We really liked this place! It was very busy. The Caesar and calamari were outstanding. My wife really liked her pappardelle noodles. I also thought the lasagna was good, but not quite worth the hype. We really appreciates the free dessert for our anniversary as well as the server noticing I don't drink alcohol and bringing over a non alcoholic beverage to celebrate. The inside is super cute and not too loud. Very photo worthy. Overall we are glad we stopped by. read more

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There are so many Italian restraurants in Chicago and I can see why this place gets such good reviews. Caesar salad: 4/5. Well balanced dressing and fresh greens. The sliced celery was a nice addition. Just the right amount of anchovy. Burrata lasagne: 4.5-5. A top tier lasagne. Loved the sauce and cheese in the many layers of pasta and the burrata was a nice way to top it. One bad note: the app the restaurant uses to pay the bill with a QR code incorrectly calculates the recommended tip (apparently including the tax). read more

Came for a late dinner on Friday night and the restaurant was still bustling. The pastas were excellent, especially the papperdelle. The meatballs were delicious as was the chicken Vesuvio. Can't go wrong! The service was friendly and attentive. The ambiance is great. The restaurant is nicely lit and mostly dim - though I appreciated the spotlights above each table so that I could read the menu easily. read more

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This restaurant is so nice inside. The ceiling is so neat. The garlic bread is so tasty. Get a seat by the window. read more

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Had a lovely dinner in a Monday night! Highly recommend making a reservation be hate tables fill up fast. Walking in, Il Porcellino has a low-light, Italian burb feel to it. They offer an array of pasta and meat dishes. For thee people we shared a calamari, Caesar salad, and two pasta (the special lemon ravioli with asparagus and a ragu). Both pastas were delicious and filled with so much flavors the wine list is always fantastic as well. read more

Il Porcellino - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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il Porcellino was not planned; however, I was so happy the stars aligned to bring us there. Like an amateur I did not have reservations anywhere on a Saturday night and waitlist would have had us waiting hours. However, we were in the neighborhood and their door was open so we went to the host stand. There was quite the wait for the dining room and the patio, but there just so happened to be for open spots at the bar so we jumped on them. The bartender was friendly and helpful, even when they were packed. We decided what we wanted and went for it. Within probably 30 minutes we had this spread in front of us. AMAZING. The pasta for this burrata lasagna is handmade and a house specialty. We had to get that. The salmon piccata was light and bright with those capers and sauce. I have never had grilled calamari before, but I honestly liked it more than fried. It wasn't rubbery at all. The gnocchi were like delicate little pillows in a flavorful sauce, and I thought about eating my weight in the tuscan cheese focaccia. We loved the old Italian feel of the place and I lucky we came across it. If you are in River north, definitely put it on your list. read more

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I was really excited to try this place, but it was just okay. We had reservations. We started with the Tuscan Cheese Bread, and I ordered the Pappardelle alla Porcellino. The cheese bread was delicious!!! I wanted to try this place for the Pappardelle alla Porcellino, but the dish fell flat. The meat and sauce were missing flavor, and the noodles were overcooked. It's probably the worst ragu I've ever had. I recommend trying somewhere else in Chicago if you're looking for good Italian food. read more

The food was amazing here! The staff was kind and sweet. It's sort of homey but hippie inside. we did have a reservation which we recommend as the wait list line seemed really long. It is a little loud inside but overall great food and experience. Highly recommend! read more

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I am an Il Porcellino FAN. Been here about 5-6 times since moving to Chicago in April '24 and have had incredible experiences every time. Great for date night, great for girls night, great to bring your family or a larger party... the atmosphere is homey, cozy, eclectic, and intimate with photos of guests all over the walls (like an old school Italian spot) and the food is amazing. Prices are typical of trendy Chicago restaurants but their happy hour is actually pretty good. Would recommend to anyone who wants Trivoli but can't get a res for Trivoli. I'd put them on the same level. read more

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Came here for Valentine's day dinner with my boyfriend. We had a res at 5pm and there was about a ~20 min wait upon checking in, but it ended up being worth it because we got a corner table right by the window! The atmosphere was cozy and romantic and we had great service. We ordered the caesar salad (which has celery in it...sounds weird but trust it was so good), the tuscan cheese bread (essentially pizza), and then shrimp scampi and sausage orecchiette. The pastas were both good too, just could've had a bit more protein. Otherwise no notes, I'd come back to try other things! read more

We stopped in for just appetizers and were seated on the bar area. It gets busy very quick there! It's very lively in this old world looking Italian restaurant. Very modern but classic decor. We ordered appetizers as we waited for our next event. The crispy brussel sprouts were delicious, although I thought they were going to be the shavings or leaves, as crispy brussel sprouts are halved with cheese on them. They're still very delicious, but with all these fads in brussel sprouts, I was confused. We also ordered the pear burrata and that was delicious. I enjoyed that dish the most. Not too sweet and the burrata was enough to cover each piece of bread. It was a great place to try and when I go back, I'll absolutely have more. read more

