Got tickets to a comedy show across the street and made a reservation on Google for a party of 4 a few hours prior. Got seated instantly, inside was dim but cleanly decorated. Family style for the following dishes: 5/5 Italian salad. Good portion size. The salami and mozzy balls were my fave. 5/5 grilled octopus. Warm and deliciously flavored 5/5 spaghetti carbonara. The meat was really good and so was the richness. 4/5 linguine all' vongole - clams were plentiful and well flavored, noodles texture felt handmade 4/5 Tagliatelle with Meatballs - sauce wasn't overpowering, meatballs were well seasoned and flavored 5/5 chicken piccata was delicious! Tender chicken and the asparagus was also crispy and delicious while also being soft enough to cut thru and not chewy. Really enjoyed the meal and the service. I'd def come back again! read more

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We visited Gussie's on a recent weeknight prior to attending a play at nearby Red Orchid Theatre. They exceeded our expectations in almost every way! VIBE: The dining room has a neighborhood diner feel, with booths along a windowed wall. Music is an appropriate mix, not too loud. It wasn't busy that night, so noise was moderate. SERVICE: Our server, Carlos, was cordial and very polite. Food came out in a timely manner. FOOD: We liked nearly everything. Braised lentils were excellent, cooked just right and expertly seasoned. Lemony shrimp in linguini were above reproach - fresh, delicious, and cooked just right. Branzino puttanesca was very good, with a tasty sauce that upped the ante for a dish that can be a bit harsher in flavor. Wines by the glass were OK. Espresso was kinda meh. We were pleaser with our experience and will surely be back next time we're in Old Town. We may even scout out Red Orchid productions as an excuse to come back... read more

We were a table of10 on 3-14-26. The service was quick and efficiently presented. After that the service slowed. Drinks from the bar were excellent. The mascarpone bread that prefaced the meal was superb. Only 3 out of the 10 meals were reported as good with the balance being from inedible to pasta significantly overcooked. The worst of the lot was the Amatriciana which was soupy with diced tomatoes tasting like they had just been poured from a can--raw and tinny. The waiter suggested Italian sausage with the Arrabiata but ordered the shrimp which was tough and overcooked. (Go with waiter suggestion). The lardons in the carbonara were gummy and should have been more to the tooth, no peas and bland presentation. Lovely time with lovely friends which the food couldn't ruin. The restaurant was busy but not overcrowded so I don't think the restaurant could blame the foibles from the kitchen on the St Patrick's mayhem outside. The review won't let me uncheck Ambiance and Service as needing improvement. It was just the way below average food. read more

A lovely ambiance and truly lovely staff! I came here for a quick dinner and left pleasantly surprised. The octopus and ricotta bread were absolutely delicious! I also loved the arrabbiata sauce and would return just for it. The mussels were good but only if you're a fan of a very fragrant white wine broth. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was fresh, clean, and tasty. Further, their complimentary garlic bread is dangerously delicious and generous in portion size (see picture). Their pasta noodles are fresh - and it seems the ingredients they use is fresh as well. After eating a full pasta meal + the garlic bread, i was stuffed but not bloated. It's a quaint, clean space that I will be returning to. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Complimentary garlic bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Have you been to Gussie's? If you haven't I recommend you get there and get there fast. This is a cool little Italian place right across the street from Second City. My wife and I went there for a quick bite after a show and it was amazing. We sat at the bar. Our bartender was fantastic. They start you off with a garlic bread loaf slathered in mascarpone. OMG!! She had the brown butter & honey ravioli, and I had the carbonara. We topped it off with a piece of the lemoncello pie and some coffee and espresso. The vibe in this place is fantastic and the food is even better. Get down to Gussie's. Don't walk run! read more

