I can't get over how expensive they are - 1 pizza = $26. I'd much rather order from Roberto's in Elmhurst..or of course Lou Malnatis for deep dish. Restaurant: The restaurant is very loud inside- they have vaulted ceilings that seem to make noise travel like crazy. We had a table of about 8, so our service was slow. Also, it's very dark inside. Note: their arancine is not good- soggy, and the meat tastes very strange- not cheesy at all like their menu suggests. If we do order from here again, it'd definitely be delivery/takeout than sit-down.
(3)JoJo N.
My husband surprised me with dinner at Volare for my birthday based on its menu and Yelp reviews. We loved it!! The atmosphere is modern and inviting. The food was excellent. I ordered the gnocchi (homemade with ricotta) with homemade vodka sauce. It was the best of both I have ever had. My husband order the veal medallions and was pleased too. The main dining room can get loud, but there is a room to the side and an outdoor patio that are a bit more private. We highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Vanessa S.
Fake tans, chest hair, cleavage oh my! Volare is a truly Italian experience - in every sense. 4 of us went here on a Saturday night but thought we made a wrong turn and had entered New Jersey. The bar area was loud but there wasn't much talking just gaping at the other patrons. This is a suburban restaurant but clearly everyone (most were over 50) thougt it was a club. People watching aside - at least you're guaranteed to get a good laugh - the food was excellent. Tomato bread to start, Minestrone - delicious - Mussels - I heard they were good I thought they smelled like the gorilla house - Caprese salad - fresh, Gnocchi was so light with delicious sauce. Warning: portions were huge and dessert really can't be missed - flourless cake -mmmmm. Service was decidedly just OK. If you're looking for a delicious Italian meal among Sopranos rejects head to Volare. *** Be warned - parking is a nightmare - they force you to valet and it's not free - hey at least I warned you ***
(4)J M.
Restaurant week brought me there...good food & service will bring me back! My fav is the braciole...tender flavorful IS MY MOTHER IN YOUR KITCHEN??? Rich Italian gravy (spaghetti sauce to non-Italians) topped light fluffy gnocchi. Fresh ingredients, complex flavor layering made for so many great menu items, Try the desserts.... Good coffee thank God..... I'll go back
(5)yoku s.
This was one of the worst restaurant experiences we've ever had -- no parking, had to wait even though we had a reservation, watched another couple get seated before us at a table for 4 (even tho they came in after we did) while we were seated in a tight nook. Nobody came to take our order for 20 minutes. I had to try to make eye contact and flag someone down. The only thing great about this restaurant is the bus boys / runners. They were extremely attentive with filling waters, bringing bread, clearing plates, etc. I wanted to tip them additional. For the first time ever, I wanted my food to come quickly, so I can leave ASAP. We will never, ever return. Oh and the food is decent, but not good enough for me to return.
(2)Robert D.
ITS BACK!!! My wife and I have been going to Volare on and off since it open. There was a time that they had changed the chef and the Marinara sauce to a chunky style with large pieces of garlic and tomato. There was a noticeable change in the food quality with the chef change. Now Benny has brought in Chef Doug and the food we had tonight was what we fell in love with years ago. I had the arrabiata sauce with my pasta and it was wonderful! My wife had the angel hair with the marinara and she was delighted to have it the way she remembered it! We had the Nutella Crepe with Caramel and Hazel Nuts for dessert. The Chef was out in the dining room overlooking the tables and doing QC! Something that you don't see much of anymore. You have to go and give it a try!
(5)Nabiha M.
There's nothing really special about Volare. It's supposed to be an Italian cuisine restaurant, but aside from pasta and a few options for pizza, there isn't much to experience here. The service was poor.. I judge this based on the fact that I was here for a friend's birthday party with my toddler and no one even brought me an extra chair for my toddler, let alone a highchair (assuming they had one). Then when I asked for a straw for my daughter's glass, it took not one, not two, not even three server's to bring the straw, we never got it! Then comes time for the check, and we all divided it up because there was a mix of cash and cards and our waiter was furious! He told us that he can do it but it takes him nearly an hour for as large as our group was, which was about 10 people and that he'll do it but we have to wait. How long does it take at a restaurant, say like The Cheesecake Factory where I've been to with more than 10 people to divide up the bills? They have us sign the receipts before we're even done with our last bit of dessert! I won't be going back, the food was mediocre and the wait-staff really threw me off. I didn't feel comfortable here at all although it seems like a great date night place with it's dim lighting and fancy decor, it's not worth it if you aren't treated well and the food isn't great. Sorry Volare, you're off my list!
