Nella can mean "in the". Like In the moment that you bite your cavani pizza, you will be transported to Italy. Or In the waiting of your menu to ordering, you got the European vibes where there is enough space to talk with friends instead of being interrupted every moment. Nella's provides that authentic pizza and pasta for your Italian desires! Excellent food with plenty of indoor and outdoor tables. Just a friendly note, the quick American style get your order in and get out is not the way this place rolls. Ease into it. Cultural context is key to know that you will take your time and enjoy the process when it comes to service. read more

Late Review: This was my second time coming with family. We sat inside near the window, pretty tight inside, but it's more spacious in the summer because of their outdoor seating. The service is always great. I forgot his name, but he was wonderful (and handsome). The hosts were sweetie pies. Our food was tasty. I forgot the name of the other pizza but the Prosciutto & Ricola is the best one they have. Our desserts were delectable. If you're someone who likes a not-so-sweet treat, this is for you! Now, for the hard part. When we arrived, it was extremely loud. Not because of the volume of customers but because of one table. It was a group of parents & children, so understandably it's hard to keep kids quiet. However, I had to yell to talk with my auntie... right across from me. There was a mutual feeling throughout the restaurant as a table of elders alerted management a few times yet nothing was done. They took it upon themselves to go up to the table of parents and an altercation ensued. The HOST had to intervene because management was not doing their part... that's unacceptable. As someone who is passionate about restaurants and hospitality, your host should never have to play that role. I will return because I'm sure this was a one-off situation, but if there's a next time, I hope management handles it first. Overall: 6.5/10 read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Prosciutto & Rucola - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We've been longtime fans of Nella Pizza e Pasta and always look forward to stopping in when we're in Hyde Park near the University of Chicago. The food--especially the pizza, pasta, and their Delizia alla Fragola--has consistently been excellent, and we've had many great experiences here over the years. Our most recent visit didn't go as expected. We ran into some confusion with menu pricing (items rang up higher than listed), a time-of-day pricing issue, and an awkward moment around cash payment that left us feeling a bit unsettled. But here's what really stood out: the manager reached out to us personally--both by phone and in writing--to apologize and make it right, emphasizing that this was not representative of their standards. That kind of care and accountability speaks volumes. Everyone has an off day. What matters is how it's handled--and Nella handled it with class. We'll absolutely be back. read more

Amazing experience here this evening. We were a party of 15 in a busy restaurant at dinner and the service was impeccable! Everyone was happy with their meals, and all the food was freshly prepared and full of flavor. It's a loud, open restaurant, fitting for a bustling eatery you should definitely visit! read more

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We come here every so often. All pizzas are just amazing. I tend to forget that my camera eats first. We've had the Quattro formaggi, the funghi + salsiccia and most recently the capricciosa. They are all delicious, hard to pick a favorite. So delicious. It's always packed and busy but the staff are nice and efficient. We will keep coming back! read more

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Our group had a variety of pies we shared and really enjoyed their friendly staff and atmosphere. We settled in a booth. Service was immediate with wine and our order. The place has a cool vibe and was busy on a Saturday afternoon. The pies took a little longer than hoped over 30 minutes. The Prosciutto Rucola app did push out quickly and was scrumptious! The pizza was worth the wait. My favorite the margarita. I would return absolutely recommend. read more

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Nice spot on u Chicago campus. Indoor and patio seating available The gnocchi was good, the bolonase was only ok. It was undercooked and bland. My pasta was very nice with muscles and a black truffle garlic sauce. The deserts were fine read more

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Came back here after my first visit over 5 years ago and pleasantly surprised that the quality of the pizza was as good as it was 5 years ago - consistency is key! Our service was excellent and we all ordered pizzas which were cooked beautifully and quite favorable. This place is such a gem in the area... still! read more

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For one of our date nights, we decided to give this place a try. We made a reservation, and there's street parking available. The server was very nice and welcoming, and our food came out pretty quickly. We ordered a seafood salad, pizza, risotto, and a pasta dish. Let me just say--we got so full that we couldn't finish the pasta and risotto. The prices were reasonable, too. I definitely recommend coming here for the pizza; I loved that the dough wasn't too thick. read more

