Loved sitting on the patio, bartender is on point, we got short rib pasta, puttanesca pasta and split the arugula salad. It was AMAZING! We will be back to try more and the server Dede was great! A gluten free diner next to us gave a thumbs up on her meal too. read more

I had extremely high hopes for Torchio based on other reviews and just seeing photos of their pasta online. I've been following them on Instagram for two years, wanting to visit, and I just finally made it over for dinner the other night. While the curtained patio vibes make this street-side dining feel surprisingly tucked away, my friend and I were both disappointed by the food. The portions are large, but for roughly $125 with tip and tax, they weren't worth the cost. For an appetizer, my friend and I started with their burrata and pesto. While the burrata was tasty, the pesto was lacking, and the crostini was...too crusty? It crumbled as we bit into it. For our main dishes, I tried the "Torchio" Pasta, while my friend had the Bucatini Arrabiatta Burrata. We both looked at each other awkwardly a few minutes in and said our meals were disappointing. The "Torchio" flavor was too subtle despite drowning in sauce, and the pasta not al dente enough. The bucatini was also drowning in sauce, but in this case it was too hot for a friend who regularly orders spicy food. She said the heat/spice overpowered anything else, and she could only finish a bit of it. I wish I could share a better experience, but in Chicago, I can recommend many Italian restaurants that will give you a better bang for your buck. read more

We got torched at Torchio. We had a 9pm seating at the bar. As soon as we sat down, the bartender started sling some cocktail goodness at us, and it did not stop. Their mezcal based cocktail on the first page did me in, and I was totally a willing partner in my own destruction. I honestly don't remember what pasta dishes we ordered, but I remember them really hitting the spot. We closed that place down and the staff were super friendly the entire night. Go to Torchio, sit at the bar, and let the bartender order everything for you. read more

There was no wait at 7 but around 8 on a Tuesday night it started to get very crowded. They have a little outdoor seating area on the sidewalk. The staff was all very nice. It can get loud inside since it gets crowded and they play music. The food was great especially the fettuccini read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Fettuccine lemon and basil - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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All I can say is loooooove this place. Great service, the owner is just... the best, and the food is wonderful. You can't go wrong with Torchio. read more

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Had my brother in town for the day and he had a late flight home. I decided to bring him here, since I was so excited about the food from the last time I visited. Bill greeted us so warmly, I have to tell you that it's amazing with all the people that he meets every week that he remembered that I was there previously with my parents. What a great welcome! We showed up right at opening, and quickly was able to grab a two top in the bar. Ordered the burrata and heirloom tomato appetizer. First off, how can you not LOVE burrata? It was seasoned so well, a little sea salt and olive oil, and the heirloom tomatoes were even better. The combination along with the crisy pieces of Italian bread make for a very flavorful and satisfying bite. I say bite because I crammed the entire thing into my mouth as fast as humanly possible. My brother ordered the Cacio e Pepe. I spent my entire day debating whether to get the same dish I had last time (Scallops and fettuccine or the carbonara...it seriously weighed on my mind all day long). I decided to order the scallops because I wanted to share (just a little bit haha) with my brother. His cacio e pepe came out and I was immediately jealous. It's one of the simplest dishes but when done right it's just perfection. I got to taste it and had entree jealousy. Also started to wonder if I shouldn't have ordered the carbonara...but then my dish is put in front of me and I can already smell the happiness awaiting me. The scallops were perfectly cooked again, there is a strong hint acidity with the lemon scent, as well as some heat from chili flakes but it's not overbearing whatsoever. I LOVE garlic and this definitely has it! I wished at the end that I saved some of the italian bread from the appetizer so I could soak up the leftover sauce and eat the bowl clean...but I'm thankful I didn't- because the drive to O'Hare to drop my brother off was painful as I was so full! My brother also was pretty full and I could tell he was pleased with his dinner. NO room for dessert, but the chocolate cake with gelato looked so enticing. I'll be sure to order that next time. This place is starting to get very busy now, even when it opens right at 5 PM. I suggest thinking about making reservations if you're coming. Otherwise it may be a wait, or you may not be able to get in. I will tell you that after street parking on Superior around the corner, I paid for 90 minutes of parking and we were back in the car 50 minutes later. Perfect way for me to send family home! THANK YOU so much, to Bill and the fine folks that work at Torchio! I will be coming back on my own in the future rather than wait to show you off to family and friends. I need to have that carbonara since I only had a bite before and it was amazing, and I may even dare to order a second pasta for dessert! DON'T JUDGE ME PEOPLE.... read more

