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    Nonnina

    4.1 (915 reviews)
    PriceyItalian, Bars, Desserts
    Closed Closed

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    NONNINA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Good for groups
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Nonnina

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    Rigatoni alla Vodka
    Barney A.

    With only a few hours left before heading to the airport, we stopped into Nonnina on N Clark St., and it ended up being the perfect send-off to our Chicago trip. From the moment we sat down, the atmosphere felt warm and inviting, with beautiful decor that struck a nice balance between cozy and polished. We kept it classic with a Caesar salad, carbonara, and penne alla vodka, and every dish delivered. The Caesar was crisp and well balanced, the carbonara was rich and comforting without feeling too heavy, and the penne alla vodka was easily a standout. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. The location is also a big plus, especially if you're exploring downtown or squeezing in one last meal before heading out. Overall, Nonnina felt like one of those reliable spots that still manages to feel special. A great final stop and one I'd absolutely come back to.

    Cacio e Pepe
    Jenna K.

    Cozy place and nice holiday decorations! We got the special Bruschetta alla Caprese to start and it was delicious! The whipped pesto ricotta was SO good. We got three pasta dishes and tried them all. The pasta noodles were fresh. Tough to pick a favorite as they were pretty different. They were all good but can't say any were amazing. The server was hard to hear and understand.

    Carbonara
    John G.

    Not bad but could be better. The oysters were good but poorly shucked. Don't get a table under a music speaker, although the music was very eclectic! My Carbonara was very thick and gummy but had good flavor. My wife's truffle Bucatini was ok. The surprise was the gelato which also had a gummy consistency. The service was good and they have valet parking.

    Kyli P.

    First - a huge shoutout and THANK YOU to the staff who let us keep our reservation despite our train arriving to the city 30 minutes behind schedule due to slippery tracks. We called ahead and explained the situation as it was my friend's birthday and we didn't want to miss out on our dinner - they were very accommodating and seated us at 8:15 for a 7:45 reservation. The restaurant was dimly lit and cozy on a cold, rainy night, but I'd love to go back when the patio is opened up to let in a nice breeze and lots of sunlight. Onto the actual dinner - 1000000/10. We had artichokes for an appetizer (plus the delicious focaccia table bread) before our pasta entrees. Everything came out timely and our server was very attentive, including making some wine recommendations to go along with our meals. There were 2 vegetarians in the mix and we still felt like we had a good amount of options on the menu. Highly recommend for a delicious italian dinner that won't break the bank!

    Parmesan Fries
    Gauri S.

    Celebrated Valentine's Day here and had a wonderful experience! The food and service were exceptional. We especially loved the pork belly and the Parmesan fries. We also tried the chicken Parmesan, and they were kind enough to substitute my spaghetti with rigatoni alla vodka as requested. The spaghetti and meatballs were also delicious. On top of that, the Valentine's Day decorations were a lovely touch and made the evening feel extra special.

    Jarriae A.

    What a great spot for a late night hang out or a date night! I loved the lighting and the ambience here. It was very intimate yet fun. When I went, they didn't have any tables available, but my friend and I were able to snag a spot at the bar which I honestly loved. I got the burger and fries and my friend got pasta. She loved the pasta and her drink. I did enjoy my burger and fries, but I do wish the burger had a little bit more flavor. Still a good eat, but yeah, I just wish it had more seasoning. they had the Indiana versus UIUC football game on. The staff behind the bar were really kind and attentive. I have definitely added this place to my list of restaurants to go back to.

    Squid ink
    ThuyVy N.

    went here on a Saturday night and was able to get a table right away if we were okay to be seated outside (we were). The tables were really low we noticed, we were sat at the side of the restaurant not the front. Service was pretty nice. Overall I thought all of the food was just okay and I wasn't impressed. None of the dishes stood out to me.the vodka pasta was very creamy but just a bit basic to be. The pappardelle was alright and the squid Ink just tasted like lots of things I liked but not sure it mixed well together. Overall alright but probs wouldn't intentionally go back. I did see that they have an "optional" service charge which I think was a bit weird and that was kind of tucked away and small on the bill which I think it's a bit weird and not obvious to the customer.

    Branzino
    Mary T.

    Branzino is the best thing ever. Came for restaurant week. Portion is huge came with 2 fishes. Even though it was dead it still took a while for food to come out

    Brussels Sprouts.
    Maggie X.

