We've been going to Tufano's easily for 40 years + Always…read morebefore a Blackhawk game Went back on Thursday and it's AMAZING, same great service, same chalkboard menu and homemade Italian Joey hasn't changed a bit, it's his place and you're his guest Our family absolutely loves it and it's a must go for us Can't wait for our next trip to Chicago

The Free Valet was the real hero of the night, but since that isn't edible, I'll focus on the food…read more It's hard for me to find a pasta I don't like, and this was no exception. Solid Chicken Parmigiana, and the Alfredo was tasty too. They loaded up on the Bruschetta which I appreciate. Our waitress was very laid back and casual, which I appreciate, but that also came with a relaxed service. Some folks might not be into that, but I wasn't in a hurry so I enjoyed it. Overall a solid space, and I look forward to going back and trying more of the menu

Il Porcellino has been around for ten years, but my lovely wife and I finally visited this…read morerestaurant on Hubbard Street to enjoy the Happy Hour specials. We had visited Florence last year, and one of the numerous wonderful moments of our trip to Italy was seeing "Il Porcellino" - the lucky bronze boar fountain that draws tourists from around the world. A copy of the boar stands proudly near the entrance of the restaurant, and though it is not as old as the original 1634 sculpture, it was a charming reminder of our amazing Italian holiday. Did I mention that the weekday Happy Hour (4-6PM) specials are quite good? The specials are served only at the bar area, so you might have to wait a few minutes for available seating. We started with some drinks, including two kinds of Negroni. The wild mushroom arancini (5 little balls for $6) were the smallest I've tried, but they were creamy and melt-in-your mouth delicious. The whipped ricotta and jam beautifully served on a strip of toasty focaccia was a unique taste sensation. Prime beef meatballs and short rib sliders on toasted ciabatta bread also hit the spot. Even though we were merely dining at the bar, we enjoyed the overall vibe of the restaurant. There are lots of photos on the walls, interesting lighting from the ceiling, nice serving dishes, and servers who seem to know who their regular diners are. We look forward to returning to Il Porcellino, to bask in that indescribable feeling of being in Italy again.

Every time we make a trip to Chicago, Il Porcellino is a mandatory stop. We've eaten at a lot of…read moreItalian restaurants over the years, and this one keeps us coming back again and again. It's one of those places that you find yourself talking about long after the meal is over. The garlic bread alone is worth the visit. They pour what feels like a gallon of garlic butter over it, and somehow it's still never enough. It's rich, indulgent, and absolutely delicious. We order it every single time and would probably be disappointed if we didn't. The real star of the show, though, is the lasagna. Between the two of us, we've had lasagna at countless restaurants, and nothing has come close to this one. It's hands down the best lasagna we've ever had. Perfect layers, incredible flavor, and the kind of comfort food that makes you want to savor every bite. Their Grey Goose espresso martini is also unmatched. We've tried espresso martinis all over Chicago, and this one is still our favorite. It's smooth, perfectly balanced, and the ideal way to start or end the meal. The atmosphere is another reason we love coming here. The restaurant is gorgeous inside, with a dark, moody vibe that makes it feel special without being stuffy. It's the perfect date night spot whether you're celebrating something or just looking for a great night out together. If you're visiting Chicago and love Italian food, Il Porcellino is a must. Great food, amazing drinks, beautiful ambiance, and a meal you'll be thinking about long after you've left. We make a point to visit every time we're in town, and it never disappoints.

My wife and I took our daughter out for her birthday. We got to meet the boyfriend. Our daughter…read morehas wanted to dine here so we popped for the bill. I would say it's a romantic setting, a bit dark in the restaurant. Us old folks needed the table lamp to read the menu better. I had read good things about the meatballs and bread as an appetizer so we shared that. Five meatballs, I got two. I thought they should have been hotter but I still enjoyed them. The wife wasn't impressed. Not sure about the younger folks. We shared a bottle of Classico Chianti, Montescondo which was very good. Boyfriend had the braised beef short rib. He seemed to enjoy it. Daughter had gnocchi. Wifey had Bucatini Amatriciana while I ate penne bolognese. Wifey and I shared an order of chicken Parmesan. So much of it the kids took home almost half. The wife had wanted to get the tagliatelle carbonara but with certain ingredients. They weren't sure if they could do it since the sauce was already made. She switched to the Bucatini but the server came back later with the carbonara for her to enjoy on the house. They are very nice here. Daughter was given a celebration baby gelato she enjoyed by the restaurant. We ordered two tiramisu deserts. They were #$@& Hugh. So to wrap up we had fantastic service, great meals and Hugh yummy deserts. Oh, the wine was very good. Thanks to the restaurant staff for this wonderful dining experience.