LOVE! I had the short rib with their special Torchio pasta instead of the spinach parpadelle and it was maybe the best pasta I've ever had. Perfection. Husband had the Giovanna's Bolognese Pasta with the parmesan basket, and devoured it as well - the parmesan under the pasta was melty goodness, and the rest around the plate was crispy and delicious too. Tiramisu was good, and I really enjoyed the mini canolli. We will eagerly return. Note: reservations highly recommended since it's a small place! read more

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I had to start off that that service is amazing here! From the hostess, to the waiter, and even the manager, they were all so kind and attentive. The ambiance is very intimate and perfect for a date night. Moving on to the food, my boyfriend and I started off strong with the fried artichoke which was crispy and flavorful. Then for our entrees, I had to get the bolognese with the "Parmesan" blanket and my boyfriend got the truffle pasta with a fried burrata on top. The pasta portions are huge!! My bolognese and pasta was amazing but the Parmesan crust was pretty burnt and ruined the overall taste of my dish. The truffle pasta had a very prominent truffle taste but a little lacking in flavor without the burrata on top. I still think it was worth a try and a charming piece of the Chicago food scene. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Fried artichoke hearts - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Can't go wrong with this place! The pastas are fantastic and reasonably priced. We loved it! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We showed up as a big group of about 15 people last week for our monthly Supper Club and this April's pick was Torchio Pasta Bar! Reservation was at 7pm on a Wednesday rainy night in Chicago. We were seated up near the entrance on the upper deck to the right due to our huge party. The place was extremely tight and narrow. But they made good use of the space and had a nice main bar. I would say that this place would be a great date spot and it essentially is. But the night we were there, they were playing classic rock (Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, etc) in the background, which I loved as I am a fan, but I thought it was an interesting choice of music given the ambience. We were divided between two tables. Our table decided to split some apps and we went with the Burrata & Pesto, meatballs, and whipped ricotta & tomato fig jam crostinis. My favorite was definitely the meatballs and they were the hot item of our table. They had very good flavor, good size, and the tomato sauce was solid (a little zing if I remember correctly). The burrata and pesto was a ok, nothing spectacular. The whipped ricotta was great; however, the crostini's were extremely dry (my only complaint of the entire meal). I prefer more butter and softer bread. We probably could have used another app at our table as the portions were somewhat small, but 3 apps worked for our table of 8. They have a full bar and I didn't try a cocktail, but they looked good on their menu. They have a decent wine list as well. We decided to go with our own entrees instead of family style, but some of us traded entrees. I peer-pressured into ordering the Braised Short Rib & Spinach Pappardelle by one of my table-mates and the waitress (her favorite item on the menu) and it did not disappoint! I was able to try the Bucatini Arrabbiata Burrata and it was very solid as well. Someone got the asparagus risotto, another had the caesar salad with chicken, and that's all I can remember. But everyone at our table was pleased with their entrees. As a table, we shared some desserts, which were ok but nothing spectacular. Service was outstanding as I never had an empty water cup and our host was talking to the owner, who seemed friendly. Prices are expensive ($25-$35/entree, but I thought the pasta dishes were creative, very good, and high quality. Plus Torchio is located in River North so this is definitely a fair price point for the neighborhood. Overall, this was a cozy Italian place in the River North neighborhood. Food was a mix as entrees were definitely a 5, but apps and desserts were more like a 3. Service was outstanding at a 5. Ambience and price point were fine. So this is really a high 4, low 5 for me. The entrees is where it's at and definitely worth trying! I would love to come back and try the Risotto sometime as that looked delicious! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Braised Short Rib & Spinach Pappardelle - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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What's not to love!! I have tried multiple dishes on multiple occasions and they're all amazing! Good comfort food with great ambiance and Eric and Sofia know how to work that bar! I love sitting at the bar and chatting with them while they make amazing drinks. Can't write this review without a huge shout out to the legend, Bill! He runs an amazing buisness and makes you feel like family. By far one of my favorite places to dine! read more

