Petterino's is a mixed bag for me while they have excellent customer service and waitstaff, the food left something to be desired. The rolls in the bread basket were dry and a bit stale tasting. I ordered the bacon cheeseburger which was a great portion size and had ok flavor, but the meat was seemingly unseasoned so it detracted from the good toppings that were on it. Fries were just ok as well, nothing special. However, my husband's Sundried Tomato Pesto Chicken Sandwich was delicious, not phenomenal, but very good. All in all, they were ok but for the price, I expected much more! read more

Absolutely fantastic; both the service and the food. I loved the brussel sprout slaw more than anything. You cannot go wrong trying this place. For downtown Chicago the prices were extremely reasonable as well. Go here with your family and friends and you won't be disappointed. read more

Everything about the experience was pretty solid. My favorites of the night were the mussel appetizer was tasty and not too salty and my salad (had a weird name). Probably won't order the short ribs again because it had that sort of "mass produced a while ago" taste to it. read more

Nestled in Chicago's Theater District, Petterino's seems to have two objectives: (1) power lunches to the working crowd in Chicago; and (2) evening dinners for the theater crowd. My first impression was that It reminded me of Truluck's in Dallas with attentive staff and a business lunch crowd. The cartoon-ish drawings on the wall also reminded me of The Palm. The food here was good, but I am not necessarily excited about italian for lunch. How can someone have a productive afternoon after putting away a large chicken parmesan (and pasta)? I went with the Chicken Club and it had a good mix of bacon, ham, and avocado with, of course, a grilled chicken breast. The fries served on the side were decent. There were some great sandwiches on the menu (angus burger, short rib sandwich, etc) but their prices mostly exceed $14 each. I was actually tempted for a salad, but those ranged from $16 to $21 each. Great service, good food, and the prices to match its prime location in the Theater District. read more

I'm so sorry to write this review, but it was just truly the worst experience I think I've ever had in a restaurant. The food was shockingly bad. Rigatoni with Italian Sausage had only a tiny bit of sausage crumbs sprinkles over the pasta, with huge florets of broccoli. Very little taste. My son's dish was equally bland. We both used marinara sauce leftover from our appetizers to try to save the meal. I asked the waiter to recommend and bring their best dessert and we got ice cream from a price fix menu. Just dreadful. Lastly, we asked to be seated when we arrived and were told no with no apparent reason as there were many empty tables. Not at all a normal Lettuce Entertain You experience. read more

My mom and I love coming here before going to a show. They get you in and out if you let them know what show you are seeing. The food is always good, whether you order of the regular menu or check out one of the daily specials. My favorite is the Rigatoni Augustino (which I think was taken off of the dinner menu, but is still available for lunch). It's rigatoni with an eggplant sauce. Delish. The fish is also great here, as are the salads. Came here for lunch yesterday and tried the Seared Scallop Salad. Yum! For dessert, you cna't go wrong with the Chocolate Applause Cake. If you like chocolate...and fresh whipped cream....you will love this. read more

I went here for an early dinner yesterday and had a great experience. The restaurant was basically empty, but since this is the theater district, make sure you call ahead or reserve through opentable.com if you are going in the evening or on a weekend. We had great service - friendly and helpful, but not annoying! The walls are covered with character sketches of famous people that have dined there, and I had the honor of sitting under "Elaine" from Seinfeld and Hugh Hefner - very fun to pick out the celebrities as you wait (like a mini-trivia game). I started with a "salty dog," which is basically a sea-breeze with gin and a salt rim (sounds strange, but is really refreshing in the insanely humid weather). The asparagus Milanese appetizer was fantastic, as was the small shopped salad (tons of fresh ingredients and the perfect amount of dressing). I had the Chow Mien, which I was impressed with, and my partner had the chicken piccata, which was good as well (although a smaller portion that I expected). Overall, another solid LEYE dining option - also if the weather is nice, they have a great outdoor patio. read more

So yeah, I work like two blocks from this place, so I am frequently forced off to lunches here. Let me just say--I have never had a bad meal here, per se; However, I always have this feeling when I look at the menu that there is nothing that I am actually interested in eating. I always choose something because it seems like the most okay-sounding option. The salads, one of the only quasi-healthy options, always come drenched in dressing, in spite of repeated requests to go easy on it. A bunch of the other reviews mention bad service though, so I am not that surprised, I guess. read more

A dime a dozen. I don't need you Petterino's, and clearly you really don't need me. Is good service truly that hard to find? I have been here twice and neither time have I been awed by the treatment of their staff. They act as if they're doing me a favor and I should be grateful to be in their presence. Yet this place is always crowded, it baffles me. Dear I say Location, Location Location? Done. Said. In the past before a play I've been told before we could eat there only if we were out in an allotted time slot. I'm sorry I don't operate that way. This is not a new rendition of supermarket sweep where the first one done wins a meal at Petterinos. We told them no and went elsewhere. Now I've gone again, in fact this very afternoon for the first time in a year, and our waiter had an attitude the entire time. I understand we all have rough days, but a your welcome when I would thank him for something would be a appreciated. Also when he brought the wrong soup for someone in my party and was corrected he argued and said he was told to bring the soup he brought (which he in fact wasn't.) I don't ask for much out of service. Prompt, accurate, polite. Bottom line Petterino's is not accurate or polite, simply prompt. McDonald's is prompt too. read more

Old school Chicago joint. Love the "Presbyterian" cocktail. Also, they NEED to give me the recipe for the rigatoni with eggplant ragu, it is the bomb. read more

Before heading to the Oriental to see Evita, a friend decided to eat at Petterino's (being very close proximity) to the theater. I started off with wine. I was torn between a Red Zin and a Syrah/Malbec. So, of course, what did I do.. I ended up having both (at different times of course)... :-). Both were equally good but completely different. Red Zin was very smooth and not too much body. Where the Syrah/Malbec had far more flavor and slightly spicier, and a bit more fruity. Depending on what you are looking for both are a good choice. For an appetizer, I ordered the fried calamari. Very good and tender (not chewy at all). In keeping the oceanic theme, I ordered scallops. Delicious. They were small but you receive 5 of them. Flavored well and cooked perfectly. For dessert, I ordered the tiramisu. With what I ordered, the prix/fixe was the best option ($34.00). Well worth it. The service was good. The atmosphere wasn't too loud but still fun as there was a nice diversity in the room. Overall, good experience!! I would definitely go back! read more

The default lunch location for my boss (a nameplate), and I really am not a fan of this place. I think it's pretentious and reeks of snobbery, but the biggest turn-off is the service. When you see them, the servers are actually quite nice and professional, even laying on the 'act' a little heavy (although, they probably could be actors...) but they are gone for long periods of time, and getting refills on drinks is nearly impossible. We went for a team lunch last week and our group used 2 tables. One of the tables was served and had nearly finished their lunches before the other table was even served! After the 2nd table finished, another 15 minutes went by before the waiter glided over and started peppering us with suggestions on dessert and coffee. Two members of our group had to leave because we were there over 2 hours. As for the food, it's not bad, necessarily. A little safe, unadventurous, but a solid place for a business lunch, should you have the time. OH - always check the whitefish - last 2 times my boss got it, it was raw in the middle. read more

I had an awesome experience here. Everything was wonderful. My husband and I ate here before we saw Wicked in Feb. 2006. We were worried about allowing enough time, so we totally allowed TOO much time. I was 7 months pregnant and it was really cold outside. So we decided to spend our "extra" time having a leisurely dinner. Our waiter was wonderful and so we just enjoyed every course of our meal including: Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp with Orange Horseradish Sauce Garlic Crusted Sea Scallops with Sherry Butter Chicken Armando with a Parmesan Crust and Asparagus You order "sides" separate from your entree, so we ordered Sauteed Mushrooms and Mashed Potatoes And they have awesome desserts including their Chocolate Applause Cake. We ordered a dessert sampler plate with 4 or 5 small portions of various things. And THEN we had a Cappuccino for my husband and a decaf coffee for me. read more

