Excellent food, great portions and selection, beautifully presented, absolutely delicious. Superb staff. Wine selection is broad and the better value wines are very palatable. Restaurant is very nice inside, large bar with lots of seating, busy place. Prices are not on the low end, this is not a budget restaurant. read more

Amazing experience! We have been coming here for years and wouldn't want to go anywhere else for dinner in the city. Always great service, love the ambience, and the quality of the food is awesome. The butternut squash tortalacci is the best dish hands down. The burrata as an app and Tuscan kale Caesar as a salad are also very good. Scallops were done to perfection. Cocktails are creative and nice wine list. Highly recommend! read more

Siena Tavern - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love the ambiance in Siena Tavern, as well as all the private table nooks for seating. The prices are a little high for what you get in terms of food (quality and portions). The service leaves a lot to be desired. It took entirely too long in between courses to be served food, and too long to start. We ordered a bunch of stuff for sharing, indicated as much, and didn't have anything to eat for ~20 minutes or more. The hearts of palm salad is lackluster at best. It was styled poorly (like a highschool culinary student) and it had absolutely no flavor. The chopped salad was better but still nothing to report home about. ' The meatball was very good as well as the coccio (?) appetizer. The pear and prosciutto pizza was delightful. Carbonara lacked actual ingredients for texture and flavor. It was just as if it came from a vat with sauce on it and some dried parmesan "crouton" was thrown on for garish. Again, the presentation was disappointing. The gnocchi sauce was amazing; I could lick it off the plate, but the gnocchi themselves had a weird texture to them. My boyfriend (a trained chef) and I make homemade gnocchi all the time but these were too much like pillows. Perhaps some people like them that way, but I didn't care for them. Also, the floor is super slick for women in heels. Just a note that you might want to add something to the high traffic areas for traction or I could easily see a lawsuit happening. read more

So, there was a discussion on how many stars each of us would give this restaurant. Two of us said 5, 1 said 4. The four is based on the theory that out of every restaurant in the universe, is this venue a 5? Like perhaps the French Laundry in CA? No, but in it's category, it definitely is a 5. If you want to eat here, you'd better plan ahead...way ahead.This is one happening place...by 5pm on Thursday, the bar is filled and a lot of dining tables are, too. In no time at all, it is standing room only and you have to raise your voice to be heard. The atmosphere is trendy, but not overwhelmingly so. We sat at a high top table near the open oven. At first I was not happy with this, because sometimes at a high top, you have to scramble a bit to sit down(really up) and your feet dangle-so uncomfortable. They have mitigated this by having a foot rail for your feet on the upholstered side of the table, and the chairs have foot rails, too. It was fine. The kitchen is a beehive of activity - not an open kitchen except for the oven, but we could still see the activity through the doorway. Surprisingly,as it was so busy, somehow we did not feel rushed. We had a very pleasant server - just the right mix of attentiveness, humor and information. My husband was seated facing a wall of mirrors. Our daughter remarked that if she was ever at a business meeting, she would take the seat underneath the mirrors, because the mirrors would distract her colleague from the conversation, giving her the advantage. The food, which was what we were there for....my gosh, really good. We tried different items and shared, so we could test the waters, so to speak. There was not one clunker in the bunch. The only thing I would change is that the toasted bread that came with the meatball could have been a little less toasted. Surprisingly, the stand out dish at our table was the lasagna. Our daughter, in all the years I've made lasagna, always turns her nose up and rarely eats it. I think the only time she has ever eaten lasagna in a restaurant was in Italy, where she had to admit, it was tasty. Now, I'm slightly insulted that my lasagna didn't make the grade, but this was seriously good and interestingly flavored lasagna. She dipped into Sienna Tavern's lasagna at least 3 more times...tiny bites bursting with flavor! She said that she didn't know what was in it, but clearly it is something highly addictive. By the way, I read another yelp review which said that the pasta was boxed....I don't know what that person had, but the pappardelle was most definitely not from a box...it is from scratch. Are wide, shallow champagne glasses back in favor?! Because for our Prosecco, that's what they used. I smiled....I am digging out my monogrammed silver wedding toasting goblets that have not seen the light of day for decades, not even for anniversaries. Everything old is new again?! We had a fruit tart, which was delicious - piled high with strawberries, sweet blackberries, raspberries and blueberries - they did not skimp on the fruit....the tart crust itself was admirable, as was the custard....there was also a dollop of gelato? on the plate...very good. What really makes a restaurant 5 star in my opinion, is whether or not I would go back. Yes, in a heartbeat. Siena Tavern has all the bells and whistles it needs.. Go for decor, the youthful, professional energy, to people watch, and last, but really first and most importantly, the food. ps....it also has a very nice, and spotless ladies room. Always appreciated. pps. be careful walking to the ladies room in heels...it was slightly slippery when I was there, but it was raining, so possibly the floor was damp. ppps...Valet parking $12. read more

