We came to Il Milanese for dinner and we liked the food a lot. Below are some thoughts. Zucchini Blossoms: the outside was crispy and we liked the cheese filling inside as well. I do wish there was a bit more flavor inside. Polo (Octopus): amazing. It came with Spanish beans, pesto, tomatoes, onions. The octopus was very tender and well cooked, and overall the dish wasn't only huge, it was so delicious and flavorful. One of our favorites. Seafood Risotto: it was flavorful, spicy, and full of seafood. I absolutely enjoyed it. Very well made. Brasato (Braised short rib): the meat was well made and the polenta paired pretty well. Compared to risotto, it is simpler. Some might like it more and some might like it less compared to the other items. Pistachio Cheesecake: my favorite Pistachio cheesecake in Chicago so far. The cake was flakey and resembled the texture of snow ice, as it melted in our mouths. The Pistachio flavor came through and it wasn't overpowered by sweetness, which happens to most Pistachio cheesecakes. Paired with the jam, it was very good. This is a higher end restaurant, but we would definitely return and try more items on the menu. I loved it! read more

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Il Milanese was super packed on the Friday night when we went. We had a reservation for 8:30 pm, but our table wasn't ready just yet so we had a drink at the bar to start. I got a dirty martini which was perfect to start the evening. You could tell that the staff were busy , but everyone was super friendly and attentive. We were seated right when we finished our drinks and started with the calamari which was perfectly seasoned and crispy. Then for our entrees we got pappardelle, spaghetti bolognese, and the flattened chicken. All were buttery and delicious. We ended the evening with a tiramisu on the house for our birthday. We will definitely be back when we come back to Chicago next time and thank you to the Il Milanese staff for an amazing evening. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Spaghetti bolognese, pappardelle, and flattened chicken breast - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First time trying Il Milanese Risorante and went for restaurant week 2026. It was packed on a Sunday night, so make sure to put a reservation in! I enjoyed each course. The pork tenderloin was HUGE and very addicting to eat. I wasn't able to finish it. We had a lot of clean plates at our table. This seems like a nice spot for a small group dinner (4 people) or a date. It's a bit tight in there with servers moving around and tables packed together, but it added to the charm of the restaurant. read more

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#1 ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN CHICAGO‼ Introduced to this spot by our italian neighbors. Hands down best carbonara I've ever had each bite was heavenly. Risottos were excellent and infused with flavor. Finished with the most perfect pistachio panna cotta. Service was fast our server gave us great recommendation. Super busy spot even at 5:30 and it just got busier during the night. Felt very homey like I was back in Italy. read more

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Not only one of the best "neighborhood Italian" restaurants around, but also simply one of THE BEST Italian restaurants in the City Worth a trip if you don't live on the north side. Excellent recipes, well prepared, generous in size. Warm and cozy if not crowded room, friendly service. Great choice of wines by the glass and some good cocktails too. During Restaurant Week, they give the biggest bang for the buck of them all. read more

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Food was excellent really enjoyed it. Service was great. Downside was the tables were a bit tight and the restaurant was a bit loud.

Great authentic Italian restaurant with modern flare. I Have been here twice for a date night with my Italian wife and she gives her authentic seal of approval. The owners are from Milan and are bringing the best of their northern cuisine and Italian heritage to Chicago. We got the fried zucchini flowers filled with ricotta cheese and one of the best pesto pasta's outside of Italy. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Pesto and lemon pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pros - the service was outstanding, the cocktails were delicious, and I loved my pumpkin ravioli dish. The salad was fantastic. Cons - it's very loud inside, the acoustics just make the crowd noise very loud, and the music isn't quieter in order to accommodate that. Also the spinach gnocchi tasted delicious, but there was so much cheese. It was like cheese soup with bits of spinach gnocchi. Just a bit too much. I would definitely recommend and will be back read more

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My family surprised me with a birthday dinner here. I was super excited because I wanted to eat here for a while. We had reservations at 8:30 pm but they had us waiting outside till 9 pm. It was really crowded inside and very loud. We started with espresso martinis, Very nice presentation. For appetizers , had fried calamari. The red dipping sauce was amazing and saved this dish because the battered calamari were really bland. As the main course , I had the bucatini carbonara. As a big fan of carbonara, I have to say that this dish really disappointed. The pasta was very hard, almost uncooked and very little sauce. I found 2 small pieces of guanciale. The osso bucco was very tasty but it had a lot of fat pieces on it. It was paired with risotto , which didn't really worked for the dish. The pappardelle nice were good. What really saved this dinner was the tiramisu. Great flavor and texture. Overall was a subpar dinner, the restaurant doesn't not stand up to the hype and the high prices. read more

