I love Orso's and have been coming here for more than 20 years. The food and service is consistently good. With so much change and fast turnover in this neighborhood, the long term mainstays on Wells have endured for a reason. We had the clams casino and the risotto on our recent visit and they were fantastic. If you're in Old Town you should give Orso's a try. If you sit inside you might even get to listen to live piano music! read more

Orso's - Patio space. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! The ambience is lovely, whether you dine inside or out. I've tried several dishes at Orso's and it never fails to delight the palate! And the calamari has to one of my most favorite appetizers...it's always cooked to perfection! The staff is attentive and friendly without being bothersome. Love this place! I'll be back again and again.... read more

I came here on a Sunday afternoon with a 12:15pm reservation. I started with the arancini as an appetizer. The arancini was hot and tasty. It paired well with the marinara dipping sauce. The fumigato was hot, creamy and cheesy. The mushrooms and rigatoni pasta were cooked well. The pasta was cooked to a perfect al dente; however, the chicken was overdone, which made it drier inside. The sauce on the pasta was able to help offset the drier pieces though. The service was fast and the wait staff was nice. read more

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Went hear just for the pitcher of sangria, and it was amazing! It was so delicious and a good serving size. We sat at the bar which was clean and had purse hooks. Our server was friendly and chatty. Loved the inside, cute and homey! Will def be coming back read more

We stopped by Orso's on a cold, late night and were seated right away on the heated patio. The tables are a bit close together, so you can hear nearby conversations, but the space still felt cozy and warm. Service was great throughout. I had the penne vodka with shrimp which was good, though not especially memorable. I also tried the sangria, which was a little bit of a miss for me. I would've preferred it a little sweeter and more fruit-forward. As a visitor, it did feel a bit pricey, but overall I'd still recommend giving it a try if you're in the Old Town area. read more

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Stopped in during st Patrick's events for an alderman hosted party. Good food Great staff Great service Keep up the great work guys read more

Right on par with its description, Orso's is indeed a charming family-owned Italian restaurant serving a variety of dishes to suit even the pickiest of palates. Had the pleasure of dining on the back patio which one might call a "little slice of heaven." The dishes ordered were all delicious. The favorite of the night was the prosciutto pasta! read more

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We visited this Italian restaurant in Chicago while in town and had a reservation. We were seated in a back area near a service corridor where staff frequently passed through to access a storage room and other items. It was a cramped space and not conducive to a relaxed dining experience. There were several more appealing tables available in the main dining room with flowers and better presentation, but we were seated at a table that was not set, slightly uneven, and lacked the same attention to detail. Our waiter was very kind and promptly helped adjust the table setup, which we appreciated and improved the experience. The food was good, and service from our waiter was attentive once we were settled. However, the initial seating experience left a negative impression, and we will not return. read more

Orso's is an Old Town staple. Service is always attentive and good. Food is always excellent. The Fumigato, which is rigatoni in a rich tomato cream sauce topped with mushrooms and grilled chicken, is my favorite. If jalapeños are your thing, I highly recommend the Jalapeño Gnocchi. Tortellacci al Prosciutto is amazing, and the Steamed Mussels are a 10/10. The Bruschetta and Patate Vesuvio are nothing out of this world. And although rather simple, the Pizza Bianco is a very tasty appetizer! I love the arugula tossed in the lemon vinaigrette, and you can really taste the garlic-herb oil on top. Tiramisu is obviously delicious. Atmosphere is great, though I prefer the traditional indoor dining room to the enclosed patio area. I have never been to Orso's during the warmer months, however, so I think the patio area may be a completely different thing that time of year. We love Orso's! read more

A classic Italian spot with comforting pasta, pizza and entrees. The tiramisu was also delicious. I ordered the famous jalapeno gnocchi which is flavorful and a bit spicy, and comes with the option of olive and garlic sauce or vodka sauce. The bruschetta is a bit messy. The service was chaotic, with the server completely missing one of our appetizers. A bit of a disappointment, but the food was great and the ambiance romantic. read more

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Love this place . It made me feel my heritage . The food was amazing . The house salad had many olives and cheese. It is beautiful with many dining rooms. The dining room were in is standard and European beauty. Our server victor was excellent. I will most definitely come here again . read more

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I ordered through uber eats so I can only speak to the food and that the food was ready on time! They did well on making sure they got everything ready on time and it arrived fresh! I couldn't say no to jalepeno gnocchi, two of my favorite things together, and my dad got a bruschetta panini, also two of his favorite things together! I got the the oil and garlic as my sauce and I think it was maybe too much oil and garlic like I should've had a different sauce. I also added mozzerella which was a good choice! I had a bunch left over. My dad said his bruschetta sandwich was delicious and he had leftovers. He had sweet potato fries as his side and shared them, yum! Pricing was very reasonable given the large portion size. Glad we ordered from here. read more

