Meh. We visited on a Saturday night with a large party. They were not too busy and able to accommodate our group. Although the service was good and the drinks superb, the food was mediocre at best. We tried a variety of the dishes and found them wanting. read more

This place is amazing. I'm Italian, and I can really vouch for the authenticity of the food served here. Staff (Federica) was AWESOME. Mushroom ravioli and fried mozzarella were my favorite. Dessert is also very good (especially the ricotta cheese cake). Finally, they have a great wine list. For the quality of food, impeccable service, and cozy atmosphere, the price is very reasonable. Best Italian food in town. read more

Sofi is a little neighborhood spot that delivers big! The service is amazing, they make us feel like celebrities. The food is always cooked perfectly. We live nearby and bring friends and family, everyone loves it. read more

The good news is that Sofi has improved immensely since their opening when it was a little rocky. There were four of us, and all our dishes were good or excellent. The two salads were pronounced "excellent" - one the greens with parmesan and the other a beautiful beet salad - only quibble here was that the endive was a bit brown around the edges. My lobster bisque was nice, not too heavy and with a fair amount on lobster bits, a companion had the lentil soup which also got a thumbs up. The entrees were a mixed bag, the risotto nero was found to be over salted, but the tripe was a big hit. Two of us had the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. The sauce for delicious, but the pasta was overcooked, resulting in a gooey mass - tasty, but gooey. It tasted homemade, and that particular pasta cooks in what seems like seconds, requiring a deft hand. Someone missed the boat. Desserts, a ricotta cheesecake and the Panna Cotta both had good flavor and were attractively presented. The Panna Cotta had a fair amount too much gelatin, when done right it should quiver and offer no resistance, this one was half way to jello. But, all in all we left happy and full. They lost a star for the service. Maybe it was an off night since others brag about it, but we found our waiter to be aloof and unattentive. Long gaps in the service, and never came around to ask if we were enjoying our meals. We went through our bottle of wine during the first courses and were thinking of ordering a second and probably would have if anyone had noticed and come by to ask, but no one did and so we just let it go - they lost the sale of a bottle of wine. Bottom line? A good option in an area without many such places, and this has a good shot at being a neighborhood joint. The menu is huge, and based on our experience of a few small issues with our dishes, perhaps too big, and fewer options might allow greater attention to everything served. read more

The sea bass with articulate was wonderful! Waiter was helpful in suggesting menu items. . Quaint and relaxing!

Wonderful atmosphere, wait staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. Huge menu, everything was so delicious. Definitely plan on going back - it was a great treat. read more

This place is an amazing find for any resident or non resident in the Chicago area. I came to Chicago to run the marathon and of course, I had to carbo load the night before. I found Sofi on yelp and surprisingly was able to get a reservation for 7 PM. Upon walking up you'll notice both indoor and outdoor seating are available. You'll also notice that the manager is speaking Italian, this to me told me I made the right call. The restaurant has an extensive wine list and true Italian cuisines. My girlfriend has a gluten allergy and they were able to accommodate her with gluten free penne on any dish of her choosing. I got the Paccheri Focaccia w/double smoked bacon/sage/garlic/ and creamy touch of tomatoes. The pasta is whole made and some of the best I've ever had. After a great meal I awoke the next day feeling fully loaded and ready to run. Thats Amore! read more

I ordered the Coste Brasate which was so tender and delicious, paired with a good glass of red Italian wine you won't be disappointed. The wait staff are all very helpful and friendly. Very good experience and will definitely be back for more! read more

Wasn't sure what to expect by the mixed-bag of reviews here. Our experience was a positive one. The service was really on-point -the gentleman that helped us was friendly, communicative, and helpful in making recommendations and answering our questions. Our food arrived promptly and was quite good all-around. The pasta-only dishes are simple, one person had a beef dish which was accompanied by artichoke hearts. There was enough of everything to share around. Dessert and wine was good too. read more

What a wonderful Restaurant! We were Visiting Chicago and we decided to try out Sofi Restaurant for the first Time. From Entry to Exit everything was better than expected! From the ambience of food, the great service,room decor and sincere friendliness. I felt at home,I felt I'd met a friend each person there,like be back in Italy. Also I have to say thanks to Christian our fantastic Server that did a great job, he let us order everything from the appetizer to the dessert without the need of the menu,we had him take care of everything and he made our night perfect. Love it, Thank you Sofi Restaurant!! read more

I think my pasta was sitting under a heat lamp-rather dry and unimpressive. Usually love leftovers but this was tasteless. Our waiter was cold and unfriendly. We were charged a corkage fee for an extra bottle of wine we did not have. Description of restaurant should definitely have $$$ not $$. Would not recommend. read more

Very nice place with great fresh food. Quiet, small but a real gem. Staff was very friendly.