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Il Milanese has been on my list for some time and I've finally gotten the chance to go during Chicago Restaurant Week. We really enjoyed the menu offerings for restaurant week and it was a great value, $45 for a 3 course dinner meal. All our dishes were delicious and the highlights included both appetizers: polpo octopus with fava beans and the ricotta & mozzarella fried zuchinni blossom, the lamb ragu cavatelli pasta, and the pistachio cheesecake for dessert. The ambiance of the restaurant is modern yet warm. I highly recommend booking a reservation. It's a small space and tables filled up quickly by 7pm on a Monday night. I will definitely be back to try other dishes and once the weather is warm you can enjoy outdoor eating at the patio. Il Milanese delivered an experience that felt both elevated and inviting. This spot is well worth a visit and it's earned a place on my list of go-to Italian restaurants in Chicago. read more

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Really pretty interior, kind and attentive service, and delicious food. Tried the focaccia with zucchini and the carpaccio, and loved both of them (parm and sauce on the carpaccio were so good). Need to come back and try more. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Zucchini focaccia - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place is very nice, and everyone seems to be a little higher class lol. The food was alright...but the espresso martini is the best one I have ever had. read more

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Very northern Italian. Hard to find a red sauce on the menu. And there were potatoes in my pasta dish! Very nice space and family friendly. Helpful staff. Easy to sit at the bar without a reservation. Very casual attire. Good was very good and plenty to take home. Try the old fashion from the barrel - unique touch. Would have liked bread- but maybe northern Italians don't use bread to clean up the last of the sauce in the plate. read more

We walk and drive by this restaurant on a weekly basis. Therefore, we decided to try for the first time. Restaurant Week had great options. Choice of appetizers, entrees and desserts. Arancini was good. Meatballs was good but it had a little spice kick to it. Lamb shank was done nicely with polenta. Papadelle with lamb ragu was salty. Both sorbet was great palette cleanser. Service was good. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Menu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I was so excited to try this place but it fell flat. We arrived a few minutes early for our 8p reservation on a Sat evening. We were seated immediately but at the worst table in the restaurant. It was in front of the windows but up against the station where they keep plates, placemats, water. We ordered the meatballs, pappardelle bice, rigatoni with sausage and peas, the garlic green beans, wine, and later, two desserts to go. Right before the meatballs arrived, it started to pour. Everyone who had been eating outside ran inside. A group of six girls ran over to the side of our table and just hovered. No one ever asked them to stand at the bar, they actually brought them complimentary drinks. So we were up against the service station on one side and had six women standing over us on the other. When the meatballs arrived they had to put them on our table over the service station. Two bites in there was a hair in the meatballs. So far not good... The entrees were both delicious, honestly saved this entire review. I would recommend both pastas and the green beans. They all came out piping hot. Our waiter never asked us how everything was so didn't even get the chance to tell him there was a hair in our food. The meatballs were honestly not good so I wouldn't recommend anyways. The other reason I'd give this place 2.5 stars is the noise. It is SO loud in here. For this reason we ordered dessert to go. My sister wanted the pistachio panna cotta, I read the Sbriciolona was delicious. I don't know if what I got was old but it was almost like old coffee cake, no creamy custard whatsoever. If you go - the pastas and wine were really good. I didn't think service was good at all. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Sbriciolona - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this restaurant! Il Milanese is one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The food, service and ambiance are all wonderful. The menu is large and includes both traditional Italian entrees as well as creative takes on old favorites. Cocktails and wine list are topnotch too. Definitely go here if you are in the Lincoln Square neighborhood! Reservations can be made on Tock. read more

Stopped for a little dinner with my kid. My steak was incredible, her pasta was incredible, and they tasted even better together. Very diverse mix of people (couples, families with kids, people just hanging out). We were very lucky to be quickly seated without reservations on a Friday night. Very attentive, friendly staff. Will come back! read more

It's really nice inside. Modern and welcoming. Their is also outside seating. We ordered the Endivia, which is Endive, pear, Gorgonzola, walnuts, and honey dressing. It was a nice mix, very fresh and tasty. The Polenta was good. They were topped with different items, one had Gorgonzola, Guanciale (Italian cured meat), Luganega (sausage ) . This dish was very good. I wasn't crazy about the sausage, but my taste maybe different from others. It's subjective, someone else may love it. If you like polenta, i recommend this dish. The Risotto was delicious, it was soft creamy and full of flavor. The Papperelle was very tasty. The noodles were perfect, the tomato cream sauce, melted mozzarella, and basil make this dish. It was delicious. I will be coming back to try more of their food. Highly recommend. read more