Love every time we go to Torchio. Usually try to sit outside on the beautiful patio. I heard the flowers are done by the owner Bill's wife. Our server is normally Eric and he is great. I get the rigatoni and sub the ham for crumbled sausage. They also make a great Last Word gin cocktail. Go check them out! Small family owned spot, great local joint! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Rigatoni ham & peas. (substitute the ham for crumbled sausage.) - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This quaint little pasta bar has been a great addition to the River North neighborhood! There are sooo many delicious looking items on the menu it was hard to decide what to get. We ended up with the Torchio pasta - a delicious sausage and mushroom in a white garlic cream sauce and the bolognese - thick, decadent noodles with the most amazing touch... a parmesan basket!!! You can truly tell that the pasta is made in house. Also, is that parmesan backset a possibility with every dish?? Because THAT would be a game changer. We also got a Torchio salad (the vinaigrette was to die for) and the arancini (cooked perfectly). I highly recommend. The staff was super friendly and even the owner stopped by to check in on the table. Bonus points - we brought our dog to the patio on one of the last nice weekends of the year and he was showered with love and even a small order of meatballs! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - torchio salad and arancini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tried this spot with a few friends on a Thursday night and enjoyed some really tasty pasta. They have a ton of delicious pasta options, including several for vegetarians. If you're looking for anything else, this spot is solely for enjoying some saucy, noodle dishes. They don't have other purely protein dishes like meat or fish entrees, but you can always add those to the pasta if you wish. You can still get some good variety with the appetizers, salads and sides so I'd recommend checking it out. We ordered the Whipped Ricotta and Tomato Fig Jam Crostinis with the Arugula Salad to start. I would definitely get both again, they were full of flavor. We split the Roasted Mushroom Risotto (my favorite dish we ordered), the Bucatini Arrabbiata Burrata and the Rigatoni alla Vodka. The vodka sauce was very good - sometimes simple is best! I would not order the bucatini again, something about the combination just wasn't my favorite and I'm a glutton for spicy foods. I was also slightly disappointed in the wine list, which seemed somewhat small compared to the pasta selection. Overall, we enjoyed our meal and even had some leftover to bring home because of the large portions. The servers were very attentive and the restaurant is a nice intimate vibe. Worth the visit if you're looking for a new spot to enjoy some pasta! read more