The osso bucco was probably the best I have ever had. The beat part of the meal, though? Becca, our server. Not only was she friendly, fun, and accommodating, but she knew her stuff! Very knowledgable with great recommendations. And if it's your birthday, get ready to be treated like royalty. The birthday gelato was off the charts ridiculously good. With service like Becca's and food that is awesome, this place will be around for a while! I'd also recommend the brussel sprout salad. read more

WOW! If you ever get a chance to go here....GO!!! The food is excellent! Very Trendy atmosphere. A little loud but it only because the place is full but very comfortable. You're not right on top of each other. For the table we ordered: Ink Linguini, Mussels and Clams, Mellon Salad, Truffle pizza! All were superb. Since the shared food was so awesome we shared bits of our entrees. They were Pork Chop, Ossobuco, Sea Bass, and scallops. Dessert we had Bomboloni with 4 different sauces. Again everything was excellent! We all can't wait to get back here and try the rest of the menu! read more

I have been to Siena five times now. Four for food and one for drinks. Out of the trendy Italian places in Chicago (where I would include RPM, Nico and others) I still think Siena ranks highest. As a good Italian restaurant should be to me, the trick is in the pizzas and pastas. Simply fantastic. The gnocchi, the short rib ravioli and the squid ink linguini are great. I also like almost all the desserts, but not crazy about the donuts as others are. The cocktails are also noteworthy. Good bar. I had a #11 last time (patron silver, grappa, st. germain, chamomile, orange bitters, lime, basil) and loved it! read more

After initially giving a bad review, I've come back to retract my original rating, and changing my 1 star to 5 stars. I came to Siena Tavern a few months ago with one of my girlfriends, and had a bad experience, which I'm sure was attributed to an off night... it happens. I gave a negative review expecting nothing to be done in return, but Siena Tavern went above and beyond to show how much they truly value me as a loyal customer. I came back to give the restaurant another chance, and was blown away by the impeccable service. Every employee from was extremely friendly, personable and professional. The food and wine were outstanding (can we talk about that truffle tasting menu... oh my goodness), and overall we left on such a positive note. As a result, Siena Tavern has become one of my favorites again, and I will absolutely be back. Thank you for such a wonderful experience! read more

The food and service was great, no complaints about that. The manager was worthless though. The table next to us had a dog in a bag sitting at the table with them. I brought it up to the manager and asked him if it was a service dog. He couldn't tell me and didn't seem to talk to the other table or do anything. They even took the dog outside to do its business and came back. Never saw a leash anywhere. Would not recommend this place. Unless you feel like getting sick from a dog avoid this place read more

I tried Siena Tavern during restaurant week 2014.. I loved the food!!! The Kale Caesar was just amazing! We got a bottle of wine, which worked perfect with our meal.. I had the gnocchi as my entree choice - I couldn't finish it but only b'coz I was saving room for the dessert! The gnocchi was perfect, the sauce was very good... We got pistachio gelato and tiramisu cake for dessert!! that gelato was the best I have ever had!.. We had a great time.. read more