Went on a Wednesday night. Food and Service were very good 5 stars. They really know how to make northern Italian dishes. Ambiance 1 star. It was so deafeningly loud I could not hear the person sitting right next to me. Either the acoustics are inadequate or rude people no longer care about using their inside voices in restaurants (or maybe both). Either way, I could not wait to leave, and I won't be back. read more

We went for a birthday dinner and were really excited about but the food was not that great. I had the pappardelle nice and the rest of my group had the Bucatini carbonara, and the Ossobuco. The food was pretty decent but not the kind of food we expected to be getting for the ridiculously high prices. We also had the Fritto Mare. The calamari was really bland and felt a little undercooked. The sauce was the only thing that saved the whole dish. The thing that saved the meal was the tiramisu ironically, quite small though. I felt like the service was not great. We had reservations at 8:30 but weren't seated till 9:00!! The environment was really loud and they was barely space between the tables. We saw a water every thirty minutes and it just wasn't a good experience. 1 star would never come back. read more

Went for restaurant week and everything was delicious! Very large portions. I'd recommend the lasagna and chocolate cake. read more

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Helpful staff , from menu suggestions to clearing used plates after serving, and keeping water glasses filled. Dining here was a pleasant, although a bit loud, experience. Even though we were first time diners, who happened to go during north side restaurant week, the staff was courteous and adaptable. Go with a reservation to make it easier on the staff. Located at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Montrose, where you can find street parking. read more

My friend and I had such a fantastic time dining here for her birthday. The staff including the owner, Carlo, really went above and beyond to make sure it was a memorable experience -- and it was! It was nice to feel so special! We started with the zucchini focaccia which was delightful. Cheesy and perfect texture - so yummy! We also had the arrabbiata meatballs, which were delicious and not too spicy just had a tiny kick. They were really tasty. We thought the polenta appetizer was just okay. We LOVED the tortellini entree - with pumpkin, fried sage, and a brown butter sauce - but the pasta was a bit undercooked, the edges of the ravioli were pretty hard. We wrapped with pistacchio gelato and limoncello which was, of course, delicious. All in all, a memorable experience and nice meal. We love having this spot in the neighborhood. read more

First time dining after driving past il Milanese so may times. I booked a reservation as I knew that I would be in the neighborhood for a class. We were the first guests to enter and were warmly greeted and were seated at one of the windows. We were greeted with menus, including the "specials" one along with the offering of sparkling or still water. The menus were enticing and I did not find an item anywhere that I wouldn't order. We ordered beverages and the polenta appetizer. Three crisp on the outside medallions of polenta; one with Gorgonzola cheese, one with guanciale and the last with Luganega which is a pork sausage, almost like breakfast sausage. Each bite was divine, so so good. My daughter ordered the pork tenderloin wrapped in perfectly cooked prosciutto with Parmesan risotto, that was perfectly cooked and the pork was drizzled with a reduction of Madeira. I cannot say enough about how delicious it was and each aspect complimented the other. I ordered the bucatini carbonara. One word; perfect. For dessert we split the simple yet "just enough" offering of delicious tiramisu. The restaurant filled up almost immediately and yet it was not loud or cramped whatsoever. Service was friendly and impeccable. If you have never been, I suggest that you go. A perfect spot for date night or just a relaxing dinner or cocktail. read more

All I can say was that everything was on point. The service, the food ....everything was amazing. We had a chance to speak with Massimo who was extremely pleasant. We decided to have the eggplant/zuvchini appetizer which was similar to a Parmesan. We also chose something from the special and ordered stuffed zucchini flowers. The batter was so light & fluffy and had a creamy ricotta filling. Next my husband ordered the tagliatelle bolognese and I ordered the grilled fish platter that was also a special which included scallops, shrimp, calamari, octopus, ahi tuna. All I can say about the quality of the food is WOW. Can't possibly understand how the few reviewers who gave 1 or 2 stars managed to do this. I'm writing this as I'm eating my amazing leftovers today. I'll be back and have already recommended this place to a few friends today read more

ventured a little further north than what I'm used to but so so worth it!! flavors were on point, portions were generous, and the energy in the restaurant was so vibrant risotto was so well cooked (and definitely sufficiently cheesy) would've preferred some pepper to cut through the richness but hey they provided with a good ol' pepper grinder when I asked for it :) loved the octopus! fresh, bouncy, with a little freshness from the pea purée at the bottom pistachio panna cotta was fantastic! extremely creamy and smooth, and just the right level of sweetness. although the sliced strawberries at the side were a nice addition, I personally think a tart strawberry geleé / jam would've worked better! But super satisfied with this and the pistachio gelato we also ordered. the back wall of the restaurant was painted with what I would guess to be the streets of milan. this with the sage green wallpaper and low hanging brass lights created a casual but chic interior of the restaurant read more

