After living in central Pennsylvania for the last two years, we were overwhelmed with the number of restaurants on Yelp with superior reviews. Via Roma was the closest to us at the time, and we had faith in what others had to say. Everything about this restaurant is worthy of a five star rating from the friendly staff to the authentic meals. My daughter had from the menu the Ravioli Ricotta Spinaci (seen below) and the potions were adequate for an adult. I had a special of the day, which was a seafood ravioli in a tomato cream sauce that was delicious. My wife was please with the special she picked, which was risotto with chicken. Again, two years of central Pennsylvania is hell when it comes to dining; thank God we left! Downside: parking was packed in the back lot, but we easily found parking in the front of the restaurant. Even if we had to walk, downtown Des Plaines is a very calm and there are other lots easily in walking distance. read more

Via Roma - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

I love eating outside in the spring, summer and fall. I love their ravioli dish with the bread. I enjoy that I'm able to bring my bottle of wine. read more

Delicious food. Plenty of it too. The male server was less than helpful, in fact we wondered if he was ignoring us purposely but the female waitress was apologetic and very helpful and accommodating. read more

Ready for a long one? I ordered a full course for one haha All I can say is it feels extremely homey! Walked in was greeted as if I'd been through before (I haven't) and was seated immediately. So to start the waiter served the bread and was poured some olive oil and parmesan to add. The bread was warm, soft, and addictive! The gentleman who took my order went through the specials and explained to me what was up. I had went through the menu with the intention of getting something on it, but was convinced to order a daily. Please don't try to sell a car to me, I'm easily convinced haha Ordered the calamari friti and it was fried perfectly. Served with a side of marinara and lemon. Had gotten the special which was the ox tail with the rigatoni. The oxtail was described as having been cooked for 4 hours and it was tender, and was able to fall off the bone with too much effort. The pasta and tomato sauce really shined for me though. The rigatoni was al dente and I mean it had the perfect chew/soft/tenderness. There was a lot so didn't finish it. The gentleman came by, had my calamari boxed, and asked if I wanted dessert. I intended to save some room for dessert and had the tiramisu. It was good, flavors were all there and to accompany I had a cappuccino. I intend to come here again and I feel like most people would enjoy the atmosphere. Feels like a mom and pop and I feel like I don't need to dress up too terribly fancy. Try it! Buon appetito! read more

See all

Was excited to visit Via Roma's new restaurant, but was so disappointed. First, the restraunt is so loud it is a challenge to hear our dining companions or the waiter. The design and acoustics were clearly not thought of in the design process. The food was very good, but over priced. Dessert selections offered a nice variety, but again extremely overpriced. Our waiter was inattentive and is the main reason for the one star. We never were offered or received additional bread or drink refills. We were seated three hours and there were many people waiting to be seated and while it was nice they were in no rush to have us leave it was due to lack of service. We were dining with another couple and asked for separate checks , they are not able to accommodate. Overall, they were all disorganized. After waiting for over 30 minutes for our check, we took it to the hostess stand to pay. The hostess was equally disorganized and had multiple checks and credit cards and was struggling to keep it all straight. After 8 minutes she finally took ours to pay. We did express our displeasure with our server, it would have been really nice to receive a heartfelt apology, but we didn't. Won't be returning anytime soon. read more

Via Roma - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

They have great food, no cork fees, and they treat you like you are family. I love the outdoor area when it is warm outside.