(2)Travis R.
Food was EXCELLENT!!!!!! Decore and atomosphere was ok...looked staged and not very...well... permanent. Oh, and service was very good!
(4)Don T.
We had dinner for four tonight and each meal was very impressive..... actually outstanding. Something has changed. I hear there is a new Italian Chef kicking it up a notch. This food is homemade and made to order. NOT the FACTORY stuff you get at other "Italian" restaurants. Service was excellent too!
(5)Jim C.
A very nice and shi shi Italian place with a lot of business people and people here celebrating special occasions but didn't think the food matched the prices. Caprese salad (3.5 stars) - looked good and generous portions of tomato and mozzarella but tomatoes didn't seem to have much taste. Okay but nothing to write home to Mama about. Sea bass special (3.25 stars) - sea bass was fresh but the accompanying ingredients and sauces just didn't seem quite right. Too bad. I love sea bass. Pastas come in ginormous portions. Bottom line: I'd probably come back to give some of the pasta dishes a try...as long as someone else is footing the bill.
(3)Ken M.
The food and service was AWSOME!!! I came up to visit my sister from Texas and the everything was Great!!
(5)Pizza L.
You have to try the chilean sea bass....just ate there last week and it was out of this world!!!!! Cooked perfectly, it was sinful!!!!!
(5)Gabi V.
My boyfriend & I are big foodies & love to try new places. We came across Volare when I was looking up reviews on RPM Italian Downtown. The reviews for that place weren't so good, but we still wanted Italian & something new. So when we looked at Italian close to downtown, we came across the Volare downtown location. Went on the website & found out that there was one closer to us! So we decided to go to the Oak Brook location for lunch.. The lunch portions are huge & enough to split or just take home leftovers (which I like to do). The lunch comes with soup or salad and the entrees. Let me just tell you, Italian is my favorite food of ALL time & we usually always go to Mia Francesca in La Grange/Little Italy, but OMG this food was to die for. I had the chicken parmesan, the cheese was loaded on top of the chicken (I LOVE cheese), they gave you a big side of pasta and the chicken was all white meat & super tender! Not only is the food FANTASTIC, the staff there are very knowledgeable about every item on their menu, the specials for the day & they are super friendly & attentive. In all my experiences going to a ton of restaurants, I have never been treated so nicely before & working in the food industry, I know how hard it can be to try to keep a smile on your face & be friendly. Kevin & Mike I believe are the managers there & they always come around & ask you how your meal was & if they can get you anything. They are always super friendly!! I brought my mom in for her birthday recently & the food gets better & better every time. The second time we went, I had the creme brulee & it was amazing. I am a pastry chef & creme brulee is not my favorite dessert, but at Volare it was amazing! I will always choose Volare for my Italian food cravings & always go to this location! I am planning on having a few birthdays & Christmas parties there as well :)
(5)Kim R.
I made a reservation at Volare last Friday. There was plenty of parking and we were seated right away. The hostess, waiter and bar staff were very friendly and efficient. We had no issues with our waiter. He checked back on us frequently. We had no complaints about the food. The bar area has live entertainment but it's a little on the small side, so it does get loud. The service was good in the bar area too. If you're into people watching, you will find it here. All-in-all...no complaints.
(4)F K.
Interior is nice but thats about it. I had the margherita pizza and it tasted so bland. My friend had the chicken pasta and it was nuked with pasta sauce. Plus the pasta sauce wasnt even that great. It tasted like out of the bottle pasta sauce. My other friend had some other type of pasta and that was also bland. Someone else had the salmon and it tasted disgusting. Not even seasoned. Maybe I came on a bad night or something but not a great experience.
(2)Michelle B.
I just love Volare in the city and was so excited when they opened this location. It's the same high quality food you are used to in the city but the dining room is new and so much more spacious. The service is outstanding! It's rare to get great service in the suburbs but Volare puts other restaurants to shame. I'm particularly fond of their vodka sauce. If you like chocolate you must try their chocolate ice cream it's out of this world.
(5)Carol K.
