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    Ummo

    3.8 (182 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    Ummo Photos

    Ummo - Tortellini lamb ragu - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Downstairs open kitchen - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - UMMO FERRERO | Dark chocolate cream, toasted hazelnuts, hazelnut gianduja, vanilla & chocolate nitro drops, Frangelico jelly. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Exterior - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Upstairs seating area - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Dining room - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - SFUMATURA MARTINI|
A full-bodied umami martini, with a subtle touch of cherry and herb-infused olive oil. - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Lamb tortelli--star dish of the night - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Hugo - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Outside entrance - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois
    Ummo - Double expresso - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

    +607

    Ummo - Inside - Italian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

    Business Info

    UMMO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Trendy
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ummo

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb Tortelli + Crab Agnolotti
    Jackie B.

    The Lamb Tortelli was the star of the show. But the vibes were also great. They played house music which added to the ambiance. It was not super crowded on a Tuesday evening, but we still enjoyed the food quite a bit. The Crab Agnolotti was good, but the Lamb Tortelli took the first place review. I would go back or recommend for good vibes.

    Bread and olive oil
    Nilou E.

    Fantastic food, high quality pasta, nice vibe, great staff. What else are you looking for?

    Pistachio cheesecake
    Melissa S.

    Came here and was very underwhelmed by the experience. The best part about it is that service is spectacular at every touch point, from the host stand to the table bussers and everyone in between. Special shout-out to our waitress, Janet, who was awesome. Ambiance is also nice: good, nothing amazing, but comfortable and inviting. Now the most important part: food and drink. I'll start with the drinks, which were good. I had two glasses of Nebbiolo, which were great (and they better be, for $25 each). My husband tried two different cocktails, which were both very good. Unfortunately, the food did not deliver. We got two appetizers, the Caesar salad, and the burrata e prosciutto. The Caesar salad was decent, but it would have been very good had there been more dressing on it and ideally some croutons. It was just meh. The burrata was by far the best thing we had all night. It was excellent and super unique, especially the jam. Very delicious. For our main courses, I had the campanelle all a vodka pasta, which was quite boring. I liked the chicken ragu, which you don't see a lot, but the sauce could have used a lot more flavor. My husband had the florentine chicken, which was okay, but nothing spectacular. I was excited to try dessert, the pistachio cheesecake, but it was underwhelming. It somehow tasted like bread pudding and had hints of pistachio flavor but was this dull brown color that was rather off-putting. I will say that this is a relatively inexpensive restaurant considering you are in the heart of River North, but you get what you pay for. I never need to go back to Ummo.

    Zack R.

    Stopped in last night for one of my final restaurant week stops. I don't typically dine in this particular part of River North, just because, like, let's call a spade a spade - this area is where the tourists flock to, AND it's notoriously over-priced and just a bit cheugy. Either way, went in with good intentions! We were a bit early, so we stopped at the bar for two $20 cocktails. They were fine. The Hugo was a version of a Hugo Spritz that was very floral with elderflower accents. I also had a sip of the Strawberry Cannoli, which was way too sweet for my liking, but I am sure the 20-something young girls adore it. Their Restaurant Week Menu has an app, an entree, and a dessert. It's $60, and the portion sizes were super small. I found that maybe one more dish, like a salad or something that isn't part of the apps part of the menu, could have aided in that feeling of something missing. I ordered the arancini, which came with two quite small arancini in a white cheese sauce. This was easily the best part of the meal, which doesn't bode well! I ordered the risotto for the main and was completely underwhelmed. I LOVE risotto, but this one was first about 6 spoonfuls worth of food, and was overwhelmingly pesto-flavored. It just tasted a bit cheap and not as rich as expected. Lastly, the deserts were just not good. Clearly mass-produced and chilled in the back, both the "tiramisu" and the pistachio cheesecake were subpar. The tiramisu, especially, was strange because it had a hard shell that you had to break into (also, this shell is supposed to obviously look like an espresso bean, but my IG DMs would suggest that it actually looks more like female anatomy). It tasted like overly amaretto-y, with way too much cocoa powder, making it have a strange texture and consistency. A miss, I think, when you're hoping for a simple piece of tiramisu. Last thing, and I'll leave it alone. When it comes out, the server pours this like amaretto, bitter chocolate sauce around the pastry from a French press for some reason, so you're like okay hot fudge, like girl I guess, but it's actually ice cold. Super perplexing. All in all, the meal was worth no more than $40, so paying so much was disappointing. Especially from a logistical standpoint, risotto is not expensive to make, same with arancini, etc., so to skimp out on serving sizes is an odd choice. I did love the plating, so there's that! Service was also attentive. There are also jazz posters everywhere around the restaurant for some reason (what is the identity of the restaurant, is it jazz?), so enjoy looking at those! A bit of a mid experience, but kinda also what I was expecting, so can't really complain! More of a 2.5 than a 3 FOR ME, but waiting on Yelp to introduce halves!

    Inside
    Katy C.

    My friend Olivia posted some tasty looking photos from Ummo, so I was excited to check it out. I made a reservation for 6 pm on a weekday but it was pretty empty when we arrived. The space is swanky and cool with dark vibes and low lighting. Our server gave us some suggestions for ordering, so we went with the bread, smoked cauliflower, lamb tortelli, and cacio e pepe. We also shared a negroni. The bread was delicious! I loved the truffle butter that came with it. I'm a big cacio e pepe fan (adult mac and cheese) and their version was really good - very creamy and cheesy. The noodles were very long and fun. The lamb tortelli was tasty with red sauce, mint sauce, and cheese. The flavors were not quite my favorite, but Nate liked it. The portions were generous and we didn't have room for any dessert, but I've heard the tiramisu is awesome. Service was great - our waters were never empty, and everyone was polite. I don't often go to Italian restaurants, but I enjoyed this experience.

    Burrata and prosciutto during happy hour
    Clara S.

    We came for the great weekends happy hour details (even on Saturday until 6:30!). Only at the bar, which is a lovely place to sit if you can snag a seat. I got the Tzuco margarita to start, which was tasty and refreshing. We ordered every food item off the happy hour menu as well - everything was great and so filling for two people for dinner. The cacio e Pepe was a much smaller portion than a normal sized pasta dish but so tasty with the perfect texture. The ceasar salad was a little different as it had avocado on it, but orherwise fresh and tasty. The burrata and prosciutto was a big delicious dish to share as well. The other dishes weren't standout in my opinion. Service was quick, and our glass of montepulciano to close out the meal was so smooth!

    Prosciutto and Focaccia
    Melissa R.

    A music-themed, cozy yet chic vibe make this contemporary Italian spot worth a visit. With fresh sliced prosciutto options, mouth watering pasta dishes and a stellar cocktail and wine list, there's something for everyone. I loved the velvety long booths and walls adorned with posters and photographs. The servers were helpful in assisting with selection and the busses were SWIFT, cleaning dishes as soon as they appeared empty. Good tip: the bar has happy hour even on Saturday! Don't miss the espresso martini, lamb tortelli, and the mashed potatoes--downtown sinful!

    Sole Rosa
    Mark T.

    I agree with the sentiment expressed in an extremely detailed Reddit review: "Ummo is good, not great." The Redditor claims that Ummo is "somewhat affordable," to which I say, "perhaps, but the value proposition wasn't there." I had the opportunity to try: - Sole Rosa - Bolognese Meatballs - Mole Cappellacci - Ummo Ferrero - Single Espresso Sole Rosa: This is one of the more curious cocktails I've tried! The tequila seems high-end, and it's some of the smoothest stuff I've had! I didn't pick up on any boozy or earthy notes, and dare I say, it's a shame to use it in a cocktail. It was herbal, a little sweet, and a little tart from the hibiscus. Finally, the spicy coating on the outside of the glass added some welcome heat. While a 'good' cocktail, this isn't something I'd order again in light of the $22 price tag. Meatballs: I was thrilled that the beef was not dry and was loaded with herbs and spices. The tomato sauce was rich, flavorful, and clearly homemade. While not the "tennis balls" some other places call "meatballs," and definitely above average, I wouldn't go as far as to call them "phenomenal." Furthermore, the $4.50/each price seems excessive. Mole Cappellacci: With my love for Mexican food, and recently, Mole, you almost knew I'd be ordering this! The pasta was great, especially thanks to the sauce. While I understand what they were going for, I feel as though some things faded into the background. Croutons and the Caprese-inspired filling got lost. Meanwhile, the ancho and mole did not pack a punch significant enough to leave a dent in my memory. Price-wise, $25 seems less unreasonable, but this is a smaller portion than pasta dishes tend to be in Italian restaurants. Ummo Ferrero: I want to award them some points for creativity, as this dessert was like Gru hit a Ferrero Rocher with a grow-ray. That said, this dessert didn't land for me. It was extremely busy, while essentially being variations on a chocolate theme with some nuts and accoutrements. This one was $18, which is fine, but only just. Espresso: Out of left field came the espresso. This stuff was turbo-powered! Almost as strong as Turkish/Greek coffee! Service: The service started off great, but once our mains were out, it fell off a cliff. At the start of the meal, the service was attentive, knowledgeable, and fast. Props to the server for working with us so we didn't order more than we could eat and for allowing us to get smaller portions of some things (e.g., meatballs). However, after mains came out and only one check-in later, it was as if we all vanished. I caught the host and asked her to call over the server so I could order dessert. To close on service, the dessert was already more than half-gone by the time the espresso came out. Vibe: The dark and wooden tones and tastefully directed lighting were the highlights. On the flip side, the music-themed posters and music (although not loud) were, in my opinion, not in line with the price points. This seems like the kind of place one would bring a date for a romantic dinner to impress them, and these factors do not help. Thus, we are left with a "good" experience. The food, drink, and service all average to good. However, the prices demand at least a great (if not fantastic) experience, which this wasn't.

