We had the Caesar salad, tomato and fig buratta, and cacio e pepe. The recipes are crafted with a lot of love and care, as evidenced by the owner's hard work behind the bar. read more

This place was so cute! Great music and atmosphere. Both pasta dishes were great-my Alfredo had a hint of lemon and was super creamy. We finished with the lemon olive oil cake and it was to die for!!!!! Definitely save room for this. Our server Sophia was also great, very attentive and friendly! read more

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Excellent and thoughtful service and some of the best pasta I have had. My 11y/o daughter announced that it's "not bad", which is a glowing review. Highly recommend. read more

Wish it was bigger! This place is so good, the service was great but I always have trouble getting reservations because they have a small space and are so popular. Definitely need to try it out at least once in your life! For me, I'll keep going as long as I can get a reso! read more

I am obsessed with this place! Delicious handcrafted cocktails and delicious and unique pasta dishes. I could eat their Fettuccine & Lemon Basil Cream everyday of my life and never get sick of it. The first time I came here, we sat at the bar. The service was amazing! The bartender overheard our conversation and made great recommendations. I had the Bees Knees Gin cocktail before dinner and the Espresso martini after. Both were tasty and unique. We ordered the Semolina Gnocchi for an appetizer and OMG so good! It melts in your mouth! I always order the Fettuccine & Lemon Basil Cream with chicken. I have tried to duplicate this at home and cannot. So creamy and delicious! My friends have ordered the Torchio Pasta and the Braised Beef Risotto. Both were very unique and delicious. For dinner we ordered the Tiramisu and were not at all disappointed. I wish they did delivery as I would be ordering it all the time. Any time my friends are in the mood for Italian I will be recommending this place. Not only are the food and drinks delicious, but the service has been outstanding! read more

Great service. They let us in a bit early so we were able to get out of the cold. The wait staff was very attentive and constantly replenished our water. I tried the risotto and did not enjoy it. I thought the meatball appetizers weren't bad; they were very soft and moist. My company enjoyed their meals so perhaps I chose the wrong dish. read more

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We used to love this place, but unfortunately it got way too expensive. Our pasta was $36/person and 1 drink was $18. This is insane. It's small portions, so we ate the whole thing there. At this price, I recommend a steak place with significantly better food. It still has great ambiance and services, but the prices aren't worth it anymore. read more

Food and service are great. Love the more intimate space and ability to try multiple dishes. Menu is diverse and provides options for all preferences. read more

Overview: the service was fine, the vibe was okay- really small and loud and the food is mediocre. I would say- this isn't the place to go out of your way to try but if you are in the area you can go. Also it was really expensive for being just okay overall- that's why I'm giving it a 3. See below for more details. Service: the service as stated about was just okay. We sat at the table for 8-10 minutes before someone came over. The one plus of the service was the gentleman who kept coming over to help fill the waters- he was 10/10. The staff was fine, not super friendly and not super helpful in making the experience unique or special. If you want a unique and special experience for your evening this isn't the place. Vibe: we made a reservation at the high top tables which was towards the front of the restaurant. The chairs had a back to them, thank goodness, however, the table was so small we felt squished trying to fit our food on the table along with the drinks. Additionally, it was so loud and the music had a sort of club feeling. I wasn't expecting that when initiating looking At the website. I don't think I'm old but I would prefer not to scream across the table at my husband while eating. Food: the food was meh- we only really loved 1/3 dishes. -Asparagus risotto: this was the best thing we ate. It was creamy, cooked well, was light, seasoned well and a great start to the meal. The lemon was subtle and I really enjoyed it. Also the asparagus was still crunchy and not soggy- huge plus. -Giovanna's Bolognese: my husband loves bolognese so we get it at almost every Italian restaurant. Starting with the noodles- they were homemade but in my opinion over cooked- i prefer them to be slightly more Al dente. The sauce: was fine, in my opinion lacked a little flavor. Finally, the parmesan basket. It was way over cooked and was chewy with a slight burnt taste. I wish they made it thinner with a crunch. I could have done without the basket if it meant the other two aspects were better. -bucatini arrabbiata burrata: the best two things about this dish was the burrata- perfectly creamy and the bucatini- was fresh and cooked to perfection! The sauce on the other hand was overwhelming spicy and oily. I felt like the flavor of the tomato sauce was lost in this dish and it is not worth it. I love a good arrabbiata sauce but this isn't the one. read more