When I crave Italian food- my favorite Italian restaurant in the city is Volare. When I heard that they were opening up another Volare out in the "burbs" I was skeptical that they could replicate the amazing menu that the original restaurant has been turning out for years. Today I got my chance to check it out. Open for just 5 weeks, Volare (this location is in Oak Brook Terrace although it comes up on Yelp as Villa Park for some reason) is worthy of the term "sister" restaurant. From the amazing food, to the impeccable service, I may have just found a way to curve my Italian cravings without the trip into the city. We started with the Volare salad, which is basically a tossed salad spruced up with hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, cheese and radishes. Mmm . . .mmm. In my humble opinion, the best thing on the menu is the 4 cheese, chicken and pea risotto. And this placed nailed it- it was a good as the one downtown. We also split the pasta of the day which had sausage, peas, onions in some kind of cream sauce over corkscrew pasta. Delicious. For dessert- try a little lemon sorbet or a tiramisu. You won't be disappointed. There is a large separate bar area and in the Summer months, a patio which will house tables and chairs to enjoy your meal outside. They also have live music Tuesday through Saturday nights. The dining room is spacious and unlike the city location, you are not crowded together but have plenty of room between the tables. There is a back area that sits 50 people and a smaller room that seats about 20. I did miss the 1950's style mobster feel of the original location. This place is new and lacks some of the character of the original location. Feels a little "cookie cutter" to me- but that is pretty much the way most things are out in the "burbs". If I had any complaint at all it was the noise level. I actually asked the manager to turn the music down a little as it was just resounding off the walls. Check it out. You'll be happy you did. For this is no "step sister" to the original. More like a suburban clone.
(4)Eclectic N.
I have to admit that the downtown location scored better with me, but I was still pleased with the lunch that I had here with my family. I would like to give this 3.5 stars, but I didn't think it quite deserved a 4. The service was very strong, although the place was basically empty. We had her complete attention and my soda guzzling and bread noshing kids never hit bottom. The bread that they started with was kind of plain and there was no olive oil on the table (had to hunt some down). It came with a marinara sauce which I was excited about because to me Italian cooking can be made or broke by the sauce. I was not overly excited with the taste, it was kind of jar like. I then ordered some Minestrone soup - nothing special, don't bother. Luckily, my meal was with their Vodka sauce (not marinara) and I got their signature dish Gnocchi a la Vodka. Their Gnocchi was a very nice (and light) surprise. I love Gnocchi and I make my own. I know how difficult it is to perfect as you can't use too much flour (unless you want pasty bubblegum). Anyway, I make mine with potato, but they use riccota. This made them extra rich and fluffy and I didn't feel like a bloated dead walrus when I finished. The Vodka sauce was fantastic. It was a little creamier than most other restaurant sauces. The Gnocchi on it's own and the sauce on it's own were perfect. Together they were almost too rich! Still very good though. The kids had lasagna and chicken parmigiana, but they don't count. They're teenagers and they could eat their napkins and say that it's good - one son did say that mine was better, so that's probably not too good. I'm not a dessert guy, but we got some anyway. The kids loved their Oreo creation and I played it safe with Gelato (which was fresh and good). I would definitely go back because my first time there a few years ago was just too awesome (although there was a lot of wine flowing).
(3)Fred N.
Italian restaurants in the Chicago area are like pizza, there are many and just as many opinions on what makes a good one. I'm not sure we will ever find a place everyone agrees represents good Italian food (regardless of region). Having gone to Volare with older Italian Americans on different occasions, I have heard may positive reviews of Volare's food. I have been going here for a few years and had consistent experience with the quality of the food. Their homemade pasta is completely awesome. If you are adventerous, their Risotto Volare that has squid ink infused Risotto with various shellfish, is amazing. Vodka sauce, great. Gnocchi, great. I really have liked everything on the menu. I've had very good experience with the service here, though others seem to have had different experiences, I have not seen this over many visits. I have found everything to be consistent. There are many good Italian restaurants in the Chicago area, but if you are in the vicinity of Volare, I'd give it a try.
(5)Ed D.
One of the better, more authentic italian joints around. Not as cozy or as cool a vibe as their downtown location, but food is just as good. Service is excellent, staff is very helpful and attentive. Main dining room is a little banquet hall like, but not to the point of distraction. They space the tables nicely. Squid ink risotto was awesome. Calamari app was very good. Desserts were incredible. Especially the tiramisu. Ishmael was a top-notch waiter! Yes, from Kingpin.
