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    Acanto

    4.3 (683 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Wine Bars
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    ACANTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Classy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Acanto

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    Padma A.

    Met a few friends for dinner , salads here usually top notch but our iceberg lettuce had some sand which was disappointing. But the hostess was very gracious to replace it with another salad. I love the ambience and service. Rest of the food was delicious, will be back

    Tiramisu
    Shelby M.

    The Great: -The tiramisu is excellent, perfect balance of flavors -Bruschetta is a MUST The Good: -Extensive wine list -Great service The Not so Great: -I don't think they season their meat. I couldn't finish the rigatoni because it literally tasted like a pound of ground beef. Meatball were the same way - no flavor

    Sea Scallops* **
    Diana W.

    Romantic Italian restaurant located near Millennium Park. Phenomenal homemade pasta dishes. Highly recommend starting with the cauliflower appetizer, and either the sea scallops or duck bolognese with homemade pasta. End the night with affogato in the shape of a rose. The service was also attentive without being overbearing. Great place to eat after attending the Symphony (as it is just steps away).

    Sea Scallops* **
    Dorothy B.

    Went here for Mother's Day. They didn't have any reservations left so we sat at the bar and still had a great time. Food was amazing. Loved the ambiance. The governor of Illinois came in to dine while we were there. The gluten free calamari is some of the best calamari I've ever had - particularly enjoyed the olives. Great experience. A little pricey but definitely less expensive than other places we were looking at.

    Tiramisu
    Jacqueline F.

    Acanto was the venue for our work holiday party. Honestly I really wanted our venue to be a steakhouse, so management was breaking years of tradition coming to an Italian restaurant. It was a set menu so could t really venture off and get what I wanted. For appetizers we had the salad - looked like a garden salad with flakes of cheese on top. It was tasty and flavorful and I devoured it all. Next came the house bread which paired nicely with the oil. The bread was delicious - I think i had 3 slices! For the main course. I went with the salmon. Hands down one of the best salmons I've had in a while. What made it amazing was the mushrooms that topped it off with a truffle sauce on top. The taste was a burst of flavor in your mouth. I greatly enjoyed the salmon and highly recommend. Dessert was the tiramisu. It was nice and fluffy and the texture was great. I was pleasantly surprised. Servers were great and very attentive. I would surely come back and taste their pasta. Because if their salmon was to die for, I can just imagine how the pasta would taste like!

    House martini
    Becca M.

    Wonderful experience with sitting at the bar for lunch and still getting amazing food and drinks. Highly recommend for a great experience of food and drinks.

    Pasta bolognese
    Martha W.

    Wonderful service by Marela I think it was. Forgive me if I'm wrong about her name. Very good food and romantic ambiance. The wine list by the glass was fantastic as well and they have a wine class on Wednesdays as well.

    Jordan C.

    Stopped in for a late lunch and was excited to find happy hour from 2-5 which included a decent variety of food and drinks. I had an aperol spritz, along with the panino prosciutto which was amazing. It came with a side salad - I'd definitely order it all again. The place itself is a darker eloquent wine bar with plenty of seating.

    Carissa A.

    We were out in Iowa and decided to make a quick day trip to Chicago. After shopping and walking around, we decided to check out Acanto because their menu looked delicious. Didn't realize it would turn out to be such a great experience. It was a perfect fall day in Chicago! We walked up after making a reservation and the host helped us to get seated right away. We had the option of sitting inside or outside and were so glad to have chosen outside. Their patio looks out into a park across the street and the views and vibes were amazing! The server was friendly and made some great recommendations. We started out with the burrata. It was fresh and light! We asked for some bread to go with it and were brought out the most warm and delicious pieces of foccacia. Next we got a calamari fritti. It was lightly breaded, crisp and perfectly fried. For our entree, we shared the bolognese. Wow!! It was rich in flavor and just such a comforting dish. Lastly, we wrapped with a warm olive oil with berry sauce a la mode. It was the best way to end a meal. If you're looking for a great place to eat with an amazing ambiance to match, this is the spot. If the weather is nice, highly recommend sitting outside.

    Rob L.

    Hidden gem near millenium park an the bean. Really nice ambiance and decor of an italian wine bar. Staff were friendly and prompt great service. We came in for happy hour and tried a few share plates and cocktails everything was delicious and the crispy rice tuna is a must try, phenomenal!! Street parking is minimal but their is a garage at the bean. Overall great experience and food.

    Lobster Ravioli
    Liz S.

    We originally wanted to go to Cindys Rooftop, but after seeing the wait we wandered out to find the next closest option--and I'm SO GLAD we did! Acanto ended up being a really cozy and delicious surprise, with super fast and geniune service. Our table got the arancini, lobster ravioli, gnocchi, and the duck ragu. I didn't try the ragu but everthing else was top tier! Arancini: super cheesy, crispy, and that sauce WOW Ravioli: tasty, but a little one note. The lemon drop sauce on top really brightened it up but needed more of it Gnocchi: like a down pillow Our server let us know that they have rotating menu items to highlight one region of italy at a time, which I thought was really cool. When we visited it was Umbria, hence the duck ragu. Keep an eye out for those specials when you visit!