Torchio was recommended by a friend that is a local in Chicago. She credited it as a cute date night spot that has "the best pasta she's ever had"... I will say she is correct! I'm so glad we had time to stop at Torchio - the bolognese had an incredible flavor and the noodles were so fresh and refreshing on a cooler Chicago night my boyfriend got the seafood pasta plate and it not only had a beautiful presentation but also amazing flavor! I would definitely recommend Torchio even just to sit at the bar with a glass of wine and a pasta plate for dinner! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Can't say enough good things. The food was all amazing but what really stood out was how friendly the service was. We knew the food was going to be amazing based on the recommendation from our foodie friends. The atmosphere was great, cool decor, nice lighting, loved our booth. The menu had so many great options that we committed to coming back to try more before we even ordered. We shared three apps, two entrees and two desserts for a table of four (two adults and two tweens). Our server Sophia was the kindest, most engaging server I think we have ever had. The manager also stopped by to chat twice. We felt so welcomed, it was really cool. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We reserved a table in their outdoor seating during the winter. They set up a pretty interesting tent that had heaters through out it. There was a loud dog whistle sound coming through the heaters that was pretty difficult to block out. They have a nice inside so I don't recommend sitting in their outdoor location. The arancini itself was nothing special, but the red sauce was spectacular. I ended up getting the scallops and fettuccini and regretted not getting a red sauce. The pasta was fresh and the Scallops were the right consistency. The big takeaway is to get any dish with a red sauce, it may be the best I have had. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Scallops and Fettuccine Pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Just awful. The truffle fettuccine was some of the worst pasta I've ever had. The texture of the fettuccine was similar to that from a rice a roni box and the squid ink pasta had humongous, nearly inedible shrimp (the mussels were ok). Further, the penne alla vodka tasted worse than that from a can of chef boyardee. Overall i would not recommend this place to anyone and i would actually recommend you avoid it. I will say the wait staff was great and the drinks were good. But the entrees were truly just bad. I went there with my girlfriend and we ordered the penne after our first two entrees because the truffle fettuccine and squid ink pasta were so bad, we wanted more edible sustenance. Please save your money and avoid this place if you're hungry. It wouldn't be a bad bar to go to, but for a "pasta bar", the pasta is just terrible. read more

Can't say enough great things about this spot so definitely add it to your list while in Chicago! Bill, the owner, is so kind and is very passionate about the success of his restaurant and every plate that comes out of the kitchen. All of our dishes were spectacular. My ONLY complaint is that the music was too loud in the restaurant. It was hard to talk across the table. 1) Caesar salad was a good size with creamy dressing as homemade croutons. We split this and it was perfect for two people. 2) Bolognese in a parm wheel - this is a LOT of food, definitely sharable. The pasta comes sitting on top of a sheet of Parmesan cheese crust and is delicious. 3) Penne and pesto chicken dish was SO good. I'm glad I have some to eat tomorrow too. It was delicious. 4) Lemon olive oil cake - I'd get this again and again. It was light and had the perfect amount of lemon flavor to it. Bill said his wife makes this cake and it's so good. read more

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Wonderful dinner experience. The patio was lovely. The eggplant caprese was phenomenal. The mushroom truffle pasta with fried burrata was as well. Service was excellent! read more

It's my 1st time trying this spot. The outdoor seating is nice. The pasta is quite expensive. For 2 pastas close to $80. The portion is large. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The burrata with pesto is amazing. The owner and the bartender Novi are awesome. The Genoa drink is to die for. The scallops and fetuccini are really good. I've never seen such thin fetuccine. The caccio e pepe has too much cheese, which makes it too salty. I hate coffee and the tiramisu is nothing but coffee so get it if you love coffee. We will go back to try different pastas. Note: we had such a good time there I added a star to my original review. read more

The food is delicious - especially the pasta- but the starters and "sides" are great! The fried artichoke hearts & asparagus were fabulous. The decor is beautiful and cozy and the staff is very welcoming and friendly. We celebrated a family birthday and it could not have been more fun! (For a great non alcoholic drink, try the Aperol Spritz "mocktail." A delicious discovery!) read more

