Great customer service and appetizers. The whipped Ricotta was the best thing I've ever had. Pastas were not bad but didn't match up to how good the appetizers and ambience were. Would recommend for happy hour. read more

We went here for our anniversary dinner. The food was amazing, but the service was impeccable. We will definitely be back! We ordered: - calamari - buccantini: so so good - NY strip : classic - broccolini: this was grilled and it was amazing! read more

Great last minute brunch spot , Murphy was are server and he was wonderful in suggesting favorites and in speed of order . We were a party of 3 and started with the whipped ricotta & country bread it was wonderful creamy with olive oil on top and seasoned with roasted tomatoes and S&p fennel it also had a little red pepper kick . So good with the warm toast you wanted to lick the plate . We also had the meatballs my husband only word was ummm just like homemade . For the entrée we split Bucatini it was presented perfectly with the egg yolk in the middle the server will mix it for you and add parmesan cheese on top it was wonderful. Even though it had the pancetta we didn't feel it was salty it was well suited to the pasta . We ended with the salad Gem Lettuce very nice size however to much dressing when we go back I would ask for dressing on the side . Same owners as swift & son so you can get same great steaks at night . We will be back looking for Murphy read more

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I highly recommend coming here with a group when someone else is paying because everything is SO DELICIOUS and you'll probably want to try it all. We had octopus, burrata, meatballs, two kinds of pasta, kale salad, scallops, crispy potatoes, pork cap, I don't even know what else and it was all good. We ate until we couldn't breathe. Come hungry, leave in a wheelbarrow. read more

Came for the first day of restaurant week and overall the food was great. Among all the restaurant week choices, Formento's dinner menu was calculated to be one of the better values, as sometimes restaurant week menus are not a savings from the regular menu. The inside is classy, it's actually a fairly large restaurant with multiple dining rooms and a bar. We were seated in the back room. It was dimly lit, not noisy at all as some larger restaurants can be, and a great setting for a date! It was a 4 course menu for $48, and we opted to add the wine parings for $20 each. To start, the focaccia bread and oil on the table was delicious, it may have been made in house. I had the Nonna's meatballs as my first course. They were fantastic, normally meatballs can be pretty boring, but these were rich, flavorful and paired very well with the accompanying red sauce. I really enjoyed them! Next, we both had the bucatini carbonara. This was my favorite dish of the meal! The pasta tasted homemade, it was cooked properly al-dente, it had nice chunks of pancetta and it had an egg yolk that really made the dish rich, flavorful and so delicious. This is probably the best carbonara I've ever had, seriously amazing! For the entrée I had the branzino. It was the filet version, which I personally prefer, of the whole fish on the regular menu. The fish was fresh, high quality and preparation was simple, it had some greens, lemon and even some sliced peppers for a little spice, the flavors blended together nicely. It was good, but it didn't wow me as much as the bucatini did. I would get something else next time! Last was dessert, I had the chocolate cake. This was great! Very rich and chocolatey but not too sweet, I enjoyed it. There were 3 wine pours (half glasses), first a prosecco which was good, second was another white I don't remember but was alright, and last was a red Italian Barbera d'Alba that was my favorite of the three. The value of the wine pours wasn't as good as the food. We had 1.5 glasses each for $20 and most of the glasses on the regular menu were $12-15, so not much savings there, but still a great opportunity to try 3 different wines, all of which I liked. Our server was Liliana, she was very nice, accommodating and had good recommendations. My only qualm was that the wines and silverware for each course came out a little too fast both times. This may have been a bussing issue, we had not finished the wine or food from the previous course and we already had fresh, full glasses and new silver for the next course. The food timing was better! Overall the service was good, we were checked on often, but not excessively, a manager or supervisor also stopped by, the front desk greeted us, offered a coat check, and several different employees thanked us on the way out. Overall a good restaurant week experience, Formento's is a classy spot for high quality Italian in the West Loop. I will be back to try more delicious food here! read more

