My friend S and I came here because we wanted to get some seafood in the Addison area. We came here at dinnertime and were seated very promptly. The restaurant itself is relatively small but they had outdoor seating as well. Some older gentlemen were having drinks and smoking cigars outside. Once we sat down, we were served the standard bread, olive oil, and vinegar expected at an Italian restaurant. They also had a pizza bread that was pretty good too. There was an extensive wine menu, but we did not order anything to drink. The daily specials seemed to be the way to go here and were highlighted by the waitress. They had 7-8 specials for the day in review. I ordered a tilapia and S ordered the Calamari Risotto Diablo. When the tilapia came out, I couldn't believe the size of it and it came with a side of pasta! The tilapia was done right: flaky and light, pan fried to perfection. It was smothered in a tomato based sauce and olives and tomatoes sprinkled over it. I didn't think I would eat the whole thing but I managed to make it through (thank god for my appetite). I didn't have the room to finish the al dente pasta that came with the meal. My friend S's dish was good too. The risotto was wonderfully creamy and they weren't kidding about the diablo; the dish was spicy as well! He couldn't finish the dish either, so we both ended up packing up lunch for the following day. The service was wonderful here. As quickly we were seated was as quick as everything else. My glass of water was never less than three-fourths full and I never had to look around to find the waitress. They gave us fruit for dessert which was perfect after a large meal, even though we said we did not want dessert. I would recommend this place as a wonderful date spot and also for larger eaters. I am definitely coming back here. read more

Great to see that this Gem of an Italian restaurant is still here years later!! So we were out celebrating Friday evening before going to the movie theater across the street and we had a good hour and a half before the movie started , and I suggested we try De Marcos. I used to go there at least 20 years ago and I have to say that this place has not changed one bit. back then there was no " yelping" but here we are in 2016 and I have to say..... This place is really good. Yes its hidden on the very corner in the small little strip of businesses, yes parking can be a challenge, and yes with a blink of an eye you'd pass it up if you don't know its there or if you're going for the 1st time and get turned around trying to navigate the area.but its right on the corner of 53 and Lake street/ So everything in the area was packed, considering it was Friday evening , the week before Thanksgiving and it seemed like everyone was out, But we parked, walked in, and were seated instantly. Our Waitress, Mary, was at our table within one minute and took our drink order - 1 French Martini and 1 glass of Pinot Noir- made very good and wine tasted fabulous!! Bread basket with small pizza tomato bread cut into squares- The tomato sauce is a hit!! was placed on the table and we enjoyed that before putting in our order and that alone would've been enough with drinks. So we ordered The Portabello mushroom appetizer which was prepared with some garlic and balsamic served warm and that was like wow---- as they say in Campbell soup labels-- mmmmm good!! a must rry. On to dinner: we ordered the Lasagna and chicken breasts in a wine sauce served with potatoes and Italian sausages and I have to say that I was very pleased at how moist and flavorful the chicken was . ordered a side of angel hair pasta which tasted like it was home made and served with the "red sauce" again -- mmmmm gooood!! that sauce alone is really good! The lasagna was as good as any, not to over powering with any ingredient but just right.. De Marcos was good back then and its definitely just as good today !! I would highly recommend it when ever you're out and would like to do dinner before a movie or want to have dinner with you spouse/ or gf /bf or have a family gathering. It's as authentic as good 'ol Nanas" home cooking. The dining area is very comfy, the bar is a good size to have a few or while you wait when its busy and is not cheap on the liquor, you want a drink? well you'll get your moneys worth thats for sure, and the staff is very attentive fast, no waiting here!. cant talk about it any more to give you an idea of what its like , so you should check it out, you wont be disappointed !! read more

Omar works the bar at the front door, and his recommendations are impeccable. It wasn't busy this Friday I went for an early dinner, and his recommendations for not only specials, but menu items is spot on. I had something from the menu (I just don't remember the name of it), but it was exquisite!!! highly, HIGHLY recommended for a nice dinner.. This could be quite the romantic spot for a couple, absolutely. The ONLY downfall if it is that, is location. It is located at a super busy intersection, on a corner of a strip mall, so you'll miss it if you blink or have the green light. read more