Il Porcellino - Crispy Brussels Sprouts - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Service at door and table was quick and our server made good reccs we tired the whole garlic bread the meatballs the sausage and Peppers. All delish and really well made with the homemade flavor. For dinner we had the famous lasagna and the chicken parm with angel hair Alfredo. The lasagna was delish and maybe one of the best we've had a a restaurant the parm was ok. The pasta ousehined it as the Alfredo sauce was delish. We had the bomboloni for dessert and they were hot and delish. That whipped Nutella marscapone was the jam. We love a traditional place that does it right and they do !!! read more

Maybe I'm spoiled from being from CA, but I genuinely don't understand some of these 4+ star Chicago restaurant reviews. After hearing so much hype about the food scene here, this place just felt overpriced and overhyped for what we got. My family loves good steak, authentic Italian, and sushi, so we came in excited. The food wasn't bad... just uneventful. Nothing had that "wow" factor people make it seem like it has. The vodka pasta honestly tasted similar to the fancy jarred vodka sauces you can get from whole foods and the fancy pasta (made in Italy) that you can get from Home goods that I buy back home. The shrimp scampi was decent but forgettable. Garlic bread was oddly bland yet spicy at the same time, and the marinara with the mozzarella sticks had random bites of heat that completely threw me off. In addition to that the garlic bread wasn't free, in CA the bread usually comes free, ehh you get what you get but definitely not worth it. To be fair, our server was nice and the restaurant itself is nice (if you get the chance to sit inside). Service and atmosphere were not the issue at all. The food just didn't live up to the hype or pricing for us. read more

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Great environment. Best lasagna I've ever had. Drinks, desserts very good. Will be back soon

A fantastic experience. You'll definitely want to book in advance, but we got luck this Friday. Shout out to our waiter Julio, he did a great job. The interior has a chill vibe with the walls covered in photos. We tried: - Whole Loaf Garlic Bread - Burrata & Pears - Mozzarella Sticks - Stuffed Mushrooms - Chicken Parmesan - Brick Chicken Vesuvio - Tiramisu As far as the apps go, the Burrata & Pears were my favorite. The sweat and salty paired nicely. In contrast, the mozzarella sticks had a spicy marinara that balanced out the sweetness. The bread was good, but definitely lost behind the others and the mushrooms were just okay. For the main course, I'd recommend the Vesuvio over the Parmesan but you can't go wrong with either. Lastly, the tiramisu is definitely a top 3 in the city. read more

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Such a great atmosphere and amazing food! Will definitely have to come back. No complaints! service was amazing! read more

Il Porcellino - Tuscan Cheese Bread - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

So grateful I got to try this iconic restaurant while in Chicago for a few days. Bae and I were looking for a high scale place with good Italian food and a classy ambiance as we wanted to get dressed up and have a fancy dinner to round out our trip. This lived up to every expectation. The ambiance was complimentary of classier outfits yet there were parts of the restaurant like the bar where folks were dressed casually in jeans and t's. We made reservations for two and were sat at high tables near the bar which was ran so well I can only imagine the kitchen. The waiter did an excellent job of outlining the entire menu, pointing us to items on the menu that would align with us our tastebuds, and explaining the intricacy of how some dishes were made by breaking down the ingredients in depth. We weren't feeling particularly adventurous so we ordered classics such as lasagne and penne alla vodka. However, it was nice knowing there are dishes I could try that I'd never had before. We started with the garlic bread (buttery, crispy and fresh!) and the calamari which was fried to perfection and included some deep fried peppers which was a nice (and different) touch. By the time the pasta came out we were pretty stuffed but we got a couple of great bites in before taking an amazing amount of leftovers home. The ravioli was cheesy, saucy, and delicious, with each bite packing a punch of flavor. I was too full to try my partner's pasta buttt I had to snack a piece of the meatball and maaan, I see why the waiter pushed them at the beginning. The blend of meat they use (I can't remember rn) definitely packs a flavor. Each bite we took was a great experience! I would return for sure. read more

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We were greeted as soon as we walked in. Glad we had a reservation so we were seated at a nice cozy booth that they have! We love the ambiance that they have. Dark lighting and it made the restaurant more intimate! Drinks were strong, and the fried calamari was super good!!! My boyfriend got the braised short rib and he really enjoyed it. I got the lasagna and it's super good! It was super big and heavy on cheese I couldn't finish it. Our server was super attentive and would come back again! read more