We chose this restaurant on a whim walking down Randolph at 5:45 on a Saturday night. What a great stumble upon! From the start, our waitress was wonderfully effusive about the menu and obviously a foodie herself. Her attentiveness along with the extremely prompt and efficient table bussing elevated a top notch dinner even further. Between her recommendations and our own instincts, there were no disappointments in our menu choices. We started with meatballs better than any Nona's real people have, a generous bowl of mussels in a creamy, savory sauce and the whipped ricotta which made you want to lick the plate when the bread ran out. Almost full when our pasta arrived, there was little talking as we all savored our entrees- squid ink pasta with lobster, fusilli with beef cheek and giardianara, pasta carbonara, and a lighter mushroom broccoli option. To finish off the delish meal we had a slice of chocolate hazelnut cake and an apple galette which had good texture and flavor along with lovely visual appeal. All of this in addition to a solid wine, beer and cocktail menu. If/when we return, we will plan on a reservation because I doubt we'll be lucky ever again to just walk into dinner here because the place filled right up after we arrived. read more

Formento's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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So good! Bucatini was delicious--one of the best I've had in Chicago and I've made my way around the block a few times. The chocolate cake is to die for. Don't leave without it. Service was great. Our server had a few tables and when she wasn't around to help with something, other servers checked on us to make sure we had a wonderful experience. Overall, wonderful food, great ambiance. read more

I was really excited to try this restaurant because I feel like you can't really go wrong in the west loop but this was not my favorite spot. A little expensive for what you actually got - for instance we tried the prawn appetizer which was pricier but we love seafood and it was a major let down in terms of flavor and presentation. I did like the cauliflower app, the crispy potatoes side, and the bucatini caccio y Pepe. They forgot my side of potatoes so I had to try them off my friend's plate but still they were great. The wine was great as well. The service was pretty slow, especially since the restaurant was not that busy. The people next to us were sat after us and gone before us so it wasn't slow for everyone. The last thing was the dessert / dessert drinks. My friends got espresso martinis that they didn't love, one of my friends ordered a shot of espresso that came basically with the check it was so far after the rest of our desserts. I heard the carrot cake was great though! read more

Everything we ordered tasted great. The mussels, the swordfish, and both pastas. The drinks were good and the service was great. I was very happy with everything. read more

First off, Enricho was an AMAZING server. He really made our experience that much better! Pastas we're amazing, an extensive wine list and crispy Brussel sprouts and potatoes that were to DIE for! Definitely recommend if you're craving pasta dishes, great service and good wine! read more

I didn't realize there was an Italian restaurant in west loop! We came by for a drink and have a few appetizers and it was very good. They restaurant was nice and big, the service was quick! We will defiantly come back for dinner sometime! read more

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If you're looking for an extra special restaurant, Formento's is my new favorite. Everything here was pretty great. I love upon entering that you can check your coat complimentary. I definitely recommend it as the tables are squeezed in as tightly as possible. There isn't a lot of waiting area by the host stand, especially if a lot of parties are waiting to be seated, but oh well. As I mentioned, the spacing between the tables is pretty narrow so someone has to do that awkward dance when sitting down in order to avoid butt-in-someone's-face of a neighboring table. It does allow you to creep on what your neighbors have ordered if you like to preview what you ordered. Once seated, the service is impeccable. Our waitress was attentive and very knowledgeable. Bussers were very quick clearing empty/dirty plates, refilling waters, and wiping tables of excess moisture from water glasses. Now for the food: we started off with the Burrata in which the crostinis actually came assembled. I'm so used to DIY'ing it, so I appreciated the removal of this step and it was delicious. However, I was a little bummed to see only 3 on the plate. Seems like such an odd number (not 4?). For our main entrees, I selected the steak and my friend ordered the scallops. We split the side of roasted potatoes and enjoyed everything very much. Not a leftover in sight! For dessert, my friend ordered the chocolate cake and I ordered the Affogato at the recommendation of the table next to it. I've never had a dessert like this before and was blown away! Every element of it was perfect. I would come here and just order this (I have a massive sweet tooth for the record). Overall, this is a solid Italian restaurant and I would return. I would recommend making a reservation; I was able to grab one for 6:45 about a week in advance on OpenTable. read more