I went for the 1st time on 1/30/16 with my sister, her husband and my date. The owner or manager of the restaurant made the evening GREAT. We arrived on time for our 7pm reservation. Due to the restaurant being super packed, the owner/manager offered us a free glass of champagne while he put a great table together for us. I enjoyed the tuna for an appetizer, & short ribs of beef in pasta. They were out of my dessert so they offered me a free shot. Sometimes things happen to amazing restaurants, but its how you treat your customers that will make them come back. We will definitely come back and refer Sofi's to all our friends. GREAT JOB SOFI's!! Food is as AMAZING as the service!!!! read more

Good food and extensive wine list. Was a party of 5 on a Saturday night with a reservation. We were told we had to eat in an hour as they needed our table. Unfortunate that the entrees took 25 min to get to us after ordering. Not great service. They did buy us dessert in the bar. We sat in the bar for 15 minutes before waiter came back to us for dessert order. Maybe they were overwhelmed read more

Been to this place several times now, food is always excellent! Reasonably priced and the service is very friendly. The owner is always there and very hands on. Highly recommended and greatly appreciated new south loop spot. read more

We did not have a reservation for an early (6:15) Saturday night dinner. Fortunately there was room at the bar. The menu had a variety of choices and there was a list of special items. The food was excellent. Started with the grilled scallops (yummy!) and had the lamb chops, finishing with a tiramisu dessert. All were well prepared and tasty, Service was friendly and attentive. The high ratings are deserved. read more

Disappointed. Saturday night in Chicago. Wanted Italian. Picked Sofis based on reviews and posted hours (open until 11:00pm). Walked a mile and arrived at 10:10 pm but they would not sit us. They told us they usually open later but that business was slow so they were closing early. Even tough there were people in restaurant, they made no effort to keep us. Weak! Will not bother going back! read more

Just left an excellent meal at this charming family owned restaurant. The outdoor space is lovely, waitstaff offered wonderful suggestions. Highly recommend the papparadelle with duck ragu. Met the owner who was lovely. We will return! read more

Spot on experience. From the moment we walked in, pure Italian mood and then, food. Service was outstanding, food was tasty but not over-done. Carpaccio was beyond perfect. Our former go-to Italian spots were Macello in the West Loop and Francesca's in Little Italy - this place outshines them both. Definite must try. read more

We had a fantastic dinner here on Monday, just days after the restaurant opened. I agree with the previous review. The food was absolutely outstanding, fresh ingredients, perfectly flavored, beautifully plated. The menu was so varied and appealing that we had trouble deciding. We shared a radicchio and hearts-of-palm salad that was deceptive in its simplicity because it delivered huge flavor. I was sorry I shared because I could have eaten it all. We also shared a standout order of orrechiete with sausage and broccoli Raab. Pasta perfectly al dente, perfectly flavored. Olive oils appropriate to each recipe. Great bread! Then one of us had pounded, breaded veal cutlet with arugula and chopped tomatoes. It was really good: fresh, crisp and well presented. It could have used a little salt. My lamb chops were so delicious and flavorful that I am still thinking about them days later. There is an obvious commitment to a very high standard of service and food quality. We're hopeful the food continues at this level! Our only suggestion echoes the previous reviewer: we need some atmosphere. Candles or votives, tablecloths, something more to warm up the room. On the other hand, if the food stays this good, nobody will care! Five stars but for the atmosphere. If you like great food, go anyway!! read more

I have no idea how they have a 4.5 rating. They must be paying people to write reviews. We held my Birthday dinner here last night and what a mistake that was. From the moment we sat down the service was terrible. My sisters champagne was flat. I asked 3 times for a lemon for my vodka drink and finally got up and got it myself from the bar. Our waiter was a middle aged man with an accent who didn't have a polite bone in his body. He seemed annoyed anytime we asked for anything. The waiter described the dishes completely incorrectly. He told us the sauce with the linguini and prawns was a cream sauce as think as Alfredo. When the dish arrived it was more like a butter white wine sauce. The food was awful. The prawns tasted like they were microwaved and very rubbery in addition to being extremely fishy and I was actually concerned to eat more than my first bite due to getting sick. The gnocchi was mushy as if it had been sitting in a pot of water over night. This is the only time in my life where the entire table sent back their food. The staff was rude and unapologetic. Again our waiter seemed annoyed and made a comment that the prawns were not shrimp. (We are all very aware of what a prawn should taste like. This wasn't it) They presented us with our bill that was still over $100 and took all 4 dishes we sent back off the bill. I thought it was classless not to comp a round of drinks or anything for goodwill. We left and found another restaurant down the street. To say I am disappointed is an understatement. This place was horrible with their service and food. Will never go back! I would give it a -5!!!!! read more