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Easily one of my favorite Italian restaurants in Chicago. The pastas are hand made and extremely flavorful. The waiters are kind and make wonderful recommendations. I also love how the outdoor patio section allows for dogs! Highly recommend ordering meatballs while here! read more

A great little neighborhood restaurant, with great atmosphere and even better service. The gnocchi appetizer was perfect, and if you can't find something you like on the extensive pasta menu, then I can't help you. I had a cocktail I never knew existed -- the Brooklyn, similar to a Manhattan but with a distinctive flavor. Looking forward to my next visit. read more

Italian food just like Grandma used to make but better. The meatballs were to die for. Seasoning tasted like herbs from the garden. The pasta is magnificent and a creamy sauce holder. Just go and thank me later. read more

What a lovely dining experience! Visiting chicago for the weekend, I looked through a ton of Italian restaurants near downtown. I saw that Torchio had online reservations which is always a win in my book, and I reserved two bar spots. I highly recommend making a reservation. We were seated right away despite arriving a few minutes early. The waiters at the bar were so welcoming and attentive. My husband and I split the BRAISED SHORT RIB & PAPPARDELLE, which they plated separately for us. We also had the asparagus as a side. The pasta was PHENOMENAL. It had a smooth red wine sauce that was rich with slow cooked beef flavor. The short ribs were shredded and delicately tender. The sauce held well to both the noodles and the beef. We both truly enjoyed every bite. I am so glad we made it there! Loved the staff! And the owner, Bill, was such a breath of fresh air to chat with! One of the best dinners I have had in a long time. I highly recommend Torchio! read more

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Excellent service, great patio and yummy food. Everyone was so gracious and friendly. Dog friendly patio too. Glad we found this place!

Great atmosphere and great service. Apps and salads were yum! We got the fried burrata truffle pasta and the bucatini arrabbiata. I personally preferred the bucatini but both were very good. Would definitely come again! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was AMAZING. Highly recommend the burrata and ricotta appetizers. All the pasta dishes my group got were so delicious. The server Rula really stood out though, she was amazing! Amazing service and so kind read more

Expected better. Came highly recommended and we were a little disappointed. Our server was in such a hurry. Calm down already. We were asking a question and he started to answer before we finished and of course he did not answer what we were asking. We had to go thru that a couple of times to get the question answered. He brought us the incorrect appetizer. One person in our group had an appetizers and a salad and asked for one to start and the other for the main. Well they come backwards. Hey were you listening???? Some of the pasta dishes were good but a few had little flavor. My Bucatini All"Amatriciana was OK with the pasta cooked perfectly but seemed to lack guanciale. Guard your wine glasses if you only have a small amount left. Mine was taken before I finished. Oh well. read more

This place is awesome. Had the tagliatelle with short rib and it was just fantastic. Ample portions for sure. The service at this restaurant is top notch. Entire team is friendly and seems like they are having a great time too. Bar selections for amaro were awesome. Very under the radar beverage to enjoy, and the bar manager who tends bar is an expert. Will come back frequently. read more

My birthday meal in Chicago, definitely a good choice. So many great options that you can't go wrong, and it's all so fresh. We sat outside and even though it was chilly, they made sure to point the heaters right on us and were so kind. The owner walks around and he is AMAZING. Love this place read more