Came with a couple friends on a slow weeknight for a birthday. We felt unwelcome the second we walked in. The two hostesses by the door ignored us when we walked up. They acted as if we were bothering them, and also yelled "excuse me!" obnoxiously loud in our ears as they walked past us. One of them seated us, but it took 20 minutes to even get waters. It was near impossible to flag someone down, but they eventually sent someone over to take our orders, right as we were about to leave. The food was good, but the price was not worth the bad service! read more

The atmosphere is beautiful. The food is great. But what is going on with their waitstaff Does their waitstaff understand they work in Chicago which means at times the customers will not be all white. The waitstaff is not all inclusive. This is again is Chicago read more

Formento's - Waitstaff terrible man - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My husband and I made reservations for last Friday night. Everything was ready for us, even though we were ten minutes late. The place was very busy, the atmosphere was fun. I had a limoncello martini, which was delicious. We ordered avocado toast to start, it had lump crab on it and was phenomenal. We then got fusilli as a pasta course to share. We were nervous it would be spicy because the menu said there was Giardinera but it was not at all, it was perfect. Our entrees arrived soon after. The Atlantic char and the lamb were both excellent. Our server was friendly and made nice conversation. All around great experience! Our only complaint is that we were too full for dessert and coffee after. We will be returning! read more

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Solid food and atmosphere, and there's rarely an issue getting a table. Good place for a date or to bring your parents

We reserved a table at the only time available, 5:30. Thinking we were lucky at all to get in, we were very excited. The restaurant was pretty dead, even when we left, 7:00 on a Saturday night. With the West Loop so busy with folks outside most restaurants, we were surprised at how quiet it was. Our food was average at best. Started with the Burrata which was the star of the show. Excellent. They also served complimentary focaccia with dipping oil. Husband ordered the prime sirloin, but it was chewy and did not seem to be a prime piece of meat. I ordered a small serving of the Bucatini. Fair and the pasta did not seem fresh made. Also, not a ton of flavor. Did not have the creaminess of other carbonara I have had in Italy. All being said we skipped dessert. We will not return. read more

Food and service was fine, but beware of valet. We valeted our car only to find out later that they parked our car in a tow zone as shown on a ticket we got in the mail. To add to that, the ticket was most likely on the car when valet was getting our car and just threw it out! Unlikely to go there again. read more

Love Formento's. Came in for Sunday dinner and had a wonderful server. He was extremely knowledgeable of the menu and made the entire experience amazing, helping us pair our food and helping us decide when we were between entrees. Went through the 4 courses and Everything we had was good (except underwhelming sides) we especially loved their octopus and bucatini. I'm drooling a little thinking about it. No crumbs left on those plates. Their chocolate cake (with hazelnut praline!) lived up to its hype. Also ordered the tiramisu, but chocolate cake still wins. Excited to come here again. read more

Formento's - Everything about their octopus was delicious. If you like octopus, you've got to order this. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here for happy hour! Good drinks and happy hour plates but it was a bit on the pricey side, especially for "happy hour". However the MEATBALLS were unbelievably delicious!!! We also got the whipped ricotta and the crab avocado toast which was AMAZING! The food was exceptionally good! My only issue - it was costly for a happy hour menu ‍ read more

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Found this restaurant on open table and went with a few friends. We got the calamari, spaghetti and meat balls and the pesto pasta. It had a really cool atmosphere, but it was a little dark. We started with a bottle of wine at the bar and moved to a table. The food was really good and the waiter knew a lot about the menu. Highly recommend if you are looking for fresh pasta! read more

