We visited Bar Sotto during Chicago Restaurant Week and had a really enjoyable overall experience. The space has a cozy, dimly lit, intimate vibe perfect for a date night or a relaxed dinner with friends. It feels upscale but still comfortable. Service was attentive and paced well, especially considering it was Restaurant Week and fairly busy. The Restaurant Week menu offered a great variety. We started with the crispy arancini, which were perfectly golden on the outside and creamy inside with a rich glaze that added a nice depth of flavor. The wild mushroom risotto had great earthy flavor and was very rich, definitely a heavier dish but satisfying if you are in the mood for something indulgent. The gnocchi were soft and pillowy with fresh basil and roasted tomatoes that brightened the dish nicely. For entrées, the filet mignon was cooked beautifully, tender and medium rare with a flavorful sauce that complemented it well. The chicken parmesan had a solid crisp and good seasoning, though it leaned more classic than standout. Portions overall felt fair for the prix fixe price. Dessert was a sweet finish. The tiramisu was light, creamy, and not overly heavy, which we appreciated. Overall, 4 stars. Great ambiance and solid execution across the board. While nothing completely blew us away, it was a well done Restaurant Week experience and I would definitely come back to try more from their regular menu. read more

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Came here for a martini with the girls. Such a cute space!! We both had vodka dirty martinis with blue cheese olives and they were very very good. There was also a wine tasting going on which was a fun activity. The service here was great and this atmosphere is unmatched. I'd never expect a place like this to be tucked away in the loop! We didn't eat here but I would come back to try the food. We just ordered the olives off the happy hour menu which were the perfect little snacky item. read more

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Such a cool place where you feel like you've stepped into a bar in Italy. It's dark with loud Italian music, but this fits the vibe perfectly. On Wednesdays there's a free wine tasting (didn't start up until 5:30pm) and happy hour every weekday with $3 schlitz. It does get busy here though so expect to wait or have to flag the bartender down - they are quite slow. Drinks are good though and cool presentation for some. I'll have to come back for the food next time! read more

Really vibey and casual happy hour spot in the heart of the loop. Their drinks are fantastic (the wine selection is really good) and the food is where it needs to be, nothing fancy but good bites to have when you're having a couple of drinks. Would come back to have actual pasta upstairs though! read more

Bar Sotto - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dark and retro vibe. Located in basement of the village restaurant. Drinks all had exotic herbal notes or things you wouldn't expect. Had a beet infused vodka cocktail and my friend had a turmeric gin drink. Space is very dark and somewhat loud, but a good time! read more

Bar Sotto - Just beet it - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a great night at Bar Sotto! The space is so cute and cozy. Very upscale and modern compared to the upstairs restaurant. We loved our cocktails especially! But the arancini was a real contender for best bite! read more

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YESSSS. Dine here - it was a fantastic experience from the second we entered the restaurant. Food (5/5) - Burrata appetizer...omg. Order it now. I am always unhappy when ordering a burrata at restaurants and this is the best one I have ever had. I have thought about it often since eating here. The bread was grilled with pieces of flaky salt and the buratta has pistachio paste with 4 pieces of spek. $14 - Gnocchi pasta special with chorizo and ricotta...fantastic. $32 - Short ribs, my husband said that these are the best he has ever had. It comes with delicious polenta. $36 - Tiramisu was so good. It was more of a pudding vs wet cake. $10 - Espresso Reggiano, sweet take on espresso martini. $18 Ambiance (5/5) - Restaurant in the basement of Italian Village. - Cool vibes with a separate bar. Service (5/5) - This was some of the best service that we have had. Our waitress was very attentive and checked in on us many times. read more

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Happy hour downstairs at Bar Motto is always such a great time. The energy is lively, the crowd is fun, and it feels like the perfect spot to unwind after a long day. There's something about the atmosphere downstairs that makes it easy to relax, enjoy a drink, and get caught up in the buzz of conversation and laughter. It's the kind of place where happy hour really lives up to its name. read more