This restaurant is phenomenal. I've been here a few times and had something different each time. Everything has been amazing. Pasta is cooked well, sauces are delicious and the wine is good. Reservations fill up fast, so plan ahead! Probably the best Italian spot in the city. read more

We were very excited to go to Torchios for dinner. We sat at the bar to eat. We ordered apps to start and drinks. The apps were delicious. When we went to order our dinner they said sorry the kitchen is closed. They admittedly never asked for last call or said the kitchen was closing. Pretty awful as we were there for dinner. The one male bartender (who was also our waiter) was familiar with the guest next to us so kept saying inappropriate things to her (like calling her a dumb B*tch, etc) really loudly. It was awful. The female bartender sprayed us with the shakers and offered us shots of Marlort. Which we declined. I thought this was supposed to be a lovely dining experience and instead was like a late night bar??? I wish we could go back and pick a different place. read more

My wife and I finally got a chance to try this place last night, and it was very tasty. We had the eggplant (good), lasagna (good) and rigatoni chicken pesto cream (great). We're still not sure if we were supposed to get a bread basket. Most of the tables around us had them, but not all. The bread looked good, though, so hopefully we can try it next time. We'll be back. read more

For whatever reason, I've found that a lot of Italian spots sacrifice a lively ambiance -- but not this one. With Torchio, you're able to immerse yourself in a moderately upbeat (yet somehow still unassuming) manner while still being offered a top-tier dining experience with the many delicious plates they offer. I was thoroughly satisfied by the short rib risotto, though the rest of my party had positive remarks for even the more simpler dishes. I hold no regrets in taking a chance on Torchio as a first-time diner for my 30th birthday celebration. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Short rib risotto (foreground); Tuscan chicken (background) - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Still drooling over it and dying to come back already to try more. I love the variety of pastas and the servers are great at recommending what best suits your palate. Favorite hands down is the short rib pappardelle, so rich and so tender! But the artichoke hearts were surprisingly good, gave a nice little balance to the heavy carb load I was about to consume. 10/10, probably one of my new favorite pasta places! read more

My time in Chicago is dwindling down and so I'm in full blown "Operation Eat Everything Tasty." In a city with no shortage of Italian restaurants, I decided to come here to get my pasta fix. I came in knowing I would get the Cacio e Pepe since it reminds me so much of my Rome trip and the fact that I haven't had a comparable one since. Torchio's stood up to the best of them. Incredibly rich, thick and cheesy with just the amount of black pepper. It was like eating an insane and enhanced version of mac and cheese. And because I'll probably never be back, I also wanted to try ANOTHER pasta dish. I thought about the bucatini all'amatriciana since I love guanciale, but panicked and decided to get their tagliatelle with bolognese since it was so highly recommended. Yes, the parmesan crisp "basket" was exceptionally fun but the stand out for me was the pasta itself and the meat sauce. Every Bolognese I've ever had has always been really tomato-y and heavy. Theirs was a little lighter. Not too light to where the pasta couldn't pick up the meaty flavors, but light enough to where you weren't just eating a bowl of marinara. It was a pleasure to meet the owner, Bill. He was just as warm and welcoming as you could imagine. When I told him I was moving away he genuinely looked sad for a second and then said, "Oh, you won't get to have my pasta anymore!" Also, it was hilarious watching the server bring out two pasta dishes to my table, then stop and look around in confusion at just me sitting there. Leftovers are amazing. #NoRegrets read more