Italian host, Italian waiters, what's not to love? We had fantastic service and the food was really, really good. Grilled mozzarella and mussels were authentic and delicious. You could tell the pasta was homemade. Pork chop was huge and great tasting. The only drawback is the poorly stocked bar, which may be the norm for such an authentic Italian place. But don't expect fancy cocktails or much selection of liquors. That's the only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5. If you're not planning on drinking any alcohol besides wine, this place is a 5. read more

Sofi's is a great quintessential Italian joint for the neighborhood (printers row). It was quaint, yummy, and the service was impeccable. I had the Rigatoni in the cream sauce (the name escapes me) and it was fabulous. The portions were just right - not too big and not too small. The price was spot on as well - two adults, two beverages - only $37 without tip. They were busy with a small staff but they didn't miss a beat. Water glasses were always filled, server was quick but also attentive. I would have given it five stars but its missing the ambiance. It could use a few small votive candles for the tables. Also, maybe some soft music (maybe classical or something that goes well with the italian theme) as what was playing at the time of eating was quite odd - I think it was some type of pop rap perhaps? Some softer lighting could do but other than that - great job Sofi! read more

Me and the misses were on a mission to find some good Italian food. All searches pointed here. Loved the ratings and the images got me even more excited. We parked across the street and walked in and was greeted by the hostess and quickly seated. The waiter arrived and helped explained many of the dishes. I inquired about a few dishes. I made it clear that neither one of us eat pork for personal reasons. I decided to order the veil and he quickly told me that the sauce was made with pork. I tried ordering a few more dishes from, chicken to beef and ravioli and all somehow had pork infused in the dish. This was very disheartening because I'm not the only one who doesn't eat pork, and many people would not know by just looking at the menu. I really appreciated the waiters honesty. So still on my mission for good Italian food I asked what he recommended for me that did not have pork. He informed me of a dish with duck and the other was a cheesy ravioli which was homemade and full of interesting flavors. Sad enough the dishes arrived and are very small on the portion sizes but we was hungry and I dug in. The duck had bits of flavor here and there but barely enough to make me want to keep going. I tried my wife's ravioli and it was even more bland. It was a really disappointing experience. Some might say it is because I didn't eat the pork but I still ordered and attempted to like the food. But in all honestly flavor was lacking for me. I called over the waiter and lied about something had come up and we had to leave. He bagged our food sensing their was something wrong but not sure. I tipped the waiter because he was honest and helpful but as far as the food it was too bland for me. I enjoy foods because of their different and unique flavors, having no flavor at all is just not for me. read more

Seated pretty quickly, despite going on a Saturday evening Food was pretty good, but portions were just OK, and service was VERY slow. We thought ot was odd that they were out of several of the popular feature dishes, despite being relatively early in the evening. Probably not a good sign. Overall, a decent option in the neighborhood. read more

A colleague and I went for a late dinner after a full day of travel. We both wanted a good pasta dish, so after reading reviews we decided to try Sofi. We were not disappointed. We had great food and service. We both ordered the ravioli, mine was ricotta and spinach and hers was lobster, and loved it. We would both return the next time in Chicago. read more

This place was ok. I'd give it a 2.5. I really liked the interior of the restaurant, and everyone dining/working seemed European, so that was a good start. But then the service was pretty poor (our request for more olive oil for dipping was never filled, a second server had to get our wine order), and the bread served was almost cold. I got the Pappardelle Anatra, but there was barely any meat or sauce. My fiancee got the Ravioli Aragosta, which she thought tasted good, but didn't seem as fresh as she would have liked and the sauce started to harden by the end of the meal. I had the apple pie for dessert, it was decent, but the crust let down the pie. The crust should be flaky or crumbly (i.e. buttery), but it was almost cracker-y. read more

Delicious! and service is wonderful. I had the fusili pasta and he explained everything I asked about the menu. Pasta was delicious and ambience is great. read more

So great. I was going to take off a star for very slow service, yet perhaps they are just not accustomed to larger groups? Or were they just very short on wait staff the night we went? If you have a party of 10 or more allow 2.5-3 hours for dinner. No matter your party size....this place is awesome. The prix fixe menu is the best in terms of value, choices, quality, and deliciousness. The staff friendly and accommodating. The ambiance quaint. Yummy and I look forward to returning. read more