Bar Sotto - Lucky Leprechaun Drink Try the Rosemary Daquiri - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Hey Yelpers! We came here for a double date and to be honest it's was a 20/10 on the food but not so much on the vibes. Very intimate but I was cold. I've been in basement restaurants and wasn't as cold. I didn't appreciate the excuse that it was a basement. However they did offer to switch our tables but that wasn't the point. The next guy will also be cold lol. Also, the music selection was all over the place meanwhile the kitchen was jamming! The crew definitely could've shared the playlist. Vibes: It was a Saturday evening and it was closing before 11p. I looked up and realized we were the only ones , besides a group of 8, when we walked in. It's very gloomy, it gives Italian, but it's not lively. The change in music would help. They went from dance to rock to country to rock all over again...it was so much of a disturbance that our husbands made it a thing to joke about each time a song came on lol. It is definitely a pregame spot with good food. Main dishes: Short Rib w/ Mash Garlic Pasta Lamb Pasta (crumbled lamb meat) Risotto w. Prawns My drink was amazing! Everything was amazing! I'd faster order out than sit down here. I'd give 3.5 bc of ambiance but a 4 will do. read more

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This new spot opened up about 3 weeks ago. Definitely a great new addition to the Loop. The food items were delicious. The Alla Norma had a bit of a spicy kick to it which I loved!! The truffle pasta was also really good. It's a more mild, simple flavor profile than the alla norma. The cocktails were also all great. Service was good and friendly, pretty quick. We were celebrating a birthday so they even gave a complimentary dessert for us to enjoy. :) I believe they do have a seasonal menu so we can expect some different dishes every season! The restaurant itself is loooong but quite intimate in nature. Plenty of seating for bigger groups as well but I would recommend it for a date night. I will definitely be returning here soon. read more

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It's a really cool place as you walk in. The ambiance is dark and sultry. We were only stopping in for a few drinks so we sat at the bar. The bartenders were friendly. Why a lower rating? We ordered a cocktail off of their menu and asked for it without one ingredient (simple syrup). They said they might be able to do it, but they would have to make it from scratch. Wait, does this mean their cocktails are all premade sitting in a jar under the bar? If I'm ordering a cocktail from a bar downtown & paying downtown prices, I'd like to think they're all going to be made from scratch by my bartender. The drink turned out pretty weak. We also had a smoked bourbon cocktail that was really nice, smoked in the glass at the bar with you. read more

real cute hole in the wall (or should i say basement) it's so cute and the food was great. Love their arancini!

Really great meal this spot. Started off with the appetizer and really enjoyed it. The artichoke salad is excellent. One of the true highlights. Enjoyed the lasagna as well. Nice dark basement atmosphere, really cozy. Great service as well. read more

Food: I did not try their food, but their cocktails are delicious and strong. I order the Last Word and it was perfectly made. The bar is a full bar so if you are not in a mood for curated cocktail, you are able to make your standard drinks here. 5/5 Service: the service standard. I came around 9 at night since I missed my train, but it was nice to sit quietly. 5/5 Ambiance: the bar is in the basement so it was small, but cute inside. It had this retro, moody vibe to the interior. The music was a good level if you want to relax alone or if you come with someone you can still hear the person next to you. 5/5 Overall: 15/15. A cute basement bar for the loop area with decently priced cocktails and old-school bar vibes. read more

Ambiance was nice, music was not my vibe, but if you like rock and dad music you will like this place. We ordered Cacio e Pepe Arancini, it was delicious. We also got the Papardelle which tasted a little heavy on the soy sauce but delicious, and the ravioli which was slightly undercooked. Overall the flavors were good, but I've had better pasta. On a Friday night, the place is dead. For the same price, there are better options, but that said I would definitely come back. read more

Bar Sotto - Ravioli, papardelle, arancini - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Bar Sotto is a hidden gem. It was in the basement and very cute and romantic. I went here with my best friend but it definitely would be great for date night. The service was top notch. The waitress was attentive and the other wait staff were quick and kept refilling our water. I truly felt like I was in Italy. I didn't get a picture of our food, but it was delicious! We shared the bristle sprouts. They were sautéed and had a tasty glaze on them with some fried Asiago cheese in the middle of the plate. I had the black garlic pappardelle. It had mushrooms and, truffle, and pine nuts. It was covered in a very savory sauce. It was reminiscent of the taste of beef. Me friend had the giardiniera short ribs. Honestly, when I revisit I NEED those short ribs. They were paired with a jus and make potatoes. Our drinks were strong, but well made. Overall I would definitely recommend it. read more