I had a wonderful experience here... the food was splendid and the service was great. It is a classy, intimate atmosphere serving a mix of new world and old world italian dishes. I had the artichoke which was wood fired giving it a delicious smoky flavor. The calamari was fried in a unique batter that made it very crispy with a spicy aioli. The seasonal mozzarella salad with honey crisp apples and grapes was unique and delicious!! For my entree I ordered the infamous bucatini carbonara and it did not disappoint!!! The pasta is made fresh and was absolutely delicious. They house cure their pancetta and the presentation of this dish is awesome. Definitely recommend. And don't leave without trying their signature hazelnut chocolate cake!!!! It's to die for! read more

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We came for date night and sat in their outdoor tent. We felt very safe and perfectly comfortable! The service was wonderful, though it was a little loud. We had the kale salad and cauliflower to start. The cauliflower was recommended by our server and it had a good range of flavors, but wasn't as crispy as I was hoping. I got the bucatini and my fiance got the risotto. My bucatini was cold and the noodles stuck together. I also wish the pieces of bacon were smaller and the egg yolk was mixed in (though it did look beautiful this way!). The risotto was incredible! Nice and spicy and the seafood was delicious! The piece of carrot cake we had for dessert was underwhelming. I would love to come back another time and try some other items on the menu! read more

Formentto's is a place we pass by in the west loop and always mention, "we have to go there." We finally din and it did not disappoint. We had reservations for 5 on a Sunday. The host and our server were friendly and knowledgable. Our server described the menu in a way that was clear and not overwhelming. Was honest and a delight. The manager stopped by and engaged us in a conversation that didn't seem rushed or obligatory. Around the table we ordered: the bone in ribeye, lamb ragu, chicken parmesan and spaghettini, meatballs and two cocktails. All are confirmed good. If you're looking for great Italian & service in the west loop. Formenttos is your place to be. read more

This is the place to go if you want awesome menu options and great service. My daughter lives in the city but had never eaten here and I was visiting from out of state so deciding on where to dine is important to us. We were both blown away by the level of detail offered at every turn. The food was amazing! We started with octopus and then shared the pappardelle and scallops. The octopus was beautifully charred and so flavorful. The pappardelle consisted of fresh made pasta with lemon, pine nuts, and pecorino. It was the perfect blend of flavors. And, oh, my, my, the scallops were divine. Henry and Hannah went out of their way to insure that we had a positive experience and the wait staff was attentive without hovering. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to a return visit again soon. read more

As a lover of all things carbs related, imagine my delight when my friend picked Formento's for lunch the other day. It had been on my list to try and given it was a chilly Fall day, I knew I would be in for some comfort food. We were seated promptly for our reservation. The place was pretty empty for lunch but was cute in a cozy, trattoria sort of way. If you are looking for a space to hold your next event, it looks like they have a variety of private rooms to host you which I also made a mental note of. Back to lunch. Our server was a little slow. We sat and sat and sat (did I say it wasn't busy?) and finally she came over to take our drink order. And then we sat some more. Lunch needs to be on it's game as most people need to get back to work so I was beginning to wonder if this was a bad choice? Our orders were taken. I had the meatball salad and the minestrone soup and my friend had the salmon toast and the burrata with apples. A couple of things to note. The minestrone soup was like a meal unto itself as it was filled with cheese stuffed tortellini and was very rich and filling more like a chili than a soup consistency . I wish the server had said that before I also ordered a salad. And my friend ended up taking her salmon on toast home as her burrata was certainly shareable. The server could have been much more helpful as to portion sizes (or maybe we just looked REALLY hungry?) And if you order the signature meatball salad, order the dressing on the side. Mine was swimming in dressing so much so that the lettuce was wilted. My mistake but I ended up leaving most of it. The pricing was reasonable though, lunch entrees ran about $16 each. Did we order the wrong things? Was our server having a bad day? I don't know. All I know is I don't have the time for this to be a lunch place. Looks like I am going to have to head back during dinner to see what all the hype on here is about! read more

