Food: 5/5. Ambiance: 5/5. Service: 5/5. Sal's Trattoria is hands down my favorite Italian spot in Chicago. It's cozy, the service is always on point, and the food never misses. I go almost every month and it's consistently amazing. I always get the burrata - best I've had anywhere, no contest. The meatballs are spot on, the pasta is exactly what you want every time, and portions are super satisfying. My favorite pasta dish is the bucatini fra diavolo - a spicy squid ink bucatini with shrimp. If you're into dessert cocktails, don't skip the espresso martini - it's top tier. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Fra Diavolo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Sal's remains one of my all time favorite dinning places. The food is wonderful, there isn't a bad dish on the menu. I treated my girlfriend and her mother to dinner last night. And mom's response was, "We always have to come here when I visit!" The service is always spot on, inviting and welcoming." And Chef Kody deserves a James Beaed award. Sal's is the best there is, hands down. read more

Sal Trattoria is the kind of neighborhood gem you almost want to keep secret, but the food is too good not to rave about. The warm and cozy atmosphere sets the stage for a meal that feels both comforting and elevated. The standout of the night was without question the pork chop. It was unbelievably moist, perfectly cooked with a juicy center and a beautiful sear on the outside. Every bite had that melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that is surprisingly hard to find in a pork chop. Whatever magic they are doing in the kitchen, it works. Service was friendly and attentive without being overbearing, and the rest of the menu delivered solid flavors as well. The squid ink pasta wasn't one of the best we had. However, the gelato was unreal. Crazy good & my daughter loved it. Overall, Sal Trattoria delivers a memorable dining experience. Highly recommend, for a special date night or celebration. read more

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The food is incredible and I love the rotating seasonal menus. Sadly this fall they don't seem to have the butternut squash ravioli which is a classic and a favorite. They did have a duck and foie gras meatball tagliatelle. The meatballs were really creative, unique, rich but not heavy, and an excellent flavor. It did feel like the pasta needed a bit more sauce. I'll also miss this summer's Paccheri which had an incredible sauce to it and delicious sausage. Of course, every time we have to get the burrata - the pesto and onion jam that come with the burrata and bread are the perfect way to start any meal. read more

I ordered carryout from Sal's Trattoria and it was tasty, high quality Italian food. The restaurant is very clean, cozy, and more on the upscaled side. It's perfect for date night or even a girl's night out. I definitely love the atmosphere and the ambience. I ordered the Rigatoni, Caesar Salad, and Chicken Parmesan for carryout. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and packed well. The rigatoni was perfectly cooked with flavorful sauce that tasted homemade. The chicken Parm was tender and crispy on the outside. It was topped with just the right amount of melted cheese and sauce. The Caesar salad was crisp with fresh ingredients. Everything tasted good. Overall, I would dine in or order carry out again. My experience was good. Even though I didn't dine in, the restaurant itself is very nice and upscale and the food is good. read more

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I'm a big fan of an old school cozy, classic Italian restaurant and Sal's might be my new favorite in the city! The atmosphere here is very neighborly but also feels a little special and elevated too in the right balance. We were able to make a reservation for a big group of 14 on a Wednesday night just a week in advance and the staff were so accommodating and nice! We even brought a cake to celebrate our friend's engagement and they cut it and served it for us for $5. For the food, the burrata was out of this world. The bread and flavors with it were simply perfect and I'm still thinking about it. Also loved the winter salad and brussels sprouts! I got the trottole pasta which had truffle, butternut squash, mushrooms, and goat cheese (all of my favorite things) and I loved it! The menu had a nice variety of classics and elevated dishes that I definitely want to go back and try more. Highly recommend sals! read more

Sal's Trattoria - Trottole - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Really cute neighborhood old style Italian place with some fun twists on classic dishes. Only disappointment was that our wine was served in juice glasses and we could not figure out why since other tables had wine glasses. We started with the Caesar salad which was pretty yummy. First time in a while that I saw actual anchovies on the salad. Decent portion size. The braised rabbit gnocchi, which I was hesitant about since I don't think I've ever had rabbit, was absolutely incredible. The flavor of the sauce, the texture of the gnocchi and the meat, the mushrooms, everything. Compared to that, the gemelli was just fine. The boar ragu was ground meat, not shredded, and didn't hold much flavor. The chocolate terrine dessert was also incredible. The chocolate was melt in your mouth soft and the perfect sweetness. The mascarpone and raspberry glaze paired perfectly with it. read more

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Lovely interior space and ambiance. The dishes are relatively generous and comforting yet exciting! The bolognese and home made gelato are fantastic. Service was good and attentive. read more

Sal's is the cutest neighborhood spot with amazing ambiance. Authentic food that makes it feel like you were transported to Tuscany. We came for my birthday in April and our server Francisco was AMAZING! He brought us fresh homemade limoncello for desert and it was wonderful. I highly recommend the squid ink pasta. read more

The salmon tar tar is to die for. Food was delicious. I would have enjoyed it more if we were not eating outside freezing in 50 degree weather. They had no interior seats left but it still worked out. Can't wait to go back with my husband. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Salomn tar tar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