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Rating is more of a 4.5/5 but I've been twice and enjoyed my experience both times. I've also uber eats their pizza and it's great even to enjoy at home. Ambiance (5/5): spacious interior, brightly lit, and the interior shelves have mirrors with little sayings and cans of tomatoes line the shelves. Service (4.5/5): we've been seated pretty quickly both times and service is always very kind. Waters are always filled up and have managed to have a short conversation with the staff even when it's busy. Food: Diavola Pizza (4.8/5): I LOVE this pizza. The tomatoes are bright, the toppings are perfectly savory, and the crust is crisp on the outside, fluffy in the middle. Don't forget to ask for crushed red pepper. Funghi Pizza (3.8/5): for some reason everytime I've gotten the mushrooms, the bottom ends up being soggy but the crust that's untouched by mushroom is fine. Mushrooms are sweet but the soggy crust puts a dent in this rating Polpette (meatballs) (3/5): order came with 2. They were paired with marinara sauce that I felt needed some salt. The meatballs themselves were alright but it lacked flavor for me. Not bad but I wouldn't get it again. Rigatoni Bolognese (4/5): exactly what it sounds like and a decent portion. Pasta was perfectly al dente and the perfect amount of sauce. I also felt this one lacked a little salt but was enjoyable nonetheless Overall, I've enjoyed their food in person and at home. Definitely go for the pizzas - so far I've been unimpressed with the other offerings. Perfect date night or gathering for groups of 2-6 although I did see they have a table for 8-10. read more

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I love a good Neapolitan wood fired pizza and I love a place that can make a good wood fired pizza and Nella Pizza e Pasta is one of those places. I ordered the Diavola and opted to add some green peppers on my pizza. You gotta have some veggies on your pizza after all! The crust was perfection. The flavors were delicious. The pizza was light at the same time and the service was quick. So if you want a good authentic Italian pizza then check out Nella ! read more

Plenty of vegetarian options, though you have to ask the wait staff for vegan options. The ambience is lovely and the service is quick. I particularly like their neopolitan pizzas - they are super light, and there have been times where I've eaten two in a row. Would also recommend their tiramisu and really all their othe desserts. The wine pairings for the desserts are also perfect. I have visited Nella frequently and have also gotten takeout several times. The food travels well, including the pizzas, and are always a hit with large groups. Nella is now a Hyde Park institution, and I would recommend a visit! read more

The food was SO good! The service was insanely fast. Loved our experience and the fact that our server sounded like he was from Italy. The decor of the restaurant was so cute and I loved the hooks for your personal belongings where you sat so you didn't feel too crowded in your own seat. The moped in the bar definitely got my attention. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Paccheri Alla Boscaiola Pasta and Diavola Pizza - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came here for a group lunch and everything was so delicious! We sat on the patio on a beautiful summer day. The food was excellent though the service was a bit slow. We ordered bruschetta for the table and it was a great appetizer! For my main I ordered a Funghi e Salsiccia pizza which was sausage and mushrooms and basil with a tomato sauce. The pizza dough was nice and thin and the crust was so fluffy. The portion size was quite large!! I only ate a third of the pizza and took the rest home. It made for excellent leftovers :) I will definitely be back to try their pastas! The menu is so big it's almost hard to make a decision but i guess that means we just have to keep coming back. read more

Place is more like a 3.5. Pretty damn expensive for what it is. The flavors are definitely lighter here as opposed to typical American Italian cuisine. I guess that is authentic but I've never been to Italy so i can't speak to that. Pizzas come out piping hot. There's a mirror above the station like at Monteverde. Risotto could've used more lobster. Decent place but doubt I'd return read more

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Best pizza in Chicago! Nella is a go to for me, and I don't know why it has taken me this long to write a review, but it is one of my favorite places on the south side. I have long been a critic of deep dish. It is not pizza. It is a casserole. You might like it, and that's fine, but it is not pizza. What they do at Nella is real, authentic, delicious pizza. A huge brick oven in the middle of the restaurant is a beacon to the testimony that they know what they are doing. Amazing crust, great toppings, just the right balance of sauce and cheese. One of the best hand tossed pizzas. You will have outside of Italy. If you are reading this review, you are clearly thinking about getting pizza. Go there now. read more

The food at Nella was amazing! Fresh bread, excellent pasta. Free parking right across the street. Highly recommend.

Nella is pretty good. I've always gotten good service. I enjoy the outdoor seating, so I typically go when the weather is decent. The food is good. read more

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A yummy Italian spot with cool modern decor and floor to ceiling glass windows! Our table of 8 was seated immediately on a Monday lunch, and our servers were incredibly efficient! We ordered the calamari, burrata, and prosciutto e rucola salad to start. The salad was so refreshing with the perfect combination of bitterness to acidity! The burrata was so fresh and came with a deliciously sweet and tangy bruschetta. I also tried the ravioli al tartufo. I was sad that there were only four pieces of ravioli and felt that they could've been more generous! Still, the flavors were so creamy and yummy! You could definitely taste the rich truffle. read more

