I've been to this cute restaurant three times now. The first was just a wander in a week or two after they opened. The next was a late night dessert and limoncello run (more on that in a second). The third was today (8/23/2026). The first time, it was clear that they were working hard to make a name for themselves. We talked to the owner and the chef and they were awesome. Similarly the food blew us away. So food, so friendly and just a great time. Not too long after we were walking down Maddison and stopped in for a dessert and drink. Now we learn that not only are the desserts amazing but they don't just have limoncello, they also have various other cellos! Pistachio and coffee are excellent, but check back for more! Tonight, we walked in and sat outside. The staff were amazing. Very attentive without hovering. Impeccable service! And their recommendations in the food, wine and desserts was spot on. We shared appetizers (calamari), mains and dessert, all of which were just as good as when they opened, maybe better. River Forest had a ton of great bar and grill places with good food. But Paicere Mio is on a different level. Don't just make it special occasions you come here. We came on a Sunday at 5:30 pm. Just get here and thank me later. read more

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Okay, just an FYI parking in Forest Park has become difficult. the side streets are resident by permit only and Madison is "pay to park". Good luck finding a spot. The restaurant is teeny, tiny. The are 2 booths, one on each side of the wine cooler. 2 adults cannot sit comfortably on one side ~ 1 adult and 1 child is the max. Also, at the booths, the table is very far away from the bench. You have to move forward to the front edge of the bench to eat over the table. They are a BIG miss ~ so I recommend avoiding them. However, the rest of the tables are on top of one another, so do not expect to have a private, quiet conversation, while not being bumped by a server or someone trying to leave their table. Saturday night was packed with people waiting, standing right over the tables closest to the door. I know nothing can be done to accommodate as many diners as possible. Do not expect the usual Italian meal. Do not go hungry because no one leaves with a doggie bag. A side of asparagus consisted of 4 small spears for $10. A lot of fish on the menu. New to me, balsamic drizzled on top of your vanilla gelato as dessert. The "special" guava cheesecake was special because it consisted of pastry shells with whipped cream not a forkful of cheesecake to be found. Food was good, service was excellent, most interesting interpretation of Italian fusion. read more

First of all. I always notice when a restaurant doesn't have the basic seasonings i e. Pepper n Salt at the tables. This place was spot on with their assessment. It wasnt needed. From the soup to the main plates, no seasoning needed. I'll come back to that. On a very busy day, they made provisions for us and adjusted our time by 30 mins. Very welcoming! To handling my 93 year old mom and everyone else in our party. That said we had the sweet corn truffle oil soup. Phenomenal! My gurl ordered braised rib rustic risotto. I had the lamb Shank and potatoes. All wonderfully prepared and while we were eating my family was stating how they were definitely coming back to this spotq read more

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Four of us dined at Piacere Mio on Saturday evening 8/22. This was my third time dining at this restaurant. I have to say we were disappointed in our entree's. I had the pork chop which was on the "special of the day" menu. Wow, what a disappointment! It was a filleted pork chop cutlet pan fried with a very thin slice of cheese and a slice of prosciutto on top. It was dry and flavorless. We shared two appetizers, Gorgonzola stuffed figs, where was the Gorgonzola? The presentation was horrible, figs with a slice of prosciutto loosely draped over the figs. Very disappointing. The second appetizer was the stuffed zucchini flowers. Very heavy egg batter fried and overly stuffed with a bland cheese mixture, another disappointment. Boy oh boy last night Piacere Mio fell flat! I have recommended this restaurant to several friends in the past unfortunately I will be refraining on doing so in the future. Service was fair. Atmosphere is nice. We sat in a booth which kept the noise down and was comfortable. Maybe it was an off night but I was very disappointed. read more

Amazing food! Chef Jose created the most delicious gluten free dishes for my daughter. Everyone in our party was pleasantly surprised with the quality of service and food. A true gem! read more

Ordered for take-out the following: Linguini Alla Vongole - As seen in photo, overcooked angel hair pasta was used instead of linguini. Pasta was too overcooked that the sauce got creamy and tasted like pasta water instead of garlic and clams. Had a good amount of clams though, but the pasta made the entire dish a disappointment. Refund please. Rigatoni Rustica - Good flavor, good amount of beef short rib but pasta was slightly undercooked. Risotto Terre E Mare - Flavor was good, mixing shrimp and chicken is a big no for me. Tagliatelle Con Aragosta - best pasta dish so far! Flavor was perfect, creamy, perfectly cooked tagliatelle. Everything was good! It was a busy night, loud and hard to hear, barely hear music, but got to meet the owners who were very friendly and offered us tiramisu with our take out order. May be best to eat at the restaurant. Do not recommend for takeout. read more

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Exquisite food no matter what you order from the Menu . Their Tuna was the best I ever had done exactly as I requested. Service incredible always making it posible that my husband I were always well taken care of. The Ambience outstanding the music perfect , lovely outdoor patio. Pastries delicious. I hardly can wait to come back highly recommended. read more

I came with a friend for a 6 pm reservation and the restaurant was empty at that time. We ordered , split a dinner and sat and enjoyed our meal. At 715 we got our bill and paid and were sitting for a little longer to finish a conversation and as soon as we paid we were asked to leave our table for a couple who had been waiting "a long time" for that specific table. They offered us to move to one of the many open tables but needed to interrupt our evening immediately and leave our table. . We were there for 75 minutes and were asked to leave our table ... during Covid we had 90 minutes. I don't care that the food was good but I will most likely not return because of this. This is the first time ever that I have been asked to vacate or move for a restaurant to turn over a tab. read more

I just ate there tonight with a friend. It was wonderful. Great cocktails. I had the pork chop-it was amazing! I had a passion fruit martini-also amazing. My friend had the duck-he loved it. Great service, nice atmosphere. On Wednesday, you get a free dessert to share. It was lovely! I would definitely go back! read more

Found this cute spot before we flew out of O'Hare, and we hit the jackpot. We got there early so it was pretty empty, but that was no indication of how great the food and service was. It has a modern and classy aesthetic. We sat in a very comfortable booth with 4. The service was attentive, good came out quickly. We had the burrata app, muscles and a beer salad to start. Amazing- only thing is it isn't to ate season so can't hold that against them. The main course we had the seafood risotto, rigatoni, a mushroom tagliatelle and we thought we ordered a truffle pasta. They brought a different pasta and once we said we wanted the truffle, they said no problem, left the lobster tagliatelle and brought the truffle as well. They did not charge for the extra meal! Each pasta was better than the last. Highly recommend this spot to locals and visitors! read more

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Everything about this place was great! The food was delicious and the service was amazing. We all ended up ordering different dishes and shared them. Proportions are moderately sized and we ended up taking leftovers for the next day. Staff is super kind and ended up bringing out limoncello for us all to try. read more

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We found a real gem!!! The restaurant packed on Monday evening is a very good sign Under the new ownership for 3 years, this neighborhood favorite is shining! We absolutely loved everything: warm and personal greeting by the owner, the cozy atmosphere of the small neighborhood restaurant, the non pushy and warm welcoming service and , of course, the most important the wonderful cuisine. I ordered branzino from the special menu. It was served perfectly prepared with the well balanced sauce and melting in the mouth texture. My husband's veal parmigiana was abundant, carefully seasoned and not heavy in comparison with the other Italian restaurants. The half-priced on Monday bottle of wine of the excellent wine list complemented our great dinner. We finished our culinary experience with delicious gelato. This restaurant is a must if you like Italian cuisine! I highly recommend! Cannot wait to come back to try new dishes! read more

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We heard about Piacere Mio while participating in the recent "No Kings" protest event. Couldn't wait to try it based on the recommendation, so had a couple of weekday dinners (Monday, Thursday) there in recent weeks. We were not disappointed. VIBE: Cheery, homey decor. Monday was not crowded and we got a booth, so noise was not bad. Thursday it was slammed, we were seated at a table in center of room, and it was NOISY. SERVICE: Staff were all cordial & attentive, even as they zoomed around the room on Thursday. Food was delivered promptly. FOOD: Appealing menu with many specials. Food was generally well-prepared. Caesar salad was especially good -- crisp, delicious and uniformly cut. Branzino was also a standout, tender & tasty. Veal with lemon was delicious, though a bit chewy. Beet salad was lovely, but on a black plate it was hard to see. Conchiglie pasta was perfect, but sausage was one-dimensional (no fennel, heavy on the pepper). A special whole small chicken was juicy & delicious. Portions were ample, especially the entrees. There's a nice variety of Italian red wine bottles, but choices by the glass are very limited (six not very intense reds). It's nice to have another very good restaurant in this area. We'll be back for sure -- on a Monday, when it may be less crowded, noisy, and hactic... read more

Top Italian restaurant in the area This place is new as of 2023, in the old Gaetano's location. Highly recommend a reservation as it's not a big space. The tables are packed relatively tightly and the noise level is fairly high. Food was excellent. They bring fresh focaccia bread with a humus dip when you first sit down. They have an excellent wine selection as well. We got the pollo Milanese, veal with lemon caper sauce, tonno carpaccio, and a traditional spaghetti with tomato sauce (plus one bottle of red wine, $140 pre-tip). Each plate was outstanding. The menu has a lot of diversity to it without being endless. Very impressed and will be back asap read more

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Chef Jose and team picked up where Chef Gaetano left off. No drop off in service or quality of food. Consistently delicious. Their beef carpaccio is THE best I've ever had. We usually have to order 1-2 more after we devour the first round. So glad this restaurant is still thriving and maintaining that quality goodness. It's our go-to place when we want to impress friends from outside the OP/RF/FP area. Can't wait to get back soon! read more

Best Italian in the area. Unbeatable service. Phenomenal food. The pasta is made in house and the seafood is fantastic.

Food was amazing, first time eating here and absolutely loved it. Great costumer service from Roberto and the guys. Definitely coming back.

Can't wait to go back! This lovely find was excellent all the way around. The fresh bread was served with a garlicky oil spread, we enjoyed the pork chop special which was juicy, pounded thin, breaded and crisp, served with a arugula salad perfectly balancing the dish. The fusilli pasta dish with sausage in a light tomato cream sauce was also amazing. Our dinner was topped off by homemade tiramisu. Just excellent all the way around. The dining room is on the smaller but comfortable side decorated in black and cream with gold touches. Tables and booths populate the room. read more

Food was 10 out of 10! So glad that we found this place, because I feel like this is my new go-to for AUTHENTIC pasta. It was our first time here and the pastas we ordered were DELISH and SAVORY! I got the Tagliatelle, and figured I'd only get one lobster tail, but boy oh boy, I got TWO! Husband got the Rigatoni and he thought it was very flavorful, and a good ratio of noodles to meat/sauce. Though not listed on the menu, they were able to accommodate a small butter/parm spaghetti for our toddler. We got there before the dinner rush, and they were able to seat us right away. From the photos, we thought we were super under dressed in our athleisure attire, but we got there and did not feel as so. We will be back! read more

Piacere Mio - Tagliatelle con Aragosta - Italian Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

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I want to hear last night and we didn't have a reservation, but we are promptly seated in a booth. The ambience and decor in the restaurant is very modern, chic, and bright. The sweet staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They bring out really good bread and this oil Parmesan dip first starters that was pretty good. They recommended trying the calamari, and I can't recommend it enough. The sauce that is used for the calamari is delectable. I ordered the pasta dish with lobster and shrimp and my date ordered the pasta with beef and cheese. Both are very good and super filling. I would definitely go back and try some thing else. The only thing I would recommend is having more mood lighting and warmth for the dinner hours. read more

Piacere Mio - Italian Near Me - Forest Park, Illinois

Took a look at Yelp for a new place to have Italian. I had not heard of this place so we gave it a go. No problem getting a table as a walk in on Saturday and we ordered cocktails to start that were very good. The place is upscale, but not pretentious. No kid menu, but they were right on it with no problems splitting a pasta dish for them and bringing it out with the appetisers to keep them occupied! The caccio e Pepe was a hit with them - very subtle flavour. Husband had the ginormous pork chop on special and I had clams linguine. I was the only one who didn't like the meal, so I can't mark them down too much. I know the pasta was handmade, but maybe I just don't have the palate for it - it bordered on mushy to me and a ton of it was stuck together in clumps. Beyond that there was no flavor other than garlic. I should have opted for something else. They do have a great wine and after dinner offerings list if that is your thing. I'd definitely try again because that pork chop looked amazing and service was excellent. read more

Great weekend lunch place. All of the food was fresh and tasty. Service was friendly but not overwhelming. It was conversation friendly. Dress code is casual. We were told if you like anything from the dinner menu, they would prepare it for you read more

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Food was amazing. Starting with lobster bisque and the chicken parm. Outstanding. Service was just as wonderful. Warm. Friendly.

I like everything about this place.. their food is fabulous. The service is fantastic. The front portion of the restaurant is really charming. (They also have a back room for parties or overflow on busy nights but it is not as "pretty" as the front). They definitely are in our rotation when considering where to go to dinner. Their Linguini & Clams is the BEST I've ever had besides homemade. Definitely a must try and RETURN!! read more

Delicious food. The LINGUINE AI FRUTTI DI MARE was excellent and loaded w calamari. The CREME BRULEE and PANNA COTTA were both very good. Courteous staff and handled an issue with one order kindly and sincerely. Also recommended a perfect second bottle of wine substitute for the table as they didn't have another of our first. We will definitely be back! read more

Everything was great Tuna carpaccio and steak w/ gorgonzola was perfection Ask for Paco! read more

Preface: best damn Italian food around, including in Chicago. We've patronized Gaetano DiBenedetto's restaurants since the La Piazza days on Circle Avenue. We were beyond sad to see yet another of our favorite establishments fold when "Gaetano's" ceased being a seated restaurant and became a pizza parlor/ boutique grocer. This is not to say his Sicilian pizzas weren't great, they were actually fantastic. But of course it's just not the same as sitting down and eating those handmade pasta classics and plate-licking desserts (we actually witnessed this at La Piazza--a gentleman dining by himself). Soon though, the parlor closed and our Gaetano cuisine life support was unplugged. Or was it? Enter Chef Jose, Gaetano's head chef with years of tenure. He reopened under a new marque but with many of the same dishes as well as newly inspired ones, all with the same soul of old. We're back, baby! The handmade pastas, stellar. The various sauces, from velvety and decadent to savory and spicy. Want more? Chef will make you just about anything you want. Something you loved from La Piazza/ Gaetano's and it's not on the menu? Ask. Cannolicchi al cartocci, anyone? (You remember--the subtly creamy, spicy seafood pasta that came to your table wrapped in foil. Warning: You'll likely have gawkers asking what it is and pledging to get it next visit.) Not feeling spicy? Get the tagliatelle arragosta but ask for it made old style--sweet and sour. Another couple standouts are the fried calamari and the tiramisu. The wife and I are sticklers for a good calamari and so many places do it badly or just mediocre. Chef's? Lightly crisp and almost buttery with the perfect snap. Zucchini and peppers are deep-fried along side and the two sauces complete the marriage. The tiramisu is made as God intended. Gaetano would describe it as sort of an animal cracker that he would use instead of a traditional lady finger. It's so light and airy, yet dense. Makes no sense, but yeah. The mascarpone is fluffy, and nothing overly sweet or disgustingly soaked and sopping wet in espresso. Jose also makes his own cheesecakes in various adventurous flavors, think guava. And it's not just regular cheesecake with flavored syrup topping. It's actually infused into the cheesecake and imparts the corresponding color. I cannot emphasize enough that none of his desserts are overly sweet or even approach that awful status. They're perfect. The ambience is very neutral, nothing like Gaetano's super warm, earthy atmosphere. It is now fifty shades of grey, the way everyone seems to like their kitchens and homes nowadays anyway. It elicits a modern chicness. The mixed drinks are on point and 50% off on Tuesdays at dinner time. The staff is great and very helpful and chances are you'll meet with Chef Jose himself. Enjoy! read more

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We have been to this unassuming restaurant a few times and have found the food, as well as the service to be Excellent!! My favorite is that the food stays hot almost till the end of the meals. Not sure how that is accomplished. but it is rare. LOVE their Lobster Bisque, which actually tastes like lobster with nice chunks of lobster...Delicious!! We dont live far, so we will definitely return over and over again. read more

We had the scallopine Di Vitella Marsala, Excellent, we also had the Gnocchi Di Al Tartufo, and the fettuccine Nero Al Frutti Di Mara, everything incredible. The service and atmosphere was fantastic. Highly recommend Piacere Mio. read more

From the moment I walked into this restaurant everything was excellent. The staff is very personable. The food is absolutely delicious. Have appreciate a scratch kitchen fine dining Italian in Forest Park. this restaurant is on the old Gaetano location and definitely a superb replacement read more

Excellent food and service. Always surprising combinations and delightful cocktails and wine. Servers are well versed in their offerings. Ambiance is intimate and not too loud. read more

Haven't been there since it was the old place. Still looks great. Service was good. no rushing. Zucchini blossoms best I've ever had. Pasta you could tell was fresh just by tasting it. Perfectly cooked, Fusili dish with sausage was amazing. Portions large, Cannot wait to try the chef's tasting menu. read more

If you appreciate authentic Italian food and want to feel like family this is a MUST visit! We can't wait to go back for our next visit, the 45 minute drive is well worth it. read more

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Newer Italian offering with very attentive & friendly service. A solid menu with some Latin influence... in the group, pasta dishes were excellent, veal and seafood very good. Will return! read more

I can not say enough about this restaurant. I would probably eat here every day if I could. They have some amazing lobster, fettuccine alfredo, and, well, I can't say anything isn't good without lying. The service was very quick, and it was a pretty nice environment too. I couldn't say how good this tastes with words. read more

First time dining at Piacere Mío, what an experience!!! Apps, main course and dessert, we couldn't decide which one was better, they were all excellent! Then top it off with great service, we will definitely be back read more

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Amazing food! I was blown away at the food. It is very apparent that this place has a legit chef curating the menu. Phenomenal experience from the service to the food! read more

The food here is very good, but the service is underwhelming and cold. Maybe that's the neighborhood vibe, but dining out needs to be more than just the food! read more

We ordered delivery and everything was incredibly delicious!! Expensive but delicious. $130 dinner for 2 with no alcohol and no dessert!! That is unsustainable. read more

Best Italian food in the western suburbs. Service is too notch- very friendly. We sampled so many dishes and each was perfect. Fun, innovative as well- added blueberries to the truffle risotto. Fig custard for dessert. Can't stop thinking about this meal. read more

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