    I'd been eyeing Nonnina for its daily happy hour menu since arriving in Chicago, but unfortunately didn't get a chance to venture in until the end of the week for regular dinner service. Located just across the street from The Westin and within walking distance from multiple hotels, its location is prime for a convenient dinner. Happy hour is served at the bar, regular dinner service on the enclosed patio and dining room. Decor is cozy and floral, and service was uncomplicated. Table bread: My least favorite part of the meal. I've always been of the opinion it's hard to mess up complimentary bread. I was disappointed to find the white loaf dry and dense without any discernible flavor. A healthy dash of kosher salt would've been most welcome. The focaccia was better, though underseasoned as well. The balsamic and olive oil provided on each table was welcome. If the bread were slightly toasted and the white loaf changed out, it would be a significant plus as an introduction to Nonnina dining. Beet and orange salad: Love the pairing of citrus and beets. The red and golden beets were roasted nicely, and the slivers of orange and grapefruit complemented the earthiness of the beets. There were two small droppers of balsamic and olive oil, which weren't quite enough for the salad, so I supplemented with the bottles provided on the tables. Chicken piccata: Enjoyed the tangy creamy sauce of this chicken piccata. I usually find capers to be too salty, but this version created a nice balance with the lemon. The sautéed spinach was a nice touch, but I felt like it soaked up way too much of the sauce and ended up being overly sour and salty at the same time. Everything rested on a bed of fingerling potatoes, some of which were perfectly crispy and others overfried and soggy. Linguini al Nero: I love squid ink pasta, and this wasn't a bad rendition. The lobster, shrimp, and calamari portion was generous, and there was a nice balance of tomato with seafood. I couldn't really taste the squid ink in the pasta, though the appearance itself was of lovely inky strands. Nonnina didn't quite live up to expectations, but it's a good convenient option for Italian in the downtown Chicago area, especially if staying at a nearby hotel.

    Tortellini
    Christopher C.

    SO GOOD!! Kicked off restaurant week w/ a bang! We did the lunch menu, The food went super crazy. You can judge by the plates how good the food was. The service was wonderful, our server was very well mannered and even taught us some Italian words. The vibe is real cozy. Bar layout is real flavorful too.

    Pork Belly**
    Sharon H.

    I came here with my girl friend who is visiting on a whim on a Thursday night. There weren't any tables available, so we sat at the bar, which turned out to be perfect! We found out it was Happy Hour. The HH menu was extensive. Thursday is also half-off pizza night, and we were very pleasantly surprised with the quality of the food for the price. The cocktails were yummy and the bartender was very welcoming. The atmosphere is roomy yet still feels intimate. One thing we noticed was how many groups of girls were here for girls' night, it definitely has a lively, social vibe

    Basil D.

    If you want authentic Italian food...(not American Italian) but authentic Italian food, this is where you go. There are few, if any, other real places. Nonnina's is near perfection as far as AUTHENTIC Italian food goes. This has been a favorite of a dear friend of mine for years. I've been a few times, but this visit requires a stellar review. We had a classic full pranzo. My dinner companion had spent 14 years in Rome, so he knows his way around Italian cuisine. We started off with a classic Italian charcuterie board featuring excellent meats, including mortadella, salami, and prosciutto, along with some amazing cheeses. Perfect beginning to a classic pranzo or lunch. The wine selection was excellent. We next went for two pastas, a mushroom and a bolognese, which we split. The mushroom pasta is unique and well worth trying. Hardly any other Itailian restaurants off this much less make it nearly as well. It was a thick pasta cooked al dente (fusili?) and the sauce was very thick with that earthy flavor you can only get from real mushrooms. Just marvelous and impossible to order in any other Italian restaurant. The bolognese was spectacular and not overly acidic. I highly recommend. We finished off with tiramisu, which was a bit dry. I was disappointed. It was good, but a bit dry. Of course we had classic espresso, which was perfect. Then like civilized people ending a proper Italian meal, we had 2 glasses each of grappa! Ohhhh grappa! PEOPLE! If you want an authentic Italian meal, finish with GRAPPA as a digestive....NOT crappy sambuca. Sambuca is for posseurs. Here endeth the lesson, Please stand for the Creed....

    Pinot Noir
    Chieko C.

    The ambiance was really nice. I had the Chicken Piccata, but I found it to be too lemony for me. Wasn't bad though! I come back again to try something else. My gf's had the Rigatoni alla Vodka and it was delicious. The service was wonderful, and worth a stop.