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Staff was well knowledgeable about their menu, service was on top of it and kind, very attentive to us. I found everything to be well priced- most of the pastas were mid 20s which is reasonable. Place was super cute! Food was really good! We tried the ravioli special- it was summery and delicious, the boar ragu was deliccciouuusss and of course as everyone else always says... that bread.... is to die for and makes you want to come back for the bread alone. We will be back and we will be raving about this place to our friends for weeks to come! Thanks for a wonderful evening! read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian has moved up on my list for Chicago Italian spots! A great restaurant for a casual date night with cute booths but also seating options to accommodate larger parties. I wore jeans, kitten heels, and a fun top. The signature bread went above and beyond my expectations, and while I love free things, I feel like I'm robbing them and they should charge for this since it is so perfect and tasty. I was very pleased with the entrées, prices, and variety on the menu. My boyfriend and I both had leftovers. Typically I prefer a tomato based sauce so I ordered the wild boar pappardelle, but my man's order won the night - Linguine all'Limone con Gamberoni. Shrimp was cooked perfectly, the lemon was bright, and the sauce was creamy. Wish I had room for dessert because the options looked phenomenal. Also I'm interested in trying out some of their digestives post-meal. A huge thank you to our server. He was friendly, helpful, and checked in just the right amount without hovering. read more

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We shared: 1 Linguine all'Limone con Gamberoni - Jumbo Shrimp, Spring Pea, Artichoke Hearts, Aged Parmigiano Reggiano 2. Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu - Slow Braised Wild Boar, Red Wine Reduction 3. Spaghetti Carbonara - Crispy Guanciale, Egg Yolk, Pecorino Romano, Black Pepper Solid Italian spot with FRESH pasta. Linguini all'Limone was my favorite. It had such a balanced, light flavor and the shrimp was juicy. Carbonara was quite salty and indulgent; I've had more balanced carbonara but still tasty. Pappardelle was the weakest imo: I prefer a thicker, richer sauce and pulled boar meat. Portions were good and shareable. No issues with service. Vibe was simple and relaxing. read more

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The bread. That's the best thing on the menu! The stuffed bread was so good I could keep on talking. We also enjoyed the browned butter ravioli with chicken. Service was alright since it was a smidge busy in there but that created a great fun ambiance. read more

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Gussie's is what you want from a modern Italian restaurant in terms of ambiance and menu. The best part of the meal were the appetizers! The signature table bread is incredible. Filled with mascarpone cheese and spices, it pulls apart and melts in your mouth. This bread is worth it alone. We ordered gnudi with a brown butter sage sauce. The sauce was delicious and I kept pouring more over each bite of the dumpling. For my main, I ordered the classic carbonara. I thought it was pretty good and the crispy Guanciale was tasty. I'd like to go back and try a main that is more unique and has a stronger flavor profile. We finished with housemade lemoncello. I loved it! Flavorful and strong, I would highly recommend to finish off your experience. The wait staff was attentive and made the experience really enjoyable. I recommend getting a reservation to make sure you get a table! read more

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Saddens me to knock down a star but I've visited twice more since my first time and both food and service have been hit or miss. Still a good vibe and I appreciate it's not too loud so you can actually converse over your meal. But I'd skip the manicotti - my friend got the classic carbonara and said it was good. Espresso martini just ok. Service was friendly but slow to check on us. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Manicotti - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Gussie's is such a cute Italian restaurant! Their pasta is homemade and you can tell the ingredients are fresh and authentic. The complimentary table bread is the best table bread I've ever had - It's so buttery with lots of garlic & cheese. I would go back for that bread alone :) Service was super friendly and everything was delicious! read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

we made a reservation the night before for 2 people for 7:30pm on a thursday evening. i had this place bookmarked and was excited to try! the service was good- our servers were friendly and helped us pick a second dish. we were pleasantly surprised by the free cheesey bread- it was delicious and savory and a great free starter for our pasta dishes. for entrees- we got the pappardelle with wild boar ragu and the linguine all'limone con gamberoni. the pappardelle with wild boar ragu was pretty good and the pasta was yummy. the meat was tender and the sauce was flavorful. the linguine all'limone con gamberoni was next level though- it was SO SO delicious. the sauce was super lemony and not too heavy which i really appreciated. the shrimp was tender and packed with that same lemony flavor. this pasta was definitely one of the best pasta dishes i've ever had at a restaurant. i will be coming back just for it. and i'll be trying to replicate it at home too. overall, im really happy i got to try this place and cross it off my bucket list. i'll definitely be coming back and bringing my friends so they can try it too. and maybe id even catch a comedy show at second city too read more

