It rather pains me to have to drop two stars when my multiple previous visits were all worthy of five stars. I went again last night because it is (was) one of my favorite restaurants and it had been quite a while since I had been. A good friend was taking me for a belated birthday dinner and since we both loved A Tavola, going back was an easy sell. We didn't make a reservation, but since we arrived on the early side, we had no problem getting a table on their patio. It was a perfect evening to sit outside and enjoy a leisurely dinner. We wanted to start with wine but the wine list on our table was empty, as in the book had no pages in it. After we were finally able to flag someone down, we were given the wine list and we decided on what we wanted to order. I ordered a rosé and my friend ordered something white that she couldn't pronounce (this will be important later). Our wine arrives and we're asked about our food selections. We always share an order of gnocchi to start and I opted for the lamb special, medium rare, and my friend went with the fish of the day. Our gnocchi arrives, already split, which I always appreciate, and while it was good, it just wasn't nearly as good as I remember. Our empty plates sat there until our dinner arrives...thirty minutes later. We were never offered second glasses of wine which we would have happily drunk. Our server simply plunked our plates down and scurried off. My lamb was frightfully overcooked but since our server didn't come back to check on us (I never even saw her on the patio after that), I couldn't send it back so I just ate it because I feared it would be another half hour before a new dish was prepared and I didn't want my friend to eat alone. The other odd thing was that both of our entrees were to come with potatoes - that's potatoes, plural. What we each got was one sad little new potato (and I mean tiny), cut in half. Did potatoes suddenly get really expensive? Last time I checked, they were one of the more cheap starches (hell, I used to buy a bag of them in college and subsist on them for a week), so why so chintzy, A Tavola? After we finished our entrees my friend decided she really wanted a second glass of wine but again, finding our server was next to impossible. When she finally came out, she had to ask my friend what she ordered. My friend said "The wine I couldn't pronounce earlier." The server said "Oh, I'll figure it out" and walked away. The server must have passed by our table at least six times in the next ten minutes but never looked our way or delivered the wine. My friend got up to go to the bathroom and our server came to me and asked if she had ordered white wine. I said "yes" then she ran off again. By now, my friend returned and still didn't have her wine. I would have ordered dessert to enjoy while my friend was drinking her wine but we were never asked and since the wine situation wasn't looking so promising, we decided to just find the server and tell her to cancel the wine so we could get out of there. Again, we couldn't find her so my friend got up to look for her and found her and told her to cancel the wine. The server remarked that it "was on the table" and my friend had to tell her that it wasn't and to just forget about it and bring our check as it was getting late. The server then brings the wine, apologizes and tells us she won't charge us for the wine. Okay, great. Since we got the wine, I decide to order dessert so I can eat it while my friend has her wine. Again, it took our server several minutes to bring the dessert menu and take my order. I finally get my panna cotta and we eat and drink in a hurry as we've now been there 2.5 hours. Another server brings our check and asks us if we want gratis limoncello shots to make up for the long wait. It was a nice gesture but we declined as we just wanted to leave. An apology was nice, but it was kind of too late at that point (and it would have been more appropriate if it came from our own server). So all we wanted was a leisurely dinner, and by god, we got it. 2.5 hours later, we were out of there. I'm hoping the bad service was just a fluke, because I really love A Tavola and prior to last night I'd had nothing but good experiences there, but it may be some time before I go back and give it another try. read more

Would you like to score a few romantical points with your significant other? A date at A Tavola will achieve the following: 1. Prove you to know your stuff...despite quite a few raves on this particular website, it's still a bit "undiscovered." Meaning, you are ORIGINAL. Always a good thing. 2. Shows that you have breadth and depth beyond the stapled neighborhoods of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wicker Park and Bucktown. (But it's not TOOOOOO far). 3. A goodnight kiss. (If that is what you so desire). Ok, I can't promise this one, but play your cards right, order the correct wine, languish over some finely cooked food...and well, the rest is up to you, mmmk? A TAVOLA! It's an upper scale Italian restaurant on Chicago avenue nearing Western. There is a sign that whispers...but does not scream. There is no valet (but street parking is very easy). There's just A Tavola, sitting there inhabiting a former home, with a sprawling (city standards) back patio. It's a white-table-cloth-kind-of-place (and priced accordingly, for the most part). It's nice, but you won't feel under dressed in jeans and a jacket, or even just jeans and a button-up shirt. Girls, I'd leave the flip flops at home (but hey, I always think that). It's not a "judgey" place, but it is the kind of place you'll feel a bit proud to be at (and protective of), and thus...adorn accordingly. Typically at fancy-ish type restaurants, the food is small and perhaps unintelligible from the menu. At A Tavola you get wonderful homecooked classics with a twist, all freshly prepared and created that very night. An ever-changing menu of classic (real) Italian fare with large tender cuts of meat (I had the pork loin), fresh salads, appetizers, and fish. Great for a family dinner, out-of-towners that want a real taste of that lustrous Chicago dining scene...but aren't "foodies" or interested in fusion, sushi, etc. A special occasion date with salads, appetizer, bottle of wine (sangiovese), 2 entrees, dessert and a bit o' bourbon for my beau + tax/tip = $175. It's not inexpensive, but it IS quality. Classy, but not gauche.The twinkly white lights and candles on the patio were icing on the (birthday dinner) cake. Sneak out through the side alley for that kiss, ta da. read more

