Great food and great service. The vodka pasta was excellent and they let me change the pasta. The restaurant is tight inside but the food is worth it. portions were large. read more

Very accommodating. Be nice. Eat. Drink. Enjoy. Don't trip. If you don't get it, sorry not sorry.

What an amazing, fun and vibrant dinner experience! I may be alone here- but I'm all for a chaotic, loud environment... I felt immediately energized when I entered La Scarola. Now this restaurant is not for the faint of heart... it embodies the broad shoulders of old Chicago dining. Rich in history and rich in the smells of melting garlic and butter. Did Al Capone dine here? Is there a secret entrance in the basement that no one knows about it? WHO KNOWS. But these are the vibes I live for. We made a reservation for our friends birthday, had to wait an extra 15+ minutes after our reservation outside, which is not ideal in Chicago winters. However once we were called we were sat in the back, very tight dining room. So tight we were back to back with the other table. I did mention this is not for the faint of heart! We ordered the sausage and peppers as an appetizer to start, which was delicious but pretty small, so I would suggest ordering two. For the main course I had the Salmon Mondelli which came with the most delicious risotto and grilled zucchini. I would definitely order this again! Dessert was Tiramisu.. you can't go wrong. I love that you get the feeling that maybe the staff is annoyed by you, or maybe they love you so much they think of you as family.. maybe you fall somewhere in the middle. The confusion excites me. Either way.... I'll be back to La Scarola :) read more

La Scarola - Salmon Mondelli - this risotto is outstanding! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Old school mob place with great Italian food. I really like this place a lot. Have to get there early or late to get in.

Our group of 8 was told they were running late, so we would have to wait 15 minutes. One of our friends was running late - the host proceeded to threaten we wouldn't get our table because our party wasn't complete. Come to find the owner was the person who yelled at me and told us he didn't need our business. NEVER have I seen a restaurant owner treat a customer the way he treated me. So unprofessional and there's no chance I was giving him a dime! Never stepping foot in this place. read more

This place is a must try. The food was amazing, the hostess Adalina was wonderful and so accommodating. Everything we got was absolutely insane; so flavorful and portions were not skimped. The vibes were immaculate, I will be back and recommend this place to anyone and everyone!! read more

I traveled in from nyc excited to go to the restaurant, been many times before. My sister called the week prior and made reservations at 630. When we arrived the man managing the list angrily said we weren't listed. When we disputed he was a complete asshole and said we didn't call. No apology just super rude. Unfortunately will never be returning again and telling all my network as well. So disappointing. read more

This place knows how to do simple food well. I got the spaghetti with meat sauce and it was flavorful without being too salty. The noodles were clearly fresh and had a great texture. I liked how they portioned it--not too big but enough to feel satisfied. The staff was attentive and made me feel welcome. Definitely worth a second visit. read more

Great experience from start to finish. We were greeted at the door by Armando, who we later found out was the owner. He also checked on us multiple times throughout service, and thanked us on the way out. This wasn't because we were a 'special table' he did this with everyone dining in. We felt taken care of the whole time. We each ordered a separate pasta dish, but honestly the 3 us of could have split 1. That's how generous their servings are. There's a reason there is a line out the door every night. Will be back to try their new specials. Highly recommend! read more

Wonderful experience. The fresh flavors burst in the bruschetta and the Ricotta stuffed meatballs were incredible. Rigatoni Chiaverini has homemade small meatballs and Creamy tomato Vodka sauce. It was outstanding. My New favorite place to go for this dish. They have other options if you would prefer chicken, sausage or vegetables. Portions are big enough to eat your full and still have another meal. Thanks Luka for impeccable service and your personality fantastic. We went at 4:30 and it filled in by 5:30., so if you go during prime time you may want to make reservations. Ambiance was Classic Italian feel with pictures of celebrity guest. We will be back. read more

They have complimentary stale bread and low-quality, flavorless oil on every table. Food was abundantly mediocre. Over cooked shrimp in penne vodka and the risotto under the broiled salmon was nothing but rice. Not creamy whatsoever. read more

Such a fun and authentic Italian experience! We finally got seated around 9:45 on a Friday night even though we had an 8:30 reservation. Do NOT expect to get seated right away even if you made a reservation! The service was awesome and they even brought me and my boyfriend free shots at the end of dinner. The food was pretty good but I'd definitely recommend going more for the experience and a fun night out. read more