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When I write a review, I'm meticulous, so a warning to you right away - the text is rather long, so bear with me. I gave two stars, although this restaurant actually deserves one star at most and i will explain why. Oh, btw two stars are actually just for the concept itself - "pasta bar" - which sounds great, not easy to execute though. Lets start. First time we stumbled upon this place by accident, we were walking pas it, noticed the hype and commotion and walked in. We were hungry and ready to eat, but the wait time was too long (1.5 hours), so we left and made a mental note that we should come back to check it out. And we did a couple of days later. We called the restaurant and were offered a choice of either a table at 6pm or a bar at 7pm. We have opted in for the bar as it's always intriguing to be close to all the action, hear bits and pieces of the stories and to be able to see the heart of the restaurant. Now, before I go into detailed feedback on the food, a couple of notes about the space which seems weird to us right away. Inside it splits into two areas - the one deeper into the space, with booths, a bar area with nice bar stools and the area on the right side of the entrance with what we promised us as "pasta bar" but turned out to be a cold prep area. We walked in, followed the host which pointed at the bar area and I instantly went for the "nicer" bar (the chair looks more comfortable lol), it had quite a few seats vacant with "reserved" signs on the counter. We made a reservation so I thought it was for us. Nope. The host insisted that we should proceed to the "pasta bar". When I asked - can't we sit at the "nicer bar" the answer was no. When I asked why, I did not get an answer. Oh well. So we perched on the bar stools, staring at the "inner guts" of the prep kitchen which you do not really want to be looking at - the rear side of some equipment, plastic containers with bread, meat slicer. Here's our order and the rating for each of the dish (where "1" is "awful" and "10" is "amazing"): Salumi board - $21 - 3/10 - it was ok. 3 paper thin slices of each prosciutto and three types of salume. Honestly, the description of the meats on the menu sounds more exciting than the taste itself. It wasn't bad but it didn't blow my mind either. Arugola salad - $10 - 3/10 - arugula felt like it has been hanging in the fridge for 3-4 days. Not the fresh farm to table type of arugola which you would expect. Pecorino Romano was finely grated which I personally do not like as it disintegrated the flavor of the cheese and accentuates pure saltiness. Shaved pecorino always works better. Cacio e pepe - $17 - 0/10 - it was excruciatingly salty, gooey in a glue kind of way, by the time it made to our table it was probably sitting and dying for a good 10 minutes at least, not al dente (overcooked to be precise). Cacio e pepe might deceivingly look like a simple pasta, but just like with any simple dish, there's nowhere to hide. Carbonara - $21 - 0/10 - my husband wanted to spit it out. Barely warm, overly salty, gooey. He described it as "inedible". Oh, and when we've noticed that tables next to us got a complimentary bread basket, we have asked for one. The bread wasn't fresh. We have sent the pasta back and went to RPM Italian to complete the "great pasta" gestalt of the evening. read more

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Came across this place because it was near where where were staying. The atmosphere is nice. A causal little hole in the wall gem. Service was okay. Food came out fast and staff was attentive. We started off with meatballs for appetizers which was a good indication on what we had to look forward to...yummy not dry and very tasty. We had a party of 4 and each of us ordered 3 different pasta dishes. Immediately you could taste how fresh the pasta was. We order a tiramisu for dessert which we all shared and it was the perfect ending to a great meal. We really enjoyed everything we ordered and highly recommend this place. read more

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Best pasta in Chicago we have had so far! Service was excellent, our waitress was very attentive. The short rib pasta does not look appetizing but is very savory and rich. All the pastas were a large size (enough for 2) and had a very generous portion of meat. 10/10 would go again! read more

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The hype is real. There's definitely some "tlc" going into the food here. The aperol spritz was indeed refreshing however the aftertaste of the drink was too tart for my liking. The limoncello was described as perfect by wife. I loved that they give you descriptions underneath their signature cocktail menu. The gnocchi was merely ok but take that with a grain of salt because I sort of despise marinara. The whipped ricotta was decent but you can honestly buy a similar ingredients at the grocery store. The cacio de pepe was great & for lack of a better term perfect . I've never had a MORE perfectly seasoned pasta dish. The pepper in the dish is definitely not "normal". Idk if it merely fresh ground but Twas awesome. The shrimp were a significant size & had a very noticeable garlic flavor which I loved. In closing I think the happy hour menu is limited & meant to entice you however the real gems lie in the regular menu items. read more