(4)alicia b.
Well if you are a cougar this is your den! I went there a couple weeks ago with my bf for dinner.It was pretty cold out and the man told us we had two choices either sit on the heated patio or in the bar where some weird dude was going to be singing.We opted for the patio since the bar was loud and super crowded with cougs and hairy dudes. After maybe 10 mins I requested to move into the suffocating bar since he forgot to inform me that everyone was going to be smoking on the patio. So gross! After moving inside and getting comfy we ordered drinks which were typica,l vodka sodas nothing special and then devoured the amazing italian bread. The menu didnt really have a whole lot on it and they didnt have eggplant parm which I was very disappointed about.I like to try the eggplant at every italian place I can find.So after being sad about that I made up my own pasta I got the little ear pasta (cant think of the name right now) with garlic, oil and broccoli. My bf ordered cheese ravs with marinara.Hes a big eater so he was bummed when his dish came out and consisted of 5 ravs.My din was ok at best not much flavor. That was my one and only trip to Valore.
(3)John S.
I've been to Volare for dinner a few times wit my family. Volari has very quickly become my favorite Italian restaurant for many reasons. First off the staff here is always very friendly and attentive. They are great about drink refills and also don't rush you through your dinner. The atmosphere here is very elegant and inviting. Most importantly the food here is excellent. The antipasto here is a must have. All the meats on the antipasto are fresh and out of this world. They even make there own salami which is out of this world. The maranarra sauce here is nice and thick and has a nice flavor to it. Also when the food comes out it is served nice and hot . My favorite thing about eating here is ow fresh all the food is. The desserts are also very good and all home made. the Canoli's were freshly made and had a great flavor to them. I look forward to going back here many more times.
(5)Kelly B.
1st off the Gnocchi is outstanding. This is the most authentic italian restaurant I've been to, not to mention the customer service is fantastic. I can't say enough about how great this place is. Recently had a party on their outdoor patio which has a roof and TV. Our 30+ guests had an amazing time were constantly being taken care of and loved the food. The Volare salad is a must if you go. The eggplant parmesean is one of my favorites, if I could I would eat every meal here, honestly. You cannot go wrong here!!
(5)Tim K.
It really pains me to have to lower Volare's rating but it just isn't the same since Chef Michael left. Our lunch today was a real disappointment. The portion size of the soup that comes with entrees has been reduced to about a third of what it used to be. The pork neckbone pasta sauce was one of their best. It used to look like pulled pork. Today it was made from ground pork. It didn't taste the same. The bolognese sauce wasn't as good either. We don't remember it having little pools of oil/grease floating on top. Their best manager is no longer there. This location of Volare is in the first stages of decline. Nickle and dimeing, good people leaving, food quality going downhill. Maybe their rent went up and they are trying to cut corners. If you had never been to Volare before you might think it was pretty good. As regulars we notice the difference.
(3)Ashley W.
Awesome!! I can Not complain . I just recently threw a baby shower there for my sister n it was amazing ! The food is the best and the pickiest eaters said they wanted to come back ! But I have to brag about the staff the GM Mike , n the servers Victor n Teresa went above n beyond to not only help me set up before the shower but kept everything running smoothly ! Servers victor n Teresa were wonderful ,they were attentive to each n every table but even just help guest get settled grabbed gifts help set up n put me at ease . Also would like to Acknowledge the bussers that worked so hard and were right there to keep everything clean and going smooth . I would definitely recommend them for any private party or shower again !!! Thanks again to all you impressed the whole baby shower party!!
(5)Frank B.
Decor was very nice. Very good food with nice size portions.they should add a soup or salalad with the entree.otherwise very good.
(4)James C.
I've been here for lunch several times. My review will be limited because I've only had one entree there. The Insulata Mediteranea is amazing and piled HIGH with beautifully grilled shrimp, scallops, and calamari. It is a meal and a half. I had this the first time I went there and haven't been able to order anything else since. Friends and co-workers that actually get other items on the menu are always happy with the food. The space is really nice and the service always excellent. It can get a bit loud in there though. After lunch they always bring us out a little plate with fresh fruit and other goodies. One of my favorite spots in the burbs.
(4)Lori B.