Simple. Quiet. Intimate. Fabulous. Wonderful. Amazing. Comforting. Warm. Heavenly. There is a small simple little sign that is perched out front, as soon as you enter from the front door and is off to your right. It says something to the effect of, "It is like being invited to a friend's house for dinner, but that friend knows how to cook really really good Italian food." Perfecto. I couldn't have said it better myself. Here you will find food to please the heart and the base of your soul. I came here for a friend's birthday, I left a changed man. The food, wonderful, superb and lovely. The service, friendly, comforting, like the good friend you are happy to see and all they want is for you to have is a great time. Treasure those friends. Walking in, it isn't big. A myriad of tables neatly placed, neatly set up. Immediately greeted, my jacket was taken and friend #1 was spotted. Scooting up to the table, I breathe a sigh of relief and pleasure, not only to not be the first to arrive, but the pleasure of the sight I see before me. The space speaks on many different levels. A night for friends, a special evening for two and everything in between. But really, it isn't what is there, it is more what is created. The mood, the servers flow with what you are looking to do. Our friends birthday dinner? Lively and fun and joking with us. Two couples that were out to catch up? A little more subdued. And so on.... And so we come to the food. A menu that changes from time to time, like day to day. And really, I can't wait to come back. The Parmesan polenta was flavorful and wonderful. The beef short ribs were delicious, falling off the bone and hard to not to figure out how to enjoy every morsel of every drop off of each bone. The gnocchi? Incomparable. Soft. Delicate. Savor. Every. Bite. Wine? A wonderful list. Nice concise descriptions, but plenty of options. From a red sparkling, deep and dark as blood to a medium bodied white to a caramel scented red, every drop was savored and succulent. The cuisine is wonderful, the service bent over backwards, the night? Wonderful. Share this place often, share with someone you care about. This is too good of a place to share with anyone less. read more

Lovely lovely lovely place. A Tavola is tucked away in a discreet house along Chicago avenue; everyone keeps saying it's like walking into someone's house, and I'd totally agree. I can't think of any other Italian restaurant in Chicago that is like this place. Many good Italian places in Chicago seem to give you the mobster-in-kitchen-cooking feeling, or they are massive corporate places. This place is tiny yet very, very classy and quite a fine dining experience. You could get away with casual dress but most people dressed up for their night out. The service was outstanding. Personal, not stuffy, friendly, top notch. Food was delicious. Their menu is very succinct, with several specials in addition. I ordered calamari that was on special, and short-rib dish that was on special. The calamari was wonderfully cooked, no sauce given or needed. The short-ribs were good, served on a saffron risotto that was also tasty. The menu is set up to have a 3 course (4 with dessert) meal, but we opted to share the pasta course between our table. We had the Gnocchi, which is what they're known for... It was marvelous. Though I think a whole plate of it would've been too much for me. For dessert I had a flourless chocolate cake, which was good (very brownie-like). Dinner for 3 was about $200 with 2 drinks each and dessert. Everything I've read elsewhere highly recommends reservations since the dining room is so small. They also have a patio out back. read more

* What a nice welcome to Chicago! * This was a nice first meal in Chicago. Service was very friendly (although a bit verbose on the description of the daily specials). Setting was really comfortably simple. I got scared a bit when they brought out some focaccia that was not as fresh as it should have been. Bread can be such a giveaway about what is coming as it is the first thing you try. So I was worried. The olive oil they served it with was fruity and a nice one, and they also served a selection of olives that were good. But that bread. Oy...... But my fears were quickly relieved when the apps arrived. The fresh fig and buffalo mozzarella was superb. Really nice dish. The cuttlefish calamari was a nice twist on the more traditional calamari. The cuttlefish was more mature and had a nice strong flavour. The breading was the right crispiness and the fried lemon slices were a nice touch. The gnocchi were wonderfully soft pillows presented in a brown sage butter with fried sage leaves. The gnocchi themselves had been dipped in a bit of parmesan before being finished off, which provided a slight hint of a crust on one part. Very nice texture contrasts and great flavours. The tagliatelle bolognese was cooked to the perfect al dente. The sauce was packed with flavour but not overpowering. A nicely balanced dish. The grilled marinated leg of lamb was phenomenal. After marination the lamb was grilled off and got a nice crust. It was then presented sliced along with garlic spinach and rosemary potatoes. This was my favourite dish of the night. I'm a sucker for lamb, and this was prepared perfectly. I requested it rare, and they provided it perfectly rare. It was incredibly tender, and had a nice crust around the edges. Beautiful! The garlic spinach was cooked very lightly so that it was still bordering on almost undercooked - but it worked well. The potatoes had been encrusted with a bit of parmesan and were lovely. Overall a wonderful first meal! read more