We wanted to have a special dinner for my sister's 70th birthday and approached Jerry Di Marco JR. He was excited to help us create a memorable evening. We had been to Italy with my sister and had a multi course dinner and wanted to re-create the experience. After meeting with him, we let him decide what to present. All courses were small plates...octopus, fish, meat, pasta ......ending with tiramisu. Jerry made sure everything was to our liking by overseeing the entire evening He also recommended wine pairings with different courses. My sister was delighted and we had a wonderful evening. Thanks to the great staff and for the wonderful service we received. read more

4.5 stars. Overall, I thought this place was pretty good. We started with grilled 1/2 calamari and octopus which were tender. Just a suggestion though. Rather served on diced tomatoes, a lemony garlic sauce on arugula or something would be nice. My wife had pomodoro pasta with meatballs. The pasta was al dente and the meatballs were tasty. The sauce was also tasty but just a tad too sweet for me, It could be that I'm used to my own. The eggplant parmigiana was a little mushy. I should of ordered the chicken parmigiana. Thank you for the complimentary fruits. The service and atmosphere was good. I would recommend this place IBB read more

Demarco's, This is going to be your best review yet! I remember my first time coming here was in HS. I had some delicious pasta and fresh bread. Don't be deceived by a restaurant in a plaza. This one would easily top most restaurants in Little Italy. I know somebody who was in the hospital, and the first meal they wanted was Demarcos. The grilled seafood with angel hair pasta is delicious. Comes with butterflied shrimp, fish, and octopus. I had the salmon. Let me say the only other salmon I enjoyed at a restaurant in Chicago was at Blackbird. It was so juicy and flavorful. The greens on the side with garlic was a nice compliment. I would like to say that the server Debbie is wonderful! Great place, go check it out. read more

I've been going to DeMarco's since I was in high school in the early 90's. Jerry DeMarco (owner) is a really good guy who now has his son in the family business. Food has always been excellent, service outstanding and a wait staff that's extremely personable. I'd recommend this to anyone who wants to eat out Italian. Much better than any chain restaurant. Try the fish of the day, veal, grilled spicy sausage and crisp calamari. read more

These people seem to be clueless. They don't know how to run a business. Food is never cooked right they never get my order wrong for Togo too. Just don't come eat here trust me don't waste your time eating food from here. I would put this as a zero star but I couldn't. read more

Really great Italian food in an unassuming place that's not too dance and not too much of a dump either. Always get one of the specials. They typically have more than five every night. Great authentic food, good wine and a friendly attentive staff. Additionally this place is good for business dinners. Definitely recommend it! read more

Could easily be a five star restaurant. It was just missing a bit of "we are happy you are here." It almost seemed like the lady of the house was on vacation. Food is the real deal. Service excellent. read more

DeMarco's Restaurant - Classic food - Italian Near Me - Itasca, Illinois

We went to De Marcos for the first time last night. It was Friday around 8pm and my boyfriend and I were sat immediately without reservations. They invited us to pick our table, which was nice. Our service was fast, but not rushed. They had a very nice selection of Chianti wines (which not a lot of places offer) and the prices were very reasonable. When deciding on what to eat, the waitress rattled off a ton of specials and offered her suggestions of things to try. We ended up ordering a grilled octopus appetizer and portabella mushroom appetizer. They were HUGE! Way more food than would be expected. They were both delicious. For our meals we tried both a stuffed pasta and a chicken parmigiana topped with eggplant. Both were wonderful and there was plenty to take home for leftovers. After our meals they brought out a fresh fruit plate. My boyfriend commented that he hasn't seen that done since he was in Italy. They do a lot of things that make it feel very authentic. Dessert was tiramisu, which was done very nicely. The cappuccino was a good compliment, and it was served with biscotti. Unfortunately for my waistline, I have a feeling we are going to become regulars here. My recommendation: come hungry because you are going to get a lot of food, and you're going to want to keep eating and ordering! read more

Delicious food , great service and a hidden gem!!! Don't let the strip mall scare you away.

