Vanessa! Amazing service. Food is fantastic. Cannot believe how awesome they renovated this (formerly JJ's Pub). Upstairs is a beautiful speakeasy with gambling machines and velvet couches. A big variety of food. The specials are interesting. I chose the cheese ravioli special with wild mushrooms. Friend had marinara pasta with sausage. We had a starter the cheese burrata and the prosciutto on the side. The cheese was soooooo good. Vanessa went out of her way to make us happy. We had to send the pasta back as it was too spicy for my friend. They remade it and it was perfect for her. I had a blanc de blanc champagne but there was no fizz and the waitress happily got me a different sparkling. I loved the ravioli. Great ambiance. Highly recommend. read more

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New Italian restaurant in Ottawa in the 100 block of W Main Street. Reservations are two days in advance but the walk up on a Saturday was about a 45 (and that's a long estimate) minute wait at the great bar !! Started off with some great draft beers $5 for a Yungling pint and an $18 bourbon flight that my husband raved about. After a bit of a wait but with drinks !! We got a table and since we had looked at the menu at the bar we were ready to order. (You could order food at the bar too we just chose not to as we were in no rush) We got a loaf of fresh bread that came with olive oil for dipping that had some chili flakes in it that gave it a bit of a zing. (My only thing is that it would have been nice to have some Parmesan to shake into it to give it a bit of body beyond just oil). But all in all it was yummy. Onto our main courses. I got the shrimp and calamari Diablo. And yes. It's hot. Spicy and also temperature from the kitchen. But the flavor was amazing and it was full of calamari rings and the little tentacles and some really good sized shrimps too and the linguini was so good. The sauce you could tell was fresh and full of tomato chunks. The husband got chicken shrimp and sausage carbonara. Again full of flavor and meat and peas and delicious pasta. Oh and dessert was two home made cannoli with the pistachios on the ends and the best not too sweet cream inside. For our two meals and two glasses of house red blend ($5 each) it was 80.00. It was plenty of food to make two fat kids very happy. The servers were very nice. The bartenders were friendly as they were super hopping. All in all we will Be back to try more dishes as they all looked great coming out of the kitchen. This is a great date night spot and something new and different than your normal burger, pizza or bar food kinda place. Try it. You will want to come back !!! read more

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We found this place on yelp and so glad we did. We ate ate at the bar which was still a great dining experience. Our bartender/server Maria was a gem. Every thing from start to finish was amazing . Joe the owner we met as well and he was very nice to chat with. Nice to of came across our new favorite Italian dining place. read more

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For a small town Italian restaurant, Valentino's knocked it out of the park! We had a late reservation (8:30) but never felt rushed. Our waitress was super friendly, helpful, and engaging. I had the salmon with lemon pasta- is was delicious! The salmon was cooked perfectly and the lemon pasta was delicious and refreshing. Valentino's is the type of place that makes me wish I could spend more time in Ottawa / small town Illinois. read more

An absolutely excellent Italian experience, Valentino's impressed on every level. Fantastic food, great value for the portions, highly engaged service staff, and a boldness of flavors above expectations. Our table had a host of appetizers including the Meatball Ricotta, Shrimp Oreganata, Fried Provolone, and Calamari. The meatball was absolutely enormous (enough for four to share easily), and was very well balanced by the sauce and creamy ricotta it was served upon. My personal favorite was the calamari though, which was a combination of the rings and tentacles perfectly salted and fried until delightfully crispy. Don'f forget to dunk those in the sauce they provided! For entrees, I tried a little bit of the dry aged pork chop (super smoky, immaculately tender, and subtly sweet), but the chicken piccata, was the star of the show for me. Refreshingly bright from the lemon, salty capers, and marinated artichokes, the dish was savory and refreshing when paired with the crispy fried potatoes. So good, and I think the best chicken piccata I've ever had! The tiramisu and lemoncello cake were big hits at the table, but the creme brûlée was so simple yet perfectly sweet and smooth that it would definitely be my go-to choice next time. You truly cannot go wrong at this place, and would certainly make an excellent date or celebration location that I'd recommend in a heartbeat. read more

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Great food and fabulous service in quaint historic downtown Ottawa! What a great family restaurant where the food tastes like it was made with love and passion. Drinks are always fabulous with seasonal changes. read more

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Everything was so wonderful from the service to the food!! Will be back ! Cant wait to try the new location as well!! read more

Had the most incredible experience here! I'm from Arizona & have craved a good Italian place when I come home! This place did not disappoint. Great cocktails & the vibe was 10/10! Bartender was awesome delight too! read more

Valentino’s Pasta and Wine - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Second time around! Four of us celebrated my birthday and a friend's birthday by going back to Valentino's, since our first dining experience here was so good. We were not disappointed! Even at 5 pm, it was busy in this welcoming, clean space. Reservations are a great idea, if you are planning a visit! We had a wonderful waitress, and the food was delicious. Chicken Vesuvio, Risotto, Shrimp.. and very good wine. But the best surprise was dessert...our waitress brought out TWO tiramisu with sparkling candles..one for each of the birthday celebrants! And...yes, we were serenaded ! NOTE: The upstairs of Valentino's is a Speakeasy with gambling machines for even more fun and atmosphere. Try Valentino's! It's worth it! read more