Went to Formento's on a Saturday evening for a family dinner with my in-laws. We made a reservation for 5 people and were promptly seated a large corner table. The restaurant immediately gave off a typical Italian restaurant vibe with its décor and pretty much at every table there was an older parent or grandparent present. My husband and I definitely brought the average age down. Neither of these are knocks against the restaurant, but just something to keep in mind. The place is great for family dinners, I could even see a 40+ couple enjoying a date here or a group of guys at a more "adult" bachelor party dinner, but it is most definitely not a trendy restaurant if that's what you're looking for. Anyway, our service was wonderful and the space inside is much larger than I expected. Food was also great with incredibly large portions. The chicken parmesan, in particular, could easily feed at least 2 people. The swordfish entrée as well as the quail were both particularly memorable. And the meatballs were fantastic! They also brought out a platter of garlic bread for the table that was sooooo good, but very garlicky so that's your warning! read more

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Took clients here for dinner. Had a party of 9 reservation. Table/booth was for 8 and they expected us to fit? We asked for another table. Only thing they had was in The bar so we took it. Ordered food and drinks. The client senior director never got his meal. Ended up sharing a dish with a colleague. We also didn't get all of the other dishes we ordered. Dinner and drinks was close to $700 for nine people (not including first drinks at bar). No one ever came after food was served to check if everything was OK. We had to seek out our server. Apparently the $42 dish was sent to another table. They didn't tell us what happened to the side dish that was never delivered. After I complained to a manager the credited the missing food and gave us free dessert. The food was good but not great and sitting in the bar was not optimal. Don't think my company will be going her again as the experience was sub Par for the price. read more

This is a great Italian restaurant. The restaurant itself is very cute. They have outdoor seating and they also are able to accommodate big groups easily. We had the meatballs, brick chicken, carbonara and the cacio pepe. Each food item got better! The flavors in each food were spectacular. The pasta had an egg in it which was delicious! I will definitely be coming back. read more

Formento's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went for the Easter brunch. The food was out of this world. It was so good. With all the places on Randolph this is one of the best!

Great service very attentive staff! Food was great. Especially recommend their meat ball.

The food and the atmosphere were great on a random Weekday. I really enjoyed the Calamari & the bone in filet was delicious. Not to many vegetarian options except for pasta, but great food. read more

My friend brought me here for some good Italian food and although the half portions are small they're flavorful! We ordered the calamari as our starter and it was a perfect balance of crunchiness and the flavorful dip they had all over. For the entree I got the Spicy tomatoes sauce pasta which was delicious. My friend got the stuffed shells with ricotta cheese and she loved her dish as well. They were very filling but if you want more I would suggest getting the full portion instead of the half size. Now here comes the disappointing part. We ordered the Tiramisu dessert which our waiter informed us would be more of a "pastry style" rather then the regular layered Tiramisu so we still decided to give it a try. It came out and left us in shock since it was more of a charred/burnt scone with some creme filling and not tasty at all. read more

I know there are so many different factors and variables that go into having a truly great dining experience, but all the stars must have aligned perfectly, because our dinner last night was amazing, memorable and I would recommend every aspect of our meal! Service - our server, Andrew was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and all of his recommendations were spot on. Appetizer - Shrimp Scampi, it was light and each bite was a burst of delicious flavors! The sauce it was served on was so citrusy and complex that I could have drank it. Entrees - I ordered the Scallops. The portion size was on the smaller side, with three scallops, but I was thankful for this. The scallops were cooked to perfection and literally melted in your mouth. There was a variety of textures with some nuts and cucumbers and once again it was served on a well thought out sauce. Highly recommend! My partner ordered the quail, which he states was one of the best meals he's ever had. It's no wonder why this dish has been with the restaurant since it had been open. The highlight of this meal was the smoked cauliflower (who would have thought?!), but it paired perfectly with the juicy meat and crispy prosciutto and made the meal! Dessert - I'm not the biggest fan of sweets but even I had to admit that the chocolate cake was decadent and delicious. I'm all about texture and there was a nice crunchy component in a few layers which really brought it to the next level! Drinks - Having recently come back from a trip to Singapore, it was a pleasant surprise to see a Singapore Sling on the menu! It is a great refreshing summer drink. I think I've raved enough, but you really can't go wrong with the shrimp scampi, scallops and quail read more