Bar Sotto - The Last Word cocktail - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends and I work in the building next door and we love coming to Bar Sotto for happy hour. The cacio e pepe arancini are genuinely SO good. Drinks are great, too. I recommend the Red Reaper if you're into a spicy marg. read more

What a wonderful hole-in-the-wall type of place!! I feel very lucky to have made a reservation for Valentines Day here. The place is cozy and intimate and the staff are lovely. The food though. Wow. The arancini, truffle past and walleye were incredible. I was ready to be disappointed, but the dishes were so flavorful and imaginative. The tiramisu was good not amazing, but who cares when everything else including the cocktails were so amazing. 10/10 recommend read more

If I could I would give this 100/10! We went on St Pattys weekend and the vibes were absolutely incredible! The food was AMAZING, the service was GREAT, and the atmosphere was on point!! The drinks are great and were not too crowded somehow! I cannot recommend this place enough. The staff will make sure to treat you right! read more

Bar Sotto - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Wine tasting Wednesday is cool, but doesn't offer much learning opportunity. The options seemed to be from the regular restaurant menu, so nothing unique or rare. The underground ambiance is sexy. Employees are more interested in talking in their own big group than engaging with the customers. read more

Very good food! Area can become a little cramped and others can easily listen to your conversations and be near your food. Other than that, great service and even better drinks! read more

Bar Sotto - Short rib - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great cozy spot. The ambiance is great. The staff was really great and right on top of any we needed to enjoy our visit. The food is spectacular! read more

Bar Sotto - Lots of menu items to try. - Beer Bar Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The absolute and complete disappointment knows no bounds. These 3 tiers of an iconic Chicago restaurant known as The Village are not what they previously were. Our particular experience was in Bar Sotto. It is advertised as open until 11:00pm on Fridays. We arrived at 9:00 - our reservation was for 9:30. We thought since we were early as our show was done we'd have some time to enjoy ourselves. Nope. As soon as we were seated our waitress comes for our drinks- we order- 10 minutes later and 2 waters she asks if we want an appetizer- yes we order the arancini which are 4 small balls- it comes out before our drinks. Now there were only 2 other tables in this establishment. So as we finally get our drinks the waitress informs us that they are closing at 10 so if we want to order we should "so that you don't get locked out " of the kitchen . Sooooo confused. This is at 9:30 the time of my actual reservation where we had been sitting for 25 minutes with no drinks or food. Your hours of operation say until 11:00 pm. It was an anniversary which was never acknowledged. The food is simply tiny and overpriced. Nothing like its big sisters upstairs. As having been patronizing this beautiful landmark for 40 years I am astonished how far you have fallen from grace Italian Village Bar Sotto is your devil. read more

Had a great time at Bar Sotto! The food was good, the drinks were amazing, and our waiter Ricky made the whole experience even better. Super friendly and on top of everything. Definitely recommend! read more

Do not judge this on the outside. The inside is quite nice. The service is excellent. Very welcoming from the minute we walked in. This was our first time and took us a bit to decide. He was very helpful answering questions and didn't make us feel rushed. There were 4 of us. 2 ordered drunken noodles one medium and one spicy. I ordered woon sen path Thai (spicy) the final order was the orange chicken. All were delicious. The heat levels were exactly how described. Now let's discuss the orange chicken.....I really have never had any this amazing!!! Most are heavily battered and the sauce is thick and too sweet. The breading was so light and crisp. The sauce was complimenting the chicken not overwhelming it. My mom's dish was just a little too spicy for her ( she ordered med) we had them box that up and she ordered the orange chicken since it was soo good. We are not from the area but will definitely come back anytime we are passing through. Not one thing negative about this place!!! read more

Excellent cocktails and aesthetic. Prompt service and interesting old-school flavors like chartreuse.

Visited for the first time yesterday after eating at Italian Village. It has a very cool vibe for a basement bar and is esthetically pleasing in its decor. Bartender was friendly and happy to talk about the bar and it's history. It was the Italian Village basement restaurant that used to have the walls lined with fish tanks. Well obviously the tanks are all gone and it is a very pretty and comfortable place. Do expect low lighting however but it only added to the vibe. The cocktails were very good and reasonably priced. We definitely put it on the list to go back. They have bar bites but just having eaten we only tried the housemade potato chips with a chili dipping sauce and they were really good. read more