This was my first time here after receiving and invitation from Chef Karla and everything was excellent. The restaurant has a cozy feel and the staff were attentive and friendly. I ordered the Chicken Paisano and it was a huge portion and absolutely delicious! I love beets so I ordered a side of beets and never had them prepared in that way, so that was a nice surprise. I also had a couple espresso martinis which were very tasty. I can't wait to come back and try some new items. Sorry for the sloppy picture, I couldn't wait to dig in! read more

The husband took me to Valentino's this past Valentine's Day. I was so looking forward to some really good Italian food and a nice evening out. So let's start with the good. The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and has a wonderful ambiance. We arrived on time for our reservation and was promptly seated. Our server( I wish I could remember her name) was attentive, friendly and was helpful with the menu since it was our first there. We ordered our food and now is where it starts to go downhill. The appetizer of Roasted Brussel Sprouts were very very good and our desserts of Limoncello Cake and Lemon Cheesecake were also good. But the rest of the meal, Stuffed Eggplant and Salmon al Limon were just lacking. We were really hoping for bold flavors and both dishes were suprising bland. Even the complimentary bread dipping oil was unflavorful. The prices are $$$ and so when the bill came the only lasting flavor was the bad taste left in our mouths. read more

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Service was okay. The two times I've had food has been not good. I got the shrimp scampi and it tasted like lemon juice. No garlic and absolutely no sauce. The shrimp was out of a microwave. The first time I had a pasta that had a sausage and it was okay but still not good. The prices are way over the top for the quality of food. read more

Love this place! The food is great and the drinks are fabulous! The Chicken Vesuvio is to die for. If you go request Wendy! She is the nicest and most attentive server I've had in years and I go to a lot of restaurants!!! read more

Came here with some friends and had an awesome experience! We all got pasta dishes that were delicious and the cocktails and flights were great too. Service was prompt and our waiter was kind and attentive. So glad to have good italian food with an elegant vibe here in Ottawa. read more

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Reservations must be done at least 2 days in advance or they have a first come first serve seating. We were told 45 minutes. It had to be closer to 30 minutes. Food was delivered fast and was delicious. Shrimp were huge and still had the tails on. Portion sizes were beyond what I expected. The owner did a lot of work to the old JJ's and it fits the Italian theme. We will be back fo read more

Valentino’s Pasta and Wine - Seafood Diablo and Carbonara. - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

I'll say right off that I haven't eaten here. My experience is with the poor service. Specifically, the phone service. I called to make reservations and was quickly put on hold. Unfortunately that was the only thing that happened quickly. After almost 10 minutes, they finally got back to me, at which point I hung up on them. Hopefully this isn't indicative of the in-person service quality. read more

Overall, our experience was excellent. However, there are a few things that could be improved upon. Service was good. Atmosphere was good (cool speakeasy upstairs). Good pricing. The food however lacked any "wow-factor". We visited Valentino's the night before valentines (a very busy night I know). We tried the fried tortellini for an appetizer and were not impressed. Quite bland. I ordered the Sicilian Filet while my significant other tried a pasta dish. The pasta was nothing better than one would receive at Olive Garden. The steak was not good. I asked for the steak to be cooked medium rare, and it came out well overcooked, and very dry. We ordered a creme brûlée to cap the meal off and again we were not impressed. The food was not bad, just bland. However, I would not recommend ordering a steak here. Not sure if I would visit again, but for the price, it was a great evening. If you are looking for a 3 course meal accompanied by a bottle of wine for less than $150, Valentino's is a good option. read more

Best steak ever! Sorry not in the picture. Giambalta is the picture. That was great too. Wine is very nice. Great service. Bread with olive oil seasoning was a good starter, but get the burrata!. read more

Wonderful food, ambiance and service. Only two small complaints. We were not offered any Parmesan cheese with our oil and bread. I had the chicken piasan which has an arrabiata sauce, which should be spicy and it wasn't. My wife had the tortellini which was excellent. Will definitely go back. read more

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Excellant food, nice atmosphere, tentative staff, definately the best of Ottawa and LaSalle county, don't miss that old family recipe lasagna, and all at a very fair price 5 stars for me! read more

Ladies night out 2 drinks entree and a no bake cheese cake $70.00 1 person. Food was ok I ordered the Chicken Marsala my to go at other Italian restaurants not what I expected very bland. Cheese cake was no bake good but also was expecting a baked cheese cake? read more

The food we had was delicious, chicken piccata, chicken, Marsala. Can't wait to go again. Service was great! read more