    Roasted Wild Mushrooms**

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    11 months ago

    Enjoyed the chicken parmigiana and the vodka rigatoni. There's limited seating outside for those who like eating outdoors

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    2 months ago

    Wonderful dinner at this lovely little Italian restaurant! Nice ambiance, great cocktails and an excellent chicken Parmesan.

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    3 months ago

    The meatball sauce was too salty. We also had the chicken Parm in the oxtail Ragu. Prefer RPM ITALIAN all around.

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    Page 2 of 23

    Nonnina Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Nonnina

    I'm planning on going to this place for dinner tomorrow. I just wanted to make sure, is their patio really warm? I'm concerned about that :(

    Yes, it's essentially in a four seasons room so you don't have to worry about cold weather at all.

    Is this place decorated for the holidays? Is there a Christmas tree?

    yes, it is decorated for the holiday but no xmas tree.

    Are dogs allowed on the patio?

    The restaurant does not have a permit for dogs. Only service dogs allowed

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Peanut Park Trattoria

    4.1
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    This is such a cool spot. I wouldn't have even known about it, if it weren't for a local friend…read more Where to start? We came in with a group of about 20! Normally I hate those kinds of large group dinners, but this was the perfect spot for it. The service was absolutely wonderful. I don't know how our server stayed so cool and calm with a group that size. We got a variety of things. EVERYTHING was amazing. If you have seen any of my other reviews, I always get a meatball when I'm at a place that has them. They almost never live up to my expectation. But this place has the new gold standard for a meatball. It was everything you want. It is fork tender, full of flavor, no chewy ground up bits. The pizzas were authentic and thin. With fabulous house made red sauce that wasn't too thick and overwhelming. The flavor was A+ The cocktails were so good! All made from scratch with love. The ambiance was cozy and comfortable. Perfect for a group or a date. They have a full bar, and also great seating with perfect lighting. This is a new favorite for me in the city.

    Our server was super friendly and we never had a shortage of water…read more The restaurant had a nice vibe, with a cool deconstructed Vespa on the wall. Lots of open air flowing into the space. The asparagus in my pasta was well grilled, some of the best asparagus I've had. The pasta was also very flavorful as well.

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    Peanut Park Trattoria
    Tender piping-hot light crispy calamari fritti, with deep lightly-spiced tomato pomodoro and bright golden Calabrian aioli
    Tender piping-hot light crispy calamari fritti, with deep lightly-spiced tomato pomodoro and bright golden Calabrian aioli
    Outside

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    Outside
    Il Porcellino

    Il Porcellino

    4.4
    (1.8k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    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.

    First time visiting the Windy City, we came to the city for the great eats! I'll Porcellino…read morecertainly did not disappoint! For appetizers, we ordered the While Garlic Loaf Focaccia and the Stuffed mushrooms. I wished I took a video when the focaccia arrived. The waiter, holding a plate with a round and fluffy focaccia and proceeded to pour the garlic et al on top of the bread! Very freshly-made and fabulous! The stuffed mushrooms were also cute delicious! This is a rare time where the stuffing had spinach below the stuffing - excellent! I remember seeing (and enjoying) this while I visited Italy. Delightful! The main courses we ordered were the Gnocchi Bolognese, the Baked Burrata Lasagna and the Barolo Braised Short Rib. The Gnocchi meat sauce was the standout here, being very flavorful, but not as heavy as some other restaurants. The Gnocchi were dense - not fluffy as I had expected. But the sauce flavor was vivid. The Baked Burrata Lasagna was oh, so perfect! Many layers of al dente pasta separates with a tasty meat sauce. Many times I have had lasagna that was either over-baked, or had limp pasta. Here, the lasagna shined! So large of a serving that my wife could not finish it, much to her dismay . . . I had the Barolo Braised Short Rib - oh my living god! - so tender, so complete a dish, with the fork tender meat that melts in your mouth, complimented by a light polenta (I must emphasize the lightness here, as many restaurants serve polenta that is heavy and too rich. This did not compete with the short rib, rather it seamlessly became the foundation on which the richness of the meat was enhanced. I was blown away! But, the most amazing, and probably the most delectable part of the evening was finishing off with a luscious Chocolate Cake! OH, WOW!!! The cake was certainly moist and smooth. Yes, smooth! I could not tell there was cake at all, so smooth it was! And surprisingly (not surprising given the quality of this establishment) it wasn't too sweet, rather just enough to bring out the chocolatey goodness! I only wished that I ordered some hot coffee - the cake would have gone well with a great cup of coffee! Overall, I was very impressed with this restaurant! The old-town decor, the dim lights, the fantastic food (just like of the Italy of old!)- all contributing to a wonderful experience! Highly recommended!