We are in town for the weekend for a youth hockey tournament. My son loved the chicken parm so much we ordered two nights in a row. Service outstanding and so friendly... Great food and family environment.. read more

Delicious, homemade, old school Italian food. I love their vodka pasta, their calamari is delicious, anything I've ever ordered has always been very good. They give you a lot of food and sides with your meal. Bread, soup, salad, pizza bread. Lots of food with your order. The strip mall it's in is not that great but parking is usually easy. read more

Hidden gem for those that don't live in the area. It's worth the drive if you don't live in the area of this restaurant. Don't let the shabby look of the strip mall that it is located give you the wrong impression. This place is truly good. Great service......great food.....owner greets guests which is a novelty lost in the restaurant experience of chain restaurants. Had the sausage and peppers. Look forward to making the 45 minute commute some time in the future. If anything, the pasta dishes may be a bit over priced but there are plenty of other items on the menu worth the value. Let's make sure an independent like this one thrives against the chains growing everywhere! read more

I live for the octopus!!!! Amazing wine selection. They have the best d'asti around!!

Love this place. Great atmosphere and comfortable surroundings I go here for business lunches and always enjoy. Great staff and service. Food is fabulous and many options. Fish, pasta ant chicken dishes are fantastic. Bit pricey but who cares. read more

I've driven past this restaurant seven zillion times and never even noticed it was there. The outside is completely unassuming - dare I say, boring - and there are plenty of Italian restaurants in our rotation, so I wouldn't have even bothered to venture to a new one if our friends hadn't asked us to dine with them there a few weeks ago. And we would have been forever missing out. This is one of those weird reviews where the decor, the ambiance, the price, none of that really mattered. Because the food. Is so. Good. So good. The interior is fine. The lack of a wait on a Friday at 7 was phenomenal. Our server was perfectly charming (and described every menu item in such rich detail that I wanted it all!). We began with an appetizer special - fresh buffalo mozzarella with thick, fresh tomato slices, shredded basil, kalamata olives, and good olive oil. It was the perfect caprese salad, I could have eaten six more portions of that incredible mozz. For the main, I went with the gnocchi pasta, with sage and butter sauce, and sausage. It sounds so simple, but sometimes simple is easiest to screw up. This was incredible. The gnocchi was fresh, the portion was ample, and the texture was al dente, almost chewy, perfection. The sage was fresh and flavorful, the rich butter sauce was decadent, and the sausage was savory and plentiful. It was so easy but so sophisticated. Comforting but elegant. It's tough to describe how well curated this plate of pasta was, but it was delicious. If you're looking for authentic, rich, comforting, fantastic food in a quiet and simple atmosphere, take a chance on those anonymous looking, easy to pass up little corner restaurant. You will not be disappointed. read more

For the life of me I can't understand why some people recommend this restaurant . Three times I have been there and you couldn't get me to go back there even at "gun point". And speaking of gun point the patronage is like 'tryouts for the wannabe badfellows." How trite! Food was disappointing all three times. I know this isn't baseball but three strikes and you are OFF my list. It is also very tightly seated. I can't tell you how many times my elbo was hit by some one's hip as they walked by. Wait staff was the best and only good thing about this place. read more

Expect a long wait without reservations! The Dining Room is small and they cramp in as many tables as they can. Parking is limited on the weekend, and is located on a busy intersection with no alternative parking nearby. Those are my first main thoughts about this place. They do have some great authentic pasta dishes, but the meat dishes are nothing spectacular. Good wine list, but pricey. The service is excellent and the servers do know their menu well and may suggest wines for the entree you have selected. However, for how expensive this place is and with no real ambience to speak of, this place is just so-so for me. read more

Been going there as long as I can remember. The food has always been great, the service is impeccable. Charline, our usual waitress has been there for years and has never let us down. We order carry out there at least 3 times a month. Try the Brivido if you like a spicy sauce. I usually add shrimp to it. The parking lot is a pain, but they recently redid the lot within the past couple years so it's better. They also remodeled so there is more seating, and a separate bar area now. I think the prices are great, and the amount of food you get for the price is a steal. Being an Italian girl, I'm rather picky with my Italian food. Rarely do I find a place I would go back to. But I'll keep going there as long as I live in the area. read more