My Father & I treated friends to a fabulous evening Saturday night. The food and service was top notch.I had lasagna & a side of rapini which was delicious & enough for 2 more meals take-home. Our guests were "old world" Italians so I really took a chance bringing them to an italian restaurant .They commented that the fettaccine alfredo sauce was good enough to "lick the bowl" (don't worry...they didn't). We had drinks,appetizers,entrees & desserts-all excellent. *Lemon sorbet for dessert was my favorite.Price was extremely reasonable ($$) especially since we all loved the food & were treated like royalty (despite the restaurant being very crowded). Now let me comment on the entertainment.........wow! Diva Montel gave a world class performance (I was told she is there certain Thursdays & Saturdays but call ahead or check Diva's website to be sure). Do yourself (and your guests) a favor, make reservations for a great dinner & see her perform. You won't be sorry & can e-thank me later!!! PS- I only review and pass along the best, don't have time to comment on the rest.... Ciao for now!
(5)Julie A.
Sorry I wasn't impressed. AA started off with calamari.. nest thing we ordered. The cares was average. The cheesecake on nieces pizza was hard, and my risotto had a thick cream sauce which is just not a personal fav. Nothing stood out. There are many other Italian places in the area to frequent..won't be back for dinner.
(2)Chris L.
Mediterranean salad is awesome. Penne with Vodka sauce is great
(4)Yurgen Y.
It was expensive. Fancy. Me, not so much. My fault.
(1)Kristina B.
okay - i've raved about this place in the past, as my first experience was great. my second experience? not so much. here's why. my friend and i were seated immediately on a friday at 7pm, which was nice. it was during lent, so we wanted to go somewhere with many meatless options, and this seemed perfect. we asked our waiter for a martini list, and he promptly told us that they didn't have one, but that he could "make whatever you want". okay.... nice, i guess, but i would have guessed that a place with such a large bar area has a martini list. i like to have options to choose from, you know? when i asked if he could do an apple martini, he thought about it for a little and then said "i think so". whatever happened to being able to make whatever we wanted??!! first came the bread - along with a giant piece of hair on the plate. gross. our waiter took it away after we brought it to his attention, and promptly brought us another. what a way to start your meal. we ordered the calamari as an appetizer, and when they brought us our appetizer plates, mine was dirty. not dirty like, went through the dishwasher and there's dried food on the plate, dirty like someone JUST used the plate, they dipped it in hot water and then gave it to me. double gross. when i showed our waiter, he said "what is going on here?" i replied "you tell me!". our calamari was really nothing special - i remember it tasting much better the first time i had it. also, they serve it with cocktail sauce instead of marinara - i find that a bit odd. my main course was good - ricotta gnocchi in a vodka sauce. their pasta is pretty great, and it's sometimes hard to find a good ricotta gnocchi. our dessert was great, it was a layered kind of semifreddo type dish with great texture and flavor. after we were about halfway through our dessert, a server came by with some gelato, dropped it at our table, and left without saying a word. our waiter came by a few minutes later, saw our looks of confusion, and then announced loudly "the dessert, it's from me... you know, for the hair". ugggh, thanks for reminding me, and telling the whole dining room about it. awesome. we got our check, and normally i don't analyze it before putting down a credit card, but for some reason, i did this time. good thing i did, because our waiter charged us for the dessert that was supposedly from him, and he also charged us for shots of sambuca that we never had. overall not a great experience - i probably will never go back, which is sad because i liked it so much the first time. sorry volare - get your stuff together!!!
(2)Jen F.
I've been here twice. The first time was on Valentine's day 2011. It took us 1.5 hours to receive our meal, and the server was rude. The second time I came here (three nights ago), the server said his eyesight was poor and couldn't read our driver's licenses when he carded us for our drinks. Thus, another server came over and read our IDs, and then made us say the day we were born and how old we were out loud. I am 22-years-old and my fiance is 26. She said that we looked like babies. I ordered a vodka and tonic with greygoose vodka. They brought me absolute vodka. I told them I ordered greygoose, and they were extremely rude about it. HORRIBLE SERVICE. I will never go back.
(1)gladys l.
Enjoyed the food but most of all really enjoyed the bar service (walk-in dinner with no reservations) and option to order 1/2 orders on all pasta dishes. Big winner for me! Reservations a must.
(4)Michael D.
