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Ciao! Cafe & Wine Lounge

4.0 (175 reviews)
ModerateItalian, Wine Bars
Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

Ciao! Cafe & Wine Lounge Photos

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CIAO! CAFE & WINE LOUNGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Live music
Intimate
Romantic
Quiet

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Recommended Reviews - Ciao! Cafe & Wine Lounge

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Rigatoni Alla Rigo

This cafe is amazing!! The vibes are outrageous. Service was great, food was delicious. The rigatoni was soooo good and the band brought a fun atmosphere. 10/10 would go again!

a woman taking a picture of her meal

The food was amazing!!! I got the alla angle hair pasta thing with meatballs and it was one of the best pastas i've ever had in my life. I will think about this pasta for a while .The service was very welcoming. I loved the ambiance, it was super cute and the place had much character to it. I date with a partner or a friend is a must!

That is more than 20% gratuity!!
Elnaz A.

Here is the reason why I gave them only 2 stars. The server was not at all friendly, he had an attitude and was obviously not happy to work there. Most of the time he was at his cellphone. At the end he put a gratuity (20.5 %) on our bill for 2 people. It is noted on their menu that for groups of 6 or more people, they will put a gratuity on the bill. When we asked why he added a gratuity of 20.5% on our tab, he merely replied that this is what they do recently. I don't think it is ok to add an automatic gratuity of over 20% for a tab of two! So, no we were not happy. However, the appetizer was delicious and the food was just ok. Nevertheless, you can get that food anywhere else in the West Loop for a similar price. I definitely cannot recommend this place!

Bacon Wrapped Dates
Ian J.

Cafe Ciao is a gem among Chicago's concrete jungle. It's small, intimate setting paired with the cordial ambiance and the decor makes it a great place for a nice date night. They also had a table for board games for you to enjoy with a group while you enjoy your wine. Speaking of the wine, the list was expansive and held great variety. I was told that the wine selection rotates throughout the season and each wine has a glass or bottle option unlike some other places that require you to purchase the whole bottle. I started with the bacon wrapped dates and enjoyed the sweet and salty flavors. The dates were not oversized which was nice since I had a good date to bacon ratio. Then I ordered the rigatoni alla rigo which was their house special. I enjoyed the balance of the spicy Italian sausage that complimented the the tomato cream sauce. The entrée paired with my petite Syrah that had fruit and smoky tones complimented the sausage well. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. The staff was extremely friendly and the service was awesome. I enjoyed talking with them about the various wines on their list and about Chicago since I'm an out of towner. All in all, Cafe Ciao is perfect for any date night, girls night, game night and all the other nights. I can't wait to visit again the next time I'm in Chicago. Ciao :)

Cafe Ciao
Ben B.

We stopped in for an afternoon lunch today. The staff was attentive and friendly, although we were alone in the cafe given an odd lunchtime, which allows for more attention. A fun but classy cartoon, something about Bellville, was playing on their flatscreen. My wife and I shared the bacon-wrapped date and spicy tomato chevre appetizers, as well as the prosciutto and fig flatbread and tiramisu. It was the perfect amount of food for us. The tomato sauce with the chevre was surprisingly spicy. The flatbread is about the right size for a single lunch without an appetizer. The figs are more intact than at most other places and it was plated with grapes, a nice touch. We'll be back.

Bread Pudding made with King's Hawaiian Sweet Bread (famous in Hawaii).
Carol M.

Came here with a group of friends for desserts & scarfed away the fabulous tiramisu and bread pudding. Both were very generous portions. The tiramisu was so light and flavorful. The bread pudding was made of famous King's Sweetbread (very famous in Hawaii) and perhaps flown in from Hawaii. What a treat. We were with a big group and had gone to another Italian restaurant down the street but wished we came here instead. The quality and the portions at Cafe Ciao are top notch. The ambiance is also charming, warm and cozy and just a perfect neighborhood restaurant.

Baked Mac and cheese
Vrati D.

Great food, great wine, great ambiance! I can't believe we waited so long to come to this West Loop gem! We tried the Aquinas red after reading some reviews as well as the Fire Road white and both were delicious! All the plates are fairly small, perfect for a date night to share! We ordered the baked white cheddar Mac n cheese small plate, which was by far one of the best we've had! The top thin layer of breading was light and added a great crunchy texture. We also ordered the spinach empanadas (not my fave but my husband liked it and the chutney... Typical Indian) and the spicy chèvre (goat cheese and tomato with bread) which was soooo good. The angel hair pasta had a great balance if garlic and basil! And they even have board games and karaoke for private events!

middle of the seating area

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1 year ago

great selection of wine. I would recommend the pasta selection as that was divine to indulge in.