Love love love LOVE this place. Their service was impeccable. I am lactose intolerant so I am always hesitant going to Italian restaurants where most pastas are in a cream based sauce. However, I found found a few things on the menu that I could eat and the waitress made sure that there was no dairy in my dish. I would really recommend the risotto with shrimp. It had a lot of flavor and the portion size was perfect for one. It has a great ambiance and I would recommend this as a date place. It is a little pricey but the quality of the food is on point. Also try the donut holes - they are awesome and I would most definitely be back at this restaurant. read more

Fantastic experience with family/child accommodating. I've had wonderful meals previously at Siena on business and decided to bring the family together for our holiday "splurge" meal. Even though they are obviously going for a more adult crowd, I did notice a few family gatherings in place, and our server did not hesitate at all (or give any dirty looks) while tuning a few of the meals to work with the kiddos. EVERY one of the dishes we had was a big hit, from the octopus appetizer (I get it every time, and it is the best I've had, charred perfectly and tender), to the papperdelle (a bit boring compared to the other options, except where it counts, in taste). Finishing it off with the caramel cookies (and sharing some bombolini deserts, incredible). Literally every person at the table was loving their respective dishes, fantastic job. Hope they keep the quality bar high, I plan on making it a regular stop anytime I am back in Chicago read more

Love, love, love of the staff, atmosphere, and the taste of the foods. The four stars is for the combination of all these elements together. Everything was very, very tasty. The reviews for foods this evening are the beef tartare and squid linguini. They were well seasoned with a unique twist on the tartare. The Lunguini was not the best I've had amongst my travels but still very tasty. There is something that feels like home each time I am in #ChiTown. The amazing people, warmth, and hospitality. Tonight for my food review is the incredible warm atmosphere at #SienaTavern with the super attentive bartenders Gabriel and Jose T., their attention to detail and noticed that my squid linguini looked like crap and sent it back before it was served to me, it was amazing to have that type of service!!! Recommendation from the staff this evening was the beef tartare and squid linguini. The beef tartare was well seasoned with and amazing twist of a raw quail egg and a creme crispy finish!!!! The squid linguini was yummy, but not my favorite of all times. Everything was paired with my favorite table wine, Chianti, wrapped up with a shot of expresso finished with a slice of lemonade just like when I visited Naples. I would definitely revisit for the friendly staff and deliciously yet incredible warm atmosphere watching the cooks at work. Gabriel was very intuitive to the needs and attention of his clients and recognized when it was inadequate... He's pretty fantastic!!! I know I'd totally invest in his ventures if he was looking for one. I am still looking for a hit that I feel a personal investment, catering to the PEOPLE not just focusing on the bottomline. read more

Siena Tavern - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The gnocchi and the truffle mushroom pizza are my top choices when dining. The bombolini dessert keeps bringing me back. The cocktails are good. Tough restaurant to get into during dinner hours, but always a great later dinner spot! Highly recommended! read more

What happened to this place? This used to be a reliable classic in the city. The wine list is ridiculous, all the food tastes like a grill, and it feels like club inside. Such a disappointment. Bring back the Siena tavern I love. read more

A group of us from work went here for lunch. We were put in a private room. Our waiter didn't show for quite awhile and when he did he was very laconic and aloof. The room itself was cacophonous and I couldn't hear the person next to me. He eventually came back with some drinks and left again, for another stretch of time. Finally we were able to order. When the food was brought (not by our server) it was cold. He never came to see if our food was satisfactory. I got the Brick Chicken with potatoes and it was so greasy I couldn't finish it. When we were finished, bus staff came in to clean up. We were gestured at to hand our dirty plates over to the staff from across the table to make their job easier. When paying $30 for lunch I think they should clean up after me! By the time we got our dessert menus we had been there for 1 1/2 hours and needed to get back. Service subpar. Food subpar. So disappointed. read more

For vegetarians: tagliatelle pasta is one of the best pastas I've had so far. The chocolate caramel cake and tiramisu is highly recommended. the scallop appetizer and shrimp risotto was off the hook. Service was excellent too read more