Perfect place to go to have an intimate and cozy dinner with the fiance after a month of grueling hard work (school sucks!) I made him pick a place b/c I was too tired to search for a new restaurant to go to and based on Yelp (I'm turning him into a Yelper!) he picked this. He did a good job :) We drove past the building at least 3 times and of course, it was the unassuming one that looked like a nice apartment from the outside. The name A Tavola is barely noticeable on the window. This place is tiny - don't come with a large group and even though it wasn't crowded at 5:30, I assume that you'd need reservations at the regular 7 PM dinner time. Had the fried calamari, where they use cuddle fish instead of squid. PERFECTION! Tender with a slightly lighter taste than squid. Mmmmmm. Then we each got our own entrees: his the braised short ribs, 3 large pieces with meat falling off the bone, sitting on warm risotto. Mine was the grilled beef tenderloin. I thought that for $28 at a semi fancy Italian restaurant I was going to get 3 tiny medallions that were probably bland. WRONG! I got a huge piece of meat, as if I ordered a 12 oz ribeye. It was PERFECTLY cooked to order. I love a good piece of meat!!!! And I would recommend that dish to all of my steakies out there! Ended with the panna cotta - creamy with a light touch of sweetness. It was perfect for my fiance, who enjoys food with great texture, but I would've liked it a wee bit sweeter. Hey, I eat at American bakeries...I love sugar :) PS: EXCELLENT SERVICE! Warm, thoughtful, I wanted to be friends with our servers! read more

I am in love with this place......really and truly! From the almost unfindable facade (which you will totally walk right by at least once....promise).....to the dim and cozy dining room.....to the waitstaff that is always spot on and charming.....to the incredible food.......swooooooon......A Tavola....will you marry me?? Seriously....here's the deal....if you want to take your lady (or gent) to an intimate romantic dinner.....that will deliver on deliciousness and not break the bank....A Tavola is the place. Hands down some of the best Italian food I've had in Chicago.....the Tagliatelle Bolognese is phenom....so rich but so light....like eating air....I dream of it!! My bf has gotten the lamb both times we've been (it was on the specials)......again.....perfecty cooked....juicy, tender....everything good lamb should be. This time around, I had the fish of the day in a lemon caper butter sauce and was so so happy.....light n' flaky....melt in your mouth. Everything is so fresh and flavorful...yet you don't feel heavy after a 3 course meal.....that in my opinion, is the mark of excellence. The cozy little dining room, with it's dim lighting just sets the stage for romance......the service is fantastic.....the servers are so wonderful in helping choose wines.....not rushing you and making sure you are enjoying your dining experience...and really being genuine....which is a really hard combo to find....5 star service! I will be back again and again and again..... read more

I am not sure if people can't handle giving this place less than 4 stars because they paid so much for beef stew or because someone paid them to write the review. The dining experience reminded me of a southern small-town country club... meh. The other diners were either stuffy 50-60 somethings or other unsuspecting young couples. Oh wait... except for the clearly coked-up asshole at the table next to us. This dude was obviously an investment banker straight out of the 80s. His poor girlfriend must have been deaf... he was screaming about all the "hot new wines" he likes to drink (probably right before jumping in his new Delorean and driving around town wasted). He had a friend with him that tried to escape out the kitchen back door at one point. This dude TOTALLY fit in. I was SO EXCITED to take my boyfriend to this place for his birthday... this was in late October and I can't even remember what we had that I liked...All we both know is that I've had it ALL either when I have made it at home or for less than $10 at a RiverNorth-ish bar. What I do remember is the short rib. Such a disappointment. Its just beef stew with no vegetables. How sad... It was literally the biggest mistake in my ordering history. My BF had roasted chicken.. he thought it was OK. The staff was OK but our server recommended the short rib, so screw her. I would NEVER go back to this place. read more

I've documented many times in these here parts my dislike of going out to dine on Italian food, so the 5 I've so graciously awarded a tavola should be viewed with the proper amount of awe. a tavola (which I was told can be pronounced with the emphasis on the a in tavola or the o) is located in what looks like a single family home on Chicago Ave. The only indication that it's a restaurant is the frosted glass "sign" just to the right of the front door. The inside is similarly unassuming. It really looks like nothing more than if someone set up a restaurant in their living room. The first floor seats maybe 15 people and the upstairs, where I had a recent birthday dinner, seats upwards of 20 but is even more sparsely decorated. But don't let the understated decor fool you, the food that a tavola serves is top notch. The menu you receive is hand written. Generally it's influenced by what they currently have in season in the garden out back. On one occasion, my date requested a Caprese salad, despite it not being on the menu. They waiter very kindly said, "Let me check out back to see if we have the ingredients" and came back with an affirmative. The menu changes so often it's tough to speak to specific dishes, but there is frequently a short rib option and even more frequently a gnocchi that I've never had a bad experience with. All in all, it's a unique experience that offers both a cozy atmosphere and excellent food. read more

We had dinner for my brdy.....we had great expectations, since so much has been said about this place... Well here it goes: the pasta Noqui was not good, the oil taste like burned, arugula salad was ok, nothing extraordinary, the pasta with ragu was actually the best, but still pretty standard..... At the end and what we expect to be great, was the bisteka fiorentina ( T bone), far from good.. It taste like gas burned, far from been the best it was actually not good. You can have amazing meat at Chicago... The good stuff was the dessert Panacota... Superb... After having one, we order a second one and the waitress told us they ran out. So we finished our wine (15 minutes) and saw a bunch of panacotas going to another table??? Anyway.... Dont bother coming to this place, its far from real authentic italian food and nothing amazing. read more

A Tavola - Looks amazing, but taste like gas burned??? - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