    Photos
    Wall decor
    Wall decor
    Grilled Calamari
    Grilled Calamari
    Burrata Lasagna

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    Burrata Lasagna
    Ciccio Mio

    Ciccio Mio

    4.7
    (638 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Truly one of the most enjoyable Italian food experiences in Chicago. It's worth the effort to plan…read moreahead and make a reservation. Reservations are released 21 days ahead of time, which I personally find impossible to make. Every time I've checked over the last several years there have been no availability. Yesterday I decided to pop on their website again and was delighted to find that they had released same day dinner reservations for patio only dining. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so I went ahead and booked a table for Friday night. I felt like I won the dinner lottery. Service was wonderful and I didn't mind sitting outside at all next to the road with cars. I actually never stepped foot in the restaurant so cannot comment on what it's like inside. But do not give up that patio dining reservation if it's available. All of our dishes were delicious. I was really impressed by the meatball appetizers, chicken vesuvio (the potatoes are a must get as a side if you skip this dish), and branzino. The meats and sauces were wonderfully balanced and tender. Nothing tasted overly salted. Ironically, the pasta felt less of a star compared to the other dishes. And of course I had to get the gelato, which was so aesthetically presented and the taste just reminded me of an Italian summer vacation.

    Checked this spot off my list while celebrating a special occasion. They had a card waiting at our…read moretable, which was such a thoughtful touch. The vibe is dark, moody, and perfect for an intimate night out. Service was excellent. The chicken Parmesan was the star of the meal, huge portion and absolutely worth ordering. We also tried the Caesar salad, short rib, carbonara , potatoes, and tiramisu that were all delicious. My only feedback is that the wait between courses felt a bit long, and some of the ladyfingers in the tiramisu weren't fully soaked so it was a bit dry. Overall, a great experience with a beautiful atmosphere and generous portions.

    Photos
    Espresso machine
    Espresso machine
    Lasagna Bolognese
    Lasagna Bolognese
    Toasted Almond Gelato

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    Volare Ristorante Italiano

    Volare Ristorante Italiano

    4.3
    (3.3k reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$$

    I was in Chicago recently. I'm from there. Volare was one of my go-to spots when I worked at the…read moreInterContinental. It was like going home. The restaurant was remodeled and yet the same. Benny the owner greeted me warmly. My glass of wine turned into appetizers and a main. I had a Caprese to start. Everything was fresh, the plate was chilled and the tomato was somehow in season. I then enjoyed one of their classics, Linguini and clams with lemon zest and bottarga. Sometimes it's good going home.

    It's not often to find a place that delivers 100% on everything - the food, the ambiance, and the…read moreservice! We chanced upon Volare while making our way to another restaurant but were too hungry/tired to keep searching as we were with our toddler. Also luckily it was not too busy when we got there as it was early -6pm. As soon as we walked in, a high chair was offered for the baby, and our stroller taken away to safety. A welcome water drink with an orange slice arrived, without request, and the bread basket saved the day for the hungry toddler. Our waiter was extremely helpful and nice and suggested something not entirely on the menu for the toddler which we appreciated so much. When I got up to find the bathroom, before I even had the chance to ask, one of the waiters just told me where to go, anticipating my need. When it was time to go, they boxed up our foods and gave us extra bread because our toddler loved it. Also - food wise - we tried the basics - the lasagna and a clam linguini - delicious. Wine was delicious. Prices were very reasonable, portions were pretty big. Overall 100% recommend this place.

    Photos
    Decadent Chocolate Cake my friend ordered. She ate it all. Saud it was insanely yummy.  This is not part of Restaurant Week 2023.
    Decadent Chocolate Cake my friend ordered. She ate it all. Saud it was insanely yummy. This is not part of Restaurant Week 2023.
    Gnocchi alla Vodka
    Gnocchi alla Vodka
    Perfect cup of coffee!

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    Perfect cup of coffee!

    Nonnina - italian - Updated June 2026

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