**4.5 Stars** Well, it's time for my yearly lament of "why don't we go to Sal's more often." As I've stated in previous reviews, the food is great, fresh, handmade pasta served in generous portions with great execution. Everything seasoned and cooked to perfection. Far better than most of the restaurants you're paying more at downtown. This most recent visit stood far above the rest, from the excellent service and suggestions of our server Sunshine, to the kindness and warmth of the host and busboys, and of course through to the food. The burrata remains a standout, as do the pasta dishes and cocktails. I must say, the crab and hen of the wood pasta special was spectacular, and should somehow find a way onto the regular menu. It's the kind of dish you'll crave and want to come back for. If Tutto Fresco is reliably good, homestyle Italian food with some of the best service and prices in Chicago, then Sal's is the grown up cousin who got a little more creative and a little more expensive, but deserves a spot in the conversation alongside the "stars" that tend to get more press. I really don't think I'll ever have to write another "why haven't I been here in so long" review because, quite frankly, I can't wait to go back! read more

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Amazing food, great service, and quaint. The warm ambiance and white tablecloths make the restaurant extremely inviting. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Orecchiette - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We came here with a friend for our birthday dinner. Cute space, felt like a real neighborhood place. We were seated right away, and water service was great. Our waiter was very nice, but could have been a bit more attentive. We had to fill our wine glasses ourselves (not a problem, and granted, we might have been drinking a bit more quickly than most people). Pasta was ok, my friend and I both had the Alfredo, which didn't have much flavor, I wouldn't get it again. My husband had a ragu dish, which had more flavor. Overall a cute space with neighbor vibes (families with kids). read more

Amazing service and the food never disappoint. They also have alternatives for food allergies making it easy to enjoy

Love this place. Love the folks, Erin and Jack at the bar who paid for my lobster pasta. Loved mario the bartender, who was faster on drinks than ... cabt think of an analogy.. great FOOOOOR.. nice nieithborhood lovation. Beautifuo on the inside n out. Unfortunately ICE raided the dining room and i spilled all the pasta carbonara over my shirts n pants.. i resisted so now im having dinner in El salvador.. REALLY HIGH CEILINGS n i thought man i though mario had mean tattoos. Jjokin. I dont think he has any. And it was an ICE FREE DINNER, except for the great cocktails. read more

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I knew I wanted to get dinner at Sal's one last time before I moved out of state; I spent the entire day packing/moving, and needed to decompress (and was craving their fra diavolo). Even though i came in at 9:15pm, and the team was wrapping up service, my server and the whole staff were incredibly welcoming. They insisted i take my time, and i just so appreciated their hospitality at the end of a very long day. My server (I'm so sorry that i don't remember your name!) even surprised me with a tiramisu when I told him about my day and how happy I was to be dining with them one final time. the fra diavolo, meatball, and wine were excellent, as always. Thank you Sal's for continuing a disappearing tradition of warmth and hospitality in the industry! read more

Really nice Italian place. It's very homey but oh my lord it was so hot in there. Despite having some fans and the doors open, do they have air? It was 90° outside so it wasn't the most comfortable. But our food and service totally made up for it. We had such a great, attentive server who was always checking in on us. We ordered some apps -- the watermelon feta salad was refreshing and delicious. For dinner I ordered the spaghetti with fried zucchini and they added some chili to it so it was spicy! Overall - they don't have a ton of vegetarian options but what they did have was good! read more

Sal's Trattoria - Spaghetti is it's fried zucchini and an aperol spritz - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Good neighborhood spot, you definitely need a reservation to get a table since it's a pretty small place. Food was good, I got the carbonara and was please with my decision. I've been here one other time and the wine came in a cup not a wine glass, which I found odd. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Fettucini Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

AMAZING! The food, service, and design were all lovely. We had the muscles and sausage (highly recommend) the sauce was delicious, flavorful, and complex. The tagliatelle and eggplant Parmesan also were delicious. The restaurant is very sophisticated, well decorated, and seems like the perfect date spot or celebratory meal at a fair price point. A hidden gem in the neighborhood! We will be back. read more

Very flavorful and lots of garlic. Generous amounts of shrimp in the Fra Diavolo. Brussels Sprouts were good, but would've been better with some char. Reasonably priced for the quality, portion, and flavors. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Brussel Sprouts, Fra Diavolo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love coming to sals! It's a great atmosphere and very small and cozy inside. I always love every course I get and am never disappointed.