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Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood is known for good restaurants, especially Italian restaurants. Gussie's Handmade Italian is definitely one of them. I recently tried this spot and I loved it. First, the food is amazing. I ordered the grilled octopus, tagliatelle with meatballs and the tiramisu for dessert. The meal started with pull a part bread, the waiter said this comes with the meal. The bread was soft and the filling was delicious. Next, I tried the grilled octopus. It was firm and tasty, and not rubbery at all. The tagliatelle with meatballs came next and enjoyed it. Lastly, the tiramisu me was yummy. The mascarpone was firm and I enjoyed it. Second, the service was excellent. My waiter was friendly and helpful, and the food came very quickly. Third, the ambiance and decor were on point. The interior is clean and modern with green highlights from some plants. This is a must visit restaurant in Lincoln Park. read more

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Had an okay time at Gussies. I made a reservation online and was able to get in a little early. Their service was great! Our waiter was kind and accommodating. He even brought out a special treat for my friends birthday. I watched him as he waited till my friend wasn't looking to secretly bring her the complimentary tiramisu. This was the highlight of our experience. It was delicious. Unfortunately the rest of the meal was a little hit and miss. The garlic bread app was very good. We ended up going with the Chicken Parmesan as our main. The flavor was there, however, it was cold. The noodles were delicate and delicious but everything else could not make up for the chicken to me. Overall it wasn't a bad experience but I am not sure that I could recommend this restaurant. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Chicken Parmesan sub Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My girlfriend always wanted to eat here, now i know why! Thank you so much Gussie's for the amazing service you provided. Knowledgeable on the menu, the bartender created a cocktail concoction for me, and the food was wonderful. The bread of COURSE, it's always the bread that surprises you. Absolutely delicious. Calm, quiet, comfortable setting as well. Patio seating offered and available. read more

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First time trying this neighborhood Italian place. Had the LOVELY table bread that they brought out to start and couldn't get enough of it. I am a huge fan of the handmade pasta-- the ravioli was al dente and the sauce was so tangy and tasty. The fettuccini alfredo was also very creamy without feeling heavy or oily. I would highly recommend the gnudi with the brown butter sauce as well. What was really exciting to me was the spicy arrabiata sauce that I tried on the side, incredible flavor and a good amount of heat. I cannot wait to come back to try more dishes here. It was very cozy and quiet and I loved that, we sat for three hours and had a great conversation. Very much gives neighborhood vibes and the service was excellent. read more

A great spot to go to before a Second City show! It was easy to get a reservation, and the ambiance is great. It feels modern and trendy, but still warm and inviting. My husband had an old fashioned, and I ordered a soda water with lemon - beware that the only option is a full bottle of sparkling water for almost $7. Overall, the service was good - as the night got busier our server stopped by less, but we had no issue with timing for our show. We started with the signature complimentary garlic bread - it was tasty, but too rich for the two of us, I didn't love the cream cheese in the middle. For dinner, we split the Italian Chopped Salad and Tagliatelle with Meatballs. The chopped salad was fine, very ordinary and nothing special, I wish we had tried a different salad to start. However, the pasta was phenomenal. It was so tender and fresh, and we loved the meatballs too. Best part was the staff split both of our orders in two for easy eating! We ended with the Limoncello Pie - I think my husband and I thought it was a cream pie so we were a little confused, but it was still delicious. read more

We came here for dinner prior to a Second City show and I was thoroughly impressed with the service (shout-out to Bryan!). We got a bottle of wine and some complementary bread, which was amazing. We opted to share some plates and ordered a braised beef ravioli special and another pasta, and the octopus. It wasn't super crowded which created a nice comfortable ambiance for a Sunday night and it was a perfect date spot. The food was fabulous and a must if you're in the area. read more

Gussie's food and wine are excellent. The bread is indescribably delicious. Please explain why my friend and I, who entered Gussie's at 4:30, with a confirmed reservation, which was completely empty, were seated at the least desirable booth in the restaurant? Our request for a better table was accommodated, but the obvious slight still stung. I would appreciate an explanation. Thank you, K. Higgins read more

I see why everyone is so obsessed with this bread. It was fantastic! It's hard to believe it's complimentary. The staff were pleasant and attentive. The restaurant was cute and classy. The food was delicious! This is a great spot to go before a comedy show in the area. I can't wait to go back again! read more