At the time of this review I have only eaten here once. That being said, my girlfriend and I had a fantastic experience. The waiter was extremely knowledgeable with the wine list, we wanted for nothing, and he helped us make reasonable choice from the menu (i.e. what we could split, portion size, what goes well with what, etc.) instead of just trying to up-sale the whole thing. He easily could've sold us more than we needed or plates that were more expensive, but he guided us to just what we needed and wanted. The place only has about 9 tables, it's very intimate, classic, and reasonably priced for the experience you get. Also, you feel like you're dining at a secret spot as it only has it's name etched on one of the side windows. I live around the corner for a year before I even noticed it! I'd love to give 5 stars, but I feel I need to reserve that for places that I've dined at multiple times. So, it could in fact earn a fifth star in the future. read more

If you want a lovely, simple dining experience with solid, delicious food, then a tavola is your best bet. No hype or frills - just an old fashioned New York style Italian restaurant with accessible, perfectly cooked food. The decor was classic with a few black and white photographs and lovely drapes with hints of gold - the sort of classic contemporary that's comforting and never tries too hard. We had the gnocchi as one of our first courses, and I can honestly say it's the best gnocchi I've every had. I sorrowfully told my boyfriend that there's no way the gnocchi can be topped - I was right, but the grilled leg of lamb from the specials menu came pretty damn close. I asked for medium rare, and goddamn it, they gave me medium rare. Perfect lamb. My boyfriend got the roasted chicken, which I wasn't impressed with, but he liked it. The best part of our meal was the ambiance - this is a seriously romantic restaurant - the type where you can lean into your lover and hold hands and whisper and giggle. Cons: The roasted chicken came with a savory bread pudding, which was way too salty and buttery and greasy - quite below par for the rest of our meal, which was delicious. Neither of us could stomach a second bite. The service definitely needed some improvement. We had a reservation, and yet we still had to wait twenty minutes until someone even came by to get our drink order. When the waiter finally did attend to us, he said "uh, has anyone come to help your guys or taken your drink order yet? Oh. I guess I'll be your waiter tonight." The service was slow for the rest of the night, too, which was fine, because who cares when the food is good? But when the waiter did come by, he was flustered and rushed. He also didn't check on us even once after we got our first course, or even once after we got our entrees. To be fair, when we got our bill, they hadn't charged us for my single glass of wine, and when I pointed it out, he said "because things were crazy tonight." I appreciate it, and I'm glad they were aware of the problem, but I'd rather have paid for my wine and had good service. Also, as yelper Shradha pointed out, they didn't really have good vegetarian options. We weren't vegetarian, but we were scoping out the place for future visits with my parents, who are, and I can be assured that this isn't a place to bring them. It's 2012, and vegetarians usually love Italian food - they should try to have something to accommodate them. read more

This place was is a well kept secret. The restaurant is intimate with great service. The food is excellent, the gnocchi is light and delicately seasoned to perfection. I would of given this gem of a restaurant a five star until I used the bathroom, that was clean, however I do not like to share bathrooms with men. Don't like what I see on the floor of bathrooms when they are unisex. This is where every restaurant should mandate a separate bathroom for the women & men. I would differently recommend this place for the excellent food and service. read more

Came here because of the TV show that talked about the gnocchi and huge steak that is not on the menu. Of course everyone at the restaurant was ordering the steak. Get the gnocchi as a starter the best I have had in Chicago. The steak comes with potatoes and spinach. It is 36 ounces which is huge. It could feed three people. The steak was good but not great so that is why I gave it four stars. read more

A Tavola - Steak - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Those of us who are blessed to call Chicago home know what an amazing food town it is. And that the diversity of Italian cuisine is both celebrated and honored here. Last night, as part of my husband's weekend-long birthday celebration, we had the distinct pleasure of dining at A Tavola. Wow! Wow! Wow! Beautifully tucked into a historic house along Chicago Avenue in Ukrainian Village, the food at A Tavola is delicious and exquisite and prepared with an abundance of love and respect. And the Sicilian dinner wine and Tuscan dessert wine we had were outstanding (A Tavola's sommelier gets a gold star). Be sure and arrive hungry for the four-course prix fixe menu and be ready for a symphony of delectable flavors, all made with the finest and freshest ingredients. But it's not just the food and wine that stands out here, it is also the first-rate service. For such an intimate restaurant, this is one well-oiled hospitality machine. They took my husband's birthday very seriously and from the hostess to the waitress to the sommelier we were made to feel like true VIPs. An exceptional experience in every respect. read more

I found this little gem because of Yelp. I would have never known it existed if not. It reminds me of this Italian place in Roscoe Village that has since closed BUT way BETTER! This is like a house. Literally. HA. Its a little tight so when we got there we had to stand at the front while they got our table ready. It was literally like bumper cars up there for a bit. The food is all made in house. Man, its good. The bread is made there. The pasta is made there! We had lots of stuff. Both gnocchis were delicious. The housemade pesto was to DIE for. The short rib was FANTASTIC!!! It was over a rich bed of risotto. Yummy! So tender and flavorful. The service was great and everyone was friendly. They have a decent choice of wines. I liked it. Its a romantic-y feel with good old homecooking sprinkled in. read more