Service was rly good! Our waiter was very kind and attentive Ambiance was intimate and romantic. Great date spot! Definitely make a reso. Food was DELICIOUS. I got the bucatini and it was spicy and full of flavor. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Last night we had the most enjoyable dinner at Sal's. Joe was a very good waiter and made the best recommendations. My most favorite thing was the Cheesecake. I'm telling you it was probably the best one I have ever had, and I have had a lot. It has lemon zest, with chantilly cream and short bread crust. Fluffy and not too dense, not too lemony but absolute perfection! If you love cheesecake you MUST try it. We will definitely dine there again. read more

Sal's is a neighborhood staple and our first time here! Such a great experience & the food was amazing. Our server Francisco L. was incredible and took fabulous care of us. We will be back! read more

Food and atmosphere at this neighborhood gem are fantastic. Been here four times over the past three months. Their fish is always excellent. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. Every time we visit Chicago we have dinner at Sal's. Highly recommend! Great food, awesome service. Super ambiance vibes. read more

A quaint, cozy restaurant that serves delicious food in a friendly atmosphere. The service was fantastic, the wait staff was very attentive, personable and helpful with menu suggestions. I highly recommended the mussels, the sauce was out of this world. The Gnocchi were like pillows stuffed with light, creamy cheese. Chef Cody has a gift for pairing flavors together and is truly a talented chef. I will definitely be back! read more

The food was good and service fine and ambiance was cute little Italian restaurant vibe. They also accommodated my guest with a dessert with candle for his 80th birthday dinner. read more

Visited Sal's for my birthday. We made a reservation before hand and were seated fast. The space is small but cozy. We had trouble deciding what to get and the waitress was very helpful. For food, we got the mussels, which were our favorite part of the dinner. They sausage really complemented the mussels without over powering it. Then we got an order of lemon risotto with sausage as the topping. It was really good! Then we added a side of Brussels sprouts which were tasty! Overall, it was a great filling dinner with nice staff. read more

Sal's Trattoria - Mussels - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The service and ambience were great, but the food not so much. The Lamache was quite terrible, we had a hard time believing a chef tasted that dish and thought it should be served. The bigoli was ok. The octopus was good, great texture (though the yogurt relish was a bit much and felt like an unnecessary degradation of the dish). Overall it's among the worst Italian food I have experienced but to end on a good note...the pasta noodles were Al dente! read more

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Wow, I was wonderfully surprised. My parents made the reservation, and I was prepared for a very average experience. I had passed this place for years. It looked nice, but I never stopped in. Boy, I was wrong for not coming in sooner. The food was incredible, the portions generous, and the prices reasonable. Really, what else do you want? The dishes are really good for sharing. The Grilled Octopus was very tasty and not rubbery like some other places. The Mussels were great for sharing, and so delicious. The sauce they are in a great for dipping bread they serve with the dish (ask for extra bread because you will not want the sauce to go to waste). The 2 pasta dishes we had were very good. I do very much want to try more of the menu. Not sure if we got lucky with our choice or if you can't go wrong. The service was also excellent. I am going to guess much of the staff has been there for a very long time. I suspect the staff is treated well by the owners, and that translates to veteran staff that is professional and knowledgeable. The venue is nice. Very traditional, nothing too fancy but well kept and very clean. There are lots of tables outside for nice nights. Will DEFINITELY be back to try more of the menu and bring some friends along. read more

Really cute place. The service was excellent and the food decent. The boar ragu gemili was tasty. The trout over artichokes was cooked perfectly. The gnochi was very pillowy and filling. Cant go wrong with the tiramisu but the chocolate flourless cake dessert thimgie was amazing! read more

Exquisite food great ambience for sure a date night gggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg

The food was delicious and the service was excellent!. We sat outside and a rainbow showed up! It was gorgeous!!

I've had several delicious dinners at Sals and love having this place so close to my local bar. The menu changes fairly regularly, but the rainbow trout has been on the menu for quite a while and is really fantastic. Their cocktails are also solid (I'm a big fan of the Sofia) and generous pours. It gets busy but every time I've gone, we've been able to get spots at the bar for 2 or 3 and have dinner there. My favorite dish was a seasonal antipasti with shrimp and polenta, I hope that comes back some time! read more

Very good neighborhood spot. We sat outside. The octopus appetizer was great and we enjoyed the pasta

Love this location in the neighborhood. Excellent staff and service. The food is very good and prepared perfect for Italian love. Would love to see more organic options. 4/5 for sustainability for plastic take home but everything was good! read more

Sal's Trattoria - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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TL;DR: Good food, great patio Straight to the point: Good dishes with some fun specials. The bread is complimentary and very yummy. The outside patio is right next to the street, but it is not too busy - I suggest to sit outside. The sodas have free refills. My tip: get a reservation, so you don't have to wait as this is a go-to fav from the neighbors read more

Perfect in every way! The service. The food. The cocktails. The ambiance. I would recommend and come back again and again.

I've eaten at this charming little Italian restaurant multiple times now. Overall, it's very good. The ambiance inside is very nice and elegant, although it tends to get really loud in there. You can also enjoy the outdoor patio during the warmer months. Service is usually good, although it was a miss on my last visit, which was on a Friday evening. The place was super busy and I could tell they were understaffed, but it took over half an hour after being seated for someone to take our drink order, which was not cool. Service continued to be slow for the first half of our visit, then got much better, and the server we had was very nice. The food here is always very good. Last time I started off with a cocktail, the name of which escapes me, but it was great. My friend and I shared the burrata appetizer and I had the rigatoni bolognese as my entree, which I had had before and is always quite good. The wine list is extensive and we enjoyed the bottle we had with dinner. Overall, despite the recent service issues, I really like this place and look forward to going back again soon. read more