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Ciao! You must try Il Milanese! Having studied abroad in Italy, I have high standards for Italian food. We weren't able to get a table since it was so packed so we sat at the bar. The service was very attentive and super nice we even got some complimentary dessert drinks! We had the tuna tartare to start which was so fresh and tasty. The pastas were also fire - we had the papparadelle bice - delicious with thick noodles and the sauce was so good; and the tagliolini - lemon, pepper and pecorino which sounds so simple but was delicious! Loved my experience here would come back anytime! read more

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Very crowded, a happening joint for a Tuesday. Even with the crowded tables the place felt intimate and the fare was superb. A table of four ate four different pasta dishes, all distinct and all excellent with margins for taste. The fava beans appetizer and fried squid and shrimp were also fresh and light. I do think the beans could have been more plentiful though. The service was attentive, even at it's busiest and I never waited more than needed to get attention to the table. Our server seemed to love his job and that always enhances my dining. Clean and airy with equally appealing al fresco seating available. A summer vacation of a meal. read more

Service was not great. The owner was very nice. The reason for two stars is that when I used to go to another restaurant that was owned by the same people I used to get a gluten-free pasta that was more like spaghetti or linguine and it was fabulous, and now they have a penne which you can get at pretty much every restaurant And it's not very good as far as gluten-free goes. The dish I ordered was not fabulous. it wasn't even mediocre, the pasta was soggy and OK in flavor but too mushy to enjoy. I have had linguine and spaghetti at other restaurants that is gluten-free and it's been fantastic. Even penne I've had at other places has been good. When I spoke with the owner, he said let us get you something else, I ordered a very simple salad, which was very simple. After the owner changed the order and took the pasta he said the salad would be on the house. Which was very kind of him! However, when the waiter came over, he said "OK so am I supposed to charge you for the salad?" I should've said no, but it was so uncomfortable that I said that's fine. Just charge me for the salad. When I got the bill, they also charged me for water, but they didn't tell me beforehand that there was a charge for club soda, which I would've been fine with if I knew that there was a charge, especially because I had a glass of wine as well, which I had paid for at the bar. I really wanted to love this place and I really wish that the experience would've been better. I don't know if I would go back under the current circumstances. And I really want to tell restaurants that people who have a gluten allergy would be so appreciative if restaurants would have a solid pasta dish, and a solid bread choice. I have no issue paying for good food and good service. read more

Cute addition to the neighborhood! Nicely decorated for the holidays but make sure you put in a reservation far in advanced. We had a friend visiting in town and it was the perfect last night meal. The dish that was the star of the show was the tuna tartar, you must try this if dining in. The olive focaccia bread is perfect for any olive lovers. All the pasta was delicious read more

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Had been meaning to try this place since last summer and finally came. It's a small cozy place ( but maybe a bit too crowded) ( bit of course we can on a Saturday night) maybe with two less tables the space to move around is better and you don't feel you are literally on top of the neighbors. Drinks were really good and food as well. The reasons to be missing one star for the full 5 are the fact that are waiter seemed to be rushing ( didn't feel like personalized service at all ) and the fact that two of the dishes were REALLY greasy ( like they didn't test it for a bit between coming out of the fruited and plating it to bring over ) read more

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Il Milanese keeps getting better! Sitting at the bar and hanging out with Rudy is the best! It's so nice to see neighbors stop in and it feels community. The sausage and lentil special is amazing ,happy new year! read more

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Can't say enough great things about this establishment. In fact, I am afraid to do so because I will never get a table! From the food, to the service, and the atmosphere everything was perfect! I was in Northern Italy two years ago, and was thrilled to find a Chicago restaurant so authentic. Make a reservation, it was packed on a Thursday evening. read more

Excellent GF pasta options!!! This place was friendly, beautiful, and very delicious!

My wife is Italian and criticized almost every Italian restaurant in America.., but she loves this place. Everything is spot on.