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The three dishes I tried were delicious 2 pizzas Cavan Pizza Rich in flavor with saltiness released from the meats. This added a delicious savory taste to the pizza. 10/10 would recommend. Mozzarella de Búfala Simple Neapolitan pizza. Great dough with pizza sauce that's home made and mozzarella cheese. This was really simple and great in flavor. I would rate it a 6/10 because I am someone that needs lots of savory flavors. But I loved the simplicity of this pizza. Highly recommend. 1 pasta GNOCCHI alla SORRENTINA The dish was a little small for my liking but was my favorite dish by far. The flavor of the tomato sauce & basil bring a rich & herby flavor to the dish. The mozzarella cheese blends in with the Gnocchi but once you get a bit of it, it brings it to another level. I would highly recommend asking for extra bread and using it to clean the sauce from the plate. Service here was a 10/10. Staff are very friendly and attentive! The decorations in this location are very beautiful. It makes me feel like I miss and love Italy & I've never even been there! But I'm going to put it on my list of places to travel now! read more

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I really loved this place. My friend is from Naples and he was very critical of authentic Italian restaurants. He gave this place a sign of approval. (But he did say the Risotto was creamier than he is used to.) the pizza was excellent. read more

Very hood food. Restaurant was willing to cook dishes that weren't on the menu in an attempt to help picky eaters!

Great service. Pizza was fast and tasty Clean Brought kids and they enjoyed as well Near museum. Great spot read more

The ambience of this place is warm and cozy, the food was good and I would personally recommend the Cavani pizza. The waitress who attended us was super nice and she gave a candy cane. Overall this is nice place to eat. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing Pasta, friendly staff. An absolute gem. This place is amazingly underrated.

Food was very mediocre 5/10, would not go back. It was a welcoming environment and nice scenery! read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Pizze - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food here! If you're looking for some really fresh pizza and pasta then look no further! Items we ordered as of 8/2023: Mezza Luna - $22: This was interesting for me. Half Napoli calzone (Salami, Ricotta cheese) and half Margherita. This was a win for me although it can be a bit messy to eat! Spaghetti al Cartoccio -$30: Wife really loved this one. The sauce had a great seafood flavor which paired with the red pepper flakes. "Very tasty" as reported by her :D Very happy with the food here and would recommend! read more

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I LOVE Nella's! Their Bianco Nero Pizza with black truffle paté, mozzarella di bufala, grilled zucchini, porcini mushrooms & white truffle oil is heavenly. I crave for it every day. My mouth is salivating just thinking about it! I have honestly eaten one whole pizza to myself in one sitting. I think their pizzas taste best when eaten fresh at the restaurant. The restaurant is pretty small so I recommend to make reservations which is easy to do online or over the phone. I've always been treated with the best service whenever I dine in. I highly recommend this spot! read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Bianco Nero: black truffle paté, mozzarella di bufala, grilled zucchini, porcini mushrooms & white truffle oil. HEAVENLY!!! A must try. - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I used to enjoy dining at Nella several times a year but after last night's episode, I doubt I'll return. The food is always delicious and the service usually quite good. But last night the Nella management and staff failed to quiet a large group of what appeared to be dads and their grade school sons who were screaming and interfering with the enjoyment of our table and, I expect, others in the restaurant, despite several requests by staff and patrons from our table. When the manager arrived, at our request, from another restaurant, he refused to ask the noisy group to be quiet or leave. I blame both the rude, noisy group and the incompetent manager. read more

The food was great and atmosphere is delicious! I loved the pizza and dishes and wanted to compliment on the waiter's superb services. read more

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The restaurant ambiance is nice but both times I visited I thought the food was just alright.