I heard amazing things about this place so I'm bummed that it's not our new go-to Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. First of all, nothing was bad. Everything was good- but it wasn't great or amazing as I figured it would be at such a special establishment. I thought the ambiance would be fancier since it is a small space and sometimes hard to get reservations. We were running a little late and we called to let them know that we would be about 15 minutes later than our reservations. The woman on the phone himmed and hawed and acted like they would not be able to accommodate us because they were booked. When we got there they had a private party (gathering) in the main dining room waiting to go upstairs so we didn't have the option of sitting inside anyway! When we went outside there were plenty of tables left! The food was good but I've had way better Authentic Italian in Chicago. They have a limited menu so my husband chose to have the veal steak which was on special. The entrees run around $30 so we figured it would be the most $10-$15 more. Well don't figure- always ask because when we got the check just his veal was $70!!!! We fine fine a lot but never have we paid so much for a cut of meat. If it would have been the best veal ever it would have been one thing but it was very fatty. The gnocchi was ok but it was very large and it doesn't come with a lot of sauce on it so it came out dry. The Bolognese was very good. Overall a very disappointing date night so I wouldn't suggest it for dining. Way better options in Chicago. read more

I love the ambiance and I loved the service and loved the ambiance. Its a very romantic spot, feels more of a secret neighborhood spot. There are very few tables so reservations are necessary. They are also pretty accommodating. My SO reserved the place after looking on the online menu, which included a bunch of vegetarian options. However, when we arrived, we learned that the online menu was incorrect and had only a few dishes that I would be able to choose. The waitress was able to accommodate my preferences by making the pasta dish and entree size and recommending other items that I could partake in. While they have quite a selection of wine, our waitress mentioned that the bartender can make some cocktails (limited to only a select few as their bar isn't extensive). I liked my butter sage gnocchi, but wasn't overwhelmed by it. The salad, however, was spectacular. As a vegetarian, I would just advise that you be prepared for a limited selection and do NOT use the online menu to get an idea what is served at A Tavola. read more

Finally found some authentic italian food in Chicago! Having recently moved back to Chicago I have desperately been looking and this is the place. It feels like you are eating at someone's house for Sunday dinner. We went on a Saturday night and had reservations for 6:00. When we got there it was half capacity with mainly an older crowd. The servers were amazing, so friendly and just all around made you feel at home. Food came out fast after placing the order. THE FOOD! They give you focaccia bread to start which is so good and the keep it coming if you finish it. I started with the bolognese and my wife had the pear salad. Both were awesome, especially the bolognese. My wife had the chicken for her main and it was extremely good, crispy skin and tender chicken inside. I had the spare ribs with risotto, again amazing. Fall of the bone meat. If I have any complaints it would be this. The atmosphere is a little quiet I'd say. Mainly older people, still a good vibe though. The other thing I would warn people who are unfamiliar with italian cuisine is that the pastas are meant to be a first course and they are small, so most likely you will get a pasta and a main. It will run you about $35-$50 for both. Food: 5 Service: 5 (but i'd give it at 10) Atmosphere: 4 Value: 4.5 Will be returning. read more

WOW! What an amazing experience. I came here for dinner to celebrate my 21st birthday, and BOY did they treat me well. Our server provided us with the best service I have ever had in my life, hands down. She was attentive, sweet, knowledgeable, and very charming. It is a very small restaurant, but they were more than happy to accommodate my large party of 7. We started off with some delicious cocktails from the bar, and ordered several plates of appetizers. How do they do that to Portabello Mushrooms??? Unbelievable. The server told us they marinade them for 2-3 days before serving them and they are divine. We also had the selection of Italian meats, and the grilled veggies, both delicious. We ordered each plate at least 3 times because they were so good. We then had 2 family size plates of the gnocchi which we split amongst ourselves and thoroughly enjoyed. Since there were so many of us we all ordered one of the entrees and were able to sample each one. Flawless. I had the short ribs which were spectacular, I would recommend those for sure. Overall I could not have asked for a better dining experience on my birthday, and I have a feeling it will go down in history as one of my favorite experiences at a restaurant. Bravo A Tavola! read more

I had the best meal of my life at a tavola. The place is totally unassuming, which I see some people consider boring, but I found charming and unpretentious. Our waiter couldn't have been more friendly or helpful, and with so few tables, it was easy to get whatever we needed. But the food was unforgettable. We shared a porterhouse that was flawless. I thought I knew what gnocchi could be...but no, I was shown a greater thing. If I was about to die, I'd ask the executioner for a tavola's panna cotta. To be fair, though, we spent a ton of money ($350 for two). But it was without a doubt the best meal I've ever had. read more

What a GEM! I came here during 2016 Restaurant week with my boyfriend and we were seated at an intimate table in their small one-room restaurant. A Tavola is located inside a two-flat on Chicago Avenue, and the restaurant has about 10 tables total. It really feels as though you're eating in a friend's living room, and that's part of the charm. The atmosphere is quiet and perfect for a low key and delicious date night. Although we came during restaurant week, we decided to stick to their regular menu. Upon sitting we were given their house focaccia bread alongside some olives. The focaccia here is standout! With our server's guidance, we ordered the arugula salad and mixed roasted vegetables as starters. Both were very fresh, and the roasted vegetables were cooked to perfection. The arugula salad was served with tomatoes, parmesan, and walnuts-- a basic salad with fresh ingredients but nothing incredibly standout. The next courses are where the restaurant really shines: pastas and entrees. We opted to share two pasta dishes, the gnocchi and the tagliatelle bolognese. Both dishes were UNREAL. The gnocchi is quite easily the best, most fluffy gnocchi I've ever had. A light dish, which is virtually unheard of when describing gnocchi. As for their tagliatelle, I think I might have liked this even more than the gnocchi if possible. Their bolognese sauce is the perfect balance between tomato-y, creamy, and sweet. Their homemade noodles make all the difference, and I would put this up there as one of my all time favorite pasta experiences. Finally, we shared the short rib with saffron risotto. The short rib was fall off the bone perfection, and the saffron rice had a creaminess that balanced the meat perfectly. I would highly recommend this to those looking for a serious Italian meal with great ambiance and a smaller price tag than some of its downtown counterparts. What a great neighborhood spot! read more