Still Loving Via Roma. The new location has been updated and us quieter even with a crowd. After dark they dim the lights. I had the rigatoni with peas and procciutto, delicious. My husband had the mushroom stuffed ravioli and creme sauce. Very light and perfectly al dente. I love that it is a BYOB. The owners are gracious and the food is still spectacular. read more

I have always loved this restaurant. Tonight I had the lasagna for the first time and it was amazing. It held together, the sauce was remarkable. The ambience incredible but more importantly the service is impeccable. read more

I cannot say enough negative things about this place. The poor reviews were right. Where do I even start with this hot mess. The waiter was so nervous. Not sure if they waited tables before. And the staff made us feel rushed and uncomfortable. The waiter was asking for dinner orders after less than a minute of looking at the menu, and hovered over me. And the place was empty. Then the hostess was bringing over the check and the place didnt close for another 45 minutes. We still had a half glass of wine. We specifically went to this place because I looked up the menu on Yelp and their website. Well, they changed their entire menu but never updated it anywhere online. So the dishes we went there specifically for, are no longer on the menu, as of 2-3 months ago. The inside seating has crazy acoustics. There were only 6 tables seated, the rest were empty, and it sounded like everyone is screaming. You can't hear yourself think. I can't imagine if all the tables are full. It must be insane. Another Yelp poster wrote about this. I thought there's no way this could be true, but it is. The food is ok. Nothing special. We had a terrible experience here. Would not go back. Would not recommend. read more

Such a nice place to enjoy your favorite drink since its byob and the food was good. Cozy little place :)

For is delish. Great ambiance and customer service. The place is small but efficient.

We had the best and most attentive waitress. The food was outstanding and plentiful at a great price. We are from the Southwest side and were in the area and were happy with our new Italian find. We will visit again when in the area. Thank you for great service and great food. read more

The food is as fresh as you would expect in Italy. Bring your own wine and enjoy the laid back atmosphere. I would highly recommend going during the summer when you can enjoy the outdoor seating. Weekends are busy! Plan accordingly. The staff is as friendly as they come. read more

Excellent on all levels! Food is authentic and service is fast and friendly. Try the carbonara!

One of the best BYOB options in Des Plaines. Great food and atmosphere. Our waiter had been in the business forever and at Via Roma for years. I'm going back as soon as possible. read more

We sat outside and had a wonderful meal. The fried Calamari was the best I have ever had. We understand that the interior of the restaurant is quite noisy but we did not sit inside. The service was excellent. read more

This is for sure a hidden gem. The food is authentic made right for the owner himself. We had the Zuppe di Pesce and the shrimp risotto both taste amazing. Prices were average and it's BYOB which is a plus. The staff was great, and owners are super nice! read more

This place was already special to me before I even sat down for the sole reason that it's a BYOB with no corkage fees. The inside is very small and narrow and as someone else mentioned, it is a little loud in there because of the building design. But the food which I waited a whole 2 weeks for did impress me. My friend and I ordered grilled calamari (8/10), rigatoni amatriciana (7/10), shrimp risotto (10/10), veal scaloppini (10/10) and the lemoncello cake with an affogato (9/10). Everything was really good although we were sorely disappointed when we saw our neighbor table being served the delicious burrata appetizer that wasn't listed on their menu and wasn't read off to us in the specials. We would have preferred that ten folds over the grilled calamari which was a little chewy and needed more lemon and salt. Something I noticed: When the waitress read out the specials, there were seriously 10 plus items that she mentioned. I would suggest in creating a small "Specials Menu" if there are more than a few specials that aren't listed on the main menu so the diners can make a more informed decision especially when the dishes and/or ingredients might not be familiar to most people. I also noticed that some of the secondi items came with pasta, which is why we ordered the veal scaloppini. It would have been a very small dinner if you ordered that alone but paired with our two pasta dishes, it was the perfect portion. The veal was incredibly tender served with two spears of asparagus and some delicious potatoes. The rigatoni was probably the most disappointing item of the night (just bland) but the risotto was really something that I'm already craving to have again. And the shrimp inside the risotto was just outstanding. The affogato (espresso and gelato) was better than the lemoncello cake and would suggest that if you're not caffeine sensitive. Overall, it's a great place but I can't wait to return so I can have a do-over with certain dishes. read more

See all

Love the carbonara! We recently went with the kids and sat outside. Food and service were great!