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Honestly I would come just for the bread. It's that good. But it's also a cozy, homey Italian spot with a lot of character. I've sat at the bar and a table and both have been lovely. The bread is next level good. Award-winning. And it reheats well if you're like me and order too much, so you can eat everything. Pappardelle with Wild Boar Ragu - Solid dish. The boar was moist and I liked the freshness of the noodles. A bit basic of a basic red sauce. Brown Butter, Honey Ravioli - Very rich and on the sweeter side. I split this dish with a friend and I'd recommend doing that. I couldn't eat an entire dish of this. Linguine ai Frutta di Mare - A classic dish done well. Nothing groundbreaking, but very delicious. Loved the calamari in this dish. Their espresso martinis are good and not as expensive as most restaurants. read more

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Wow! This spot is excellent. I was in town for work and booked a ticket to see a live show at Second City. Gussie's is right across the street and they allowed reservations at the bar for one. The vibe is super relaxed and lovely. The food was exceptional. I had the arugula salad to start and the Linguine ai Frutta di Mare for dinner. The salad was absolute perfection and the pasta dish was fresh and overflowing with delicious seafood. I must share that the complimentary bread they bring out is other worldly - a round loaf of garlic bread stuffed with mascarpone cheese- what?! Geoffrey at the bar was attentive and super friendly. This place is a gem! Go now! read more

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Went before a Second City show with friends. Cute little place right across the street. Service was attentive and not overbearing. Drinks and wine were good. The pasta is the shining star. Handmade and so delicate. Our group had the shrimp limone linguine (the winner), spicy scallop linguine, ravioli and salmon. All were tasty. We finished with the limoncello pie (like let lime), which was delicious. We will definitely be back in the future. read more

Go Hungry! hahahaha! The dishes are generous and it's likely you will fill up on the bread. We were going to a Second City show so I wanted to eat dinner beforehand somewhere nearby. This place is right across the street so super convenient. The service is very good. We wanted for nothing. We shared a salad.... and ordered 2 pasta dishes. The salad was a "chickpea" salad.... there were chickpeas in it but it really was a green salad with some chickpeas. Don't get me wrong.... it was a nice salad that was fresh and crisp! I had the linguine with walnut pesto shrimp and my mom had the tagliatelle with meatballs. In all honesty... we should have shared 1 pasta dish. I hate leaving leftovers when I can't take them home. In any case... both pasta dishes were excellent. The pasta was fabulous. My pesto sauce was probably the best pesto I've ever tried. And I love pesto... it was wasn't super oily nor super green tasting. It was balanced and fresh. Shrimp were cooked perfectly... still plump. Mom's meatballs were big and meaty... she got 4 of them. We thought she'd get 2 since they were not dinky. They were meaty and flavorful. If we make it back to Chicago to go to another Second City show... we will definitely be back. Note: the bread... I think the secret as to why it's so addicting is because the cream cheese that is melted in the middle makes is super rich with all the seasonings on it. read more

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Completely exceeded our expectations! The food was amazing -- we ordered the Classic Spaghetti Carbonara and the grilled octopus, and both dishes were outstanding. The flavors were fresh, rich, and truly memorable. Our waiter was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, giving great recommendations and explaining the menu and wine options without being pushy. The whole atmosphere felt warm and cozy, making it a perfect spot for a date night. And the bread! Dinner comes with some of the best bread I've had at any restaurant. Highly recommend Gussie's if you're looking for fantastic Italian food and a comfortable, intimate dining experience. read more

We dined in after seeing an afternoon show at Second City, and it was nice! I wish I had a picture of the bread for the table because it was life changing. Delicious, garlicky, cheesy, most importantly it was free! The pasta tasted very fresh and handmade. Our server was fantastic as well! Overall a lovely place to come in for some comfort food. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Linguine all'Limone con Gamberoni - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Loved visiting Gussie's with my partner on our last night in Chicago. Delicious Italian food with simple sauces where you can taste the ingredients. The complimentary garlic bread was quite a fun introduction to the food, but it was reallly oily and quite heavy. It's also got a huge wad of butter inside. Very heavy and something we ended up packing home. Even then, it was so soaked in oil, it was not really edible. I enjoyed the salad we ordered and the mussels. It was a comforting dish of mussels and the broth was so flavourful. The carbonara tasted so good. Authentic and perfectly al dente. I had ordered the lemon pasta with scallops. Scallops were cooked perfectly and the pasta was great. The best hint of lemony- sour flavour and also al dente. Service was fairly quick. One thing I found odd was that they take your credit card when you pay... They maybe want to consider mobile payment machines. They shouldn't be taking people's credit cards away from their sight for security sake. read more