Orso's - Jalapeno Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cute Italian spot in Old Town though I wish we had been seated inside instead of out back. They had table bread, but it was just plain bread with oil. For apps, the Caesar salad was amazing; so good we ordered a second with dinner. The bruschetta was decent. I'm not a big calamari fan and this was no different. The burrata caprese was also just fine. For mains, the Tortellacci was reallllly good - between the sauce and they gave a lot of prosciutto. I also really enjoyed the tomato-ness of the penne Alla vodka. The mushroom risotto was also really good, but could've been a little cheesier. We got the special rosemary chicken and the chicken Marsala and both were pretty good, but the broccoli that was with it was boring. I wasn't a big fan of the pizza bianco. Too much arugula and barely any cheese. read more

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My friend and I randomly stopped by here while walking through Old Town Chicago, and we split a 16" pizza. The interior of this place is really old town rustic, and the waiter was super nice. The waiter was super generous with the bread and olive oil, which was one of the highlights of our meal. The way that Orso's does their pizza is a base price, and $1.5-2 for every topping that you add to the pizza. We added pepperoni and green peppers to our pizza. And while the toppings were pretty generous, it wasn't the authentic light margarita pizza that we were expecting. Overall good price and good service. read more

I failed to take any photos while enjoying this delicious meal. We actually ordered this as take out and it was phenomenal. The tiramisu is to die for and highly recommend the tortellaci al prosciutto. We also tried the rigatoni paisano & it was good but would choose the tortellaci over it. Highly recommend for a great easy week night meal to order in or enjoy at the restaurant. read more

We made reservations and were seated immediately. We sat in a large area and in the back that was an open concept. The pasta ala vodka was great and the calamari was very good. The drinks were on the strong side and our server was attentive. read more

Orso's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went to Orso's for the first time today for their Wednesday buy one get one free pizza deal. We sat outside on the patio. The ambiance was nice and the NA Aperol Spritz was good, but the food was bad. The pizza used frozen crust and the toppings were flavorless and felt thrown together from random items in the kitchen. Would not recommend and will not be returning. If you're looking for a good Italian meal, look elsewhere. read more

Orso's - Chicken, Bacon, Sun Dried Tomato, Spinach Pizza - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Orso's went above and beyond with its service. They accommodated a group of 20 people an hour before closing, got all of the food right and out on time, and were very gracious with the party the entire time. The jalepeno gnocchi is to die for and I think about it at least once a day. I will be coming back for that. read more

Orso's - Jalapeno Gnocchi Thin Crust pizza Penne alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Let me start with the positives, cordial staff and host, fair pricing for old town, large portions, excellent bread and good food. Shout out to the clams casino and tortellaci al prosciutto. You can skip the grilled calamari and portobello mushrooms. Why 3 stars? It's because we were seated in the Tiffany room otherwise known as the basement. Granted we're not the only ones there. I ask for outdoor seating up front which was all taken-fine. But I later discovered they have a huge beautiful patio outback. IDK maybe that was full too this Saturday night but that doesn't negate my feeling like a second class citizen in the basement. read more

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I came here with a group of friends and it's the perfect spot for a get together! The ambiance felt like being in a little town in Italy, it was cute! We could hear the live music playing too! The waiters were great and quick with service. I ordered the chicken verdino! It was a juicy chicken and the mushrooms were beautifully sautéed! I just didn't understand the use of potatoes. They weren't bad or anything, but I wasn't expecting it. One doesn't expect potato wedges with their Italian food, and it wasn't on the menu. It stuck out like a sore thumb. Overall, the ambiance and service exceeded my expectations, but the food could be more cohesive with a traditional Italian dining experience that is advertised. read more

Orso's - Chicken Verdino - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped in for dinner with a co-worker for our half hour lunch break. Friendly service from start to finish. Food was great. Will definitely be back. read more

Love this place- first time visit- old school atmosphere with cool vibe. Very good service very very good food and drink. Very reasonably priced especially for Chicago- oh and live excellent piano read more

Great experience from beginning to end.-atmosphere was wonderful. Staff was incredibly friendly and most importantly the food was out of this world. read more

