OH (pause) MY (pause again) GOSH...[think Janis of Friends]. I just ate the most delicious thin crust pizza from Trattoria D.O.C. I'd heard about this restaurant from my co-workers who still drive up to Evanston just for the food, but I didn't quite believe them until I tried for myself. Absolutely amazing pizza. I had the pizza camilla, which had tomato sauce, gorgonzola, mozerella, ham, and oregano. The ham was sliced very thin and tasted so good- just the right amount of salty. All the ingredients were in perfect amount on top of the deliciously fresh crust. The pizza is baked in a brick oven. My co-workers had great looking pizzas as well (we each ordered our own, and I have leftovers that are already calling my name). I looked at tables of other guests, and their food looked mighty tasty. We finished off lunch with cappuccinos that had the best foam ever (which could be a result of my not having a cappuccino for weeks). Our waiter was extremely nice, so as for the poor service in prior reviews, I'm not sure what that was about. It was a bit cold in the place, so bring a sweater. Definitely give DOC a try- I will be driving up to Evanston again just for it. There is also a location in Lincoln Square. read more

Great place for large parties. Have been to two there -- good food, wine and reasonable prices

Spouse would only give it two, maybe a grudging three star rating... partly based on ordering that pasta with duck that everyone seems to order and no one can remember the name of (I do have a copy of the menus somewhere around here - meet the lunch menu - same as the dinner menu (except for a few sandwiches.) We both found the Pappardelle all' Anatra (duck) to be bland and uninspired (why bother with the duck for this kind of result?) I got lucky with the Risotto al Frutti di Mare (read: seafood) which was plate licking good. We disagreed about the fried Calamari (which I liked, spouse said was the frozen pre-breaded stuff, and a lousy brand at that. Second visit (a month later, in August) was less successful. Thinking I was on a roll with the risotto, this time I got the "al Porcini Freshi" variation - which was way too much of an only so-so thing. It would have made a great SIDE dish but was too boring and monotonous to stand on it's own. And for just $1.75 less than the seafood laden version kind of a rip as well. Katsuyuki's optimism was not rewarded: the Spaghetti alla Carbonara was stiil seriously oversalted (when cooking with both bacon and Parmesan exercise restraint with the salt shaker) and quite dry too. Service disappointed both times. The first time, server just seemed inexperienced. Second time was a fiasco. After upgrading us to a much more expensive wine, she never showed up again and appeared not to notice repeated flag down attempts. Finally a beleagured bus boy pretended to understand our dilemma and a visiting wine rep overheard us and brought us glasses of wine herself! Later, the regional manager (who just happened to be there to conduct a training class) stopped by to apologize and offered us a comp glass of wine (even though by then we were done eating).) A few tables away our waitress was now paying attention to us and crying her eyes out - so we found ourselves in the position of pleading with the manager to give her a second chance and not fire her. Oh Yuck. We did appreciate the comp wine - since that upgraded wine suggestion was $14.95 a glass (vs the $7.95 a glass we had planned to order.) But that seafood risotto was so good - I want to try it again - so I guess I'll risk taking my Mom there for her birthday? read more

We finally went to Trattoria DOC as we like Italian and wanted to walk. I do not plan to go back. It wasn't 'bad', really, but absolutely nothing interesting. We thought thought the menu looked good but food not well prepared. For instance, the vegetable on the side was completely cold (not supposed to be) and had a weird flavor (it was spinach and broccolli I guess....leftovers?) Salmon was well cooked, if a little dry. Alan had tilapia but the livornese sauce was not a good taste. Too bad. Oh and the cabernet was not good at all. Service was weak... Too bad. read more

Love Trattoria D.O.C. One (and only one) caveat - we have had repeated problems ordering with them from GrubHub, specifically with a driver who is frequently assigned named "Blessing". Let me assure you, she is more of a curse than a blessing. Our food is often 30 or more minutes behind the promised time, and we only get it after repeated calls to GrubHub. If you love Trattoria D.O.C. like we do, go in person, or pick up takeout yourself. The food is worth the trouble, but Blessing is cursed for us. read more