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Went here tonight with a friend looking for some pasta and we weren't disappointed. We sat outside and the atmosphere was awesome. We didn't get any drinks so focusing on the food... Always appreciate free bread and olive oil, though the bread was just okay We started with the meatballs (3 dollars off during happy hour) and the Caesar salad. The meatballs were really good, but we felt the salad could have a been a little larger and with more dressing for the price. I'd give the apps a 3. The pasta was amazing. We split the bolognese and the orecchiette and they were both delicious. The bolognese was served in a bowl with a huge Parmesan crisp. The orecchiette has the perfect spice - we loved them both! 5 star homemade pasta for sure read more

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

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Visited in person (twice already) and Torchio has become my go-to Italian spot now! I absolutely love the pesto rigatoni with chicken, and the tiramisu is one of the best I've ever tried! The portions are large and we never think we'll finish the dish, but we always end up eating everything because it's so delicious. I love the ambience too because it's not too frilly but elevated enough for a nice date night or birthday dinner. We can't stop recommending Torchio to all our friends! read more

My team and I had a very good experience at Torchio's. We were lucky enough to grab one of the tables outside on a nice day which was really great. If you get the opportunity to sit outside, do it. We ordered the brushetta and meatballs for appetizers and wow, both were excellent. I honestly kind wished we ordered a second batch of both. The staff was excellent, very attentive, making sure that we always had enough water, wine, and other drinks. The portions sizes of the meals were great and the overall quality of the food was very good. You can easily tell that everything is handmade. The reason why I took one star off was due to the taste of the actual entree. I ordered the Giovanna's Bolognese and I honestly thought it was a little bland. I actually was able to sample the other 3 dishes at the table and thought the same thing. The quality of the ingredients was truly great, but I guess I just expected something a little more with a $25 pasta dish. We went right after they opened so there may have been a few kinks that they were working out. Either way, the experience was still very enjoyable. I will honestly return, whether its with my team or with my family, and you should definitely check it out. read more

This restaurant made me want to move to Chicago! I had the Cacio e Pepe, bottle of cab (w/ my husband!), Caesar salad, olive oil cake AND tiramisu with Cardamaro Vino Amaro (the Cardamaro was the best!!). We walked in without reservations and were offered a seat at the pasta bar-- the. best. seat. in. the. house!! Many of the other seats had reserved signs on them. The food was melt in your mouth delicious. It was great to see our food prepped in front of us with fresh ingredients. The pasta is homemade and delicious. We met Bill the owner and he shared his story of how the restaurant came to be. He left his 9 to 5 to pursue his passion of food in Italy where he studied for a year and opened Torchio soon after. Torchio isn't your typical Italian restaurant, it was created with love from someone who is passionate about food and people. I'm definitely coming back and will recommend to all of my colleagues in Chi. We loved the owner Bill, he's one of those guys who makes you feel like you've just walked into a place you've been to a hundred times before and you're right where you're supposed to be. Man I wish I lived here and this could be my "regular" spot! Thank you Bill and Amy for a special night! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Tiramisu paired with Cardamaro Vino Amaro (Amazing!! You **must** try this!). - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I just had the short rib parpadelle for TAKEOUT AND IT WAS STILL ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I'VER EVER EATEN. I dont really know what to do. I would call the restaurant in a rage and demand to know how it was made but they're closed now. So I'm here instead. I am changed. read more