Italian food isn't my first choice with dining, neither is Hogsalt. That being said, Ciccio Mio…read morequite literally translates to 'My darling' in Italian and it is undeniably the darling of the Hogsalt restaurant group. A ~very romantic~ touch is that they give you a red rose for your birthday. What we ordered: Bucatini Amatriciana: Guanciale, Calabrian chili, pecorino romano Burrata: Saved with fougasse bread, olive oil, and other accoutrements. Forget the lasagna rotolo, this is Ciccio Mio's pièce de résistance Truffle Mafaldine: truffle cream sauce, parmesan. I think mafaldine is my favorite pasta shape. It's just such a whimsical noodle to eat lol Fried Artichoke: Artichoke hearts, caesar aioli.

Had dinner at the bar on a Monday night. Restaurant was lively, Carl met me with a smile and was a…read morefantastic bar host. I'd come back here over and over again. Food was amazing too!

Truly the Best !!!! I keep coming back over the last 17 yrs…read more It never disappoints . The service was beyond !!

Such an amazing restaurant, I can't recommend enough. We came for dinner so the place was packed…read morewith people. The inside of the restaurant felt like a classic Italian restaurant you might find in Italy. Our waiter was super nice and gave some great wine recommendations. First, they bring you some bread and give you a small platter mixed with olive oil, fresh garlic, and Parmesan. This is the first time I've seen it done this way but it was delicious. The calamari was delicious, not too fried and oily but still had so much flavor to it. We also decided to order the peperoni pizza, which is just a magnificent pizza. It was just cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flavor and spice. I ordered the raviolacci toscani, which took a bit of time to come out (but understandable given the amount of people). It was just delicious. The meat filling had such a deep flavor and the sauce wasn't so heavy that I didn't want to finish it. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a good Italian meal with great portions. Reservations might be hard to get so plan ahead.

I ordered the chicken Parmesan and it was delicious and a huge serving. The service was fantastic…read moreas usual. I brought my adult son and daughter and fell in love with the restaurant. This is a true Italian experience you should try. Warm and charming experience.

Alla Vita was great! Glad we went with 4 people because we got to try more dishes. They also have…read morean extensive wine selection. We started with three apps. The octopus surprised me because octopus can be hit or miss for me, but they did it really well! The table bread was also pretty good and cheesy. The Caesar was just fine. Nothing special but not bad (which is good coming from me since I'm not usually big on kale). Of course all of the pastas were yummy. The fusilloni was definitely my favorite from the noodle shape to the sausage and cheese. The ricotta dumplings were suuuuuper cheesy which I really liked (though I could see why others wouldn't) and had a melt in your mouth softness. The rigatoni was tasty, but kinda just tasted like a normal red sauce so would probably try something more interesting next time. We really enjoyed the chicken parm, too. Not as good as the pastas, but definitely tasty and the basil was a good touch. We finished with the guava cheesecake sundae. I really liked the little bits of cake, but the ice cream itself was a little lacking for me. Still a nice sweet treat to finish the meal!! We had the perfect amount of food overall for 4 people!

I left this place dreaming of the rigatoni. This alone should be 5 stars. Any place that has a dish…read morethis good deserves top accolades. And get this... I don't really love pasta. True story. The pizza was absolutely super and the branzino off the charts. That puts the pasta in perspective - all the dishes were just mind blowing. I feel this is a great place for groups - it's loud - but not intolerable. You can still laugh and talk, hear everyone without feeling you are disturbing anyone.

What a blast .. Cam best bartender in Chicago.. this is a must do in Little Italy . Total funread more

Heidi and I made it out to Little Joe's for the first time tonight and had a blast hanging out with…read moreKevin and his crew! Kevin had his Jambalaya on tap in the kitchen and it was exquisite. Spicy, hot temp and very fresh. Bar had some good taps and tons of non beer options for those that don't drink beer. It looks like the bar usually has a mexican kitchen and tacos available for purchase. Bar has touch tunes and a patio, great ambiance. For seating, you can pick from high tops, the bar and booths. We will definitely be back soon to this great neighborhood spot!

The best. Such a…read moregreat time, great atmosphere, and fantastic service. 5 stars all the way!!! Owner Dave was so nice and made every accommodation for us being late the first night and we missed, but we rebooked for another night and it was awesome. On Thursday it's live music and the singer was amazing! We got sat toward the back so we could hear and still have conversations. The food was excellent! We had the Mussels, linguini clam (tons of clam in it), the risotto special, and veal lemone. Not a single miss, it was so good. Our server was so nice, attentive, and personable. I'm glad to see that it's still at a high level and real. It was packed by the time we left so make sure you get a reso. When I return to Chicago I will be back and this will be one of my go to spots. - VIP, David

Beautiful place and great service. The owner is very welcoming and personal. Food's always been…read morevery good. The new location is very nice. Elegant and intimate feeling with high-quality food made from scratch. Great location parking is somewhat challenging but very doable. Check this place out.