Not bad. We had visited their pizzeria on Lawrence a few happy times but this was our first visit here. Pizza was good and authentic (based on our many trips to Italia). Waiter (Luka) was friendly and efficient. Wine (a Frescobaldi super-Tuscan) was very good and they used balloons. Tables were a tad too close together to suit me and HVAC system was variable but I think we'll be back. Later: Well, we went back and had another good time. HOWEVER, there is a gentleman working behind the bar with ratty facial hair and unkempt clothing. He is distracting to diners like us. I recommend he clean up his appearance and wear a bartender's apron. read more

This place is way underrated. The pizza margarita here is the bomb! Delicious crust, sauce and cheesy goodness you will love it. We started with their Bellini Martina's and calamari fritti. The martini was refreshing and potent and was a great accompaniment to the crisp, and succulent, perfectly fried calamari. Tricolor salad was next along with Pizza Stagione on this visit. Delicious indeed! My only complaint is that the outdoor seating needs a major redo. I mean even I don't have plastic Walmart chairs in my backyard! Yuck! Get some nice Trattoria chairs for God sake! There I said it! Nevertheless service (ask for Stephen) and food here are very good! read more

Trattoria D.O.C. - Tricilore Salad is delicious - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

It's been years since I ate in their dining room. However, I have continued to order their Bolognese and Spaghetti Carbonara for carry-out and delivery. Their prices are a little high, but their cooking is very good. They are a neighborhood treasure. read more

This is a charming and wonderful place to eat in South Evanston. I've been here several times, and I've always been really happy with my meal and the overall experience. First of all, I like the decor. It's lovely without being in your face, and is a great place to bring friends to. The servers are all really really nice and helpful and I've always felt taken care of when I dine there. The food is wonderful! I've loved every pasta that I have tried. I think they must make their own pasta on site because it always is so fresh. I also love trying their Bruscetta! The wine list is great too. Overall, I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who loves some good Italian food! read more

Casual, neighborhood Italian joints with great food and not-quite-special-occasion prices are an elusive species, which is why I like Trattoria D.O.C. First of all, their wine list is amazingly affordable, with a broad selection of house reds, whites and a rose ranging from $6-8 per glass. That's a steal! I usually go for one of their wood-fired pizzas, which are dependably delicious. A perfect thin-crust antidote to Chicago deep dish, with a nice selection of toppings. But it's also worth checking out the daily specials. Yesterday, a special asparagus soup with lump crab meat was the highlight of my meal. read more

Great food, excellent service what more could you ask for?? Kid friendly as well! My niece and nephew drew all over the table paper cloth......they had so much fun read more

I love this place! My husband is Italian (like real Italian - born and raised there, then immigrated to the US as an adult). He says the food here tastes just like home. The menu is set up just like Italy with "I Primi" first courses as different kinds of pasta, and "I Secondi" as the meat dishes. Just like in Italy, they don't slice the pizza unless you ask them to...you slice it up yourself with a knife. They have a tuna and onion pizza, which sounds funny to Americans but is a popular flavor there and this place does the best one I've ever had. The owner's father is from Italy and she travels back frequently to ensure the authenticity of the food! She is frequently there too and is super nice! We love their Bucatini all' Amatriciana, which is like thick spaghetti with a whole down the middle covered in a spiced red sauce with bacon. They do an outstanding Salmon al Limone because the lemon white wine sauce is just perfect. With their pizzas, you can't go wrong...we've probably tried half of them and liked every single one. They are thin crust. Our favorites are the tuna and onion, potatoes and rosemary, and the spinach with goat cheese. For desserts, we have really enjoyed the croccantino (most similar to a slice of ice cream but it's very very creamy) and chocolate cake (it's a lava cake...mm! You can pick the flavor of gelato on top too if you ask :)). They also deliver or you can order for pick up...but we love eating there because it's a nice ambiance! read more