In early December 2011 two of my friends and I lunched at Volare in Oak Brook Terrance. It was my first time there and had been recommended by one of my companions who had been there previously. I found the restaurant to be very comfortable and well appointed that included white table cloths. Our server was Holly who was very friendly and informative. For an antipasto we shared the sausage and peppers, which we all thought was excellent. One of my friends had the lasagna and said that it was delicious. My other friend and I both had the braciole that was served on a bed of polenta and was one of the lunch specials. This dish was very well prepared and tasty. The braciole was tender and very flavorful, and the polenta was cooked just right. A little problem occurred with the timing of the servings. While part way through eating the sausage and peppers, a couple of servers not including Holly brought out the main dishes. We said that were not ready for those dishes and they were brought back to the kitchen. We were later served the main dishes, but by that time my braciole was cool. I explained the situation to Holly who immediately said she would comp me, but I refused saying that my intention was merely an FYI to avoid future mistakes. Holly then persuaded us to accept an order of tiramisu on the house. Well, who could refuse that dessert? Good thing we didn't because it was very well prepared and delicious. I highly recommend this restaurant for the quality of the food, the ambiance, and the responsive service. I very much look forward to going there for dinner. Based on my single experience I give Volare four and a half stars and not five because of the kitchen mix-up. However, this was a very close call because Holly, who was extremely professional and accommodating, did a great job in dealing with the problem.
(4)Kristen D.
If you call this place a cougar den, you are sadly mistaken. It's a sausage factory. A big, fat, sweaty, cigar smoking sausage factory. Cougars take note - stick to Redstone!
(2)Eliz G.
I had my bridal shower here a few months ago, and the whole experience from start to finish was flawless. I met with Jeremy a few months prior to the event, and he prepared a full tasting of all of the menu items for myself and my mom. We were able to pick everything we wanted for the shower, and he was able to work within our budget. We selected the gnocchi with the vodka sauce, veal milanese, chicken limone, fried calamari, rotolini di melanzane, soup, salad and desserts. The food was outstanding. The gnocchi and the veal was probably the best I had in a long time. The service was perfect. Teresa is an amazing server.... she made sure all of our guests were happy! I loved the ambiance of the restaurant, and the prices were reasonable for what you get. The shower was perfect. Thank you for a great experience!
(5)D T.
Ok 3.5. Warning- I always bring my husband in fear of being mobbed by 50 something's in black leather coats. Ladies they're ruthless and relentless. I'm half your age and you're chubby. Stop right there before I break out the insults and hurt your feelings. We like it in the summer so we can sit outside. Inside is very loud. I mean probably the loudest restaurant I have ever been to. This must be from the hey-yo Italians rolling in in their Cadillac's. (The parking lot is ALL Caddies. Hilarious) Now I'm Italian, but holy hell where do they all come from around here????? I like their seafood salad, but order EASY garlic. I am addicted to garlic and not easily affected, but whoa baby. This takes weeks to get out of your mouth! I usually order a few apps and this as a meal due to their lack of fish options. I can only eat their Whitefish so many times. However, if I'm eating pasta it's hands down the gnocchi or shhhh the 8 finger cavatelli. Not on the menu, but they like us. h and LOVE you can pick from tons of pastas and choose your sauce! Pizzas are EXCELLENT. I never had one until the owner sent over a complimentary cheese pizza. Holy hell, fresh mozzarella oozing everywhere and just perfect! Now I order it quite often! You'll know the owner...well-dressed Italian man schmoozing with everyone. He is a really nice guy. They could change their wine list and please serve your white colder please. It's almost room temp and I look like white trash dumping ice cubes in it. I can't go w/out mentioning one incident. Sat outside last summer, and I'd say 75% of the tables had kids. An obnoxious couple light up a cigar and the woman is lighting her cigarette w/ another, and another. Gross AND illegal. So I had a 10 top next to me with 5 young kids and we were both glaring at them. Look of death. I look around and every table is, children or not. At one point I think my husband was kind of holding me down, which was probably a good idea. So the uber tacky couple is CLEARLY aware of the hatred for them, but they're puffing away. Tables start asking to be moved, etc. and the manager does nothing!!! He''s really nice, maybe too nice. Then a female, maybe asst. GM comes and rolls her eyes at me like can you believe the big deal people are making. Yes I can and it's illegal idiot. I was dumbfounded it took an hour to resolve this insanity.