La Scarola - a group of people sitting in a restaurant - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We used to dine at La Scarola occasionally many years ago, but discontinued when we moved to the suburbs. We were eager to revisit it, but our recent weeknight dinner was a disappointment. VIBE: The place is tiny and crowded. Very cute décor, very nostalgic, with photos of diners famous and not from over the years lining the walls. The bustle was unbelievable; servers, runners and bussers coursed along the tiny main aisle of the front dining room in an -unending torrent. Noisy, crowded, distracting. SERVICE: They do not use an online rez service; one has to call to get a rez. I did so, but we still had to wait 30 minutes beyond our rez time to be seated. Once seated, service was attentive and not at all rushed. Staff were polite and responsive. When it came time to pay, the server presented me with an indecipherable hand-scrawled order ticket and a credit card reader that only displayed the total. I had no idea if I was charged correctly, and did not care to push the issue with the server. FOOD: We had a decent house salad, shrimp fra diavolo, and chicken breast Vesuvio. Opinions were mixed. We both like the salad. MY companion, who has a finer sense of taste, felt that the shrimp tasted of preservative, the Vesuvio had too much sauce and not enough garlic, and the portion were too large. I was OK with everything, though not thrilled. The wines by the glass that I tasted were simple and pleasant. Given the crowding, the frantic ambiance, the 30 minute wait beyond mymy rez time, and the sketchy check, I don't think I'll be back. read more

1. Pasta Lorenzo - bow tie pasta tossed with shrimp, chicken strips, and sundried tomatoes in light chipotle sauce 2. Pasta Mandera - chicken strips, crumbled sausage, roasted garlic, chopped escarole and green peas in vodka sauce with fresh rigatoni 3. Pasta Pesto - scallops, shrimp, zucchini, sundried tomatoes, jalapeno, pesto cream sauce, penne pasta 4. Calamari Quality and portions of everything was good. Meat was tender. Sauce was good consistency and flavor. Pasta were cooked perfectly. I recommend the Pasta Pesto and Pasta Mandera for sure. Service was good. As much as I enjoyed the food, it doesn't make my list of Italian restaurant recs purely for ambience. Tables are packed together and it gets so loud. It's absolutely worth trying but if you don't mind the loud atmosphere, then regard this as at least 4 stars. read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Had an amazing dinner here with the family! Pasta portion sizes are HUGE so just be mindful of that. We had a shrimp appetizer that was incredible. Service was fantastic and you can't beat the old school Italian feel of this place. Highly recommend! read more

La Scarola - Mandela - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a great meal here and would highly recommend. Refreshing Olde Chicago vibe. The food was delicious. I did the Sinatra pasta special- Scallops, mussels & Shrimp in a light red sauce. One of the guys with we said it was the best Lasagna he has ever had.!!! read more

A classic Chicago destination! The restaurant tends to be very busy, calling days ahead to make a reservation is recommended because the line is out the door to be seated. The ambiance reflects the restaurant's rich history, with pics of celebrities and political leaders gracing the walls. The service was great, accompanied by phenomenal food, generous portions, and reasonable prices. read more

La Scarola - Gnocchi Tomasulo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was so good that I think my Italian mother-in-law would have approved. I had the lasagna which came with a lot of cheese as it should! The wine also tasted great. Our server was very attentive and he and others sang happy birthday to the table behind us. It was very cute. read more

La Scarola - Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

La Scarola is the best! We waited in Richards Bar while our table was getting ready...once we got in we got espresso martinis, VERY GOOD. For food we got the rigatoni Mandera, and the spicy pasta. The dishes are very large, probably can be shared. Great experience. read more

La Scarola - Spicy pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Came for weekday dinner with some friends who recommended it. We grabbed a few drinks at the bar while we waited for our table. Not much standing room near the bar, but it wasn't a long wait. This place was busy even during the week, so I'd definitely make a reservation. There are tons of pictures on the walls of previous diners, which shows the rich history of the restaurant. Their website says they are celebrating 23 years in business. We shared the fried calamari, which was light and crispy. I ordered the Salmon Mondelli which is served atop a risotto, grilled zuchini, and some kind of garlicky delicious mixture. It was a hefty portion loaded with flavor. The salmon was cooked just how I like it. Overall, I left stuffed and wanting to try more of the menu. read more

La Scarola - Salmon Mondelli - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A must go for anyone in Chicago. They now have their own bottled cocktails which are fantastic and very reasonably priced! We were so excited to get a reservation to dine in since Covid restrictions have loosened up. We had such a great time. Our server was fantastic and was so accommodating and selected a great wine for us. We got the octopus, sausage and peppers, and escarole. I'm not a fan of escarole but my friends loooooved it! The octopus was great - amazing flavor and perfect amount of char. The sauce and peppers were equally fantastic. For the mains we split a veal parmesan - hugeeee portion and a bow tie pasta with chicken and asparagus. We were stuffed and had enough to eat for dinner again the next day. If you don't go to La Scarola you're doing yourself a huge disservice! read more

See all

Called to make a reservation at 5 pm on a Saturday (just was calling when was convenient as I'd been working all day!) and was excited to try it for my upcoming birthday; they weren't taking reservations for six weeks away (refreshing actually!) but I was chastised in rude way for calling on a Saturday ... no worries, I can eat elsewhere. There's no shortage of good Italian in Chicago. read more

This place is very authentic Italian. It seems small but there is a lot of seating and goes on forever. It is even accommodating for large groups but it is very loud in there, so not best for a first date. It is the best Italian food I've had in the mid west and the walls are full of pictures of celebrities that have been there. The food came quick and the service was very good. It was a little pricey but big portions. I got the chicken parm over angel hair pasta which was $26. We got a bottle of Ruffino Chianti for $36. Their vodka sauce is incredible. The gnocchi was cooked really well and the sauce was nice and garlicky. They wrap your leftovers for you which is always nice. It is not very fancy so you can dress for a nice but casual dinner. read more

See all

With no disrespect to other Chicago restaurant owners who are my friends, this place is the best and Armando is king. When people come to visit I take them here. Shrimp Armani to start. Now I get the Pollo a La Mancow because I like all the ingredients, but I'll warn you it's a little messy. You could get Penne a la Vodka here and be fine though. It's more about the ambiance and experience, but the food is still exceptional. I also always get a filthy martini read more

Best kept secret in Chicago! I can't believe I've been living in the city for three years and only tried this restaurant last week. It's conveniently located right across an Irish bar, but they have a pretty stocked bar if there is a wait. My boyfriend and I showed up on a Saturday at 7:00 pm without reservation and were immediately sat. It was pretty busy, but small tables were open. The restaurant looks small, but there's a pretty big backroom that's decorated with hundreds of pictures of celebrities and politicians that have gone there to eat. We ordered the fried calamari, stuffed clams, a bottle of chianti, the gnocchi and the pasta a la vodka with chicken. Everything was outstanding! It's classic Italian, so HUGE portions and very heavy food. But, every but was full of flavor. My favorite were the calamari, vodka pasta with chicken and the dessert! We got two espresso martinis and the tiramisu. It was perfect! Light and refreshing which is what we needed after that huge meal. Next time I want to try the lasagna and canolis. We will definitely be back! read more

La Scarola - Tiramisu and espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Good. Service. History. This place is a gem...portions are huge so don't grocery shop.. you'll have enough good for a couple days, if you're visiting Chicago, this is a must!!! read more

Had to wait 30 min for our table with a reservation. Other than that service was great for what a busy night it was. We celebrated a birthday and got a chocolate cake on the house! Amazing food and huge portions for an affordable price! read more

La Scarola - Panne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

This is by far the best Italian place in the city of Chicago. This cute little hidden gem is a family owned business with homemade foods. The pastas are incredible you cannot go wrong with whatever you order from here. It is such a small cute place and it took almost a month to get into this place because it's incredible. The chef is so nice as I spoke to home after having the best vodka pasta I ever tasted. Highly recommend coming here! But make reservations in advanced as it gets booked up and it does not seat many people. read more

Old school good. Everything we go it has been great service and food. Recommend to my friends read more

Imagine walking into a timeless movie, "The God father" Don Corleon sitting in the corner, watching and observing everyone enjoying their authentic Italian fare. Wait staff and hosts were friendly and attentive as you dine in an atmosphere emulating old world Italiano. Menus were not overwhelming, and had a separate page for specials, serving up your classic dishes. Had fresh octopus and grilled calamari to start, seafood was tender and flavorful. My guests had the risotto and tortellini, and I had ordered the linguini with clams. It may have been a bit over seasoned but the seafood was again extremely fresh. Ended the evening with a beautiful cup of cappuccino, lightly dusted with cocoa. The tiramisu and cheesecake were excellent; not too sweet. Old school chicago at its finest! #arrivederci #sayhellotomylittlefriend read more

See all

Love love love. Gnocchi Tomasulo. Fried calamari. Shrimp Armani. Pollo ala Mancow. Bangers. We love you La Scarola.