Formento's - Chocolate cake - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've been to Formento's twice so far, and had a great experience both times. The first time we found about about this place was on a Saturday evening - we had just checked out Monte Verde, where there was an insane 2.5 hour wait. Since we were still craving Italian food, we decided to pop into Formento's and check out the wait here. To our surprise, we were immediately seated. The pasta here is freshly made, and they also offer half-portions (~ $17-19), which is a great option for people who prefer trying a variety of dishes. We ended up ordering the kale salad (gotta balance out the carbs somehow) as well as a half-portion of the pesto, bucatini carbonara, and bolognese. All of them were good, but I think the pesto and the bucatini carbonara were the stars of the night. Service here has been incredibly friendly during both my visits - the staff here are all so kind and patient. I'm hoping to sit out on their charming patio sometime when it's a little less humid than it currently is, and will hopefully also get a chance to try their desserts next time as well! Pro-tip: there is a single bathroom located on the first floor, but if you go downstairs, there are actually plenty more! read more

Went there tonight with some colleagues. Got a bunch of small plates including Olives (of course), Meatballs, Calamari, Artichoke, and a couple other things. Was not bad, good wine selection, outdoor seating and a butterfly landing on Justin!! Recommend giving it a try! read more

Formento's - Outdoor seating and a butterfly friend! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for drinks and appetizers and sat at the bar. Ryan took care of us and was knowledgeable and friendly and recommended drinks. Had an espresso martini which was phenomenal. Oysters, Brussel sprouts, and whipped ricotta. All of it was good. Definitely recommend for solo dining, dates, and groups. Will definitely be back. read more

There was much to love about our post-show meal at Formento's. The venue is a wonderful blend of elegant and casual, making it a popular date night spot. I appreciate how the dining area is divided into multiple sections, so despite the a near full house, the noise level was manageable. Our personable server provided our party with an impressive overview of the menu, highlighting the popular dishes and making recommendations on how to order to maintain an acceptable meal pace. Drinks were refreshed at appropriate intervals, as were our plates and silverware. At times, the upsell pressure was stronger than I would have preferred, but overall, the staff were superb. The food was generally on point. The burrata, the perfectly roasted brussels sprouts and whipped ricotta were all fantastic. The bucatini carbonara was a disappointment, it was delivered at less than room temperature, so the sauce had a gummy texture. I'd definitely return the next time we visit Chicago. read more

Awesome place! Starting with the bar Travis is an amazing bartender who provides top notch service and drinks. Overall great experience and food read more

Waited 20-25mins without having reservations and we were sat at a table in the bar area. Not a bad wait on a Saturday night and not having reservations. Service was not speedy. We were not explained specials or how to best proceed since we were first time diners. The crowd was trendy and wanted to be seen. Funny to watch. Bar had two big screen TVs with the game on. 3-4 bartenders behind the bar at all times. We opted for: Caesar salad, Chicken Parmesan (served with a side of Nonna's spaghetti) Wedding soup (Chicken meatballs) and Nonna's Spaghetti with meatballs. EVERYTHING was delicious. Chicken Parm was the best I have ever had. Spaghetti was perfectly cooked - al dente The meatballs were very rich and so so good. We opted for some sort of chocolate hazelnut mousse cake to celebrate our anniversary. Would have given 5 stars but service did not seem to be a priority or the girl was just overwhelmed with the volume of people she had to take care of. Our food was left sitting in front of us for an extended period of time after we had finished eating. Multiple dirty glasses were left on the table, which was not big to begin with, and even when dessert came out they were not removed. No coffee was offered with dessert. A cappuccino would have gone nicely with the Chocolate Hazelnut cake. read more

Formento's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois