What a fantastic restaurant! Did you know they make all of their own pastas?! Everything was delicious. Their menu is extensive. Their food made with love. And the service is attentive and impeccable. I also loved the inside decor- Super stylish. We even had the pleasure of meeting the owners, who have a true passion for food and good quality ingredients. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone in the Chicago area! read more

Our group tends to have very strong opinions, and we were split down the middle in terms of 3 or 4. However, the dishes that were on the lower end ultimately had me settle on a three star rating. Service was good once we were seated, which turned out to be 40 minutes past our reservation. Everyone, including the owner, was very hospitable and you can definitely tell how passionate he is. As it stands, the cocktail menu is quite forgettable, so let's get that out of the way. We tried the ricotta-fig jam and meatballs to start, and both left much to be desired in terms of flavor and depth. Nothing tasted off, but both could have used more of everything, sauce, salt, seasoning, etc. Also, the ricotta spread came with the most basic of bread pairings, and I would have expected a much higher quality vessel for such a dish. Moving onto the pastas, the quality of the ingredients is evident upon the first bite, and a few do rival some of the best in the city. Those would be, in order of favorite, the Torchio, the special seafood pasta that evening, and the cacio. All the flavors were on point, and the savoriness and depth had us all angling for the last spoonful. We were a bit disappointed in the bolognese nestled within the parmesan basket though. Hardly any of the star ingredient topped the dish, so we hardly got a feel for the preparation which we all know goes into a high quality bologenese. Also, the parmesan texture wasn't conducive to the overall dish, as it had cooled down just enough to become chewy and hard to portion out. A fine idea in theory, but the execution was lacking at least for our table. Overall, I'd definitely return to try a few more pastas and appreciated the old school feel of the place. However, it doesn't approach a 5 star experience when taking into account the overall menu. read more

Delicious! We decided to order four pastas and share (family style) so got to try a lot. Everything was wonderful. Reservations available on Tock. read more

YOU MUST TRY THIS RESTAURANT! I came here with out of town guests on the day after Torchio opened and I admit that I was a bit nervous to be trying a new place so soon after their grand opening. After our meal, I walked out thinking that I might have a new favorite restaurant in Chicago. Everything about our meal was fantastic and if I didn't know otherwise I never would have guessed that they had only been open for one day. The restaurant is beautifully designed and the dining room is actually quiet enough (even when full) that you can maintain a conversation with your table mates with ease! The Food: We started with an arugula salad (1/2 serving pictured) which was flavorful, fresh, and perfectly dressed. For my entree I had the rigatoni with tomato sauce and I added shrimp (full portion pictured). A lot of restaurants screw up this dish by making it too bland, but not Torchio. The pasta itself was delectable and perfectly cooked. I could tell immediately that it was in fact made in house just hours before. The sauce was extremely flavorful and the shrimp were fresh, large, and juicy. One of my table mates also ordered the rigatoni with tomato sauce but asked that it be made with a bit of spice. I took a bite of this dish and the Chef did a great job of integrating the spice without ruining the perfection of the underlying dish. Another person at my table had the orechette with sausage and broccoli rabe, which looked amazing and was so well-received that by the time I thought to ask for a bite it was too late! The side order of broccoli rabe that we shared was perfectly cooked and was more than enough for 3 people to share. For dessert we shared a berry tart that was also quite good. They also had a few biscotti options available. I'm hoping that they expand the dessert menu a bit as time goes on. It has been 2 days since my dinner here and I can't stop thinking about that pasta! I've been telling everyone I can about how much of a gem this is. I spent a week in Italy this summer and the pasta at Torchio gives even the best meals I had over there a run for their money. Trust me that my very amateur photos do not do these flavors justice! Service: The service was also top notch. Our waitress told us that they had trained for a full two weeks prior to opening and I had no reason not to believe this. I would have never guessed that they had only been open for a day! The pacing of the meal was spot on as well. The owner is a super nice guy and he stopped by our table and talked about his journey to restaurant ownership. Value: All of the prices were reasonable and they offered half-size portions of most (if not all) pasta options. I will undoubtedly be back to Torchio in the very near future! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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A girlfriend took me to have a celebratory dinner, she made reservations a month in advance. The first thing I want to mention is, there is no valet, so plan on finding street parking-I tried to call the restaurant to find out, but for some reason the number on google wasn't going through. The restaurant is small, but I would call it cozy and cute. It is very clean, and the decor is beautiful. The service was great, our server was very enthusiastic and friendly- the staff as a whole is very friendly and attentive. The only two gripes I have about our experience were the seating and the food. The table we sat at was beautiful, although, right by the door so it did get chilly when people entered or exited, but the worst part was that the chairs that came with our table were just hard bar stools with no backs to them. It makes for an uncomfortable eating experience. We asked for other chairs, and they only had one, so I let my girlfriend have it, and I just used my core to support myself during dinner lol. We ended up ordering two appetizers, and then just a bunch of champagne- we decided to order our entrees to go. I am vegan, but alas there are really no vegan options on the menu, so I just ordered a vegetarian pasta to take home. When I did get home and open my pasta, I noticed there was meat in my food, so I did not eat it and it ended up in the trash. I did have a great time regardless of the seating and food situation- the restaurant is beautiful and the staff is very friendly and accommodating. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - View from our table - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had a beautiful dinner with my family at Torchio on Friday evening. Great energy and ambiance paired with really delicious Italian food. The pastas and Tuscan chicken were all very flavorful and fresh. The servers were friendly and attentive. The owner BIll was making the rounds and has created a comfortable neighborhood feel. The olive oil cake is a one of a kind dessert. Call for a reservation because the place is not that big. You'll be happy you did! read more

Hands-down one of the best Italian meals I've had in Chicago and I've been coming here many years. Not only was the food delicious but we had a blast talking to the bartender and the owner Bill who told us a little bit about the history of the restaurant and of pasta making itself. We reserved bar seats and arrived on the earlier side of the evening around 5:30 PM within an hour the place was packed. We had the Tuscan chicken and I had the pasta special . Enjoy! read more

Torchio's is a gift to River North handed down from the almighty noodle gods. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Whipped Ricotta & Tomato Fig Jam is my jam. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The best Italian restaurant in Chicago. Hands down. A must go. Authentic pasta. The same as Italy. Desserts are identical to Italy. read more

Omg AMAZING! The pasta was absolutely DELICIOUS! The owner, Bill, was very nice and allowed me to get a dish that wasn't on the lunch menu. Instead of the dinner bolognese with the parmesan cheese basket I got the carbonara with the parmesan cheese basket and it was simply UNBELIEVABLE! My sister friend got the vegetable pappardelle and it was UNBELIEVABLE! This restuarant is a MUST! The homemade pasta is perfection! Thanks to the staff who were very attentive, friendly, and respectful. I will definitely be back! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!! #yummy read more

No filter needed when the pasta is made fresh daily by a lovely human known as Bill (I shook his hand. He's real). His sister Jolene welcomed me and my friends in like family. Y'all MUST check out @torchiopasta !! Giovanna Bolognese in a parmesan bowl * "Two of Torchio's menu items are adapted from their classes- Giovanna's Bolognese is from the home of Giovanna Cardinali and her daughter in Bologna, the other is a Tiramisu recipe from Podere LaMarronaia in San Gimignano". read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Giovanna Bolognese in a parmesan basket - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Love this new restaurant in River North it's exactly what is needed! We had the Giovanna's Bolognese and it was incredible, not to mention the amazing Parmesan basket it was served in. Also did the whipped Ricotta and fig jam, I'm pretty sure I could eat that by the bucketful! Then we couldn't pick just one dessert and ended up doing three, and they did not disappoint. The service was also great. I can't wait to go back any try more! read more

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The service was impeccable, the food was amazing, the ambience was perfect. Everyone was helpful and executed their jobs well. We had apps and pasta, the fried artichoke hearts and lemon arugula was delicious. The pesto and burrata was also incredibly flavorful. Fettuccine with basil lemon cream was one of the most delicious pastas I've ever had. read more

My husband and I discovered Torchio recently. We live around the block but have somehow missed this gem until a week ago. It's everything you want in a restaurant: delicious quality food, cozy vibe, amazing service, balanced drinks with a classy wine list, and an owner + staff who are attentive and take pride in how the entire experience plays out. We've been here 2x in the past 8 days: it operates like a neighborhood joint where you feel at home when you walk in. My husband says it's his new favorite spot. What to order: the Torchio salad, meatballs to start, torchio pasta, carbonara pasta, pancetta risotto. Lemon cake and tiramisu for dessert are fab. Drinks? White wine list is awesome and cocktails are made to perfection by Eric. Great wine pours too - important to my Irish husband. We have lots more apps and dishes to try (we've heard the chicken entree is fabulous). The bottom line is a classy joint with a local feel banging out great food and drinks that makes you feel like you're part of the community - a rare gem in river north. read more

We had dinner here last night. our server was nice and the food was good. We ordered a cocktail with an appetizer and a bottle of wine with our main courses. All was going well until suddenly a woman (not our server) comes to our table and tells us we can finish our wine at a tiny counter next to the front door because she is giving our table to another customer. We were shocked! In our many years dining out we've never experienced such rude customer service. Apparently this is standard behavior for the management of this restaurant because we saw another reviewer who had exactly the same experience. We not only didn't get asked if we wanted dessert but didn't get asked if we wanted the check before being told to leave. It appears that this restaurant's business model isn't to give a great dining experience but rather to churn customers to maximize income. read more

My new favorite place in the city. Absolutely amazing. Food is delicious. If you're an avid pasta lover, like me, you will not be disappointed. Portions are super generous - the owner told us he learned how to make mostly all the dishes when he was in Italy and it shows. I will definitely be back. read more

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Nice! Fresh pasta, great service. Noise level however is really bad. Owner is very hospitable.

This restaurant has a lot of potential once it works out it's just opened bugs. They did a beautiful job of redoing the space in an old building on Wells. One nice touch is a salad bar and station for pasta making that has seats for dinner and watching. The night we were there the owner was making the evening special, a large raviolo with and egg yolk inside. The menu has a great selection of wines and food to make us want to come back. Here are some of the problems. The wait staff is still a little green. My big Raviolo was great but the pork belly was way over cooked. The Orecchiette with sausage and broccoli rabe was bitter. We ate around the broccoli. What we could eat was delicious. We especially liked the appetizer of whipped ricotta and tomato fig jam. A great start to our meal. We finished with the Ligurian olive oil cake, which was a lemon cake. Good , but a bigger buildup than the result. There's much to like as they get their legs. We certainly we give them more tries. read more

The menus look promising but alas, the food wasn't delivered well. I really didn't want to write the review as the owner is such a nice guy and made our night more comfortable. He even offered us free food throughout the night. We got the mussels for appetizers but unfortunately the sauce was relatively bland. We ordered the bolognese and torta cream mushroom pasta. The bolognese wasn't my favorite as it's not saucy and the noodles tasted dry. The torta pasta though tasted good. Not too creamy and a nice texture. Others seem to enjoy their pasta so maybe we just got the wrong meal. Lastly, they didn't clear out the mussels app plate before bringing out our main meal which is unusual, especially since we were sitting in the relatively space-lacking pasta bar seating. Service was good otherwise. read more

We had a great dinner at Torchio. Service is fantastic and the pasta was delicious. Highly recommended.

I was quite surprised by the quality, the service and the atmosphere of this great authentic Italian restaurant. Wifey and I sat at the bar. We went on Saturday night... One of the few places where you can reserve seating at the bar! We stared with the semolina gnocchi and the Torchio salad. Gnocchi was very good, the sauce was well made. The salad was good but not great ... it lacked some dressing and was rather dry but was fresh tasting. We then had to try a sampling of everything; we decided on ordering 3 dishes: 1- ORECCHIETTE, SAUSAGE & BROCCOLI RABE 2- CACIO E PEPE 3- SPAGHETTI WITH GARLIC & OIL Overall: hands down the BEST, freshest pasta we've ever tried. All 3 dishes were amazing. The dishes did lack some salt and I'm not big on salt altogether however that did not take away from the overall taste and experience of the dishes. Now the bad: the tiramisu was a compete let down. We've had tiramisu in every Italian resto we've gone to and this one was very "liquidy" and lacked that authentic tiramisu flavor we were hoping for. The portion also was quite small. As mentioned earlier, the service was great, the food was great too and so was the atmosphere. The desert on the other hand let us down... maybe next time will be better (and yes, there will be a next time) read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Semolina Gnocchi and Torchio Salad - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Update: they were so wonderful and actually had the owners sister give me a call to explain their situation of being a new restaurant and not having the system in place. They invited me sincerely to come in and it was a delightful dinner. We had the whipped ricotta and fig jam app to start and had the best cacio e Pepe in the city! I had the scallop fettuccini and I've never had such delicate fettuccini! The homemade pasta is the best part of everything. Finished with olive oil cake and tiramisu which were both wonderful. The cocktails were also great, it was an amazing experience top to bottom, not to mention the wonderfully tentative and friendly staff and owner Bill, who has such a cool story! I've been trying to make a reservation here, not only do they not do it with yelp or open table, I did an online reservation AND a phone call voice mail and I still have not heard a confirmation message. And that was 2 weeks ago and last week respectively. It's so unprofrssi read more

Cute Italian, pasta resistant in River North. There's plenty of metered parking around and wasn't hard to find parking either on a Friday night. Limited seating. There's a bar where you can sit too. They do take reservations, so reserve ahead to be guaranteed a seat. When my friend called it was either 5p or 8p available, which tells you it gets busy between 6p and 7p. There's booth seating along the side of the restaurant with table seats in the middle. Again not a very big restaurant. We got booth seating which I love for more cozy and private dinner. I came with 2 other friends. We ordered 2 appetizers and our own entree. We got Caesar salad and Burrata and Heirloom Tomatoes with pesto. My friends love burrata, I'm indifferent. I ordered the braised short rib risotto because I wanted something non pasta and love short ribs. The sauce was too sweet for me. I only ate a few bites and took the rest home. Maybe I should've looked at some pictures but the risotto was covered/cooked in the sauce. I was expecting lightly seasoned plain risotto with braised short rib on top. The short rib was shredded and a little mixed into the risotto with a glob on top. Honestly the color was not pleasing lol. It was a dark red wine color dish - almost black with the dim lighting. 1 took a star away due to my dish being disappointing to me. One of my friend got what I would've chosen as 2nd option -- rigatoni, taleggio cream and truffle oil. I took 2 bites and it was so good that I wish I went with my 2nd choice. I love truffle flavor and there were pieces of mushroom on it. I didn't try my other's friend but it was fettuccine with shrimp, not sure what sauce. The portions were big for $25-$32 pasta, risotto dishes. I would come back to try other dishes because there were 2 there ones that I wanted to try. We didn't get dessert because we were too full and our table time was up. Service was great. Our waiter checked in on us often. Note they charge a 3% credit card processing fee. We knew this coming in and brought cash, but it was interesting that they assumed we were going to pay in card and already included this 3% on our bill. read more

My absolute favorite Italian spot in the city. Food is above and beyond, and Bill truly treats you like family every time you come in. Can't recommend this spot enough! Must try when in Chicago. Better than Prosecco and Topo! read more

My husband and I had been craving some legit fresh pasta made in house. We had the gnocchi, carbonara, puttanesca, and the tiramisu. Everything was perfect. I actually hoped the portions would be smaller so that I could try more dishes at once! Bill was super friendly which made the whole experience even more wonderful. I'd love to go back to try the rest of the menu! read more

Love this place! Owner is so nice and welcoming. Layout is so quaint with all the high tops and bar seating and the perfect mix of Holiday decor. I tried several of the pastas and each perfectly al dente hand cranked! read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - BEEF BRACIOLE, SAUSAGE, & MEATBALL RIGATONI - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Newer place that has opened on Wells. Yes the pasta is homemade and you can definitely tell. I will say however that their service needs improvement. Chalk it up to training issues and growing pains? I shouldn't have to ask for water and drink refills which I constantly did. Had the cheese platter to start and it was fantastic. Had a Caesar salad that I split with my wife. WARNING! We all know Caesar dressing had anchovies or anchovy paste in it, but this was excessive. Extreme strong fish taste. Not fresh today? Dressing made incorrectly? Not sure, but it was very fishy tasting. Wife had the carbonara and it lacked flavor. My son had the hot sausage and broccoli rabe dish which I just say was outstanding. Brocollini as a side dish was very bitter. Not saying it won't give it another try, but there are a lot of great Italian restaurants in this city. Choose wisely. read more

This place is an absolute great example of a five star restaurant!!!! The pasta is impeccable! We got the torchio pasta and the rigatoni with plum tomato sauce!! We also got drinks and they were super yummy and strong!! Torchio provides a wonderful date night experience! Honestly, a wonderful experience overall for any occasion! Space is definitely limited so I would suggest calling ahead or better yet, getting a reservation (unlike us, i like to come unannounced hehe) We ran into what seemed to be a small issue in the beginning (we were having dinner with our impatient couple we brought with) and since we didn't have a reservation we just had to wait to sit outside. It all worked out and I will definitely be going back! The service is outstanding!! Must GO!!! NOW!! read more

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This place is just what the doctor ordered...great service, great bar, even better owners! Bill and his wife make you feel right at home, giving the patron the best experience. If you want a great meal, get to Torchio! You won't be disappointed. read more

Torchio's homemade pasta is amazing! We started with saffron arancini and shared pastas family-style for our group of seven: cacio e pepe, malfaldine with beef and veal ragu, scallops & fettuccine, rigatoni & chicken with pesto cream. They were all amazing! My favorite was the pesto. It also comes with complimentary bread, butter, olive oil and vinegar. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Cacio E Pepe Pasta, rigatoni & chicken with pesto cream, malts fine with beef & veal ragu, Scallops and Fettuccine Pasta - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Felt like the pasta was really good we got the Torchio pasta. Pasta was superb cooked el dente and the sauce was great complimenting the minced meat and mushrooms! 100% would do it again.Meatball and mussels were not that good. Meatballs was $9 on happy hour price and it was a bit too smooth for my liking - didn't meet my gastronomic expectations for minced meat. The mussels were cooked in white wine but I felt like the 'sauce' was very much diluted and tasted a lot like butter mixed with wine and water. Service was alright, they forgot our bread and olive oil and we had to ask for it after our food was all served; wished the staff was more proactive read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Mussels cooked in white wine - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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New and Excellent ! Freshly made Pasta on premises!! Tasty sauce Service prompt Atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable Pleasant Owners...husband and wife team !! Jolene sister of Bill the owner Her own cookies are real treat !!come in and enjoy!!Dr Raj G and Mrs (Dr) G Streetville/Goldcoast Area Re read more

My boyfriend and I came here after a long, hot day at the conservatory and zoo and it was a perfect place to wind down and relax. We ordered a crustini appetizer, carbonara, Cacio e Pepe, and an aperol spritz. The pasta tasted so fresh and homemade! The crustini was unique with pancetta, whipped goat cheese, and melon and it was delicious! So happy we stopped here while in Chicago. We would have taken pictures of the pasta but we ate it too quickly! read more

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

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This restaurant was quaint, lovely and had amazing food. It was reasonably priced and the owners were pleasant, welcoming and very friendly. I highly recommend it. read more

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I was very excited to try this restaurant as I'm a sucker for homemade pasta, but left disappointed. - "Torchio" Pasta: I had heard great things about this dish, and this pasta ended up being the more disappointing of the two. The noodles were very undercooked (almost hard) and this is coming from someone who loves al dente noodles. The sauce was also very under-salted. It almost seemed as though the chef did not check the noodles or sauce before serving the dish. - Capanelle: This one was definitely the better of the two. I would give this 4/5 stars, but again, was under-salted. I had to put a large portion of parmesan cheese on top to get the saltiness I was looking for. Perhaps I just came on an off night. read more

To put it simply, Torchio is simply phenomenal. As a life long Chicago resident it's rare that an independent restaurant owner is able to open up and receive such notoriety so quickly, let alone one from Long Island! Bill and his wife are down to earth, fantastic individuals making some truly amazing pasta (among many other things) that rivals the likes of Siena Tavern, RPM and Piccolo. Whether you're a local or a tourist give this gem a try next time you find yourself in the Near North Neighborhood. read more

Torchio Pasta Bar - Carbonara done with torch noodles - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Oh man. So good. Little tiny place ran by the cutest couple. Handmade pasta by the owner who "retired" to open a restaurant. A bottle of red along with the Carbonara. So good. My colleague had the bolegnese which came with a parmigiana bowl. Great atmosphere. Highly recommend. read more

Amazing! Love this place. Great food and great drinks. Bill, Janice and Novy are some of the best. The pasta is handmade and absolutely delicious. I personally recommend the scallops & fettuccine with the gnocchi to start but you can't go wrong any route you go. read more

Absolutely delicious food, drinks and friendly, helpful service. Almost all available tables are high tops that are not accessible whatsoever to people with physical disabilities, so be aware. read more

Great restaurant!! The food was delicious and our server was attentive and knowledgeable. The server made my partner's birthday very special by bringing out dessert with a candle. The wine selection is wonderful and lots of menu options as well. The ambiance is nice and cozy with good lighting. The owner took the time and talked to a lot of the guests that were dining that evening. Overall very personable experience, from the moment we walked in to the moment we finished dinner. Only negative was sitting near the door. Every time it opened we got cold. We had to keep putting on and taking off our jackets. read more