    Ciara W.

    I come to Ummo for the vibes. Classy ambiance without being over the top. The I was really impressed by the presentation of the food. The flavor was good, nothing special but the creativity and unique presentation really impressed me. I especially liked the dessert that came out looking like a tomato! This is a fun night out as they have Loft 22 as well. Service is always friendly and food comes out in a reasonable time frame.

    Burrata
    Rie U.

    TLDR: It's contemporary Italian (American) which isn't quite what I was in the mood for. We came here on a Wednesday night and the place was pretty empty. Really cool ambience and decor! The server was friendly and the service was adequate. The food: It's contemporary Italian, so it's not quite Italian, it's more of an interesting mix/fusion of American and Italian flavors/styles. We had the burrata and prosciutto, which came with fried gnocco, which all looked great, but the gnocco tasted like old oil... which was a bummer. The Bolognese Meatballs were good, though! Not amazing but solid. Tbf, I've never had an amazing meatball. The Lamb Tortellini was very tasty but the mint pesto was overpowering, which I thought was a bummer bc I liked the novelty of a mint pesto!.. but that was all I could taste after a while. The Seafood Chitarra was okay; some of the seafood was rubbery and either overcooked or possibly reheated? Not sure. I really wanted to like Ummo because I had two very positive experiences having their Espresso Martini at the Espresso Martini Contest at the Time Out Market, and also having their take on the Ferrero Rocher (which was SO GOOD!) at the First Bites Bash. This dine-in experience did not quite meet my expectations, though. Maybe I just didn't order the right things? I'd happily come back for just the Espresso Martini and Ferrero dessert, though!

    Nerissa L.

    I was so excited to dine here last week! Ummo is a lovely upscale italian restaurant located in the River North neighborhood. It is an amazing date spot and the ambiance is fabulous! Everything about this evening was great! The bartender on duty was awesome and made fantastic drinks! For dinner, I had the campanelle alla vodka and it was incredible! For dessert we split the cherry mousse dessert! Such an amazing experience! Try this place out! I am looking forward to coming back soon, and they also have a nice happy hour!!

    Jazmine P.

    Stopped in for their happy hour before a concert and they had some pretty good options. I'm not a coffee girl but that was one of the best espresso martinis I've ever had! The pasta was also good, I definitely need to go back to explore the dinner menu soon.

    Niranjana S.

    I will preface by saying I only went for happy hour but it was a great deal!! I got an espresso martini which was so creamy albeit a little sweet from a delicious cold foam! I also got the arancini which is always a fav of mine and both ended up being pretty affordable! Seating is pretty limited for the happy hour since it's only at the bar and it does fill up because it's a great happy hour deal in river north! Would highly recommend and am definitely going back again

    Espresso martini

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    Really liked this place for a pre theatre dinner. Cool decorations, really good food.

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    4.1(162 reviews)
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    Our server was super friendly and we never had a shortage of water…read more The restaurant had a nice vibe, with a cool deconstructed Vespa on the wall. Lots of open air flowing into the space. The asparagus in my pasta was well grilled, some of the best asparagus I've had. The pasta was also very flavorful as well.