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2 years ago

Love, love, love the atmosphere here! Super cozy and the food is lovely too! So happy they're still part of the neighborhood.

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No Vacancy

No Vacancy

4.6
(169 reviews)
1.1 mi
•$$

Really loved this little bar! Great food! We didn't realize we were there for Happy Hour or we…read morewould've honestly ordered way more. I loved the cider I ordered and I would go back just for that. We loved the other people we talked to there. The ambiance was incredible. The only outlier was the bartender seemed to be having an off night, she just wasn't super attentive with guests. But it wasn't so terrible that it tainted an otherwise great experience. I would definitely return to this place!

We stopped in for a night cap and a snack on a Friday evening! We sat at the bar and I liked how…read morebig and comfy the chairs are. We also had front row seats to watch March madness, and more importantly the beer filling mechanism that fills glasses from the bottom! Kinda fun to watch. The bar also has purse hooks, which I am always grateful for. The food came out pretty quickly and was super fresh and delicious. The bartender was sooo sweet, very attentive and quick, and made sure my soda was always topped off. I loved the vibe and the moody lighting! The menu is definitely River North prices -- nothing terribly surprising bht on par for the neighborhood. At the time of our visit, cocktails were $15+ and the fry basket was $10. Again, not terrible but definitely paying to be in River North. If you're in the neighborhood, definitely worth it!

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No Vacancy
Blackened Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich
Blackened Fresh Florida Grouper Sandwich
Pigs in a Blanket

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Pigs in a Blanket
Gilt Bar

Gilt Bar

4.3
(2.4k reviews)
1.0 mi
•$$$

Great service, food, and ambiance. The library bar is amazing! Definitely recommend the vodka…read morerigatoni.

Gilt Bar has been a Chicago favorite since 2010, and after my first visit I understand why…read more The space is dark, energetic, and packed with personality. This is not the place for a quiet conversation. It may be one of the loudest restaurants I've visited in quite some time, and a nearby birthday celebration only added to the energy. That said, the atmosphere is part of the appeal. If you're looking for a fun, celebratory evening with friends or family, Gilt Bar delivers. I can't imagine choosing it for a business dinner. We started with the Tenderloin Steak Tartare and onion rings. Both were excellent. My daughter was craving the Bolognese, while I ordered the vodka rigatoni. The portions were generous, and both dishes were flavorful and satisfying. The truffle mafaldine appears to be the menu's most celebrated pasta and receives plenty of attention on Yelp, but we were very happy with our selections. Service was spot on throughout the evening. Food arrived with good pacing, drinks were refreshed promptly, and our server struck the right balance between attentive and intrusive. For dessert, we shared the gooey skillet cookie. Be warned: this thing arrives at the table with nuclear-level heat. The vanilla ice cream isn't just there for flavor, it's there for protection. One unusual observation: the floors seemed surprisingly slippery throughout the restaurant, something we noticed more than once. Our bill came to $159 before tip, which felt reasonable given the quality of the food, service, and overall experience. Between the lively atmosphere, strong food, excellent service, and vibrant bar scene, it's easy to understand why Gilt Bar has remained popular for more than 15 years

Photos
Photo Booth
Photo Booth
Honey Peppered King Salmon
Honey Peppered King Salmon
Stairs going down to bathrooms

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Stairs going down to bathrooms
GoodFunk

GoodFunk

3.8
(40 reviews)
0.8 mi

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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Behind the bar
Behind the bar
GoodFunk
Great selection of wines

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Great selection of wines
Arbella

Arbella

4.4
(697 reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

(Kari's Rating 8.75/10)…read more Came with a friend late on a Friday night after dinner time We were able to be seated almost immediately at a nice little private Cove table. We ordered a flight of whiskey sours, which contained whiskeys from Japan, Vietnam, and Wisconsin. I also was able to order an amaretto sour, which they made with freshly hand beaten egg whites, which was a nice cherry on the top. As far as the whiskey flights go, I think the best one was the Vietnam flight because it had a slightly lemongrass twang and was a little bit lighter than the other two. The heaviest one was the Wisconsin which came with a little bit of a bite at the end, but it still wasn't bad if you're trying to blackout on a $15 budget. I would definitely come back with a larger group this seems like a great place, but is a little bit loud- so if you be prepared to yell or wear earplugs. The bathroom took my a second to find, which should have been intuitive considering it was on the opposite end of where you come in. I blame the lighting as things are already pretty hard to find in the dark, but eventually I made it there-Pat myself on the back.