Whoever said a "third times a charm" never ate at Orso's. My wife and I returned for a third time last night to celebrate her birthday. We thought we would try the pizza this time. Honestly, we were hoping to enjoy some beer and pizza. Unfortunately, strike three. I really want to love Orso's. The location and interior decor are sublime. However, all that is lost on the first, second, and last bite of their food. I'm certain that I am not the only one who struggles to eat and digest the food. Service is good, but not great. Our waiter came to the table to take our drink orders. He looked at us and stated "I think I've served you before". He was our server on our last two visits. His name is Scott and he was surprised that I remembered. The problem isn't the service it's the food. We decided since we were having pizza we would start our meal with a beer. I ordered the Crispy Beer for Pizza which was described as a light IPA. My wife ordered a Peroni Draft. Both drinks were draft beers and served warm. Not a good start. Draft beers should always be served in a chilled glass with a slight head of foam. Scott returned to the table and took our pizza order. We opted for a 16 inch thin crust with sausage, green pepper, and mushroom. The pizza came to the table and the first bite was dry, yet crispy. The pizza had a scant covering of sauce and the toppings (if you could find them) were practically nonexistent on the pie. The pieces on the edges were crispy; however, as we ate the center pieces the pizza was greasy, soggy, and flavorless. I mentioned during our meal, and when making the reservation, that we would be celebrating my wife's birthday. I ordered the Tiramisu and my wife ordered a pistachio gelato. Scott brought the gelato to the table with a candle and sang happy birthday with me to my wife. Thank you Scott. I appreciated the gesture. The tiramisu was melted and warm. It looked and tasted like it had been sitting out defrosting before being served. It definitely was not fresh. Again, I really want to love Orso's. I just can't until they improve upon the disaster that is going on in their kitchen. It's a shame because the location, interior decor, and patio are stunning. I could sit in Orso's dining room all day and be happy, as long as I'm not eating. "I am a sucker for those old traditional places, and [Orso's] is as good as it gets"; however, the food needs to match the magnificence of the decor. It does not. read more

Orso's - 16 inch Thin Crust Pizza with green peppers, mushroom, and sausage - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Patio dining in May. Love that it's covered so in case it rains, we won't be affected. Calamari: really tender. Better than anywhere else. Also love the color of batter is light in color. Mixed Greens: got it split in half between me and my friend. Nice portion, perfect balance of sauce & greens. Strawberries, walnut, goat cheese with greens and balsamic vinaigrette-- it's my kind of salad! Risotto: it was on special menu. Got it split into 2 also. It was too salty though, but yet lacked flavor. I added Parmesan cheese to make it more tolerable. Sausage was also salty too. Skip risotto. Next time, pizza for me! read more

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Probably the best tiramisu I've had in my life so far. Initially visited for my cousins rehearsal dinner and loved the family style servings and space for family and friends. Good spot for date night, dinners, parties. If it wasn't for my headache I'd enjoy the food even more but each bite I had was comforting and delish. I can see why the couple enjoyed their dates here enough to have their rehearsal dinner! Service was attentive and they made the best use of their space as they could. Could bathe in their Alfredo sauce *yum* read more

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I have been going here for years and this is some of the best Italian food out there. We had the chicken parm, penne a la vodka, fried calamari, salad, and bread with antipasti. Everything was on point. We sat upstairs which had an incredible Chicago city vibe, and the grape vines looked beautiful. As far as the service goes, it was a 10/10! read more

Bat gluten-free pizza and regular pizza in the city so far! AND a place in Chicago that actually still makes chocolate martinis and they are delicious! Thank you! We searched all over Chicago and have only found one other place that makes a legit one. I've had many gluten free pizzas around the city. This one actually tastes like regular pizza, even my boyfriend likes it and he's usually not a fan of GF anything. Their regular pizzas are what a pizza should look and taste like as well! Great sauce flavor, sausage was excellent, veggies were cooked just right, a good amount of ingredients all over and all the way to the edge, perfectly cooked! So good! We actually worsened twice from there bc it's legit. Our new fave pizza spot. Outdoor atmosphere was cozy. Server was excellent! read more

Orso's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have dined here many times over the years. I've never been disappointed with a meal at Orso's and today was no exception. I started off with a glass of the house Pinot Grigio which was really good, a light white wine that went perfectly with my meal. I also ordered a cup of minestrone soup and it was delicious. Good chunks of potato and a generous helping of onions. carrots and celery. For the main I ordered linguine with white clam sauce. I've had this dish here before and am never disappointed. Very flavorful with the clams, and the linguine is cooked just perfect. Both the soup and the main course were served HOT, which is always appreciated. Service was attentive but not rushed. Orso's decor is also a very nice dining environment, with wood paneling, large crystal chandeliers and stained glass. I'll be back again soon. Highly recommend. read more