Everything here was outstanding. From the decor, to the service, and most importantly the food. The decor was modern and eye-catching. Our server was nice and attentive. But the food was just out-of-this-world. We started with the Coccoli which is a crispy ball of dough with a light fluffy inside and it is served with stracchino cheese, proscuttio, and truffle honey. The combination of the sweet truffle honey, salty proscuttio, creamy cheese, and that crisptastic dough balls. My main course was Squid Ink Linguini with Grilled Lobster Tail and Spicy Lobster Sauce. The al dente pasta goes along beautifally with the heat and creaminess of the lobster sauce. For dessert we had the Monkeybread which just finished the meal off on a boss note. read more

Wonderful restaurant in every way. Love the decor, the food is delicious, the staff are so attentive and knowledgeable. Outside dining is wonderful when the weather is good..don't miss this gem. read more

Had a great meal here tonight and what a great place. Definitely will be coming back with coworkers or by myself again when in town. Started with the shaved brussel sprout salad, light and tasty then went with the Orecchiette. Pasta and sausage were both made in house and you could tell. I was surprised at the crowd on a Tuesday night, bar area very cool and had a good menu. If looking for a good dinner add this to the list. read more

OMG. Delicious. I came here for a business lunch and it did not disappoint. One person in our group had recommended it and knew the menu fairly well. He started ordering "appetizers" and I was like whoa... it's just lunch. I'm going to be full before my main entrée comes out. That didn't stop me from eating them though. ;-) Here's the list for our table of 5: Coccoli Burnt Pepperoni pizza Tucsan Kale Caesar Wagyu Beef Meatball Sandwich x3 Lobster Roll - The coccoli was like warm dough that just melts in your mouth! Wow... and it came with cheese and prosciutto and honey... "Where am I?", I thought. "Heaven?" - I don't even like, like pizza. So why we needed a pizza as an "appetizer" was beyond me but whatever. Nor do I like pepperoni. However, I was able to sample the menu on somebody else's dime so why not!? LOL. The pizza was oily and delicious and the tomato sauce was spicy... like legitimately spicy!!! Yessss, it was a nice touch and I enjoyed it. Quietly, I wanted another slice but I had the will power to stop at one. - My colleague had the kale salad... he enjoyed it. I can't speak on it much other than that. - Three others at the table each ordered the meatball sandwich and devoured it! There was nothing left on their plates so I'm going to make a HUGE assumption and say that they loved it. - I ordered the lobster roll. Our server, Devin, said that it was rated top (or one of the top) lobster rolls in the city. OK buddy... I'll be the judge of that. Full disclosure, I'm not generally a fan of lobster to begin with but lobster rolls are different (to me) and I tend to like them better than just dipping lobster in warm butter. It was good. Full of flavor and tons of lobster squeezing out of the roll. They didn't skimp on the portion... and you know lobster ain't cheap! - Lastly, the fries... man, the fries were so tasty. Each sandwich came with them and they were topped with grated parmesan cheese. The cheese... gosh, I really never thought about grating parmesan on fries before... that's about to be my new thing! Needless to say, I really enjoyed my FULL sized lunch at Siena Tavern. The service was good, the venue was really nice and large. There was outdoor seating as well as large booths (where we sat), a large bar area and high top tables... the seating options were robust. I will be back again for sure. read more

This has been a favorite restaurant in Chicago for the last 4 years for my daughter and I. Food and service has been great. Until last night. I was pick pocketed by the gentleman to the right of me. I brought it to the attention of the manager, Josh, and security who reviewed surveillance footage, then inconspicuously alerted the two perpetrators to leave as to avoid a scene in their restaurant. Note, I sat in the pizza bar with a view of the bar. I should've called the police immediately, instead relied on the morality of Siena Tavern. Josh then came over to me after the perpetrators left to take my name and number and patronize me, the victim. Should you dine in the bar, do NOT hang your coats on the back of your chair, or any other personal item for that matter. And, do NOT rely on the GM/employees for the ethical response one would expect from an establishment as such. read more

super nice layout and great looking place with three distinct areas to hang out in. The waitstaff was great and the fries were very good but the pizza was kinda of boring and bland. It looked great and was fine after a little tabasco and I really enjoyed the meatball. Again very cool place read more