    Although I am a new customer, I've been loyal to Peanut Park for the past six months and have…read morerecommended it to many friends and family. Up until tonight, my experiences had always been positive and the food was fantastic. Unfortunately, this visit was more than disappointing. I ordered a salad I've had at least a dozen times before, accept I added grilled chicken on top. I live for this salad and was just there maybe three weeks ago. Unaware that they have changed their menu, I ordered as usual. The name of the salad has not changed on the menu, but apparently the ingredients had been completely altered. When the dish arrived, to my surprise, it was drastically different and not something I enjoyed at all. I politely informed our server, who was kind and accommodating, and offered to replace the dish. However, it was now 6 p.m. we had tickets to see The Wiz at 7 p.m. and didn't have time to wait for another order, which I also informed her. I asked if the salad could be removed from the bill since it was essentially untouched. The server checked with the owner, who refused to remove the $30 salad or offer any kind of discount. When a restaurant changes a dish but keeps the same name, it creates a reasonable expectation for returning customers. When that expectation isn't met, basic customer service should step in. What makes this even more frustrating is that the restaurant was willing to prepare an entirely new dish, but not willing to remove the uneaten one from the bill. That simply isn't logical. If you're prepared to replace an item, it clearly acknowledges there was an issue, so refusing to comp or adjust the original charge is unreasonable. That decision was extremely disappointing. I, in-turn made the decision to eat only the additional grilled chicken on top, leaving the rest of the salad, paying the full bill and promptly getting out of there so we could be on time for our show. The only positive part of the experience was our server, who handled the situation with professionalism and kindness. Sadly, the new menu leaves much to be desired and this experience has cost Peanut Park my business and my referrals going forward.

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    Peanut Park Trattoria - Tender piping-hot light crispy calamari fritti, with deep lightly-spiced tomato pomodoro and bright golden Calabrian aioli

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    Il Porcellino - Lasagna and chicken piccata

    Il Porcellino

    4.4(1.8k reviews)
    0.1 miNear North Side
    $$

    First time visiting the Windy City, we came to the city for the great eats! I'll Porcellino…read morecertainly did not disappoint! For appetizers, we ordered the While Garlic Loaf Focaccia and the Stuffed mushrooms. I wished I took a video when the focaccia arrived. The waiter, holding a plate with a round and fluffy focaccia and proceeded to pour the garlic et al on top of the bread! Very freshly-made and fabulous! The stuffed mushrooms were also cute delicious! This is a rare time where the stuffing had spinach below the stuffing - excellent! I remember seeing (and enjoying) this while I visited Italy. Delightful! The main courses we ordered were the Gnocchi Bolognese, the Baked Burrata Lasagna and the Barolo Braised Short Rib. The Gnocchi meat sauce was the standout here, being very flavorful, but not as heavy as some other restaurants. The Gnocchi were dense - not fluffy as I had expected. But the sauce flavor was vivid. The Baked Burrata Lasagna was oh, so perfect! Many layers of al dente pasta separates with a tasty meat sauce. Many times I have had lasagna that was either over-baked, or had limp pasta. Here, the lasagna shined! So large of a serving that my wife could not finish it, much to her dismay . . . I had the Barolo Braised Short Rib - oh my living god! - so tender, so complete a dish, with the fork tender meat that melts in your mouth, complimented by a light polenta (I must emphasize the lightness here, as many restaurants serve polenta that is heavy and too rich. This did not compete with the short rib, rather it seamlessly became the foundation on which the richness of the meat was enhanced. I was blown away! But, the most amazing, and probably the most delectable part of the evening was finishing off with a luscious Chocolate Cake! OH, WOW!!! The cake was certainly moist and smooth. Yes, smooth! I could not tell there was cake at all, so smooth it was! And surprisingly (not surprising given the quality of this establishment) it wasn't too sweet, rather just enough to bring out the chocolatey goodness! I only wished that I ordered some hot coffee - the cake would have gone well with a great cup of coffee! Overall, I was very impressed with this restaurant! The old-town decor, the dim lights, the fantastic food (just like of the Italy of old!)- all contributing to a wonderful experience! Highly recommended!

    Went to Il Porcellino for a weekday dinner and the place was buzzing. Packed, cozy, and everywhere…read moreyou looked there was a negroni in someone's hand. For antipasti we started with the humble roasted asparagus: heavily garlicky, generous with the parmesan, and perfectly roasted. Then came the highlight, the burrata lasagna, easily the best I've ever had. Hearty and creamy. We closed out the savory courses with the chicken Vesuvio, nicely charred and finished with herb butter, though it ran a little light on seasoning. For dessert, a delicious tiramisu to finish. Il Porcellino was a treat, and we'll be back soon.

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    Il Porcellino - Wall decor

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    Ciccio Mio - Black Truffle Bucatini

    Ciccio Mio

    4.7(637 reviews)
    0.3 miRiver North, Near North Side
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    Truly one of the most enjoyable Italian food experiences in Chicago. It's worth the effort to plan…read moreahead and make a reservation. Reservations are released 21 days ahead of time, which I personally find impossible to make. Every time I've checked over the last several years there have been no availability. Yesterday I decided to pop on their website again and was delighted to find that they had released same day dinner reservations for patio only dining. The weather was perfect for outdoor dining so I went ahead and booked a table for Friday night. I felt like I won the dinner lottery. Service was wonderful and I didn't mind sitting outside at all next to the road with cars. I actually never stepped foot in the restaurant so cannot comment on what it's like inside. But do not give up that patio dining reservation if it's available. All of our dishes were delicious. I was really impressed by the meatball appetizers, chicken vesuvio (the potatoes are a must get as a side if you skip this dish), and branzino. The meats and sauces were wonderfully balanced and tender. Nothing tasted overly salted. Ironically, the pasta felt less of a star compared to the other dishes. And of course I had to get the gelato, which was so aesthetically presented and the taste just reminded me of an Italian summer vacation.

    Checked this spot off my list while celebrating a special occasion. They had a card waiting at our…read moretable, which was such a thoughtful touch. The vibe is dark, moody, and perfect for an intimate night out. Service was excellent. The chicken Parmesan was the star of the meal, huge portion and absolutely worth ordering. We also tried the Caesar salad, short rib, carbonara , potatoes, and tiramisu that were all delicious. My only feedback is that the wait between courses felt a bit long, and some of the ladyfingers in the tiramisu weren't fully soaked so it was a bit dry. Overall, a great experience with a beautiful atmosphere and generous portions.

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    Volare Ristorante Italiano - Linguine Arselle e Bottarga*

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    4.3(3.3k reviews)
    0.3 miNear North Side
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    I was in Chicago recently. I'm from there. Volare was one of my go-to spots when I worked at the…read moreInterContinental. It was like going home. The restaurant was remodeled and yet the same. Benny the owner greeted me warmly. My glass of wine turned into appetizers and a main. I had a Caprese to start. Everything was fresh, the plate was chilled and the tomato was somehow in season. I then enjoyed one of their classics, Linguini and clams with lemon zest and bottarga. Sometimes it's good going home.

    It's not often to find a place that delivers 100% on everything - the food, the ambiance, and the…read moreservice! We chanced upon Volare while making our way to another restaurant but were too hungry/tired to keep searching as we were with our toddler. Also luckily it was not too busy when we got there as it was early -6pm. As soon as we walked in, a high chair was offered for the baby, and our stroller taken away to safety. A welcome water drink with an orange slice arrived, without request, and the bread basket saved the day for the hungry toddler. Our waiter was extremely helpful and nice and suggested something not entirely on the menu for the toddler which we appreciated so much. When I got up to find the bathroom, before I even had the chance to ask, one of the waiters just told me where to go, anticipating my need. When it was time to go, they boxed up our foods and gave us extra bread because our toddler loved it. Also - food wise - we tried the basics - the lasagna and a clam linguini - delicious. Wine was delicious. Prices were very reasonable, portions were pretty big. Overall 100% recommend this place.

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    Volare Ristorante Italiano - Decadent Chocolate Cake my friend ordered. She ate it all. Saud it was insanely yummy.  This is not part of Restaurant Week 2023.

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    Tuscany - Taylor - Raviolacci Toscani

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    1.9 miUniversity Village
    $$

    We dined here on a Sunday before a hockey game and all four of us really enjoyed it. The ambiance…read morewas nice, a great casual vibe, but the service was superior, elevated beyond casual. The server was attentive and in tune with our table. The courses were properly paced and the food was delicious. We ordered the chicken parm, short rib ravioli, oreccheite salsiccia and salmon, with a starter of Caesar salad and meatballs. Everything was perfect. I know many places offer Caesar salads but this one was superb, perfectly dressed with light croutons and tasty dressing. We will definitely go back!