Everything you want in an authentic Italian restaurant- loud and busy and delicious food! Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time as the serving time is likely to get pushed back particularly later in the evening. Definitely worth the wait though! read more

See all

Armando , you had me at the front door. Excellent food with a cozy vibe . Our dinner was fabulous ! We celebrating a birthday the entire staff came out to wish him a happy birthday. If you haven't been give it a try you will not be disappointed,. If you've been coming here for decades like me Continue to support local independent businesses ... read more

Amazing Italian food and perfect service. Their pasta figole is the best I've ever had. Everything is superb.

Such a great place for dinner! Loved the Rigatoni Mandera. The calamari is also fresh and delicious some of the best i've had. You also get fresh bread and oil with the dinner as well. Staff is very attentive and the bar is quick with drinks as well. Espresso martinis are top tier as well and I order one every time I go there. Very busy place so recommend calling a week or two in advance. Small restaurant so may have to wait a bit for your table even with a reservation but lots of great bars nearby to have a drink before hand. Worth every minute of wait and a great place for a date or special occasion! read more

La Scarola - penne alla vodka, pasta lorenzo, Rigatoni Mandera - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One of my favorite places in Chicago. Tight squeeze on peak hours, but worth it. They still make me a dish they haven't had on their menu a decade ago, but I haven't even lived in Chi for 4 years. Get the soup....it is a MUST! Bowl is enough for a lunch. If you are adventurous stop next door to Richards while waiting for your table. read more

La Scarola - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Great spot. From first impression throughout the entire service and meal staff and food were excellent. Busy night for the restaurant, had a short wait before our table, was sat by the window, greeted immediately by server and a delicious espresso martini served immediately after ordering. Staff worked together wonderfully and were very attentive. Ordered the eggplant parmigiana and pollo a la man cow, delicious and wonderful sauce. Shoutout to Elroy - made our experience extra special. Can't wait to come back! read more

I had to book a reservation on the phone- not sure why. And even when I got there at my reservation time they told me to come back in 20 minutes. And even when we got back 20 minutes later we still had to wait. I don't understand what the point of making the reservation was in the first place. It was extremely busy so I can have some empathy but I feel like it is still disorganized on their part. The food was good nothing spectacular. We got 2 pasta dishes and the bruschetta. The creamy pasta was actually really good- but the other 2 were nothing special. The restaurant is nice they have a lot of celebrities on the wall but it's a really tight space and hard to sit in comfortably. The waiter was really friendly too but over all not sure if I would come back. read more

La Scarola - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Really delicious and the interior is so homey. The restaurant was bustling on a Tuesday and the service was great! mandera pasta: 10/10 delicious, flavorful and creamy vodka pasta! love the bits of sausage eggplant parm: 8/10 this may be biased bc I don't love eggplant parm. was flavorful and came with a side of pasta will definitely be back!! read more

La Scarola - mandera - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

We went to La Scarola and it was a true disaster. I am aware that people were waiting to get into this popular restaurant. I do not know why. The waiter was young. We ordered Fried calamari. It tasted raw, there being no crunch whatsoever. I told the waiter that I didn't like the calamari and he told us he could name restaurants that had worse calamari. I ordered veal parageana. The portion was huge. I began to eat this dish and I couldn't taste the veal. When I looked at the next bite, the veal was as thin as a credit card. The THIN veal was overloaded with cheese and sauce. NO VEAL TO TASTE AT ALL. None of the five people in our party enjoyed their meals for various reasons. We ordered a drink from the bar and that was perfect. None of the five of us would ever return to La Scarola. I know that they don't need to care about us -- there were lots of people waiting to get our table. N. R. Turner July 15, 2025 read more