We had a very disappointing dinner this Saturday -- that's the basis for this review. At other times, we've had very good experiences. But when they fail on a Saturday night, something's wrong. Their seafood rissoto, usually richly favored was tasteless and served with less than the usual amount/variety of seafood. (The server offered to take it back, but we had eaten much of it during conversation, and didn't want to wait. On request, he shaved some parmisan cheese for us; but that didn't help much).Another rissoto was similarly without distinction. The grilled vegetables, usually extrordinary, were limp and bland. Then they were out of the dessert we ordered -- early on a Saturday night.. In the past, we've loved their grilled calamari and their panacoti, but -- as another Yelper mentioned -- they seem inconsistent. A year ago, we (too) got a basket of moldy bread. But we've kept coming back for the rissoto. I wish this time we'd returned it to the kitchen, of only to make the point! read more

The big negative for me is the portion sizes. In my opinion the regular size is too much and the half portion is too small. Why can't Trottoria DOC just do a medium quantity and charge $3 less. Between 80 and 90 grams of pasta is the perfect quantity. I go here for lunch and I go back to work feeling lethargic. Or even a lunch menu would be awesome! read more

I was really excited to try this restaurant, I've been wanting to go for a while and finally came with my boyfriend for my birthday. It was pretty full when we came around 8pm on a Friday night but we were still seated quickly without a reservation. The wine wasn't great and the antipasto appetizer was just okay, I would try something else. I had a half order of Caprese salad which was also just okay and the gnocchi which I loved! My boyfriend had the carbonara which was great too. The service wasn't great, our waitress didn't check up on us at all so we weren't able to order more drinks and had to wait a long time for the check. They were out of a few specials when we tried to order. Overall I would say it was just okay, the pasta dishes were the only positive. I wouldn't make a special trip here again but if you're just looking for some good pasta in Evanston I would give it a go! read more

OK, my friend thought this place was amazing. It didn't blow me over. I've been told had I gotten pizza it would have knocked my puddin' pops off my socks. Seeing the asparagus goat cheese pizza led me to think otherwise. Decent Bruschetta, OK atmosphere (a little to romantic to be family, a little to family to be romantic), and really nasty ravoli mean that despite the good company I've got to give this place 2 stars. Step it up guys! read more

I am so glad I found this place. The meal was wonderful and the combination of the Panna cota and strawberries felt like a hug from my grandmother. (The wine and Frangelico May have helped.) read more

After a rave recommendation from my parents, I checked this place out, and in terms of the food, they were absolutely right to be so impressed by it. The grilled vegetable appetizer was full of fresh eggplant, zucchini, green beans, and more, drizzled in a sauce that perfectly complimented the smoky way they were cooked. The goat cheese, spinach, and tomato pizza I had was huge (though it was meant to serve one) and provided me with a delicious if not somewhat unhealthy lunch for the next two days. Then the panna cotta was just a dream; words cannot describe how amazing it was, except to say that after eating it I immediately went home and learned how to make it myself. But... the service. Though the place was empty save for one table, it took us five minutes to be seated. Once we were, it took another fifteen til the waiter took our order. When he brought a basket of bread to the table, it was obviously old bread, as not only was it stale, but a few pieces contained fuzzy black mold. I pointed it out and the waiter said it was probably just that piece and it didn't matter, instead of immediately apologizing and bringing a fresh basket. Basically, this is a place to check out if you like Italian, however, make sure you go during a slightly busier time of the day when there are more waiters and customers present, giving you a significantly better chance of 1. having a waiter notice you and 2. getting bread that hasn't been sitting around for the past few days. read more

Sweet neighborhood restaurant. Way better than average pasta. Salmon livornese excellent. Wide variety of pizzas and nice wine list. Great service and reasonable prices. You could easily pay much more for much less. Go there! read more

Do you like restaurants with lots of space to stretch out? Where you are sitting on comfy couches and have small private areas? Well guess what? That isn't Trattoria! Meanwhile, here's what Trattoria DOC is: A nice sitdown italian restaurant with some very creative pizzas. They had a pizza with arugula and artichoke that was fantastic. Additionally, this is a place to go if you want a lot of good vegetarian options. The GF had a pizza with asparagus and although I thought it tasted great, to be honest it was quite short on the asparagus. We're talking like 8 asparagus for a 14" pizza or so. There is a nice wine selection and a nice italian selection, all of which seem to be good sized for an individual. Price is pretty in line with the portions, as the pizza's were around $12 or $14 each. It was still cheaper than ordering pizzas of the same size at the other Trattoria. So if you like italian food, and you want to try a place with some unique dishes such as Suppli, this is definitely a good place to go. Oh, and the suppli was great. It was like a fried mozarella stick with lemon rice in the middle, with a taste I've never experienced before. read more

To be clear, I am always hesitant to post comments about a restaurant because I do know that there is always a reason why there is a "fail" and it may not be the fault of the restaurant but a result of an uncontrollable circumstance. To that end, I called Trattoria DOC after receiving my order tonight. The person that I spoke with heard my concerns and gave me a "thank you for calling" response. That response did not inspire me to believe that anything would change, rather, left me feeling a perfunctory reply that would placate me and end the call. To be clear, your online ordering system is not clear on what I will get and what I won't. $2.50 for a tin of pasta with no sauce, not what I expected. The response was that this should be paired with the lemon sauce that came with the chicken (Newsflash, there was not enough liquid available in the serving for the pasta to be saturated by the sauce.) No potatoes with the meal because of a double vegetable choice. You should explain that in your online menu. In short, you should listen to the calls that you receive and be more responsive to what is said. Because you weren't I write this Yelp review. I would also suggest that you provide an online access point to your management team so that customers like me aren't posting Yelp comments. You are a good restaurant that hasn't figured out the digital space or do you seem to have the access point for a direct dialogue with your customers (the phone call that I had with your team was a classic 'fail'). Be better. We want to support you but that is not permission to take advantage of the moment. Peter Ulrich. read more

Hosted a birthday party for one of my workers. The staff definitely went out of their way to make sure we were well served. I was quite impressed! Happy customer. will be back. read more

A great thin crust alternative to heading downtown and at a fair price. Authentic brick-oven 'za. As the four star listing indicates, I am indeed a fan. Don't want to spend too much time here on this review because I think many of the reviews below capture the essence of the place. Here's my summary assessment, based on six dining experiences in the last two years: Atmosphere: A bit drab, but pleasant. Thin Crust Pizza: In the words of Gaylord Fokker, Strong to Quite Strong Appetizers: Excellent. Service: Friendly & helpful. Pricing: Fair. We generally stick to pizza and appetizers; both are excellent. For those that complain about the price in reviews below, consider the portions. Two people can easily spit one of the $8 salads. Pizzas are priced between $11-$14, and you WILL NOT go home hungry. Compare to some of the thin crust alternatives in town (for example, a pie at Great Lake will cost you north of $20, it is about the same size, and I think that D.O.C. is better....I know, I know, my vendetta against Great Lake continues...I can't help it...and they deserve it). My wife and I were reminded last night about how pleasant the folks are at DOC, so that is what inspired the review. Also, one word of advice - in addition to our six in-restaurant dining experiences, we've also gotten takeout several times. Takeout is tough on thin-crust pizza, so just remember that if you're considering one or the other. This is one case where in the flesh is far superior. read more

I do not understand at all some of the low reviews for this place--their food is fantastic! Everything - from the appetizers, to the salads, to the pasta, to the pizza - is so, so good, and so worth the price. The portions are good too so there are almost always leftovers. We eat here at least once a week :) I recommend the fried calamari, tricolore salad, Orecchiette con Spinaci, Spaghetti alla Carbonara, Bucatini all' Amatriciana, Pappardelle ai Funghi Porcini, and any one of their pizzas. Their bread is amazing too. Whenever we get our Trattoria fixings, the stresses of the world seem to float away :) Also, good to know, during this time of COVID, they appear to be extremely careful and safe with all precautions, including hand sanitizer and paper towels at the door for which to open it. I always feel very safe when I pick up our order here. Thank you for all the wonderful meals, Trattoria! read more

Had dinner with friends here last night and was pleased. I think this would be a great spot for a date. The setting is intimate and warmly lit. For my dinner, I had the pear/gorgonzola salad, the lasagna, and shared the marscapone frozen dessert with my friends. Each dish was tasty, and I appreciated the option for half plates. The service was particularly on point. When we asked to split the check, the waitress split the dessert in thirds (I've never seen that before). She attended to us very well, as did the busser who made sure our waters stayed full and dishes were cleared promptly. It is a bit pricey, in my opinion, but they do offer an NU student discount. read more

Me and my girlfriend went here on our date night and we were really happy with out service and food our waiter was helpful and friendly and we loved it. We told my girlfriends mother that the place was night and a few weeks later we went again and had a so so waitress who was flighty the food was still really good and we were over all really happy. It is really hot inside so dress lightly! read more

Ah - not great. Once we got the food, it was okay. We were a family party of 11 and truly with all of us choosing different entrees we should have been able to settle on at least a few dynamite dinners, but we didn't. Two of the pizzas were raved about although neither blew my socks off and the kids ate steak which they thought was pretty good. Of course I tasted it and agreed but I'd never go to an Italian restaurant for a decent steak when there are many extraordinary ones around. I had a shrimp fettuccine which was pretty authentic but on the salty side. Back to my earlier comment regarding the service, it was mediocre at best. The ambiance felt more like a tavern than a finer eating establishment. I could not hear the waiter at all once he arrived at our table so he had to make individual stops at each of us to explain the entrees one by one. Either he was new - to the restaurant or to speaking English, but ordering was pretty rough going as he couldn't pronounce the names of the dishes nor explain them. Most of us were looking to the next guy for help. I couldn't really tell how anyone else liked their food because most of the conversation was a shouting match so I let it go unquestioned. The best part of the entire dinner was our dessert which I later discovered was ordered elsewhere and was brought in by the party thrower for the occasion. Wouldn't be my choice for another family gathering. Might be better for a smaller party but I don't think I'd even give it a second try. read more

I highly recommend visiting this restaurant, especially during the pandemic. Their outdoor seating is so wonderful and private on Custer Street. They blocked off the whole street with the Wine Goddess and La Principal. We had such a nice time with our family and the food was delicious. Eggplant Parmesan was some of the best that I have had. It is family friendly and the service was lovely. We will be back soon. read more

This is the worst I've ever been treated. There was no host when we walked in so we wondered around looking for a host. When we were finally seated we got the worst service. I was overcharged for a drink that came in a child size glass when everyone else had a full wine glass, charged 9 dollars for a salad that was four tomato slices, some cheese and basil . Then had our server walk past our table ten times without acknowledging our empty glasses. The pizza looked like digornio and pretty much wasn't fully cooked. We we're ultimately kicked out for voicing our unhappiness and charged 54 dollars along with being told that we weren't being served our drinks because we looked drunk when we walked in even though we hadn't even had a drink before we walked in. Never been treated that horribly in my life. read more

Best Meatball sandwich in the Chicago Area. I am a big guy and it lasted me two meals. At $8 for a meatball during lunch, killer deal! read more

Couldn't wait to return to the wonderful outdoor seating this summer. Well, we were very disappointed. First the servers were sitting/standing against the wall with their heads in their phones. After taking our initial order we had to walk over and ask where our drinks were. Looks like he forgot about us. Someone needs to supervise these outdoor waiters. Our apps were overcooked. My grilled squid was over cooked and chewy. The fried calamari was also overcooked. They did not accommodate my request for dressing on the side. Our entrees were the "won't return" finality. The Sea Bass is not really bass and tasted like Catfish. At $26 I was shocked at how bad it was. I could not eat it. The waiter said there was nothing he could do, insisting it was Sea Bass. I know what muddy tasting catfish tastes like and that is what I was served. When our bill came we were overcharged for one of the drinks. Another place off our list. read more

Delicious Italian food. This place is just a few steps from the Main Street Metra Station. Pizzas are big and the pasta is fresh. Nice service. The Croccantini for dessert is amazing. Recommended! read more

I have eaten here several times and have even booked the back of the restaurant for a party. They are friendly, accommodating, and the food is fantastic. My favorites are the sea bass al limone and the pizza with the spinach, sliced tomatoes and goat cheese. My hubby always goes for the bolangese. A few times we have seen friends there, and that's the kind of place this is - upscale neighborhood. The best is dining outside in the summer, sipping wine. So nice. read more