I made the mistake of living in Italy for a few months and it pretty much ruined Italian food, wine, gelato, architecture, sculpture, and tomatoes for me anywhere else. If you've spent a lot of time in Italy, you know what I mean, if you haven't you should book a trip now, it will change you...it's amazing. Every time I go to an Italian restaurant, I remember all the things I loved in Italy but don't quite get the same experience I so desperately want... Until I went to Via Roma. It's the most authentic Italian experience I've had in the states, or anywhere else. There was an amazing place in Marrakech, but that's another story. The food is authentic! I don't know who's cooking back there, but judging by the Italian you hear in the kitchen, I assume it's someone equally as authentic. Generally I'd recommend anything off of the specials list - I usually do that and I'm always delighted. The carbonara is amazing and just like a little place in Rome I went to. The eggplant dishes are my favorite and the veal is always great too. Via Roma doesn't have a bar or wine list - but they will open bottles you bring for free. I don't really drink wine since getting back from Italy, but it's nice for friends - and keeps the bill down when out with a big group. I highly recommend the gelato, it is just like the gelato in Venice, and that is a rare treat. Rare treat pretty much sums up the whole experience every time I go to Via Roma - give it go!! read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the area. Great food and the customer service is top notch. Everyone is friendly and makes you feel very comfortable. The mozzarella and tomato appetizer (burrantipasto) is unlike anything I've had. Mixed with prosciutto and olives it's a delectable blend of flavors. Their specials are written on the wall and are always fresh. As others have noted it's BYOB. Salute! read more

Via Roma - Can be crowded on Saturday nights. Well worth the wait. - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

I can't believe it took me a long time to try this place. What a gem! We've been here 3 times now and have been absolutely delighted with each visit. Awesome service, delicious food... What more can you ask? I recommend the burrata appetizer. I've tried burrata in other places but Via's the best. It comes with artichokes, tomatoes, and prosciutto.. a meal in itself. Love the mahi mahi dish as well. I've never had anything quite like it and it hit the spot during those cold days. It's creamy but I don't think it's heavy. For dessert, I recommend the limoncello cake. I usually don't like tart desserts but this, I love. read more

Via Roma - Mahi mahi - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

See all

One of my favorite Italian restaurants! Family owned and very authentic southern Italian food. The location in downtown Des Plaines is convenient and they offer outdoor seating in the summer. The inside is a little small and it's always busy. But, the service is always attentive and efficient. The thing that seals the deal for this restaurant is the quality of the food! From the start they provide warm bread and delicious olive oil for every table. Their menu often changes with a lot of daily specials based on what is fresh. You may wind up spending a little more; but, I have honestly enjoyed everything I have ordered from here. My personal favorite is the burrata appetizer. Yum! read more

Via Roma - Burrata appetizer - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Cozy place! There are many regulars from the area that eat here. We live within walking distance and it's nice to have such a great quality italian restaurant. The chef used to work in downtown high end restaurants and is authentic italian. His wife is always there helping out and very sweet. Get here early as its a small spot and the wait can get long. BYOB, no corkage fee. Fresh made pasta, quality ingredients. Try the pumpkin ravioli, fresh pastas, Ive had the fettucine, and mussels. Also anything with proscuitto! read more

Great dinner but restaurant just way too loud. This is the second time I asked to bring leftovers home and server discarded it as I don't think she heard me. Lots of yummy mussels, clams and calamari in the garbage; not too happy about that. read more

I read tons of these over-the-top POSITIVE reviews + agree 100% I LOVE everything about Via Roma and proudly suggest it. Lunch (breakfast) or dinner. everyday + special days. frankly. of all the restaurants on earth Via Roma is arguably my favorite ~Milioni di baci read more

Sorry but this place is over-rated. Ordered octopus appetizer which was quite bland compared to most grilled octopus we've had. Not charred in the slightest and no sauce. Came with a ton of bread. I ordered a cod special that was chunks of fish and potatoes in a red sauce. Very one note and very hot like it was nuked a tad. No fresh herbs or anything just cod in tomato sauce. Meh. Not at all what I was expecting with the hype about this place and the wait time. One positive is my son enjoyed his lasagna! read more