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A must try!!! One of my top Italian spots, I have ever been to, for sure! Negroni - top notch! Homemade Mozzarella Sticks and bread - fire! Pastas - insane! And oh WOW the tiramisu The place has an awesome ambience as well. Staff is very attentive and helpful. I will be back for sure when in town again! read more

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This is a quaint place in River North with delicious food. I was on a mission for eggplant Parmesan, and it did not disappoint. The portion was huge, and it tasted so good. I was sad that I was traveling and couldn't enjoy leftovers later. I sat at the bar, and the service was friendly and quick. I even was able to get a happy hour glass of wine. read more

Il Porcellino - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food, great wine, great ambiance, and great service. We loved our dinner here and had a great experience. I made reservations in advance and I highly recommend doing so. It gets super busy. Casual spot, fun ambiance, gets loud. Wouldn't recommend this for a super romantic night but more fun date night. All the pastas and desserts were delicious. read more

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My honey and I had dinner at Il Porcellino while we were in Chicago and it was wonderful! Make a reservation because they are very popular. (And for good reasons!) Our server was warm and attentive, and was on top of everything but never rushed us. We went with Italian standards - meatballs and spaghetti and chicken parm. Both were delicious and the portions were more than generous. All good things! read more

Il Porcellino - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing. The staff went out of their way to make our experience delightfully fantastic. In addition to our appetizers (pictured), I had to order the lasagna, and it didn't disappoint. So good on a cold wintery Chicago night. You've gotta go. You'll be happy you did. read more

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My girlfriend and I came here for a special date night during our Chicago trip and wow, Il Porcellino did not disappoint. From start to finish, everything was perfect. We kicked our dinner off with their nightly special of the house focaccia with tomato jam and honestly, it might have ruined all other focaccias for me. It instantly took me back to mornings in Italy, and even my girlfriend (who usually avoids anything tomato) was obsessed with their jam. We paired it with a bottle of wine and also ordered their Baked Burrata Lasagna. Let me tell you that first bite was pure magic. I couldn't stop eating it, and I still think about that lasagna to this day. This is a straight 10/10, so if you're in Chicago, do yourself a favor and eat here! You'll thank me later. read more

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The food was the bomb. This spot is a must check out if you are in River North. We went for Valentine's day and the ambience was fantastic, from the music to the menus. The service was fantastic, we ran late to our reservation and they still sat us super quickly. Highly recommend! read more

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Il Porcellino was a very cute date place vibe. The food was amazing and I was quite impressed with their options for vegetarian food. I ordered their most famous dish - Rigatoni alla Vodka, and it was divine! My husband had the Spicy Scampi Spaghetti which he liked quite a lot. Overall a great experience, I definitely recommend this place for a cute date night. read more

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This was a fantastic restaurant! The interior is very picturesque and gives the vibe of a classy bar with the mix of high tops and low dining and wood furnishings and random art on the walls but the beautiful lights hanging from the ceiling makes it a beautiful and romantic spot. Our waitress was really kind and explained the food well when we were stuck on what to order. Lastly, the food was to die for! We ordered the grilled squid and it wasn't too chewy and the sauce on it was very light but was bursting with flavor. We also ordered their famous lasagna and there is a reason it's famous. It was huge and perfect for splitting also loaded with flavor. Stacked high with the proper amounts of cheese and sauce, no risk of embarrassing strings of cheese hanging from your mouth or sauce falling on your outfit. I will definitely be back and recommend this place to many others! read more

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The wait staff needs work. Service was perfunctory, not attentive. Waiter Maritsio? Took our order and forgot about us. Did not follow up to ask about wine with dinner, etc. I needed pepper for my salad and ended up getting it myself. Lots of bus staff standing around, but they seem more tasked with just busing tables, not filling waters, etc. The Italian salad was tasty. Mocktail El Girodino was way too sour. Should have deeper flavor. Apricot sour was yummy and balanced. Small thing, but when you're paying this price, you should not have to keep your cutlery when they take your appetizer or salad plates away and cutlery then is on the table The Gnocchi bolognese was very good could use more cheese. We were not offered Parmesan. Pesto cheese ravioli was great. So, overall, the food was quite good. The primary issue here is the service. read more

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Food: Beyond solid. The lasagna was good (and HUGE) wasn't my personal favorite, but it's certainly the most popular item. Some of my friends loved it. My favorite was the Rigatoni Short Rib. It also had mushrooms in it. It had a delicious flavor. The Crispy Brussel Sprouts had a great flavor as well, but they weren't very crispy. Vibe: Red & moody. Beautiful and enjoyable. Service: Friendly, but slow. So slow that my friend got her food comped for coming out 10-15 minutes after everyone else's. read more

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food: the burrata lasagna was so yummy even through delivery, maintained its form and the portion is great, tiramisu was also good service: NA ambiance m: NA read more