    Amazing pistachio dessert

    We went to the Abruzzo wine dinner 4/29 and it was one of the most informative and delicious wine dinners we have ever attended. We have attended wine dinners all over the US including Sonoma and Napa. Tori (Torrence) the sommelier was amazing and taught us so much about the region, wines, travel, history and food. It was very casual and the group at the event was great and all had a wonderful time. We will definately be back for a wine class and dinner again. Acanto is a charming and amazing place to go for a great meal and or drinks for any occassion. Service is also top notch and attentive. Put this on your list. You wont be dissappointed.

    May 2025 dessert menu
    Melissa C.

    I can't lie, I was a bit skeptical about going here at first due to it being a restaurant on Michigan Ave, I figured it would be an over priced tourist trap with mediocre food. But I'm so glad I was wrong! Acanto is a cosy and intimate Italian restaurant with a welcoming and warm ambiance. The restaurant is illuminated by candle-lit tables which gives it a romantic touch. I came here for dinner solo and was seated immediately, and my server was very friendly and hospitable. I ordered the lobster ravioli and house made meatballs. The meatballs were great and came with 2 pieces of hearty focaccia bread. The ravioli was also fantastic but I wish it was cooked just a tad longer so the pasta was a bit softer. I ended my meal with dessert, and opted for the torta barozzi. Out came a very generous slice of a single layer rich chocolate cake, which was also flourless but I honestly couldn't even tell. It was served with a scoop of espresso gelato which complimented the richness of the chocolate cake so perfect and was the best way to end my meal. I would definitely come back here again - either to dine solo for a relaxing dinner, on a date, or to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. Acanto is a great spot if you're looking for a welcoming and upscale Italian dining experience.

    Negroni Classico

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    Acanto Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Acanto

    Can I make a reservation for 2 on 12/19?

    We made our reservations on the Open Table app.

    Does Acanto have a Kids Menu?

    We did not see one

    Do they allow dogs outside?

    As most city restaurants with outdoor patio, I'm sure they do.

    Any Gluten free/vegan options?

    Hi Lynne- Thanks for your interest in Acanto! We do offer some gluten free pastas and we often have other gluten free dishes or dishes that can be modified if needed to be gluten free.… Read more

    View All 8 Questions

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    GoodFunk

    3.8(40 reviews)
    0.7 miThe Loop

    We tried pre opera drinks and bites at Good Funk on Wacker and overall it was a blah experience…read more The wine selection was interesting, the food was average, at best. We didn't especially enjoy the atmosphere (sadly we were seated at the bar next to some douche dude bros) or the service. I doubt we will return.

    My friend rented this out a few weeks ago to celebrate her 45th. It was the perfect spot for about…read more30 women to mingle, drink cocktails and eat delicious food (compliments of Beaknik). I helped her choose the menu using both Yelp and some help from my bestie chatgpt and came up with the following: 7 Passed Apps: * Mini Truffle Beef Wellington (black truffle aioli) * Short Rib & Brie Slider (Aleppo BBQ, arugula, tomato jam) * Chicken Kebab (harissa-marinated chicken, tahini labneh) * Salmon Taco (avocado, mojo rojo, cilantro) * Mushroom Croquette (black truffle aioli) * Halloumi Skewer (tomato & quince jam, za'atar) * Mini Crab Cake (lemon aioli, herb salad) 1 Stationary Grazing Item: * Mezze Trio (tahini hummus, beet tahini w/ goat cheese, tzatziki, grilled pita & crudité) ---- It ended up being the perfect amount of food- heavy enough to fill us for dinner, but also light enough that we didn't get too full and could stay out late and dance (at the request of the bday gal). They passed the appetizers, but once they passed them around a few times they put them on the bar which became one big grazing station. The drinks were great as well and they even did a signature cocktail in honor of my friend, which was quite strong (hello tequila). The bartender and other staff were super friendly and knew many of us by name after a few hours. It was the perfect cozy spot for this amount of people and I'd love to look into using it again for a similar type of party...or just stopping in for a cocktail!