Came to Siena Tavern on a Tuesday night for dinner and drinks and I'm so glad we did! The place was packed for a Tuesday night. The drinks were very tasty and every dish we got for dinner was delicious! We went with the Meatball appetizer and then the Pepperoni pizza and Short Rib ravioli for our entrees. I will definitely be returning. Our waiter was very helpful and the service was awesome! read more

We enjoyed a great family dinner here after seeing Phantom of the Opera. The food was great. We enjoyed the lamp chops, brick chicken, gnocchi, and crab ravioli. We had good service, could have used more water at times. We would recommend this place for a great experience. read more

I enjoyed my food at Siena Tavern, (the Lamb Orecchiette, the cheese bar with the polenta bread - btw...who knew that people baked bread with polenta in it?) but the thing that really rocked my world was the desserts! I would go there for the desserts alone. The pastry chef is incredibly talented, and honestly could have her own restaurant. The desserts here rival Hot Chocolate and any other dessert restaurant that I have been to. The homemade gelato would give Black Dog Gelato a run for their money. I had a Strawberry Basil Balsamic gelato that was out. of. this. world. I had a fruit tart that had a mascarpone cheese gelato...ridiculous! The tiramisu...fabulous. Do not skip dessert when you go to Siena Tavern! read more

Being a big Chef Fabio fan from Top Chef I had to go there. All i have to say is try anything or everything. Enjoy. Seriously, i like EVERYTHING I HAD. But definitely try the coccoli anitpasti and the burrata from the mozzarella bar... after that have at it and try any of the pastas, pizzas. I've been there twice and had different things each time... stressing again... all good. They have some nice cocktails too, try the #2 or #8. Decor is very trendy modern chic, but it's casual dress which is nice. read more

Came here for brunch with a friend over the weekend. Everything was fantastic! We started off with the coccoli which is a must at any table. The combination of the puff with truffle honey, cheese, and prosciutto was absolutely wonderful! We shared the eggs benedict and squid ink linguini. I loved both of them! The benedict was drenched in a very tasty pesto hollandaise which added an enhanced flavor of the traditional hollandaise sauce. The linguini pasta was simply delicious with a kick of spice in it as well as succulent morsels of lobster. Return visits to this restaurant will definitely happen and am looking forward to trying out their other menu items! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in the city! Every time I'm here I want to make a meal of the coccoli. Only downside is how extremely busy it gets. Hostesses aren't the most helpful with a bizarre wait system where they won't quote you times for a table. The weekends are insane, good for them, but I prefer to avoid the overwhelming atmosphere by coming on a weekday, which you may still need reservations for. Please try the coccoli, it will melt in your mouth! read more

First time there last Saturday based on a solid referral. Arrived for our reservation at 3:00 to have a late lunch with friends. 86 the lunch menu; no lunch served after 3. Huh? We'd already ordered a drink and were considering our immediate next stop when we told the waiter to bring us our check....it was too early for dinner. Then along comes Kirsten, the manager. She was sad to see us go and comp'd the cocktails to assure us that she wanted us to come back. So, my review is this: a very nice room, prompt and attentive servers and a customer driven manager. Oh, and the food that we saw coming out to other tables looked awesome! Yep, we'll be back Kirsten - THANKS! read more

I was pleasantly surprised that my daughter and I had a table outdoors on a Saturday night! We both had pasta dishes hers was in a jar which was shaken and served in a warm pasta bowl. Mine was beef Bolognaise and large egg noodles! This was our favorite night out together as I was taking her to college for the first time!!! read more

This place is very good. We were a party of 4 and we went in at 5pm on a Saturday with no reservation. The bar area and the high-tops were pretty empty and we got a great table right away! By 5:30 the whole bar area was full and all the high-tops were occupied. If you don't have a reservation I highly recommend you go in for an early dinner. The Kobe meatball appetizer, the gnocchi, and the tiramisu were all extremely tasty! I would order them all again. The service was good as well. I would eat here again :) read more