I know, I know, you're sick of hearing about the gnocchi. But it's really THAT good that it deserves a mention in every single review of this restaurant. Each one is a pillowy bite of deliciousness. If I'm ever on death row, I will be ordering the gnocchi here as part of my last meal! I brought my boy here in March for his birthday dinner, and it was a hit with both of us. It's a cozy little place with fantastic food and excellent service. We were warmly greeted and seated immediately for our reservation. Our server was friendly and helpful with recommendations, not pretentious at all. The crowd was mostly couples, of all ages, and a few larger groups. It's not a big dining room, but the tables are well-spaced and it's a very comfortable setting. I started with the grilled/marinated/roasted veggie appetizer, which was basic but very good. Then on to the aforementioned gnocchi fabulousness, which the boy and I split. I had beef for my entree (I think it was filet mignon, but it could've been tenderloin - sorry, it was awhile ago). I do remember it being tender and delicious. We also had a bottle of Spanish wine which was very tasty. You may have an issue with the restroom here if you have a shy bladder since it's right off the dining room, and it's not exactly sound proof. It's a very clean, nice restroom, though, and I had no problem with it. A Tavola is a great place to take your honey for a special date night, or maybe to get together with a small group of girls for a celebration, or to take some out of towners to show off a delicious Chicago neighborhood restaurant. Our waiter told us the phrase "a tavola" is how Italians call people to the table. You should definitely heed the call to A Tavola's table. read more

I found A Tavola in the search for a nice, intimate place to have dinner with a new guy (this was my first time to plan a date) and this restaurant was exactly what I was looking for. Small, quiet, romantic. I'm pretty sure I got bonus points for even knowing about it- A Tavola is so tucked away and non-descript that it feels like you're privy to a closely guarded secret. Unfortunately, it only gets 3 stars from me. We ordered a trio of different meats, served carpaccio style, which was wonderful. I ordered the gnocchi, which had been billed as their house specialty, and he ordered the short ribs on risotto. My gnocchi was pretty undercooked and as a result- gummy. My date tried it and concurred- I still managed to eat about half of the dish, but when pressed by the waiter, ("...But it's our house specialty!" ) declined to send it back. (New relationship- too nervous to come off as high maintenance, which I most likely am) His short ribs were great, much more flavorful. We got a bottle of red and spent probably $160 with tip. Otherwise, while nice, and tucked away, the jazz playing via cd on an old boombox under a server's station where we were seated upstairs kept skipping/stopping, and the waiter kept having to futz with it. That kind of kills the mood. (And really- CDs? Is this 1992?) Also, I wish there were more reasonably priced wine options by the bottle. Otherwise, still a good evening. read more

Dear A Tavola, I am coming for you! Keep watching!! xo, becka. read more

Gnocchi, mussels, and clams - oh my!! I'm stil reeling in delight from last night's dinner. My date googled "slow food in Chicago" and this came up. They don't own a freezer. They make their own limoncello and pasta. Their menu is not extensive - 3 or 4 each of appetizers, pastas, entrees, and sides, plus a special or two for each category - but it's been created with a lot of thought and care, and the flavors and aromas are so full and intoxicating that everything tastes like a delicacy. It's an intimate dining experience without any pretension. The restaurant looks like an unobtrusive home from the outside, with 11 tables in what was probably at one point the living room, plus a small bar, and a coatroom under the stairs. The waitstaff was excellent - good recommendations, very attentive. We shared the mussels & clams appetizer (a special) and the gnocchi with brown sage butter & parmesan. Both were unbelievable. Not large portions but perfect to share as starters. I haven't seen mussels that large in a very long time, and the gnocchi was perfection. Our entrees were the fish of the day (grouper) and the pork shank special. Again, ridiculously good. The grouper was slightly breaded and cooked just right, and the pork shank was huge chunks of savory meat falling of the bone. Dessert was baked apples in a tart-like crust with homemade whipped cream - an excellent, light end to the best meal I've had all year. read more

This place is truly amazing, a total gem, and totally worth the schlep over to the area. The chef's mantra seems to be "keep it simple," and that is just what he does - find really good ingredients, and cajole them carefully to make them taste as good as possible. Nothing fancy here - just really delicious food. I can't wait to go back with a big group and order one of everything on their menu. I was lucky enough to attend a cooking demo with Chef Dan, where he whimsically taught us to make his fantastic gnocchi (literally, the best I've ever had) with sage brown butter and tons of parmesean. I will be back to this restaurant for the gnocchi alone. He also taught a simple chicken recipe, and showed an awesome trick on trussing the legs (I'll let you go and find out for yourself.) After that, the man did something with oyster mushrooms that made them so flavorful and wonderful... it was one of the standouts on a giant table of delicious food. And they only had a tiny pat of butter!!! Amazing. (The portobellos, as often noted, are also delicious. His vinegarette/marinade recipe is delightful.) The tarte tatin that we made was great. Chef Dan was so thorough and passionate with his instruction that I actually believe that I will be able to make this again at home. Recommend highly. Mangia! read more