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    Vol. 39 - Ambience

    Vol. 39

    4.4(148 reviews)
    0.4 miThe Loop
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    Really nice cocktail lounge in the Kimpton Gray Hotel…read more Upscale, modern look with an antique library theme Cocktails on par with other lounges/bars, ~$20 per drink. Quieter spot to grab a drink or two with friends and intimate enough for a date too Old fashioned was very good, also they stamp the ice cube which is a nice touch

    Came in today with a group of eight friends over an hour after cocktail lounge opened (slower…read morehours). I'll begin by mentioning the drinks tasted great & the ambiance/overall esthetic and setup of this space is really wonderful. Unfortunately, my low review is because of the obvious distastefulness of some staff who are serving & bartending here. My guests visiting from out of state wanted a stiff drink in the afternoon & from the website photos + reviews, Vol 39 seemed like an awesome place that could accommodate our party with the large sofa seating. I even called ahead to ask about walk-ins of our size to be extra considerate. We received shocking dagger glares from a few staff members which made all eight of us immediately uncomfortable before even being sat. Like we were committing a major crime for thinking we could step foot in here. Empty stack of glasses slammed on the table with a water pitcher placed beside them; "I'll be right back." In a sharp tone. Ok. But not if we're paying $20 per person per cocktail. We were rushed and this attitude persisted, it is lazy.. especially given it was extremely slow.. super surprising for such an elevated establishment. Then, after a long while, we were all asked what we wanted to drink, like a fast casual burger joint. No, "any questions about our selections" or, "may I give some suggestions?" Never came by to check on us once despite the three other two tops inside. We wrapped it up fast since we definitely could choose another location with more attentiveness & basic kindness. We paid, a hefty gratuity in small print on the check which.. you guessed it.. was automatically included but no mention of this tidbit by the server. Maybe this is why we revived all this mean girl energy from the jump? Because they'll still get paid really well regardless? All eight of us have been a part of the service industry and this one stuck out extra frustrating & annoying. Never leave a low review, I'm writing today to management because they will ruin your repeat clientele, seriously. People can find another fabulous cocktail with way better service & vibes in the city. Overall, it was a shame my friends experienced this gross behavior today in the fabulous city of Chicago. Hope the staff does better in the future and works on improving their outlook.

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    The Gage - Apple Pie Basque Cheesecake ($14) - creamy cheesecake, spiced apples, butter streusel. Too sweet in my opinion.

    The Gage

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    I got the strawberry Negroni drink and loved it! Very smooth and flavorful. They have good non…read morealcoholic options as well. I enjoyed all the food we received, it was tasty, warm, fast, and you get a good portion. The lobster roll was good, the lamb was good and the zucchini was as well! We got Brussel sprouts for the app and those were my favorite. The dessert was also very delicious and I would get again! They validate parking if you park in the north parking garage for $13. Make sure to bring your ticket with you! More details are on their website. The service was great and the place was clean. I loved the aesthetic!

    We've been to The Gage many times over the years since it's one of our top sit-down spots near…read moreSymphony Center before or after concert. Our favorite dish is definitely the PEI mussels. The broth is the kind you want to keep dipping bread into and practically lick off your fingers afterward -- flavorful, savory, and a little briny without being the heavy creamy type of sauce that some places do. Very comforting but not overly rich. Honestly, I don't even remember all the other dishes we've ordered over the years, but our experiences have consistently been good. Service is polished, the space feels classic Chicago, and it's a great place to relax before or after a performance downtown.

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    Ambiance in dining room. Outside seating available

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    Chicago Winery - Enjoy a wine & cheese plate in our restaurant, LIVA

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    4.3(65 reviews)
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    I stopped by Chicago Winery on a Wednesday early evening solo and was able to sit at the bar…read morewithout reservation. I was blown away by the ambiance and decor. Chicago Winery prioritizes upscale and intimacy but their service is personable and friendly allowing you to feel right at home. On Wednesday they offer a Happy Hour special, $5 off a tasting and $10 wine by the glass. The server as extremely kind, and was able to offer me some suggestions based on my personal palate and wine interests. I landed on the Winemaker's Tasting, which included 4, one ounce pours, including Blancs de Blancs, Albarino, Barbera and Merlot. I paired the tasting with the a BYOB board. From their menu I picked the olives, Afterglow, and the Tempesta Guanciale. The server was educated on the wines was able to walk me through the tasting and pairings but gave me independence and autonomy to enjoy at my own leisure and pace. I highly enjoyed my visit and absolutely will be returning to dine in, as well as to get a winery tour!

    Was gifted the wine tasting and tour for my birthday which was a very fun experience. Great deal to…read morebuy wine after. I preferred the whites and was disappointed by the reds. We had the date package and ate at the restaurant after. I recommend the pork schnitzel and pierogis. We ordered four shareables but weren't blown away by the butternut squash fondue and gougeres. Loved our hostess for the wine tasting, but wish there was more guidance on tasting notes and wine terminology. I'd recommend though to any wine lovers, I still learned a lot!

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    4.0(659 reviews)
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    Such a fun vibe and a great crowd! I went in on a Sunday evening and it was decently packed. The…read morebar itself is dimly lit and moody. There's plenty of booth seating, as well as tall chairs at the bar. Once it was karaoke hour, I put myself on the list and started singing. Everybody is fun about it, whether the performer is conventionally a great singer or not, and I absolutely love it! There was even a group of 4+ girls who sang together on stage, and the energy was so infectious, it got the whole bar yelling the lyrics along with them. Would highly recommend!

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