The best thing about this restaurant is its atmosphere; a lot of Italian places end up feeling kind of dark and stuffy, even the nice ones, but this one has a lot of natural light and is generally really pleasant; I would definitely come for an early date -- it looks upscale and the food is going to work for almost anyone (can't vouch for vegans, gluton, etc). I came with a large group, (~10 people), and got to try a lot of the appetizers, entrees, and desserts -- without overwhelming the details my short story food wise was that it was solid but not special. For the entrees especially I really enjoyed the first couple of bites for almost everything but then got bored after that. read more

Very disappointed. The atmosphere is great and the story behind the owner and the staff lead you to believe the food is authentic and fresh and delicious. But it is blah. Salads were boring. Lobster ravioli did not taste like anything. Nothing ordered at the table was exceptionally memorable. Oh and the Parmesan cheese was clumpy powder that I would swear was some kind of processed Kraft product. Couldn't bring myself to order dessert. Very pricy and extremely slow service. read more

Restaurant has a nice ambiance and location is great. But the food was so-so. I had the Pappardelle with Duck Ragout and it was very salty. The dinner salad was about about 50% onions and 50% lettuce and tomatoes, not a good ratio. The calamari was pretty bland as was the marinara sauce that came with it. I wanted it to better but ultimately didn't turn out well. There are better choices. read more

This review is long overdue. I am Italian, now living in the US (15 years), and typically I avoid Italian restaurants. I was visiting Chicago for a conference this last June and for some reason I decided to try Sofi. All I can say is that the food was incredible. The fish (branzino) was perfect and the homemade fresh tagliatelle with tartufo (truffle) was beyond description. I was in heaven! For the first time ever in the US I felt like I was eating in Italy in a top restaurant. The service is fantastic, the owner is a great guy (real Italian). What can I say...I am shocked that there is no line every night to eat there. Thank you Sofi. I will be back for sure. Cristian read more

Our food was exceptional - 5 stars; the portions were quite small; the service was outstanding

We were looking for a romantic dinner spot and our concierge at the Hilton recommended this restaurant. We were greatly disappointed when we dined there. There was a very limited wine selection and they were out of several on the list. The food did not taste fresh and was disappointing. I had the short ribs with pasta. It tasted like dintimore stew. The pasta wasn't even good. My date had a pasta seafood dish that carried a strong fishy smell leading me and everyone nearby to believe it was not even close to being fresh. Our server was young and inexperienced which led to her spilling water several times. She did not have any understanding of the menu or the preparation of the foods. I would not waste your time going here. read more

This authentic restaurant is amazing! I ordered the gnocchi and it tasted like heaven!! 10/10 would recommend

I organized a group of 17 of my professional colleagues to dine here while we were in town for a meeting. It was an exceptionally good experience for my whole group! Although it is a cozy, intimate setting, they accommodated our group extremely well, with less than 2 days notice. The food was fabulous, the wine was good. Most remarkable was our exceptionally friendly and attentive server, Dominique, who, despite being the server for our entire party, appeared to do so with ease. They created separate checks for each person in our party, even splitting the bottles of wine appropriately among those who shared them. It was quite impressive! If you are organizing a group dinner in this neighborhood (or need just a table for 2), I highly recommend Sofi's! read more

I love Italian cuisine and wine! Last night I asked for a Sangiovese. They didn't have it. The waiter offered a wine that I had never experienced, he brought out a tasting, it was decent. Before consuming the glass of wine my guest and I inquired about the price point. In general, Sangiovese is not an inexpensive wine however we weren't expecting $27.00 per glass. The waiter responded to our surprise by offering to remove the charge, though we never indicated that's what we were seeking. We received the check and noticed that the charge was not removed so we asked about it and the waiter said, "Oh my boss said I can not do it". We were not informed at any moment during the service conversations with our waiter that he was rescinding his offer. We asked for the manager and a man came to our table to totally insult us as if we were attempting to consume without paying. We are embarrassed for this establishment and hope to encourage them to change their attitude. The tip alone would have been more than the cost of the glass of wine and simply not worth ruining our dinner date. read more

Too bad, too sad. The hostess tried to sit us away from a large group that would come in a few minutes later and was very loud. I'm glad they had a good time. The manager overruled us and set us right next to them. You would think a reservation would offer a better outcome. The "tropical sad" was hard and lacked flavor. No bread was delivered, although it was supposed to be. The waitress did nothing to make this better. The pastas were good. The dessert was OK. The waitress tried to sell me another class of wine, despite the fact I had ordered an afterdinner drink. And it was loud, which made my wife and I have to raise our voices to have a decent conversation. Very disappointing. read more

The food was okay very blan no flavor. The services was poor, not very attentive. Had to ask several times for water asked to remove are old dishes. Disappointed, it came highly recommended from the hotel. read more