Found this little gem after a meeting across the street! First and for most the waitress was so friendly and helpful! She has perfected her Italian accent and was a delight! Secondly the food was simply amazing! The pasta was cooked just right and the sauce was delicious! There is a great variety of traditional Italian dishes! I can't wait to eat my left overs as the portions are huge! The prices are also set just right! I will defiantly be back again! read more

Via Roma - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

I am bumping up my rating based on the following: delightfully decadent, moist limoncello cake with gelato Rigatoni Bosiaola very tasty Mushroom risotto - still stellar and worth repeating Would like to see an expanded menu and more evenings open for dinner. If you want ITALIAN and are in downtown Des Plaines, go here - bypass Olivetti's and Leonas (great for burgers, but not "Italian"). read more

I have never been to a BYOB restaurant before and after eating at Via Roma, I didn't realize what I was missing. The food and the selections were amazing. The waiter and the food portions were outstanding. The desserts were delicious. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This restaurant is a treasure. The food is delicious and the care they put into every meal shows. Service is tight (as it is everywhere) but they work super hard and get the job done. I love it for lunch as I work nearby, but I bet dinner is great too. Eat here! read more

I don't get the high reviews, portions are medium at best, food is expensive for what you get, and frankly not very good. I'm guessing this place was just popular with the BYOB crowd? Pizza is greasy and bland, crustino is toasted for about 20 seconds, and the people working there are disorganized and not very good at addressing customers with questions, saw a few people other than myself try to ask waitresses questions on where to pick up orders or where the bathroom was, all of them received rather abrupt and annoyed answers. There's alot better places for your money in the area, don't buy the hype. read more

Writing this place for a review would be a little unfair but I'm trying to replenish my Elite status and recall what it tasted like almost longer than a year ago... The server was great. The food was spot on, if I recall correctly I usually order clam sauce with a vodka pasta. Ah. Pasta. Just the word in general stimulates my taste buds. The San Pellegrino here was a nice surprise as I tried it for the first time here (get the Blood Orange!). Overall it was a nice quaint restaurant with a quiet atmosphere and good service. Highly recommend! read more

prob it was my best togo order for vday. My wife and fam was very impressed. we plan to come into the restaurant to dine in in the future. What a pleasant surprise! read more

Best seafood pasta ever....highly recommend. I just love every single dish I have ever had at Via Roma.

My husband and I went here one night to check it out, and we were really impressed. Th prices are great and the food is really good!

So happy to have this pace in our neighborhood. Food is is just amazing !! Love it , a mst visit for sure !!!

Our service was excellent the atmosphere was great, but my food was not impressive in flavor. Had the short rib special and it had a bit too much fat and too much sauce for my liking I was a little disappointed. Will probably give this place another try sometime. read more

Via Roma - The Lemon cello cake was amazing. - Italian Near Me - Des Plaines, Illinois

Amazing food. Amazing service. Unbelievable wait time. Do not wear high heels like I did! There is no where to sit while you wait, and the wait time was over an hour. It was also a lot louder than I expected. Not exactly the romatic setting I had hoped for... At least the food was incredible. read more

First time at this restaurant ... found out it was byob which keeps me on my mission to eat at every byob in the city and suburbs. First impression of restaurant, super cute and charming ! We sat down cracked open our beers and the fresh bread and olive oil came to our table ... bread was freaking awesome , our waitress told us about the specials , she recommended the burrata .. and burrata it was .. holy Mary mother of burrata was it good .. some of the best around , i'd go back just for that ! Had the Involtini with rigatoni and the spaghetti scoglio. While eating I kept asking myself why oh why haven't I been to this restaurant before .. the food was incredible.. for sure I'll be back .. BYOB is a major plus ! Cheers ! read more

See all