Update: The 1st time I ordered the Risotti, I got it without walnuts. This time, I tried it with the walnuts. I should've followed my first mind and removed the walnuts again. If you order, remove the walnuts. They add too much of a crunch (if that makes sense) that isn't needed for this dish. But even the 2nd time around, this is STILL a good choice! #ImNotAFoodie #ImJustAGirlWhoLovesFood read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Contadina Risotti - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Nella has great pasta and unique flavors for wood-fired pizza. I will say that pizzas with a lot of toppings--especially seafood toppings--will make the pizza soggy which ruins the crunch created by being wood-fired. The staff is super friendly and kind and the interior is very cute. I would highly recommend the Spaghetti al Cartoccio (wrapped in a swan foil in the picture). I only took a star away because of the expensive price. *safe for nut allergies* read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - A seafood pizza that I can't find the name of on their current menu (left), Bianco Nero (center), Cavani (right) - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I want to love Nella, but our experience and food was just okay. It is a lovely space, modern and bright and cozy at the same time. Great date place. Service was on game. The food was okay. It could have just been an off day. The pizza was not very well done and not at all crispy. The hazelnut ice cream was amazing. Wine was okay. I'd like to try it again but wouldn't go out of my way to do so. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Calzoni - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been here twice before- the first time for the Quattro formagi risotto which I took Togo. The second time for a panino. And today, for the pizza. Food: Pizza Margherita = 5/5 Reminds me of Napoli. The crust, the sauce, the cheese... all perfect and seem very fresh. I added Calabrian chili, and when I saw the pizza, I was confused because I saw red and green chilis. Calabrian are red, so perhaps the green were jalapeño? In any case, the spice was definitely present and welcome. Torta Della Nona -5/5 Delicious. Perfect lemon center and flaky crust with pine nuts on top. And they served it with some cannoli cream on the side- I LOVE CANNOLI cream - so this was a a pleasant surprise. Torta della nonna used to be one of my favorite desserts when I worked at an italian restaurant in 2011. I haven't had it since, so it was very nostalgic for me. I believe this is the only dessert not made in house, but if I heard correctly, it is brought in from Italy/italian supplier. To me, this is very authentic and delicious. It's not like any other torte you've tried. Staff: The hostess - whose name I missed- was very helpful. She seemed genuinely happy to be working these and had tons of recommendations about the food. The bartender/my server Max- Extremely friendly and funny. He also had wonderful recommendations for the food and was a great conversationalist about archaeology and italian food in general. The owner was present which is something I always love to see at a restaurant. The owners of both italian restaurants where I worked (Carbonaras in San Clemente and DaPasquale in Beverly Hills) were always there to make sure everything went smoothly. They truly love their food and their restaurants were like family. It seems like to same is true for Nella. The pizza chef is from Napoli and it shows, the pizza is yummy. He came over and said hi as well. The busboys/food runners also came by, even one of the other servers. I feel like the staff here really enjoy working with one another and help each other. Ambiance: There are multiple booths inside, a bar area that has a high top as well as a bar top, and then there are tables outside (not during the winter). I enjoy the decor here, including a Vespa hanging over the bar. The pizza oven is visible and there is also a mirror above the food prep area so you can watch them make your pizza. There is free parking on the street, but this place is right by UChicago, so during the earlier times in the day, most of the spots will be taken. By the afternoon, they seem to free up some, and by night there are lots of spots open. I highly recommend you try their pizza, risotto, and desserts! I'll add more suggestions as I try more items. read more

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Another cold, wet and windy night kept me in my hotel but I definitely wanted some fresh, local pasta and found this place on Postmates. I ordered the prosciutto and arugula salad and the paccheri alla boscaiola (mushroom and sausage pasta in a cream sauce). Both hit the spot; food was delivered pretty fast - about 30 min, and this place was 5 mi from my hotel. They did not pack silverware as requested, but other than that, I had no complaints. I would love to come here in person next time. read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Prosciutto and arugula and Paccheri Alla Boscaiola - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

One word and one word only for this place: INCREDIBLE. And when I say that, I don't just mean incredible food. I mean incredible staff, incredible service, incredible people. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left this restaurant, we were taken care of by some of the best staff I've ever encountered. The staff is so warm and welcoming, the inside is super cute and takes you someplace away from Chicago, and the food.. oh my goodness. We ordered 2 appetizers - bruschetta and mussels - both of them were absolutely delicious. Super fresh ingredients and just perfect blend of flavors. We got a pizza with white sauce, mozzarella, and spinach. And it was PERFECTLY cooked! So simple yet so amazing!!! And the truffle ravioli... this was my first time trying out anything with truffle and I was completely blown away!! Don't even know how to describe the flavor besides that it was one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had in my life. I will go back for that ravioli in a heartbeat! If you're in the Hyde park, go check this place out!! I promise it's going to become one of your favorite Italian restaurants in the city!! read more

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An original Italian restaurant actually with mainly Italian, American Italian staff. Love them, always very pleasent, the original pizza which might be atypical for American taste. Pizza and pasta are really nice, wine selection is good, very cozy, quick, and they leave you alone to enjoy your meal. read more

Nella changed owners a few months ago and I'm worried the quality is deteriorating. I just ordered the Bianco e Nero pizza for delivery. The good news is that it arrived hot enough. The bad news is that it was not what it used to be. The zucchini pieces were varied size chunks instead of neat, thin slices. There was no truffle taste at all. When I called the very nice person told me the brown squishy paste was a "black pepper paste." That's not a truffle paste and it only tasted of salt and oil - no truffles. Up your game, Nella, if you want to keep your good rep. We miss the original owners. read more

Nella never really disappoints- a little pricey but a wonderful place to get a wood fire pizza and such an easy place to go with friends and share a bunch of dishes! The ambiance is a cozy place with staff being friendly each time I come. :) love to come with coworkers and share pizza and pasta over wine read more

Nella Pizza e Pasta - Diavola, Bruschetta Napoletana - Pizza Near Me - Chicago, Illinois