Hey, this is a neighborhood place that has great food. It's not cheap but the food is authentic. They will go out of their way to make a dish that you like the way you like it. The service is awesome! They have some great specials too. I had an awesome grilled lake perch dish that was so fresh and delicious. The lentil bean soup is always so good and good for you. The baked clams are some of the best around. And the escarole and Sausage is one of my favorite dishes. I always get it. I have never ordered a pasta (unless it's on the specials menu) or steak here. Those you can get any where. I stick to the specials and some of the fresh fish dishes and I'm always happy! It might not be the cheapest place around but I love it. read more

OK, people that have written great reviews for this place are either relatives or have NOT left the immediate area to taste great AUTHENTIC Italian food. The place serves what seems to be frozen or cheap quality products. Although the wait staff was very helpful, the owner displayed disgusting behavior. After I mentioned to my waitress that I was unhappy with my Alfredo dish, the owner came to the table to let me have it! I was in shock. She went on and on about how her establishment is noted by the finest Italian critics (from Italy) and that she is indeed a 4 star ristorante. I was completely outdone when she added that what I am used to is not real Italian. As I sat with a group of seven other people, I decided not to argue with her and simply let her give her dissertation. I was more than shocked when she returned 20 seconds later to continue her rants of anger. I can say this is the first time an owner of a successful establishment took the time to put me in my place for mentioning that I did not love my food. I would have not been so shocked if in any way I had argued or provoked this. I am still confused at her behavior and am shaking my head. To the contrary folks, if you are really accustomed to AUTHENTIC Italian food do not trust this place. As another person wrote, it is really fast food quality or below! The only thing Italian about it is the owner. If you are from the Chicago area believe me when I say you are better off at (should I dare say) Olive Garden. In other words KEEP DRIVING!!!!! You are bound to find something better and if all else fails, the manager at Mc Donald's will treat you better. read more

small place with a bar in the front, cozy atmosphere, friendly staff. luckily we called ahead and got a table within 30 minutes, we got fried calamari and baked clams for appetizers calamari was okay, not the best ive had, didnt try the clams but the others said it was tasty. I had the chicken marsala, entree comes with soup or salad. soup really filled me up, i barely ate my marsala, which was tasty also. My boyfriend went for the chicken parmesan, yummmyyy, it was really good, and it was a large portion for dessert we got tiramisu, not the best i've had, but it was still good. nice place to go to, but since its out of our way, we probably won't make a special trip out here. read more

Ate here at lunch today, and they had plenty of specials. The tri-colored lobster ravioli with shrimp in a light cream sauce was the boss! Every bite both caused my taste buds to rejoice yet made me a little sadder because it meant that the end of the meal was closer. (ok - my mouth is watering again just thinking about it.) The house salad was nothing special, but no complaints about it...the job of a salad is to prep you for the main course, unless you actually are in Italy, but that's another issue. Fresh pepper made optional by the server is always a nice touch. Very nice waitstaff, and the insides of the place was fine. The strip mall that the place is in is disappointing, so don't shy away because of that. I would have given 5 stars, but $2.75 for a 7.5 oz bottle of coke? Seriously??? read more

.Will not come back..we sat there for 25 min. No one except bus boy that gave us bread..came by It wasn't crowded at all on Monday night.Waitress only had 2 other tables with guests read more

We have never had a bad meal at De Marco's ever, and we have been coming to this restaurant since it opened. A family owned restaurant with excellent food. read more

My father-in-law is turned 80, so we wanted to have a special dinner. He is Italian and loves Italian food. He has a bit of trouble walking, so much prefers to eat at home. A coworker has raved about DeMarcos and she says it is her all time favorite restaurant. We decided to have our guests look at the menu, I place the order, and we would have the food brought in. I went into the restaurant to place the order the day before our gathering. The owner and 1 of the waiters were extremely helpful and friendly. I placed the order with 9 different entrees. The next day the food was delivered, each item was perfect, and the food was hot. Not only was the food hot, but the eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan were crispy. Everyone at the table said the red sauce was the best they had ever had. The seafood on the seafood pasta was cooked perfectly too. We truly can not be more appreciative of the EXCELLENT SERVICE AND AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS food. We truly appreciate you making our celebration of an amazing man perfect!!! read more