Oh my! I have died and have gone to Italian food heaven! Wanting to enjoy a "nice" dinner out, we had arranged to have dinner in the private dining room upstairs. This way, my toddler could run around and make all the noise she wanted without disturbing other diners. Service was excellent - our waiter was very friendly and seemed genuine with the kids, which was a nice touch. The food? The food? OMG! So good, you can't help but clean off the plates. We started with a charcuterie platter of prosciutto and salami drizzled with olive oil; assorted roasted veggies; and sauteed mushrooms. Next came the tagliatelle bolognese (my toddler just INHALED this) and the house-made gnocchi in a brown butter sage sauce - probably the best gnocchi I have ever had. EVER. And if that wasn't enough, plates of the braised short ribs over risotto and roast chicken with polenta and spinach were next. Both dishes were so tasty & delicious, I can still taste them. To finish...yes, there's more...plates of assorted desserts: flourless chocolate cake with nuts, apple tart, lime tart, panna cotta. Needless to say, I was very full by the time we left. But, it was all worth it for the A Tavola experience. read more

A Tavola is a really nice place, cozy in the winter and lovely twinkle-lit patio in the summer.They start you off with DELICIOUS foccachia and a nice wine list. You must order the gnocchi, it is unbelievably good. I always burn my mouth on it because I can't help but start to eat right when it comes out. Also, try the apple dessert, amazing. The waitstaff is friendly and works together well. We had such a consistently great experience that we decided to have our rehearsal dinner here. It was a beautiful evening and they were exceptionally accommodating to our large group. We wanted something off the beaten path that our out of town guests wouldn't have found on their own and they still can't stop talking about how good the food was! read more

I'm sure everyone who's reviewed a tavola has already said this but its worth repeating. Best gnocchi in the city. I could stop there. Get it as a starter. Its like savory cotton candy. Little pillows of brown butteryness that just melts. The crispy sage is a nice touch. That's a tough act to follow! But they can do it. They have seasonal items and if you're dining outside you can see that they grow some of their own herbs. I love the blueberry risotto! They have some of the best roasted chicken and I usually get the fish of the day whenever possible (and when its not salmon) The wine list is great. I've never had a bad bottle of something and its usually reasonably priced. Then the dessert. Chocolate or apple? Whichever way you go you'll be pleased. This is a hidden neighborhood gem that's the real deal. Its been around FOREVER but you've probably driven by it a million times and not noticed. It feels like you're going to your friend's three-flat for dinner. Its always a treat coming here. read more

If you want to take your date or spouse (as in my case) out for a romantic dinner, I strongly recommend you A Tavola. This intimate, Italian restaurant serves delicious dishes mostly prepared with fresh ingredients that are grown in the garden out back. What makes this place a special one is the fact that the menu keeps changing according to the season. If you ever go there, and you should, don't forget to try the gnocchi, their specialty. You will love it for sure! The restaurant also offers a plethora of wine types, so you are free to choose according to your preferences. The atmosphere, the dim lighting and the music are perfect for a quiet evening. The gentle waiters are always ready to attend you and since there are only few tables, everyone gets what he/she needs right away. I will definitely go back to A Tavola because I was really impressed by the services they offer. read more

Intimate atmosphere. Gnocchi is amazing along with the shortrubs. Italian that is worth it.

a tavola is so intimate and perfectly about the food, i am liable to weep at the sheer emotion and joy of it all. while this review is a little dated (the meal was had in april of 2006) i must say a tavola provided the best meal i have ever ever had (but then again, i eat cheap grub and not often do i go to pricier joints). the service was attentive, friendly, personal but not overly involved. the setting was intimate with fresh white linens and minimalist taupe walls and black and white photos as a gallery-like decor. we opened with four appetizers for five people, which included thinly-sliced dried cured ham with cheese, light salad with fresh greens and vinagrette, grilled vegetables, and grilled portobello. the ingredients didn't sound exotic or surprising but the ingredients themselves and the judiciousness of the seasoning were impeccable. exceedingly fresh. we had two pastas as the first course (to share). the gnocchi was forgetful (cinnamon and nutmeg spiced). the lamb ragout parpadelle was SO. GOOD. My dish was the braised beef short ribs on a bed of saffron risotto. it was beautifully cooked, meat just falling apart. it was definitely done right. perfectly seasoned with the gelatin evenly distributed throughout the meat, giving just the perfect mouthfeel. yum. i finished every luscious bite. one of my dining buddies had the braised pork shank over a bed of cannellini beans and topped with a wasabi slaw. again, the braising was simply perfect with the pork just perfectly tender, moist and gelatinous. the portion was large with the bones still in. look at this lovely beast. to finish, the panna cotta was the best of the desserts that we had during our chicago trip (business trip that is). luscious with a light caramel sauce, the white creamy confection was perfect. read more