We arrived around 4:30 yesterday and it was already packed but we got sat right away. Our server Becky was really nice and attentive. We got 2 different flights (lemonchello and sangria) and they were good and fun. The bread and oil came out right after we ordered the flights. It was so good. I don't know what was in the oil but I loved it! We got deep fried tortellini for an appetizer. I got the carbonara and my hubby got the chicken piccata. Both tasted great. We got the tiramisu for dessert. I think I'm still stuffed from last night! Definitely will be back soon. read more

Valentino’s Pasta and Wine - Sangria flight and lemonchello flight - Italian Near Me - Ottawa, Illinois

Overall the food was absolutely bland. The staff was very friendly, host was funny and had us laughing immediately as we walked in the door. The decor and general vibe was full of life, great conversations heard throughout the restaurant. I had such high hopes for dinner. Drinks were yummy. We started with the fried tortellini- the chicken within it was delicious, marinara served with was good as well. Just the rest lacked flavor. The entrees we ordered was "the house special Salmon al Limone" it tasted like everything was boiled (yes BOILED) in the same pot. The noodles were supposed to have olive oil and garlic, they tasted as if you boiled them in just water without salt or any flavor. Capers, salmon, and the artichoke hearts simply mush. No variation of flavor until I got to the asparagus, which was lemony and crunchy. Thank goodness for a change of texture. The other dish ordered was "Chicken, Shrimp, and Sausage Carbonara" the chicken and sausage flavored well. Very generous with the pepper, but lacked any savory taste. I would attend again simply for the drinks, unfortunately the food did not meet par. read more

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What an amazing new restaurant! Warm & welcoming with a wonderful ambiance. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable, if they didn't know they would find out and return quickly. Bread & oil were fresh & tasty! Cocktails tasted as good as they looked. Main course was hot, i mean actually hot! It's been a long time I've had a truly hot meal. Filling and full of flavor. The pasta was fresh & had that great al dente texture! Dessert was huge! Light & fluffy cheesecake hit the spot! Can't wait to go back! read more

I always like to give new restaurants a try. This seems to be an upper-scale Italian restaurant based on the menu and pricing, however this experience was a carry-out order. The chicken parmesan came side of spaghetti and loaf of bread with dipping oil for less than $20, which is very fair in my opinion and was one of the lower priced items on the menu. You get plenty of food. The sauce was very good and for spaghetti that traveled in styrofoam, it was good. My gripe was with the chicken filet. The edges were literally burnt black and it was visual. I'm not sure how a higher end restaurant would ever want that leaving their kitchen, but they did. At some point I will give them another chance, hopefully dining in, but it won't be any time soon. The hostesses (there were like 3 girls at the front while I paid) were very nice almost a little over the top but it is what it is. One last thing, please stop asking people for tips on carryout orders. read more

The chicken Paisano was delicious with so many different flavors. I have gotten it three of the four times. I have been there so far. So good! Service was very good and attentive. And the ambience is warm and inviting, if however, a bit noisy. All in all, it's a great new restaurant in the small town of Ottawa, becoming a recognizable foodie town. Valentino's is a great addition! read more

Had dinner there recently and the food and atmosphere are amazing. The meatball appitizer was delicious! Shrimp Michael Angelo was wonderful! Going back in a few weeks. Can't wait To try more menu items then. read more

Bravissimo! My husband and I stopped in for an early date night lunch and were pleasantly surprised by the transformation of the restaurant. Service was prompt and very pleasant but OH! The food! So fresh, so genuine, so very tasty. My Sicilian husband approved heartily (which he rarely does) and we both agreed how good we felt after eating, not heavy like one does after greasy, processed meals. Great prices too. We got a chance to speak with the owner, Joe, and discovered we have a high school, hometown and family name (Valentino) in common. And something else...we all love his food! We'll be back for sure but so far we recommend the crostini, lasagna, chicken marsala and chicken parm. Welcome to Ottawa! Delicioso!​​ read more

best Dago (Italian) Restaurant around great food, atmosphere , and customer service takes you back to Grandma's cooking I would highly recommend you will not be disappointment read more

These is no take out orders is wild. But have an option to order online? Called and was told I couldn't do a carry out order.

great job on the decor and remodel - acoustics are horrible - service was good; actually too fast and hurried; not a great dining experience - food actually made me ill - like an MSG ill - salmon was prepared the temperature I asked for - but too many ancillary items - asparagus, artichokes, 3 different types of tomatoes, capers and pasta with red pepper flakes - flavors didn't meld well! JD had chicken parmesan that looked like the sauce was out of a jar and tasted like it - not much flavor at all..caesar salad dressing was tasteless; their bread is delicious but take out the red pepper flakes from the oil - or at least give the option of no spice with their pasta and oil - mocktail was nice! Good luck, but we don't think we're going back anytime soon - read more

You will never have a more delicious meal anywhere . This was the most pleasant experience we have ever had it was like being treated like family . The owners came to our table and greeted us and explained all the dishes to help us decide what to order.the service is friendly and attentive. Prices are to be expected with this quality of food and service . Keep up the great work you earned 2 regular customers tonite . read more