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DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house
DJ Adam Pecho bringing down the house
Crab rangoon
Crab rangoon
Vietnam Old Fashioned

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Vietnam Old Fashioned
Chicago Winery

Chicago Winery

4.3
(65 reviews)
1.4 mi

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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LIVA Private Dining Room
LIVA Private Dining Room
Dinner Reception
Dinner Reception
Enjoy a seasonal American menu in our restaurant

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Enjoy a seasonal American menu in our restaurant
Il Porcellino

Il Porcellino

4.4
(1.8k reviews)
1.2 mi
•$$

Every time we make a trip to Chicago, Il Porcellino is a mandatory stop. We've eaten at a lot of…read moreItalian restaurants over the years, and this one keeps us coming back again and again. It's one of those places that you find yourself talking about long after the meal is over. The garlic bread alone is worth the visit. They pour what feels like a gallon of garlic butter over it, and somehow it's still never enough. It's rich, indulgent, and absolutely delicious. We order it every single time and would probably be disappointed if we didn't. The real star of the show, though, is the lasagna. Between the two of us, we've had lasagna at countless restaurants, and nothing has come close to this one. It's hands down the best lasagna we've ever had. Perfect layers, incredible flavor, and the kind of comfort food that makes you want to savor every bite. Their Grey Goose espresso martini is also unmatched. We've tried espresso martinis all over Chicago, and this one is still our favorite. It's smooth, perfectly balanced, and the ideal way to start or end the meal. The atmosphere is another reason we love coming here. The restaurant is gorgeous inside, with a dark, moody vibe that makes it feel special without being stuffy. It's the perfect date night spot whether you're celebrating something or just looking for a great night out together. If you're visiting Chicago and love Italian food, Il Porcellino is a must. Great food, amazing drinks, beautiful ambiance, and a meal you'll be thinking about long after you've left. We make a point to visit every time we're in town, and it never disappoints.

First time visiting the Windy City, we came to the city for the great eats! I'll Porcellino…read morecertainly did not disappoint! For appetizers, we ordered the While Garlic Loaf Focaccia and the Stuffed mushrooms. I wished I took a video when the focaccia arrived. The waiter, holding a plate with a round and fluffy focaccia and proceeded to pour the garlic et al on top of the bread! Very freshly-made and fabulous! The stuffed mushrooms were also cute delicious! This is a rare time where the stuffing had spinach below the stuffing - excellent! I remember seeing (and enjoying) this while I visited Italy. Delightful! The main courses we ordered were the Gnocchi Bolognese, the Baked Burrata Lasagna and the Barolo Braised Short Rib. The Gnocchi meat sauce was the standout here, being very flavorful, but not as heavy as some other restaurants. The Gnocchi were dense - not fluffy as I had expected. But the sauce flavor was vivid. The Baked Burrata Lasagna was oh, so perfect! Many layers of al dente pasta separates with a tasty meat sauce. Many times I have had lasagna that was either over-baked, or had limp pasta. Here, the lasagna shined! So large of a serving that my wife could not finish it, much to her dismay . . . I had the Barolo Braised Short Rib - oh my living god! - so tender, so complete a dish, with the fork tender meat that melts in your mouth, complimented by a light polenta (I must emphasize the lightness here, as many restaurants serve polenta that is heavy and too rich. This did not compete with the short rib, rather it seamlessly became the foundation on which the richness of the meat was enhanced. I was blown away! But, the most amazing, and probably the most delectable part of the evening was finishing off with a luscious Chocolate Cake! OH, WOW!!! The cake was certainly moist and smooth. Yes, smooth! I could not tell there was cake at all, so smooth it was! And surprisingly (not surprising given the quality of this establishment) it wasn't too sweet, rather just enough to bring out the chocolatey goodness! I only wished that I ordered some hot coffee - the cake would have gone well with a great cup of coffee! Overall, I was very impressed with this restaurant! The old-town decor, the dim lights, the fantastic food (just like of the Italy of old!)- all contributing to a wonderful experience! Highly recommended!

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Wall decor
Wall decor
Grilled Calamari
Grilled Calamari
Burrata Lasagna

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Burrata Lasagna

Ciao! Cafe & Wine Lounge - italian - Updated June 2026

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