I had never been here before. A friend suggested it as she always wanted to try it. We were there on a Thursday (10/27) afternoon around 1 pm. We were quickly seated and they brought out the menus. They had a variety of daily specials. We had a chicken in a Brandy sauce. It was very very good. It came with a side of pasta with red sauce it was good. Table bread was a nice treat. The wait staff was friendly and attentive. While we were there there was a small party in the backroom and a few tables of other folks. It wasn't packed around 1 PM which was nice we had a chance to sit and talk and didn't feel rushed. Some misc things. The parking is a bit of a pain but workable. It appear the crew is allowed to eat together after the lunch crowd which was very nice to see. They kept one server at the door to watch for new guests (very nice that they do that -congrats to the owners). They did serve Diet Coke in bottles vs. fountain. I would go back in a heart beat...Go and enjoy.... read more

My first time here. I pass it almost everyday going to working for the years but never stopped to give it a try. I had the clam linguine in the white sauce. It was excellent. There was just a touch of too much garlic in it but I love garlic so I was not too upset about it at all. It was a decent sized seating area and they seated us and every party eating there away enough from each other that we could not hear our conversations. The staff was very friendly and I was impressed by the number of specials they were running at the time. Our waitress was awesome and made sure we were happy with everything. Good food, great staff! I will be back! read more

Great food, family owned and operated. Ask about the daily specials.

I love the food here! I've been coming here for many years. I've always had great food and great service! The menu is extensive plus there are daily specials too. An overall great Italian restaurant! read more

I went to DeMarco's last year for Valentine's Day and only waited for 15 minutes!!! They have a bar located in the front waiting area so we grabbed a cocktail until our table was ready. If people are looking to arrive at a restaurant on a Fri/Sat night without waiting for at least 20-30 minutes you are apparently new to earth. The food at DeMarcos is amazing and it will hands down beat any Italian restaurant (chain) that you will go to. It is pricey but if you are looking for authentic Italian food in a warm and romantic place I def suggest DeMarcos. The dining area is smaller but I didn't have an issue with noise or anything. It just feels very authentic and that is what everyone should be looking for when dining. read more

Wow expensive! Upon the reviews we found on yelp and other guides, we ordered right off of the specials menu. $18 for a grilled octopus appetizer that was charred nicely, but not blanched in cold water afterwards; thus incredibly rubbery and chewy. My wife ordered the lobster linguine - $28 and me the tilapia special with spinach for $25. My tilapia was delicious, although the portion was tiny given only 1 side. My wife's meal was average at best, although the portion was much better. After a glass of wine for the wife (water for me), and a piece of tiramisu we had a $115 bill after 17% tip (mind you the bus staff does ALL the work and the wait staff took it easy). $115 is a mag mile price for dinner - not a strip mall location in a western Chicago suburb. Food was good, not necessarily great; all in all we won't be back given the outrageous prices. read more

THEIR RAVIOLIS ARE AMAZING!!! Every time I go back to Addison, I look forward to visit the restaurant! May not be the most fancy place or something but they definitely make their food with love and man, as an Italian you can actually taste it! read more

Never had a bad meal here! The grilled octopus and baked clams are my favorite, I'll go to order a bunch of appetizers and get full off that. The zuppa di pesce is amazing! Great authentic food! read more

Had dinner there tonight. Food, staff, and atmosphere is perfect. I have not been there in at least 10 years. I love the way the place lays out. The bar is awesome. Great job. read more

My sister and I absolutely loved it here. I loved the Tiramisu the most, thank you for a wonderful dinner.

First, this restaurant is in a strip mall next to a nightclub and piercing studio. Once you get past that, the restaurant is nice, service was impeccable, good veal parmigiana and delicious tiramisu. I think this is the best place in Itasca, so go. Just remember, the location brings it down a star. read more

Rotolo was delicious! Baked clams fantastic! Focaccia bread was good too. Everything washed down with some tasty wine of your choice. I'll be back for that rotolo asap! read more