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I guess people come here for the gnocchi mostly and I will say it was really good. So why the 3 stars? Sadly the portion/price was off. There were not a lot gnocchis for the price and the other dish we had (I forget now what it was) was also kinda small. We did also have the grilled vegetable platter app so that held us over for the night. But I guess if you are on a date and money is no object, this is pretty good. Apparently their patio gives out free money or something because while we were happily eating indoors, every party that came in asked for the patio and was disappointed when it was already full. Some even lamented they made a reservation just for the patio, but as the hostess repeatedly said, the patio is not guaranteed and first come first serve. Many a date was ruined that night, I assume. So if you are into pillowy soft gnocchis, I guess you could start here so you have a reference point. But if I ate here too often I think I'd either be broke or starving. read more

Thank you A Tavola for a lovely girls night with my niece. The great food by candle light and extremely attentive and kind service really made my niece feel special. Thanks also for the gnocchi to go. We will definitely be coming back! read more

A Tavola - Entrance - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A nice, intimate atmosphere. The decor leaves a little something to be desired, but the food and service completely make up for it. Our server, Robert, was fantastic! Very friendly and down to earth. As I have come to expect from restaurants of this calibre, he was knowledgeable, genuine, and gave us just the right amount of attention! And of course, he provided excellent suggestions. read more

A friend took me here for my birthday a few years back; sooooo...I was allowed to order whatever I wanted! They don't have an extensive menu, but they have a really good selection. I got steak and potatos and wow. This steak was sooooo wonderful and the potatos were perfect and fluffy. Amazing. The place isn't too large so it's not incredibly noisy. And you won't find large families with little children frequenting A Tavola. This place is good if you're having dinner with your best friend, or a hot date. This place would even be nice to take your parents to, as a nice anniversary treat. It's slightly pricey (then again, I got steak, HA!) but it's well worth it. My dinner here was both delicious and memorable! A Tavola gets two thumbs way up. read more

Loved everything about this hidden gem. We opted for ALL the pasta dishes instead of trying a main course...and we were not disappointed. The bolognese was our clear winner, but the other three were not far behind. Great service, nice atmosphere, zero complaints. read more

I love this place. The atmosphere, the food, and the attention is incomparable. It is small and intimate, with dim lighting and only a few tables in the dining room (although for the love of god, a dropped ceiling...please change it). The food is delightful, rich, and flavorful. It's not to be missed for a special occasion. read more

50 minutes for entrees. YIKES! You must try the gnocchi, OMG it's so delicious. And the Lamb Ragu, my husband hates lamb but loved that dish, I woke up today craving it. That being said, things go down hill from there. My husband and I stopped in on a Tuesday evening a little after 6 pm. It was my birthday and I LOVE Italian food, since a tavola is with in walking distance to our place we figured we give it a chance. When we arrived we were the only table and were told by someone that they weren't allowing people to sit on the patio because they didn't want to move them later when it got to cold. Okay, it's a Tuesday, really you can't sit us where we'd like to be sat. Okay, whatever, lets move on. Our waiter is soft spoken and mumbles, so its tough to understand what he's saying sometimes and there is younger guy following him, although we have no idea why. He just stands there and stares. It's a little weird. My guess is he's training but I don't know maybe tell the table what's going on cause it was very creepy at times. The waiter explains the menu and how it's meant to be ordered which is fine by us. We order a bottle of wine and figure out what we want to eat while we wait for our wine. While the waiter is pouring the wine he takes our order and gets it mixed up a couple times, you could have just waited until you were done pouring the wine to take the order. We are still the only table. We order a lot of food, thinking leftovers will be yummy for lunch the next day. 2 salads, the gnocchi and lamb ragu and 2 entrees. The pork shank which is one of their specials that evening and the beef spare ribs. About 10 minutes after we place the order our salads arrive. Great perfect. Yummy salads, we enjoy them. We finish those and the plates are removed, at this point a couple of tables are now full and 10 minutes later our pasta comes out. They are small portion pasta and the waiter warned us so I wasn't surprised. I mean price wise it's a bit silly but they were both so good that I didn't care. We finish the pasta (which wasn't the original plan, we were going to take some of the pasta home but) they take the plates away and now we have 50 minutes to wait for our entrees. I get that they want you to relax and enjoy your meal but seriously. If the dishes are going to take that long then I suggest you tell the patrons that before they order. If I would have known I would have said screw it I'll eat more pasta. FINALLY our food comes out and my beef short ribs are swimming in a pond of brown broth. It doesn't look very appetizing seeing as the risotto is now drenched in a lot of liquid, but I try the food anyway. The beef ribs are very salty and the risotto is almost hard, like they've some how separated into these little bricks of rice. My husband says his pork is okay but not as good at the pork I had a few days ago at a different place on the north side. SO after all that waiting, we only take a few bites of our food and then sit for 25 minutes with our plates in front of us waiting for our waiter to return. At this point there are now 8 tables and our waiter is the only one on, so he's running around like crazy. Finally he comes by to check on us and asks if we're still working. We say no and he offers a dessert menu, my husband agrees that we'll take a look. Now we're not dessert people but we usually get something to share on one of our birthday's but this time I said no. I turned down my husbands offer for an after dinner drink, espresso, dessert, all of it because I knew it would take forever to get it. We were now out of wine and again it took 20 minutes for the waiter to come back and ask if we wanted any dessert. At that point my husband handed the waiter his credit card and asked for the bill because I was over it. I really wanted to love this place. Especially after eating the gnocchi and lamb ragu but the price is high the service is slow and I just didn't feel welcomed at all. It felt very stuffy, so we'll see if we go back. There are better places in the city I just really wanted it to be GREAT since it's so close to us. Oh well. read more