Wonderful addition to the neighborhood! The decor and atmosphere is perfect. Bright, welcoming, large windows that open up to the patio out front, and lots of greenery. The staff was also fabulous! We were greeted and seated quickly despite not having a reservation. We started with the Mondeghilli Arrabbiati aka, fried meatballs! Rather than having the breadcrumbs in the meatballs, these seem to be rolled in the breadcrumbs and then fried. They were delicious, and the spicy marinara sauce it was served with was perfect, I wish there was more of it! For my main course, I ordered the Battuta. This pan seared chicken breast was served with herbed butter and garlic spinach. The chicken was extremely thin, but the actual flavor was a little lackluster. I did enjoyed the spinach which added some nice flavor to the meal. My husband ordered a pasta dish which was the right move and what I'll do next time! Overall we had a really nice time and I'm excited to come back and explore more of the menu. read more

Il Milanese Ristorante - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Though this place replaced a restaurant I was fond of, it was a great experience coming here and eating out on the patio. My sister made reservations for the family (pretty early since we have some little ones) but we were greeted warmly and given the option to sit outside and enjoy the nice weather. Our server was super nice and patient with us since 1) it was our first visit and 2) it wasn't quite the "dinner rush" so it was pretty easy going. The food was delicious and we were also able to order off the kids menu (buttered noodles is their thing currently). Cocktails and wine were great. Overall a great experience and pleasant dinner option for those that live in the neighborhood (we walked :)). read more

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Came for restaurant week and found our new favorite place! Everything we had was outstanding and cooked to perfection. Highly recommend the lamb shank with risotto, seafood pasta and octopus. We came back again and tried the eggplant and crispy polenta, also outstanding. Service is friendly and helpful. We love the feel and energy. It's the most perfect place for a date night or dinner with friends. read more

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I went with a friend of mine who is from Italy, and he almost teared up because this is not your boring American-Italian kitchen, this is the definition of authentic Italian food on your table! Book in advance it is so hard to find a place! The service was excellent! The food was even better...bring your appetite and try the ossobuco. read more

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We had really been looking forward to our first meal at Il Milanese since it recently opened. Having finally eaten there this past weekend, I must say it did not live up to our expectations or the level of quality of so many great Italian restaurants in the area. Let's start with the positive. The outdoor patio is lovely, located on the corner of Lincoln & Montrose with lights strung throughout the terrace, complete with light music playing in the background. The menu is interesting, exciting, and full of options - this is why we were so interested in dining here! Sure, they have some favorites you might find anywhere (focaccia, spaghetti & meatballs, etc), but they have lots of plays on the usual, pork chops, paccheri, maccheroncini, etc. The food itself is above average. Portion sizes are plentiful, and everything is fresh, but most everything is one note, and completely lacking seasoning. The focaccia was baked wonderfully, but it was tasteless until I had to ask for salt and pepper (actually, I had to get it myself, more on that shortly). The fried zucchini blossoms were probably the best thing we had, lightly battered with some nice flavor, the drizzle of honey bringing it all together. The pasta dishes looked unbelievable, but the pasta was slightly overcooked in both dishes, somewhere north of al dente and just south of gummy. Once again, there was a severe lack of flavor here, the sauces one note. Things were elevated slightly once I seasoned the hell out of my pasta, but where is the offer of fresh pepper? Or grated parmesan? Actually, where is my waiter? Sure, it was a busy night, and a full patio of twelve tables. But, with two servers out there, we should see our server more than three times throughout the course of the evening. As previously stated, I wanted to wait to continue eating the focaccia until we got salt and pepper. Well, our server had disappeared for at least five minutes, forcing me to go to the server station and grab it myself. Further, our cocktails arrived during our second appetizer, and our server never checked on us once during the course of the evening. He eventually asked if we wanted dessert, and when we asked for a dessert menu (might be difficult to order without one), he seemed surprised, and took more than five minutes to return with one. It would be another ten minutes before he came back to potentially take our dessert order, at which point we'd had enough. The food is fine, the service, at least on this night, is lackluster. Il Milanese has potential, but lots of room for improvement to merit the price tag. For $150 including tip, we'd have been better off choosing Monteverde or Rose Mary, two far superior restaurants, for our special night out. Otherwise, I think we'll continue to frequent our usual Italian spots for far better service and equal-to-superior quality food for half the price. One additional note: I am all for adding a service charge to help employees. You'll never see me complain about that. As a former industry employee, I'm always going to tip above and beyond. What I am not for is stating on the menu that a 3% fee is going to be added for the "convenience of using a credit card." The convenience of using a credit card?? What is this, 1986?! So unless I happen to be carrying $150 in cash when I decide to pop in for dinner, I am going to be hit with 3%? Lie to me and say it's to help staff, but let's not pretend you're a small coffee shop that is struggling to make ends meet when you are being hit with fees for a coffee. read more

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