Best Italian on wells. Not the place you go to be scene that Italian joint is down the street. This is good authentic food. No pretension. Love the place read more

Let me start by saying I am the least picky eater I know. I have practically 0 standards. For Orso's I wasn't expecting to be blown away, rather at least a nice fresh-made meal. This entire meal was bullshit. The only good thing I had was a single Aperol spritz (cause really, how hard can that be to fuck up). For entree's, one person ordered risotto, that might be the only redeemable item. The "grilled shrimp" added to a salad was absolutely from frozen. The real winner of this meal was the pizza. Or I should say "pizza". The crust could not have more closely resembled a saltine cracker. The menu states "pizzas are made fresh to order and may take up to 60 minutes". "Fresh to order" is laughable. Don't call yourself an Italian restaurant and then serve store-bought crust. If you're ready for a dry, lazy, disappointing meal that resembles Italian food, this is the place for you. read more

Orso's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stopped over here for a bowl of minestrone, salad, and turkey panini. Do not get ANY of those things. Sadly mediocre. The waitress is nice and attentive enough but it doesn't make up for the miserable food. Maybe it's ok for a drink but I won't be back to know. There's a pile of place to eat around here, take a pass on this place. read more

Went to this Orso's tonight as I have countless times, less recently as the quality has diminished. As a party of two we both order the lasagna. Tonight the waiter brings the food to our table and gives the 105 pound female a portion twice the size of my portion a 200 lb man. Maybe at least bring the same portion to people in the future. Sadly it was the last straw for me. Loved the walking distance from home but we are fortunate to have so many dining option within walking distance. read more

A basic community Italian restaurant. Food is not fabulous, but it's good and Hardy . Salads were good and plentiful to share. We ordered the vodka, pasta, meatballs, and sausage. Meatballs are just OK sausages were much better. Service was solid . Ambience typical Italian. read more

Our party of 6 needed a spot for dinner before our main stage show at Second City, so we made reservations at Orso's. I'm so glad we did. The harvest salad, Caesar salad, and burrata salads were all delicious and fresh. The pasta entrees were delicious, and the portions were just right. And the cannoli was a lovely way to end the meal. Service was attentive without being intrusive, and that's a tough balance. It was excellent from start to finish. The decor is also lovely. The interior of the restaurant is an old world beauty, with a piano (and live pianist) and beautiful chandeliers. The exterior patio space is absolutely charming. Highly recommend, and would return. read more

Orso's is very solid. Have ordered many times off their menu but my absolute favorite is the jalapeño gnocchi. Spicy but not over the top, and creamy to cut the spice back. It really is a unique and perfectly done dish. Their other dishes are good too, you really can't go wrong with what you order. I had the chicken parm sandwich today for lunch - first time I have ordered a sandwich from them. It had a nice cut of chicken on it and plenty of sauce, def keep a napkin near by with this one! Thanks Orso's! read more

Orso's - Chicken Parmigiana Sandwich Lunch - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friends just got married there, and I have to say GREAT option. Staff is amazing. Very nice, very professional and helpful. Food was delicious, the salad looked so simple and it was sooo delicious, everyone wanted more. The chicken with mushrooms.. ufff! Give me 5 please. I would definitely come back to try more items from the menu. And if you like tequila, Jalisco is your drink baby! read more

Don't know where to start, what an amazing place to get dinner, my girlfriend and I went here on Saturday for her birthday dinner and we fell in love with the place. As soon as you walk in you're greeted by piano which is an amazing touch. Food was amazing and full of flavor, our waiter, Orlando, made sure we were happy and well taken care of, he also sang happy birthday to my girlfriend and brought her a slice of tiramisu, 10/10 definitely coming here again. read more

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I recently visited Orso's as a late birthday dinner for my mom. We definitely loved the ambience of the restaurant as we got to sit outside in the in-closed patio. Me & my gf ordered a couple of cocktails to go with our pastas of choice. I ordered the Penne Alla Vodka, which was pretty taste but the sauce could've been thicker and creamier. She ordered the Bucatini Diavolo but it was hard to enjoy since the sauce was way spicier than expected. My mom and sister both got the dolce vita , and my little brother got the chicken Alfredo. They were all satisfied. Other than that our waiter was great , very patience and helpful. read more

Orso's - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came very briefly for appetizers in the main dining area. Seats and tables are tight in this space, so be prepared for a bit more of an intimate dining experience, including keeping your chair closer to the table if you sit in an aisle. They have an outdoor enclosed patio area that seemed to be a bit more spacious. Overall the calamari app was solid and service was fantastic. read more

Orso's - Calamari app - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois