We have dined in Rockford for the past 36 years. I can unequivocally say that the meal we had at Plume last night was the finest we have had in all those years. The entire experience was pleasurable from the greeting, to the service, and especially the quality of the meal. We eat primarily vegetarian and the options provided us with a hearty meal. Of note were the grilled mushrooms and the Spring Tagliatelle. The beet purée was incredible. Our palates were then totally refreshed with a vegan chocolate-hazelnut gelato. The food is made on the premises from scratch and tastes like the food I enjoyed in Northern Italy. Grazie mille per l'eccellente esperienza culinaria! read more

Sunday Update at the Plume Bar: The creamy undulating gnocchi with bountiful bites of tasty sausage is an exacting rage !! I hope this special doesn't go away soon, cuz I'm dreaming of 2nds for next Sunday or I'll have to kill for the recipe. So yummy I forgot the pic. read more

Plume - Better than Norwegian's ! - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

My wife and I ate at Plume to celebrate our anniversary. What an excellent dining experience. The service was great. The ambiance was spot on. I would say that the food preparation is the most unique in the Rockford area. Our favorite restaurant. read more

I came here with a couple of my friend's to celebrate our birthdays. I saw online that Plume was somewhat newer to the area and wanted to give them a try. It did not disappoint. Our server, Zachary was top notch, attentive, very knowledgeable throughout and did not miss a beat. I made reservations online just in case, in their dining area. Which is upstairs and considered more intimate, or romantic. It was a nice area for a date night or a elcia gathering. The other option for reservations was downstairs in their cellar room. Which I believe is better for a party of 4+. They also have a bar with plenty of seating upstairs! We were given something complimentary of the chef that was good. It had a citrus taste, which some subtle hint of salt from the parmesan chip. The eggplant appetizer was ok, but tasted sour for my liking. I believe I got the Cavatappi? Which the noodles resemblance kind of threw me off, but it was good overall. Drinks were also very tasty. I had their own version of their espresso martini. I would go here just for drinks and a quick shareable meal. It was a much needed night for the 3 of us that have been friend's for over 2 decades. I will be planning to return with hubby. read more

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Rockford Restaurant Week (RRW) 2025 menu review! $35 for three courses, not a bad deal; they also had some cocktail specials. I enjoyed the NA cherry potter drink but their celery gin drink is still the knockout. The first course was a duck and leek manicotti with a super gooey béchamel. It was comforting and familiar flavors-- I just wished there was more texture. The crunchy cheese was great on the very ends! The second course was good, not great. Very basic meat sauce with al dente pasta. It had good flavor but both of us said it seemed very plain. The dessert was the standout. Soft pancakes that had been crisped up and caramelized, served either plum and cheesecake sauces. It needed a little acid but otherwise was an absolutely fantastic dish. We regretted eating so much of the main because we wanted to eat every bite of this dish. Strong contender of best dessert for RRW. Overall very nice meal. I hope this place gets the word out because they're putting out some dishes at the top of the Rockford Food Chain! Still one of our new favorites, just wasn't impressed with the bolognese. read more

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Second time here and even better than the first time! Great food and the seasonal peaches that were used were lovely. Awesome food and vibes! read more

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Home Run. We made a reservation for my wife's birthday at Plume, which is in mid-north Rockford. Parking is available west of the restaurant in a separate lot - don't park at the dentist's office immediately south - the sign says illegal parkers will get an appointment! Yikes! On arrival, we were seated promptly near the northwest corner of the restaurant, and were provided with a paper menu, or we could scan the QR code on the coaster. My wife scanned the QR code and I went for the paper. The drink menu was interesting. My wife ordered Beet Goes On drink, wh6 ich was crafted with beets, and I ordered their 815, which was a bourbon drink. Both were well-made and tasty. You order everything (but dessert) at once, so be ready. For our appetizer, we went with their Tigelle, which was slices of two different meats, parmesan cheese, a nice herb butter, and 6 steaming rounds of bread. Forgive the photo which shows most of this gone - I forgot the camera needs to eat first. There was enough to fill the 6 pieces of bread. For the entrees, my wife ordered their Pumpernickel Cavatelli, which was tender briskit, mushrooms and a sauce which was slightly spicy and very tasty. After some reflection, I ordered their Eickman's Beef Tenderloin, which was served on a bed of sliced potatoes with caramelized onions. It was ordered and served medium rare, and was seasoned perfectly. For dessert, we ordered their Tiramisu, which was a nice slice and we shared it, and my wife ordered their Cherry Potter drink, which included balsamic vinegar. It was tart and tasty. I looked over the wine list - it is unique in that you likely won't find many of the bottles locally. The interior of the place is nicely appointed, with subtle lighting and nice wall details. See the pictures. The only concern was my legs were cold. There was a cold breeze coming in and I couldn't figure out where it was from, but it was cold. We mentioned it to our waiter, and he said he'd mention it to the owner, so maybe it will be cleared up soon? Suggestions: This place is not particularly large (I didn't look at their basement, just judging by the main floor) so I'd recommend reservations. Reservations are via TOCK. The service was excellent, the prices are on par with the quality, and the ambiance is really nice. They are playing recent rock tunes in the background by the way. I would strongly suggest you check this out. read more

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Couldn't give this place enough stars!! One of the Best meals we've had in Rockford in many years!!!! Our waiter, Rick, was extremely friendly and helpful with menu. From the appetizers, to the main entrees to dessert everything was Perfect!!!! So unique and perfectly done! We will be making Plume one of our regular spots for dinner!!! read more

Plume - Lasagna with homemade noodles and bone in pork chop - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

Really enjoyed our evening out. The waitress was so friendly and helpful. It made the night feel very intimate. There were lots of couples for Valentine's Day weekend but she made my friend and I feel just a special. Really like the Hot chicken and eggplant fries. I would recommend both. My friend got vegan pasta gramigna which was also tasty. The homemade pasta noodles are one of the best I've eaten. Finally I had the bartender create for me a mocktail by saying what type of flavors I was craving. That was the best mocktail! read more

Amazing food, wonderful drinks, friendly service. We had a wonderful evening out. Thanks Plume!

Leah has created a gem with Plume. Food is outstanding, service is exceptional and this place should definitely be on go-to list of restaurants in Rockford. read more

Plume - Great assortment of adult beverages. - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

The staff and service were great. We had been on the road for 36 hours and they made us feel at home. The food was amazing. The hot chicken is a must-try! read more

We have visited twice now. We are in town seasonly, so there were a few months between visits but we were thrilled to see the quality is still top notch. Cocktails are creative as is the food. We highly recommend the Suppli, Grilled Cauliflower, Eggplant Fries and Carne Salada. All AMAZING. We will definitely be back whenever we are in town. read more

Great restaurant! Great food, drinks, and a superb staff. We shared Suppli to start during both times we were here. Wonderful! Our dinners during these two visits were Pumpernickel Cavatelli, Lasagna, and Hot Chicken. All were excellent. Looking forward to trying some other interesting entrees. You will NOT be disappointed in drinks. Potent, not watered-down. The 815 is my favorite. Bye Bye Birdie is a great version of the Lemon Drop Martini. Kenzie behind the bar took excellent care of us. The owner/manager, Lia, is genuine and pleasant. Plume is a great addition to the Rockford restaurant scene. Prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get. You won't leave hungry: most leave with take-home leftovers in their hands. Dine here. You won't regret it. read more

Wow! What a great meal we had on Halloween. Having just returned from four Cities Italy and being underwhelmed by the food there, we were delighted to find that Plume located less than a mile from our Rockford Home offers delicious Italian food. We savored every bite! Including the Tiramisu. Zach was an excellent server and truly made the dining experience even more enjoyable. We will return many more times! read more

Plume - Here we are with Zach and Baby Oscar on Halloween! - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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I had the beef and as a person who likes a salty dish, mine was too salty (something I never thought I'd say). My friend ordered the lasagna, and it looked interesting (twist on the presentation- noodles coiled instead of layered), but she reported it was not pleasant. Since the edges were exposed, they were hard and dry - once she cut that part off, she reported it was "okay". There's a dearth of beverage choices- cocktails/alcohol, or pop, essentially. What restaurant doesn't serve tea? 2 of our party ordered chicken dishes - which they felt had generous portions, and decent taste. read more

We had the most delicious dinner and drinks!! The service was very personal with drink and dinner recommendations. We sat outside which was great except for the loud traffic every once in awhile on Auburn St. I have been there in the winter too and love the indoor ambiance read more

Service was very good; food interesting and enjoyed the options..unique. The Lasagna was my only low rating...it was presented in a new way which I liked. The noodles were soft and good. But there was some spice in the meat filling that was very unusual for lasagna...it reminded me of either Old Bay Seasoning or stuffing seasoning...celery seed? Paprika? Did not like the flavor at all. read more

Food was good, nice atmosphere, and great staff! Portions for main courses were good. Could use more options for appetizers and main courses but overall enjoyed everything I tried. read more

My first time at Plume, and my first time in too long for eating Chase's inspired chef wizardry. Daniel was my server; respectful, attentive, calm (amazing disposition for a server), and knowledgeable. I left my beverage selection in the hands of the bartender, describing to Daniel with some feelings and adjectives. Her selections-from the wine to accompany my main course to the four pours in my amaro flight-were knowledgeable and inspired. The ambiance is renovated-ish from previous owners, the artwork remains unspired (may I curate it for you?) but everything was clean, modern, and delightful. My dinner was so delicious. Local eichmans pork chop, apples, fennel puree, fennel fronds, and fennel pollen. My pallet has not been this happy in ... forever. If you are looking for a delicious, local restaurant, this should be your #1 choice. read more

This is the best Italian restaurant in Rockford - period. They do not make mistakes. The pasta is homemade, the dishes inventive, and the cocktails are on point. This is not your typical spaghetti-red type of food. It is elevated in every way. read more

Decided on Plume for dinner last night for our first mommy/daddy date night away from baby. Food did not disappoint. We had the fire roasted sweet potato, lasagne bolognese, and the alpine chicken. The alpine chicken was our favorite dish. The crust on the chicken had a great crunch to it. Our server was also great and recommended great options! read more

Plume - Alpine chicken - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

A lovely quaint restaurant. Service was on point. The food was deliciously different for the area. A refreshingly light menu to leave you satisfied and relaxed. read more

Plume - Veal Alla Alto Adige - Italian Near Me - Rockford, Illinois

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Plume is amazing! What a great find in Rockford. The seasonal salad and arancini are a must-order! read more

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Such a cute spot, so well done! The food, drinks and staff are great. Prices are great for the quality too!

Well to start off the server had a "shadow" that he called his shadow. Ouch. The place was starkly decorated and freezing. Beef tenderloin had a slight sour taste and was not med rare to rare . Totally medium . The Farro had grit in the charred carrots/ chicken. Very disappointing . Maybe the pasta would have been better? read more

Service was great. Food was also impressive. Nice environment. Food is pricey, but worth it. We will go back.

We have dined at Plume multiple times and have never had a bad meal. We dined there last Friday (3/28) and started with the Crab Panzanella, Beet Salad and the Paccheri Pesto. For main courses we ordered the Hot Chicken, the Tenderloin and the Onion Fried Whitefish, all of which were outstanding. Our server Zach was very friendly and was extremely helpful with helping us pick out our courses. Can't wait to go back for another great meal! read more

We were excited to try this place as it appeared to a have a unique Italian menu and we wanted to see what they had done with the old Der Rathskellar restaurant. The restaurant and bar area have been beautifully remodeled and furnished. The outdoor patio has a large seating area with a bar, and partially covered (3 season) area. We sat in the outdoor area on a pleasant evening. The location is near "the" roundabout and unfortunately the traffic noise detracted from the ambiance. The indoor seating area would have been quieter. Our table shared two of the small plate offerings as an appetizer. The Apple Panzanella -was like a salad with apples and yellow raisins and flavorful croutons. The Tigelle - was a charcuterie with Parmigaino Reggiano cheese -a very tasty option. We had Lasagne Bolognese, Pumpernickel Cavaletti and Tagliatelle Alla as our main entrees. The Pumpernickel Cavaletti dish had some cabbage, some tasty and tender smoked brisket and some dense pasta and on an orange colored sauce. There was no flavor of pumpernickel. The Tagliatelle Alla dish was also tasty, but a bit too salty. The servers were personable and attentive. The 4 meals, 2 small plate appetizers, with a round of drinks, averaged about $55 per person. Somewhat pricey but not unexpected. I'm glad we tried the place and wish them well. read more

The restaurant ambiance itself was very calming. It's a smaller indoor area but you don't feel cramped! We weren't on the patio but from what I spotted it was a very nice setup too. The food was amazing, it was definitely a different experience than any other restaurant I've visited in Rockford. The wait staff were very kind and attentive as well without being too over bearing with checking in. Overall a great experience! read more

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Plume has been recommended to me by many Rockfordians. We had a reservation, and were seated promptly. While sitting in the cellar wasn't our preference, it was what we signed up for, and allowed us to be on the same floor as the kitchen. We started with a generous pour of Sauvignon Blanc and a cocktail (bonus points for the name: Cherry Potter). We ordered two appetizers: cured duck salad and grilled mushrooms--both delicious. Knowing that Plume is known for their pasta, we ordered carbonara and a fall vegetable tagliatelle. The hot chicken sounded too yummy to pass up, and it exceeded expectations. The rosemary in the polenta was outstanding. The carbonara noodles were slightly undercooked. Yes, I know what Al dente is. Because everything had been so tasty, we tried their tiramisu, which was 10/10. The food came out quickly, and our server was friendly and attentive. I'm looking forward to my next meal at Plume. read more

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Our experience: The service is supreme. Every single person we encountered was beyond anything we have experienced in a long time. We arrived there on a Friday at 5 and had a reservation. We were seated in the cellar, and it really is an old cellar. I had on high heels and we are in our 70's and those wooden stairs going down were a challenge. We are pretty robust and go to the gym daily but I ain't going to lie, it was a bit much for us. The next group that was seated near us also felt the stairs were too steep and they were least 20 years younger than us. We were seated at a small long table. Due to the length of the table we could not have a conversation. The space was not conducive for any conversation. The table is situated in the walkway by the stairs and it was a busy space, not what I envisioned for my husbands birthday dinner. Why we were put there so early in the evening when the restaurant was not busy was a surprise. If I were the owner I'd get rid of that 2 patron table. It ruined the experience for us. The food was delicious, and if you love northern Italian then you will love the menu. My man had an old fashioned and it was strong and yummy. Tall bottles of water on every table were great. We ordered a small plate called suppli and it was very good. Highly recommend. I wanted to lick the monkey dish the aioli sat in. My man had the lasagna, I had the mushroom carbonara. It was almost perfect except for the pasta. I love al dente but the pasta was not cooked long enough. It was hard and chalky tasting. The carbonara stand alone was outstanding. Will we back? It's out of the way for us and probably not. I will say this; this restaurant has the ability to be excellent. They are so close. Give it a chance. read more

Food and staff were outstanding. It was a beautiful night to sit on the patio. I ordered the steak which was delicious. The potatoes that came with it were outstanding. They reminded me of being in Germany, crispy fried with garlic and onion. We will definitely be back. read more

Visited Plume for the first time this week and will definitely go back. The food and specialty drinks were very good. I had the Lasagna Bolognese which was quite savory. Tried a couple of their offerings from the cocktail menu. The 815 and the Boozy Bonfire were both excellent. Looking forward to the next visit to try some of the other menu and drink options. read more

Every course was more delicious than the last. Really really good food. Extremely attentive, knowledgeable, and socially positive service. Cocktails were great and the ambiance on Friday evening was perfect inside the dining room. Will definitely go again to try the other dishes. Food was truly impeccable. read more

My husband and I loved the food and drinks at Plume. We started with the Crab Panzanella and it was very good. We both ordered the Hot Chicken and absolutely loved it. I do not eat chicken skin because I find it gross but this was so crispy and delicious that I ate all of it. I first had this chef's chicken when he was at Social Urban so I was excited to see it again. During dinner, we drank the 815 and the Cherry Potter - both were excellent. We were too full for dessert but we each tried a different Amaro, which is an after dinner drink. The bartender (I think the co-owner along with the chef) came out and talked to us to find out what we like in a drink. Based on this, she successfully picked out what she thought we would like. The entire experience was great and we will definitely return. read more

Went close to when it first opened. Too noisy, tables too close together, can't understand the menu, waiter was no help because he couldn't understand it either. Prices are crazy expensive. Lasagna was good but not the best I ever had. read more

Plume is Rockford's new Italian fine dining (totally remodeled from the previous Der Rathskeller) in the revitalized North End. Perfect for a special dinner or an outdoor evening Spritzer on the patio. Delicious food, generous portions, helpful servers - we couldn't help drawing comparisons to The Bear. Too expensive for everyday, but perfect for an anniversary dinner or date night. Afterwards, take a walk across the street to burn off the carbs and check out the new shops and galleries from the Norwegian to the GOAT. read more

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Delicious fresh food with great ambience - nice addition to the Rockford area! Will definitely be back!

Just had a most delightful and delicious meal. The lasagne is unique in that it is served in a spiral with a Lucious bolognese. The carbonara was so deeply flavorful with beef cheek bacon. We ordered the tigelle as an appetizer and it fed 4 of us with more than we needed. Little breads with prosciutto, cheese and flavored butter and jam. Our friends had the mushrooms which might have been the best dish of the entire meal. Never had such savory and tender 'shrooms but will be back for this dish. Great service and cocktails. Ended the meal at the bar since the patio is pretty noisy but ended up with the best coffee flavored cocktail the bartender created for me and a slice of tiramisu that sated 4 of us and was hands down the best tiramisu of our lives. Do not hesitate to book a table here. Recommend inside seating if available due to the traffic noise on Auburn but if the patio is the only seat in the house, TAKE it! The best flavors you will find anywhere. read more