It was good. The food was solid but I'm struggling to remember what our group even ordered it was so not memorable. The pizza was tasty, the lobster pasta was good but really rich, the ravioli was also really rich. I guess I'm tired of chefs hiding behind fat in place of developing flavor. Pacing for our courses was really poorly executed but we were sitting outside on a nice night so it wasn't the worst thing. I had a gin cocktail that was quite tasty. I might go back and just do a cocktail and the mozzarella bar next time. read more

I was reading some of the negative reviews this place got, and I have to say, our experience was great! Someone had posted that they could not get a reservation here for a month. However, we were able to get a reservation just one day prior. When we arrived we were seated right away and not in some far off place at the smallest table, but at a table large enough for four people. Our waitress came quickly, and was very friendly and helpful. We started with the coccoli, basically puff pastry balls with prosciutto wrapped stracchino cheese. Delicious and it was so fine, that it all melted in my mouth! I had the short-rib ravioli, nothing short of mouth watering. The ravioli was great and the beef sauce was even better. It was so good I asked the waitress for some bread just to soak up the excess sauce. She said that they did not have bread baskets, but she did offer some toast on the house. The lady had the brick chicken with the sticky parmesan potatoes. Also extremely good. The chicken was juicy, crispy and cooked just right! The potatoes were also tasty. During dinner were trying to find a place for dessert, and at the end of the dinner, just to see what was available we asked for the desert menu, and we were glad we did. We ended up splitting the Bamboloni. It ended up being Beignet, four of them, with four different infusing sauces, whiskey-carmel, chocolate hazelnut, raspberry Chianti, vanilla cream. My two favorites were the chocolate hazelnut and the raspberry Chianti. Her's were the whiskey caramel. At no time were we rushed, hurried or have anyone clear our table without asking first. The food, all the food was great and we did not have to wait more than 20-25min to receive our main course after we had finished with the app. This place rocks, and we are eager to come back! read more

Had a great experience here. Waited a little bit even though we had a reservation, but got a seat at the bar and ordered the No. 4. It was delicious. I didn't think it was too sweet and the rosemary added a great fall feeling. Everything about our meal was good. We started with the Kale cesar salad to split. I would suggest that FOR SURE. Our meals were also good, you can't go wrong with any of the handmade pastas. They are cooked to perfection! It's a little loud, but overall a good experience. I would recommend for an upbeat night. If you are looking for something more romantic and quiet go to RPM. read more

Like the majority of Chicago residents, I'm obsessed with Siena Tavern. It's one of the few places that is as great for brunch as it is for dinner. My favorites are the gnocchi and the burnt pepperoni pizza. I would suggest the #11 cocktail for drinks (AMAZING.) Make reservations early Bc it fills up before you know it! read more

A friend told me about this place and I was a bit skeptical as I was looking for a river view location. However the food blew me away!!! The seafood salad was to die for and their pizza and cocktails fabulous. Next time I'm in Chicago I'm going back. Can o have the recipe for that salad please?! read more

Very attentive service. Kind of a loud business focused upscale restaurant. Gluttonous portions. Large comfortable booths. Would go back. read more

This place was incredible!! The ambience is trendy yet cozy....service was phenomenal and the food was outstanding! We had a group of 6 and ordered nearly every pasta on the menu... The squid ink linguini and gnocchi were clear winners but everything was fantastic! read more

(Breakfast) 1st off service was polite, curtsey. Atmosphere was beyond beautiful, very urban decor nice and unique style... NOW.. FOOD WAS INCREDIBLE, down to the drinks and the desert! Ordered a mimosa with fruit, French toast slices, and a spinach skillet, my bf ordered the monkey bread with glazed caramel and the Artichoke omelette! All was delicious, very organize presentation was everything. I give this restaurant 5* overall food was great parking was decent desert was excellent!!!!! read more