(3)Elton R.
Stopped by on a whim and we were glad we did, no reservations but we were seated right away, Victor was our waiter and he did an OUTSTANDING job!! He made several recommendations that were spot on and great, his wine suggestion was spot on for our meal. Food was above chain level and very fresh but Victor made the evening great for us, we would return just on his service. Manager Kevin also stopped by the table and asked about the meal and chatted for a bit making us feel welcomed. We would return.
(4)April W.
I went here last night for a birthday party that was a sit down family style dinner. Most of the food was fabulous. I had the gnochhi in vodka sauce and it was superb. The service was impeccable, especially Eric and the Ozzie Guillen look a like waiter. The appetizers were also great, we had the pizza and the eggplant dish that was sort of like manicotti but with the eggplant as the pasta.I wasn't in love with the penne and the sauce that it came with it, but it was not bad, it just was not my preference. Two things made this a 3 star and not a 4 star. One the bathroom was disgusting, dirty, unswept and the garbage cans were not emptied, not once in the 5 hours or so that we were there. Two, we went to the lounge area after wards and it was a riot, picture a place where Betty Loren Maltese would hang out. All ethnic italian types dancing, kind of a cruise ship atmosphere. BUT, I was paying upwards of 10 dollars a drink, kettle and club sode with a splash of cran. I had 5 and was not even buzzed. It was one of the worst drinks I had ever had, but could not switch, because I did not want to get sick. The Kettle was SOOOOOOO obvioulsy watered down and the club soda was flat and old tasting. Hey Volare, you need to replace the gas on your gun, clean your gun, and stop watering down your booze. Any other place that I am paying upwards of ten bucks for a drink, I would have certainly been buzzed after 2 drinks, let alone 5. Also, get rid of the creepy bald guy in the pin strip shirt that was creeping on my younger sisters. While he was somewhat entertaining, it is not cool or funny to take a young girls drink and hide it by your own drink. What was he trying to do Ruffie her??? Weird. Definatly a place I would go back to, but I would probably stick to beer or wine instead of 10 dollar water.
(3)Deb M.
The best Italian food in the Western Suburbs and I've tried them all. Authentic, large portions. The food is unsurpassed. Every time I have dined here the service has been wonderful. Yes the Italian patrons are interesting and yes the noise is a little loud in the dining room. But if you want truly wonderful italian cuisine, this is the choice to make. Do not waste your time and money at Harry Careys or other "italian" restaurants. There is no comparison.
(4)Kate S.
My family and I have been here several times. Each time we have been greeted with a smile and a big hello as soon as we walk through the door. Our servers have always been super and have been very helpful when it comes to trying out a new dish. If you ever see the stuffed pears as one of their special appetizers for the night, be sure to get it as it was to die for. The gnocchi is nice and light as it is made with ricotta cheese and the veal chops are huge. We always have leftovers. Parking does tend to be a hassle unless you do go early.
(4)Lee B.
Well another great Italian restaurant that I have found, with help from my son, the food was impeccable, the service was outstanding the decore was very pleasing the staff was very attentive, if you like Italian food this is the place just come early to avoid the rush.
(5)T D.
Thanks yelpers for reviewing and recommending. The food is delish and so was the vodka sauce that Michelle B. recommended. Service was incredible and the waitstaff knew their menu well. I just wish this place wasn't so busy and noisy, just goes to show you that this place is doing it right.
(4)Eric Y.
We went on the recommendation of some friends. We were not disappointed! It is located in an unassuming strip mall and the room was quite nice, with high ceilings, large windows, and also a nice looking outdoor seating area that was quite popular on this night. There is a large menu. We had some appetizers. The cold seafood salad was delicious. The octopus was super tender. It was so tasty that I would have loved to see more of it and less calamari, conch and shrimp, but these were good also. We had the arancini which were very good, as good as any I have had. They had a little meat in them which is unusual but very tasty. We asked the waiter for recommendations and he was spot on. We were informed of "unlisted specials" which were veal ossobucco and brasciola. I had the veal ossobucco which was served over saffron risotto. Wow, that was excellent. A large portion, savory and the rich tomato sauce went very well with the risotto. The brasciola, braised flank steak roll with egg and sausage was also delicious, the beef tender and holding together well with nice beef flavor despite the long cooking. Homemade gnocchi with vodka sauce delicious, nicely al dente and rich. The veal milanese was less successful, arriving as an impressively large piece of meat but the breading was not crisp or savory. Angel hair pasta with alfredo and crab legs was a huge portion of pasta but very ordinary in taste and the crab legs were skimpy. The salads were generous and fresh. Desserts were good but not outstanding. These included a too tart peach sorbet and a very nice apple tart. Overall, we were very pleased.