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The dirty martini was good and so was the garlic bread but the pasta was overcooked and the carbonara was very liquidy... as if there were cream in it, which then made the guanciale soggy :(. We felt like it was more of an Italian American joint and not authentic Italian restaurant. Service was adequate. read more

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We've been here a couple of times in the last two years. Our most recent meal was not good. Service was really slow, the salad dressing couldn't have been more bland, and my pasta - linguine with jumbo shrimp, peas, and artichokes -- had no peas or artichokes. It was just pasta with some shrimp. Probably won't be back. There are better places out there that care about what they're putting on the plate. read more

Chef's kiss! This place is amazing! Wonderful service, amazing and authentic Italian! Their bread is out of this world! Wonderful ambience, make reservations because they fill up fast. We will definitely be back! read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Homemade bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's a smaller space and does get rather loud on a Saturday night. Started with the complimentary garlic bread. It's not your typical bread. It's in the shape of a boule but stuffed with mascarpone. For my meal I had spaghetti all'Amatriciana. It was a heaping plate of spaghetti, definitely couldn't finish it plus the bread by myself. The tomato was what I needed, Calabrian chilies added a touch of heat. The spaghetti texture felt a bit off though, maybe overcooked? A little too soft for my satisfaction tonight. I'd call this a high 3, not quite 4. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Mascarpone garlic bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The free garlic bread is phenomenal. But the pasta I got, was just OK. The tomato sauce wasn't the most flavorful. The space is beautiful, though! And the server I got was attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly. read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Signature Bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was super excited to go to the restaurant because I've seen the viral bread everywhere, but I was somewhat underwhelmed. The filling was too much for me and I ended up scraping it off, but the bread itself was tasty. I also ended up getting the carbonara as my entree and it was so salty I had a difficult time eating it. The ambiance of the restaurant was great and the service was also great! read more

My boyfriend and I have been wanting to try Gussies complimentary table bread for awhile now, so we finally stopped in for a few apps!!! We walked in on a Thursday night around 7:30 and had no problem getting a table. We only ordered 2 appetizers, but the service was quick -- we were in and out of there in 45 minutes. The inside was cute, definitely a good place for a date. The bread was absolutely incredible. Worth the hype for sure and will definitely be the reason I go back. We also got 2 appetizers that were very good. The octopus was our favorite. It looks kind of freaky when it comes out, but it was sooo good. WAY better than any calamari I've ever had. The gnudi was good too, but nothing to write home about. I was a really big fan of the brown butter sauce that came on it though. We didn't order any, but I noticed on their menu that their cocktails were very affordable too. Definitely recommend this place! read more

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Great service and conversation with the workers. Like the ambiance for a date night or catch up. The food was yummy and fun. The signature bread was complimentary! read more

Gussie's Handmade Italian - Clam Pasta and Signature Bread Bar Harbor Mussels - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Fast service and great food! The bread has cream cheese in it and it's great. Brother and I both loved the Italian sausage. Will be bringing the whole family here for restaurant week read more

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My husband found this place while searching for a spot to grab a bite before seeing a show at Second City. It caught his eye because of the name since Gussie is what we call our cat Gus when it's dinner time. After looking at reviews, photos, and the menu we decided to give it a try and we were not disappointed. We were greated with big smiles, seated quickly, and our server was courteous and quite knowledgeable on the menu and wine selections. We ordered cocktails to start. My husband loved his Negroni and my Old Fashioned was fantastic. The bread lives up to the hype and was a good indicator for what to expect from the rest of the experience. We ordered the Arugula Radicchio Salad and Brown Butter Ravioli to split and the kitchen scored extra points for pre-splitting the plates. The Arugula Radicchio Salad was bright, tangy, fresh, and refreshing while the Brown Butter Ravioli was rich, tasty, and nutty goodness on a plate. My only nitpicky note is that Saltimbocca is pronounced salt ihm bow ka, not salt ihm bock ka... Regardless of that silliness, we will be making it a point to stop in the next time we visit Chicago. read more

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Food and service were both incredible! Place is small but cozy. Server couldn't have been more accommodating as we had four people and two with very particular dietary requests. Fresh tasting food and terrific service! What more could you ask for! read more