    Such an amazing restaurant, I can't recommend enough. We came for dinner so the place was packed…read morewith people. The inside of the restaurant felt like a classic Italian restaurant you might find in Italy. Our waiter was super nice and gave some great wine recommendations. First, they bring you some bread and give you a small platter mixed with olive oil, fresh garlic, and Parmesan. This is the first time I've seen it done this way but it was delicious. The calamari was delicious, not too fried and oily but still had so much flavor to it. We also decided to order the peperoni pizza, which is just a magnificent pizza. It was just cooked perfectly with just the right amount of flavor and spice. I ordered the raviolacci toscani, which took a bit of time to come out (but understandable given the amount of people). It was just delicious. The meat filling had such a deep flavor and the sauce wasn't so heavy that I didn't want to finish it. I would recommend this to anyone that wants a good Italian meal with great portions. Reservations might be hard to get so plan ahead.

    Photos
    Tuscany - Taylor - Dining Room

    Dining Room

    Tuscany - Taylor - Insalata Pera

    Insalata Pera

    Tuscany - Taylor - Sausage Potato and Vegetable Soup

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    Sausage Potato and Vegetable Soup

    Alla Vita - Inside

    Alla Vita

    4.4(832 reviews)
    0.8 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    Amazing food and one of the best Italian meals I've had in Chicago in a while!…read more They have a great $30 three course weekday lunch special where you can choose from a variety of 3 different appetizers, entrees and desserts! I ordered the Aranchini (10/10 -one of the best I've ever had) -The rigatoni (8.5/10 -great texture and flavor) -The sorbet (8.5/10 -rich dense fruit flavor). Also got the mushroom and truffle pizza which was good but not the best I've ever had (7/10). All in all, an excellent choice for Italian and I would definitely come back, especially for the lunch special!

    Alla Vita ended up being one of those happy accidents…read more I was in Chicago on a Tuesday looking for lunch, and surprisingly, many of the highly rated restaurants I had bookmarked were either completely closed or only opened for dinner. Alla Vita was almost a last-resort choice. I could not have been more wrong. First, the space is absolutely beautiful. The natural light, soaring ceilings, and elegant yet inviting interiors create the kind of atmosphere where you instantly want to settle in and stay awhile. It felt special without being stuffy. They even let me check my carry-on, which was such a thoughtful touch and set the tone for the level of hospitality we experienced throughout the meal. Service was excellent from start to finish. We ordered the spritz of the day, which featured elderflower and was wonderfully refreshing, along with another cocktail whose name I unfortunately can't remember. Both drinks were very enjoyable. neither was trying to reinvent the wheel, but for lunch, that's perfectly fine. Cocktails aren't necessarily what Alla Vita is known for, and they complemented the meal beautifully. For starters, we had the octopus and the burrata, and both dishes were more interesting than expected. Burrata can sometimes feel a bit one-note, but they paired it with elements that added texture and complexity. The octopus was similarly creative in its accompaniments. I always feel a little hesitant critiquing dishes I couldn't possibly execute myself, and octopus is certainly one of them, but if I had one tiny note, it was just a touch chewier than I personally prefer - perhaps ever so slightly overdone. Even so, the flavors and the thoughtful combinations around it made it a memorable dish. For pasta, we asked our server to choose her favorite, and she recommended the rigatoni with vodka sauce. It absolutely lived up to the recommendation. Rich, comforting, and perfectly executed. And then there was the wood-fired black truffle mushroom pizza. It was perfect. Truly. As someone who is admittedly a bit of a pizza snob, I don't say that lightly. By the end, we were too full for dessert, which I slightly regret. We lingered long after the lunch rush had ended, chatting away, and never once felt rushed or encouraged to give up the table. If you're looking for a place with gorgeous surroundings, warm hospitality, thoughtful food, and a vibe that invites you to slow down and enjoy your company, Alla Vita is an easy recommendation. What started as my backup plan turned out to be one of my favorite meals of the trip.

    Photos
    Alla Vita - Kale Caesar

    Kale Caesar

    Alla Vita - APEROL SPRITZ

    APEROL SPRITZ

    Alla Vita - The strawberry gelato was delicious!!

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    The strawberry gelato was delicious!!

    Ummo - italian - Updated June 2026

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