Ok I am a sucker for pasta, but this new pasta bar in River North takes fresh pasta to a new level. Shout out to Bill, the owner of this joint who takes extra care in preparing the dishes and will always stop by to say hi! 1. Cocktails - you would think an authentic Italian pasta bar will serve only wine, but wow the cocktails were amazing. We tried the 'Benevento' which was a refreshing delight with Mezcal, lemongrass, lavender and honey, as well as the 'Calabria' which is now my favorite cocktail - habanero, grapefruit and flavors of hibiscus 2. Appetizers - yes they serve warm fresh bread with olive oil and parmesan, but we also got the Skillet Scampi - perfectly cooked shrimp in a lemon butter sauce, with toasty crostini. Absolutely perfect implementation on this one, felt especially wholesome as it was raining outside. 3. Ok now to the best part - the Pastas - i. We tried the Spring Vegetable Pappardelle - This one was 4.5/5 in my opinion. We had to put a fair amount of pepper and chilli flakes on it but the vegetable medley was beautiful with the parmesan and lemon finish. ii. SPOILER ALERT - BEST PASTA OF YOUR LIFE - Being an adventurous foodie, I sometimes stray away from Bolognese "How different could it even be?" Make no mistake, order this one. The fresh pasta with the perfect bolognese base, this pasta sits in a Parmesan Basket.......what is that, you may ask? FRIED PARMESAN. THE PASTA SITS IN FRIED PARMESAN. An absolute must. Please go and try this beauty on a date night, or when you are feeling classy. Not even that hard on the wallet with the pasta dishes between $15 - $20. read more

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Do you ever go to a restaurant and it's just corporate and okay? This is NOT that. Amazing place with a couple that clearly loves their restaurant and their guests. The food was fantastic and the ambience just as good. Will be going back, this is the kind of business you want to say "hey I'll give them a shot, because they love what they do and it shows." read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Bolognese and an old fashion creepin in the background (that rim of the plate is pure parmesan) - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Rigatoni & chicken pesto 9/10 Veal ragu 9.5/10 Whipped ricotta with tomato & fig jam 9.5/10 Overall AMAZING experience and would hundred percent recommend this place!! Highkey much better than other overhyped Italian restaurants downtown. read more

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Our favorite restaurant in Chicago! From the moment you walk in, each one of the staff makes you feel like you're part of the Torchio family. Food: I don't think we've had a bad dish here, and we've been here a lot! Don't skip the arancini to start, it has a little kick to it which makes it so unique and delicious. The short rib risotto has become my fiancé's all-time favorite meal. We also love the cacio e pepe, torchio pasta, and orecchiette. But truly, no matter what you order - it will be terrific! They can also modify nearly any dish, so if you want to change out the protein or try a different type of pasta or sauce, you can. Drinks: Eric and Sophia are tremendous bartenders. Their espresso martini, I think, is the best in the city. They have an extensive cocktail list that changes with the season, and a solid wine list as well - we love the Super Tuscan. Atmosphere: Always a good vibe! They have a heated patio out front for those who like to eat outside. Inside they have booths and high top seating, but we always sit at the bar. Highly recommend the bar! We love interacting with Eric and Sophia, but also having conversations with others at the bar. It really feels like a neighborhood spot where everyone knows one another and feels welcome. Lastly, the tables are spaced far enough apart that you don't feel like you're on top of one another, unlike many other Italian spots in the city. Service: We've never had a bad experience here. Amy the manager is always making sure you're seated on time. The bartenders and servers always give you the best recommendations and are honest with what they like. They are constantly checking to make sure you're enjoying everything and asking what else they can get you. All the meals come out timely, even if it's a crowded night. And finally, Bill (the owner) is often there to greet you while making sure everything is running smoothly and even sometimes making drinks behind the bar. That's how you know it's a good restaurant! Torchio is a great option in River North. And while I want to say it's a hidden gem - it also feels like more and more people are finding out about it! Can't recommend it enough! read more

Torchio is really nice new Italian restaurant on the Near North Side. The ambiance is great, the staff is friendly, the owner is so personable and talks to everyone, and most importantly....the food is good! The chicken is delicious, the pasta is very tasty, and the olive oil cake is very good. This place is definitely worth a visit. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - The Olive Oil cake...get it! - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had such a great time at Torchio last week. Not only was all the food delicious, but I had one of the best espresso martinis ever! We really enjoyed the atmosphere here and will be returning asap! read more

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