(4)Shirley I.
This was our second visit & it didn't live up to our first. We were seated at the very first table in the dining room: busy, noisy, & affected by the coldness of the entrance. On our last visit, my husband claimed the minestrone soup was the best he had ever had. Based on that, we all ordered it. It was lukewarm at best and seemed to not be the same recipe; we should have returned it, but our waiter wasn't around. When he did return, we commented on it and he expressed surprise, but no apology. We weren't asked whether we wanted a second bottle of wine when ours was finished. Bread wasn't refilled. Our dinners were tasty, but we felt rushed to vacate our table after the food was cleared. Based on this experience, we won't rush back.
(2)kathy b.
everyone who knows this place in the city is soooo jealous they have opened one up right by me. agree with all the above reviews except the decor "cookie cutter" I totaly disagree. The bar is terrific the view in to the kitchen and the area in between the diners is unique. solid service outstanding food - no franchise here and it shows. great wine list its got it all. Had a large group for a celebration and we have never had better service. the cold food is served on cold plates the hot food is on HOT plates. the volare risoto is not to be missed. and what about the fresh bread thats served. you have to try one of the pizzas for an app. its truly the kind you have in Italy the ingrediants are superb if your kids appreciate good dining I would recommend taking them there for lunch its a bit less in price.
(5)David O.
We were seated in the bar area even though we had a reservation which normally would be OK but someone was smoking near the doors where we were sitting. They had a side area closed off where it looked like a covered beer garden. The problem was that they were letting people smoke right next to the door which was only 10 feet away from our table. Nobody likes to eat around smoke. It was difficult to get an idea of how the food tasted. I would ask to be seated in the dining area only. The server was great, good wines but I can't fairly review the food since smoke was in our face pretty much the whole time we were there. Bummer cuz I was looking forward to it and heard some good stuff.
(3)Jim R.
Second visit to the restaurant and it did not disappoint. Service was very attentive but not pushy. Excellent food and variety. The wine list gave us a good variety of wines. There were six of us, and we did not want to leave quite yet so we went to the bar to have a drink. Unfortunately they had live music that was very loud to the point you could not carry on a conversation. So if you want to continue the evening! I would recommend staying at your table.
(4)Ron Z.
We thoroughly enjoyed dinner at Volare on a recent frozen Saturday night. Our waiter was very friendly and knowledgable. Our party of 4 loved pretty much every dish. Bruchetta appetizer and Volare salads were very good. The main courses were definitely the highlight. The sea bass is every bit as delicious as it's hyped to be. The ravioli was also very tasty with a wonderful red sauce. Chicken parm was also terrific with a flavorful and marvelously spiced red sauce. A risotta dish with chicken, peas and four cheeses was also delicious although the richness of the cheese makes this a dish best eaten more sparingly. It was still great as a leftover. While the food was most enjoyable, there are a couple things you should consider. We visited on a very crowded night and had to wait about 35 minutes past our reservation time. The bar, with a piano player/singer was a nice place to pass the time. When we were finally seated, we were put in the side room, that has large doors opening into the main room, which is used for large crowds and banquets. With two large party groups next to us, the noise was pretty extreme. All in all, however, it was a very enjoyable experience and we will surely be back.
(4)Rathi J.
we loved volare in the city, and were super excited about finding it in this new location! this one was a lot more spacious than the original-- we weren't sure if it was that way only because it was a stormy thursday night; it also looked much more modern with a cheesecake factory feel inside. the service was prompt and friendly. the menu looked identical to the city menu so we were very happy. half bottle wines are the greatest thing every invented; while my finace missed that we had been brought the wrong one, it was the perfect amount of a delicious wine anyway. the mushroom pizza was fantastic-- very simple, but tasty. the gnocchi with arrabiata and the cheese tortellini with salmon sauce were both hits with us. overall, a great restaurant we will happily visit again!
(4)