This was such a delicious meal! I highly recommend the Pesto Burrata, it was amazing. I loved how many gluten free options they had! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Aperol Spritz - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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https://www.yelp.com/biz/torchio-pasta-bar-chicago?hrid=FAZ46ixi-90wi8DF1xYAlQ&utm_campaign=www_review_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct) Previously wrote a review in this link above - following up with an update in this review as the owner has contacted me . Screenshots of the interaction as well as some proof that I dined on the specific date are provided. After posting my initial review, the restaurant's owner did contact me via Yelp chat, as can be seen in the attached screenshots. While I appreciate the outreach, I was disheartened by the response to my feedback. Instead of acknowledging my review, the owner began by questioning whether I had dined at the correct establishment. When I provided evidence of my visit on a particular date, he immediately dismissed the incident i described. Two patrons, including myself, witnessed the event in question, so it's unsettling to feel as though our experiences are being discredited. Constructive feedback is intended to help businesses improve. Mistakes happen, and they offer opportunities for growth. However, accountability is crucial in such situations. If the owner is certain he didn't interact with my dog in the manner I described, then there's an unanswered question regarding who did. The lack of accountability to me indicates that the owner has no intention on making any changes to prevent situations like this happening again to improve his restaurant. It's essential for businesses to listen and, when appropriate, acknowledge and rectify perceived missteps. Questioning the authenticity of a customer's experience, or failing to acknowledge potential issues, can be discouraging for potential returning patrons hoping to see positive change. Quite frankly, it also takes a high level of arrogance to not listen to constructive criticism, but it takes an even higher level of conceitedness to not acknowledge mistakes or apologize. read more

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My food came out cold. I sent it back and they replaced it with a much smaller portion of food. The chicken in the replacement was overcooked but I just decided to leave it and eat somewhere else. The service was a bit inattentive I had to wave down the waiter a few times. He was pleasant when interacting with us but for the price he should have been checking in more often. The ambiance is very Covid-esque. They built one of those outdoor Covid eating boxes right along the street so while there is out door dining you get to deal with truck exhaust the whole time. For the price I expect a lot more this was like Olive Garden level. read more

Came back in last Saturday with some friends that never been here before and they all raved about the food. I've been here several times and food and service never disappoints. Such a great large selection of pastas and all were incredible. I tried the lasagna for the first time and I wish I didn't share any because I had none to take home. I can't wait for my next visit! read more

The staff was amazing, and the speed of delivery of the food was impressive. So fast, that shortly after receiving our $200 dinner bill for two people, that a staff member asked us to leave because the next reservation had arrived. We booked this venue over a month in advance, arrived on time, and we were given less than an hour and twenty two minutes to enjoy our meal, drinks, coffee and dessert. The restaurant is tight, the tables are small, and the pasta is slightly above average. All of which I was ok with until we were asked to remove ourselves from our table because the next reservation just arrived. Perhaps the staff member's delivery could have been better, maybe offering to move us to a seat at the bar or a small table outside?? If you enjoy speed dating and a better than average meal delivered faster than Amazon prime, I give it a 5 star. If you want a romantic dinner at an authentic Italian restaurant with genuine service with servers that are not forced to push everything out like a cheap diner at lunch, go somewhere else. P.S. The food is marginal. I don't understand why so many reviews keep touting this as the best pasta in town. read more

Short rib pasta was delicious! The service was great and the ambiance is intimate and nice. Had a great time! Can't wait to try more! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was excellent. The food arrived quickly. The food was just meh. Everything needed to be salted generously. My pasta came in a soup of sauce and had zero truffle flavor. The burrata appetizer was good once we salted it heavily and the tiramisu was good as well. read more

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The best food, the best service in a very hospitable and welcoming place. Our favorite!

I went to Chicago for a visit. I am blessed to be related to the owners. Janice is my sister and Bill is my brother in law. My husband Gary and I ate there with my husband's brother, sister in law, niece and nephew along with his girl friend. We had great appetizers of meat balls, fried artichokes and Semolina Gnocchi. For dinner almost everyone had the Scallops and Fettuccine Pasta. I had the shrimp with pasta. Desert was the Tiramisu, Flour less chocolate cake and Cannoli. Everything was delicious. I wish I lived closer so I could eat there more often. Hats off to you Bill and Janice. Great Restaurant, food and atmosphere. We all had a great time. Hope to see you both again soon. read more

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This is by far my favorite restaurant in the city! The food and service are both incredible. The pasta is unbeatable in my opinion. The gnocchi appetizer is a must have and I don't think you can go wrong with anything on the menu. We sat at the bar and both bar tenders were very fun and knowledgeable. The restaurant owner is great and he was behind the bar taking orders and making drinks! It was an all around great experience and I already made reservations to go back. read more