Il Porcellino - Baked Burrata Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had an amazing experience. We were out in the area and wanted a snack and a drink. We popped into the bar and had amazing service. The staff and management team made sure we were engaged throughout our entire experience. We all shared several dishes, including a Caesar salad, the stuffed mushrooms, the pesto pasta and garlic bread. We also indulged with chocolate cake and tiramisu for dessert. The space is comfortable, and our server was a delight. Absolutely outstanding evening. read more

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Solid Italian place in River North! Another lettuce entertain you and the restaurant group is normally pretty consistent. Favorite thing was the Italian salad and the chicken piccata. The garlic bread was pretty dry and the parpadelle was cold, but flavorful. The service was OK but a bit slow and the atmosphere inside was really cute with pictures all over the walls. Overall, I'd come back here if I was in the area, but it's just a typical Italian restaurant in the city. read more

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I thought this was a pleasant night out. The ravioli was delicious but started to feel heavy towards the end of the meal, the lasagna felt similar. I didn't love the gnocchi. The broccolini was quite poor in my opinion. The lemon was trying to pull freshness from it and it was just drenched ending in almost a picked broccolini rather than roasted. With that, the breads were fantastic, service was great. What a cool interior for a pleasant night out. read more

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Space is really cute inside and our server was so sweet! Make sure you use your Lettuce Eats account and get your points too We ordered the stuffed mushrooms I think it's the best thing on the menu SO good Gnocchi bolognese was good but not my fav i think it was. Little too bitter for me but could've been the parsley. Chicken parm was a hit and so good just wish it had more spaghetti since I split it with my partner. read more

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I have been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and I'm glad I did get to try it. I was there with a bigger party and the service was amazing. Everything was on time and not too fast or slow. The food itself lacked a bit of flavor. We tried the Green Chopped salad, Burrata & pears, stuffed mushrooms, rigatoni alla vodka, ravioli al forna, and the chicken marsala along with a couple of tasters. The burrata and pears as well as the chicken marsala were my favorites but everything else was a bit on the bland side. The portions were great and very shareable. I just wish the other dishes had a little bit more depth. I would definitely love to come back and try other dishes to see if I find something better! read more

Oh Chicago how lucky you are to have places like this. Il Porcelino must have a grandma Nonna in the back because everything tastes homemade. Everytime I come here I order way too much and get way too full, but that is part of the fun. From the pasta to the salads to the desserts you can't go wrong. read more

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Reservations are a must! If you walk in, there could be a chance that you may wait for 2 hours. Although, if they have space at the bar, it is a first come, first serve so you can chance getting a seat there. When you walk in there is a hostess bar just through the doors. Just behind it, is the restaurant with numerous booths and tables for dining. They also have outdoor seating and a back room that can be reserved for private parties. Great to know! We were seated about 10 minutes after we checked with a reservation which was not too long of a wait. We were greeted shortly after being seated. Great music is played as we enjoyed our dinner which is just the right volume. The ambiance was very nice like an old Italian restaurant. The restaurant was very busy and our server was nice on this visit. We ordered: 1. Tuscan Cheese Bread - Delish with a little but of spice from the red peppers. It has a great light crust to it with marinara for dipping. 2. Ceasar Salad - Made with celery which was a first for me. It gave it a different flavor and the dressing was not too strong. 3. Chicken Parmesan - Absolutely delish and everything was on point in this dish 4. Burrata Lasagna - Great flavor and a huge portion. So big that I was not able to finish it. We enjoyed our time here. From the service to food and all in between. No complaints here and I would definitely recommend this restaurant when visiting Chicago. read more

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Love this place my second time here, good menu I wish they would have carbonara on the menu, lasagna one of the best I have had. Fun atmosphere and service. Must have a reservation the place is packed, they reserve even the bar tables. It reminds me of NY restaurants a lot. A must while in Chicago. read more

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I am very picky when it comes to Italian food and Il Porcellino DELIVERED! Their tiramisu and focaccia were to die for. The portion size was HUGE and the food was so delicious. The focaccia has a nice slightly crunch exterior and a slight spring to it. Tasted delicious! Yeh tiramisu was one of the best I have had in Chicago. I will definitely be back! read more

Big Italian food fan over here and this did not disappoint. We started with the garlic bread and the gravy boat of butter that they pour tableside is unreal. We also got a caprese salad to get a little bit of veg to offset all of the carbs. We got the ravioli al forno and the burrata lasagna which were so delicious and cheesy and the homemade pasta was incredible. We were asked to switch tables to accommodate a large group which was no problem and they offered a free dessert for our "troubles" so we got an affogato to end our meal. Everything was so good and we had leftovers to take home. Super dark and moody inside and great for a date night. read more

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