Lovely Italian restaurant. I've been living in Evanston for years, and this is my first time going here. The dishes are excellent and not overpriced. I also like the option of choosing a half or a full sized dish. All of the wines are Italian, and the waiter chose one that paired well with the meal. I'll definitely be going back. read more

We were here to meet an old friend from out of town who stood us up (excessive inebriation was to blame). This enabled me to observe the manager-co-owner in action. I really like the way she takes literal and figurative ownership of the place, she knows her regulars by name (Just have a seat J____, your father is on his way. How nice to see you M______ and S__________, it's been over a month, how did you like Greece?...). We took up a four-top waiting over an hour (we couldn't remember the last time we got stood up, it's become so rare in the mobile phone - SMS age) but we didn't get any pressure, only a seemingly sincere sympathetic concern. How could we not stay for dinner? The Italian style pizzas are delicious, there are some very tasty vegetarian combinations. The pizzas are Italian, not Chicago style, not New York style, if you're looking for American pizza I think you'd be better off at Blaze. The calamari was perfect (you know, it's timing, just a bit overdone and squid isn't tender). The wine list is good, fits the cuisine quite well. The prices for the food and wine is a little high, but completely in line with Evanston for the quality and ambiance. read more

Trattoria D.O.C. - Plastic lawn chairs. Hmmph. - Italian Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

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Probably one of the worst meals ever. Not only was the food terrible (my pasta included frozen vegetables!), the waiter was rude and condescending. When we asked if they had meatballs and Caesar salad, we were told those are actually American stereotypes. read more

I'm giving five stars, because four and half isn't a choice, and I don't want to give four. It seems that it's fair to say they might be best reducing their menu in the name of freshness. My only bad (and it wasn't that bad) experience here was with a take-out piece of cake. It was slightly stale, maybe made the day before. Other than that, Guiliana and the other servers are fabulous! The food is definitely wonderful. I recommend the grilled vegetable appetizer and a bottle of Dolcetto. Sometimes it's offered by the glass, but with the new wine doggie bags, the bottle is just fine thank you very much. I seem to always get the same pizza, the spinaci, I believe. Save room for gelato, and get one scoop of each! Delish! Flavors vary, but some favorites have been pistachio, lavender, and lemon. Absolutely delightful! Go, and go again! read more

Trattoria DOC is a classic example of an Italian restaurant with a hit-or-miss menu. The daily features seemed interesting enough when I went in, but I would have liked our server to explain them a bit instead of just throwing a card on the table for us to read. Fortunately, my mother and I are hardcore Sicilian so my group decided on the fried zucchini flowers with artichoke mousse to start. Then, we looked at the pizza list. Dear God, this thing was a monster. It must have had at least 20 different pizzas, again which our server (I barely want to call her that) did not bother to go over--it was obvious we were new to the area. Whatever, we still trudged through it. The pasta and entrée list was not much better, although easier to get through based on the descriptions in Italian (again, the fact that my mom and I can read in Italian saved the day, not our server). I got the lamb ragu with pasta, and I must say that it was good, although the portion left something to be desired. My mother got a Bolognese sauce. The other two guests got a calzone-like pizza with vegetables and penne with marinara, respectively. Over all, I can't say that I would go back. The service was mediocre; our server...or should I say order taker...was clearly not into it. She didn't do anything poorly, but she certainly didn't do anything well either. The food tasted good, but for the price, I was expecting something a little more interesting at the very least. Maybe had she guided us through the menu instead of sitting around for us to read through it, both parties would have enjoyed the hour exchange a little more. read more

This is honestly my favorite Italian restaurant in Evanston. As soon as you walk through the doors everyone is so friendly, the atmosphere is very cozy, and the food is delicious! Every time I go on a date night with my husband here it always inspires me to travel!! I highly recommend coming here, it's a true delight! read more

This was pretty sub-par Italian. Granted we ordered it to-go, but my pasta (Amatriciana) was way too salty and the cannoli was soggy. The bruschetta was also soggy which I would forgive (since it was takeout) but the tomatoes on top had zero flavor. read more