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Seated at the bar on a Sunday night, the staff were friendly and split dishes without us asking. The sauce for the squid ink pasta was delicious, but the lasagna could have had more flavor. A great Italian restaurant I'll go back to! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a gem. Everything's great, but the caccio e pepe is my favorite. The owner is nice, and the service is great. This place would be great for a date, a casual dinner, a business dinner or really any occasion read more

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Cocktails were great, food was amazing and the service was on point! It's been a while since I have given a great review. 5 stars!

Not one to usually post reviews, hence sorry in advance about this Torchio. With the restaurant closing at 9 PM, I rushed and made my way to the restaurant by 8:30 PM. Huge spaghetti carbonara fan, so I knew what I wanted to order. The waitress was great, and so was the rest of the staff. The dish arrived; I was well excited, took a couple of photos, only to find out at first bite that it was uncooked - well below al dente. Without saying much and not wanting to start any back and forth with the staff, I paid my bill and, on the way out, told one of the staff members that it was uncooked! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Spaghetti Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If you haven't been to Torchio yet, you have no idea what you're missing out on. I bring everyone (and I mean everyone) that visits. I have friends and coworkers beg me to go when they visit and text me from states away that they wish they could have some Torchio. Torchio is my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago for so many reasons. First, the pasta is outstanding. The Arrabiata sauce is so good that I crave it, even when (maybe especially when) I've had it only the night before. They are great about making suggestions for modifications based on your preferences -- want to switch a pasta style and sauce? Vegan? They've got you covered. Second, the space is beautifully designed. They do an excellent job maintaining a clean and welcoming environment. The patio is styled so nicely and it's even a great option place when it's cold outside because they keep it so warm. This is a huge plus when we bring our dogs (which they welcome on the patio!). Last, and the main reason I this is my favorite spot is the service. This is hospitality done right. The servers and bussers get to know and recognize you, which is awesome, but even better is the owner, Bill. I work in the industry and I've never seen an owner be so involved. On a busy night, you can find Bill running food, making drinks behind the bar and doing anything he needs to do to support his team; all of this while greeting new guests and regulars. He always makes it a point to stop by their tables to personally say hello. He remembers their names. Bill and his team takes care of their guests and that's what makes this place truly special! Thank you to Bill and team for all they do to make this restaurant what it is. read more

I almost don't want to write this review because I don't want the restaurant getting too popular...but that would be selfish! While one may not think that an Italian restaurant run by an Irishman would be a must visit spot, especially in Chicago, for Italian cuisine...it definitely is. The only regret I had during my visit last month was that it was just me, and I couldn't order a ton of dishes to taste and share with friends (although I did make friends at the bar and if the timing had been different we would have created our own tasting menu). The drinks were fantastic and thoughtful. The dishes were creative but also restrained. Ultimately, the most important thing is that they knew how to properly cook pasta. While one would hope that would be obvious...most Italian restaurants do not get it done right. I could keep going, but long story short it that Torchio Pasta Bar is a must visit stop in Chicago. I'll be back in town in January and I'm already looking forward to meeting up with the friends I made at the bar for an epic night at Torchios! read more

Truly one of the best dining experiences we've ever had! We made a reservation and were sat at the bar. The bartenders were super friendly and helpful. We enjoyed interacting with our server and the discussions shared with him. We both enjoyed some wine and ordered the burrata as an appetizer - it was delicious! We both ordered pasta dishes that were some of the best pastas we've ever had. Delicious all around! One thing that set this restaurant apart was how diligent the owner was working at the restaurant. It was amazing to see how helpful and how a part of the place he is! We rarely go places without TV's but it was SO nice to take a break from eating out and being able to watch a sports game at the same time. It allowed for true conversation. It's obvious that this is a family that gets to work together. Loved it!! read more