I'd been hearing about Petterino's for a while and finally made it by a few weeks ago. We didn't have reservations, so when we dropped in we were seated at a small table in the bar area. Definitely a nice alternative to waiting around for two hours. The bar area looked like a replica of something from an old gangster film. Maybe like a laminated photo of something from that time. That's not a complaint either. Nothing about the place was over the top or bombastic. I'd heard Petterino's had a reputation for making marvelous drinks, so I ordered a Manhattan to down before dinner. I'll give it a B. Not fantastic, but certainly better than most places. If I'm ever looking for a primo Manhattan, I'm still going to the Green Mill. I ordered the Chicken Armando and my friend ordered some other delicious chicken thing. All I know is that they were both delicious. Good sized portions, great sauce, tender meat. Yes. Nothing about the service leaps out at me other than the fact that after we finished our meal, even though there was quite a crowd now waiting for a table, we never felt rushed or hurried to leave by the staff. Not to say we sat and ordered coffee and pulled out a chess board, but it was nice not to catch attitude in a busy downtown restaurant on the weekend. I will for sure, most definitely, absolutely, be back. read more

Everyone I work with loves coming here for lunch, but I think its secretly because the service is so slow and its an excuse to get out of the office for awhile. I really don't think the food here is that great. It's not bad, but not worth dealing with the pretentious waitstaff for. They also always run out of their lunch specials halfway through the lunch hour. Basically, I can't think of anything stand-out that I've eaten here that would be worth coming back for. I can only judge based on the lunches I've had here, but nothing has been good enough to merit coming here for dinner. read more

I rarely give 5 star reviews, but Petterino's deserves it! I have been here twice and both times been very impressed with the excellent food and service. For lunch, I had the tomato bisque which was incredibly tasty, great homemade croutons and they do not skimp on portion sizes! It was a fantastic place for a business lunch and we received many compliments on our choice. The waiters are friendly and helpful and they do not rush you. I also went here for dinner with my fiance and his parents and everybody loved it. When we arrived it was right after a dinner show (so they were very busy). The hostess smiled and said "I think I can squeeze you in" - she took us downstairs to the private party room, where a jazz piano player was singing. It was amazing! We had basically our own private bar and bartender. I can't remember what we all ate, but I know that everyone enjoyed it, and the drinks we got were excellent. Can't wait to go back again! read more

My Go-To pre-theater dinner restaurant. The potato-crusted tilapia is awesome! I am NOT a fish fan, honestly, I have never ordered fish in a restaurant other than this dish which I get religiously each time I come. They are accustomed to the pre-theater crowd (even have a pre-fixe menu for it) so you never have to worry that you will be late for your date with the stage. They also have good martinis and a good wine selection. Definitely worth checking out if you are in the loop looking for dinner! read more

The decor here is very old school Chicago, which i appreciate. Our waiter was very knowledgeable and attentive. I had the gnocchi in vodka sauce for $17. It was good, but quite rich so I couldn't finish it all in one sitting.The waiter recommended a pinot noir to complement my gnocchi and it was perfect. We split a cheesecake for dessert and it was also tasty. Again, very rich, so I'd recommend splitting it. Definitely a theatre crowd and more business oriented clientel though. I don't see 20 somethings seeking this place out for a night on the town, especially since the wine comes at $11 a glass. read more

Good ambience. Beautiful atmosphere. Loved the food. Everything was good. Would definitely go there again. read more

Petterinos - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Admittedly, this review might be a SMIDGE biased because we came here after awful service at Roanoke and having to leave before ever getting our order, BUT... The host and our server at Petterino's we're very friendly and efficient. They brought us fritters for free and we got in on their $5 mimosas special. We sat outside and enjoyed watching the Loop go by, had a light lunch - sliders and a Caesar salad, which were very tasty. Fair price, good food and service, great ambiance. read more

Daniel is the best waiter around! From NY...Visiting Chicago for my first time. Came for lunch. Got a soup and salad. New England clam chowder was delicious and flavorful. Got a small salad and it hit the spot. Ingredients were very fresh. Then our waiter offered us a complimentary dessert, when we asked for a suggestion he said he'd surprise us...and surprise us he did! He brought us the chocolate mousse cake, tiramisu and strawberry sorbet. Also very generous with our espresso refills! My friend will be coming back with her family! Highly recommend. Ambiance is nice and festive for the holidays. read more

Petterinos - Waiter brought us samplers of dessert. I love this place! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this place every time I visit Chicago. My family and I tried Petterino's Brunch on our last day's visit. We had an AWESOME experience and a wonderful brunch. As always, the food is exceptional. We also were very fortunate to have such Great Service on this visit from Todd. Todd went out of his way to make sure we had everything needed to make this brunch experience an occasion to remember. Cannot wait to visit Petterino's again on my next Chicago visit. Keep up the Great Work! read more

Well what a pleasant surprise. My daughter is a student at Columbia and we came for lunch. I will definitely be back. I thought I would never find a place as good as Joe's but this is a close second ! read more

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We went there after 7 so we decided to do the 7 after 7 deal which was pretty good. We got there on the last night of their Monday Night Cabaret until mid-January. At first, we weren't really sure what was going to happen so they seated us in an area where we can talk and not disturb everyone. The cabaret ended up being hilarious and brilliant and I was getting annoyed with everyone else who was trying to talk over the music and I was trying to listen haha. Anyways, The shrimp bisque wasn't anything too special. The bf enjoyed his calamari. The German Riesling I ordered was very tasty and I don't remember what beer Tim got. I got the whitefish which wasn't very good, unfortunately but Tim really liked his Tilapia. My creme brulee was to die for! Almost as good as my own! hah and the tirmisu wasn't too bad either. All in all, the service is impeccable and the food isn't too bad. I think I just ordered the wrong stuff for myself. I would definitely come back, the ambiance is great and everything. This first experience just wasn't the best. read more

I like this place. For a pre-theater dinner, it's hard to beat. We had dinner here before a play at the Goodman. First off, you can valet your car for dinner and the show for $14. That's got to be one of the best deals in Chicago! This place is old school. Shrimp de Jonghe? Beef Strogonoff? C'mon ... that's right out of the 70s ... in a good way. Our food was competently prepared. Service was good. And the bread basket - gotta be one of the best. Their dinner rolls are warm, moist, yeasty, topped with a hint of a salty and caramelly glaze - it's just too hard to resist eating a second one! I always ask for Plymouth gin and this place has it. It makes the best martini in my opinion, and I always give props to places that carry it. On the downside, the desserts were ho-hum. Berries with Chantilly cream - what's Chantilly cream, I asked ... it's just whipped cream, only with a fancier name. read more

Petterino's is located in the Loop theater district and offers an extensive menu with an Italian slant. The dining area is stylishly decorated with red upholstered booths and tables with white tablecloths. Hundreds of caricatures of theater artists and celebrities as well as large dance scenes adorn the walls and up front is a long bar. All of this and the crowds of patrons combine to create a very exciting and vibrant atmosphere intentionally reminiscent of the premier theater district supper clubs of the 1940s. On a recent weeknight my wife and I stopped in before a play without a reservation. The place was crowed with a wait for table service but we were lucky to snag a couple of seats at the bar. We each had a drink that was well made and a good pour. Wanting something light, my wife had the appetizer of pork and veal meatballs in tomato sauce, and I had the grilled chicken club sandwich accompanied by French fries. The meatballs were very well made and tasty. My sandwich, which was prepared with a whole chicken breast and avocados, was delicious, and my fries were crisp and flavorful. The service was very efficient and competent. Petterino's is part of the Lettuce Entertain You (LEY) group of restaurants. Although I avoid chain eateries, I have found the LEY establishments to be exceptional and Petterino's to be one the best. Petterino's food and drinks are high quality at reasonable prices, the service is professional, and the vibe is animated but extremely enjoyable. Highly recommended, perfect for pre-theater dinner. read more

I like this place! We stumbled upon this place when they were having their Open mic Monday show, and we really enjoyed it! Lots of great talent, fun stories to hear, just a very positive and enjoyable atmosphere. The food was also good. Nothing super innovative or cutting edge, but pretty decent straightforward Italian food and good wine. read more

Great service, Awesome food. Love the atmosphere... elegant color scheme. Will recommend to others. The waiter Jesus was Professional and pleasant. read more

Fantastic pre-Goodman Theatre dinner. Food was excellent and service was outstanding! Our waiter made sure our large party was well taken care of and got us out in time for curtain without feeling rushed. I would recommend Petterino's to anyone looking for the perfect pre-theatre dinner restaurant. From Tracy at the Hostess Desk to our waiter (I wish I got his name), the entire staff made our experience extraordinary. read more

Great location close to Cadillac Palace Theater. Stuck on expressway in a back up we couldn't make our reservation time so we called to cancel. Thank goodness Justin, one of the managers, answered the phone. He said no problem and asked what time would work for us. He let us know about their Club Room and could accommodate our new reservation time. We loved the quaintness of this part of the restaurant. The entire wait staff was very attentive. We both ordered from the theater meal options. Food was excellent and priced right! There was a pianist playing theater and jazz style music. So appropriate to set the mood before going to the theater. Thanks to Justin and the Club Room staff for making our evening special. read more

The solid-3 (could be 4-star) review is based upon a Saturday night dining on appetizers at the packed bar before a performance at the Goodman. Service was quick and very good, considering everyone was here for dining/drinks before the show and all asking for their tab at the same time. Had an order of their mussels and a cup of the tomato bisque and can't say that I was disappointed. It was very good, well-presented, and tasted great going down with a glass of wine. Staff was on their game, and if I'm ever in the theater district on a weekend, I will definitely keep this place in mind. read more

In terms of rating a food place 5 stars I figure you have to start with 5 and deduct from there. Everything was excellent. The service and the way it was set up was perfect. We ordered out app (the crab cake) and it came out like right away, I thought it may have been pre-made, but when I put my fork to it there was no rubbery, stale sitting under the heat lamp feel to it, it was hot and tasty and wonderful and the corn and red pepper concoction under it was nice too. TIMING: it seemed to me that everything here is about timing, the place was busy and everything came out right on time. A runner would bring the app, then the waiter took the plates, then the runner brought the food, then the waiter would pop right back over and say "good, everything is there" as though they are running some sort of mathematical equation to how they do things. The only bad thing, and it was minor, was that I like my beer a little colder and the base of the Stella Artois glass was chipped at the base. It's petty, but that's the only thing that could have made it perfect. 4 stars that on any other day would be 5. read more

First time here. Atmosphere is nice, a hood place for a date. I ordered the fixed menu. First off, the grilled calamari which was very rubber like. Wouldn't suggest it. The Blackened Mahdi Mahdi was overly seasoned, too hot. The cheesecake was good w the blueberry sauce. Service was good though so they have that going for them. So for an expensive cheesecake, and nice service and atmosphere, then I recommend. Other than that, I would skip this one. read more

I loved the interior of this restaurant. It was spacious in the large booth they gave my group. The ceaser salad is delicious. Great soup and good bread. The house wine is around $10-$12. Nice place. read more

Very nice restaurant. This is a Lettuce restaurant. The service and the food were very good. I really liked the salads and the steak sandwich. Nice place .. give it a try.. :) read more

I'll start by saying I've never 'eaten in' the restaurant, so I can't comment on service inside. Our firm has had two holiday parties in the (basement) banquet space, and the food and service were fantastic for both. Much better than other places we've used; highly recommended for banquets. Five stars for that. I've had carry-out for lunch a couple times. They have a separate entrance for carry-out, but strangely they almost seemed put out that I was calling in an order (I work directly next door), or, conversely, put me on hold for so long that I hung up and went elsewhere. Their burgers are very good, though slightly pricey, no surprise there (their on-line menu no longer has prices, which is a little odd). I ordered chicken marsala, or whatever eqivalent they offered (it's no longer on the menu).....for $16, it was skimpy, to say the least, and I don't think it came with pasta, soup or salad, bud rather a loaf of nice, crusty bread big enough for three people. A little odd. Oh well, their food is consistently decent, if a little bland. read more

Great service, over priced food that isn't very special. Good drink menu. Pretty cool ambiance. read more

Petterinos - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What a find walking down Randolph Street after 7 pm Three course dinner under $20. Fine dining a la fresco and attentive wait staff. read more

Petterinos - Dining in Aug Summer 2012 - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great dining experience in Chicago. The server is very nice. Tho the chicken pot pie is not on the menu, he managed it for me. They have a dessert cart with several popularities such as macaroon and tiramisu. Interesting read more

I love Petterinos! This is a great place to go before a show, there is always a prix fixe dinner option. I've been for lunch and dinner several times and it never disappoints. You'll definitely need a reso before a show otherwise expect to wait a long time. They have a different lunch special Monday thru Friday that is always good (salmon cakes on Friday is the best!) The portions are good and the bread basket is perfect. I highly recommend the minestrone soup. The vodka sauce used on the potato gnocchi is so mouthwatering and delicious you'll want to take a bath in it. I've also had salmon which was cooked perfectly. Definitely a must go! read more